Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-07-02

ing such naval force as Will etfectualy protect our
commerce in that Mediterranean of ours, and the
coast of Brazil and in the Pacific Ocean.
Hitherto, our navy has been, for the most part,
utterly worthless in the protection of defenseess
merchant ships in those quarters where their white
wings tapped loudest and oftenest Compared with
our commerce in the Gulf of Mexico, the South At
lantc and Pacific Oceans that of the Mediterranean
and Baltic seas sink into insignifcance and yet to
these European waters too many of men-ofwar
have been SENT to court the lazy wind and cruise a
bout, as if there danger constantly ahead. Ot
course it is necessary to have respectable fleet in
those waters but it still necessary to concen
trate naval force in where the largest COM
mercial interests are at stake
Our coastng trade is already great, and annually
growing The fact that Spain nation inimical to u.s.
holds Cuba and Porto Rico; that England holds the
Bermudas, the Bahama Jamaica and other West India
Islands, should long since have awakened our Govern
ment to of the danger which menaces These
two nations thus holding in their hands the keys of the
Cult, the former hating with all the of Cas-
titan pride and bitterness and the latter jealous of our
rising greatness can not be watched too closely by
Government. Both have committed great outrages up
on our commerce with IMMUNITY and who tell at
what moment recurrence of these outrages may not
take place?
Our trade with Brazil is yearly increasing Our Pa
cfe commerce is also growing larger and larger. Cali
forna, Oregon and Washington Territories commun-
cate with through the Ishmus and yet the coast
of Brazil and in the Caribbean and Pacific waters we
have but corp0ras guard of armed ships, while En-
glisl war vessels are almost as thick as sea guls
Congress should set about making the navy thorough
ly efficient. We have few clumsy steamships afoat
but this small seapolce can only be drummed into ser
vice, in emergencies with great difficulty.
We find the following sketch in the Charleston Mer-
curry of some of terrible vessels:
We presume when the good people of these United
States in their collective characters Of planter farmer
merchant, trader and politicians, with their growing
crops their whitening sails and fuctuang stocks
and the last with their issues of straw and sham
battles, in which there are killed and wounded
it announced in the morning Journals that the United
States steamship Water Witch and Arctic had sailed
for the Gulf without knowing if these vessels carried
between them four, hundred guns, sank back III
to the happiest frame of mind induced by security
and imagine that, in the presence Of two such spen
did men-of-war as the Water Witch and the Arctic
the English squadron in the Gulf will be cowed into
the utmost good behavior in the future. The steam
frigatcs Colorado and Wabash will be there we know,
but they will make rough work of it, doing about
the reefs that scrapc the north shore of Cuba and
Just about well fitted for the service against small
steamers and 9un-boats they to protect our
Southern coast drawing twenty-four feet water.
The other large vessels will be propelled by sails
alone, and consequently will pass most Of their time in
hunting up wind. Of the smaller steamers have
three-the Fulton, five guns eccentric cross between
a diving bell and river boat the Water Witch, two
guns recently hawkcd by public advertisement for sale
and the Arctic, two guns, built in Philadelphia as a
light ship and converted into steamer by placing in
her towboats engine Her service was first in the
Arctic with the expedition in search for DIR. Kane
where she not distinguished for swiitnCss and her
last in looking for the lost steamer Pacific, when she
very nearly went to the bottom herself 1t has not been
her good fortune always to be commanded by expert
a Capt Hartstene who now has taken her to
the coast of Cuba. 1t the best vessel the Govern
ment had to give him; but what craft for such a
man."
Sir Charles Napier sailed for the Gulf of Finland
during the Crnean war, with Il fleet of large, clum
sy vessels expecting to do wonderful things for the
honor of Eng land. But he could not get near the
huge fortrcsses that commanded that Gulf The Ad
mralty improvsed Il navy Small vessels, capable of
navigating shallow water. and carrying from to five
guns of the heaviest caiber were got ready, and
Bomersund melted away before the hot shot rained
upon it.
Such vessels as these want-vesses that can steam
swiftly into shallow nlets, and surround and take an
enemy in what regarded safe retreat from heavy
sdC-WhCGl steamers. The number of heavy vessels for
deep water should be greatly increased while squadrons
OF light gun-boats, properly constructed and armed
should be built valuable aduncts to these heavy ships
There is no reason why great Republic like this
vast and wcalthy-should not have powerful navy-a
navy able to protect our commerce everywhere. Let
Congress- instead of wasting the Treasury in idle appro
pratons strengthen this branch of national Defense
and let the administration insist that naval officers
vganty look to their duties and it will be better for
vitcs aggression from great rival such as England
NetU Orleans Delta.
We fully agree with the Delta. Let Congress, in
stead of wasting the treasury in idle appropriations
for the extravaganza useless, foolish obbing dishonest
affairs called custom-houses at Ne,y Orleans, Charles
ton, and elsewhere, do something for the protection
and promotion of real trade and commerce. not by
protective duties to enhance the value of the products
Of the Northern manufactures, at the expense of
Southern agriculture Louisiana sugar at the expense
of North Carolina wheat, tobacco, and naval stores
Or Of ALL by giving actual bounties to New England
fisheries. We will all bear burdens cheerfuly to
defend the honor of the country, not to build up
purseproud monooles, Or to supply the pap for fraud
ulent jobs or useless custom-houses.
The Persia arrived at New York on the night of the
23d. The principal portion of her news has already
been published having been received by telegraph from
Cape Race.
Sir H. Rose has completely defeated the rebels at
Kernes, killing 700 captains of guns.
An attack at Calpo expected on the 10th of
May.
The garrison at Shah Jehanhorc 600 strong was sur
rounded by 5000 rebels but no fears were entertained
as relief near at hand in the village of Central
India had been stormed after obstinate resistance
and all the male inhabitants put to the sword.
The subject of the British outrages American YES
sells alluded to in Parliament on the 9Th. Judging
from the tone Of conversation in the House of Lords
they will not be repeated again. A majority of the
Press, both in London and Paris condemn the acts OF
the British cruisers.
The American horses again looking for great
struggle on the English turf.
Settlement of the Difficulties Fort Scott.
ST. LOUIS, June 21.-Ihe Kansas City Journal OF
Commerce. in extra edition of the 10Th, says that
mass meeting was held at Fort Scott Kansas ON the