The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-08
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port or falls in with the commodore OF the squadron
consider it a-important that the commander OF any
vessel should be authorized by law to order summary
for the trial OF the petty officers and those
below them that they should have the power TO panish
by dhonorabe discharge in any port by confinement on
reduced ratons without pay labor and de-
NAL of shore privilege When the seaman knows that
these punishmens be promptly inflicted by the omcer
in command of the ship he has much to deter MIN from
dsobedience. -
But In order successfully 10 invite diligent and enter
prspg men they must know that their integrity will be
commended and their faithfnness remembered An hon.
orable discharge pay shore privilege and
the confidence OF the officers will animate and encourage
them hope may excused for repeating that u deem
indispensable that plan be adopted by which our
seamen shall become more distinctly and permanently part
e Navy and attached 10 the service Whenever shipof
war from her three years cruise the officers
are detached and granted leave OF absence for three
months with eave-oabsence pay but the per-
emptorily discharged from the service they
have been merorous propose that on their return they
be granted honorable discharge ito be considered
leave Of absence pay if within certain time they
choose reenlis in the service This would possess
twoold vrtueof and generous treatment at parting
invitation to continue member OF family caring TOT
them during temporary absence
wish to raise the of character among seamen
1t is my design ALSO immediately to adopt in modified
FORM the Apprentice System and encourage the enlist
of American boys from fourteen until they are TWEEN
tyrone years of age The object in view will be to tram
them up at large receiving ships and transfer
certain number to each vessel starting on cruise to
make them practical teach them III their youth
to become familiar with all the duties of sailor the re-
qemens of the service the sacredness OF obedience to
orders watch their proper moral and mental train
ing and thus incorporate into the service gradually but
surely body of to be proud OF in times OF peace
to be relied upon in times danger also very clear
y oopnon that the nunber of in the service should
be increased at least twenty five hundred
MARINE CORPS.
The marine corps constitutes most interesting, i'm
poran and useful portion of the naval force Their ser
vice equally effective land and sea- They are an
armed and disciplined police shipboard Well trained
and drilled before being detailed for duty at aware OF
in the of order and the
of muny the first symptom Of characterization finds them
ready with strong hand and FURNISHED arms at the drum
tap, put down disorder or disobedience.
Recent at painfully fresh In the reco-
lection of all impress the mind most WILDLY OF the prac
cal value of such body of in moments
of peril and ALARM when panic and disorder are 30
often unnecessarily fruitful of desoation and death But
land also their services have been found ecen
either in the navy yards shore far from their country
This corps accompany men-owar in all their cruises
in times of peace and war; and have sgnazed their vaor
Their number now is entirely small and earnestly
recommend increase by which time would be al
lowed for their proper discipline and drilling before they
ordered sea- and their efficiency rendered still
reliable satisfied also that the corps could be I'M
proved and elevated in character by adopting some
tenn of appointing officers of military education and train
ing. Nsv
DOCKS
We have now eight yards inclusive of the
in rapid progress of construction at Mare island Caor
MIA To keep these yards in proper condition for useful
fixtures occasion the expenditure annually of large
of money Notwithstanding the diligence and vigilance of
from time 10 time required for the ward in California
which, it is presumed will be complete establishment as
it is the only the Pacific The prices of labor
and material and the necessaries of life in California
still far higher than on the Atlantic coast.
My immediate predecessor Hon. John p. Kennedy in
his last animal report recommended the construction OF
basin and railway connection with the floating sectional
dock in California, thus: No appropriation made for
the basin and railway without which the dock cannot be
safely usefuly employed submit it to the decision of
Congress whether these structures should not be made
without delay"
Congress subsequently, in the naval appropriation BILL
approved March 3 1853 adopted the following section
And the Secretary of the Navy is hereby directed to
complete and execution the verbal contract for
basin and railway in California in connexion with the
floating dock made by the late Secretary in pursuance
of authority for that purpose by the act Of Sepen
Der the thousand eight fifty
entitled An act making appropriations for the naval SER
vice for the year ending the heth of June thousand
eight hundred and yone and stated in the letter of
the said late Secretary addressed to the honorable Howell
Cobb Speaker of the House of Representatives and dated
the twentrst day Of January thousand eight hun
dred and hftyone towards the execution of which one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars is hereby appropriated
ropid That in the judgment of the Secretary, such ba
sin and railway are necessary and will be useful to the
public service
In my last annual report / informed you that had
given the subject much investigation that my predilec
lions decidedly in favor of stone docks that Con-
gess, however had decided that sectional floating dock
is preferable iii California that entertained the opinion
that basin is necessary render il safe when large
ship is locked for REPAIRS which 1t to months
of dangerous weather. and that should execute
the contract unless Congress should otherwise direct
The difficulties about the title to Mare island were not
removed until July last Previous to making the contract
the opinion of the Attorney General was asked the
proper construction of the Jaw and he advised that was
mandatory in its to the amount to be paid and
the execution of the contract if the basin and railway
decided to be necessary and useful the public service
He the following language: "Thus far the terms
and it only remains to discuss the proviso the
clause, which is PrQpided That, in the judgment
Of the Secretary, such basin and railway neces-
sary, and will be useful to the public service
In all machines great small, parts found which
necessary to the action to the safety to the per-
manent value of the machine That is mechanical ques
on TO be settled by the Secretary by the aid of experts
and Of engineers" deemed it my duty to procure the
opinion and advice of experts engineers and practical
men, some of whose opinions, heretofore verbally given,
lhave caused to be reduced to writing. refer to Mr.
Lentha naval constructor and chief of the Bureau of
Construction, Equipment and Repair and the civil en-
gneer, Mr. Sanger attached to the Bureau of Yards and
Docks. am not acquainted with any two gentlemen
distinguished in their respective professions and
entitled to the confidence and respect of the depart
ment 1t proper that should state Also that these
gentlemen have always been adverse to the construction
of these floating docks but the question of the
siy and usefulness to the public service of the basin and
rGpay in connection with the sectional DOCK they have
expressed themselves with eaness and force and present
ed arguments and facts which, in my Judgment were con
yincing.
Mr.. Lenthall in answer TO my inquiry, expresses himself
thus In compliance with your request that should
municate my opinion in wrlung which several
sons has been verbally given to whether the basin and
railway desirable necessary in connexon with the
without such appendage would consider this floating
* n for nAVaI purpOu