The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-16
Increase OF our Steam Nsvy-Our Foreign
Relations.

Relations.
A bill is before Congress to authorize the con-
structiOn of six sloops-ofwar of a small size,
| to he propelled by steam. The HERALD has
! frequently alluded to the necessity of some
| such measure as this, and circumstances lust
now demonstrate the necessity of its being car
| ried out as soon as possible. We are in bel
Ggerent attitude at this moment with China
New Granada and Paraguay, and IL the British
continue their outrages on our vessels. we shall
very soon be in similar attitude with England
and in neither case have the right sort of YES
sells to enforce our pretcnsons II is true that one
Of our crack sloops-of war has conducted herself
CALAMITY in a contest with some of the Chinese
forts, but as matters now stand in that quarter
Of the globe the force We have there is totally
unfit for any very valuable service. We have
three large steamers at the disposal OF o0r
representative, Mr. Reed, but they draw too
much water to enable him to visit some Of
the most important points, aud so he has
been compelled to charter q small merchant
propeller, the Antelope, belonging to Captain
Forbes, Of Boston, at the cost of about six
thousand dollars per month. So completely at
fault does Mr.. Reed appear to be for want of a
light draught armed steamer, that IL is reported
he says he can do nothing, and intends to
come home. This would be q great misfortune,
for 1t IL evident the French and English are
pushing their advantages with unremitting zeal,
and If our Minister cannot follow closely upon
their track, our commercial rights and privi-
leges may be ignored at the final adjustment of
the existing difficulties, and at the critical mo-
mcnt.
So with regard to Paraguay. That the honor
Of our country and the justice due our citizens
require immediate reparaton from President
Lopez, no one can doubt; but how Is II to be
Effected We have had one agent and two Min
listers at his capital already, without any re-
suits but impcrtinence and insolence. He has
several times snubbed the Emperor of Brazil,
and kept him from enjoying any access to his
own territory, north and east of Paraguay,
and even now the late treaty limits him to three
vessels of war for the protection Of that terri
tory. But II Is worthy Of note that Brazil does
not really mean to regulate its river feet by any
such standard. wepcrccive by the last English
journals that four screw gunboats for coast and
river service have been built at Greenhithe, on
the Thames for the Brazilian navy, and four
more are under way ut Blackwell, each of
which Ia TO carry six guns and two hundred
men. These will be able 10 ascend beyond As
sumption, and reach the Brazilian tributaries Of
the Plate.
twill not be long before We shall hear Of these
vessels in that river. Now, what have we with
which to back up our claims upon Paraguay
We are not aware of a single steamer in our
navy that would fully answer for the service
The revenue cutter Harriet Lane would possi-
bly, do If her draught is not more than nine or
ten FEET, but we do not know where another like
her could be found. Sailing vessels would not
answer for the service. If they met with no
resistance, IL would be impossible TO manuuvre
them successfully in the difficult channels and
under the fire of the numerous batteries of
Lopez planted along The river. IL would be
tedious and hazardous voyage, If there was no
resistance whatever We do not see, then, how
We are TO help ourselves either in China or Pa
raguay without the immediate addition to our
navy Of a feet Of small steam sloops or gun
boats, sue n the brxzitans are nDnsfructfnof