The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-12
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
TUESDAY. May II, 1852.
SENATE.

HIsroRIcAL PAIsrIse FOE THE CAPITOL.
Mr.. COOPER presented the memorial Of T.
suly and some thirty other American artists.
praying that Congress would employ Mr.. Rother
nell. the painter Of the picture OF Patrick Henry
addressing the House of Bergesses in Virginia,
now in the Rotundo, 10 paint historical picture
TO be placed in the Rotundo Of the Capitol. Re-
ferred to the Committee on the Library.
wAR-srKAMER roR HAaBoR DEFENCE.
On motion OF MIR. MALLORY, the Senate pro-
ceeded % the consideration 1.-The following joint
resolutions:
Joint Resolution authorizing the completion of a
ar-steamer for harbor defence.
RssolUsd by the Senate and House Of Rtpresfnta-
iiuss Of the United States Of AmericG in Congress
assembled, That the Secretary 81 the Navy be. and
he 10 hereby, authorized and rtquired to nave COM
pleted. without unnecessary delay. the war-steamer
contracted for with Robert L. Stevens. in pursu-
Ance Of an act of Congress passed April fourteenth,
one thousand eight hundred and forty two.
Mr.. STOCKTON addressed the Senate in sup
port Of the joint resolution He said he thought he
could show the importance Of having the harbor OF
New York properly defended; and ne desired also
unfairly, unjustly, and ungenerously treated. But
this injustice had not been committed BY the pres
ent head Of the Navy Department, but BY his pre-
decessor. He called for the reading Of the report
of the committee, and it was read
Mr.. S. then pointed out the present state OF mill
tary preparation and hostile feelings OF the Gov
eminent of France, and TO its evident determine
ton to commence some military operations some
where. In the event of war, who could tell where
France would strike! In the event Of a European
war. there was great danger and much probability
that the United States in some manner would be
drawn into il; and he urged that we ought to be
prepared for such an emergency The harbor OF
New York city was not at this day in any way
better prepared for defence than 1t was In the war
of 1912. and the experience of events which took
place in that war should teach lesson on this
subject
Hostile fleets were longer subject to the vicis-
STUDIES Of wind and tide; these would stand the
progress of fleet Of steamers. An enemy could
now, with steamers, enter the harbors OF our prn-
cpal cities and in single night wreak destruc-
ton upon them. He had no doubt but that steam
ers can be constructed which could pass by fort
without sustaining injury in any respect. They
could be constructed to have while going with the
tide speed Of twenty miles an hour. With this
speed, all that such steamer would require would
be five minutes to get clear Of any fort; and, hay-
ing passed the fort, one such steamer could lay the
city Of New York in ruins.
This harbor vessel, being so constructed as to be
shot and bomb proof, could do more TO protect the
city than twenty forts. Possessing the inpregna-
biiity of stone, it would have the other great ad-
vantage OF being able 10 change its position &C
cording to circumstances.
The accomplished and experienced scientific
gentleman, Mr. Stevens, who proposed TO construct
this vessel, was willing 30 hazard his reputation
and character as a naval constructor on the sue
Gees OF this harbor vessel, which would not cost the
Government more than one OF our worthless SHIPS
He wss gentleman Of fortune, and Of great prac
teal skill and ability; he had already gone to con-
siderable expense in the accomplishment OF his I'M
dertaking when it was stopped by the Navy De-
partment He was not sPeculafor, or man
eeeking a profitable job from the Government but
who desired 10 identity his name and skill with
this measure Of national defence.
This floating battery was not designed to super
sede the present forts, &c, but to act as an auxil
iary to the permanent means Of defence. Some Of
these forts would in case OF war be invaluable,
and in ca Of hostile fleet endeavoring to pass
them, would succeed in gripping disabling most
of them. But 10 oppose and protect the city from
those who succeeded in passing the fort and In
running the gauntlet this harbor steamer was abso-
iutely necessary. The knowledge that such means
of defence existed would deter an enemy from
making the attack.
He then gave a history Of the father of MIR. Ste
vens, and Of the vrioes, abilities, and scientific at
tainuents Of MIR. Stevens himself; and urged that
Congress ought TO avail tseli Of this high degree
Of skill in the completion OF this work OF national
defence.
lie then turned his attention TO the subject Of
naval defences. He thought that perhaps owing
TO the recent brilliant achievements OF tho army,
the value and importance. and the glory OF the
navy had been overlooked. The navy was the de-
fence Of the country; and the time was coming
when this Government must become one OF the
greatest naval powers Of the world. But at the
present day, with respect 10 the navy, the United
States. compared with other powers for all practi-
cal purpose. not well of as they were forty
years ago.
England, Russia, and France have for years
bsen vicing with one another In increasing th.r
naval forces by augmentation Of their steamers
He stated the present immense number oil steam
vessels composing the navy Of those powers, and
eaid that the whole steam navy OF THE Hepuoic-
this Republic where men boast 30 moch-wbere
men ready and anxious 10 promuge new doc
trines OF national law, which they knew would Get
the world In a blsze-of this Republic where men
are fond Of boastiDg Of their capacity TO com
pete with and whip the nations Of the world; in
this Republic we have a steam navy consisting oil
five worthless ships and two screw- propeilers. We
ought 20 be prepared TO fight before we begin to
bully.
In case OF war, either Of these European powers
within twenty days could come over with their
steamers, and the city Of New York and other sea
board cities would be entirely at their mercy.
Congress ought TO reflect upon the present great
disparity Of the naval forces Of the United States
compared with those OF other powers; upon the de-
fenceless state Of the principal cics and the coast
and upon the immense commercial tonnage Of
the United States which will have 10 be protected,
and take some measures for their security In this
day Of advanced naval warfare, our ships OF the
line and frigaies were comparatively worthless
We must construct q navy on new model we
must have steamers 20 surpsss all others In point oil
speed and impregnabihty 70 assault; we must have
steamers able cruise with safety in the waters Of
the British channel and threaten the ports VI Great
Britain, hers now do ours; we must have
vessels able to compete with and 10 whip half
And such results were not impracticablc in the
hands Of such men ~ Stevens and other American
mechanics.
lie read several extracts from newspapers re
iating TO a swirl passage by the American packet
clipper Witch Of the Wave, which had performed
the voyage from China TO England in ninety days.
lie alec alluded TO the victory by the yacht Anne
RIGA and the triumph Of the Collins steamers
To enable American skill and American me-
chanics strengthen their powers TO revive their
workshops, and renew their energies he considered
they should be protected In the great articles of
coal and iron, with which the country abounded
He thought these interests might be developed
and encouraged by such an arrangement OF the
revenue laws az would have the ad vaIorcm duties
levied upon those articles according 10 their home
value, or their value after they reached here.
lie thought there was nothing in the Democratic
creed against the encouragement OF those Amer
osn productions which were essential for purposes
of national dcfenccs. II 80, then bad Andrew
Jackson violated that creed Coal and iron were
indispensable 10 the construction Of national de-
fences. II Democracy forbid this, then God help
such Democracy.
He had cred the resolutions Of 95 and
80, Of Virginia and Kentucky, as containing the
true exposition Of Democratic principles.
lie regarded these resolutions as The most valu.
able legacy, next 20 the Constitution, bequeathed
BY the fathers of Democracy 10 postcrity. They