The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-31

These are now the only ships remaining on the
stocks at Charestownand we hope they will not long
be suffered to remain in their present easy positions
but that they will be withdrawn from their hiding
places, and sent abroad to perform the services for
which they originally built Both ofthese ships
have been on the stocks for over twenty years-and,
during that time must necessarily have suffered more
or less decay They are moreover of ancient model,
clumsy and heavy in the extreme-and probably
prove but dull sailors-and, III a time when speed
would be required to capture an enemy any common
sailing vessel would run them "hul down in short
time Each being 100 gun ships, or more the i'm
mense weight of their required ornaments, added to
their poorness of model, and great size, will render
them unhandy and unfit them for very active SER
vice, What we propose, then, is to have them cut
down to moderate size, entirely remodclled, and to
have new timbers where old ones are detective-and
launched, rugged and manned, and sent abroad as
perfect models of Amer lean naval architecture. Too
much credit cannot be awarded to the present Sccre
tary of the Navy, for the activity and energy he has
shown IN his present sltuaon--and when we contrast
this activity with the slothfuness and natenton of
his Loco Foco predecessors, we behold, as it were,
new and bright era dawn upon the heretofore ne
elected NAVY. We hope the Secretary will continue
as he has begun-and have all the ships rottng
the stocks, promptly repaired and launched into their
native element. We pray he will not forget our me-
chanics of the North but give them the opportunity
of soon finishing the VERMONT and VIRGINIA. Ano-
ther subject too, in which we of the North are all
interested and which have before spoken, we
would press upon the attention of the Government.
1t is the building at our Navy Yard, of STEAM FIR
GATES, and the establishment at the same spot of
national FOUNDRY, for manufacturing steam ma
chinory, md other implements of war, There is at
this present moment, lying unappropridtod in the
Charlcstown Navy Yard, timber enough TO complete
three or four largest class vessclsand why not use
it in constructing some steam frigates Now that
steam is taking its precedence the ocean, we shall
want steam vessels of war-and, as we have often.
reiterated there is place in the United States SO
admirably, so beautifully adapted for the building of
such vessels as our Navy Yard at Charlcstown. Let
the VERMONT and VIRGINIA be launchcd-let the
foundry be establishcd-and then devote the four
stocks of the Navy Yard to the construction of men
of-war steamers. 1t would be difficult to assign a
reason why our mechanics of the North, skilu as
any in the world should not have share of Govern
ment employmen-and we will guarantee the faith
full performance of any work they may undertake
We earnestly entrca the notice of the Secretary to
this subject--and ask the attention of merchants
and all others interested therein, that they may make
move in this matter, and see if objects so desirable
cannot be accomplished.