The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-21

filed with guns as in the regular OF war and per-
hitting the hull TO be fashioned alter such model as
shall best give strength and facility OF motion.
And here had as well add, that, IN the side wheel
ships il is not alone the paddles that are exposed but
the engine ilselfmthe whole machinery OF mohon-1is
above the water This is is mainly covered by the
upper decks--a very ira covering al best-whe the
vessel remains she built, muoaat ship maui
steamer But everybody concurs IN the statement and
we all know the fact that the first step towards convert
ing such ship into vessel i-wa must be to
those upper decks and although such protection they
afforded almost nominal, yet their removal certainly
completely and at once. exposes all the machinery,
we'll the paddles, TO every kind of missile from
enemy And there is remedy for the evils OF this ex
posure The position OF the machinery cannot be shifted
When the ship built every part and appurenance de-
signed TO be permanent was placed In It's appropriate po
siiion and accurately adjusted to every other portion,
parts and the greatest power and facility OF motion
whole II any OF the material conditions OF this arrange
ment be changed the equilibrium will be disturbed and
the harmony OF parts destroyed. The upper decks are
originally intended TO be removed. upon occasion, and
constructed accordingly. When removed, this
beautiful bird OF the sea 10 which they had before
given some pretence of shelter and protection go
forth entirely naked and exposed alike IN her wings and
her viials, or she cannot go. forth al all:
But said there was good authority for these opinions;
and am not aware OF any against them. And here |
will introduce Mr.. Lenhall again;
Extracts from Mr. John Lenthars letter TO Commodore
c. W. Skinner, dated 18th OF February. 1852
g would, in the first place, state that there is
doubt whether sde-wheel steamer be made into a
war steamer OF the first class
machinery
low The level Of common dangers from shot aud TO enable
her to become cruiser requires that she should ba per
the SAIL but also in its position The uIness of the EXTERN
should be such that the motions oil pitching and scend
ing may be within moderate limits and they should be able
deemed essential their armament 1t is desirable thar
they should he fast VESSELS but they must DO capable Of
using well carrying their arinament and as no other
qualify compensate for deficiency in this, II becomes
primary consider.,on
mediate conversion into steamers for war Purposes nn
would be temporarily employed in carrying tho mail or
passengers
nifty OF making these ships appeared in about the same de-
OF readiness for immediate conversion into steamers
and speed, tfgate other classes OF shipso
possessing the advantages TO large vessels Of
necessary AID the and equipments required TO
be placed on board to make them war vessels"
Then. here is English authority upon the same Subject,
and froma source entitled TO the highest respect
Extract, from the Minutes Of Evidence taken before The Sc
iet Committee Steam Nary" ordered by the British
House Of Commons in l5i9.
page 10 of the printed report is the testimony OF
Capt w. h. Henderson, X. NJ, B., as follows:
I'll Do you think that vessel, Of that packet class, IA,
king superior class Of vessels, might be made useful ia
the OF war; Tor channel purposes and protecting our
7i2 "But sapersede war No; consider
working az ans the head of The Atlantic, and they
under rugged and are no, Intended for sailing"
AT page 81. same report, the testimony of Captain H
d. Chads, r. NJ, as follows:
ss2 Do you hlnk that they would supersedo the of
steamships built expressly chips ofwsrl should APP
prehend that should make sad mistake il we attempt
ed to do away with own. think that under no cir.
comsances could you apply them as mcn-owar, strictly
in the meaning OF the term men-of.war.'
S93 $ You do conceive thar they well adapt
eets ships that built for the royal navy appre
bend that they would be always required to be under
steam 10 keep company with our fleet do not think,
from their rig that they have sufficient TO enable
them to keep way with our vessels without seamng; that
they would be constantly under certain portion OF slesn
consequently their Goals would be soon exhausted"
AT page 50 OF same report is the testimony OF Rear
admiral Sir Charles Napier, X c. B., as follows:
1915. 9 Would you confne the OF those vessels to the
channel would you make OF them by sending them
abroad into colonies do think they would be n
20 abroad with that hung which think they ought
to have all times because is TOO late begin to fit
whe the enemy your shores do think they would
be fit go abroad because they would be too small and
the greater of large would be abroad the
time, you would not bs able to get hold OF them"
From similar sources the honorable senator from vr-
gnia mr. HusTERl makes the following brief but peg
nant summary
:" omitted the testimony Of Lieutenant Roberts of the
can steamers could carry gunsl He said batter han
their own and not quite well as their own merchant
according 10 he opinions Of ALL or almost ALL the profes
siona of eminence, both IN The British navy and IN
my friend from Florida mr. MIoaYl tells me
that such also tho practice and opinion in the French
WITT is considered that other steamer Is III for pur
poses OF war eNcept tue scfeW-piopeher
And then the same senator condenses his opinion so
forciby and clearly, and susains II so conclusvey, in
another short paragraph that must be permitted 10 sub
stitute his words Tor my own:
81 authorized In saying, from all that see, and
from all that learn, that IL Is admitted fact
professional men, that steamers with the paddle
wheel cannot be made eicien war steamers-that the
propeller Is the only mode of making
which be efficient That is distinctly proved the
opinion of those English officers who examined at the
which have referred. have recently read book
OF interest," written by Captain Hastead OF the Brit
ISL navy In 1850 in which he demonstrates that fact The
is superior for these She
carry whole broadsde, which a paddlewheel steamer
carry Her machinery be eiiectualy pro.
teclcd from shot and am told that but last year.
the year before, that British paddle-whee
disabled by single shot fred from SLAYER oil the Of
Africa She can go to sea with much less supply OF
COAL for she only auxiliary power 10 sails
She capable of being built upon the finest models for
myth and speed, which be done with the side
paddle, because the necessity OF carrying the Armament
fore and aft impairs the force Of the ship"
must here say that am not indebted TO my own re-
search for most OF the facts and authorities which have
cited and relied upon have already said to the Senate
that have drawn largely, as rely with confideoce, in
this respect upon my honorable friend from Virginia,
[Mr. HUNTER ] have had his kind permission to do
so, and avail myself of the privilege 10 take from OF
bis late speeches the following extracts
Extract from note accompanying the letter from Com.
odore Perry, OF 18th February ls from which the above
extracts were takeDi s.N
"The deterioration Of ocean mail steamers growing
OF and and gradual decay
possible repair, may be esnsied at II We per
mum for iveoak sbips-pcrhaps trhe less
IL could 20 further and produce you the same sort OF
the friends OF the amendment rely upon letter which Com
modoe Perry wrote and which, suspect Is 20 be inter.