The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-03-10
Ocean steam Navigation.
srErcs OF Ma MfLLER. or New YoRx, ON THE WAa
STEAMER Bill, IN THE HousE OF RsfREsxNTATIvEs,
Last NIeRr OF THE SESSION.


ON rHr Last NIoRr OF THE SESSION.
Mr. CBAiHMAS-In the few remarks have to Offer
az ms a's hour OF the session. promise to connne my.
the Committee AN solicitous Tor the passage Of the
b end for the adoption Of the amendments proposed by
the Naval COMMITTEE, lating the extension of
Government aid to coastw iso Inns of stesmers and
line Of steamers to ply between New York and Liver.
rocl. shali 20 Tor both measures, deeming them es.
senoi NOT only TO our commercial interests fut
national honor and security. But though shall vote
ior both sspdmsn,s feel bound to say that there
more interest among my immediate Constituents than
the proposed line Of mail steamers to Liverpool,
Tho amendments fall in naturally with the offsets OF the
original bill Both conemplate tho effective increase OF
amendments, that Of our mercantile war navy. Both
cose within the supervision of the Navy Department
and are subject TO Its control Mr.. Chairman when
consider the present situation OF country; extend.
ed and extending territories It's immense Atlantic coast
Gulf with M large and exposed 'n our
possessions on the Pacihc with ane ma.
rine, bearing our flag TO the remotes seas deem /,
but measure OF ordinary prudence and foresight to
augment the efficiency OF our steam marine by the
most liberal appropriations For,usately, Mr. Chair.
man. the apprehension OF immediate hostiiities with
England terminated with the hsppy adjustment Of
the Oregon controversy but, as long as
power are in constant danger Of collision. lie.
volt dsafecton in those colonies may any moment
materially increase those dangers and we may not a
ways be able to avail ourselves Of the mastery wisdom
which saved us on the northeastern boundary question:
the Mcleod case, aud the Oregon dispute. When
probable events but Of events little unlikely hap
pen that the part OF common prudence 10 provide
against their occurrence Ii not merely for the pro
lection Of the border possessions of the Hudson Day
Company-t is not from the danger she apprehends from
changes IN ,ne nIonss o. Europe that Great Britain has
years in the extension of her steam marine Her legs
ation contemplates uniformly wise provision for pre-
oable events Her policy not based upon that from
hand to mouth wisdom which bundeIs into and
blunders through it, without knowing where 20 expect
blows or whare TO strike them She knows as well as
sons on the North American continent in view OF the
sition which they have manesed at during
the last 20 years. and in view OF the dpos which pre-
wells and always will prevail in the country of prosely
tsm and acquisition, there is always dangsr,more or less
ermined to be prepared any uch event to descend up
on us with an overwhelming force Why, sir look
moment at the present naval force ot Great Britain
registered in the report OF Secretary Bancro made to
tho Senate on the 30th Of March, 1916 From this
$40. mounting when armed, 1881 guns, and that in
these employ 30 900 men boys, and marines The
commerce and hhories of Great Britain employ 20 sos
vessels the aggreRao tonnage OF which il 1907 ISL
This gives bss gun he regular navy to each leo 900
tons OF her ship aut this immense force, and this
estimated protec nar i've of Ia sailing vessels
and - steamers in tl. ra navy, ~ vessels in tho
revenue SERVICE and 90 large contract mail steamers
under the control Of the Government; being q total
Of l3l additional vessels mounting 80 guns.
From the came source learn that the United States
have II vessels in their mounting as,5 guns, and
This gives them 97guns each 900 Of
vessels in the revenue service carrying 81 guns and o1
officers and men. The difference between the number
snd 81 the navy sG oss OF the
and insufficient index to the difference in actual force
and efficiency The introduction Of steam as an element
Of naval warfare has completely revoutionzed its chs
racter.
II is idle to look any longer for defence sail
ing frgstes and sloops Of that old battles
the ocean In comparison with vessels combining the
of steam with that Of sails steam vessels OF war;
Is obvious tina, mere selling vessels con never move with
thR fnril nd
nations wi the same be brought into or out
of engagements with the certainty and speed The
relative strength them Is TO be estimated by the
comparison OF steam nnvies. The total effective
navy Of England numbers 1870 vessels according
United States numbers three war steamers in commits
sion it'll 23 guns building to mount guns, and
three 10 ordinary TO mount guns, ore OF the last class
being designed for harbor defence and the other Tor
steam tug Nipo stesmers, they are set down
in the report to which have referred while We were
told however in the annual report Of that Secretary
that the Mississippi and the Princeton the only
efficient sea going steamers in our service The British
proportion Of about fifty to one
In the annual message Of December last the President
recommends the addition Of an ;ent war steamer to
each of foreign squadrons and rejoice that this re-
has been acted upon by the other branch
of this body and 10 before for Approval for
AN persuaded the time has arrived whom tho main re
Of squadron rest emphscay upon its steam
sses, and that the time is At hand when vessel OF
war will be deemed altogether ielia IL without an aux
Hilary steam power The pactcablity OF an efficient
and wind-has been already demonstrated by the per
formances Of the auxiliary steamers in the service
oftho War Department in the Gulf Of Mexico But sir
1t is not enough that should merely increase our
navy proper Great Britain is eating into the heart OF
extending her naval dominion at expenss-and all
for the want OF little governmental aid par, to
hst private enterprise which stands ready and eager to
enter into active commercial competition with the
English steamers. Why, sir, how can We hesitate in
this matter without subjec'ing ourselves to the charge
OF the most oulpable apathy and imbectyl Two
only in the navy Of the United States One OF
them now undergoing repairs OF Norfolk; one Of them in
and so constantly has her steam machinery been en-
poyed At the present moment, sir with our large
marine force In the Gulf and in of the great enter
prises apparently contemplated there, not single
liable steamer at our commando not steamer Of any
description whatever on any OF our foreign stations
With squadron in the Pacific, and with the military
cupaton Of California and with our own colonies in
Oregon to look after we have not steamer calculated
for cruising in the Pacific, or Keeping up the cormun.
cation between the occupied western coast
and the home department Not one, sir; not one TWEEN
y thousand American vessels traversiRg the waters
quarters of the globe, and dependant ell on British
enterprise and British couItesy for every letter
Look at the city which have the honor
in part TO represent What was tho condition Of New
York end its environ' when we were last mensced with
hostilties with Great Britain Hafa million of people
sir, and three hundred millions OF property, liable
prompt notice to he descended upon by hundred armed
and efficient war steamers of Great Britain, half
Of which, under the command OF Paul Jones' could
have laid that city under contributions and In ashes in
spite oil all It's present deences. We have nothing, lite
rally nothing to oppose to these formidable instruments
Of destruction Thousands Of gallant men, with the
binary arms and with the common field artillery, could
have avoiled nothing against such force for such
force select its time ond Its position for
tack Sir is wise. is il right that this great
cal city shonld longer continue thus exposed TO the
mercy Of an enemy Give her some means Of defence
capable OF coping with the destructive steamers and m
sle OF modern sciences give her steamers construct
ed aitor the specifications OF naval committee, and
Paixhsn guns. With these arms and her own brave
citizens to look after thcm they defend the city and
harbor against all the navies Of tho world but without
them she falls an easy TO ell conducted enter
prise Sir the whole country Is interested in the secur
~ and defence Of that point Produce and manufactures
IRON all sections OF the country in which the east,
north, south and west are alike in crested, form large
portion Of It's accumulated wealth. Importaons
large portion Every section Of the countryside small.
est village this side oil the Rocky Mountsinshas inter
ests there 10 protect which the expenditure OF mil
lion Of vo millions Of dollars In the increase Of
efficient navywould amount comparatively TO nothing