New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-08
NEw.YoRK DAILY TRIBUNE THURSDAY, DECEMBER g. 1853

New York ard orr urosperous trade in the Pa i, sni
the wonders Of commerce 70 bear the same reia'2 to
China ard japan which thu; Of Tie Al lnc Co.'s. beans 10
The Continent oi Eur and Great Britain WehaTe over
four millions OF unrr-e American ye7sels fre5hfoi ~ "a
the rich fruis OF American industry penetrating every sea
and Thousands Of coantrymcn, whom bdsy enterprise
has boTre to distant lands or whom msfotane has
wrecked On some inhosPable shore-sl look 20 iheir
counfry's aag 10 pToioc' then.
i cur present Navy sufficient for ell these great par
pOses OF defen7e and protection very Ia from IA
tmafpc an opinion that should steadily m.in,ain
val force 20 large that Of Of the p,wers msnJnsl
They have large colonial settlements Islands aoi
tinens remote from their seat OF Government Tier
iealousies their proximity TO each ohcr their peculiar
form OF government all combine TO require for the par
pesos far larger naval force than we need sut they
are annually enargng theirs shall we allow the disparity
20 become greater The following warning AIN 'hi&oa
on ih point by Washington in his eighth ANIMAL message
infoTces this view ITO active external com nerce
the protection Of a naval force is indispensable Tbs
is manifest with regard to in which state iIse y
party But beside this. is in our experience tnat me
most sincere neutrality not sufficient guard against he
depredaions of nations AT To secure Tespect 70
Gag requires naval force. org snzed aud ready
10 yindcate il from insult and aggression. Tbs may pre-
vent even the necessity of going TO war oy deonrgg
begeIelt powers from committing such violations OF the
rights of the neutral party may first or last leave no
These conseraions invite the United States to look to
her and 10 set about the gradual increase OF her
Navy VIII not; then, be advisable to begin without de-
lay provide and lay mp the materials for the building
and equppng of ships Of and to proceed in the work
by degrees in proportion resources shall render i
practicable without Inconvenience that future war of
Europe may not nd commerce in the same uafortln
ate state IN which il found by the President take
il TO be fair proposition that Navy should az 7st
be large enough TO command snd coasts.
Otherwise it would to be not only useless append
age, but fall easy prey TO the enemy and add to his
strength And in view of this point it may be well
member the positions overlooking home commerce
the Bermudas and West Indies well fortified and held by
other nations II may be said that have strong ortid
cations and that they be relied upon for defense
But Notifications, with their conceded Importance
without Navy have well been compared 70 shield with
n perh3rS
comparatively small In the war of 1872 when Our OH
achieved brilliant victories, for Themselves i'm
perhabe renOwn and broke the charm OF the enemys
naval nvincibility Those indeed great achieve
ments. And still have proud spirits in the Navy
whom opportunity would call forth and who would again
accomplish all that valor and patriotism could accomplish
But without enlarging upon the circumstances which
helped occasion then, dwelling upon the dis
that then befo commerce. when we can 10 nina
the formidable growing and, in numbers at least the
overwhelming streng of the aavies of the many great
nations with whom claim equal rank, may II
possible 10 tax severely the valor aud skill
of our small Navy, however gallant As, however,
we have enjoyed of profound peace, with
the exception OF the with nation without navy. il
is perhaps be regretted that have deferred en-
larging ours thus long as we can now adyanase9usly
avail ourselves of the vast improvements suggested by
the of experience and the inventive genius OF archi
tecs of and other countries Steam Is inquest
onably the great agent to be used the well
for purposes Of of commerce The improved sys
Of propller instead OF side wheels one OF
the grand dedeata torender the use of steam effective IN
secure When the bayonet added to the muskct, the
invention appauded for placing in the hands of the
soldiers at time, the two engines Of destruction and
the introduction OF the propeller has been similarly
appreciated embracing without confusion two elements
Of "progress The sail and the steam engine side wheel
steamers are much mpairabe ia their capacity for
selling and too much coal for distant countries
Those hand can be made to well for short
cruises and dispatch vessels. The screw propeer'
being upon principle not much interfering with the
sailing capacity with the improved modes Of the present
day, be constructed as 20 sail as well as the
best clipper ship and reserve the use OF steam ,r emer
Cencies when greatest speed is required or when in
calm dc sirabe position can be the more promptly and
surely taken The great necessary expense Incidental TO
the expedition Japan could have materially indeed one
half been curteed had been in the power Of the De
parment have propeers instead OF side wheel steamers
now costing much from the consumption OF coal re-
commend therefore that the Department be authorized
TO have constructed SIR frst class gate propL
rs The opinion entertained is that that number may be
built in our several yards in addition TO the work now
going and the repairs usually needed on the return 81
vessels from long cruises. 1t is estimated that they will
cost between four and I'VE million of dollars, and can be
built in about twenty months. With the exception oil
some deficiency the supply of white oak and yellow pine
which can without much difficulty be procured we have
on hand at the various yards ample material to accomplish
what IL recommended 1t will be perceived, on referring
the estimates of the Bureau OF Construction Nc that
estimate is made Of the entire cost Of the work without
purchasing any MARTIAL and of the probable amount which
would be expended during the fiscal year without regard
great dispatch Tbs done in order that the suo
ject might be understood properly and that such action
might be taken appeared wisest. AZ II Is deemed de
sirabe 70 make this addition naval forces early
practicable in confederation Of the number OF vessels
which will soon be unfit for service, and not worth repair
ing and it important to retain on hand Tor em'rsen
ces reasonable supply of building materials venture
suggest the policy of making appropriation ~ an carry
day 10 enable The Department TO build them WITH .pa.ea
and purease supply of material not to diminish the
supply on hand
/ sTEAMsHIs OF WAR; unhesitangly renew the recon
mendaon heretofore made OF the importance OF establish
ing machine shops at several navy ards on the Atlantic
and at san Francisco the Pacific for the construction
and repair Of machinery for steamships OF war Recent
occurrences have multiplied cOgent arguments IN favor OF
tha policy With the exception OF limited arrangements
In The Warrington Navy Yard the Government Is utterly
dependent upon private contracts IL is submitted als)
that it is important that the Department be authorized
when expedent to increase the enlistment OF IN u irom
/ the present number Of 800 to 10000
/ BOARD oY MEDIcIsE AsD SURGERY 1t is recommend
ed that the number Of the Medical corps Of the Navy be en-
lareed ,..,,.,..t.
EXPRESSION Of nv opinion the present organic alton Of
The Navy Is not only essentially defective and unwse bat
H. in IL practical operation working papable an SER
Gus mischief the efficiency and character OF tna Drancn
Of the ubic service not insensibe 70 The fact thar
uroass for radical reform however much suggested by
lie suit expt Renee observation or reflection are OF
en- viewed with drut and doubt ras Innovations upon
familiar and long established systems, cilng 70 som tunes
with zen erty and abandoned generally with reluctance
from sense Of justice 10 the service and dn'y 20 the
Government venture TO expose 10 view some OI those
defects and briefly recommend by which IL hoped they
NAV be- to some extent removed This subject has long
attracted the attention Of those whose occupation or as0e
stiou has brought them in contact with the Navy, and as Il
has recently the consideration o Congress ana
Die public great solicitation is fei great hope enter
tanned that the much needed relief viii be longer de-
Iayed The great evil in Ourpreent system Is that neither
merit service nor gallantry but mere seniority oil
commission, regulates promotion and pay.
The gallant chiyalrOus NJ the Navy feel disq1ete1
and discouraged and their ardor is chilled The hre Of
their young ambition and pride well nigh extingulshed
Many are leaving the service which they have ~ oady
clune Many remain only because Of the cherished ex
lection Of relrm The officer who encounters all the pers