The daily union., 1852-12-10

OF this purpose OF creating coips OF registered seamen,
in accordance with the general objects intended 10 be
promoted IN The above pan aud tor The supplying oil any
defect which experience may show 10 exist in il.
The term seamen, used throughout this plan. is TO
be understood 10 embrace every class OF mariners on board
pubc vessel, whether denomlaated seamen ordinary
seamen, or landemen tz
10. A limited number OF boys be received into The
navy upon obligations contracted according 10 law, to
serve until they arrive al the age OF tweniyone years
Their number, the quota to be allowed TO each vessel aud
all needfu and proper rules for their government and dn
ties be regulated by the orders OF the Navy Department
This system OF providing for more effective marine
respectfully submit 10 your consideration There al
ready exists power in the Executive 10 adopt nearly The
whole OF It's details II may be proper however 10 sub
nit il TO the approval OF Congress- with view to obtain
for il legislative recognition, and especially to procure
such enacmenls may be TO give the sanction
of law 10 the establishment OF the registry, which con-
stllales the groundwork OF the plan
THE NAVY.
In the activity and diversity OF enterprise which the
busy spirit OF this time has exacted from the navy IL has
now become manifest that the increase of the naval es
tablshmen OF the country ls not only recommended by
The most urgent public considerations, but is also forced
upon the attention OF Congress as an absolute necessity.
The honor well as the successful adventure OF the
ton, and might even say the Indispensable obligation OF
national defence and the constantly need Tor
the exhibition OF The national power all combine to pre-
sent this question TO Congress as one OF the FIRST mag
nude. Daring the past year this department has been
mpelled, by due regard for the great public interests
committed to IFS charge 10 put in equson nearly the
whole dsposabe force OF The navy The details OF this
report will show that constant and various employment
has been demanded Of officers, ships and crews trust
that Congress will see in these acquisitions how much
The demands OF necessary service engross the pro-
ved to accomplish it, and will deduce from this faci an
argument in favor OF enlargng the naval resources for
still larger naval operations.
Whilst other great maritime powers are strengthening
and extending their capabilities Tor aggression and de-
fence, and besiowing seduous labor upon the cre
alton OF steam navles oil singular efficiency they have
imposed upon us new obligation, If not to track their
progress with equal steps in effort TO bring ourselves
abreast with them in their advance at least 10 maintain
that position OF relative strength which has been our
policy heretofore 10 assume.
The actual exigencies OF own service, conspcu
ously multiplied by the rapid extension Of our domain,
ard the settlement OF mars OF trade and the estab
lshment OF lines OF commerce the Pacific cannot
but present TO every citizen OF the United States alto
gether irresistible argument TO persuade the nation TO
much larger provision OF ships and men than we have
heretofore kept in commission. The Pacific, during the
next ten yeats is likely TO become the theatre OF the
most interesting events OF our time. nation is growing
up upon It's Shores which will both attract and supply
amount of commercial enterprise the rapid growth
and activity of which the world has yet had parallel
The discovery OF America did not give such impulse
10 this spirit witness in the energy and occupa
tons OF these recent settlements
AT this moment we are without public steamship in
that ocean Our various commerce scattered along the
whole coast from Oregon to Chill, and our citizens who
are found in every port throughout that extended line
are left TO the protection OF but two rgates and two
soops oi-war, composing squadron whose utmost ac-
iiviy hut half perform the duty assigned TO IT, Our
new relations with Asia and the intermediate islands,
which constantly multiplying the resources of trade,
and with them the hazards OF collision and the conse
quent increase oil numbers drawn from the population OF
every country 10 the competitions OF this theatre, all ind
Gale the commencement OF an era of great Political sly
nicance, which will henceorth exact from the govern
merit than lis accustomed vigilance in noting the
progress OF events and more than lis usual energy in the
duty OF guarding citizens who may be connected with
them |, is therefore necessary than that we
should have respectable force always accessible our
counymen In this held OF action, and capable OF giving
them protection against the pers OF and popular out
break and revolutionary commoton, which in iuture
even NOR =
teze many of the States and communities 10 which their
business invites them. steamer OF large class, adapt
ed TO the general duties of cruise and smaller
be kept at hand at San Francisco, for use in California
and Oregon regard almost indispensable additions 10
the squadron assigned TO that service.
Looking to the Auantic, we ind motives equally (
strong for the increase Of our naval arnanens, and par
iculay for the enlargement of The number Of our Seams
ships,
States happily consists in their ability 10 provide
for the contingencies Of invasion Than in the actual ex-
hibon OF equipped farce, and that we may dispense
with much that IS deemed requisite 10 The relations OF
European powers, still we canno fail 10 recognise the
TACT that the respect due to the interests oil people
requires the habual aud familiar presence OF flag in
every region OF commerce. sustained by such amount
o force and oil such quality, may give some sgnl
fcant token Of the resources we command at home.
sautary conviction this point is, TO great extent in
sped by The excellence OF our ornaments when brought
ino comparison with those OF other nations. We can
AFFORD 10 lose impair our reputation ior producing
the best ships and the best disciplined crews that nayi
in smaller numbers
The principal maratime nations aTe now diligently in
tent upon the effort TO build up powerful steam nayies
Most of them already far ahead of in this species oil
force and il is very obvious, from the urgency with
which the marine of Europe is pressed 10 assume
this character that there deep and conviction
of an impending necessity in which the improved force
viii be mainly relied the efficient element OF war
Are we 50 il removed IRON the occasion, or the Of
apprehendel conflict 10 warrant any indifference on
our part to the possible issues OF eoiLson Are our
Affairs so little exposed abroad, concentrated at
home as to exempt from all necessity 10 consider the
effects which may follow The recent changes In the naval
organi2ation OF Europe
These considerations, and Others which they suggest,
induce me TO ask the attention of Congress TO the
OF lhe Bureau OF Construction, accompanying
this report, and TO invite Them, with the most earnest
soctude provide for the building of three FIRST class
s,re propeller irga,es and the number OF prope
Ter sloops.of war. TO these might be added, with ad
vantage few smaller steamers, adapted 10 quick de
spach and coast navigation.
Oar navy yards ara aluadaniy supplied with large
quantities Of the best timber, 10 the beat condition. which
could not be better appropriated ban 10 this object, There
are two fgses the Sanee 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 1T
ted for service and their places might be occupied well
as the sheds vacant other yards BY the new steam
ships proposed 10 be built
IN connexon with this subject, would call the atien-
lion OF Congress 10 the necessity oil authorizing the
tablishpen of factories for the construction
OF all the machinery necessary to the complete equipment
OF The largest class OF steamers The great Importance
OF such establishments 70 the goyeTnmen is felt by this
in the daily conviction that only BY the COM
mand OF such may the navy be promptly AID
surely supplied with the best machinery for the public