The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-08


modore Mervine will take command, and Commodore Du-
lany viii return to the United States in the St Lawrence
The sloop-owar Decatur, Commander l. s Sterett and
the steamer Massachusetts, Lieutenant Commanding w
Meade sailed from Norfolk respectively the Gih Of June
and 9Th OF July, TO join this squadron BY last adyiees
they had reached and left Rio their way but the
Massachusetts, after days sail encountered and suffered
seriously from violent Storm and returned Rio
pairs.
In addition to the above-enumeraed vessels there are
on the Pacific coast the stationary soreships Fredonia
Lieutenant j. d. Johnston, at Valparaiso and Warren
Lieutenant d. MeDougall at the nayyyard Mare island
! California.
The St Lawrence has been cruising most Of the year be-
tween the ports of Paya and Caao in Peru and Vapa
raiso, in Chill The Portsmouth returned from the Sand
wien Islands to San Francisco the l4th of January
The government having received sufficient intelligence TO
impress II with the apprehension that unlawful exped
on had left or was about leaving San Francisco for the
purpose OF taking possession of territory belonging TO Mex
leo Instructions were sent Commander Dornn to render
prompt and efficient aid in assisting arrest and suppress
any such unlawful expedition might be set on foot with
in the jurisdiction Of the United States and to exercise all
lawful means of preventing the violation of law and
fraction OF treaty sipuations To assist him in this he
was with your appreciation, authorized If necessary
charter steamer for short time reasonable terms
Commander Dornn considered necessary, and for this
purpose he Chartered at San Francisco the Co
lumbus belonging to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
With this steamer and the Portsmouth he proceeded along
the coast and having evnccd determination to execute
his orders and unite with the civil authorities in prompt
y arrestng and suppressing all unlawful expeditions he
unquestonaby contributed largely to their early termna
ion and thus to the maintenance of friendly relations with
4
and many of the sick and wounded avaed themselves of
the offer OF Commander Dornn to return them to their
| homes.
After he had terminated successfully his efforts in regard
to the unlawful expedition against Mexico he received in
teligence that about twenty American citizens were i'm
prisoned in close confinement at Mazaan. Having
gated the matter and concluding that their confinement
WAS improper he interered and demanded their release
They discharged by order Of the of
Mexico and, at the instance of Commander Dornn,
conveyed, In the revenue cutter W. H. Marcy to San
Francisco at their own request The Portsmouth did good
service at Acapulco in relieving American from
the embarrassment of blockade Of that port When last
heard from she the Sandwich islands and is
probably her the United States under the order
of the department
OF October 1853 joined the squadron at Valparaiso the
10th OF January Complaints having been made of abu
sve conduct towards our whose business car
ried them to the Chineha islands the ST Marys sent
there in April. Commander Bailey found n port about
hundred and sixteen sail Of vessels wohirds of which
American The presence Of the ST Marys had very
beneficial effect and the the large feet of
chantmen both English and American, expressed them-
selves highly graed at the prompt and energetic action
taken by Commander Bailey in regard to their complaints
and grievances Whilst there he had opportunity
turn the protection which afforded last year by Adm
raj Moseby, of the English navy to many Of country
by aording assistance and protection TO Captain Nc
Clenan master of the English ship Kildare which assist
and protection had been refused by the Peruvian gov
ernor of the islands The ST Marys after cruising on the
coast south of Panama and showing flag at Iq9ue,
AFRICA and various other ports the 29th Of August
the last advices from herr at the Sandwich islands,
1
| instructions from the department.
The steamer Michigan, Commander j. s Nicholas is still
in commission on our northern lakes and during the last
season, engaged in her usual cruising
The steam-Tgate San Jacnto Captain Sribling, hay
ing received board the machinery recently con-
sructed for her. put the August for
months cruise with view especially testing the cpac
ty Of the machinery in pursuance of the terms of the
tract When last heard from she at Southampton,
and having undergone very slight repairs about pro-
| ceeding on her cruise.
addition the employment of the vessels officers and
ahoat thus reced many of the officers and men of
the navy are assigned to duty on the coast survey
INCREASE or THE NAVY
Although Congress- at its last session. promptly respond
ed to the recommendation for the construction OF six
irgates Santee and Sabine very far from entertain
ing the opinion that the enlargement of the navy should
stop here The protection of widespread commerce,
the guarding of extended coast the preservation of
rank nation, demand that should not be
rely stationary and with inactive indifference behold the
progress Of other powers naval strength And il is
hardly unwse to glance at the various national naval
listers and compare the size of navy, merely u
that Of the mighty nations aoh mhom claim equal rank but
ch that Of other nations whom TO be far behind
in the Of national greatness Eeea rtn The addition Of
the unfinished sr eamrigaes naval force wW not szcd
y vessels ia condition for service Weakness invites aggres
sion, and inspires respect; while acknowledged
strength and visible preparation command considerations
and the true safeguards of peace And although our
mission is peace and warke messengers Of propaganda
ism to be sent forth to force republican liberty upon
uctant victims of misgovernmen it may be well TO
Der that in addition TO the ordinary uncertainty which
ever hangs around questions the DIS
tant future have TO encounter disgused jealousy Of
peculiar institutions from those who cling with tenac
y to the old system Of Hear the language Of
OF your predecessors in message TO Congress more
than quarter OF century Unprovoked injuries are
often inflicted and the peculiar felicity Of situa-
ton might with some be cause for excitement and
gesson The history of the late in Europe furnishes
complete demonstration that system Of conduct how
ever correct in principle protect neutral from
injury from any party that defenceess position and
distinguished love of peace the invitations ia
war and that there is to avoid il other than by
being always prepared and willing for just TO meet
it If there be people earth whose especial duty
is 10 be AT all times prepared defend the rights with
which they blessed and to surpass all others in
tanning the necessary burdens and in submitting to sacr
fees TO make such preparations it undoubtedly the
Pile of these States The wel-armed and wel-manned
ships of navy may be truly regarded many
sentinels stationed along the main TO challenge al
once any who might dare TO seek assault upon in
sniiops sacred TO us but nconvenent TO them. Tis
true al peace with the world and but
few months werf the nations of Europe and under thu
benign influence of Christianity and civilization seemed
hopeful of quiet future with rivalry but in arts
science and national development The is suddenly
changed War with all its bloody calamites yusnS
those mighty nations, and prophetic statesman fore
tell its extent or It's termination But who interested
in the nnvy2 II is merely the citizen whose lot is
along the coast the wealthy merchant in cities th
specuntor in floating merchandise, but merchants me
chancs planters countrymen all along the coast M
our rivers, beyond the mountains The agricultural in
terest is much benefited and protected by the navy a
any other. Every planter in every section ~ net NOR
truly protected by the enclosure around his farm than b
our wooden walls which float around our coast TN
States which border the Mississippi transport it
bosom their cotton, and grain and sugar, and vas
varieties of products which borne into the Gulf
: Mexico With navy sufficient protect IL in ths
region, who appreciate the Inconvenience and embar