The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-07-05
n YARD AT LEAGUE ISLAND,
speech Of senator Grimes.

Speech OF Senator Grimes.
Mr.. GRIMES. move that the Senate now
proceed to the consideration Of Senate bill No.
363.
The motion was agreed to- and the bill Is. No.
1851 to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to
accept the title to the League Island in the Del
| aware river, for naval purposes, was read sec
ond time, and considered az in Committee of
the Whole. It proposes to authorize the Score.
tary of the Navy to receive and accept from the
city authorities of the city of Philadelphia the
title to League Island, in the Delaware river,
within the first ward of that city, together with
| all riparian rights and privileges thereunto be.
longing and appertsining, to be used for naval
purposes by the Government of the United
States; but it is provided that the title shall not
be accepted and received unless it shall be per.
feet and indefessible to the whole island to low
water mark; nor if, upon more thorough exam.
| ination and survey of the premises by q compe-
tent board Of officers to be by him appointed, he
be promoted by acquiring the title. If the title
shall be accepted and received, then, for the
purposes of surveys piling, dredging filling, e1.
cavatng, building walls, houses, and shops on
the island, the bill proposes to appropriate
$500, 900.
Mr.. GRIMES. The events of the past year
have taught US many important lessons, among
the most valuable of which is the entire truth Of
that apothegm of the Father of his Country,
that it is the duty of this nation Gin time of
peace to prepare for war" When this rebellion
began we were not only comparatively without
an army and navy, but We were apparently
without the means Of building navy. The few
steam war vessels belonging to the Government
were scattered over the world; the most of our
sailing vessels were dismantled and dilapidated,
and nearly worthless In their best estate; two
OF our important navy yards we're surrendered
to the enemy, and the remaining ones were con-
tracted in size and capacity for labor, and near
ly bereft of material for construction. Yet, the
Navy was suddenly called upon to maintain the
most extensive blockade known in history. The
efficiency of that blockade the whole civilized
world knows and has borne testimony to. Pro-
badly no nation ever exhibited such an amount
of energy and maritime resources as has been
shown by this country during the past year; GER
tainly no country ever put a6oat such powerful
and we'll appointed fleets in 90 short time, and
conducted them with such eminent success
But the great danger is that these very sue.
cesses may lull US into security for the future,
and thus betray us into danger, if not into ruin.
It must be remembered that in this contest we
have derived immense support from the mer.
chant marine; that we have had the use of large
numbers of merchant steamers, which were ad-
mirably adapted to all OF the purposes of block
ade, but which would be comparatively worth.
less as war vessels against great naval Power.
Our present war has been against belligerents
who were almost entirely destitute of ships,
seamen, and naval resources. The light draught,
light built steamers with which We have SO well
10 IN fha do tho
would be but slender resource to us in case of
war with England or France. In such an event
We should be constrained to rely upon vessels
built tor war purposes with heavy ornaments,
and, in great measure, upon iron clad ships
and floating batteries. Upon this last PROPOSE
ton it would seem that there could now be no
further controversy. The experience of the
past few months has fully demonstrated not
only their practicabilty, but their absolute ne.
cessity. No country can hereafter hold res.
pectable. position among maritime nations with
out reasonable amount of iron ships in her
navy, and, in my opinion, no nation will here
after be able to successfully defend her coasts
against foreign invasion without the use of iron
floating batteries. A very important question,
then, presents itself for our solution, namely,
where can such iron vessels be advantageously !
built, and where can We best accumulate mate
rails, machinery and appliances for their use,
when the great necessities o. war shall be upon
us: That we must have such an accumulation
of material and such an organization of means
for the production of such defenses, is unaues.
toned. The Secretary of the Navy, in bis let
ter OF the 9th of June, calls the attention of
Congress specially to this matter. BE says:
" 1t Is not the part of wisdom to lose our eyes
to the progress of events, nor to eyade the re.
spansibilities that properly belongs to US. The |
cation of new and different Navy, such as
the development Of science and art already de-
monstrates az a necessity, calls for vigorous
measures and promp. and energetic action
The Government should not, in Justice to itself,
be dependent on private establishments for its
most important and expensive works, but should
rely upon itself. Great works, however, re.
quire time in their preparation, and lavish ex-
pendtures cannot hasten them. Congress has
been liberal in its appropriations for building I
vessels, but these appropriations cannot be
made available in obtaining the proper locations
and mills, FORCES, furnaces, and shops, all of
which are requisite, and which, to be secured
need time and careful consideration.
If the money for these purposes be now ap.
We shall commence, under as favora-
bic circumstances as any nation, the construc.
ton OF Navy adapted to the wants of our
country and the times. No nation can have an
over US if we avail ourselves of our
means and opportunities; and it is no longer
doubtful that our future safety and welfare are !
dependent on our naval strength and efficiency.
It is duty, as we'll as necessity, that We make
these United States great naval Power We
owe it to ourselves to commence at once this |
work and the present Congress should, in my
opinion, take the preliminary steps ct the pre-
sent session for laying the foundation for the
construction of Navy commensurate with the |
wants and magnitude of the country. The place |
or places, the chops and tools, and other appur. |
tenances for this great work, must be provided
IN season. The experience We have had admon.
ishes US not to permit war to come upon Us
unprepared: yet such an event may be pending
and the responsibilities and calamties that would
follow neglect should be a warning for US to be
prepared No amount Of money would repair
the wrong that might be inflicted from present
neglect. A million or two of dollars, judicious-
~ expended at the present time, may ssve hun.
dreds Of millions and the honor of the nation |
after hostili les shall have commenced"
Mr.. President, these are wise suggestions, and