Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-04-05
The Navy Department under
Gov. Toucey.


The Hon. Isaac Toucey has been re-
peatodly charged by the Republicans with
having sent abroad the vessels of the Navy
for the purpose of aiding secession. SEN
ator Sumner said, in speech delivered in
New York, last November:
"Tho Navy was so far dispersed or dis
mantled, that on the 4th of March, when
the new administration came into power,
there were no ships to enforce the laws,
collect the revenues, or protect the Nation
al property in the rebel ports. Out of72
vessels Of war, then counted as our Navy,
it appears that our whole available force
at home were reduced to the steamer
Brooklyn, carrying 25 guns, and the store
ship Relief, carrying guns"
The Senate, at the extra session of Con-
grcss, appointed Il select committee to in
vestigate the affairs of the Navy, and Sen.
ator John p. Hale, Of New Hampshire,
was appointed the chairman. Among
other witnesses summoned by this commit
tee was the Hon. Isaac Toucey. He re-
aired to Washington and gave his testi-
mony, under oath, to the committee, on
the 18th of November last. He was
questioned with regard to the disposal of
the naval vessels under his direction, and
| he testified as follows:
SECRETARY ToUCEY's EVIDENCE.
The navy yard at Gosport was not as
I thought, in any danger until Virginia
should seoede from the Union. 1t was
believed to be fully protected by the Penn
sylvania, the Plymouth, the Merrimack,
and the marines stati oned there. The
Cumberland arrived there before the navy
ward was taken. I had nc doubt of the
safety of the yard. took the precaution
to send very capable and faithful officer
of the navy, Capt. Powell, upon a secret
mission to the yard, to confer with the vet
eran officer, Commodore McCaulcy, who
was in command there, and to see that
!, nothing was wanting to secure its safety
Fl is report was entirely satisfactory tc
me. was aware that considerable
portion OF the Home Squadron and nava
force at home could be called in aid
should occasion require it. The Homo
Squadron was unusually large. Il con
s. sisted of the Powhatan, Sabine, Brooklyn
,, st. Louis, Pocahontas Pawnee, Mohawk
Water Witch, Wyandotte, Crusader
; Cumberland, Macedonian, Supply-mos
of them steamships, The sloop of wa
Plymouth, the practice ship, was in con
dition at Norfolk.
The steamer Auacosta was in commiss
. ion at Washington. The frigate ConSti
$ tuition, having been thoroughly repaired
was anchored at Annapolis, in aid Of th
D., Navy Academy. The great steamship
h Colorado, Minnesota and Mississippi, a
, Boston, and the Wabash at New York, ha
= been thoroughly repaired and secured, an
= could be put to sea in two weeks; tn
r Roanoke, in dock at New York, in FIVE o
- six weeks. OF the lbove vessels, consti
}, tuting the ready naval force at home, fftee
,e are steamers. 1t was equal to any emel
# goncy likely to arise. 1t could not hay
e been greater without withdrawing or Grip
It pling the squadrous on foreign station
y and neglecting the protection of our CON
II merce and our citizens in foreign part:
- The Mediterranean Squadron consistin
n of but three ships the Brazil Squadro
= of three ships only; the East India Squad
&c ron of four ships only; the Pacific of 81
only, for the whole coast of North, Sout
e and Central America; the African Squad
;, ron of seven vessels, being somcwh;
1t less chan required bye our treaty with Gre'
y Britain.
!, There were at the navy yards eight ol
u ships of.the-liue, not fit for sea service
Il which might be converted into efectiS
steam lrlgates, as recoininehoe" III III
II annual report of Dec. l, 1850. Thei
y were also five frigates out of repair, whic
IL also recommended should be raced an
d. converted into effective sloops-of-war.-
D. Both these were recommended by boar
= Of naval officers, but Congress did n
~ '. make the necessary appropriation. The
- were also six sloops-of-war, which ho
. within a few months previous return'
=. from their regular cruises on the coasts
~ Africa and South America and the Ea
' and West Indies, lying at navy yard
- - which might have been repaired but t
y, ~ department had not the means Congrf
" had cut down the appropriations for
current year million dollars below t