Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-12-16
From the Baltimore Sun
The Report OF the Navy Department.

unwouted interest, not only by the people of Amer-
ca, bat throughout world.-Bah. Clipper
From the Baltimore Sun.
The Report the Navy Department..
The report from Mr.. Dobbin Secretary Of the
Navy, is one of the most interesting public docu
ments we have read for long time. 1t may not
command the eclat Of Hulsemann letter, or
Koszta manifesto, for the want of point d'0ppuI
from which to reach the popular mind. But it is
not the less credtabe to the intelligence applica
tion zeal and patriotism of its author, than were
either of these productions. 1t bears evidence Of
a real concern about the subject discussed desire
to effect sound, practical and progressive reform in
the department to which it refers and, in opin-
ion, contains a number of suggestions worthy of
particular attention and decided action the hands
of Congress.
The advanced position Of the United States with
respect to other civilized nations, will be too
manifest for them to dispute. That position is, it's
elf al element of power but, however eminent
and influential il may be in ITSELF it must also pre-
sent the distinctive characteristics of physical force
In what such physical force must consist and the
degree it may be desirable to exhibit depends main
ly upon adventurous circumstances Our resources
sufficient to enable to deal handed with
any Of the nations Of the earth, But the efficiency
Of those resources consists in the compactness to
which they may be reduced, and the facility with
which they may be applied In this report of the
Secretary of the Navy, have these characteris-
tics OF efficiency developed to the apprehension of
all who are disposed to consider the matter impair
tally, and from the stand point OF nationality.
The Navy of the United States it is conceded,
must ever constitute the most important arm of its
physical force, with the extensive seaboard and vast
commercial interests pertaining 10 the country Ihe
ocean is the great highway of American enterprise,
and with almost every other nation in case Of war,
it must prove the field upon which the Issue of bat
tie will be decided 1t is of the utmost importance,
therefore, that the Navy of the United States should
possess the greatest efficiency that possibly be
attained. Whatever may be the number or the
size of our ships of the first thing to be
sidered is their efficiency. We may increase them
to any extent, but without more judici0us econo-
my, we shall make no corresponding accession of
power or efficiency. And that the increment Of eff
ectve force may be in proportion to the means, the
economy of our system must be liberal, to be wise
! The plans and processes devised by the Secretary
of the Navy, modified and improved as any of them
may be, at the suggestion of experience, seem to
us admirably adapted to impart to the Navy of the
| United States degree OF efficiency, not onl far
superior to that it possesses but prOportionate
y greater than that of any other nation 1t is no
doubt true that, other things being equal, Amer
lean will fight better than that Of any other
country. The love of country is more intense it
is real, personal absolute 1t is thing to fight for
= independent Of The shilling day" But, besides
this it is true economy to do whatsoever wisdom can
devise and iudicous berality sustain, for the de-
velopment of the highest degree of efficiency in any
given amount of means. This is the policy
which has dictated the report In reference, and II
f commends itself to those who to act upon it by
the consistency of its logic and the equity OF it:
details.
Report of the Secretary of the Navy.
1t is one of the distinctive features iii the times
that the public mind has been directed of late with
more than usual interest of navy. Reform in this
branch of the public service has been favorite TO-
pic of newspaper discussion, whilst the senmen
seems 10 have been very nearly universal that in
of the val force is essential whether have
regard to our public defence to our commercial in
Mr. has will
slant anxiety the investigation of the whole sub
ject, and have the pleasure of laying before
readers the conclusions to which he has arrived
! Without comment we commend his suggestions anc
views to the country worthy of consdera
ton. His whole report will be found 10 be replet
with interesting and valuable information, whilst hi
+ recommendations as TO an increase OF the navy anC
to reforms III the service will secure the ready at
ention of Congress, The report is prepared with
characteristic clearness force and method refeoine
the highest credit upon the ability, well as the in
dusry and energy, of the Secretary of the Navy
The friends of the navy will find in Mr.. Dobbin's re
port the best evidence of the wisdom which guided tb
President in selecting him to manage this department
! Of the public servce-WaS Union.
g MAcAULAY.-A report has obtained some circula
ton in the United States that this most brilliant
t the living writer's of England losing his memor,
g and intellect by the abuse of opium. We have
), within day two, seen letter from an eminen
: London physician, Mr. Macaulays medical adviser
containing QlrecG OF lnlS report
Macaulay never knowingly, took dose of opium il
his life The letter alluded to contains 1--WE hap
: Ply to add) the following expression " Macaulay'
general health is better his intellect is what it ha
9 been ever since have known him."
Washington Union.
;, ALL MIsTAKE.-The Boston Pilot says that tht
o statement which is going the rounds, that :. Mr.
t Beck, of Somerville, Mass has renowned Roman
ism and conveyed to the Episcopal Church the larg
: property known as the Catholic Orphan Asylum,
in that town. is not true, for the following reasons
that Mr. Beck never was Roman Catholic, and
there is such property in that town, known as
i" Catholic Orphan Asylum