The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-11

The Report Of the Secretary or the Navy
More Steam Vessels Wanted.
| Though the report of the Secretary of the
Navy may not attract so much attention at the
present time as that of the Secretary of the
Treasury affecting as does the latter document
our financial affairs-it is none the less impor-
tant, inasmuch as the commercial interests of the
nation abroad and the defence Of our extensive
seaboard at home depend upon the efficiency or
non-eficiency of our navy.
| Mr. Toucey's report embodies some admirable
recommendations in the Improvement of his de-
partment which we hope will not be overlooked
by the present Congress. The most vital of
these we may say is the recommendation to con-
struct several small steamers of light draught
for the purpose of running into small rivers and
creeks, not only on our own coast but in China,
South America and elsewhere. 'At this mo-
ment," says the Secretary, we have no vessels
| that can penetrate the rivers Of China, and we
| have few that can enter most Of the harbors
| south Of Norfolk" Under these circumstances
| our Southern coast is wanting in most impor-
tant arm of defence And, very properly argues
Mr.. Toucey, though it is inexpedient to endeavor
| to rival other great commercial Powers in the
| magnitude of their naval preparations, 1T is
the true policy of our government to take care
| that its navy should be unsurpassed in its eff
cheney and completeness, and that our prepare
| tory arrangements should be such that no event
shall take us altogether by surprise"
Mr.. Toucey recommends that one or more Of
these light draught steamers, carrying heavy
guns, should be stationed at every point where
we maintain squadron.
The experiment of maintaining the ordnance
ship Plymouth under command of Commander
Dahlgren, with view to Improvement in practice
of ordnance and gunnery meets with Mr.. Tou-
cey'sentire appreciation; and he earnestly recon-
mends renewal of the appropriation of $4,000
made by Congress for this purpose in March,
1857, and the permanent employment of ship
on this duty.
The application of the heavy shell guns on
board the Plymouth to the steam frigates re-
Gently constructed, and the further extension of
this kind of armament to other vessels in the SER
vice, is also deemed by the Secretary highly
| expedient.
In addition to the increase in the number of
vessels of war, the employment of landsmen and
boys has been considerably enlarged, in conse-
quence of the difficulty found in procuring sea-
men for the naval service. This is an admira-
BILE policy, and will not only give efficiency and
strength to the navy. but will afford occupation
to numbers of the unemployed of our great
cities, who in course of time, by proper training
will become effective sailors and gunners and
may thus render their country good service.
In connection with the Naval Court of In
quiry, Mr.. Toucey states that when he came into
Office he found one Court in existence, and that,
in order to facilitate business, he established
two more, and gave such directions to the
Judges thereof as he found on examination of
the law he was entitled to give, with view to
taking such testimony as would put the cases of
the aggrieved officers fairly before the Courts
With reference to the course of Commander
Davis Of the st. Marys, in Nicaragua at the
time of the surrender of General Walker, we
are informed that the conduct of that officer in
selling and delivering up Walkers schooner,
the Granada to the Nicaraguans was not APP
proved Of by the department, though his hui
manity in sending home the afflicted soldiers of
Walkers army was commended. This view, we
think, is quite in accordance with the popular
sentiment on that subject.
The erection Of new marine barracks at Bos-
ton, Philadelphia and Norfolk, in place of the
present buildings, reported entirely unfit for
use, is recommended. By all means let them
be commenced at once. Now is the time to put
all useful public works into operation. Con-
gress appropriated ninety-six thousand dollars
for the construction of marine barracks at
Brooklyn and New York more than year ago.
No proposals for the work at Brooklyn have yet
been invited, because the site selected requires
piliDg and filing in For that at Pensacola a
contract has been made for iify-three thousand
eight hundred dollars, Congress having appro-
priated 100000 for that purpose. What has
been done with reference to the barracks at New
York the report does not state. We trust Mr..
Toucey will look after IL. We have several
thousand operatives here In want of work.
On the whole, the Secretary of the Navy
makes some wholesome suggestions and valua-
BILE recommendations Our navy is and has
been incomplete, and entirely unequal to the
protection OF our vast seaboard, or our foreign
commerce in case Of war. We want more ships,
and of better construction than those now in the
service.
| ANOTHER SIGN or THE TMEs.--We received
yesterday the announcement of the unanimous
election by the Virginia Legislature of Robert
NJ. T. Hunter az a Senator Of the United States