The New York herald., 1862-03-19
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Our Want Of HarbOr Defenccs as Demonstrated
in the Recent Naval Engagements.
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Report Of the Committee in Consultation
with the War Department.
Necessity for the Immediate Erec-
ton Of EIodel Monitors.
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The Capitalists and Commercial Men Called
Upon to Protect Our Harbors.
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PROPOSED CONVENTION OF sHIPBUILDERS.
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Interesting Debate in the
Chamber,
&c. &c. &c.

Tho Chamber OF Commerce held a special meeting
yesterday at their rooms the purpose of hearing
the report Of the committee which sent Washing
ton last week to consult with the War Department in
ation TO tho building Of vessels to protect harbor
and coast from naval foes Tho engagement be-
tween the rebel monster Merrmac and tho Monitor and
the destruction resulting to our wooden vessels from the
action Of tho former stirred the Chamber exerton
and it for this that committee, consisting
Of Mayor Opdyke Msssrs c. r. Marshall and A. A. Low
were appointed to confer with the government officers
in relation to the best mode TO bs adopted 10 guard
against serious accident In future tho absence
of the chairman Mr.. A. A. Low Vice President took the
chair The reading Of the minutes Of last meeting was
dispensed with.
Mr. A. A. Low vacatng tho chair for the time being
and Mayor Opdyke occupying that position the former
gentleman, one Of tho committee who had gone TO
Washington proceeded to give Of heir opera
tons while there, as follows
The committee appointed at the last meeting of the
Chamber OF Commerce to visit Washington, upon the In
vtaton OF the head of tho War Department left this
Thursday and had, agreeable to appointment, inter-
Delegations from the Boards of Trade Of Boston and
Philadelphia were also present
The recent appearance in Hampton Roads OF the iron
clad Merrmac her destructive mission her probable
reappearance the to be adopted for ropsng this
or other similar invaders of our ports and topics of kin
dred character occupied the whole evening Without at
tempting to relate what said on other sido the
mteo may state as the result Of their interview that the
following conclusions were reached
That stone forLs, with their usual armament do not
present sufficient obstacle to the ngress OF ronclad
vessels into our harbors That vessels Of the Monitor
description may enter and aSsa Southern port with
ont risk OF harm to themselves That vessels OF this
similar construction are as good for the defence
OF our ports they are for the assault
Of others. That In view Of the magnitude of tho
interests involved Is the duty Of the citizens of Bos
ton, Philadelphia and New York to entor at once upon
wit IN 70
strength and power TO cope with the Merrmac other
formidable batteries should such appear the Of
present conflict
That to this end it is right proper that the wealth.
the activity the energy the skill Of this metropolis
at the command OF the government that our insurance
companies, banks and moneyed institutions, In common
with our men, should be appealed to for contri
buttons in the name Of the safety and of the
common good In behalf of a noble country and ia tho
spirit Of an enlightened patriotism.
It due to the Secretary of War to state that such
the burden Of his appeal to your committee; that what
ever may have been the errors Of the past IL the
duty ALL whether in or out Of Office, to look only to the
ment and by generous emulation In well doing to repair
by present vigor what has been lost by neglect
tuated by one spirit and animated by one resolve
faithfully 10 represent with all the earnestness in their
power, the urgency OF immediate and decisive action
the Part OF tho several cities represented by them.
What course the appeal will take In Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania your committee not prepared to say,
but they and OF mind that in New York il
may safely upon the well established generosity OF
this community and that they may confidently look TO
the insurance companies, the banking institutions and
the merchants for $500 to be lodged in tho hands Of
suitable committee whenever required for the purposes
in vew that all delays Of State city legislation may
II was stated TO your committee that two iron clad YES.
sells building in Mobile and In New Orleans and
ali supposed to be far advanced and that
without the personal contributions Of Southern and
Southern rebellion would have failed present
vision menace so formidable as that OF the vir
ginia other OF like character that have ap
peared at Hampton Roads and New Orleans and that
threaten our ETY. from the harbor Of Mobile.
Mayor OPDYKE said that he deemed il entirely useless
add anything TO the 'ull free aud eloquent appeal
which had been made by Mr.. Low. He would endorse
everything said by him in favor OF the Secretary of War;
for IL just and well deserved. That govern had
overlooked small details in the successful carrying
Of this war, not be wondered at. wo all know
that the business which performed by government,
at the present time, very arduous The result Of
the contest between the Monitor and the Nerrmac had
produced and startling facts to the minds Of the
whole civilized world. 1t had demon traed tho absolute
nutility Of wooden vessels and forts Such ships
and such walls declared useless. W. should
meet this emergency, and do IL promptly To provide
the harbor OF Now York with such vessels will be suf
Hccn protect the property Of the city from injury aud
despcilmcnt. that appeal made to tho Chamber of
Commerce upon that day If the work Of providing for
this contingency at properly proceeded with,
the committee fet confident that the whole matter would
be accomplished in ninety days. which would be
defence against any invader that might be tempted to
visit us.
sand dollars had been already subscribed by the Board OF
Trade Boston, aud the Union Ferry company Of this
city had subscribed ten thousand dollars for the
o. raseworthy object.
Captain M HAIL said that IL not necessary for him
say single word IN regard TO the matter after the
able and eoaen & manner % ~ whon % tne asr IF hsa @ oesn
was At stake and required protection sufficient aud
forcble motive for immediate action in this matter. All
he had say that they should all havc TO put their
hands their pockets and 30 10 work earnestly order
to establish proper protection for our habor and pro-
perty All they had 10 do was to furnish the MEANS
Mr. wv. u DoUGE considered himself very for.
tura,c in being permitted TO be present at
tho recent contest on Saturday, between the
Msrrimac and Cumberland, and on sunday between the
Monitor and Mcrrmac, and he never felt strong de-
siro in his life, TO be back again In New York. He
present that ey must do something, and that at once
To protect ths property. which nov. scrously i'm
porod When ne saw those two vessels tho Monitor
and iIcrrimac into each Othe broadsic aftor broad
side, and that, 700, within pistol shot of one another
hout wing Tho aghiest elect upon either vessel no
could not help Icoug that there was inaugura
ted in the system naval warfare. When The Congress
directed her twenty fave guns right against thc
sides OF the Mcrrimac, they slancsd Oh IKE
IL made Of india rubber me eioet
was lust a. much would result from throwing hand
fli beans against stone wall t was positive trth
tha, we had nothing here to protect ourselves against
the Merrmac did she aSe 1t INTO her head TO pay US
visit Supposng she came INTO the ba Dor o. New YORK.
was there anyhng to protect rs ehe might come nero
and do any thing size plensod II TINS wa5 h' case We
Should have something hero to protect the property OF
our city He rejoced that thoTe bad been committee
srnt 10 Washington to consult with the authorities to
liza hast method 30 be adopted IN this connection
Captain NYE here offered the following resolutons.--
NesolVod That tho report oI the select Commltte b8
ncccpted aud their action approved.
Resolved In view Of the important interests involved
n.Le statements m do by the COMMITTEES, and Tho prac,
Ica suggcs tons connected herewith that select com.
pittcc ol members be appointed 10y the President,
with power 20 carry tho same into effect.
member stated that this . very important mat.
tcr ana the Chamber would Ike 10 haar somethi from
The committee relative TO ga kind Of decnces which
wore proposed TO be adopted they all know the opinion
aimed OF the capacities of the Marrmac There
we're many other vessels OF dilorcnt models and con
s.rucon which m gilt DO made ds available for harbor
decnccs.
Mayor OPDYKs said that, in the answer he was about
10 give TO tho inquiry just propounded he would simply
answer for hinscl All would agree that the model CON
sucto by Captain Ericsson tho bost that could be
brought tat tno. He camo there TO say for MIN
sof that mVde the that OF tho Monitor would be
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