Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-27
Our Navy.

The recent decision by the Lord Chief Baron Of Egg
md in the case of the Alexandra" is worthy of the
special attention Of our Secretary of the Navy. While
that decision has to be affirmed by higher court to
which appeal hes been taken, before it becomes opera
i've the probabilities of its being sustained suf
GENTLY strong to warrant preliminary steps the part
of our naval authorities towards the construction of
formidable navy.
TIE argument o the Lord Chief Baron who rendered
the decision in this case derived its main force from
decision rendered by Judge Story, in analogous case
which years ago in the United States. lie
decided that il perfectly competent for sii2ouders
to oonsruc. vessels of any kind and dispose OF them
tley would Of any description of merchandise, only
tlAt they must leave the port wheresold carrying no
var ike equipments. The English decision in strict
conformity with this and doubtless that decision will be
u Iy affirmed by the appellate court to which the case
AAs been carried.
The policy Of the United States, down to the period
of the Crimean war, has been in keeping with this
decision. The Yankees, in come instances, during
the tendency of that war overstepped the limits
which that decision prescribed by equppng vessels sold
to the Russian government with arms and munitions of
war; and that there is strong to believe with
the cOnniVance of the United States government This
manifestation of sympathy with Russia led to the esab
hment Of intimate and friendly relations between the
two powers which are douhl,ss materially strengthen
ed by that community of governmental policy which gives
both uuenVAble distinction among the civilized nations
Of the earth England will not permit the proceed, n:
which the United States has furnish ed in the decision Of
Judge Story, and the prac: pursued under it to go
for nothing. The monopoly which she would secure 10
her commercial Marine the result of decision which
would open to the privilege Of constructing naval
vessels in her porte will be apt to blunt that pride
superior legal acumen which caused British uriss to
sheer at American decisions in the past. The citation
of Judge StOrys ruling enineny OppOrtune, and
will be taken by England to turn it to good account
The advantages to US which affirmation of the &c.
cison in this Alexandra case will AFFORD. cannot be
OvereSmated. If they promptly aVailed of by our
naval authorities will be in position not only to
give the dsath-bloW to the commerce Of our enemy,
but to strike at some of bis Northern cities. In the
present state of the harbOr d0eDces Of New York. Bos
ton, Portland and smaller Northern cities such YES
sci as Ihe warrior" would have little difficulty in en-
eing any of those ports and nAicDg vital blow upon
the enemy. The destruction Of Boston alone would be
worth hundred victories in the field. II would bring
such terror to the "blue.nOses" to them to
wish eagerly for peace despite their overWeening love
Of gain which has been freely administered to since
the opening Of this war. Vessels of The Warrior
class would promptly raise the blockade of our ports
and would in this respect confer advantages which
would soon repay the cost of their construction.
The Secretary of the Navy has been thought by
mlny ourselves included deficient in energy, enterprise
and resourcSs His friends assert that but for the
eeey necessary to be observed in the operations of his
Department he could be fully indicated from these
imputaOns. They declare, indeed, that the nvestgs'
tons Of the Congressional Committee appointed
anime into the management and transactions OF bis De.
partment have shown that these charges arc without
iouudaOo and that the culpAbi ity for many remiss.
charged to Mr. Mallory really rests with another
member Of the abinet without whose cooperation he
could do nothing We do not know how this may be.
But Of opinion that the opportunity afforded
viii test Mr. MslOrys fitness for his post in such way
as'to leave the public Indifferent to what any CON-
miee may say think. They will judge fer themselves
whether be mas such of the public interests
demand, and by ihatjudgment from which there will
be no appeal he must stand or fall.