seems to me that common prudence would suggest that nothing but the direst necessity can justify us in taking such risks. Slavery let alone by the federal government, can never again be an element of political power in national affairs. If we undertake, in a rash and unnatural way, to destroy it, and the results I have attempted thus briefly to describe should follow, it may become in the north and the west, among the free States rather than the slave States, a most potent element of political power. The people reach conclusions always by a short process of reasoning. If, through our rashness now, a change should be wrought in our present triumphant march of success in putting down this gigantic rebellion, and untold burdens and sufferings should be brought upon them, we may prepare ourselves to give way to a new set of men, whose public policy will more nearly harmonize with the sober second. thought of the great American mind and the pulsation of the great American heart. JNO. W. NOELL. 37TH CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPORT. 2d Session. 121 SARAH F. BERRYMAN. [To accompany bill H. R. No. 522.] JUNE 20, 1862.-Ordered to be printed. Mr. HARRISGN, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, made the following REPORT: The Committee on Invalid Pensions, to whom was referred the memorial of Mrs. Sarah F. Berryman, asking an increase of pension, made the following report: The memorial of Mrs. Sarah F. Berryman represents that she is the widow of the late "Lieutenant Commanding" Otway Henry Berryman, of the United States navy. That her husband entered the service as a midshipman in July, 1829, and after examination and passing through the usual grades was commissioned as a lieutenant on the 8th of September, 1841. That he still continued in said service, and almost all the time on active duty, and a large portion of it, nearly twenty years, as lieutenant commanding, to wit, until the 2d of April, 1861. That the whole period of his service, from the time of his entering the navy until the day of his death, was over 32 years, and that at last he died at his post on the United States sloop Wyandott, then under his command as lieutenant commanding, off the harbor of Pensacola. That at different times he was the commander of the following vessels, namely: In 1846, of the On-ka-hye; in 1852, of the brig Dolphin; in 1853, of hydrographic party on Coast Survey; in 1854, of the schooner Crawford; in 1854, of the schooner Varina; in 1856, commanding schooner Vixen; in 1856, commanding steamer Arctic; in 1856, commanding schooner Vixen again; in 1860, commanding ship Falmouth; in 1860, commanding steamer Wyandott; in 1861, commanding steamer Wyandott. That he continued indefatigable in the discharge of his duties up to the time of his death, and that while in command of the Wyandot off Pensacola those duties were rendered trebly arduous by the resignation of all his subordinate officers, leaving only the chief engineer to assist him; and that the anxiety and care resulting from his position at that time had much to do with his death. The facts set forth as above appear to be fully sustained by papers accompanying the memorial. The character of his services during the latter period of his command is set forth in the following letters addressed to his widow by officers of the army and navy, and the statement of the surgeon of the frigate Sabine. UNITED STATES STEAMER MONTGOMERY, Gulf Blockading Squadron, January 15, 1862. MY DEAR MADAM: In answer to your request as to my knowledge of your late husband's services to the government of the United States generally, I beg leave to testify to the following statement, and at the same time remark, that to his firmness and decision the federal government at this moment owe the possession of one of its strongholds on the Gulf coast. At a time when the whole country from Maine to Georgia was in a state of ferment-when fathers looked on sons with suspicionwhen no one knew on whom to place confidence in a political point of view-then it became necessary for loyal officers to stand by and uphold the government and flag under which they served. Foremost in the ranks of these heroic and self-sacrificed brave men I would place your late husband. To his exertions, untiring zeal, and firmness of character, the government owes the possession of Fort Pickens. I am well aware that the credit is entirely given to Lieutenant Slemmer, of the army, (an officer of merit, and who is an honor to his profession;) but it was Captain Berryman, and he only, who prevented that fort from falling into the hands of the rebels. "Had it not been for the Wyandott and Captain Berryman we could and would have taken Fort Pickens," was the expression daily made use of in and about Pensacola. When the commanding officers at the navy yard were known to be of secession proclivities, he, in defiance of superior official rank, forced the assistance of the workmen at that station, and succeeded in mounting the guns at Fort Pickens, and placed it in an effective state to resist an attack. And in confirma. tion of what I have said, I would refer to Lieutenant Slemmer's report, in which I believe he mentions the incalculable services of Captain Otway H. Berryman. I am well aware that the public is not cognizant of the services rendered by my lamented shipmate and brother officer; and it is only owing to his well-known modesty of disposition that the "masses. as well as the department, have been kept in the dark as to his real worth. At a time when a man of timid mind or weak nerve would perhaps hesitate and shrink from extreme measures, he boldly stood forth, and in the teeth of the insurrectionists, with an overwhelming force around him, not only advocated, but stood up for and maintained his country's flag and honor. A Virginian by birth-and one who loved his native State dearly, with family, friends, and every tie which binds man to his native place there centred-still he could not be induced to swerve from the path of honor and duty. "My government and my country first, then my State," was his only answer to their specious arguments. Left in a measure alone, (his officers having resigned,) he, with his indomitable spirit, worked night and day to prevent, as far as laid in his power, a successful attack by the rebels, and while in discharge. of those duties forfeited his life to his country and his country's cause. God grant that you and your little ones may be remembered by a grateful government, and that you may never be allowed to suffer want, is the sincere prayer of Your obedient servant and sincere friend, JAMES E. JOUETT, Commanding United States Steamer Montgomery, U. S. N. CHICAGO, ILL., December 18, 1861. MY DEAR MADAM: Your letter of the 2d instant is just received. I will with pleasure give my testimony as to the services of your husband while co-operating with me at Fort Pickens last winter. He was indefatigable in the discharge of his duties, rendered trebly arduous by the resignation of all his subordinate officers, leaving only the chief engineer to assist him. During the passage from Barrancas barracks to Fort Pickens he rendered valuable service in transporting the troops and munitions of war. From the 10th of January up to the time of his death he was ever at his post, active and energetic always. I have not the slightest doubt that the anxiety and care resulting from his position of peculiar responsibility had much to do with the cause of his death. I consider his services to have been of the greatest value to the government. With the greatest respect, I remain yours, &c., Mrs. S. F. BERRYMAN, Major 16th Infantry United States Army. Baltimore, Md. NAVY YARD, PORTSMOUTH. N. H., July 12, 1861. I hereby certify that Otway H. Berryman, who was a lieutenant commanding in the United States navy, and while attached to and commanding the United States steamer Wyandott, in the harbor of Pensacola, Florida, and holding the rank above mentioned, departed this life on the second day of April, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and that he died of "brain fever," as set forth in the record of his case, which may be found in the medical journal of the Wyandott. The assistant surgeon of the Wyandott, |