The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-13

now than it was in 1874 Since then however we have
acquired exclusive possession OF Oregon annexed Texas
and acquired Caornia and have thus added more than
two thousand miles 10 coast requiring defence The
increase of our trade will appear from the following
tables:
%pO, s, 200 Sas Sas I@PoI,s s5s sss so $40
Tonnage 2.2sO,095 Tonnage ,0l0
So II appears iha, we have coast of two thousand
miles longer now than in 1874 that our imports and ex
ports have increased since then than hundred
per cent and tonnage about one hundred per cents
and while this is true, navy instead OF being proper
tionaby increased, has actually decreased, both IN the
number OF lis ships and of its guns And the navy OF
1874 was nearly the same as that which Judge Upshur
had so urgently asked TO have increased in 1912.
Is not this statement whose force It ls impossible
gument plain and simple than his let me submit to
him another view. Oar ships made OF perlshable-
alas TOO ableIna,erial The best OF them soon
become decaycd and unreliable. Where the
vessels which gave Immortality to IS sea. born Saams =
Where now is the proud ship which bore the great Mel
son at once to victory and TO death The best OF ours
must soon be as unsubsiantial as these
Thirty five years is than the average duration OF
vessel Then, have about seventy vessels OF all
classes and descriptions in our navy and the whole must
be replaced by reconstruction thirtyhye years II ap
pears that We must have two vessels every year,
an average 10 keep up our present number No new yes
sell however has been ordered by act Of Congress since
ls47, when four steamers authorized 10 be built in
consequences OF deficiency in vessels then existing
Since 1s47, years have elapsed AT the rate OF two
vessels year, fourteen are now wanted to supply the loss
from ordinary decay Is 1t not time, then, to pass such
bill as this' We have now the requisite materials on
hand and an Overlooking treasury. Shall refuse TO
build vessels for our navy and leave the surplus in the
treasury 10 be paid out l the purchase at debt before
il becomes DUE at over twenty per cent premium or else
10 be squanderea in every wild scheme OF speculation and
plunder which yoracous lobby devise Let lovers
OF economy and purity answer.
In my argument thus far, have failed TO present the
consideration that the construction of vessels is alb
soluely necessary TO keep up with the inventions and
improvements OF the last few years. We beat England
IN 1912, IN part because we were IN advance OF her IN
the art OF building and armlng vessels She, and all the
other maritime nations OF Europe are in advance OF us IN
that respect The screw. propeller, which is lately
much in with them, has scarcely entered navy
at all yet lis advantages very great and numerous
Then The science and skill of the last few years have fully
proved the superiority of guns much larger than those
heretofore in use, because they reach greater distance
and are much more destructive in effect.
What American will not feel mortified at the fact that
we have steamer In commission 10 navy bearing
more than ten guns while many of the steamers in the
European navies bear more than hundred guns, and
some in The English navy as many as one hundred and
thirty guns
This suggests another important consideration in
reference 10 the increase OF navy. The Sec
retary OF the Navy has very properly declared that
ought not to seek 10 equal the navies OF the lead
ing maritime powers of Europe Their condition Of
contguity TO each other, their frequent embroments
and their extensive foreign possessions with other
sons OF similar character, render greater naval arma
ment necessary their part But with them is our
petition, and with them to be contests, II any shall
shortly befal We must, then, have reference
TO their strength and seek preserve proportion
on our part To show our loo great infeorily TO them
have prepared table OF the naval strength of different
countries which will not give, but will append TO
my printed speech
Those who are more exact and minute in their inqu-
res may not be satisfied with these general arguments in
favor OF new construction OF vessels at The presen nj
time. They may desire TO know where they needed,
and in what squadrons they TO be employed. The
spporonment of vessels into squadrons is the appro
pirate work of the Secretary of the Navy, and desire
not To enctoach upon his proper domain. think, how
ever, that II will be quite easy 10 show where greater
number OF vessels not only might be used with propeiy,
but demanded by the exigences OF the service
1t has been leading object with me- since my mind
has been directed 10 this subject 10 devise and submit
clear and definite naval policy for country. | de-
sired 10 show, II possible how many vessels needed,
be disposed Of Owing the uncertainty of the service
required and other difficulties which attend the subject
have been able, thus far, only approximate the de-
sired result II is clear, however that should have
larger number OF vessels the coast OF Europe du
ring the bosiilltes there larer number in the Pacific,
and larger nuu'ber IN home service. Above all,
we should have some first c ass beavilyarmed, screw
propeller rgales Without these naval armament Is
totally unequal 10 the for which is designed, and
would as well be dsmanted and surrendered at once.
Our annual appropriation for such purpose utterly
less, unless we have a navy worth keeping up. This
point we ought 10 resolve al once,
Besides all these Arguments, there a strong one
arising out OF the state OF feeling and OF relation existing
between the different nations OF the earth at the present
Time, There Is senstveness and nervous resessness
10 The public mind peculiar 10 the present time. Nations,
80 To speak, are on the q, UUe. Every trfe is scanned
TO discover the mighty consequences 10 which il may
lead.
Each toy seems prologue great amiss"
Everything portends change. We are probably on the
eve OF mighty events The probability now is that a
peace between Russia and Turkey is far remote and that
furious war between them is inevitable France and
England take part behalf OF Turkey. Louis Napo-
leon has been long hot for the encounter and the Eng
sh ministry have been unable longer TO resist the war.
like temper OF the English nation.
Those appointed navies which have recently been
resting ~ such omnous quiet in The Bospborus have
awakened IRON their lethagy, and soon we may hear
that they have startled the Turkish with the wild glare
Of their terrible guns Russian fleet il 10 the Baltic
S Charles Napier "a about proceed 10 The same sea-
and very The ud blaze that the English and French
fleets may kinde the Black may be answered ba
BY one scarcely less iedhc in the neahborhood OF the
German ocean. Who tell where this contest is 10
end Will not Austria and Prussia be inyolyedl And
II they are, thea Poland and Hungary may revolt Other
provinces may follow, and mingled war OF nations
against nations, OF races against faces, of provinces
against Kingdoms, o subjects against fulers NAV ensue
The sky is dark and towering. Under these circum.
Stances what does At behoove 10 do Ours will be
The neutral ag and may be the only neutral flag OF sny
influence, upon the great highways OF trade Let us be
able 10 command for 1t the humanity aud the rights of
neutrality II we appear feeble and helpless the belli.
eerenl nations, IN the wantonness OF passion NAV en-.
croach upon and insult us. We may avoid difficulty
only my judgment, By being able TO command respect
The events leading 10 the OF 1912 too plainly
show that hostile nations probably will violate a nen-
trallty which they regard feeble and innacuons find
IN The Quarterly Review OF June 1896 an able article
on The navy, the leading IDEAS oil which are repeated in
an article which appeared in the Naval Magazine OF
January, 1887 From the last article beg leave to