The New York herald., 1862-01-01
OPINION OF THE REPORT OF SECRETARY WeLles.
The Blockade a Failure and the ssStono
Fleet" u Crime Against the Human
Kind, ...-.....,. .,.-..-
From tho London Times Dec. Ill


[From tho London Times Dec. III
We turn them to the report of Mr. Gideon welles the
Secretary to the federal navy for explanation of those
hollow or enigmatical phrases in which Mr.. Lincoln
boasts that the American navy created the
difficulties began has performed deeds which have in
creased the naval renown Of tho United States No
ton has less reason than hare TO uudTdte the of
the american navy Seeing that il rests almost entirely
upon the capture OF three four English fgates under
circumstances Of extraordinary disparity, and seeing
Also that its victories gained entirely by English
sailors icto hdd Teen seducd from by disparity
in Me rate Of ,cages, shich, if our Admiralty Is not
absolutely insane, scfI neyer again occur haze the
best possible reasons for respecting that
Our difficulty is to discover how that renown
has been increased by the events of the civil war That
Mr. Gideon Weles has used certain industry in the de-
parment under his control quite prepared to ad
NIT. He tells haton the 4th Of March last the eoc
tive American Navy consisted of oniy forty two vessels
OF all classes carrying 555 guns and about COO mena
very small navy for Power which proposes to defy all
the paves Of the world and to take liberties with the
commercial ships Of all nations. He says that at tho
date of bis report he had increased this small naval
force to two hundred and sxyour vessels and "a 900
seamen. This is credtable to Mr.. Welles Official
man, but tie result IS not exceedingly terrible, especially
when he proceeds tell us how this has been accom-
plished, by hiring all sorts Of commercial and
gathering together every floating thing that would
carry gun These figures represent naval force
which would be very terrible to Prussia, which might
alarm the fleet Of Italy and which would call forth
effort from Spain but which France could easily destroy,
and England cannot but hold exceedingly cheap This is
not me nory Of first class PoceT. it is enough for geo
pie who desire to be at peace but it is ridiculous for
people who insist upon being quarrcsone. little
who no d. his own against big who is trying to
bully him has every bystandcr sympathies in his favor
but nothing is moro contemplate than little ,cAo i,
ntisy QTe only reliance 0poH The npuaity uich
he ezTets account Of his weakne and The generosity
Of these Whona he tnss. To sustain the preensions OF
federal statesmen to insult all neutral nations, Mr.
Welles' increased navy is still but contomptble
hctiila.
Very different however, is its force as proportioned
the enemy with which it is Immediately matched The
Confederate States have navy at ali. Against them
the navy Of Mr.. Weles is giant against dwarf.
it has been within the last few months when the federal
government had 264 ships and "a COO men, and ther
mics only two or three wreched privateers, and some
craft fitted for inland navigation. Yet believe that
the Sumter is still undorns tho federal commerce. and
We know that the Harvey Birch burnt close to
own Shores we see sensation heading" in the last New
York papers that "the rabes bockadrg channel
Of Tybee Island, and Fort Pulaski and have Mr..
Wees' own testimony that although his navy ssconnu
ed to capture every rebel vessel which showed itself on
the Potomac 1t ceased to do when the
rebels erected batteries sundry points Of the Virginia
shores and thereby rendered passage on the river dan
gerous y! We confess that compelled to look be-
yond these facts to discover the for the OF
coDgratulaon which through Mr. Weles' report,
and to deserve the increase Of renown claimed Tor the
FEDERAL navy by Mr. Lincoln Mr.. Welles himself
to think some further explanation necessary lie urges,
therefore, the oheos duties Of blockadihg coast Of
three thousand miles In length Of the active pursuit Of
prvaeers and of the organization of naval expeditions
This is all very wel but it is necessary show that
these duties have been accomplished The naval expe
ditions have, indeed reached their destination but
they had no enemy worth the name Of enemy meet
the rcnown OF the federal navy cannot be much
raised by what was littlo moro than transport
vice. The privatccrs have. said before, been
nothing but he extraordinary of lie European
P0ers has doced 10 continue Ships hare raised in and
out at all times Just as they pleased, and, far the
tofs are concerned, there has never been any difficulty in
cInginto them getting out Of them. The federal
government has itself emf haticay admitted the failure
OF their naval blockade by act OF barbarty which is
unparalleled the history OF national They have
actually endeavored to undo what Columbus had done
shut up from all mankind forever the ports which the
dscOyerer Opened the human IN "A
stroy by artificial mpedimtns the gates by which
Of all nat enter and pass out of millions Of square
miles Of fertile and productive lands This 10 a crime
against all human kind If it does not call down universal
opposition, it Is cny because the enterprise is believed
be as impossible as its design Is eXecrable.
We have EearIy exhausted the deeds Of the American
Navy during this eventful year One act however, yet
remains unnoticed, and IL just possible ths it may
form the staple OF Mr. Lncons general and very guarded
ausion to the great addition OF renown eaty
qured This is the act which has made the Mayor Of
Boston and the Governor Of Massachusetts eloquent with
exultaon and which has excited the Houee of Re.
prcsentaves 20 gratitude This act is thus dealt with
by Mr. Gideon welles-Capain Charles wilkes in com
mand Of the San Jacinto while searching in the West
Indies for the Sumter received information that james
NJ. Mason and John Slidell, disoyal citizens, and
embark from Havana in the English steamer Trent,
on their way to Europe, to promote the sf the in
Se he G N II e snS ne
these dangerous men, whom he brought to the United
states His vessel having been ordered to sor.
vice at Charestown the retained board
AMI conveyed TO Fort Warren where they were com
mitted to the custody Of Colonel Dimmick in command
OF that fortress. Tho prompt and decisive action Of
Captain Wilkes on this occasion mertcd and received the
emphatic approval Of the department; and, IL too
generous forbearance exhibited by bin IN cap
turing the vessel which had these rebel enemies IN
board II may, in view Of the special circumstances and
Of its patriotic motives be excused but 1t must by
be permitted TO col stitue precedent hereafter
for the treatment OF any Of similar nfracon Of
neutral obligations by oregn vessels engaged in
nerce the carry ing trade"
There dispung the boldness Of this act nor
deed the bodness Of this threat but whether IL likely
the OF the federal navy future
yet must show. Mr. Wces will want moro than "a 900
men make good these foolish words. That he get
more and will get morc we are well aware; for do
undervaue the power energy Of rugged kins-
men II they put their heart In matter; hut he will get
little "rcnown !" for his department in such cause
that he unnecessarily proclams, against the
agonist he so rashly defes " either the discretion Of
NJ Wees ne ability Of Mr Lincoln is TO Be esisatod