New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-26

From various quarters loud complaints are re-
terated eganst costly naval establishment, al
entirely Inefficient for most of the purposes for
which ships of war are NEEDED and hardly good foI
any thing but for show. To meet this difficulty, il
is proposed, in addition to tbs navy for parade, to
build another for use; and, With this object pro-
estedly in view, Congress is loudly called upon TO
appropriate money for the construction of some
sixty gun-bosts. The complaints made against the
navy it is appear to be pretty we'll founded; but
is there not danger that in the hasy adoption of this
proposed gun.boat expedieut, we may saddle our
selves " it'll second naval establishment hardly less
costly, and for practical uses, no more efficient
than the parade navy which we already have This
idea of gun boat navy is no new suggestion. We
tried the experiment forty or fifty years ago, and at
that time with very Indifferent success. Gun boats
were introduced into our service at the suggestion
Of jefferson, who, however, proposed to emPloy
them, rot as is now urged, for aggressive
operations in distant seas, but in service
for which they would seem much better
adapted that Of coast defense a. hone.
These vessels were advocated not with the intent
that they should keep the as cruisers, but only
as cheap defense in case of maritime attack or
nva,ion. Ordinarily they were-at least such was
Jefferson's dea-tc be kept hauled up under sheds,
ready TO b. launched at moments notice.
situation in which, as it was alleged, they would
cost nothing but an Enclosure or sentinel to see
tbst no mischief was done them. When the
emergency came in which they"ere to be launched
and used il wss proposed to have them manned BY
8 sort Of maritime militia drafted from the neighb0r
ing districts Ii plain at glance that gun boat
navy of this sOrt-lsd up for the most part under
sheds guarded By sentinels put aloat but on special
emergencies, employed then Ony for defense, and
ned by maritime militia Kept for show after
sill rather than for ue only kept on shore instead Of
at sea-t is PLAIN that such aa establishment would
not at all meet the IDEAS of our present advocates of
CUR boa's-wECse expectation il is y use them in
active service. foregu stat obs and for cruising
purposes. The gun boats thus introduced into our
service, in the way and for the purposes ab)ve
stated, found few warm champions among the
officers of the navy, hardly less enthusiastic as to
their utility than Jefferson himself But sailors in
general whether 10 the navy or out Of ii, could not
be made to believe in this amphibious species Of
vessels, and subsequent experience went to confirm
these opinions. However formidable and ferocious
they might look, peeppg out from under their sheds
ike Swapping. turtles from under their shells, yet,
on being transferred to tie wafer, many of them,
though built after 8 careful study of Spanish and
Nespolitsn modes-the only nations thst have
ever plactd much dependence on this species
# forct-proyed very LdiGeren. sea bosts; while
thy could oaly Use the heavy guns With which
they were armed with considerably more dan
ger Of lncclrg holes through their own bottoms
tasu q doing Sny damsge 10 any body else. Neither
Old they prove so very economical. Each Dat cost
ten thousand dosrs, While if kept ahoat, they re-
qcred crew OF forty men, sni az annual expense
greater than their original cost. At one time how.
s7sr, adherence y the gCr boat system was male