The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-28

/ Eaitors GispacA lit is earnestly hoped that
you and your confreres of the press will con-
tinue to urge upon the Government the i'm
portsncs Of prompt and energetic action to-
wards building up Southern Navy
Your remarks in the issue Of the pisva.ch, O!
the l2th, upon this subject are apt and oppor-
tune. You are not alone in the surprise and
wonder felt and expressed In that article
"that we have not already at least the begin
ming OF a navy"
There seems to be, and very properly too an
evident indisposition on the part OF the peo-
pie to advert in aspirit of complaint to any
action or want of action, i'll any of the de-
partmants OF the Government just now. The
general sentiment of the public appears to be
Willingness to entrust 10 the great states
man ut the head of affairs the entire manage
ment of the whole public interests. Since
the days of Washington no public man has
possessed the confidence of the people in such
an unlimited degree. and no one eould be
more deserving Of hat confidence.
1t is, however, obviously i'm pra cticabis in
times like the present for him or any other
man ta scrutinize the multefareous opera
lions OF the several Departments. II would
be manifestly improper, therefore, TO init
mate a rejection upon him for any ineili-
cheney IN tha Naval or in any one of the
other Department Is of Government 1t may,
moreover, be upjust to object to the manner In
which the De partment in question has been
Conducted Dy its present Gnief There may
be reasons unknown to the public for The
apparent apathy that reigns in that branch
OF the Government. The people, however,
VIII naturaiIy d" wonder " and ask " Why is
III when the great necessity for. Navy is 50
sensibly and severely felt, not the first step
SO tar as is known to the public, has YET been
taken toward even g the beginning of a
Navy"
The South every one knows, possesses
within her own borders, all the means neces-
sary to build up in the shortest possible time
Eavy suf1ciently effective not only to pro-
tect Fer own coast, and open her own ports,
but to 1ntiict destructive blows upon the very
yitals Of the North. With such fleets of gun
boats-and which may aptly be styled the
"HyiI6 artillery" of the ocean--as with
proper energy, we can readily construct,
equip, and man, how easy would it be TO
traverse tns ocean, striking and prostratin g
| the enemy's commerce, which is his best, and,
indeed, his only interest.
at this point alone, to say nothing cf our
wonderful resources in the neighboring coun-
ties, and In the great and gallant State of
North Carolina, there is material enough on
hand to build and equip at least fifty gun
boats. The IScent inventory of pu bile prop
erty III the Portsmouth n syy Yard developed
the presence there of vast quantities of the
very best ship building materials OF live
OAK, Wnlta oak, pine, ana every variety of
timber and materials, seasoned and ready for
the ShlpWrights axe, there are immense quan-
titles, while of copper. iron. anchors, cables,
cordage, canvas, and every description OF ma
terri al needed in the construction and equip
ment OF almost any number of gun boats, the
supply 10 abundant.
With all this material ready at hand, an i
with building and launching slips and way ;,
docks and WORK shops, foundries and ma
chine shops. and all the modern and III ost al .
proved machines, tools, fixtures. and appur-
IenanceS attached, not vessel has been
bniit or begun Eight months have elapsed
since the capture of this vast depot OF naval
stores and supplies. During this entire pc.
rinI the (3OVprnmauI Eui of h,
establishment, and at its command from one
to two thousand of the best mechanics in the
country. Has ship, boat, or a hat been
equipped, launched, built, or begun p
Sur up the powers, Messrs. Editors, to action.
Action.
Portsmouth, Va, Nov. l6, 1861.