The New Hampshire Gazette

Abuse of Mr. Woodbury.—A hackneyed dealer in politics, who made a considerable noise a year since, as a writer of letters for the N. York Courier & Enquirer, but is now pretty much run down, in speaking of the present and late Secretary of the Navy, has the following remarks:

"Secretary Dickerson is now installed into his new office. He will not be a popular Secretary of the Navy ; but with due allowance for the absence of all professional knowledge of naval affairs, he will make a respectable one. An economist in his private dealings, he will be strict, it may be presuming, in all that relates to the money affairs of his department; so that whenever the Navy Auditor (Mr. Kendall) disputes items, it will be in vain to appeal to the Secretary. He will be close without meanness; and he will, notwithstanding, be a more popular than his predecessor, whose very name is detested throughout the service."

These remarks in relation to Mr. Woodbury, or Mr. Dickerson, scarcely merit anything but contempt; but if there be any point in them, it is a reflection upon the officers "throughout the service." Mr. Dickerson will not be popular, because he is an economist in his private dealings, and will be strict in relation to the money affairs of his department, and "close without meanness ;" and Mr. Woodbury's "very name is detested throughout the service," for the same reason.

We believe there never was so popular a Secretary of the Navy with the people as Mr. Woodbury, and we doubt not this feeling extended to every honorable officer and seaman in the service. If there be any of them with whom he has been unpopular, it must be, it appears, with those who were not contented that he should be as strict an economist in public affairs, as he is in his private dealings.

We believe there is no department of the government, which at the commencement of President Jackson's administration, required so strict an economist as that of the Navy. There had never been anything like economy in that department since the establishment of the Navy Board. The Secretaries had been but mere cyphers, and until the present administration came into power, abuses on abuses had been practiced, and no one dared to "take the bull by the horns."