New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-05

y
tion, equipment and repair of vessels are equal
in value in round numbers TO s6,500Ooo. The re-
sources OF the country in timber, iron. copper
hemp, and every species OF naval supplies, Will
enable these to be increased according to our ne,
cessities. Many intelligent persons incline 70 the
ooinion that, IN the present state of mechanical
science and enterprise. and with the abundance
NJ capi.al in our country, it would be wiser to re-
" upon contracts with private citizens for the
fuidfpg and repairs of our public vessels than TO
cerr7 on the work under the supervision OF public
Ulcers. And it may well be doubted whether, if
a system were now to be projected, without refer
once to what has heretofore been done, the number
If our navy yards might not be considerably
abridged With these establishments. however
now capable of use and with the inconslderabe
amounts necessary to preserve them, cannot re
commend that any of them be abandoned The
system of dependence on private contracts, more
aver, would deprive the Government OF my con
yenience Of location FOR repairing ana building
vessels and concentrate all such operations IN the
commercial cities, where private as well as puoHc
patronage might be expected. 1t is, moreover, SO
indispensable that ships of war shall be construct
ed on the most improved plans, to be devised only
bv practical knowledge OF naval warfare as well
az of naval architecture, and shall be thoroughly
built of the best materials, that it would be haZ-
ardous to resort to new method OF supplying
them, where the chief security for their effective
NC, In ti IF w. Whom ay-ar,y sxnedient
~. Lo rcos.r r. old "a tba nav orr nri,,ata
ship-yards would doubtless be found most lmpor'
tant auxiharies for the supply OF vessels, but 1t
would be most injudicious to depend on them rs
our only resource in preparation for war.
Such being the condition Of the vessels OF the
,ovy and o1r facilities aud preparations for aug.
venting their number, the question naturally pre-
cents itself What naval force do we require .
The answer to this question must, OF course vary
Win the VARYING circumstances of the couBtry.-
M.i .,, -, E5,ozad ON it's nresen basis by
.I,o arr Of 7q2 and considerably enlarged in con
saonence Of the state of hostities with France
for rho two ar three wears succeeding. the naval
500 vas reduced m IS0l and the number of yes
coils and officers limited BIZ law. the supernumera-
~ officers being discharged and the vessels sold.
The Tripolitan war which soon succeeded
onred speedv additions TO the force thus reserv
cd and with o77r extended and increasing com
&c 1r;tb tbo oh,-;o,Is ,ecess;+l for ts Drotec
tion and the nrotrocted 3isnuto with Great Britain
os TO the rights of our flag on the ocean. and the
brilliant achievements BY which those rights were
yindicafed bc the navy in the war which ended
the dispute. it so gained in the public estimation
that at the close Of the war, instead of a reduc
tion of This arm Of the national defense, as was
the case with the army. the annual sum Of 81 000
GOO. for eight wears, was approproprated for the
Gradual iucraase of the navy Although this ap-
nroUriaton was reduced to 100000 per year. in
icon tLe noIicI of rodna increase still continued
- w poli1y ~ tl ronn
70 oe iaYorIte OBJECT itu ooh5l % ''i VIZ
try IN ls27 le*o, ana 80, Tue fues1oh u, a."
proper naval peace establishment was NUN us t
cussed and considered, but was ielt ulaecl'leu ~
the Legislature, ana appropriations 'or me- edse,
as well as mnnteance ana repair nave coll''nuel
to be made, with some rre5ulRrlty as 20 ihteLFdls
and amounts, until the present time, out WITHOUT
any definition by Congress OF the number ana de-
scrption OF vessels deemed necessary Tor the ma
tional marine.
The numbers Ia Tue SaIious 5FaaIs VI 'nJ
has, until WITHIN RECENT peIiou oGcn iei 90: SUI
more underlined 'iah inc nunlgei y.
the reduction OF the nuhper VI sessGi9 UNI no
alter the reestaolishneht Oh lfienuly Ie.aelo..s
with France by treaty IN l7QI' no sta'u11 pi
than forty years ever lmted inc SUM tosal u pc
sons to be employed 10 the navy VI III no sc u
ranks and officers Inc numoer OF conitnlSs'ou9u
officers IN any grace up 70 una iiioiuuinS " ~
fancy depended on tue fresiuene 9nL "T D.
and the number OF warrant oflcers on Tue p nesl,
dent or he9a OF tht DePaisnieuI alo;,1 I9J1
provisional clause IN t4e ahuhi
approved August 4tii ioi@, Tue huluoel VI o.ti.e
in the respective 8Tades OF tnF navy " is Ul
not 10 De lhcr6aseu oey Tue -
on the lst OF January lo4@ auu Hiiy
Polntneht OF in'1sHPHieH " aS ioI
they shouid pc reduced TO Tue IuIgcf ~ -. ~
on the lAt OF JaAuary1 IN tI'S
tiye tlogSo o. hh TO % not then be-
fore tht eve Of the esIasIre bnt to be search
ed for in the roster of the service for the two pre-
ceding wears and by this, after being thus ascer-
tanned it continues to be regulated.
The personnel Of the navy, thus established,
comprises 6a captains. 81 commanders 327 lieu
tenants G8 surgeons, 81 passed assistant surgeons
43 assistant surgeons, 6i pursers, 2i chapans, Il
professors of mathematics, II masters III the line
Of promotion, and aga passed and other midship-
men; to which is to be added, besides other war
rant officers, according to the annual appropria.
ton for pay and subsistence, 1900 petty officers,
The capacity of the country to enlarge this
force. whenever desirable. NAV be readily per
ceived bv stating that we have now in the mer.
camille marine 3 600 600 of tuns of shipping, an
amount creoter than that of any other nation oil
the world and according to the ordinary estimate
of six men 10 every one hundred tuns. there are
in our merchant service 10000 seamen. In this
array Of hardy mariners to recruit FROM and in
our vast resources for building, equipping, and
49,. -, -,1.e,,s ~ .,l,,n.Dt # q