The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-04


in Louisville, Ky.
Another lecture was delivered last evening in the
Broadway Tabernacle by Mr.. Darcy Niece on the
Catholics, the Constitution and the Revolution It's
object was to prove tnat the independence of the
United States was gained by Catholics as wen as
Protestants and that the former pledged their for
tunes, their lives aud their sacred honor, with as
much alacrity the latter and when the time arrv-
ed, sealed their devotion to the cause of liberty by
the sacrifice of their lives.
farewell mission airy meeting was held ast nj yht
at Calvary church, corner Of Fourth avenue and
Twenty frs. street. the occasion Of the departure
of Bishop Boone for the Chinese mission at Shang hae
Brief addresses were made by Rev. DR.. Hawkes. and
others.
The Cunard steamship Africa is fully due, with
three days later intelligence from Europe Her
news is anXiously looked for.
Guar Steam Marine and the Administration.
1t is curious fact that whilst one OF our
New York naval architects is about to con-
struet a ship to sail twenty-five miles an hour.
and another has steamer in progress Of cree
ton which he confidently asserts win make the
passage from this port to Europe in seven
days-whilst progress is the order OF the day
in naval architecture, and that branch of the
useful arts is keeping pace with the spirit of the
age and the active energies of the country in
every department of life--and whilst other
governments, all over the world. are going
ahead in steam armament, the administration at
Washington, which, if it do not lead the way,
ought to be at least the reflex of the ntrepidity
and enterprise of the republic, is making a re-
trograde movement, and is about to destroy as
far as in it lies, what individual exertions have
accomplished for the glory, the interests, and
the moral strength of the United States, upon
every ocean and in every cline. Notwitl-
standing the fine promises in the inaugural adj
dress of the President, which turns out to be q
ror ct proterea niha-empty sound and moth
ing more-tle Cabinet is not merely proceed
ing at the pace of a tortoise, but is going back
wards like the crab. BY recent Intelligence
from the capital we learn that instead Of en-
couraging those Enterprises of the people which
reflect honor upon the country and contribute
to its power. the chief magistrate intends in
his FIRST message to Congress to propose to cut
off The patronage afforded by the government
to those lines Of steamships which carry the
mails, and whose iast-sailing qualities ought to
teach the administration their duty to the ma
ton in reference to the neglected and dsgraceful
state OF the navy. The only palliation that
could be offered, under recent administrations
for that disgrace and that neglect, was the en-
couragement given by Congress to the erection
of steamships by private citizens, which, in
case Of emergency could be converted imme-
diately into vessels Of war, and placed at the
disposal of the government. Even that excuse
is now about TO be taken away; and before any
provision is made to cope with the very feeblest
Of maritime powers on that great element Of
which this nation might and ought to be the
sovereign. heavy blow is to be struck at the
only substitute we have for that great arm Of
the public service, whose strength cannot be
reduced with impunity.
What have European powers been recently
doing, and what are they now doing, in this re-
gard France. Spain, Russia, arc actively en-
gagged in increasing the numerical force OF their
nayics And what is Great Britain doing,
which, y we have lately seen from the exhibit
ton at Spithead already possesses n feet such
as the world never saw Not content with
this the British government are patroniziug
innumerable lines Of steamers for carrying
thelr mails to the ends Of the earth; aud when
we were lately in England we found that they
had entered into a new contract for the erection
Of o line Of clipper steamers to carry the mails
in eight days between Liverpool and New York.
BY this wise policy they seek TO accomplish two
grand national objects-frst, they intend to re-
cover II possible. the prestige lost when their
best and fastest ocean steamers were beaten by
Collins linc-an event 10 our history which has
done more than any other in modern times, ex-
cept the Mexican war, to raise in the estima-
tion OF the world the power and greatness of
this country to its true position in the
scale Of nations; secondly, they make a
proyident provision for the future, 10y
increasing at little, If any, expense, the avail
able steam power Of Great Britain for purposes
OF war. Steam has effected a revolution in the
science OF naval warfare, completely changing
its tactics and presenting new modes of opera
tion. And whenever the next great action is
fought on the high seas it will be found what a
tremendous part this mighty agent has acted
in the bloody drama.
1t is at such juncture as this, and when
clouds Of war seem to gather in the eastern
horizon, that our sagacious and patriotic Cabi-
net propose to cripple and confne the ocean
steam power we now possess. instead of making
additions to that great element Of strength or
encouraging its extension by private enter
prise sustained by the countenance Of Congress.
II is steam that gives Great Britain the adj
vantage over the continent Of Europe and
steam might give this nation, under a more ju-
dicious policy, the advantage over the world in
arms The total tonnage Of the continent Of
Europe for all kinds Of vessels is two million
or little over. England's tonnage more than
doubles that amount, and our tonnage is
400 600 less than that Of England. While the
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