Washington sentinel., 1854-03-29
From tho national IntellIgencer of Monday.

To THE EpIToRs.-The present state Of the
world imposes upon our legislators aud statesmen
responsibilities Of an unusual character. Events
are rapidly maturing which must bring in hostile
contact the mighty hosts of Europe; and men OF
different and creed, and the most powerful
antagonisnis for the moment standing shoulder
10 shoulder the battlefield. Nor is the pre-
paraton for conflict confined 10 the shore. Inthe
Black sea ana in the Baltic, in the Atlantic and
the Mediterranean, squadrons are assembled such
as never pressed the ocean before and when we
consider the character and calibre of their ord.
nance, the perfection of their discipline, the rapi.
dity with which they can be moved, and the pre-.
csion with which they can be directed, the fleets
Trafalgar, in comparison, sink into insgnifcance.
/" In the struggle that is 10 ensue and convuse
the world, il is not diticutto foresee that questions
may arise, which almost forbid the hope that we
shall long be permitted to maintain the position Of
neutral. 1t therefore becomes us, in view ofthese
| grave events, to assume attitude of imposing
| strength and dignity and already the feeling Of
all parts Of the country is in accord upon the ne
cessity of increasing, as recommended by the head
ofthe Navy Department. the force and efficiency
| Of the navy.
"The argumen, which unfortunately prevailed
for years in favor ofsubsidizing merchant steamers
10 supply in time of need the want Of a legitimate
navy has lost its force with the public; for tho
folly OF relying upon tie commercial marine 10
TO furnish at short notice, the means of protecting
the interests of our citizens defending the
the honor of our flag was too clearly manifested
on recent occasion when the whole power OF
the government, earnestly excrtcd, could not pro-
cure in the great port of New York steamer 10
send in search Of the ill-fated San II a,ciyco and
il is in vain 10 believe that, in the event of our
being plunged into war, We could protect our
wide spread commerce, or prevent the investment
Of ports. and the destruction of our cities, II
we defer the creation of an efficient naval force.
:" We would not willingly revive the reniem-
brance of the occasion above referred 10, exposing
as it the defenceessness of our condition but
since il has been commented upon by the press Of
Europe, as appears by an article from the London
Times, trasfsrredto your paper Of the Goth ultmo,
the best we do is TO profit by the lesson il has
given u.s.
The following is the article above alluded
to, and when we reflect upon the danger to
which our commerce and even our ports may
be exposed, from the outbreak Of general
war, such views as it contains, circulating
through the columns Of the European journals,
are worthy Of very serious consideration.
From the London Times january %.
Our American correspondent discoses some
very remarkable facts respecting the condition OF
the United States feet II seems TO have been
recently discovered, or "realized," that the navy
Of this great naval power has no substantial exist
ence, and complaints are made upon the point in
style precisely resembling that sometimes adopt.
ed nearer home. But the case is not constituted
simply Of vague generalities which might pro-
cccd, more or less from political discomfort or
popular misinformation. An actual occurrence OF
a most extraordinary and painful character called
the attention Of the public 10 the true state OF af-
fairs. Intelligence was brought TO New York
whether correctly not scarcely yet ascertain
ed) that fine steamship, the San Francisco, carry
ing besides freight of great value, large num-
ber of passengers and entire regiment OF SOL
diers, had been at totally disabled and in
a state Of almost hopeless wreck. In the alarm
which ensued, application was instantly made TO
government for the,despatch OF vessel 10 the
sistance of the disabled steamer when the confess
sion was extorted, that that there was not gov
ernment vessel any port othe United States ready
TO go 10 sea-" We can hardly doubt that cffectua
succor Of some sort was promptly sent out, for il
is impossible TO conceive that clippers steamers
or volunteers should be wanting in the populeus
and enterprisng scaports Of the American coast;
but the state of things thus disclosed was produc-
tive of considerable dismay.
Oar correspondent remarls i,a piaf,, language
that the scA0te United States nacy IL 10 could be
got to at aH could Be demolished ia f,1en
" minutes 6y French or English sqnadron, and
that, il war We're to break out, any maritime pow
er could in three weeks time saa into any Aaer-
team har6or aud burn ITS buildings TO the ground.
In conjunction with these complaints, we find in
the journals Of the States the usual queruous ex-
postulations respecting the defenceless position of
American merchantmen, and the imperative me-
cessity for stationng men.of-war ct various points
OF the globe. Impressed with these facts, the
American government is contemplating, il ap-
pears, an addition Of six new screw-propelers 10
the national fleet; but there are Cobdens and
Williamsons even on the other side Of the ocean,
aud great fears are entertained that the proposal
OF the administration will encounter a stubborn
resistance.
Considering ourselves as we fear we must do,
as on the eve Of war; il is certainly assuring 10
reflect that, however costly may have been the
process, we have at last and al the very crisis of
time, raised our navy 10 pitch of excellence such
as il never, in material at least attained before.
Our ins-etbst,le-ships were but sloops in former