New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-07

4
| her machinery in order, be made available IN this
emergency not only to extncate hersel but the other
| shipping Ia the harbor Not knowing, however, VINO
could be cOnded in to take charge OF her, c9nmancor
and two engineers were deailedto proceed 10 No1oR
for that purpose Two DAYS after, on the Eth OF Ps
the Department directed that the Merrmack sbonld be
prepared to proceed to Philadelphia with the utmost
dispatch. il stated that TO repair the engine ana
put il in working condition would require i9Tr ~eens, .
DiscIelitiug this report the Ergineerin-Chef was
ordered TO proceed forthwith in person. and attend 10
the necessary preparations.
On the 10th April the conmsndsut was directed to
lose no time IN placing armament on board the her-
rmsck; TO get the plymouth and Dolphin beyond dan.
GER TO have the Germantown in condition TO be towed
out, and to put the more valuable public property,
ordnance stores &c. shipboard that they could,
at any moment, he moved beyond danger.
Such was the energy and dispatch OF the Engineer
in.Chief that the 10th the Department advised
by the Commandan of the yard that on the 18th the
MerIimack would be ready for temporary eervee but
when on The afternoon OF that day, the Englneerln-
Chief reported her ready for steam, Commodore Nc
Cauley refused to have her fired up Fires were, how
ever built early the next morning, and at oeock the
engines were working, engineers, tiremen, &e, on
board but the Commandant still refused to permit her
10 be moved and in the afternoon gave directions TO
draw the fires The caue Of this refusal TO move the
Meuimack has no explanation other than that OF mis-
placed confidence in bis junior officers who opposed It,
As econ as this fatal reported 70 the de-
rartment orders were instant y issued TO Commodore
Pauldipg to proceed forthwith TO Norfolk, with such
ofcers and marines could be obtained aud take
command Of all the vessels aHoat on that station 20
rerel force by force, and prevent the ships and public
property at all hazards from passing into the hands OF
the insurrecioBists Bot when that officer reached
Norfolk on the evening Of Saturday the th lie found
that the powder bad already been seized and
that an armed force had commenced throwing up bat
teries in the vicinity. The Commandant OF the ard
after refusing to permit the vessels TO Oe moved on
Thursday and emitting it on Friday, ordered them TO
be scgttled On Saturday evening, and they sink
go, -bapr rou
his command arrived at Norfolk. This officer, know
ing that sink the ships would be only temporary
deprivation to the insurgents, VINO would, when Ia fn
poe.ession of the place. agaia have them aoat order
ed the torch 10 he applied to the qnSing ships Pursu-
ant to instructions he also destroyed far as he was
able with Lis limited force, the public property in the
Yard before abandoning the place.
The Cumberland was tOwed down the river and
passed, after some little delay, over tie distractions
that had been sunk in the channel to prevent her re-
moyal.
urived the Government OF several vessels but OF
arge amount of ordnance ard stores which had there
accumulaied In preventing the shipping and property
from passing into the hands Of the INSURGENTS, who
had gathered in conideralle force in that viciuiy
under General TaliaferTo, Commodore Panldng, the
officers and those under them performed their duty,
and carried out far az was in their power, the
wishes of the Government and the instructions Cd the
Department.
EXTRA AoRDINARY MEASURES.
The demonstration at Norfolk WAS but Of series
of measures that occurred at that iuucture. Stimuli
taneoasy with it, Baltimore appeared IN nsurrectioD,
and by force and violence destroyed the railroad COM
munic ,tion and cut off mail and telegIaptIc facilities
between the seat of Government and the States North.
In this css il became necessary to act with prompt
ness and vigOr There could he neither hesitation nor
delay when the Government and the country were I'M
periied and the Department took measures accord
gly. nat,
Believing that the emergency not only justified but
absolutely repaired that all the pubic armed vessels
should be forthwith oOm lced and equipped Tor SER
vice orders were given 20 that effect, and in addition
thereto the oomnAndants Of the Nayylards In Boston,
NewYork and Philadelphia were directed 10 purchase
or charter arm, equip and man steamers which upon
examination N ight be found fit EARLY convertible
into armed vessels suitable for the pubic service In
order 10 support the Government and enforce the laws
To carry into elect the proclamalions whereby COM
munication with the ports OF the insurgent States was
interdicted, and an embargo or blocKade declared,
became necessary 10 concentrate almost all the naval
force Of the country upOn the Atlantic coast al and
south of the Chess peake Bay, and Ia the Gull OF Mex
ico This extensive line Of sea-board, embracing an
extent Of nearly three thousand miles, with ts nume
ron, harbors and nets was deemed TOO extensive ior
a single command, and the naval orte, TO carry into
efec the proclamation, and execute the laws has con-
seouently been arranged into TWO sduadrunS Ire
command Of the first Of them, the Atlantic squadron,
10, has, eonfded 10 Fsg-Ofioer Sias HI. Strngham,
and the second or Golf squadron, under command OF
Elias. Officer William Meryine.
Before either Of these gentlemen could appear on
the station assgned him, flag-Oieer Pendergrast, in
connann ~ the home SQUADRON established non-inter
co-s and gave notice 70 foreigners OF embargo or
effective blockade, al Hampton Roads on ,hs oV'n
Ami II IL due TO tins officer 20 say that he has rem
dered essential and active service not only before but
after the arrival Of his senior oU that station.
Flag Officer StTingham reached Hampton Roads will
the MInnesota bis hag hip, on the 10Th Of May and
entered npon bis duties with such force as The Depart
ment In 80 brei period was able to place nj his dis
POSI-; and Illegal commerce by the insurgents, In DIS
- l.. lf..s fllElv pragd
The NIAGARA which arrived at Boston from japan
on tie 9th of Apnb was immediately dispatched to
New York for necessary repairs, before proceeding OIL
Charleston hArbOr, whittier her energetic commander
directed ard promptly repaired, 10 prevent illegal
commerce from that port. In the meantime iniorma-
tion reached the Department OF large shipments OF
arms and munitions of war in Europe, destined for
Newt Orleans ard Mobile. Believing it OF primary
importance that this shipment should, II poe lble be
intercepted and its landing prevented, Captain Me-
Kean was directed proceed to the Gulf for that pur-
pose and the Harriet Laue was ordered 70 Charleston
to take the Place Of the Niagara before that port:
alag Officer Mervine left Boston in the Missssippi
in advance OF his fagshin the C,iuraco and arrived
IN the Gulf on the "a 0 jane. Previous 10 Bis arry-
81 an embargo or blockade Of the Mississippi river,
aod some Of lie principal ports the Gulf had been
comnenoed and has been since vigorously maintained
and enforced.
As tho Constitution declares that 10 preference
sha be given BY any regulation OF commerce OF rev.
to the ports OF one STATE over another and also
that no State shall, without the consent OF the Con-
gress lay any inposs duties on imports or exports
except what may be absolutely necessary for its in
spection laws and the net produce of all duties and
impOsts shall be for the Of the Treasury OF the
United in several Of the States the in
surgents had in utter disregard and violation of these
express provisions II tie Constitution and laws, as
sumed tq give preference BY u1aulb99nzed regu-
latons OF comuefte OF TeYefue 70 the ports OF |
certain States over the p0rs OF other States,
nd had assumed, without consent Of the Congress to
y inposls duties imports aud exports aud that
- rot for The use Of the Irea.uTy Of The United