The New York herald., 1863-12-19

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masses Of the people throughout The country
have seen enough and have suffered enough
from all these old party machines and tho
hackstering public plundcfers by whom they
are Controlled, and 80, not only in New York,
but all over tho land. tho people arc in fa-
| vor OF asweeping political revolution
The case Is ia their own hands General
Grant, emphatically a man OF the people and
with the people, is the man for the people,
Let them bring him forward, independently of
party managers and party conventions. and
these conventions will he compelled to second
! the movements Of tho people OF prepare for
| tho consequences Of a crushing de!eat.
Tho Shortcomings II Secretary weIes-
The Navy Department
| Tue facts connected with the recapture OF Tie
Chesapeake offer singular commentary On the
saf-satsied assumptions of Secretary We,ies
ia his late report She was taken by block
ade runner which had been converted into
United States guuboat, and the vessel which
next came up with her was an old naval steamer
which had been ia the service long before Sec
retary Welles entered Office or the new ves-
sells sent in pursuit OF her by the Department,
the Agawam was Obliged TO return, having been
disabled off Cape Race. This is one Of thirty
new gunboats Of the same c,ass ordered by tho
Department. IL turns out that she was built
merely for river navigation, and Of course
proved utterly unified for The service on which
she was sent The steamer VicIssburg recent
purchase Of the Department, was slso compelled
to put back having had three blades Of her pro.
peler broken And to complete this practical
Impeachment Of the qualities claimed for the
vessels built or purchased by the Department
we have received statement from Balti-
more correspondent Of the narrow escape Of
another OF the new gunhoats--the Nansemond--
which was caught in gale of Cape Hatteras
the other day, and nearly foundered.
When the rebellion broke out the total
oumber Of vessels composing the United
Stacs navy did not exceed eighty I's
present aggreg te is six hundred. To get TO-
getaer tbs numbcr The Navy Department
hls spent and calculates TO spend during
The next 6sc,t year about S272, 600 900
The amour, already paid for vessels pur-
ch.,ei OF constructed il over $3.50 900 900.
What have we got to show for this enormous
outlay? Pienty of wood and iron. but
very little Of what goes 10 constitute an
efectjve navy. Apart from the ron-clads,
tacro ID not new vessel in it, with Que cx-
ccption, and that present TO the government.
the Vsaderbilt-tbat has speed sufficient to
insure its catching privateer or blockade run
ner And even with that single valuable ac-
QUESTION Secretary Welies has not been able to
accomplish anything He has endeavored to
throw the blame Of this failure on Admiral
Wilkes; but, in letter recently published,
that energetic officer not only gives him the lie
direct, but shows that it was entirely through
the fault Of the Department that the Wander.
bit was prevented catching the Alabama. To
sum up: Of all the vessels purchased by the
Department! since the rebellon broke out there
Ia not one capable Of fulfilling tts mission
Out Of the number Of vessels added TO the
navy SINCE the rebellion broke out curious
fact in th, age OF steam there are up
wards Of hundred sailing vessel, which
are utterly useless. and will soon be left
to rot in our navy yasds. Fox the money
expended 10 the purcbasc Of these lh,er tho
Navy Department could have bought-bgt did
not, for reasons OF ia own--.ron G.5,ea ID
twenty steamers OF great strength snd speed.
But these are not the only fac,s which so 10
swcll tae catalogue Of b,,aiers misca,culatioa5
| and wlful misman agement which is chargeable
| against the administration Of our naval Affairs
Under the very nose Of Secretary Weilc4 anil
| that OF the President, tria! ha3 been going on
which has brought to light some cxlraocdinary
| disclosures in regard to The manner in which
tho bUsincs, Of the Department II con
| ducteJ Those OF orr readers who have
any practical Acquaintance with tie steam
engine do not require to he iaiormod Of
| the vast improvement effected in il by tho ia.
| employment Of this Ingenious contriveDce with
| Large cylinders, the power o. tue CINE IL
| doublej OF tripled, with tao same Consumption
| Of coal In our manUfac tories aad abroad
wherever steam is employed az motive power
| these cutoff, are Universally used And yet, will
| IL be believed notwithstanding the urgcat neces-
siy that we have for increasing the speed Of our
war steamers. Secretary Welles and l,, Chief
Engineer Ishsrwood have, for reasons Of their
own, steadily ignored this Invaluable invcn-
| ton. and refussi to permit its adoption in Our
navy Thus wo have spent usele,sly upwards
| of $3.50, ,0oo, 900 for the purchase Of vessels Of
low speed to catch the rebel privsieers and
blockade runners, when by the adoption Of this
improvement We cou,d have kept our coasts
efectually blockaded and swept the ocean
clear Of privateers There are no terms strong
enough to apply to such perversenss' aud such
proaigats waste Of the public moucy. But after
oil, what is the use Of these exposures They
will neither induce Mr.. Lincoln to get rid Of the
mon who have brought dscredit on his adnia
istration nor will they shame them into doing
their duty If they had not been wholly insen-
sible to public opinion they would have re-
signed their places long ago. Seeng their