Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-25
pURLIC DOCUMENTS

- ''1N' y - Philadelphia 6a:s,te.
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
ACCoMPANYING THE PRESIDENTS ANNUAL MESSAGE
REPORT or TIE SECkEI.7RY OF TIE NaPF
fCoScLuDED.
The subject next in importance the reorganization
Of the Navy Department. have had but short ex-
in this Department. but short experience is
enough 10 display its defects even TO the most super
fetal observation 1t is, in truth, not organized at ALL
The labor 10 be performed must, under any circun-
stances be great and one-ous bnt IS rendered douo
SO by the want Of proper arrangement ana disfiou
ton of duties. AT present. multitude OF aut'es are
imposed upon the head Of the Department. which any
one Of its clerks could discharge well as himself, bu
which, from their pressing nature, he is not permtted
TO postpone Hence, his whole time Is occupied IN
trifur Details rendering II impossible for hun to besow
the requisite attention upon more important subjects,
involving the great interests OF the service These de-
tails are indeed so numerous and multtarious as to
constitute themselves amount OF duties July equa
the powers of any one man. In addition TO ths le
present of proper arrangement Is extremely un
favorable that direct individual responsibility winch
il is so necessary impose every public oiicer-
The same cause occasions delays in the operations oil
the Department, by rendering necessary variety OF
tedious official forms and consequently preventing
that promptness of action which Indispensable TO It's
due efficiency And tits not The least among Inc evs
OF this state of things that the precise condition OF the
several branches OF the service cannot be ascertaned
without much time and labor thus adding 10 the cost
Of the Department, while It dimnishes It's usefulness
These ipcon venience and endorsements, and many
others which are daily el the administration OF The
DEPARTMENT, " ould in some degree be removed by a.
mere re.arrap cement and proper distribution OF the
labor now employed in il; but additional labor IS alb
solutey necessary, order 10 enable 1t TO discharge
its functions in the manner required by the interest OF
the service !, would not he proper TO enter INTO all
the details Of the subject this report III is alreaGy
before Congress- and will doubtless receive the early
attention of that body n resolution was adopted by
the House of Representatives. on the l9th February,
1882 directing the Secretary of the Navy to report
TO this House, at the commencement oil tne next Lon
cress pan for the reorganization OF this branch OF
the public service adopting as the basis OF his plan the
division of the duties performed by the Board OF
Navy Commissioners and their assignment 10 separate
hureaux In ODE dence to this resolution, Mr.. faud-
mo. the then Secretary submitted, the Both Dec,
1899 long and elaborate report, CHASED on the Pr'n.
ciple presented in the resolution. 10 this report
respectfuy refer. In most OF lis views, and IN all OF
ts more important conclusions, fully concur. 90
not however, adopt his plan precisely as he mas pro-
posed it, Some change IN the principles ana some ao
di,onaI provisions will probably be necessary, which
The experience othe Department will enable to sug
yest in arranging the details oil the law earnestly
invoke immediate attention 10 the SUBJECT hrHiy oeleV
ing that the proposed reform IS indispensable 10 the
due administration of the Department, and that 1t can
no. be longer delayed without serious injury TO the ser
vice.
There is reason believe that it now the settled po-
lcy of the Government to increase the Navy "a rapid
~ az the means its disposal will admit and 1t may
therefore be unnecessary that should offer any sug-
oe,tons upon that subject should not feel, however,
that my duty properly discharged, II should IAN
TO add whatever influence my own Recommendation
may possess to the many considerations when Suggest
this true policy
we NAV safely estimate the mercantile property Of
onr citizens annually aoat the ocean, and employed
in foreign trade, Mt not less than one hundred ana
twenty millions of dollars and TO this is to be added
the value of the vessels in which that property con-
viewed and the value Of American interests vested IN
mercantile establishments abroad, and dependent on
American trade. The coastlng trade, not including
such articles as exported cannot be accurately es-
tnaed but it certainly amounts to many millions OF
dollars Taking the aggregate OF oil property annual
" exposed 10 an enemy the ocean, on the lakes,
and on our principal bays and rivers 1t will probably
he found that il does fall short OF one hundred and
ffty millions of dollars. So large an interest IS emit
tied 10 demand and Justly expects 10 receive, me
most certain and ample protection lhis IS que aike
10 the citizen whose property thus exposed ana 10
the Government whose are derived principal
" from The duties which that property pays But tial
protection can be found only the ocean Trade IS
never secure unless 1t can, at oil tunes and IN All
places appeal for support TO the nation flag and
ought to feel that 1t is safe wherever that nag 'p1!
ed.
Every nation engaged in foreign commerce to any
valuable extent provides, as part OF It's estaoils-
ed policy an adequate military marine Our own coan-
world in this respect AS compared with England and
France the two principal commercial nations OF Eu-
rome il in found that England, with much less than
twice our foreign tonnage, has more than eight times
AZ manv vessels of war; exclusive of her steamships
France with only third OF our foreign tonnage, has
more than FIVE times many vessels OF war The COM
parison might still, further extended scarcely less TO
the disadvantage of country. II may well ex-
cite surprse that with large an interest at Stake,
and with certainty that it will rapidly increase from
wear 10 wear, little preparation should nave oeen
made for its protection and secury and tins surprise
,lI not he diminished when we reflect on the vast IN
which are connected with and dependent upon
foreign commerce. ana wnsn nus. @ sa
flourish or decay along with it. The farmer, the plant
er the mechanic the manufacturer, and even the day
nborer. depends, in greater or less degree upon
this for the success Of his own peculiar pranch Oh IN
dnsrv and even the fine arts themselves are not ex-
.nnt from the same influences. Commerce may be
regarded as our principal interest, BECAUSE 10 great
extent il includes within it every other interest.
Wars often arise from rivalry in trade and from the
conflicts of interests which belong to II. Inc pre-
sence of an adequate naval force to protect
nv promptly redressing the injuries which are done 10
H. !. one Of the best means of preventing those aus
putes and collisions which SO apt TO interrupt the
peace and harmony of nations.
But these views, although sufficiently important IN
themselves to Justify and require very large increase
oI onr naval force by the most interest
;no which The subject suggests. Ranking IN the hrst
.Is.s ne nations we under absolute necessity 10
regnote onr policy in degree, by that OF other
countries 80 far their policy may AFFECT US. All he
considerable maritime Powers have, within late years.
added greatly to their naval forces, and are al s mo-
ment actively engaged in the same work. This TACT
in wond m 10 render it absolutely necessary that
we should make similar preparation on our part. 10
n,onortion as other countries multiply the means ~
rheh they may annoy US, we ought, in common Pra'