The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-12
WASHINGTON, d. C.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
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special convention was executed, and satisfac-
tory apologies and indemnities made.
The expense of the expedition was betrayed
out of the ordinary appropriations for the naval
service, except the sum of $2S9,000 appropri-
ated by Congress on the Sd of March last, to
pay for the charter or purchase of the six
screw steamers and one side-wheel steamer
which, from the deficiency of light draught
vessels in the navy capable of navigating the
Parana and Paraguay, it had become Recessa.
~ to charter for the occasion. They were
chartered accordingly for six months or longer,
with the privilege of an election on the part of
the United States to convert the charter into
purchase at stipulated prices, and to apply all
payments for the use of the vessels in part paw
Inent of the purchase money.
The sums due for the use of them amounted
to $l37,693, and the balance, $l5l ,307, would
effect purchase Of these seven vessels. The
election was made, and by the payment of that
sum the Department was released from Its con-
tract 10 restore them to their former condition.
and they became the property of the Govern.
ment. They have since been fitted for the ser,
vice in which they are now engaged. Five of
them are employed on the coasts of Africa and
Cuba; one between the Washington and Cos
port navy yards, In lieu of the Water Witch"
which has also been sent to the coast of Cuba /;
and the other-the side-wheel steamer-in the
La Plata and its tributaries as part of the Bra
I'll squadron. The cost of maintaining these
seven vessels In commission is net much great
er than that OF maintaining single steam
frigate.
By the purchase of these steamers the Gov
eminent was enabled to adopt more efficient
measures for the suppression of the African
slave trade. Being of light draught, those on
the African slave coast will enter harbors and
rivers where the slave traffic originates, while
those on the coast of Cuba will frequent its
harbors, cruise in the track of the slave traders
on both sides of the island, and will be very
sure to intercept such as may escape the vigil
ance of the former. Eight steamers have been
detailed to suppress this trade four to cruise on
the coast of Guinea, and an equal number on
the coast of Cuba-two on each side of the
island. tits intended to employ another steamer
TO cruise between New Orleans, Mobile, Pensa-
cola, and Key West, for that and other purposes
as soon as she can be spared from other OBJ
jects.
To enable the African squadron, now consist
ing of three sloops of war and four steamers, to
be constantly in the neighborhood of the places
where the traffic is carried on, the depot of ma
val supplies mas been removed from Porto
Praya, in latitude north Is degrees, near Cape
de Verde, to St. Paul de Loando, in latitude
south 8 degrees. Under the former arrange
ment, the vessels of the squadron, then sailing
vessels only, in seas where Gains prevail, were
most of the time employed in making the voy-
age from the proper cruising ground to Porto
Praya, for supplies, and back again to the cruis-
ing ground, and the voyage was scarcely per-
formed before it became necessary TO repeat it
while under the present arrangement, it will
seldom ne necessary for them to be absent, and
then for a short time only. This constant pres
of Of cfa xyacSalc tho
coast of Africa, and a similar provision on the
coast of Cuba, will render the slave traffic so
dangerous for American vessels, that few will
be willing to embark in 1t.
Twenty steam vessels have been added to the
navy since the commencement of this Admin
istration-thirteen by contract and seven by
purchase The report gives the condition of the
steamers now building.
The Secretary renews his recommendation in
his last report to increase the navy. The re-
trenChment which Congress has made in the
navy wards will indemnify the treasury for the
expense.Of constructing twenty more steam yes
sells. Thus it may be said that the treasury will
be nearly or quite Unidentified for the cost of
this increase NJ twenty steam vessels in the navy
by a corresponding retrenchment of naval ex-
penditure But, independently of any consid-
Grafton of this kind, the protection of our coast
and coasting trade on the Atlantic and Pacific
sides of the continent, of five millions of COM
mercial tonnage, six hundred millions of for
eign exports and imports, and of American cit
liens and interests in all parts OF the world, I'M
T1eratively requires a more efficient and power
full naval force than now have at command.
The Secretary earnestly recommends the adj
aition Of steamships to the navy, instead of ex-
pending millions in building few large ships.
at is" he SAYS, "a source of extreme regret
II ,,,ort;Gootion that we arc now nj times
obliged to sit by passively, and sec in some for
eign countries citizens of The United States i'm
prisoned plundered, ADD murdered, because the
Executive has not the means to protect or re-
dress them"
The Secretary renews his last recommends
tiOn that the marine corps be increased.
The Naval Academy continues to show the
most gratifying evidence of the proficiency of
the pupils in all the branches of their profess
sion. Twenty acting midshipmen graduated in
June: one hundred and thrty-three have since
been permitted TO be examined for admission
and of theSe, eighty-six were found qualified and
admitted.
For the purpose Of increasing the efficiency
of the navy, without materially increasing the
annual charge upon the treasury, the Secretary
hiss transferred the new members of the fourth
class of acting midshipmen % the sloop of war
Plymouth, attached to the Academy, thereby
charging the accommodations provided there,
without the expense of new buildings; and ar
Engagements have been already made to accom-
mo date eighty-fve pupils and their instructors
on b GARD of that vessel This measure is a de
cided improvement. 1t has been accomplished
with pl eat facility and at ineonsderable ex
pense. 4 1 subjects the pupils to stricter disci
pine and O oser supervision. AT the outset o.
their studies It Introduces and attaches them Il
naval life, and makes every part of ship OF
war, and their duties connected with it, as "a
milisr as household words.
The board OF officers appointed to witness
the annual examinations have made highly
favorable report of the general management
discipline, and police, ofthe Academy. Theyrec
ommend that no candidate be admitted under
the age of fifteen instead Of fourteen, as the re
squirement now is that the time Of reporting
for admission be the lst Of June instead of the
10th of December; that the French and Span
ish languages enter int the FINAL examination
of midshipmen and have due weight in deter
mining their relative standing; that, besides
the practice ship, small screw steamer be al
1ached to the Academy; that the pupils be in
structed IN the duties OF engineering in In,
manufacture OF fireworks, and all ordnanc,
matter in which gunpowder and its constituent
enter; that a short course of naval architectur,
be introduced.
The report at this point gives an account q
the cruise of the different squadrons, which W,
have already published.
The survey and exploration Of the Paran,
sua the tributaries of the Paraguay river, an
thorized by Congress, were almost suspende
ON account of the difficulties between the I'm
ted States and the Government of Paragua,
Bat thess difficulties have been removed, an
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