Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-05-19


The prompt response by Congress to the recon-
mendation Of Secretary Dobbin for the construction
of six war steamers of The first class is rot simply
an evidence of confidence in that able and e:ncient
officer but il is move in the proper direction, which
cannot be too soon followed up in the SINE spirit
We feel confident that in the construction OF these
vessels the Secretary of the Navy will neither be
trammeled by Old Fogy prejudices against improve
ment, nor yet allow them 10 be experImented upon
by brainless Lieuenans in the manner OF Hunter and
his submerged propeller, and host OF other nom
senscal abortions which have cast ricule upon our
Navy We look for model ships, standing in the
same relation to the military marine OF the world
that our private ships already do to the civil marine
and after these models and with such farther I'M
provements as their construction may suggest we
hope that many others will be built
The public mind is alive and sensitive, and justly
So We know not what day or an hour may bring
forth we know not how soon we may De involved
by the necessity of protecting our commerce IN the
war lust broken out in Europe, nor how soon the
question with respect to Cuba may be pressed upon
US in manner calculated to require the exertIon OF
all our energies bring il to successful issue
are surprised find the coincidence OF OPINION among
the best informed men from all sections OF the coun
trv in regard TO this affair The conviction is fast
becoming irresistible that. far the control Of
her government is concerned Cuba s passing out of
the hands of Spain and into those of England and
France. thus. in effect, bringing about state OF
things deprecated and 10 be resisted by the United
States as dangerous TO their own safety. Cuba l. NJ"
simply Spanish Island but, for all purposes OF
military annoyance or abolition in Jury, an Anglo
French post How far is this to be carried! and how
long will il be endured! That there rs point, all
must feel. That that point is rapidly being reached
is also apparent. 1t only remains to enquire what a
of dutr nd of SnIf Con-
gress. We are not prepared, as we should be,
for any of the contingencies which seem Impending.
This ought TO be remedied. We ought to be pre-
pared and this too, before we take step to embroll
ourselves legislators should make our prepara-
lions for war always keep pace with the warke tone
of councils and our diplomacy. We want more
ships,
o. here is no sort of doubt but that this arrange
ment, or no arrangement, rather, by which the in
suits and injuries to the people and commerce of the
United States, constantly occurring in Cuba, have to
be referred to the Spanish Government for redress,
and back to the Cuban authorities for information,
and thus banded about and postponed, must come
to an end. There is as evident desire for delay
and the evasion of justice the part of Spain un-
der the present SYSTEM there among the faction
lists in the House in the of Instructions to pre-
vent action on the Nebraska Bill.
Even under the best and most favorable crcum-
Stances the system is unbearable, but is doubly
so, when the agents of the Spanish Government in
Cuba arrogant and unprincipled despots a
small scale, and when that Government itself is de-
void of character or honesty. Heretofore, after an
endurance for months of insult and loss perhaps the
SpanardS would at length tender us their polite
grets and that was ALL but it would seem that in
= Sho 1v in
TALLY as she has always done, but the act and
sustans the actor
Another leaf is soon to be turned, and the history
to be inscribed its fresh pages will speak differently
of our future relations towards Spain. The past is
not to be repeated or perpetuated 1t has had its
day, and overrun ii.
How CosTs.-During the proracted sitting OF
the House Thursday and Friday last, the yeas and
nays were taken hundred and four times, and at
a cost the national Treasury of about fifteen thou
sand dollars!
KNOW Enthusiastically has told us that
they saw, day two since, pieces of blank paper
stuck up on the corners about town. This is said &c
be - Know Nothing" handbill Perhaps so; we
" don't know" We 'dont know" whether the
:. institution has progressed this far not If il
be as represented, We ''dont think" il will do much
or take any permanent hold at the South. Our PEG
pie not incned TO hide their views doings -
They do their politics openly. The only things tt
be kept secret are your neighbours failings or yOu
own good deeds; and this principle lays al The bottom
of all the secrecy connected with Masonry, Odd Eel
Iowshp and other benevolent societies, whose princ
Piles are promulgated to the world, and whose benev
olences are in the nature of family assistance.
extended scale.