The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-04-27

B
| Our Fleet.
i Every day brings to light fresh evidences o
the iniquitous negligence Of the late Administra
tion. When danger frst threatened our troop
] were found scattered over this continent, an,
the Navy over the world. And now that civi
war has begun, with all the odds on the side o
rebellion (tor rebels have robbed the treasury
seized stores, demoralixed troops, taken fort
resses and gained sictories) our feet is found I,
be inadequate to carry out the energetic plan
which the Government have madc,o and the exi
gencies Of the State demand. Year after yea
money has been freely voted for the creation o
such feet ~ should make rs powerful ani
respected Dock yards have presented busy
scene, and troops Of officials have drawn thei
salaries a. for work done, but for al this W
have mo- feet worthy the sacrifices We have
made
The Scientific Americsp presents q very Do
4 pressing case for consideration. Il asserts that
in the present state of naval science all ships
not furnished with steam must be struck from the
list when estimating this arm Of our strength.
This done We reduce q feet carrying 2, 800 guns
to one of ss6. 'This is absolutely the entire
national feet Of the United States, and no other
statement of the case can make it greater" The
denomination of the vessels may be given thus:
screw frigates, 5 screw sloops, side wheel
sloops, and gun sloops, making "a vessels in
| all. Some Of these are perfect models Of naval
architecture, and cannot ba equalled for speed
and general sailing qualities. The question may
! be asked can not steam be applied to the rests
1t would not only take months to do it, but
there are nine chances to one that they would
not answer the end when done. The British
Government tried the experiment, and have now
feet of old tubs that only use their steam
when they are anxious not to be beaten back by
! head winds. There ia but one vessel in course
| Of construction, and none could be built and
fitted out under a year. This is not pleasant to
| contemplate with war upon our hands, the first
movements Of which demand celebrity, as tho
condition Of success. 1t ought also to be known
that the subject of iron-plated vessels was
broached in this country in 1852, and brought
before the authorities, but never acted upon
while the European powers have applied the
suggestion with success. Well, it is now useless
to complain of these things. We have our re,
venge in having driven such Government from
power,-but it is irritating beyond expression
to know that for SO long time, traitors in high
places have SO long been preparing the agony
which this country is now enduring.
-O---
Defeat the Prelude of Victory.
Minds with the slightest tendency to philoso-
phize must have remarked, how often in the his.
tory Of the world truth and right have met with
frequent and severe defeat They have also seen
how, as by some natural law, victory has grown
out of defeat. In the first encounter right is
hcsitatng and forbearing, hoping and believing
the best, and somewhat neglectful of its oppor-
tunities. 1t lacks the cunning and audacity of
the evil opposed to it. But self-reliance is sooa
acquired, and moral indignation, and conscious
ness Of right 10 the rest afterwards every bat
tie is victory.
Thus it was in the struggles of ancient ma
tions Thus it was in England in the 10th CEN
tury When the Parliament and King were
striving for the mastery; through one entire
campaign victory rested upon the banners Of the
perjured and tyrannical Monarch, some Of the
noblest advocates of civil and religious liberty
fell upon the battle field, and their forces were
scattered. But men were learning by these de-
feats, the spirit Of the nation rose superior to
every one, and in the end led in the of liber-
ty and truth Thus it was in our own struggle
fer liberty. Season after season defeat was the
reward of heroism and self sacrifice unsurpass.
ed by the sublimest examples Of the olden time.
The cause ebbed and flowed like the tide. Sue
cess here was balanced by defeat there, and
patriotism in one man was met by toryism in
another. But these reverses only knded still
deeper hatred of oppre.s:on-cemented into one
the interests of different States-nerved to q
higher courage and secured an illustrious tri.
| umph.
In the light Of these facts we should contem-
plate the events Of the past two months. Du
ring that period We have had to sustain loss,
insult and defeat, and the rebels flushed with
victory strike for higher prize. But in these
facts we see no cause for despondency-tbey are
70 US the presage Of final success. The fall Of
Sumter and the Presidential Proclamation have
acted like the trumpet of resurrection, and not
| only arakened the whole North, hut made all one
by the presence Of common peril. The rebels
little imagine the electric effect of their success
1t will cost them more than bloody defeat
! 1t has done what no defeat could have effected
It has sealed the fate of their cause for it has
| taught US all, their character and designs be-
yond the possibility Of mistake. They h d theii
apologists before--they have none now. Some
we're for peaceful secession once-we hear of j,
| no longer. From the iron shores of Maine to
the sunny Pacific, from the icy North to the
line where rebellion lifts its shameless front
there is but one railying cry for freemen, one
aim for patriots, one subject of prayer to Hin
who controls the destinies of nation, and that i
tie preserpatopf of the Union The mastering
hosts of the North will do what they can too t.
secure their hearts desire. Urged to the des
perate alternative, they have drawn the swort
and cast the scabbard away, and have resolve'
that if their efforts cannot secure to liberty
refuge in this her chosen resting place, they vii
not survive its overthrow and desecration Tn
end is sure-short lived will be the laugh of re
| bellion, to- day it may fourish-but when mex
looked for, it shall not be found, while peac
and unity will be restored upon firm and im
movable basis.
~ A Court Martial at st. Louis is bein
held on Major Schaeffer. The charge is for cor
duct unbecoming an officer and gentleman
The specifications are, 1st, that IN his resigns
ton he used the following expression KNOWN
Il to be false -" cannot reconcile 1t with m
ideas of military fealty and discipline, that
part of your command has hoisted another fla
| %h.p tho only true Asg Of these United States