Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-08

u.efu and ecen. 10 peace aud as dispatch vessels in
war but no sde-whee steamer be cioleft rs war
STEAMER
Tho Secretary recommends the gradual substantial ana
permanent increase of the navy accompanied oy the uni
yersa introduction into Of steam as motive power as
policy essential to the protection oil our coasts and
commerce.
An increase of the navy ia also demanded, on the
ground that we have now navigating Interest OF hve
million tons and import and export trade OF fix or seven
million Of dollars and coastng trade OF equal extent IN
value He also advocates the resumption oil the policy
of appropriations for repairs, well as for maintaining
the navy yards in state Of efficiency dc speaks oil va
rous reforms in the latter in the employment OF opera
lives On this subject the Secretary says;
"With view the greatest practical elicien-
CIV by removing and excluding abuses and obtaining Tor
expenditure full equivalent in labor, the naVyyards
have recently been placed under uniform system Oh
organization, applied equally to all ofthem, which seems
to be well calculated TO these Objects Tney are
commanded each by captain Of the navy VINO mas au
thorty in the yard analogous to that OF the commander
of ship at He is responsible that every man does
his duty He has the power dismiss any one Tor neg
lect or misconduct except naval officers and master
workmen whom in such cases 1t IS his duty 10 report 70
the department In order to ensure capable master
workmen they required TO be examined oy Doaru Oh
naval officers, who must report them fully qualified Tor
their duties before they receive their appointments
They are Immediately responsible for the workmen en-
ployed under them and therefore they have the selec-
ton of them subject TO the approval OF the command
anti and is his duty at all times to limit the number 70
the necessities Of the service The duties oil every ON
Ger in the ward arc specifically defined by regulations
IL has been the object Of the department to improve aud
elevate the condition Of the master mechanics and other
civilians and to increase their responsibility Under
this system it is impossible that abuses should exist with
out involving the commandant and the corps OF naval
officers under his command Even If 1t should happen,
as may sometimes be the case that few of the la
boring classes in public employment, earning suoss
ssence by the sweat Of the brow, should receive some
what than an equivalent Tor the labor oil their
hands il would not by any means be the greatest EVIL
that happens under government nor be sufficient rea-
son for abandoning convenient and necessary public
works All history shows that the class OF working men
do not usually receive too high reward for their labor
and II government suffers pecuniariy except by
them, the extent Of the injury will not be Alarming
The Naval Academy at Annapolis, under the suPerin-
tendence of Capt George s. Blake, is in admirable con-
didon. twenty-five acting midshpment graduated in
June hundred and thirtyfve were permitted to be
examined hirty-sx failed present themselves or were
found disqualified, and nnety-nine examined and
admitted The board of officers appointed 10 visit the
Academy in May last, observed with pleasure the pro-
gressye advancement in professional requirements from
the lower to the higher classes and particularly the pro-
ciency of the graduating class which has lett the IN
sttution with groundwork of professional education
promising great future usefulness TO the navy and TO the
country The police and discipline Of the institution
have been most carefully preserved The records show
a gradual dimnution OF the number found deficient at
the examination since 1855. Ia that year those found
deficient twenythree per cent OF the whole num-
ber in 1856 nineteen and half per cent; in 1857 eigh-
teen and half per cent; in 1858, fifteen and half per
cent in 1852 fourteen and half per cent and for the
first halt Of 1860, ten per cent The grouncs
public buildings and apparatus are in excellent ORDER
with the exception Of the wooden structure covering the
gun battery and magazine which is insecure and should
be renewed. The plan Of keeping a ship permanently
attached to the Academy home for the fourth class
is highly approved valuable addition 10 the means oil
instruction as well accommodation. The board OF
officers record their high appreciation OF the services Of
the superintendent and his associates and say tina. the
institution has prospered in their hands, aud provides for
the Navy high standard Of general and professional
knowledge. The Secretary concurs in these views.
Capt Craven, Of the practceship Plymouth, in which
the acting Mdshpmen made the usual cruise last SUMNER
commends the proficiency Of the first class in navigation
and seamanshp This class navgated the ship from Ten
ere to Hampton Roads, performing with accuracy the
duties of watch officers Their observations of ascer-
timing the position OF the ship so reliable that
Commander Craven felt perfect confidence in the correct
ness of their work. He perceived great improvement
in the third class of this year that of the former
year, arising from their having been, during the last
academic year. thoroughly drilled on board the school
ship
In the slave trade twelve vessels have been captured
this year by the African squadron, and 8 10 negroes
rescued. strong hint is then given that the slave
trade can only finally be suppressed 10y Engands en-
forcing her treaty of 1917 with SpaiG in reference TO
Cuba or by the annexation Of Cuba by the United
States.
The bill introduced by Senator Davis prohibiting the
purchase of patented articles for the army and navy Is
alleged be injurious to the public service The Sec
rotary recommends that he be given power to purchase
butter cheese flour and tobacco for the navy by private
purchase, and not by advertised contract.
The present state and services Of the various squad
rous and ships are then formally recorded compliments
being paid to e "S %r pGreT and Brent Er
ine 5ops sargs5a, ERRr'iSi tGSetbsSff
with brief statistics of the various exploring ex.
petitions form the main balance of the Secretarys
port which closes with summary Of naval estimates for
the year ending June So ls62-total amount 81, 5lS
904 OF.
rnrnru rIynn nnnrnrss S...l S...,.