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

being taxed reuder them gany snowy and
best adapted for the accommodation OF numerous pasen-
gers and the slowage Of freight Fl
"Qussiion 6,st, Whether the steamships employed in
the trans pouaton OF the United States mail undet contract
with the Navy Department, any other steamships
ployed ia the transportation Of foreign mails. in all
respects, suitable for immediate conversion into
for war purposes, capable of carrying the
battery appropriate % the class specified IN the conIractP
opinion thar they are NOT in all respects suitable"
Ii should be taken into view that those mail steamers II
called into service war.vesses would DO considered
forming an auxiliary force 70 the regularly
ships, and hence tho impoey Of expanding much money
gnes, with eicieni armaen should alone be considered
leaving superfuous ornament out oil the question"
So much for Commodore Perry as witness in this
case make question of his candor in either OF the
somewhat conflicting statements he has here made.
only dealing with his statements as find them II will
be observed that his as statements here quoted
each side OF the same daeFebruary Is. 1852 Let
those reconcile their discrepancy who II Il may be
said to preponderae on either side, think is against
these shipscertanly against the system under which
they were contracted for But upon the whole think
he has far ridden " both sides OF the saping" at
the same time that his testimony may well BE- dispensed
JUSTICE where the rights OF persons or OF property
were be decided between Individuals although very
technical judge nigh, admit his statements to sustain
some special plea" upon that very lucid and elastic
phrase war purposes, yet any Intelligent and fair.
minded jury, who desired ascertain the real merits OF
Tess | have some curiosity to see an experiment tried
upon the Commodore himself and that Is, TO offer him
this Collins line OF steamers for his East India squad
rom with which he is going out missionary to the
isolated Japanese whom, ii seems. for mysieri-
GUS purposes-supposed 10 be polieat-our present fed
eral Executive deems 1t salutary 10 administer lie
1neredn opium something stronger, from the muzzles
OF certain heavy guns upon Gland carriages" appre-
bend the experienced Commodore would hardly risk
them for even such war purposes as that II ne did
should regard him tit companion for those famous
"thee wise men OF Gotham, who went to sea in a
bowl"
observe another thing that seems significant II is
the peculiar character of the certificates which Nh John
LenHah (whom take 10 be naval constructor) appends
TO the Commodore's several reports in favor OF the
Mr. STOCKTON, lin his seat) He is among The ablest
I and most experienced OF our naval constructors.
Mr.. BORLAND. have no doubt OF it. Then Mr..
LenttdH says:
81 in this report to her being mail steamer
OF the first class"
And he says no more. But that is point that no one
questions Mail steamers OF the first class admit
them to be- II is their being suitable Tor 'war purposes
tous and prudent in his certificate, and doubt reliable
shall have occasion TO use his testimony upon another
point IN this connexon presently.
Next comes Captain Skiddy, upon whom the honor.
able senator from Texas Mr. RusKl lays great stress
find his statements coincide substantially with those OF
Commodore Perry, in favor OF these particular ships
with this advantage for them that he does not contradict
himself
Mr.. Francis GTice, naval constructor is the third
their claims TO he suitable for "war purposes" Well,
he is good witness for the parties who have introduced
him to the extent OF his competency and credibty for
he ceTtes 10 all they deslreto rather MORE appre
bend. than the senator from North Carolina Mr. BAD
GER believes be true He first introduced by the
senator from New Jersey, Mr. MILLER. and afterwards
By the senator from North Carolina He clearly ia for
all sorts oil "war purposes"
now come TO the witnesses on the other side. IL will
be remembered that Commodore Perry has been "set
aside" stands neutral TO the ships, and against
the sy stem.
First, then, on this side, introduce an extract from
the report OF Commodore Charles William Skinner to
the Secretary OF the Navy;
81 What the best instrument, for propening
cial paddle. wheel submerged
and do these instruments require different models for the
amsrer The padde-whoe is generally considered the
for the OF war the screw would be preferable aud
they do require different models
built convertible once into waf steamers and capable
Of efficiently gsrforming war service
without great pense, and then they would be inferior
those designed solely for that purpose"
This, think, will do for se-oH to Captain Skiddy
Second comes Mr. Haswel, chief engineer OF our navy
His testimony. apprehend, will stand comparison
with that OF Mr. Gree Il is this
with large majority OF the commercial steam
Of their hu and the design and arrang;mea, Of iher
gnes and boilers such to render them incapable OF
In and loss Of time that would
except in eases OF national emergency be all repaired by
the OF OF Ntsteis
ready transfer TO- in their economical performance OIL
two service"
bhiy without spars and of naval
that Is necessary depress them beyond their intended
limits in order to effect their passages with the probability
| of security"
linss ne In progress OF construction, will $780,
900 each Yet the boilers OF these vessels and all the other
nail steamers of ron their bulls constructed
of live oak and the vessels without the spars rigging
| arms nnen and equipment OF naval steamers"
THE first mail steamers have proved nadequae to their
service, from the insuficiency Of their construction and
er but and half years service, and at cost oil
pairs and alterations exceeding their first cost they
pabe OF any useful naval purpose they therefore,
ignorance of their worthessness existing estimated 10
OF naval defences and when required for such
purpose the dependence would prove disastrous to
national interests their construction has been TO
professional reputation constructors and engineers"
/ Upon the points touched upon far, think the tes-
mony overwhelming and conclusive 10 prove that these
ships not suitable for "war purposes"
In respect 10 the and mode OF propeling
ships, there seems TO be some difference OF opinion
But in reference 10 that mode, connected with war
purposes, the weight OF testimony is still more against
them, if that be possible, than upon the other points
have already examined.
/ aude particularly here 10 the difference between thu
|" side wheels, or paddles" and the screw" usually
called the propeller" All these ships Of the Collins
line are paddle. toheels."
| do not know that can better express my opin-
ion upon this point than by quoting short paragraph
from the speech of the honorable senator from Ohio
MIR WADE,l delivered here last Monday. He said
81 know nothing Of OF naval operations, do
profess know anything about them but any OF the
sense the very first glance
that hcvxx las