Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-17


cHortt OF the Nation for ,heestu blishmen of an eff
iccttc naval force rhe.attentioh Of che fresiden,
irespCttui!y nTitcd to this branch of the concerns
VI tf Na'V' as !" ''er ct rl'nor importance to no
one which c"n he presented for llis consideration
IN enditloi 10 the measures proposed by thu Conn
HiissincrS Tor the accomplishment OF the objects TO
"ilch ,ni. fsps,rt refers, nIE- proper that some
marks be offered ON pnuts c6nnec, et! with this sb-
!'c,' ana on which 'her opinions were not required
TO be expressed 1t is believed that the true noliy
OF the Government will be to discontinue for the
present. the building of ships of war unless for
so'"e sPecinc OBJECT or immediate cmrrw"ncr: 10
PROVIDE iol inc thorough repair of the ships in ori
nary; Tor the erection of the ncccssarx sheds for
their projections and fur the establishment ora po;.e
~ eac OF tue nnVai stations, TO superntcnd and cn
mrcG inc employment OF the means recommended by
the boa q OF Navy Commissioners for their preyor-
vaton nnd such other the experience of the Navy
may have sliewn applicable to this p,,rpos, 70
carry the latter objects execution an uiditiou,,
appropriation Viii be rcQuired but their complrtion
must result IN an important saving i'm the naval OK
penditure, and would give to the nation instead uf
the decayinG nhrcs of which the sh;rs in ordinary.
now consist a marine force which oud be made f.,
ac promptly and efficiently for its defence
ne duty ut preparing ships for service is bv tie
established regua ions, commit, ed 70 ,I, Conn,,nL
ants {" the yards, whose great object seems 70 lc
10 hurry tn" equipment, and to incur as itl, OK
pens" as possible Thus their preparation is upper
iecl ana the nation has to encounter u considerable,
expense IN foreign ports to obtain the rcuus;tc SIM
plies ana repairs. The materials for elt;.ctnr Tin. Sc
are sometimes not To bn procured; and tic sllip he
ln% through the whole cruise i'm = cr;nund .,,,n
FER forms the service ont and home at the risk OF her
loss, and perhaps that Of her cruir. Suci, svston,
|" peace Is hazardous: and III time OF war. dannn-
r'a5 IN The extreme Some cases haze becu brounIu
to the notice Of the Department. in which shin. Nv
hcrcu on voyages nj two three wears. ha,.n bo,u
so car"icsSlv equipped, that the whole t-uIzc n,ii
be sad TO be- Il series of dangers and escarns gnJ
,cir safe re'ifn n matter Tathrr ne wondered M
than expected. In every instance in which y ON
~ nj ryl.',1
SHOULD attend TO the equipment OF his shin for s,,,
~" one Is 50 much Interested III the proper DISCHARGE
OF TINS duty; no ono viii perform it so we'll
IL has heen usual TO discharge scumcn IF s,,,,
foreign port, whenever the period of ,hcr cn;.,r,
cNpir, or 10 pay the expense Of their return IN ii
O",e" states Both these plans are obicc,ionabIc.
INC hrSt' because 1t often leaves the seaman wan
uerer Oh foreign shore, where he either tn,s, ,c
fer from want, 20 into the service of ntbc- ~
u"ilS' fhereI'y diminishing tn. number of this usofI
oody OF men or nfiIcting n heavy burden uno,, +b
iuhoS is proVided iorrlhe support uf the navy To
guard against both these ncouycnienccs tho ,roc
tce Is proposed to be adopted of maxim !, ,h t-;
SEES oil the ships OF war shorter than has bncp cuet
mary. and enlisting the crews for such n term no
certainty 10 allow OF their return to the United
states before the expiration CT the period of enlist
ment ''
The t|nvy \ ards established and nov: in onor,+o,
III 'iH CI,tel states, are located at the following
places portsmouth, New Hampshire BROOKLYN
New York, Pensacola, Boston, PhiladeJpb;a Wasb
ngton, and Norfolk There is scarcely any nav, ~
the expenditure for the establishment of y noyv
"hich mas contributed so much to exhaust tho ra,;y
erai fund intended for its support as tho, ub;o, e.
been applied to objects connected with rho -, ,; S
and maintaining OF Navy Yards II apnn,rs f-n,
thc report made to Congress by the Secretary of
the navy for 1898 that The permanent expenses nm.
DER tliis mead including Naval, Ordinary Uosni,oI
and Civil, amount annually to S2G87tt Tho ,rro.t
expense incurred in The support of these nrrnsronS
eSaoitShhichtS' makes 1t proper TO inquire whether
IL may not Dc materially diminished bv reduction
of,
important interests OF the Navy. The opinion on
tertalled by those most convcrsant with those sinh
Iccts, seems to b., that the number now IN oner,
ton is greater than the public service demands tb
the reduction of them wonld effect an ilnportan d.
nInutlon OF expenditure; and that bv concentrot;na
The means and materials for building repairing. Sc
1t two or three points most favorable for ouch mr.
II ~oq'd tena greatly to promote the general
objects OF these establishments.
The commissioners of the Navy Board wore di
rected on their late visit of inspection into tho
dlton OF the Novy Yards, to examine them VIII .
view to this reduction of their number md -,
certain as tar as practicable whether there NAV nn
be selected, on the numerous BAYS and harbors nf
me United 81 ates, other sites embracing orno.er
faciiltles & advantages than those which have horo
tofDre been employed for those objects
The report made by the Board marked {, i; hos
with transmitted. 1t affords much nterc,ting inEr
nation on the points referred to them and co9noctd
herewith, and is especially entitled to commcnfo
ion, for the independence of IFS views ON n sIh;.
which fr On its effects on local interests is ca1I
o excite local jealousy and opposition The d,cn
n"nt Is earnestly recommended TO your considcra-
ion. IA
Various representations have been made to tho
department, OF The advantages offered by the har
,ors OF the small keys in the Gulf of Meyico csii,
he Dry Tortugas," Naval Rendezvous md
Depot ofsuPPies. Should these representations bo
orroct, aud the harbor found susceptible of deG.ncn
nc Importance oft the position would be equal 10 that
fany other on our Southern coasts In the n,ontb
I May last, Comnodorca Rodgers and Patterson
'ere instructed TO visit them, aud make such Gonn
al examination, rs would lead to a Just estimate or
heir y2iuc and aptitude for the purposes contornpa
eoI ! MS service was performed By Commodore
Patterson having ,,nG,,t,
atcly been prevented, By disease contracted on Tho
'4rney, from joining in this examination
:, ne report made by Commodore Rodgers, mark
y ~ Is herewith transmitted The result of his
minute survey: Accordingly Lieutcnonts Tat,nmT i
md Gedncy experienced oiicers nd Iii 1:ei