The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-10

United States happily consists more in their ability
to provide for the contingencies OF invasion than
in the actual exhibition of equipped force, and
that may dispense with much that is deemed
requisite in the relations of European powers, still
We cannot fail 10 recognise the fact that the respect
due To the interests OF our people requires the
habitual and familiar presence OF our flag in every
region OF commerce. sustained by such an amount
| Of force, and of such gu lily, may give some
significant token Of the resources we command at
home. saiutary conviction on this point is, to
great extent, inspired by the excellence 9f our
ornaments when brought into comparison with
| those of other nations. We cannot afford to loss
or impair our reputation for producing the best
ships and the best-disciplined crews that navigate
| the ocean, however we may afford to exhibit them
| in smaller numbers.
The principal maritime nations now dill
gently intent upon the effort to build up powerful
| steam navies. Most Of them already far ahead
of US in this species Of force; and il is very obyi.
| Gus, from the urgency with which the new marine
Of Europe is pressed to assume this character that
there is deep and earnest conviction of an i'm.
pending necessity in which the improved force will
be mainly relied on as the efficient element Of war
| Are far remov ed from the occasion or the
scene Of apprehended conflict as to warrant any
indifference on part to the possible issues Of
collision Are affairs 80 little exposed abroad,
or SO concentrated at home, as to exempt US from
all necessity to consider the effects which may fol-
low the recent changes in the naval organization
| Of Europe? ..
| These considerations and others which they
suggest induce me to ask the attention OF Congress
to the recommendations Of the Bureau Of Construc.
| ton accompanying this report, and to invite them
with the most earnest socitude, to provide for the
| building of three hrst-class screw. propeller fri
gates, and the same number Of propeller sioops-of
| war. To these might be added with advantage q
few smaller steamers adapted to quick despatch and
! coast navigation.
| Our navy yards abundantly supplied with
large quantities of the best timber, in the beat
condition, which could not be better appropriated
| than to this object. There are two frigates the
Santee and the Sabine, which have been housed on
| the stocks in Portsmouth and New York for the
| last ten years. These might be launched and fitted
for service, and their places might be occupied
as we'll as tho sheds now vacant in other yards by
| the new steamships proposed to be built.
| In connection with this subject would call the
attention of Congress to the necessity of authoriz-
ing the establishment of more factories for
the construction of all the machinery necessary
to the complete equipment Of the largest class OF
steamers. The great Importance Of such estab-
lishments to the Government is felt by this De-
partment in the daily conviction that only by the
command of such resource may the navy be
promptly and surely supplied with the best ma
chinery for the public vessels. The inspection and
control of the work whilst it is lin progress, the
| assurance Of the best material, and the punctual
compliance with the demands of the service are
| advantages that may only be efficiently secured
by having the workshop under the command of
| the Government. The experience of the past
will also fully demonstrate that this mode of sup
plying the machinery OF our public vessels must
be, in Its general result, more economical than
any other, and will certainly secure much the
most reliable kind Of work. The plans would be
more uniform, failure of machinery less frequent,
and the improvement of the models OF construc-
| ton more certain.
| The mail contract law of ls47 contains a proyi
sion which authorizes the Government to appro
pirate any OF the vessels built under it to the naval
service. would recommend that one OF these of
the first class, be selected and equipped with the
proper armament. l make this suggestion from a
persuasion that il is matter Of Importance to the
| Government practically to determine, by expert
| ment, a question upon which much doubt ia enter
tained and which it is necessary to solve whether
| these steamers really adequate to the demands
OF the naval service, and may be usefuy converted
into ships Of war. The determination of this ques
! ton may settle point of great moment touching
the reliance to be placed upon these ships in any
| sudden emergency point much more safely to
be settled in n time Of peace than in moments Of
excitement and pressure, when no other resource
| may be at hand to meet the consequences Of
| failure.
1t is further necessary to make provision for an
| increase Of seamen. The present limit of seven
thousand five hundred men is insufficient even for
the necessities Of the service in its existing cond
ton II the full complement Of men appropriated
by the regulations Of the navy were now on board
Of the vessels in commission, more than the whole
number allowed would be required. think it
therefore indispensable to the proper efficiency Of
the service that addition of not less than fifteen
hundred be authorized to be made to the establish
nent. and that a correspondent addition be made
to the yearly estimates of naval pay 1t is equally
necessary that provision be made for increase
of wages, either in monthly pay in the shape Of
a bounty, to be given after enlistment. The
amount Of this increase should be regulated by
romr reference to the wages given in the mer-
chant service, which much higher than
the naval pay as to increase the difficulty to
which have heretofore alluded, in the procure
ment of the best men.
reference to the report of the Bureau of Medi
cine will inform Congress of the condition Of the
medical service OF the navy and the pressing ne
cessity that exists for an increase of officers in
r. he
by an authority to appoint q number, not exceed
ing twenty assistant surgeons, and to make a cor
respondent promotion of an equal number. or Of
30 many as by proper length of service may be
qualified for it., into the upper grades.
beg leave also to call the attention of Congress
to the report of the commanding officer of the ma
present limitation of that corps to the ordinary de-
mands of the service. The opinion Of General
Henderson upon this point, of itself entitled to
great weight, is reinforced by that OF many of the
most experienced officers of the navy, as will be
seen in the correspondence accompan yipg the re.
port, TO which invite a careful attention In con-
tormty with these opinions, respectfully recon-
mend to Congress the passage of law to autho-
of eighty sergcants, eighty corporas, thirty drum
mers and hfers, and one thousand prvates, and
that the four captains. four first and four Sc
cond leutenants, conditionaly allowed to the ser
vice by the proviso to the naval appropriation bill
of March ., iS49, be retained permanently 10 the
corps
repre-
sentation of the embarrassments Of the service in
those branches TO which have just alluded, com
pes me to ask FIR some addition to the corps Of
pursers. This i,nportan; division of the naval or
ganization is fouLd TO stand in need Of more aid
than the present allowance affords. The corps
scarcely furnishes that proper rotation in service
which the peculiar duties of the purser demands
IL is necessary after every cruise to allow this off
Ger a sufficient time shore TO settle his &C
counts-a period which will not always place him
at the disposal Of the Department for an early re.
turn TO sea, ii ii were even proper to compel thcsc
officers to repetition of duty without some time
for such retreshment on shore every officer re-
qures.
If Congress should think proper, in consideration
of this condition Of the corps, to sanction an in
crease of its members, would earnestly recon-
mend the establishment ofa grade of assistant pur-
sers, TO which only the new appointments should
be made that these assistants should undergo a N
examination to their physical and mental abili-
ties previous to their appointments that the age of
admission should be regulated by the Navy De-
partment; and that no applicant should be nomi-
mated for the corps without satisfactory cunIor-
nifty to the preliminary condition. Promotion and
pay should be regulated By law, and no promotion
should be made bat upon full evidence Of the ca
pability OF the individual to comply with all
the demands Of service. this evidence IN he oh