Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-12
THE NORTH oAh6hfrA STANDARD: SATURDAY JAN IL 1856
~ 81. II
MR.. DoBBIN,s REPORT.

s . -. % & q 3 4 -
MR.. DoBBIN's REPORT.
have read with much sst the Sbis Ksp0St
of Nj. Dobbin,, seersterss tn Navy. communica-
ted through the President of re United States to
Congress. The Report shows, tfsr, the duties per-
forned by the several squadrons during the past
year. and then the Secretary refers It some length
to the action of the late Naval Board That portion
of the Report We gave in our last and we now copy
his remarks urging an increase of the Navy. The
Secretary says: .a,.ae :
INCREASE OF THE NAVY ..-
Subsequent reflection and comparative estimate
OF the relative strength of the naval forces of other
powers have but served to confirm me in the policy
urged heretofore, of gradually but steadily ncreas-
Ing the noateriet of our Navy. A soem conviction
OF its Importance is my apology for reteratinc with
earnest sohcltude, my Recommendation to the last
Congress to order the construction of an additional
number OF steam sloops of war, carrying each about
twenty guns, of the best modern Improvement re-
curing draught Of not more than eighteen feet,
and thereby being capable Of entering every South.
ern as well as Northern port of any magnitude Yes
sells of this size have attracted much consideration
and acquired much character during the recent con.
hicts in Europe. This addition to the increase SO
wisely ordered by the last Congess would augment
our marine to point forming nucleus, which, sus-
protect our country in a sudden emergency-con-
tribute much to estimation abroad and our con-
fidence at home.
The facility with which an invincible volunteer
army may be raised from our countrymen, trained
to the use of arms from boyhood, may we'll Justify
the settled policy Of having but small standing
army. This remarkable feature in the character Of
our people has wrung from those even by no means
partial to our institutions the reluctant admission
that the Americans the most warlike people on
rfh fAar hpu f!,ot{ nh 1o,
caused some Of our legislators TO become unmindfu
OF the equally we'-sstedsfact, that ships capable of
resisting and contendng with vessels of war require
much time to construct them properly; that mater
ais from the forest cannot start up in shpyards
by magic, like soldiers at The drum tap In the con-
quest Of Mexico, which illustrated so brilliantly the
reliability otvoluntecrst should not be forgotten that
there was no naval force Of the enemy to annoy our
comme &C Or attack our coast disturb trade with
even apprehension Of danger.
a reference to the report of the Bureau of Con-
struction, &C.. will exhibit the number of vessels
10 condition for useful service. I deem it my duty
cauddly to express the opinion that our Navy is not
only too dninutlve to be expected TO contend fairly
with that of other respectable nations is insufficient
to give adequate protection to commerce, but is
unqucstionaoly too feeble to command the aoaters Of
our oacn coast. Indeed when comparison is fairly
Instituted Of what would be the demands for service
upon our Navy n0U, in the event of war, with the
demand upon it in tho war of 1912, nv opinion is
that it wilt be found that country is not n0uo bet
ter prepared for Sudden emergency than it was
then. The aggregate tonnage OF the Uni.ed States
in 1872 was 2699 9I 81 IS tons for the fiscal year
ending June go 1855, it was 5,2I2,OOO 1896 tons.
| In 1872 our whole coast to be protected extended
| along the Atlantic merely from Maine to Florida.
Since then not only have Florida and Texas been
| added, but q Pacific coast, bordering new country
teeming with population and wealth. Thus, sir it
| appears that the Navy will have millions more of
commerce to protect, and thousands Of miles more
of coast to defend. could not, if would disguise
the truth that even respectable Navy must neces-
sarily involve large expenditures. But it is equally
true'that without naval strength six months war
| with any nation with a powerful marine would, in
The seizure of rich and valuable cargoes, in the des
Traction OF fleets of merchantmen, and in pundering
decnceless points along the coast cost more far
| more than squadron Of invincible men, f-war.
Recent occurrences in Europe demonstrate the
folly Of relying upon Navy SO feeble, SO mpotent
for either assault defence, that policy required it
to be carefully sunk to avoid enrching the enemy
The United States cannot, by such policy, maintain
rank and command respect The governments Of
the Old World are veins with each other in mag
nilying and perlecting this arm of defence Our in
s,tutons it they do not excite their positive jea-
ousy, not the objects of large share of their
| esteem; and weakness may, sooner or later invite
the interference OF those whose ideas of regulating
the balance Of power may expand as to compre-
bend not simply our foreign, but Atlantic, Paci
tc, and State relations regard the steady increase
Of naval strength not acar, but peace measure
a-neasure OF defence involving grave questions Of
commercial security and national independence Ne
COLLATION. and diplomacy uiW be exhausted before
uar Is made upon nation Of 61are men, zo,oertui,
aud reauyior the conflict And now, sir it ever, is
the auSpicous time, with an abundant treasury, to
make an Investment than which none can be found
more national and sale.
l am not unmindiul of our large merchant marine,
which, when manned by our hardy tars and brave
counirymen, would be an annoyance and terror 10
our enemies, visiting their commerce with terrible
retaliation But we must have ships of war TO meet
in combat upon the the heavy guns and train
ed veterans of powerful foe. There is much in
the proud consciousness of national strength that
stimulates trade, emboldens enterprise, and nerves
the arm of commerce. And while | by means
suggest the policy the necessity of large naval
force as some powerful nations FOSTER yctit desira
BILE, and alainabe too, that the American citizen,
whether in the opulent emporums along the coast,
or in the rural of the interior, borne in
his adventurous spirit to traffic in the thronged
ports Of the strong or the obscurer ports of the
barbarous and the weak, should gather confidence
| belongs 10 government recognized by all as able
promptly to avenge his wrongs and TO vindicate his
rights.
In building the (rigates directed by the last Con-
rress, much Of the seasoned material which had
been providenLy collected in the yards, was used
in preference to purchasing, thus hastenng their
completion with choice timber. In order to replace
as much as the fund would allow, the Bureau of
Construction &C., has made contracts for the deli
very of supply, to be applied to the construc
ton of first class sIoopsofwar whenever Congress
shall so ORDER The Merrimack at Boston, the Wa
bash at Philadelphia, and the Minnesota at WASH
l. N--