Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-25
WANT OF NAVAL PREPARATION.

A E
WANT OF NAVAL PREPARATION
Meanwhile, orr coasts and our commerce
are utterly without protection. In the event
Of war with England and France not only
would our immense commerce fall helpless
prey to the rapacity Of the enemy but desola-
ton would be brought home to our doors.
This is a sad contingency to contemplate and
the blame Of our needless exposure rests upon
Congress-. The Executive Department of the
Government has done its duty. In an admi-
rable report admirable as we'll for the wisdom
Of its suggestions as for the luminous arrange
ment OF it's topics, and the ability Of its argu-
ments-Secretary Dobbin earnestly recon-
mended an increase Of our naval force, both
by reform in its discipline and by positive ad-
dition to its material strength. In pursuance
Of the policy indicated by the Department the
chairman Of the Naval Committee in the
House reported . bill for the immediate con-
struction Of six war steamers, but the House
refuses to act on the measure! Was there
ever such Stupidity Local jealousies and the
exigencies Of log-rolling are said to be at the
bottom Of the matter; but will members never
rise above such base and narrow considcra-
tions? Do not the urgent necessities of the
present crisis suggest to them larger and
the selfish interests of rival localiticsi While
Western members are avenging the miscar
rage of their railway grants, the countrymay
lose some recoverable advantage, or it's power
sustain some irreparable ound."--Richmond
lVa) Enquirer.
1t is true, that we have not the force neces-
sary to prevent insult to our flag, much less to
wage war of aggression. This must be very
distressing to the Enquirer and its friends, who
appear to be anxious for war with Spain, and
prepared to defy the fleets Of Great Britain
and France. That paper some time since
thought the Neutrality laws should be re-
pealed, and the flibusters let loose. Fifty
thousand of the Chiyalry Of the South, it ex-
claimed, were painting for descent upon Cuba.
Did it never OCCUR to our sagacious cotempo-
rary to inquire, how that painting army Of
knights errant were to get therea Did they
intend to bridge the ocean, or walk the water or
ask convoy from the British and French fleets,
waiting for active service The zeal of the
painting chivalry has outrun its ideas.
The Enquirer is about as eminent for its
practical views as the Presidents "organ,"
which, in the course of some speculations on
the subject Of war between the United States
and Great Britain and France, has no doubt
at all that declaration of hostilities by those
Powers against us would subvert the Govern
ment Of each; for, so enamored are the masses
Of the French and English people Of our insti-
tutiona and 30 devoted are they to the Democ-
racy of this country, that they would turn
against their own rulers, and give us the fra
ternal hug! No one can question the sound
ness Of this original theory, when he considers
that the war would be waged on our part to per-
petuate Slavery in Cuba, and that the masses
Of French and English people would sympa-
thize with us profoundly in such an enterprise
Assuming the theory to be correct, Congress
might az we'll dispense with the costly prepa-
rations recommended by Secretary Dobbin.
If our Government stands 30 high in the affec-
tons Of the English and French, that dec.
laration Of war BY their Governments against
us would be the subversion Of their power in
stead Of getting ready fleet Of screw pro-
pellers, IL were better to send out cargo OF
proclamations, to be distributed by tx Consul
Saunders, among the masses Of England and
France, whenever their Governments should
commence warlike operations.
The belIicose tone Of these journals is ride
ulous. Nobody is excited, nobody put in bodily
fear. The American People know that their
flag is everywhere rcspected-that no Euro
pean Power desires war with this country
that England and France prefer our friendship
to our cnmity-that they have more to gain
by peaceful commerce with us than angry con.
tention--that they are mcditating no aggres-
sion upon our rights, and are unequal to the
task Of imposing limits upon our legitimate OK
pansion. This feeling is shared by their Rep.
rcscntativcs in Congress, and henco the inds.
position manifested to act with haste on the
proposition 10 Increase our naval armament
They will not, we presume, neglect this duty
I but they will take their own time in attending
to it without special reference to the schemes
Of our painting Chivalry"
That our present navy is insufficient as "a
sea-policc," to use very convenient torn, We
have no doubt, and the recommendations Of
Secretary Dobbin commend themselves to ouI
Judgment. Should they be carried out they
will give such efficiency to our navy, that, IL
the event Of a general convuJsion in Europe, i
might DO able to prevent those irresponsible
acts Of aggression npon our commerce, which
must inevitably tend 70 war. But, il is idle t.
suppose that even Thus reinforced u will b
powerful enough 10 secure success TO the
schemes q Slavery propagsndsm and conquest
20 fcndly medisatsd BY the painting Chiv
! slryo