The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-06-28
OUR NAVY.

fare o. our Navy, which must always
bear an important part in any contest
Of arms that may occur. either BY the
attack of a foreign foe. or the rebellion
of enemies at home. Americans are
proud Of the achievements of our gal
liant ars.and well they may be: for the
history Of our little navy is brilliant
record of ;riumphs.
But %e are yet weak in martial ma
rine. Oar commercial marine exceeds
tha: Of any nation Of tie world. As
comparative view of ours with other
nations. we make the following extracts
from a speech made by Hon. Hiram
Walbridge. of New York. in 1856:
Grea, Britain has 81 900 vessels, with
a fivc million tonnage; France has a.
$50 vessels. Of 10000. tons; Spain
5000 vessels, with $50, 900 tons. The
aggregate vessels belonging to Sardinia,
Tuscany, Naples. Sicily. Pspsl States,
Austria. Greece. Turkey, Holland, Ham
burgh. Bremen. Prussia. Denmark Mr.
way. Sweden. Rassia. Mexico and the
South American States. is Al. 400 YES
sis. with 8 466 $50 tonnage. The
Cnifed States have 45 600 vessels afiua,.
with Eve and halt millions of tons; SO
we have $500 vessels more Than Great
Britain. with half Il million greater ton
mage than hers; three times as many
vessels rs France. and at least eight
times as much tonnage; FIVE times the
number of Spsnish vessels, with four
Teen or fifteen times her tonnage; and
our number Of vessels is nearly equal
to tie vessels o. all the other maril,me
powers OF the earth. having 9 O00. QUO Of
ioas greater than their united tonnage.
To proloc. ani defend this immen e
amouat OF commerce. the same au hor-
y says We had then but - vessels Of
all yes. pierced for eS5 guns; but an
efec i've force of only SO vessels. mount
irg 592 gus; the other war vessels
or,ug unfit for active service. The
uunber Of Ulcers anJ men in service
MAS 984s;; and the tonnage of the So
effective vessels was 80. 867 tons; and
~ all Tie navy ,Ol7 tons. The ma.
rine tonnage being $4,000 and the
effective naval tonnage only IS. 1863. the
r't'o is ouL One u siAys-.I,a. 10 o.se ton
ot defense to sirty tons Of exposure. This
is Certainly mn immense dis,arity.
As remedy for this grea. deficiency
in the available force OF our navy. Mr..
Wallsidse proposed the following:
Under the sanction Of law, with
ample guards aud restrictions, there
should be organized Militia Navy. an
arm ot defence corresponding to that
employed bv the government in the
land service, under our enrolled militia
system. by which shipowners should
receire encouragement and aid By law,
in construction of their vessels. SO as 10
make them capable Of bearing guns. if
required. in the service of the country,
That the Captains and subsdinate Of
iicers be commissioned in the name of
the general government, upon some
equitable plan that will give them rank
and emolument. in proportion to the
demands upon their time and service
IN The new capacry Of representing the
naval poser Of the Union. (Cheers.)
That the hum5les; youth who enters q.
cabin boy or in the lowest capacity
as seaman. should Le educated and
trained III his honorable, though adven-
furious and dangerous profession. Tha.
not only in the navy proper. but in this
new service, in which the interest Of
commercs and the naval power Of the
Union will be represented.
Six years ago. when this proposition
was made. i! was one OF much wisdom
and forecast, and indicated no small
gifts as statesman on the par! Of the
speaker; and il is probable no better
suggestion can now be made. But the
recent developments show that rooden
resstls are no longer TO be relied upon
IN naval warfare; and whether Ia. ex-
pense Of preparing private vessels SO AS
10 resist the attacks Of iron clad ships
would not b too grea. TO render the
proposition OF the honorable gentleman
a practicable imp"ssibility.is question
I'd be decided-perhaps oaiy BY expert
enee or experiments. We incliue to
think il an imprac liability.
But that our navy needs remodeliog
and to be greatly strengthened. is .
point that will hardly admit Of doubt
or deha.e. And noc Is The most favor
OIls time to compete with other natioms,
and especially vIA Great Byitais, IN
building xp nary Mat shaN eqxal Any
IN the scorld-
The recent encounter between the
Monitor and the Merrimac has opened
the eyes Of the governments Of oil M.
val powers. and the universal verdict