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

relaflve OF vice admiral IN the navy according 70
the pleasure of the Legislature
OF the two rear admirals proposed one might
be most useiuiiy employed Mt the Department
ITSELF when rot on more actiye duty in such
pervision and direction of the personnel OF the
navy as might De assigned him by the head of the
Departments in analogy 10 the connection of the
Generalin. Chief and the Adjatans General with
the Department of War. The other. when not ia
command at sea- should establish his quarters at
Sap Francisco or other point on the Pacific coast,
ard should be invested with command over all
the naval officers and seamen west OF the hocky
Mountains as well as the naval forces IN the Pa
citc and in the China and East India seas report
ing MI his orders and the operations and proceed,
iurs under them to the Department, at stated and
early periods The distance OF our Pa>lhc eoast
from the seat Of Government, even by the most
expeditious route, is too great Tor an energetic
system Of naval operations, by means oil the trans
mission of orders and dispatches 20 snd iro or
even for the enforcement Of proper discipline an
der the existing law Ia the latter particular our
squadron there is in less eligible situation than
it was before the acquisition OF California me
commander of squadron foreign station Is
empowered to order Courts martial and to approve
ard carry into effect their sentences bus II 1t be
within the United States, court can only be or
dered by the President or the hesd OF the Depart
meut Thus military Justice, which was formerly
of easy enforcement where the squadron was sut-
hcentlV numerous to furnish the necessary officers
to constitute court is dependent orders
from Washingt0n and has become too terdy in its
administration for the ends Of the service. This
Inconvenience is seriously felt AMI demands aa
early remedy 1t is, however, bnt one OF many
Illustrations Of the necessity for statoning on that
coast an officer OF higher rank and larger authority
than any now existing in the navy.
The object IN maintaining our naval force IN the
Pacific and demanding that it shall be Ia the high
est degree of efficiency is two fold;
LIST To protect coast more than one thousand
miles in length, occupied by sparse population.
probably not exceeding IN the whole 100000 souls,
two.thirds of whom are dependent on seagolng
commerce for the supply of their ordinary food
and rament, and are separated by mountains ana
deserts OF thousand miles IN extent IRON our
other settlements.
2d To give adequate protection and encourage
ment to our countrymon engaged in the whale
fisheries, in the South Pacific, and to that expand
ing commerce with Eastern Asia, which our poss-
essions ON the Pacific will enable MS to command.
with proper improvement OF our lawful advan-
tages A naval policy adequate to these ends
seems to be indispensably required. 1t is TACT,
perhaps notgenerally known, that the longest voy-
age in the time necessary Tor It's accomplishment,
now made by navgators, Is that from our Atlantic
to our Pacific ports, and hence it will appear maa-
ifestlv expedeut, in cruises on that ocean, to it
out naval expeditions trpmthe Pacific coast, which
shall return thither at the end OF their tour "A
vessel sent there from the Atlantic, according to
the present arrangement, to return Mt the end OF
three years, loses one year OF the three IN gong
and returning And from the marked difference
in the navigation of the two oceans, il the desgn
be to bring her home to reit she will need con-
diti0n of repair to enable her to weather Cape
Horn and pass up the hoisterous course OF tho AT,
lantic which will qualify her for an extended
cruise in the Pacific. The extraordinary state oil
prices now prevailing orbids the idea OF building
vessels or recruiting seamen on that coast. m
deed the flag ship Of the Commodore OF the Pa
ciGc SQUADRON was at last advices, deficient by
more than one-balf in her complement OF men,
without the ability to recruit more, except at wa
ees far above those now allowed 1t must, there
fore, be greatly to our interest, at least until
change in monetary affairs in California
/ lst To build ships and recruit sailors on the At
lantic coast for the Pacific fleet;
Cd. When q sufficient number of vessels shen
be placed on that side of the Continent to retain
them thpre for permanent use; and
3D. That when crews are wanted TO man Them
after the expiration of the term of those originally
carried out TO enlist them in the Atlantic ports
/ and send them out in Government transports on
the ordinary line OF travel across the lsthmus oil
Panama, as they are now transported from one
Atlantic port to another
With dock for repairing vessels on the Caillor'
MIA coast, as contemplated by the act OF the last
session of Congress, such course of policy Wonld
enable at all times to keep an effective iieet IN
the Pacific, and operate as vast saving IN time
/ and money to the service in that quarter.
BY judicious disposition ofour vessels and the
Improvement Of the organization and discipline of
the personnel to the highest point of efficiency, it
/ is believed that our naval force neednot be imme-
/ diately augmented in any great degree, notwith-
standing the accession to territories; and that
the policy OF gradual Increase 80 long pursued.
while it requires attention to every Improvement
in naval construction and warfare, need not be
materially fastened.
How great will be the transition in the art of
war on the sea by reason of the introduction of
steam as prcpclling power to vessels OF war, re-
mains yet to be determined. That it has already
furnished arm Of great power, which has been
well ikened to flying artillery land, is beyond
all question; and though not concurrng in the
opinion that warsteamers will supersede sail veg
sells ships of war, | am yet thoroughly persuhd-
ed that they will be most valuable auxiliares; and
respectfully submit for your examination here
with letter from an officer OF much Intelligence
and experience IN the command OF steamships Of
war in regard to their efficiency in hostile opera.
tions, simply as striking bodies IN running down
the vessels of an enemy by means of their great
weight, and the momentum OF which they are
capable by the power OF steam. AS connected
with this subject, likewise invite your attention
to the recommendation Of the chief of the Bureau
OF Construction that sail ships of hereafter
to be constructed shall be furnished with steam.
propelers to be used on occasions where celebrity
of motion adverse to the prevailing winds may be
important. But wi the improvements constant
ly going on in ocean steamers, | would not re.
commend a large addition to this species of naval
force except in the event of war lest the progress
Of invention should supplant them by others of
superior construction.
Of the four war steamers authorized to be built
by the act Of Congress of the Sd of March l847 the
saranac only has been gotten ready for sea. It's,
however, not doubted that the other three will be
also ready in the course of few months.
While the Saranac viii be retained in the home
squadron as an effective cruiser in any emergency
which may arise, it is contemplated to attach the
send the two remaining ones to the Pacific and
the coast OF Brazil 1t is ia contemplation, also,
to require the commandants Of the squadrons in
the Pacific and the asst Indies and in ike man
ner OF those on the coasts Of Brazil and Africa,
at certain convenient times and places, to meet
with the greater part Of their respective com