Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-12-13
SECRETARY WELLES' REPORT.

| Tor the better.
SECRETARY WELLES, REPORT.
The Report OF the Secretary of the Navy
is an able and business Like doon,,, OF ,-.
taken In connection with the important ma
val operations on the Southern coast, which
have so much gratifed the country, is an
overwhelming rebuke to those who a few
months ago SO ferociously as5ailed its au-
thor as an imbecilo do-nothing, who must
be pushed out of Office before any thing of
value could be effected How the great dogs
did howl And how the littlo barkers did
yelp in concert all over the land And how
whist they have all been lately The proof
is overwhelming that Mr. Welles has been
laborious, capable and far seeing man in his
particular department-who saw what was
to be done, and set himself to do it with un-
common energy and system,
Starting in his report from the exhibit
which he made Of the condition and wants OF
the Department in his report of July 4th,
he first states the three great things which
were to be done:
al. The closing of all the insurgent ports along
a coast line of nearly three thousand miles, in the
form and under the exacting regulations of an in
ternationsl blockade, including the naval oecupa-
tion and defence Of the Potomac river, from its
mouth to the federal capital, as the boundary line
between Maryland and Virginia, and also the
main commercial avenue TO the principal base Of
our military operations.
2. The organization of combined naval and
military expeditions TO operate against various
points Of the southern coast, rendering efficient
naval cooperation with the position aud move
ments Of such expeditions when landed, and in
oluding also all needful naval aid to the army
in cutting of intercommunication with the rebels
and in its operations on the Mississippi and its
tributaries; and
B. The active pursuits Of the piratical cruisers
which might escape the vigilance of the blockad-
ing force and put to sea from the rebel ports.
These were duties which the navy was called
upon at the same time to prepare for and per-
form, and they constituted triple task more ar
duous, it is believed, in some respects, than has
before been demanded from the maritime Of any
government
To effect these bjects, the vessels scattered
under the former administration to remote
parts, bad to te recalled as fast as they could
be, others laid up had to be made ready for
service, new ones had to be built, and
large number purchased from the commercial
marine, and fitted for warlike purposes.
The report alludes to the subject of blockading
ports by sinking vessels and states that the stone
expedition" has gone to Charleston and Savannah.
r. q, 81
economical and gratifying method of interdicting
commerce." The number of vessels seized by our
naval squadrons, mostly in attempting to run the
blockade, has been one hundred and fifty three.
The greater part have boon condemned after adju-
dication. The events connected with the coast
ex editions to Hatteras Inlet and Port Royal are
recounted. The reason why the former was not
followed up by securing position on tho main
land, arose from the inadeguacy of the military
force accompanying it
On the subject of privateering the report says it
will be expected that f'men who had violated law
and moral obligation to crafty inordinate ambi-
ton" would betake themselves TO piracy. AS to
the escape of the Sumter, " by some fatality she
was permitted TO pass the Brooklyn, and after a
brief and feeble chase by the latter permitted to
pass on her voyage" Although 1" piratical ro-
ver," ht regrets that she has been received and
supplied against the remonstrances of our consuls,
by public authorities in many foreign ports.
Referring to the capture of Mason ard Slidell,
the Secretary says. " The prompt and decisive
action Of Capt. Wilkes on this occasion merited and
received the emphatic approval Of the department,
and if too generous forbearance exhibited by
him in not capturing the vessel which had these
rebel cmissaries on board, it may, in view of the
circumstances, and his patriotic motives be excus
ed; but It must by means BE- permitted 10 eonsti-
tgte precedent hereafter for the treatment Of any
case Of similar nfGctios Of neural Obligations by
forrgH tessfs engaged in commerce or the carrying
trqde"
On the 4th Of March last, all the government
vessels available for service against the rebels,
were only four in number, carrying twenty live
guns Our navy now consists Of 26i vessels of all
sizes, carrying 2,557 guns, and having an aggre-
gate tonnage Of 2lS,0l6 tons. The number Of
seamen now employed is $4,000. Of l3G vessels
purchased we find that 70 are propelled by steam;
all the 81 constructed nearly finished are steam
vessels. The difficulty encountered in the pur-
chasing of vessels must have been great on ac-
count of the large number thrust upon the depart
ment. The Secretary explains the plan resorted
for the purpose of securing the most serviceable
ships at the most economical prices. The results,
we think, speak for themselves in the late expedi-
tion at Port Royal, and the fact that not COM
plant of corruption has been publicly made
against the agent now employ I'D ia this important
duty. In the navy yard, though eleven thousand
mechanic have been steadily employed. the gov
ernment has been obliged to resort to private
yards, so urgent was the call for vessels OF war.
A passing allusion is made to the mail-clad
vessels now building; andwe are assure that
wisdom has been shown in dealing with the great
difficulty of combining weight of armor with
lightness of draught, if this has not been entirely
overcome.
H''The efficiency Of the navy may unquestioDably
be largely increased by creating more grades and
| would recommend that the permanent organiSa-
tlon of the line officers be as follows:
Flag oficer-to command squadrons
Commodore,
Cantain. To command single
Commander, shlps.
Lieutenan Mt commander,
Lieutenant,
Master,
Passed midshipman,
Midshipman,
Cadet,
The lieutenant commanders, grade used dur
ing the revolution, may be employed as first lieu
tenants, and in the command Of the smaller class
Of naval vessels.
The present rate of pay may be so apportioned
among tho different grades that in the aggregate
there shall be no increase. Let no officer be ad-
vanced to any grade above that ofpassed midship-
man, except upon nomination of of the President
and confirmation by the Senate, after a board of
officers shall have pronounced him morally, physi-
cally and professionally competent TO perform all
his duties, both ashore and afoat."
On the subject of ''fugitives, the Secre-
tary speaks to the point. His orders have
been justAnd proper
In the coastwise and blockading duties of the
navy it has been not unfrequent that fugitives
from insurrectionaTy places have sought our
ships for refuge and protection, and our naval
commanders have applied to me for instruction as
to the proper disposition which should be made of
such refugees. My answer has been that, if in
surgents, they sh uid be haLded over to the Gus
tody of the government; but if, on the contrary,
they were free from any voluntary participation
in the rebellion and sought the ohelter and pro-
lection of flag, then they should be cared for
and employed in some useful manner, and might
be enlisted to public vessels or in our
| Navy Yards, receiving wages for our labor. y
such employment could not be fnishedt to all by tts
uavy they migh bsreferred TO che army, and # no
empoynuent could be found for them in the pubic
vice fhey should be aifowed to proseed freely and
p,aceabiy thoa restraint to seek uc!ihood IN AM
| fovai portion ofthe country. This have consid-
cred to be the whole required duty in the prerni-
ses, of our naval officers"
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