The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-28
HON. J. G. DOBBIN.-THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The Journal Of Commerce does no more than simple
justice to Secretary Dobbn in the following remarks


The Journal Of Commerce does than simple
justice to Secretary Dobbin in the following remarks
THE NAVY DEPARrMENT-President Pierce has been
more fortunate than OF his predecessors in the unity
of his cabinet Regarding the several departments
ordinate branches OF the executive government he has left
them free to enforce and carry out his administrative poll
according 10 the laws While the rising
patriotic admiration gratitude should be
tirey withheld from the sun which is quietly but brilliant
ly setting
Next the Department of the Treasuryf indeed, not
with or before tho of the executive branches is
closely identified with the great interests of commerce
than that of the Navy Department II was well said by
Carlyle that commerce IL King The country therefore
to Mr. Secretary Dobbin many Acknowledgements for
the ability with which he has uniformly discharged his
duous duties
In reviewing the history of the Navy Department for the
last four years. discover progress in the right direction
which II is to be hoped may not be permitted STOP In
the department of ordnance and gunnery great improve
ments have been made. Jndicous measures of premi-
nary character have been adopted for seaservice
supply Of experienced seamen well qualified by training
for the exercise of heavy naval armament and for having
The ordnance OF ship constantly under the mme-
diate supervision of officer detailed specially for the
vice. For schooling this end gnnnery prac-
uee-ship has been put in commission at Washington,
with experimental complement Of heavy and light
gunH The superior utility large she'll guns for rstass
vessels instead OF the old shot guns of smaller cabe
longer problemaca; and IL only remains that our
wellproved and positive inventions and discoveries in
small arms which may be made from time TO time to rem
der this branch of the service emnently efficient
is to be regretted that the proposition forcby urged
py Mr. Dobbn In his annual report for the construction of
additional sloops-owar with the auxiliary power Of steam
which from their comparative small draught of water might
oe servceabe on shallow coasts and within the ports
OF our southern seaboard has met with little of legsia
live favor. Unless this increase shall be made and the
old account kept good by azeeng repairing the ships
othene and such old frigaes the Brand wine Poto
mac Savannah, and hers now lying at vy-yard
housed over and In ordinary nominal naval force
soon dwindlc down to half its apparent strength and the
Vulnerable shoal harbors upon our southern coast which
cannot be penetrated and defended by vessels of larger
class, will continue to be without adequate protection
Since the successful experiment of razeeing the rgat
Macedonian and Constellation to soops of herst class the
opinion prevails generally that all the old ships Of the
line and the old gates should be similarly repaired upon
the basis of the next lower cassand that the avorte
English plan should be adopted of giving those which
may be altered the auxiliary power OF steam whenever
their dimensions will permit it.
Perhaps the best feature Of Mr. Dobbns ad minstraon
OF the Navy Department has been his and
uniting care for seamen. The system of honorable dis
charges for good conduct and the for increased pay OF
seamen, adopted by Congress under his recommendation
the system OF inspecting supplies closely at the
erai naval stations according to the suggestions of the
Chief OF Bureau OF Provisions and Clothing that Of
fling the medicines required for ships by our navy
surgeons under the advces of the Chief of the Medical
bureauand the careful steps which have been taken to
have the companies of ships comfortably berhed on
boardeach and all have tendency render the seamen
Of our navy not only conened and healthy but will
ling Tor the most perilous service.
Not the least OF the monuments which Mr. Dobbn will
leave to mark HE secrearysbp the magnificent "six
and the government oundries at the
Of New York, Boston, Washington and Norfolk These
VIII ever be associated with the recollection of his efficient
naval administration
1t has been too frequently the that new Secretaries
81 the Navy instead of taking the service at the points
Of reform aud progress at which their predecessors had
arrived have preferred to begin and reconstruct the
entire work for which they are Of course responsible
me country While we would not be obnoxious to the
charge OF making impairment suggestions we must ex
press hope that the successor of Mr. Dobbin will
nence where his predecessor has left Off that the appren-
ice system which has thus far worked well and promises
10 much OF substantial Improvement may be encouraged
md few of the best of the youths thus apprenced to the
government annually admitted to the privileges of the
Annapolis Academy that the cruises of our ships OF war
nay be limited to two instead of three years and that sea-
men shall not be detained in service foreign stations
ver and beyond the period of their enlistment
we well assured from the statements Of the incoming
resident already expressed that he will fail to care
or the navy as the guardian of our foreign commerce.
We trust that the Secretary whoever he may be- will
most respects carry out the work sowe begun by his