The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-12-16


| she may seize, nor any legal tribunal to ad-
Judge her capruwe,. Under the English dag.
in which they confdsd. aud by the torch Of
the incendiary, appealing to their humanity
our merchantmen have been lured to destruc-
tion. -. b.rs.., s..i ...f-, .......,. 3.
Sho was built and fitted out in Brash ports
in flagraut viola ion of British law, and OF the
royal proclamation Of neutrality, and / have
reason to believe that her crow is composed OF
Blush subjects almost exclusively, or persons
who, pursuing a lawful voyage, would be enti-
tied to ship and receive protection as British
seamen. WEEK, ,ff,i.ff ,
Before this pratical cruiser left Great Brit.
ain the authorities of that country were in
formed by the recognized official agents Of this
government of her character and purp oses.
The British government, thus invoked, came
too late 70 prevent her sailing. To what ex
tent, under these rcumstances, tho govern
ment Of Great Britain is bound in honor and
jusii,e to mako Naturalization for the dss'
truction Of private property which this lawless
vessel may perpelrate, is a question that may
present itself for disposal. 1t is alluded to
now, and here, not only from sense OF duty
towards our commercial interests acd rights,
but also by reason Of The fact that recent intel
liccnce indicates that still other vessels OF q
similar character arc being fitted out in Brit
isb ports, to deprsdato upon our commerce.
Our own cruisers not being permitted to ro-
main in British ports to guard against these
outrapcs, nor to coal while cruising, nor TO re-
pair damages in their harbors when injuries
are sustained, the arrest Of them is difficult
and attended with great uncertainty. This
department has des espaiched vessels 10 effect
the capture of the Alabama, and there is now
quito feet on the ocean engaged in pursuing
her.
THE NAVAL FORCE.
When l entered upon the discharge OF my
public duties as the head of the department,
in March, 1861, thero were but forty-two ves-
sells n commission, and, as stated in my last
annual report, but seventy six vessels then at
tached to the navy have been made available.
Most Of those in commission were abroad, and
of the 1000 seamen in the pay Of the govern
ment, there were on the 10th Of March, 1861,
but 207 men in all the ports and receiving
ships on the Atlantic coast 10 man our ships,
and protect the navy yards and depots, or TO
aid 10 supprcssing the rising insurrection.
We have at this time afoat, or progressing
to rapil completion a naval force conslslln g
Of 427 vessels, there having been added to
those of the old uaAy enumerated in my re-
mort OF July, 1861, exclusive Of those that
were lost, 353 vessels, armed n tho aggregate
with ,577 guns. and Of the capacity of 24o,
OPS tons.
The annals of the world do not show 40
great an Increase in so brief period TO the
naval power of any country. 1t affords me
satisfaction to state that the acquisitions made
to the navy from tho commercial marine have
proved 10 be- of an excellent character; though
these ,ess,ls wero not built for war purposes,
and consequently have not the strength of war
vessels, they have performed all the service
tt at wa. expected Of them. No equal amount
Of nnago was ever procured for any service
at prices correspondingly low, and with SO lit
tie disturbance 10 tho commercial community
and 70 vessels werc ever constructed on better
terms for the government, or have better sub
served the purposes for which they were do
signed, than the twenty three gun boats foI
which the department contracted on Its own
responsibility at the commencement OF hostil
tiles, without waiting for the action of Cou
gress. In no respect, during this war, has The
govern ment been better or moro economically
and faithfully served than in the additions
that have been made 10y construction and Pur
chase TO the navy.
In order that the actual condition Of the
navy. past and present, from March. A, 1861
TO November, 1852, and the expansion which
has bcea made, may be seen, l present Tab
ular statement Of the number Of vessels, anC
the aggregate of their armament and tot page
with detailed account Of the losses that have
occurred since my last report:
NAVAL FORCE At DATE OF THE LAST ANNUA