The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-13

From York Herald.
TAs New Steamships and the Secretary OF the Navy.
We made some remarks, few days since, the silly
and foolish proposition or recommendation put forward
by Mr. Ballard Preston, Secretary of the Navy, in his
report, regarding the construction OF steamships for the
purposes OF government, and denounced II as we
thought il deserved His proposition was that the sys
tenn under which the Washington, the Hermann, the
Ohio, the Georgia the Atlantic the Pacific, the Arctic,
the Antarctic and several other splendid steamships, that
would confer honor on any nation in the world, were
built. should be discontinued and that the government
should return TO the old system under which the Mis-
sisspp and Missouri, two magnificent and costly failures
were constructed The more we reflect on the subject
the convinced that, in making such rdicu
lous proposition. Mr. Preston shows himself to be de-
porably deficient in information on the topic which
be wrote and entirely unit to occupy the position OF
Secretary OF the Navy OF this great country.
We desire especially to call the attention OF the naval
committees OF both houses OF Congress 10 the beautiful
and magnificent steamships that now being finished
in this port for K Collinss Liverpool line We allude
to the Atlantic the Pscfce, and the Arctic the last named
Of which launched on Monday morning last Those
vessels are the largest in the world and, we do not
make mistake, will, in all probability, be fast they
Are large They are being built under The system which
constructed in such manner to be easily converted
into vessels Of war for the OF the government Il
the naval committees OF both houses OF Congress will
look them and then look at the magnificent failure,
the Missouri which built at expense Of FIVE hun
dred and eghtyve thousand dollars. or at the steamship
Fulton, another magnificent failure think they will
not hesitate in arriving at the conclusion that Mr. Pres
toms silly recommendation should be treated with
contempt, as the emanation OF weak and silly man
We do not know the exact cost OF the steamships
composing Mr. Collins's Liverpool line, but we
understand that il will be in the neighborhood
OF six hundred thousand dollars each. This may
appear, at first sight, very large sum but when
reflect that these the largest vessels the world and
that their bulls, engines and machinery OF the best
materials TO be found in the country Il will not appear
extravagant III possible (which IL is not) for the
government TO construct vessels equal TO them in model
speed and excellence, they would EACH under the
old system which Mr.; Preston wishes the country 10
N Al loo1f n 1oil At ~
such steamers. would be the greatest naval power in
sxiseDce and II Is apparent thai must have feet
e thsm great portion Of the carrying trade Of
the world will concentrate in our hands as soon
the great shipcana connecting the Atlantic and Pa
cihc oceans shall have been constructed Almost the
whole OF the carrying trade Of the Pacific will be
tuaiy forced upon that canal IL finished
IN consequence OF our geographical position. Such
an extended commerce must be carried by steamships
and ~ experience has demonstrated the utility and benefit
OF union OF government assistance with individual
terpse, in the construction Of such vessels il would be
the height OF folly TO return to system which never
produced any good but which, on the contrary enailed
vast expenditure OF money TO purpose That system
has been tried, and what are the results The Fulton,
:. m enormous cost cannot carry fuel enough for more
than ninety miles seaning The Missouri was launched
with agreat flourish Of trumpets, and was intended TO
cross the Atlantic by steam. In addition to her arma
men and fuel she was to carry two regiments Of sol
diers What il the RESULT With the aid OF SAILS she
crossed the Atlantic in twenty three days. and, instead OF
being able TO accommodate two regiments Of soldiers she
could hardly find room for her crew OF two hundred men,
OOuso Sof'y sumefcney so~S fo' 'o1"bc w
Europe.
While these facts therefore, contrasting the compare
tive usefulness OF the two systems are before us what
can be thought Of Secretary of the Navy who would
deliberately recommend return 10 the old one. under
which we have got nothing but expense disappointment
and national disgracei The Missouri, i will be reco
scted was destroyed by fire, and il would be mo- loss TO
w country the same fate were 10 overtake the Mssls
npm ana me Fulton. As long, however as they exist
ucy WI oe Paipable and refragable evidence OF the
s5uuy ana ,moeciy of the presept Secretary OF the
Nsyy; anu wnen we compare them with the vessels
wncn We nave named they will be proof just strong
o. me excellence OF the new system which that mighty.
minded man says should be abolished Such Secretary
OF the Navy does not comprehend his duties Is behind the
ags and ought to abdicate at once the ps,,on b,ch ia
occupies 6g for such Secretary IA long AZ he r..
mains in ONCE the appropriate committees IN ,hs a.,
branches of the national legislature must attend 10 ne
naval interests Of the country.
A correspondent Of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes
from New York, January %
witnessed the launching Of the steamships Arctic, Of
the Liverpool line, building by f. X. Collins, and the
Boston and New World, intended for the California
trade, this morning; and interesting spectacle
never before saw There were, at moderate calcu.
lation, thirty thousand persons present. composed Of
people OF all classes OF society Not the slightest acct
dent occurred at any OF the launches and the vessels
alipped from their ways into the East river gracefully
was possible believe approximations were enter.
tanned that the Arctic in consequence OF her immense
szs, might be somewhat strained while being launched