New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-04
SWITCHES OF LECTURES.
TIE NAVY OF TIE UNITED STATES.


list evening there was lecture delivered asove at
Eope Chapel before the Mercantile Association, to full
l5ence The lecturer spoke TO this effect
U,prrs AND GENTLENLy OF THE MERCANTILE Ill
I,RY ASSOCIATION: If have not been mistaken in the
Ister and objects Of this institutional "a suppose, it
In association of those who ore connected With the
1nmerce Of this great metropolis for the purpose OF pro
Hing literature and knowledge among themselves,
Ii may fairly claim that the subject have chosen Is
altogether inappropriate TO the occasion. The navy Is
sword and shield of commerce, while commerce Itself
JSrined hereafter TO become the bss OF perpetual
Ae and brotherhood among all nations You, gentle
A. occurving the principal gate through which com
eia in iercOuTse is carried on with all Other pare Oh
Il world and participating to a great extent IN It's
fmtages. must be deeply, interested IN every
jDg that concerns the naval establishment Of our
Intrv The history of our gallant little navy would
Ireh in events Of romantic and profound interest ana IN
Fl The materials for noble eloquence but 10 not pro-
Ia TO follow il up from it, birth in the revolutionary
Hoo when its feeble voice Of TemOnstrance against OPP
sson was well represented by the ratesnake on ITS
H. 20 the day when its stlrs carry It's glory over tue
hid nor 10 record the deeds Of its heroes whose names
tyebeccue household words Let MS rather observe
Is,ing facts and look at calculations of fuure promise
" Irogr of seems destnedtO cOnducthm through
Inriest of moral commissions and physical conflicts
condition of repose, such as the world has never yet
tOyed iii within recent PERIOD hls condition seems
have been almost one OF perpetual war rehe' ca only
I,ireguar periods of recovery from txhaustion "heh
II ocean became covered with the fleets Of commerce,
H. struggle was naturally transferred TO IT, ami thea
ves for the purposes OF wGrand hst
frUiis from any Of former times. The application
II steam. and the increased destructiyeness of
Ifdpance make it difficult to say what form
tsvies viii assume. or what extent OF de-
stuetiOn future naval battles VIII entail One maXn,
however of infinite advantage 10 humanity is that the
very destructvenoss Of martial engnery dmnshes pom
the havoc Of war aud the motive TO engage in il and this
maxim ii followed will lead tn condition OF things IN
which will involve the entire destruction OF both the
opposing forces, and the very perfection OF the
ut will imply the mpossiblity OF its existence. What
vii be the effect of this truth the conduct of
Xiions, statesmen and rulers The Increasing in
of commerce. destined to be entirely Free
vi throw weight into the scale Of peace This resnlt
asst however be reached through conflicts therefore
'ty nation should makeit navy as destructive as posi-
L. The lecturer then considered the condition OF the
Is Navy and said it not pgoportOnae to the niiu
oe Of the country; but have shown that pro
see navios in incredibly short time, and use them
actually and with resources increasing daily, we
"a not under the necessity of maintaining great fleets
ssshoud keep nucleus ready for emergency. and
tecay keep up viii the science Of the day. There Is
nOn to believe that the Investigations Of Lieut. Dahl
rn have supplied the means OF very great Destruction
lhayJl &C obGts and whatever obstacles addiction to
anodes may put in the way, in the time of peril genius
dser its AUTHORITY In the construction OF orr ships We
behind others, and even behind our own commoscld
sgAe; large disbursements have been made to per
's;e errors in form and construction and blunders IN
sscbinery But the bravery of s2 still lives in part ct
~ officers Capt ngIaham cheers and repeated ep
fh have awakened attention 40 that something 10 lkey
ke done by the present Congress 10 remedy defects Al
b the Revolution the Navy allowed TO 60 down en-
Hely, and the corps of officers was dsbanded Snose
gent emerge nces called forth adequate Navy b1 II
hN been suffered TO languish and fell into dscreSaoie
position A moderate force at the command OF Govern
neni and school for officers and men, are necessary
also machinery in public ard private establishments Inc
Psife and Atlantic require each force and connecting
slroad would be the nerve uniting the arms Ap
pause A few large steamers and clippers are IKE
y to DO away with smaller craft, and Naviee'
the guardians of commerce, must accommodate
tsmelves 10 this altered condition OF things The seYer
uporng and scientific expeditions in which our navy 10
gagged are credablo to It. The annual Naval eIpendi
re 10 $4,000 600 not too much, but there ha. been
sssie and moro might have been accomplished. There
pro osition mede by private indivdualto make
nail line Of four steamers also to vessels OF
Scety Mr. Clay-lappausel-was favorable to using
~ Navy for colonization he also thought tha, the
nercsl YES els of nations AZ ought to be uvioabe
lately we had no vessel Of to send minister
China nor 10 relieve the San Francisco perhaps
not 90 much that our Navy small as that the ships
Of the right character. The lecturer recommended
system Of short and rapid cruizing, whereby men
would enlist more readily, the officers be kept
more in active duty and greater facility OF
secured This scheme would require two greM DIVISIONS
one fcr the Atlantic and one orthe Pacific II ships be
built to carry guns there must be prepared to manage
both. IL il the custom 10 decry our nssd oAcer vuV
here no more chivarous men than therc are 20 %
psnd among them. In the last war many young o"g I
proposed carry the Castle of San Juan by sarprse
heturer considered the system Of promoton ana nos
advancement shosld be by merit than mere senior
n.y. He also advocated better instruction Tor Ine men
hgher wages and promotion for good conduct Inc audi
saee applauded frequently.