The daily union., 1854-12-10
For the Union.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

For Union.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
We had yesterday the pleasure of reading this creditabe
State paper and feeling reluctance to dismiss
out further notice of the policy which develops and the
Of reform modesy but earnestly set forth and
recommended, venture Notwithstanding the speciality OF
the subject mbody the ideas suggested by its several
topics read
The employment Of the squadrons recounted in the
report at the first glance but dry detail of service be-
comes careful scrutiny the weghtest matter handled
by the in its foreign relations during the past
year The home squadron consisting of frigate two or
three soop and and then small steamer have sur
veyed and thoroughly examined the capacity of the bay of
Somna, in San Domingo with reference to fitness for
convenient depot for naval purposes Coming erents cast
their shadous before them The rgate conveys minis
Nicaragua and Guatemala and drops into St Juan
at this interesting TO dsembark them. The Al
bany" has touched multitude Of ports and the timely
appearance of her flag contributes much to the
agement and protection of our citizens" The steamer
Fulton" brings back the ratified treaty concluded with
Mexico The Cyane drops party OF her officers to view
and test the praccabty of shpcana across the 18th
of Darien The establishment of steamships on the
Atlantic, between the Old World and the New, was
problem of less magnitude than a shpcanal the
isthmus if such practicable.
Our relations with kind of squater kingdom on the
of Nicaragua which fondy viewed as perma-
nent adjusted by of great contracting parties to
treaty chich had other object than the REIMBURSEMENT
forever of all right and claim dominion and protection
by either, became suddenly complicated and entanged-
The horde of squatters became inflated with their SOW
eregnty and extending their claim to jurisdiction set up
pretended right levy tribute upon the transit trade
passing by their doorson the vast and precious com
of these United States passing between the Atlantic
and Pacific by way of Nicaragua They establish
ed and levied harbor Dues and procured English man
owar enforce the payment of hem and at the demand
of one of these habreed officials of this brevet sovereignty
the broadsdc of British manofwar was sprung upon
passenger steamer under the threat to pay or SINK and
shoted guns fred from this broadsde grazing
assembled crowd of six hundred passengers men
women, and children, from California on their voyage to
their homes in the United States 1t idle threat;
the broasde would have followed next into this peaceful
merchant steamer and men, women children, merchandise
and treasure would have gone down and persisted if another
turn of wheel had shown defiance to this cruel and dis
arocity And this deed done by third party for
ninety dollars port dues these reprobates The life and
treasure this WORTH in figures only forty
Greytowns.
How will the Cyane contrast with this British soop-of
war? Explanations asked for stated grievances ep
porunity and time given to make excuse in exenuaton Of
imputed wrongs done TO people and to the dignity Of
country The town is warned and the people told to
get OF the way provided to transport persons
and property of those who claimed to be parties to the
I
accident shot shell fred into oyer TIE unoending
crowd ship sink by single broadside and destroy
all, as if mine sprung under them And tins was
done by the Cyane in her quarrel and to secure the
persons and property of her people
! Along the eastern coast of South America there are
several ships-owar touching at points in turn, where
| intestine to be an inheritance, and where
neutral survive day, only under the
guarantee of ready broadsdes Here, in this remote
region above and beyond the incrdicted lands once
swayed by the iron rule of the Jesuit Francia, the
searching explorations of navy in active vgor.
/ A little steamer built in Washington, is even now at the
foot of the mighty Ande under commission of our gov
ernment to offer the children of the pampa tho hand of
friendship, and to tell these offspring of civil war and
family strife that has higher mission to fulfil than
cutting each others throats in household wars II cannot
be that this practical example of the power of team and
the capacity of the mighty rivers empying into the Plata
for the purposes OF commerce and civilization can be ut
| terly thrown away upon the offspring OF old Spain.
On the other side Of the South Atlantic have little
squadron of eighty guns looking after the ruthless sayer
been captured but the trade has been restrained
and depressed until it has dwnded down 10 few prcda
\ tory pirates.
Our Mediterranean squadron main school of dscip-
line and practice for the navy has witnessed the mightiest
naval and military armaments, and been in the MIDST Of
them that the world knew 1t has brought
country into friendly contact with most of the great
powers on the earth-Morocco Spain, France Sardinia,
Tuscany Cicily Austria Greece Turkey Egypt the British
colonies and the Barbary poweseach and all have
the flag and heard the warning voice of the great
public of the New World speaking from the broadsides of
her ships her friendly salutations
| 4 heavy ship-of-war makes excellent diploInatis;
and this reflection brings JAPAN the squadron next
IL turn mentioned by the Secretary in his report The
opening of Japan to the of the civilized world,
and to all the humanzng influences which follow in the
train Of commerce. the marked event Of modern
&, of
is indeed difficult to calculate the wonderful results which
present and future generations may experience as the
Secretary well observes is triumph for the navy, for
the country and for the world at large What contrast
to the opium waged against China by Of which
the brazen gates of that pent-up empire were driven in
and entry given to the AngloSaxon tootwhich never
takes a step backward-never to go out again forever
The transition from Japan California and the Pacific
coasts and isles natural ana easy the Secretary and
thus he takes his way his report His ships have been
busy there too with the of affairs of small
import We shall have more Chnchs-island outrages
! to make the Yankee blood mount quickly TO the head.
The ST Marys crack sloop has been looking after them
and taking of the rights and interests of more than
hundred SAIL mostly American ships Some of them we're
English and il pleasant have the opportunity TO
give aid and comfort and protection TO them, which she
did Our brother John over-scrupuous when Jona-
than affords him chance for prize the high seas and
often handles him without gloves. II is his weakness,
perhaps his nature The lion viii lie down with the lamb
until he gets hungry but always eats him in the end
And then dear prize-money to seamen. But John is
always ready help and protect Jonathan in his scrapes
/