Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-21

uib'c in the service.
The laws and regulations for the sove-nmen, OF
tho marine corps are extremely imporfec', and re
CURE amendment. new code has alteidy been
prepared 10y beard of officers constituted Tor the
purpose, which It is proposed to incorporate in the
general revision Of The naval code, hereiubefore 70
commended.
The propricty of establishing nava. schools h,,
frequently becn submitted To the consideration OF
Congress again respectfully bring it to your
uce, Ne subject Of increasing interest % the Navy.
nc use oil scam vessels m wnr ~ ~ render neccS
sary different order OF scienu6c Knowledge from
that which has heretofore been required. II our
Navy should be inercased by the addition of any
considerable number Of steam vessels engineers will
form an important class OF naval officers. IL will
be necessary TO assign to them appropriate rank,
and TO SUBJECT them to all the laws OF the service.
Great care should be used in the selection of the M
because great deal will depend on theic skill and
competency; hence II IS necessary that they should
pass through prescribed of irstrucl ion and
that the Government should have the proof of their
competency which an examination, conducted un-
der their own rules, would afford. This i'm portant
object can DC best attained by the establishment ct
naval schools provided with all necessary means at
uniting practice with theory. The advantages
which lhc Grmv has derived from the academy at
West Point afford Sufficient proof that similar
institution for the Navy wogd produce like results
In conneNIon wi,h this subject. | would ask ycUr
attention 10 the situation II the professors Of mthe-
mates now employed in the service This u.eflI
Navy, but are called in only as their services q,
needed, and are not paid except when on aetna
duty. The Consequence is, that they cannot re "
on This employment ZOE support, and are often re-
uctanuy driven 20 oher pursuits. Ii is to DC pre-
suncd that men whose talents and altiinn,ents
quarry them To be saehers IN the Navy, 90 IA
qua,ihed TO he ,enchers on lani; AMI Gs this laicT
Is the less precarious pslcn, tIc best qua ii d -
be the most apt 20 seek e.. Hence the ID 'plr,neal
cannot rely with any assurance On bein. able ~
command suitable professors at all times when their
services may be required. IL is. think of grea'
p0rtarcc that some provision should be made upon
this subject. also recon- mend that cert,in rank
or EnSiuGn &c gwen To the profess " c.l vii
relieve them from the necessity .; messing anu
ing nth their pupils Thus close naG Constant ST.,
cation is well cacui tied to weaken the respect ard
influence which their relation TO the young officers
ought to inspire ami which is absolutely necessary
whether their services the present system ere
worth the money which they cos;, al housh the Y
would he highly valuable under proper regulations
IL will be perceived that the estimates for the en-.
suing year are much 'arcer than they have hereto.
fore been. Ii Is confidently believed however tina;
no'hlns has been asked for whcn Is not necessary
and that no'hiug winch Is deemed necessary nns
beer over.esum,teG.
Having recommended q lar e increase IL most OF
our squad 'ors, It 10. ove', OF Sc that should
nsk the req !si:e a7lrc2-i.i!'Us - support them
PTesum'ns inst Gpverr,rvul does not bui Is 5! lbs
without designing 10 U.s. the :; woII appear n be
the oovI' us duty OF tbs Department To keen as ma.
ny ut Jhen IN con TINT &C is cln b. pOithbly
enp,cycd. LIS is, iuicci, iac true economy
Some OF our finest ships have declysi 10 setious
extent, while yet upon the stocks, and sal, more
have alter b-ing launched. required expensive re-
pcnSIse r pairs h,fDse they have been sent to sea
TINS - the Necessary constq uence oi keeping them
IN our docks. SnIps IN actual are genera
c'ean, tight, dry and proper vent a'ed. 4 careful
guard Is kent over them. % that slight decays nre
lmnednte'y detected, ami rsuaced without any
sso 40. l. =. L.
hat vessels have Teen found, alter the7 return
from lon. cTuis 5, reIisr order for .ervIce than
when they lei. the docks. On the oIner hand when
they kept m pnrj h1ui crews, they decay "a
DIcly, for want OF the care ami attention necessary
to preserve them. |. may wei be doubles wheth-
er the ngg'esrte of losses an and repairs rem
hercd necessary, by the ncn-u.e of vessels, has
fallen very TAR short Of what J. would have cost TO
Ike p hem IN commission.
Blu: this IS he least part q! he evil. Will our
ye'se.s are nn-mplpyeu, our eff -ers are % Tney
thus lose the opportunity OF 'cquIrins dus know.
ledge Of theIr pruiesS'oH, en- naturally fail ..;o
those injurious hiU!ts which idt=nesS always ensen
dsrs. Il would nc; &c surprising If they ,houd for
get ~ some degree, gner respect for tie lug which
they so rarely permitted 20 hoist and lose in IN
uolence and dCsp5niCacy, the ioity spirit and gen
crous Aspirations 20 which the Navy owes lis past
rtnown. am HarGY % assure you tina; is present
PsrSoH'Id does no. deserve this -.cct- Al no pre-
Sous tine has u been Iule 10 boast OF many abe
otl,C:s u: the higher ga les, OF so maLy young
OH e.s Of noe spIH, 20 d attainment and fir p o.
mise. Ni'hI". ,qu.red but ~ brush eff the rust
OF i-'enCs. b? Eiv!n: hen mlloymeni, and 10 no
out to diem the sncOuTIg Of a reasonable hope
that ME dcvc;c' to The country, IN the afduous
service OF the sea, may aim, at ess the reverb Of
that c,In'Ty's uo,!cc and rsspec.
Oac- reasons fsr the Pc snt nc>eased es ms.es
WI be found IN the report OF tRs Navy C1mnsaol
ers, which herewith PRESENT. Their statement IS
So mlnu ami sp ciic, and At the same time so con-
dens-d, that Il Conveys all needlu information uo
on this point, IN as few words could use for the
same purpose. Content myself, therefore, with
4 sinpierefrrence to tn't document, remarking, ut
he same time, that Il meets my entire approval.
IL will be perceived that n very snsalI appfopria-
ion Is asked tor continuing the necessary work at
ne navy yard at Pensaco a. The great importance
II that yard IS fully appreciated, and every effort
will be used 10 complete II IN short time as pos
bie. !, Is believed, however that The appropriation
now asked is as large as can be aGvan'a geously
Ised during the next year. shall not hesitate to
.sk an additional Appropriation should II hereafter
appear to be necessary.
invite your attention IN an especial manner 10
he navy yard at Brooklyn. Should the Govern
nen proceed with tue construction Of the dry-d OK
Il that place, u Is believed 10 be absolutely reces-
airy TO enlarge nc yard TO a very considerable ex-
cnt. There rs not al present sufficient water front
Or the accommodation Of half the number Of YES
els which wI probably be assembled there at one
me; nor IS tEe:e within the yard space enough
or conducting ndylntagcou the necessary me
hlnlc8l operations OF such an establishment. IL Is
so worthy Of consideration that the safety OF the
'ard IS much end Inser=d by the joining private
buildings, one Ot VIII rh IS rurpenIus dIsttl.ery,
nd nearly all o! which ore butt Of wood. IN case
u FIRE on that side Of the yard, 70 would be extreme
y difficult 20 save the public property. respect
g.Iy suggest that an establishments Of such magn
uje and value should be bounded on oil sides crher
" water or by pubic street, as 10 alfJrd the !
fcn'cst possible security against danger ON FIRE
Inc present very favorable time tor he pIrrh
{ the additional ground necessary 10 tie attainment
e TINS OBJECT. ! recommend tbs subj Ct 10 your /
consideration before any large additional eIpsndI |
IRE shall be made for perm improve ments IN
Ter the present arrangement.
a SUIT has been commenced by an individual for |
he recovery II eight or ten acres " land attached
o the navy hospital az Norfolk. So much Of that !
iHj as IS unclaimed ny individuals, has now grow. !
ng upon grove Of u-isn'ng trees, which YOU H. |
{ properly projected afford great couiJt and re- !
o the beauty Of the grounds. At present, how
yer, II is enclosed, and consequently IS subject
o dcpredi'ions winch there are no me rs Of pre-.
renting. These dsprUdalIons vii in a short lime
iCs'fOy the wuo'e growth A very small eKpen.
ii.urs would pro Gct 70, and would be very OenCh- |
sally applied 70 that Object
You viii perceive that the Commissioners ask for !
Clerks. Folly convinced that these gre
altogether necessary, should s'renIously urge the
subject upon your attention, but for the hope lhi,
the wants Of The entire Department IN thit respect
WI, be provided Tor IN the rcorstnz iton Of IT, which
! have herein 20 earnestly recommended.
Add Uonl marine barracks are required, end If
th1t corps should be considerably increased will be
absolutely necessary.
Permit me TO express my entire approval q the
succession Of fbe Cyfufnrssrorrya ia ,eI.f,or IN ,