The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-21
The y-Retrenchment and Reform.

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tering the Government. We have little respect
for those candle lend economists who regard 1t
the duty of a government to secure the time
and services Of its agents upon the lowest posi-
bic terms, and who regard many expenditures
essential TO the honor or service OF the country
wastefu and extravagant. The only economy
| worthy a statesman is to see that no eXpendl-
ture is unnecessary, and that every expendi-
ture secures to the country positive advantage
equal to the outlay. We have considered the
Naval Appropriation bill according to the prin-
| cple thus laid down, and own that we cannot
see any very probable prospect of reducing the
cost of that arm Of the public defence without
impairing its efficiency The speech of the
chairman of the Naval Committee shows evil
! IDENTIFY the difficulties which surround the sub
ject. He takes up the items of which the gross
appropriation of nine millions is composed he
examines them in detail, but cannot prudently
propose any immediate reduction.
Indeed specific and immediate retrench-
ment seems impossible. The amendment of
Mr.. STANTON reduces the thirty eight vessels
in commission to twenty -four-it reduces the
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lantic and a Pacific squadron, each of which
shall regularly patrol the coasts of the ocean to
which it is restricted. Thus, in the language
of Mr.. STANTON, 9 the national flag might be
carried regularly every forty or sixty days
into every important port in the world" This
reform, it will be seen, proposes no diminuton
of squadron duty; it is a corollary from pro-
strated. He affirms that the squadron service
is ineliiciently performed. He states instances
of vessels of war ying for six months in the
same port, and expatiates, very properly, upon
! the evils of idle seamen and officers fond of
| pleasure and repose. If it be admitted that the
navy does not do its duty, then the reduction
of the vessels in commission, without CORE
! spending reduction of their duties, will improve
at once the industry and the morals of the navy
! But we apprehend that if the officers in
command of the vessels were severaly heard,
they would assign reasons why they remained
so long in port that their stay was almost
sgnalzed by 'rotting cables and shoals of
beef bones" Mr.. STANTON designs, we are
satisfied, no imputatlon upon the charac-
ter Of the navy; he expressly disclams it.
But it will be found that if the protection
Of American commerce in every port to which
the enterprise of our merchants has car
/ rled il, be the object of the Government the
strength Of the protective squadron cannot be
materially reduced without detriment Be
sides, the commerce of the United States
is increasing with unprecedented rapidity.
/ We lear that our tonnage now equals
that Of Great Britain. Our recent acqu-
stions Of territory upon the Pacifc-the
immense tendency Of commerce TO that ocean,
to extension to the ports Of Eastern Asia-all
render the proposition to reduce the number Of
vessels in commission measure of question:
able eXpedloncy. 80 long as the navy is re-
CURED TO watch over and convoy our com
mercc, fetch and carry dispatches, and public
functionarles newly appointed or recently re-
called; 80 long as they have to maintain our posi-
tive or neutral rights, suppress unlawful expe-
ditions, OF protect the lives Of our misguided
| fellow-citizens, it will be impossible that our
/ squadron can be arranged To run with the rcgu-
! larity and speed Of coast steamers, or to "touch
at the principal ports every forty or sixty
/ days" Ii will be impossible, we think, to re-
duce materially the number Of men OF guns
now anoat We do not think there can be
much effected in reducing the navy expendi-
lures, because we think that they grow out Of
the immense cost of maintaining it in repair
Without scanning particularly all the items
Of which the large appropriation Tor "repairs"
! consists. eve have no doubt IL will be found
that much Of that expense is the unavoidable
result Of the system adopted in 1916 for the
gradual increase and improvement Of the navy"
We have seen it stated, that the "Ohio" had
incurred for repairs a cost Of 1858, $40 before
she had ever been TO sea The North Caro-
lima" cost s5l3, 36s; her repairs in ten years
service. S3l7 ,G28. The "Delawarep cost
| s5i3, 30s; her repairs in fourteen years, ti53,.
! 1S3. For ships Of the line that had not been
launched. there has been already expended the
sum Of s672, $40 This immense expense Of
preparation for naval war grows out Of
defect in the present system which no economy
can correct IL is impossible to construct yes
sells OF war at the moment when they are re.
quired. Hence the Government must incur
the expense of building the hulls. and Of com
plotting them when they are required. To
complete and put them in commission would be
too costly. IT is cheaper TO let them rot on tho
stocks.
But wo think that the proposition Of Mr.
STAgroS, 10 establish lines Of steamers with
the aid Of the Government, lays the foun-
dalton Of future retrenchment. These steam
ers will be commanded by our naval officers;
they will in peace be employed in extending
our commerce and in war, in defence Of our
rights. Such system will be true econo-
my II will constitute school for i'm
provement in naval science. II will in a
few years give Us the best passenger, light
freight, and mail, lines in the world, and in time
Of war naval armament that will equal any
in Europe. The present system was adopted
70 meet existing emergencies, and to cope with
| the sail vessels Of other nations, But II does