The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-01-05

| censure should sttach itself alone to those nv
whom the department was misled. Remonstrance
was made ny those who were hest qua lifted 10
Judge, hut it came late the contracts had been
entered into; and ! will venture the assertion,
that there was not one of those who contracted To
execute the work. who did not from the first an
ciPate failure. The result Of all the experi
ments since made. have confirmed their antcipa
TINS, and the vessels have been constant source
of expenditure, in alterations and repairs. since
| their launching. with no service worthy of men.
| ton offset.
| The amount which has been thus pxpendpd
would have provided, fully armed equipped.
manned. and provisioned, no less than twenty
eight briggs of two hundred and fifty tons-a fee,
! which would have formed Gordon from one end
| ct the coast TO the other; and class Of vessels
/ which Gould have kept the at all seasons of
the year; have rendered efficient service in pro
ieciing the revenue. as well as in affrdng relief
and would have been maintained al an expense
compa ratively trfng
have been thus prolix on this subject. for the
purpose of placing il befre Congress in its true
and proper character; and with desire To re
lieve the officers Of the revenue marine from the
modification and unjust impuiaiions under which
they have suffered. In doing so, | am fully
aware of what am to expect frnm those whose
interests are interfpred with, and that the must
insidious means will again be used To mjslead
/ Congress IN the subject Of the revenue marine
out nave Two points III IutY 10 DPTtOrm The
hrst To the government, the other Ia the service
of which ama member and both of which shall
he performed to the utmost of my ability, irres-
pectve Of all consequences.
/ The two steamers, the Pnk' and the
" Walker which were contracted for, and build.
ing commenced previous TO the passage of the ac,
of Congress Of the Sd of March, lS45. are nearly
completed. The Polk" constructed at Rich
mond, was launched las, month"; and il is antici
pated will be in active operatun in the course of
the present month. The " Walker" at Plus
burg, is nearly ready for launching; but it is
deemed advisable to keep her upon the ways
until the spring rise of the river, The work can
he executed with more facility where she now
lies, than If exposed to the ice during the winter
The models for these vessels were furnished
by the late Col. Samuel Humphreys, chief naval
constructor. whose plans were carried out with
the exception tina, some additional length and
beam was given To increase her bnoyancy They
are furnished with two Of Lighiholls low pres-
sure half beam marine engines, of So inch cylin
der and feet stroke. These engines are similar
to those of the Russian steam frigate Kamschatka
the Spanish steamers Lion and Eagle and the
naval steamers Spiifire and Vixen. They have
been constructed under tho immediate superin
tendence of Mr.. Lighihal. and the hull under
the supervision of John w. Capes. Esq, of New
York, shipwright of acknowledged ability
From the professional reputation of those gentle
men, and the success which has attended the
before mentioned vessels il may be reasonably
anticipated that the ''Polk" and "Walkern will
be crediiable TO the constructors; and as far as
their dimensions and force will permit, efficient
for the purposes of The government, Although
one hundred tons smaller than the ''Bibb" thew
viii carry 30 per cent more than that vessel and
still afford comfortable accommodations for her
officers and crew. | am spprehensive, however.
that the draught of water will be somewhat
greater than was anticipated, but much less than
it would have been had the original plan of the
bull been carried out.
With respect to the general character of the
officers composing the corps, and which has, since
the construction of the steamers been ON more
than one occasion unjusty assaiIed can assert.
without fear OF contradiction, and furnish the
proof, that this service presents as fair proper
ton OF those whose professional qualifications,
moral character, and energy. entities them to the
confidence and consideration of the government
as any other. They are Injured to the hardshps
incidental to the execution of their duties, and
intimately acquainted with the ha rbors and gen
eral navigation Of the coast--a knowledge which
can only be acquired by long experience. In adj
dition to which. the service possesses some pecu.
liar features in supporting no supernumeraries,
and requiring each officer to render by actual
service. an equivalent for the compensation which
he receives.
Under the present established regulations for
the government of the revenue marine the off.
GERS are introduced at an early age are subjected
to probationary term Of service in the Junior
grades. with every possible opportunity 10 acquire
professional knowledge and not promoted To the
higher. until they shall have passed rigid ex
animation, and their rank is then assigned upon
the scale of merit
In May last, the revenue laws hav wing been ex
tended over the State of Texas, II was deemed
advisable by the President 10 concentrate strono
force OF the service in that vicinity which should
| udinu fnt 10
ecting the revenue. hold itself in readiness.
should occasion require, TO give convoy and pro.
teciion 10 merchant vessels, and Ia co-operate
with the other branches Of the public service
should their services be called into requisiton.
Upon this duty the steamers Legare Spencer.
and McLane and schooners Woodbury. Ewing.
Forward, and Van Burep, were detailed and the
alacriiy displayed by the officers in preparing
their vessels and obeying The order, is worthy Of
all commentator and praise. In less than two
weeks from the ISSUE of the order, all these YES
sells were ready for sea several in three DAYS
rom the receipt of their orders, and The others
only delayed in consequence Of difficulty in ship
ping an increased number Of men.
Of the number which were detailed. but three
remain IN The guIf-the steamer McLane and
schoOners Forward and Ewing. The two latter
have been very active 10 carrying the mails and
they are all three at this time with the qnlC
squadron. The steamer Spencer put into Charles
'o"' ndFWg oui"eu Tue ooiler opt, as befUe men
toned. and returned to Philadelphia. The lie.
care reached her destination, and was actively
employed until the same de ranrement 10 The boIer
occurred, when that vessel was ordered north
and is now at Richmond, Va. The steamer
McLane, having been found entirely useless. has
been Withdrawn. The sohouners Woodbury. and
Van Buren,, after having been actively and yerv
servcahy employed, (ihe former since the com
mencement Of the war; have been found very
nnch decayed and ordered to New York. These
vessels are old and not worthy of repa,rs