The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-08-12
HINTS TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.

Though at the hazard of being thought impor-
tunate. we deem il our duty to refer again to the
condition Of our National vessels, and to consider
what should be done with them We have in
former number expressed our ideas in respect to
the economy and necessity of keeping the public
property in repair. This is necessary for its
preservation, and also that it may he ready in an
emergency, to answer the purposes for which it is
designed the protection of national and individual
property, and of national and individual rights
We then adverted to the false economy of allow
ing our public vessels to go 10 ruin without any
effort for their preservation, until their services
are required, when. at vast expense, they must
he fitted out at short notice, and, of course, at
great disadvantage; and even then, perhaps. not
till too late to answer the most important of ma
tiona purposes, Of which none can be more i'm
portant than that of prompt action, when neces-
sary for the security of national honor. To be
Of the successful preservation of our rights,
we must be ready, at once, to punish efIectualIy
those who infringe them. In order 10 be readv,
we must have onr vessels prepared for action in
the least possible time. They should be commits
stoned, differed and manned with our gallant
connrymen. and prepared to proclaim in thunder
tones in any and every quarter Of the habitable
globe, "our rights they must and shall be pre-
served" All must admit the correctness of these
views.
In this age Of enterprise. and of our commercial
greatness, we must have Navy, and that an eff
cent one. or we may reasonably expect, that our
power will be despised, shall be visited with
contempt other nations will enrroach upon our
rights, till, at length, losing all the confidence
and respect of others. our power will be really
destroyed, we shall sink into nothingness in a
tional point Of view, and become the sport and
prey Of the ambition, cupidity and avarice Of other
nations.
Shall these things he Americans can give but
one answer. Then instead Of the Delaware, the
Decatur, and Fairfield being allowed longer to re-
main prey TO tempests and storms, exposed ),
without proper protection and care to secure them,
and worst Of all prey. as they doubtless are, to
those fell destroyers, the worms let them be forth
with taken into dock Their copper examined
and repaired their timbers if any are defective be
SUPPLIED by those that sound and good let
them he thoroughly repaired throughout then let
them he well secured and ready to be pat in com
mission whenever their service may he required
r. not this the reasonable and rational course
Has the Government money been expended to
construct vessels for feeding the worms? Were
these vessels built 10 rot down for want Of proper
repairs7 Let those whose business il is. answer
these questions by at once stopping these rotten
and destructive proceedings, and taking care Of
Y government properly as they would IT it belonged
4, them Individually. The Delaware was once
efore almost destroyed by worms, so that cafnels
ad to be constructed to raise her up, and hold her
90 that che might DO repaired viii sach crying