The republic., 1850-12-04

as reward for the long service and brilliant sue
cesses Of veteran soldier, il may be accompanied
followed by its correlative Of vice admiral in the
navy, according 10 the pleasure Of the Legislature.
Or the two rear admirals proposed, one might be
most useiully employed at the Department Itself,
when not more active duty, in such supervision
| and direction OF the personnel of the navy might
be assigned him by the head of the Department, in
analogy 10 the connexion or the General ln-Chlef
| ana the Adjutant General with the Department of
| War. The other, when not in command at sea,
l should establish his quarters at San Francisco, or
| other point the Pacii co Ist and should be in
| vested with command all the naval officers
| and west Of the Rocky Mountains, we'll
the naval forces in the Pacific and in the China
| and East India seas, reporting all his orders
| and the operations and proceedings under them
to the Department, at stated and early pc
| RODS The distance of our Pacific coast from
| the seat of government, even by the most ex-
pedious route, ID too great for an energetic sys-
TEN Of naval operations, by means Of the transmits
son of orders and dispatches and fro, for
| isting law In the latter particular our sauaoron
there less eligible situation than il was be-
| lore the acquisition Of California The commander
| Of squadron on foreign station Id empowered TO
order courts martial, and to approve and carry in
to effect their sentences; but, II II be within the
United States court can only be ordered by the
President the head OF the Department. Thus
military justice, which was formerly of easy en-
forcement where the squadron was hcientiy nu-
merous furnish the necessary otfitefs to consti
tute court, 10 dependant now ON oruers from
Washington and has become too tardy In It's ad-
mnstraton for the ends OF the service. This in-
convenience is seriously felt and demands an early
remedy. II is, however, but one oi many iiustra
lions Of the necessity for stationng on that coast an
officer of higher rank and larger authority than
any now existing III the navy.
The object IN maintaining our naval force In the
Pacific, and demanding that II ehail be Ia the high
,st degree Of efficiency, is two-fold:
lst. To protect coast more than one thousand
miles i'll length, ocsu upied by sparse population,
probably not exceeding in the whole 3UO UOO souls,
two-,hirds of whom are dependant On sea-golng
commerce for the supply OF their ordinary food and
raimcnt and are separated by mountains and des-
erts Of thousand miles IN extent from our other
settlements.
%. TO give adequate protection and encourage
ment To our country men engaged III the whale h5h-
cries, in the South Pacific, and 10 that
expanding commerce with Eastern Asia which our
possessions ON the Pacific will enable US TO com,
nand. with proper improve mt of our lawful
advantages. naval policy adequate to these
ends to be udspensably required. 1t Id a
fact perhaps not generally known, that the longest
voyaei in the time necessary for its accomplishment,
now made by navigaiors, Is that frUIn our Atlantic
our Pacific ports, and hence il will appear mani
testify expedien in cruiseson that ocean to ut out ma
val xpeuItiuns from the Pacific coast, which shall
thither the end of their tour vessel sent
there IRON the Atlantic, according to the present
arrangement, to return at the end OF three years,
loses year of the three In going and returning.
And from the marked difference in the navigation
OF the two oceans, If the design be 10 bring her
home to reit she will need condition If repair TO
enable her to weather Cape Horn and pass up the
boisterous coast OF the Atlantic, which will qualsy
her for extended cruise in the Pacific. The ex-
traordinary state Of prices now prevailing forbids
the idea OF building vessels or recruiting seamen
that lndeed the flag chip OF the Com
modore of the Pacific squadron was, at last advices
deficient by than one half in her complement
Of men, without the ability to recruit more except
at wages far above those now allowed. IL must,
therefore, be greatly To our interest, at least until
change in the monetary affairs OF California
lar Ita bllld sli nj
lantic coast for the Pacific fleet;
I'd When sufficient number Of vessels shall be
placed that eide of the Continent, 10 retain them
| there for permanent use and
3D. That when crews wanted TO man them,
after the expiration of the term Of those originally
carried out, TO enlist them in the Atlantic porte and
send them out in Government transports on the or
binary line OF travel across the Isthmus of panama,
they are now transported from one Atlantic port
10 another.
With dock for repairing vessels on the Calfor-
MIA coast, as contemplated by the act of the last
sersion of Congress- such a course Of policy would
enable at all times TO keep effective heeb'n the
Pacific, and operate a vast saving in time and
money TO the service in that quarter.
BY judicious disposition OF our vessels, and the
Improvement OF the organization and discipline Of
the personnel to the highest point Of efficiency, II
is believed that our naval force need not be imme-
dately augmented in any great degree. notwith-
standing the accession to our territories; and that
the policy Of gradual increase" 80 long pursued,
while IL requires attention to every improvement
in naval construction and warfare, need not be ma
terially hastened.
How great will be the transition in the art Of war
the sea, by Of the introduction ofstean
n propcling power TO vessels Of war, remains yet
TO be determined. That il has already furnished
arm of great power, which has been well
lkened to flying artillery on land, is beyond all
question; and, though not concurring in tho
opinion that steamers will supercede sail
vessels a ships Of war, j am yet thoroughly
persuaded that they will be most valuable AUX
iharies, and respectfully submit for your eI-
H.r al l.ffr fft9er ul
much intelligence and experience in the com
msnd Of steamships Of war ia regard to their ell
cheney in hostile operations, simply as striking bo.
dice 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 10 the accommodation Of the chief
N the Bureau OF Construction, that our sail ships
VI war. hereafter 10 be constructed, shall be fur
nished with steam propellers, ~ be used on occa
sions where celcrity OF motion adverse 10 the pre-
yoing winds may be important. But with the
Improvements constantly gOing on in ocean steam
ers, | would not recommend a large addition 10
this species Of naval force except in the event Of
war, lest the progress Of invention shall supplant
them by others Of superior construction.
Of the four steamers authorized 10 be butt
by the act Of Congress Of the 81 of March, loa7,
the saransc only has been gotten ready for sea IL
h. however, not doubted that the other three viii
be also ready in the course Of a few months.
While the siraDac will be retained in the home
squadron an effective cruiser in any emergency
Susquehsnna to the East India squadron, aud 10
semi the two remaining ones tO the Pscihc snd the
coast Of Brazil. II - IN contemplation, also, "a
quro the commandants Of the squsdrUns In the Pa
cifc and the East Indics, and ia like manner Of
thOsc the coasts OF BrHzil and Africa, at certain
convenient times and places, ~ meet with the
greater parts OF their respective commands Tor the
purpose of epercising I'm fleets. IL has happened
that all naval battles in which the skill aud
proves OF our officers have been sigually main
taincd, have been (with uncomfortable exceptions
the lakes) fought between single ships; and Il re-
mains To be demonstrated whether their proficiency
in the signals, combination msnGuvres ami exer-
oises of hecs is equal 10 their we'll tried abits In
/ inferior Cointnanos.
| .rbe Naval Academy at Annapolis having been
/ placed under aud improved system Of regu-
atons 10 take effect from the st day Of July lsst,
and under enlarged corps Of professors, sfiOros
| facilities and means Of professional education not
heretofore enjoyed by the young gentlemen enter
nR the service and IL is 10 be hoped u destined 20
! furnish the navy with what has been long aud
% ben, fclally enjoyed by the army in the Mill
| tary Academy at West Point. The attachment to
/ toe Naval Academy of practice ship, for the pur-
/ pose of practical instruction in scamansbip and