The daily union., 1852-05-14

speed with which. lin their present sate the ocean.
they can oyertake any vessel which they pursue and
escape from any vessel which they wish 10 avoid,
They are capable, they stand OF carrying light
armament, even without the alteration OF cutting down
the upper deck which would be all sufficient for the pur
pose OF cruiser in order TO attack your enemy that
enemy were Great Brilan--in her most vital paI-her
commerce They could sweep il from the face OF the
ocean; because ship could escape them which was
delenceless and ship with sufficient power 10 over
come could overhaul them. 8yE t.Ht
But may be said that, account OF the construction
OF these side wheel steamers they unfit for cruisers
because they could carry sufficient supply OF coal
1t is necessary that sdewhee should de.
pend alone upon her coal ask sou TO take facts here
again Do senators bear in their recollection the fact
that in 1851. the Atlantic leaving Liverpool 10 the month
OF December OF the most tempestuous seasons OF
the year. and having crossed more Than hall the ocean,
when eight days out broke her shaft She was left
then in the middle OF the with nothing but her
sails 10 depend upon After attempting to combat with
adverse winds and reach America, she abandoned that
on The llth Of January. She then returned towards
England and in eleven days crossed than half the
ocean under aone and that but such as
is usually carried by ship OF somewhat less than six
President
you to attribute that but to the perfection OF her
model ask you if such steamer properly rugged and
properly SPARED, could not go upon The cruiser
as successfully as Your Sarnacs and Susquehannas and
with power and speed equal TO sixteen miles an hour
when using steam, and the capacity which she has
hibed with her limited amount OF canvass which would
give her sailing power OF great extent when ordinarily
spared, would she not be the very perfection OF cruiser
in time OF war; She can carry from twelve hundred to
fourteen hundred tons OF coaa sufficient supply for
at least eighteen days In what requisite for cruiser is
she defective.
know there are conflicting opiaions in reference to
the sidewheel steamer and the propeller and II the
question was one as TO your navy proper and the true
form OF vessels TO be constructed for the navy proper
assure the senator from Virginia that he might command
my vote upon such question at all times that would
for appropriation for the construction OF any but
screw steamer applied TO the navy proper But the
reason OF that very obvious We do not require ex-
hafxu
the two is, that in the side.whee steamers you have
speed and with the propeller or steamer you have
economy and comparative nvunerability; but they want
speed That is the difference As cruiser, chasing the
commerce of your enemy the ocean, the exposure OF
such vessel the Atlantic amounts 10 nothing From
war she could escape by her speed. and those
vessels which she desired 10 overtake could not hope
TO escape. She could carry coal for eighteen days,
and, with the capacity exhibited with a deficiency OF
canvass-that is with one-ffth what she ought to
have 10 traverse the ocean-she returned at the rate
of hundred and fifty miles day; her superiority
cannot be doubted. The Atlantic then showed a ca
pacity which would emnently fit her for the pur.
adapted for the purposes OF war; though it may be
that such vessel could not safely encounter. in naval
eng ment, either sailing frigaie streamer
because she is vulnerable But the objection does
apply 10 this line The objection would be well la
ken il applied TO your Susquehanna or even perhaps to
your Mississippi Those vessels may be more strongly
built but to vulneIabty-the danger oi being dis
abled,hey in very little better condition than any
Of the vessels Of the Collins line They not equal to the
come TO the question of defence you find that the
chney is the principal part of these steamers which
pie wheel. the vessel effecualy disabled ii you
broke her machinery. The wheels the most exposed
portions and that objection applies 10 the vessels which
you have built solely for war purposes much as to the
Collins steamers.
Have not right then. to say that OF these
sells is adapted to the purposes OF war But Will go
further. speaking of her qualities as a cruiser
Allow 10 bring before the Senate the evidence OF
gentleman whose evidence has been referred 10 for
another purpose BY the honorable senator from Virginia
navy Mr.. Isherwood | found on Saturday, in the
journal OF the franklin Institute" account by this
gentleman 81 the e. Riss and
the Arrogant He gives the entire dimensions OF the
sell and description OF her boilers and OF her whole ma
from her log he gives her performances under all orcum
stances What do you suppose is the result Why the
speed OF that vessel in smooth water, and in calm weather.
was but 3.os knots per hour. The same steamer work
ing with full power in very fair weather, in smooth
sea- with steam alone sos knots-somelbng short
OF six miles per hour The Atlantic. under sails alone,
in disabled condition, and with all the embaHassmens
arising from her Wheels and with but one-hh OF her
proper canvass, exceeded that very much This gentle
also gives the speed OF the Arrogant steamer in com
ing from Gibraltar TO Lisbon, with all her sails set under
full power, and with free wind and but loi knots
an hour. One OF Collnss steamers would run away
from her
is Ia knots hour, and oitentimes IS. ! speak OF a
fact OF which am personally cognizant timed them
day after day for two across the Atlantic IN he
steamers Atlantic and Pacific. speak o what know
with certainty. In ordinary smooth sea the common
speed OF these vessels under full but not extraordinary
pressure OF steam, was IA knots an hour Is there no
difference OF comparison here IN their favor Then COM
pare the power OF these vessels cruisers with this
crack sore w steamer OF the British navy The
count states that this steamer carry fuel for
eight days in her bunkes Shall be told, then, that a
vessel which can probably ousa with her sails alone,
screw steamer using both her screw and her sails, Is
not better adapted for cruising purposes The best time
~ bpt her
steam power, but lot knots or about twelve miles
per hour The Atlantic made nine miles an hour with
her sails alone and with only one-ttb oil her proper can
vass, and without bowsprt.
Shall be told, then, that vessel capable oil carrying
eighteen days fuel instead OF one capable oi carrying
only eight days fuea vessel running at the rate OF six
teen TO eighteen miles hour, while the other is capable
OF running at the rate o twelve miles only All hour,
would not be Invaluable as cruiser! II might be, il
those two vessels TO come into collision IN single
conflict or-in fleet, the vulneraby OF the one would
render her more exposed than the other The two
sells might not he equal for all the purposes OF but
for some OF those purposes the swier vessel would be
essentially superior Therefore, in my judgment, these
steamers are within the declared purpose OF your policy
and are adapted TO the purposes OF war
This Judge TO be the opinion OF Commodore Perry.
Nor ia that opinion conadIcted by the long array OF evi
depce OF British officers brought forward by the honora-
bic senator from Virginia They did not touch The ques
lion They spoke OF propeers, compared with side
wheel steamers for ak naval concede that Tor the
purposes OF the navy proper, propeller the better OF
The two With my consent, no future vessel shall be
of that steamer which planned and constructed under
the superintendence OF my gallant and distinguished
friend from New Jersey, IMr. STocKTos,l and which
did such good service during the war with Mexico