Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-03-07
Tie Navy Deps5 Ien.---Mr. Dobbin.

= The Navy Dep6 eht.-.Mr. Dobbin.
The New York Journal VI Commerce. of the
soundest and best journals in the country-thus al
ludes to the Navy Department and to the important
services rendered by Mr. Dobbin. Commentator
from such quarter is indeed valuable:
"THE NAVY Observation-Disclosures Pierce has
been more fortunate than some of his predecessors
in the unity of his cabinet Regarding the several
departments as coordinate branches of the cxecu-
tive government, he has left them free to enforce
and carry out his administrative policy according to
the laws. While the rising sun commands our pa
trotic admiration, our gratitude should not be
tirely withheld from the sun which is quietly but
brilliantly setting.
Next to the Department Of the Treasury-if in.
deed, not with it or bel. re t-no Of the execu-
tive branches is more closely identified with the
great interests of commerce than that of the Navy
Department 1t was we'll said by Carlyle that "Com-
merce is King" The country, therefore, owes to
Mr.. Secretary Dobbin many Acknowledgements for
the ability with which he has uniformly discharged
his arduous duties
In reviewing the history of the Navy Department
for the last four years. discover progress in the
right direction, which it is to be hoped may not be
permitted to stop. In the department of ordnance
and gunnery great improvements have been made
Judicous measures of preliminary character have
been adopted to secure for service a supply of
experienced seamen, we'll qualified by training for
ing the ordnance of ship at sea constantly under
the immediate supervision of an officer detailed spe
ciay for the service. For schooling seamen to this
end, a gunnery practice.ship has been put in com.
mission at Washington, with an experimental COM
ple,nent of heavy and light guns. The superior
utility of large shelguns for rst-cass vessels, in
stead of the old shot guhs of smaller calbre, is
longer predetermined it now only remains that
our men OF. war adoat nay be amply provided with
all the well proved and positive inventions and dis
coveres in small arms which may be made from time
to time, to render this branch of the service emil
nently efficient.
1t is to be regretted that the proposition SO forci
bly, urged by Mr.. Dobbin in his annual report for
the construction OF additional sloops of-war, with
the auxiliary power Of steam, which from their COM
paratve small draught of water might be servicea
BILE on shallow coasts and within the ports of our
southern seaboard, has met with so little of legsla-
tive favor. Unless this increase shall he made, and
The old account kept good by razeeing or repairing
the ships-of the-line and such old frgates as the
Brandywine, Potomac, Savanah, and others now
lying at navy yard housed over and in ordinary
our nominal naval force must soon dwindle down to
half its apparent strength, and the vulnerable shoa
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 r,g
ates Macedonian and Constellation to sloops of the
first Glass; the opinion prevails very generally that
should be similarly repaired upon the basis of the
next lower cass-and that the favorite English plan
should be adopted, of giving to those which may be
so altered the auxiliary power OF steam whenever
their dimensions will permit it. ~
Perhaps the best feature of Mr.. Dobbns admin.
iStration OF the Navy Department has been his con-
slant and unrcmtting care for seanen. The system
of honorable discharges for good conduct, and the
law for increased pay of seamen adopted by Con-
gress under his recommendation-the system of in
specting supplies more closely at the several naval
Stations according to the suggestions Of the Chief
Of Bureau of Provisions and Clothng--that of man.
ufacturing the medicines required for ships use by
our navy surgeons, under the advices of the Chief
OF the Medical Burcau-and the careful steps which
have been taken to have the companies OF ships
more comfortably berthed on board-each and ali
have tendency to render the seamen of our navy
not only cOntented and healthy, but ever willing tor
the most perilous service.
Not the least Of the monuments which Mr.. Dob
bin will leave mark his secretaryship tho mag
ncent six frigates" and the government fanndrics
at the navy yards of New York, Boston, Washing
ton and Norfolk. These will ever be associated with
the recollection Of his efficient naval administration.
1t has been too frequently the case that lew Sec
retares of the Navy, instead of taking up the SER
vice at the points OF reform and progress at which
their predecessors had arrived, have preferred TO
begin anew and reconstruct the entire work for
which they are, of course, responsible to the coun'
try. While we would not be obnoxious to the charge
of making impertinent suggestions, We must express
hope that the successor of Mr.. Dobbin will COM
mence where his predecessor has left off, that the
apprentice system, which has thus far worked SO
we'll and pronis so much Of substantial improve
mcnt, may be encouraged, and few Of the best Of
the youths thus apprenticed TO the government an
nuaIly admitted to the privileges Of the Annapolis
Academy; that the cruises of our ships of war may
be limited to two instead of three years; and that
seamen shall not be detained in service on foreign
stations over and beyond the period of their enlist
ment.
We are we'll assured from the statements of the
incoming President, already expressed. that he viii
not fail to care for the navy the guardian Of ou'
foreign commerce; and we trust that the new Sec
rotary, whoever he may be, will in most respects
carry out the work we'll begun by his predecessor
The PRESIDENTS LAST SABBATH IN WASHINGTON