The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-11

THE DAILY DlSfA ILH /
ToND.Y HoRNino. DECEMBER 4. 1859
sICRgTARY or TIE Nays REPORT
The rcpors commcuccs with adetsilcd accounso
49,. .,ovemcpts of the various squadrons Asx.
-, i. f.,, ,ouchias the fate Of the missing socp
a,b..v: but the department. Sin entsrsains the
oo,o;on that che 10 safs The steamer Princeson
Ia, been sent in search fher.
The prscticahtlity Of inter.ocesnic communics-
non by the construction ofa ship canal across me
.shmus Of Darien has been fully tested ~ Lieut.
strain and party, who are highly complime1sed
,rr ,he,r .rduous and dangerous services. Acc
cordiss to Lieut. SIS report the work V totally
,rnr.ctcable: and this. the Secretary thinks, set-
Tia the question forever.
The bombardment Of Greytown l. treated at
eon.idsrsble length, and the conduct Of Com. Hoi-
I iss fully JUSTIFIED.
Commodore Perry h spoken Of in terms Of warm
commend alton for bis neutrality-suspicious. and
remarkable Management Ia the negotiations which
resulted In commercial treaty with the Emperor
Of Japan.
The Secretary again presses upon Congress the
urgent necessify Of sill further increase ofthe
ing the construction Of six steam frigates. He
asks, compare the aze Of our navy not merely
with that Of the mighty nations with whom We
claim equal rank. but with that of other nations
whom We esteem to be far, far behind us In the
eof national greatness" Even with the add
ton Of the six new steam frigates ordered, our
naval force will not exceed fifty vesscls Ia condition
for service deienceless position invites aggres.
sion; end the history OF the lste wars In Europe
furnishesa complete demonstration that no system
q conduct however correct 10 principle, can pro-
tect neutral powers from injury. The only way to
avoid war Is by being always prepared add willing
section Of the country is not more truly protected
by the enclosure around his farm than by our
wooden walls" which float around our coast
The Secretary does not propose to enlarge mate.
crease the number Of officers. He simply desires
to increase the material Of navy, to be pre-
pared for any emergency.
He dwells with peculiar stress upon the necessity
Of . reorganization Of the navy. He again re-
commends retired list ON reduced pay for the
faithful who have become infrn the discharge of
the inefficient who have 40 just claim on the bounty
of the government. Promotion to be regulated by
capacity and merit and not by mere seniority Of
commission. Pay, to some extent, to be controlled
by sea service He cannot, he says, appreciate the
justice or policy of promoting to higher grade an
officer who cannot perform its duties, unless In
services rendered. Itis neither more less than
elevating the incompetent, and then ordering the
unpromoted competent to do their work.
The discipline of seamen 10 next discussed. The
Secretary does not desire the restoration of fog
gng-for the experience of the navy justes its alb.
rogation-buth he believes that substitute is needed
accompanied with plan of reward as well as pun.
ishment. He recommends that the commander of
any weasel be authorised to order summary
court martial for the trial of petty officers and
those below them; and that they have power to
punish by dishonorable discharge in any port or by
confinement on reduced rations, and without pay,
with extra labor and denial of shore privileges.
The Secretary deems indispensable that some
plan be adopted by which our seamen shall become
more distinctly and permanently part of the
navy attached to the service; and which can in
psrtbe accomplished BY granting conditional leave
Of absence at the end Of cruise and an increased
pay on re-enlistment. With the view of raising the
Standard OF character among seamen, il is the de-
sign Of the Secretary Immediately to adopt, in a
modihed form. the apprentice system, = and en-
courage the enlistment Of American boys from four
teen until they are twenty one years of age
An increase of the marine is strongly recon-
mended. The Secretary is satisfied that the CORDS
could be improved and elevated in character by
adopting some system of appointing officers of mil
itary education and training
large space In the report Is devoted to the naval
yards and docks. The government now possesses
eight navy yards. including the one now In rapid.
progress Of completion at Mare island, California
The Naval Academy during the past year CONT
nued to present to the country practical evidence
OF the wisdom and foresight Of its protector. Tits
proposed to substitute a steamer for the sloop
Preble, now used a. the practiceship for the in
struction of the Students
The Naval Observatory is spoken Of in terms of
unqualified approval. 1t ID estimated that the
saving to American commerce, by the use of
Lieutenant Msnry's charts, would amount to seve.
raj millions annually.
The department IL advised that Robert L. Ste
vens Iron war steamer, shot and shell.proof, is
rapidly progressing In It's construction Five hun
dred men are now engaged on the work, and the
boilers will be ready to put on board in about
three weeks. : -
During the year ending Juno 80, 1854, the total
expenditures for all objects under the control Of
the Navy Department were &c. ,845 %; but oil
this amount there expended for special objects
the sum of $39l0,0l2 90; which would leave al
the legitimate expenditures for the support of the
navy and marine corps. 1891 ,s23 SO.