New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-05
REPORT OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.


Board Of Officers, consisting of Commodore Geo. w.
Storer, Commodore S. II. stringham, John Lenthall,
Naval Constructor and Chief Of the Bureau Of CoDsruc
ton, &C., Samuel Archibald, Engineer-inChef, b. y.
Isherwoed Chief Engineer, and b. f. Delano, Naval
Constructor to examine the sailing ships of the Navy in
order 10 determine the expediency of converting them
into egicien. war steamers. They proceeded to the
navy-yards at Kittey Charleston Brooklyn Philadel
phia, and GosIort and examined the brig Perry the
sloops-Of-war Dale, Preble Vincennes, Vandalia,
Jamestown, Saratoga Germantown, Plymouth, Cum
berland, and Macedonian, the frgates Santee,
Brandywine, Potomac, St. Lawrence, Columbia,
Raritan and United States, and the line-Ofbattle-
ships Alabama, Virginia, Vermont, Ohio, North
Carolina, New-York, Columbus Pennsylvania and
Delaware. The briggs, soOps and frgates then at fea
have not been inspected by them but they found by
the records Of the Department that in form, dimensions,
age and condition, these were similar TO those they
had examined they included all in the game opinion.
The result Of their report is that is not expedent TO
introduce steam power into the brgs s0Ops, and frig-
a.es but that il is expedient introduce it into these
shps-of.ths-line, except the Delaware, now too de-
fective TO permit it, and by razeeing them TO convert
them into rstclass steam figates While the present
steam figaes of tho Minnesota caes, carrying mixed
batteries Of and 9inch guns 40 in number, cost on
$1O OUU each, the cost OF converting tIche
line-of-bate-sbips into steam fieates of the same
class would average but S33OJO and when thus con-
verted they would in tie opinion of the Beard be ef
fcient steamships Of war Of full steam power. Their
report Is herewith submitted, and i concur In the
measure which they propose, in the event OF war,
no one of these Observation-Disclosures in the present
state of steam navigation, could 90 to sea with res-
sonable degree Of safety.
Of the sailing fIigates the United States Is not worth
repairing. The Constitution has been thoroughly
paiIeN and would last many years al the Naval
Academy, where che is stationed. The Sabine
and Santee are comparatively new, and can be used
as fgates. The remaining siz 1T they shall require
repairs, should be converted into into sloops-of-war
and finally into store-shps and snch, would he use
full for stores and for protection in various foreign
ports
The sloors.ofwar built prior TO lS40 and the biigs
cambridge Perry, and Dolphin require such an ex-
penditure 10 keep them 1T for service that twill soon
be advantageous TO replace them with new vessels.
They are not large enough for store ships.
The steam Iigates, with the exceT lion OF the
Franklin, now atoat, and are receiving repairs
that will fit them for any feryice. No steam ma
chnery has been built for tie Franklin and The en-
gines Of the Menimaok should be renewed.
OF the fix new steam sloops-of-wari of the iiIht-
class five are at sea- and their performance has been
satisfactory The other, the Pensacola viii soon be
completed.
cuehanna Saranac, and Powhaan can, by introducing
screw propulsion. be made Efficient and economical
war steamers. The other the Mississippi, will be worth
Ofthe new sleam tloops-ofwar Of the second class,
four mounting each two 1-inch guns, have been enin
emily successful Two Of he others, mounting each
linch gun,are Of less draught, and their perform
ance at Las not been equal 10 that OF the larger YES
sels. Another of these smaller steamers, mounting
eight 9nch guns is expecedn port, and will be pre-
pared for q more perfect trial The Pocahontas US
beeuTenodeted ana provided With q new engine ana
il an efficient weasel.
Tie FIVE screw steamers Of the third class recently
chartered and then purchased performing very Elf
Gent service the coast OF Africa and CUBA and are
in every respect useful vessels AT the end Of their
present cruises they viii require some repairs and pro-
baby rev boilers.
Tie Eve side.wheel steamers of tie small class
usefu and efficient in peace and as dispatch vessels III
war; but no side-wheel steamer can be Efficient as
war steamer.
INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
While i, is the dictate Of sound policy 10 increase the
efficiency of present ships Of war 1t is equally 70
10 increase their number.
The Constitution Of the United States coniere on
Congress the power to maintain Navy, and prohibits
the States from exercising any such power NO STATE
under the Constitution has the night or power TO pro-
tect its citizens OF it's commerce on the ocean or IN Ior
eQn countries having parted with both by transfer
ring them 90 the Fede,a Government IN trus, or the
common benefit. That we must have Many for pro-
lection and defcnsetbat must have the means OF
continuing il in existence aud of employing it-that
the duty OF providing both has been deyoved on the
Federal Governments are selfeyident proposltlons.
This transfer of power 10 Congress on ore hand, ana
total sbnegaion Of it by the States OH the other ere
Rtes the strongest possible political and moral obga,
tons on the Part of this Government 10 provide and
rneintsin naval force adequate to our protection.
While We have ponhtion OF thirty millions OF
sou se9coast 81 as' extent arig oa He inter-
est Of 1--WE millions Of tuns-an annual export and
Import trade Of six OF seven hundred millions
of dollars, and a home trade lot less valuable, IL
would be strange and unaceOuntable IN any one tosnp
nose thst the Federal Government, IN providing and
maintaining ifs present Navy, has discharged its con-
stitutionsl obligation. The constant appeal o. Amel-
car citizens coming to R from all quarters OF the
world, asking for security ana proeeioh Deyon" Mn
the Government with its present means, can AFFORD
them spaaks language 10 which we are not al BIB
estv to turn a deaf ear. To be able at any TIME, at
short notice TO throw powerful naval force upohany
given point where interests are threatened, or the
Hves Of American citizens arc m Jeopardy Is not only
a constitutional duty, but one ofthe safest, most De-
nefceDt and saiutary powefe ibt can bo Entrusted
to Oficil, haipds under republican BORN OF govern
ment; md cannot permit tie present occasion 70 Tess
without faos earnestly receamendirrg the loncy o.
gradual. substantial and permanent increase o. the
Navy accompanied by the universe INTRODUCTION INTO
il Of tbs motiye power Of steam
Such 4cy is essential 10 tie protection Of our ooie-
aud commerce and Of American citizens ana uear
propert ON the ocean and In distant countries to the
ptseystios "a pe8oe the efficiency 81 ne$dailon the
general advancement OF our cominerC.s infeslS the
ynairtenapne of onr apyro5,Yiate position among ma
tiols and the prompt VipCsioO OF oar nights and OF
the honor Of the country and hond be subject TO none
of the ordinary vacilihions e!,inS from We HaIsa
success If political pstiee.
POLICY OF sTsPEsDING REPAIRS
fye nohcv which ha- been Inrssyd by Congress nnoc
de commercial reyulon Of lS57, Of curiaihng appro-
pratioDs for naval repairs and snsgetang improve
ments in the nayy-yards, can be yibd,ated only as
Temporary modification OF our genera Loncyi pIo
continued no hnrar than the present depletion OF 'he
Trearry hall continue. Ii Congress could by law
aIret tie march of intellect on one land ana me pro
cess Of decay o the other il might do better ior Gov
An M a time of iDtpSSAIt ar