The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-08

necessary on account OF the great OF
il passed shps-of-war on the coasts OF Fords,
Texas, and California were "acnng out Of the United
States, and It's provisions 10 courts martial could
be conveniently enforced But II large squadron should
De st San Francisco however important early action
might be tor converting dlssolvng c0urt-martal,
there must now be delay until the department al Wash
ns,on can issue the Necessary orders 10 each case
nndet the act OF 1915 They neei much modification
La December, 1852. board convened for that par
pose under an order IRON the Secretary OF the Navy.
They reported system OF rules, which approved Dy
the late Executive in February, aud few copies were
issued TO officers question, however, having arisen
as to the authority OF the Executive TO adopt this system
OF orders and instructions without the sanction OF Con-
gress. and the opinion OF the Attorney General having
been that without the sanction Of Congress they were IL
legal by your direction order was issued resembling
them The regulations oil 1918, therefore. are still IN
force.
Controversies between the sea and civil officers OF the
navy IN regard to rank, have arisen and will continue
see no objection 10 the assignment oil proper rank 10
the civil officers OF the navy-not merely as grahca-
ton OF prde but TO prevent dscord exists in other
navics and in our army.
INCREASE or THE NAVY
The reSult Of my investigation OF this subject is de.
cded CONVICTION that this maintenance OF our proper and
elevated rank among the great powers OF the world the
.se defence Of our thousands Of Sss o
along the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the lakes and the
Gull of Mexico; tue recent marked improvements in the
OF naval architecture 0y OtOer natOne-cH
unite in demonstrating the policy, the necessity Of in
crease OF The navy Ii rue indeed our policy peace
No lust OF dominion, spirit Of aggression, marks out
our course Our national mission is, by the moral force
oil example to illustrate the blessings OF liberty and
peace civilization and religion. But the reasonable in
quy is peace be best maintained by the exhibition
Of comparative weakness Or BY display Of strength and
least deies assaults! What are the objects of navy
what the considerations to guide to correct conclu
sion as to the size aud character OF the naval force of
ron lc sltu AZ The
United Staies! DO not wisdom and prudence admonish
the careful statesman in hs calculations for the FUTURE
while he takes thought OF the commerce. the rights the
be protected by this right OF defence the
same time not to be unmlndul OF the comparative force,
efficiency and character OF the oil the great pow
with whom, with all our cherished love Of peace we
may have 10 contend! Is it the suggestion OF sound
discretion 10 rely exclusively upon The sudden prepare
lloh OF patriotic people, when the perilsus emergency
starts before them. and shut our eyes with quiet COM
posnre to real condltiol! Or is wiser to make the
preparation which considerable glance at the true
stale OF facts shall persuade US Is essential TO our
ri,y!
il truly exists, 10 the attention OF those who have the
power, TO produce the desired results.
The American navy consists OF about seventy vessels,
embracing all from the shps-o-the- TO The smailes
big, scdooner and storeshp vi these, many ships-of
the ine rgaes steamers. aud soops-oi.wAr, are MOI
only unfit tor service bus am advised BY the Bureau OF
Construction, Equipment, and Repair, are not worth
repairing. There not now IN the navy forty vessels
winch could be brought into service 10 ninety days,
needed There is steamer IN tue Pacific or African
squadron out one OF two guns III tae Brazilian squad
aad we have steamer OF more Than ten guns rhe
law only auhouzes the enlistment OF 500 men, which,
with an allowance OF proper complement Tor each ve--
sci, would not man fleet OF nifty vessels, with fair
proportion OF large ships Ga referring to authentic pa
pers will be found that. poin, of size al least
navy much less than nth OF that OF several OF the
greater powers OF Europe, ani whatever may be its fela
superiority and efficiency, not larger than that OF
certain other powers oil Europs which not OF the first
rank in the scale OF natIons.
And however much we may desire to cultivate terms
Of arnlty. these are the powers with whom We are
most likely to contend in future Conflicts and the great
deep The theatre on which future may be de-
clded. am not unmindul OF the mighty development
Of strength and force which The PATRIOTISM energy
nautical skill. and mercantile marine oil great
on would soon rally 10 our assistance Other nations,
addition their large navies have their
camille marine aud their steamships also But, again. what
have TO defend and protect! We have Atlantic coast
OF much more than Two thousand mics, stretching from
the Ro Grande 10 the 81 CIox studded with magnificent
and thriving towns We have Pacific
lending for many hundred miles, from the confines OF
Mexico TO the far Northwestern inviting country rap
idly popualDg, totally unforted separated by moun-
ains and deserts IRON the military power OF the govern
ment. new empire has, as by magic, sprung into
sience San Francisco promises at distant day to be-
come another New FORK, and prosperous trade in the
Pacific, amid The wonders of commerce. TO bear the
relation to China and Japan which that OF the Atlantic
coast bears 10 the continent OF Europe and Great Britain
We have over tour millions OF tonnage; American
sells, freghled with the rich fruits OF American industry
penetrating every and thousands Of counirymen
whom busy enterprise has borne to distant lands. or
whom misfortune has wrecked some inhospitabe
shore. all look to their countrys flag to protect them IL
present navy sufficient Tor all these gres, purposes
defence and proeclion' am very far IRON in,ms,ing
opinion that should steadily MAINTAIN a navai
force large as that OF oil the powers mentioned
They have large colonial settlements islands and con
nents remote from their seat OF government Their jeal
ouses their proximity 10 each olher their peculiar form
OF government all combine require for their purposes
far larger naval force than we need But, while they
annually enargng theirs shall allow the dsparl-
ty annually TO become grealer The following warning
adnonltion this point by Washington, in his eighth
annual message, enforces this view; To active ex-
lerDal commerce the protection OF naval force Is nds-
pensabe This is manifest with regard in which
State ITSELF u party. But. besides this, It s in our
own experience that the most sincere neutrality il not
sufficient gaarj against the depedations Of nations al
war TO secure respect 10 NATURAL flag requires naval
force, ogan,ssd and ready 10 rndioae from tnsIf sni
ing war; by discoursgng bel1erent powers from com
hitting such violations OF the rights OF the neutral parry
may first or last leave no other option These consd.
eraIons invite the United States to look means aud IL
SET about the gradual increase OF navy Will 1t not
then, be advisable TO begin without delay provide and
OF shps-of-war, and 10 proceed IN the work BY de.
grees, in proportion resources shall render IL
practicable without Inconvenience, 80 that futue war
oil Europe may not find commerce the same unfor-
tunaie state in which il found by the presenti'
take II 10 he fair proposition tina, our navy should st
La. BE- tgs enough % eommand our ovn ss, s~d coast
Otherwise. would 10 be not only useless appen-
dage but fall easy prey 10 the enemy, and add his
strength. And in view Of this point, II may be we'll 10
remem Der the positions eookng home com cree
the Bermudas and West Indies well fortified and held By
other nations II may be said that have strong forti
hca,ions and that they can be relied upon for defence
Bot Notifications, with their conceded importance
whout a navy. have been VII romnarsd ~ .b,.ld