Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-10

" Inc developments OF time, by continued in !
uiry, and by calm, dispassonate observation.
he officers OF the navy, as a class, proud,
rave, sensitive, patriotic, and elfsacrhcing
md, if the sword of any one of those gallant
men has been incautiousy taken from him, all
'ight-minded men will say let his country restore
TO him with all the honors and reparation due 10
INJURED merit. And while can by no means recon-
mend the adoption of any measure of repeal or any
course of proceeding in conflict with the gen eral
action of the board, | have no doubt that there
should be, and will be, found remedy for any
mistake or error of judgment, II the service has
thus been deprived of a meritorious and capable
officer either by reservation or dropping. Facts
which have come 10 my knowledge assure me
hat II would be but reasonable TO provide years
pay for the officers who have been suddenly
dropped from service upon which they had
heretofore exclusively depended without any con-
for future selfreance.
But, sir, cannot conclude this branch of my
report without doing justice 10 the officers of the
board. From the spirit and temper with which
they entered upon painful and unsought duty,
and from the esrnestness and diligence with which
they searched the records of the department,
deem il but an act of simple justice TO express my
that they were actuated by elevated
considerations, and that their aim was truth,
impartalty, and the good of the service. And
although, from the liability of man 10 err, there
may be discovered here and there n mistake Of
judgment, have abiding conviction that his
tory will prove that this work of reform renvigo
rated the navy-imparted 10 II robust and active
health--inspired the hearts of the young and
gallant officers hitherto dropping with hopeless
dependency, with fresh energy and conte ntment
with the servIce-warned the thoughtless and the
indoent TO quit the haunts of deness and seek
the path of duty, leading 10 honor, and caused the
country to repose with the pride and con-
fdence in the belief of the invincibly of this right
arm OF defence. ! have no hesitation, but take
much pleasure in saying, that have already wit
messed its happy effect in the new impulse and
readiness for duty and felt at the department.
And, sir, though the humble, reported incompetent
seems large and may well attract attention, is that
circumstance of itself sufficient Justify refec-
ton upon board who were bound, under the
law, TO make g careful examination" and report
the names of all whom they adjudge incompetent,
OF every grade, TO do their whole duty promptly
and efficiently ashore and afoat ? fbut small
number of officers had become inefficient, would
the Secretaries of the Navy, for the last fifteen
years, have again and again urged, with almost
pertinacious zeal, that some stringent measure of
reform was Indispensable TO save the navy from
impending ruin Would committees session
after session, have reported and pressed such
measures? Would grave members have arisen,
as they did, In Congress and have seriously moved
to abolish the navy and begin again, if but small
defect existed? Would the Senate every session,
for some years, have, almost with unanimity,
passed the measurs for relieving the servic of the
inefficient, and for imparting Yigor and health by
crippled their energies and impaired their useful
ness? Would the press, in almost every town
and village, have Illuminated its thunders for re-
form, and have teemnd with articles of laudation
and approval when the measure prevailed, if but
small number of the incapable "blocked UP the
path" of promotion Or had il become manifest
TO ALTO statesman and citizen--that something
radical thorough, and searching must be admins
tered 10 rescue the navy from the dangers which
imperilled it, and emancipate it, if possible from
the weight which seemed so surely 10 be burden
ing and pressing it down?
The regulations prescribed which have hereto.
fore been published, the correspondence with and
the report OF the board, accompany this report
INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
Subsequent reflection, and comparative esti-
mate 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 increasing the materia of our navy
solemn conviction Gifts importance is my apology
for reterating, With earnest solicitude, my recon-
mendation to the last Congress to order the con-
struction of an additional number Of steam sloops
-of-war, carrying each about twenty guns of the
best modern Improvement, requiring draught Of
not more than eighteen feet, and thereby being
capable of entering every southern as well as
northern port of any magnitude. Vessels OF this
size have attracted much consideration and ac-
CURED much character during the recent conflicts
in Europe. This addition TO the increase so
ment our marine 10 point forming nucleus
which, sustained by the merchant marine, would
aid largely 10 protect our country in sudden
mergency-contribute much TO eur estimation
abroad and our confidence al home.
The facility with which an invincIble volunteer
army may be raised from our countrymen trained
10 the of arms from boyhood, may well Justify
the settled policy OF having but a small standing
army. This remarkable feature in the character
OF our people has wrung from those even by no
tIol
mission that the Americans are the most warke
people on earth. | fear, however, that this cir.
cumstance has caused some of our Legislators TO
become unmindful of the equally well-setiled fact
that ships capable Of resisting and contendng with
vesses-of-war require much time 10 construct them
properly; that materials from the forest cannot
start up in our ship-yards by magic, like soldiers
al the drum Tap. In the conquest of Mexico,
which illustrated so brilliantly the reliability of
volunteers, il should not be forgotten that there
was no naval force Of the enemy 10 annoy our
commerce or attack our coast, disturb trade
with even apprehension Of danger.
A reference 10 the report of the Bureau of Con-
struction, &C., will exhibit the number of vessels
IN condition for useful service. / deem il my duty
candjdly TO express the opinion that our navy is
not only too diminuive TO be expected TO contend
fairly with that of other respectable nations is in
sufficient TO give adequate protection 10 our CON-
merce, but is unquestionaby feeble 10 command
the tcdters Of ohr coast. Indeed, when COMPARE
son ls ldlrly OF Wndt would be the de-
mands Tor service upon our navy 7lonc, in the
event ofwar, with the demand upon il in the war
Of 1912, my opinion is that il will be found that
our country is not noto better prepared for sud.
den emergency than it then. The aggregate
tonnage Of the United States in 1912 was 269,.
997 36-95ths tons; tor the fiscal year ending June
30, 1855, IL was 52l2,000 10-95ths tons In 1912
our whole coast 10 be protected extended along
the Atlantic merely from Maine TO Florida. Since
then not only have Florida and Texas been added
but Pacific coast, bordering a new country
teeming with population and wealth. Thus, sir, il
appears that the navy will have millions more OF
TO protect, and thousands of miles more
of coast 10 defend. | could not if / would dis
guise the truth that even respectable navy must
necessarily involve large expenditures. But il is
equally true that without naval strength a six
months, war with any nation with a powerful
marine would, in the seizure of rich and valuable
cargoes, in the destruction Of fleets of merchant.
men, and in plunderng defenceless points along
the coast, cost us more, far more, than a squadron
Of invincibe men-ofwar.
Recent occurrences in Europe demonstrate the
folly OF relying upon navy feeble, so impo.
tent, for either assault defence, that policy re-
quired il TO be carefully sunk to avoid enriching
the enemy. The United States cannot, by such a
policy, maintain rank and command respect. The
governments Of the Old World are vieing with
each other in magnifying and perfecting this arm