Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-24

There have been added to the Navy ring pa year.
by purchase, some thirty tugs over fifty steamers Tor
blockHdng and supply purposes and twenty other
vessels for tenders and storeshps At least twenty of
the steamers captured in endeayorng to violate the
blockade.
NAVAL DEPOT oNTHE MISSISSIPPI.
deem it proper again alade to the expediency Of
establishing at distant day naval depot yard, and
foundry at accessible and suitable point one of
the rivers in The valley Of the Mississippi The selection
Of appropriate alton for this purpose where vessels
be constructed and repaired question of national
Importance. The United States have at this time
hundred naval vessels TIE Mississippi and it's rbuta
res Iron and coal, well wood, with all the mate
rails for shpsowar abundant and may be found
tguous to eligible situations.
Steamers OF will endure for years in fresh water,
and the naval vessels which the Government may place
on those rivers will be preserved Should the projected
water communication connecting the northern lakes with
the great interior rivers by enlarged ship canal be
ri-d into effect, the Mississippi squadron could be made
available for the defence Of northern frontier when cir
cumstances required it,
VOLUNTEER oFFICERs-PRoMoTToNs, ETC
The important service rendered by volunteer officers,
and the courage and sk displayed by them also their
adaptation to the profession commend them to the cons
Iteration Of Congress While VI cannot be expected and
would not be- desirable To Incorporate permanently oto
the navy all who hold temporary appointments there
among them whose ab les and worth should not be
Os to the service Those who have served long and faith
fully, aud by their conduct, yea, and ability merit it,
should be promoted to volunteer lieutenant commanders
and limited number e volunteer officers might be brought
into the line
1t would doubtless conduce to the benefit Of the service
were officers Of the line to undergo examination for
promotion to successive grades after leaving the academy
until they attain the rank Of commander Such regula
lion would avoid the necessity for retiring boards and be
incentive to excellence and Just reward to those who
strive to acquire professional knowledge after graduating
from the academy and entering their of active
duty such a rule ia established with thu engineer corps
and medical officers and is productive Of beneficial
suits. like rule should be established with assistant
masters who ought not to be- promoted until after the
ordeal OF an examination.
PRATICAL RoyERs.
The recognition Of the rebels belgerents by the prn
cipa maritime Powers Mt the ment oi hOsttes
gave strength and character To the nsurTecou which it
could have had but for that recognition decaTa
ton neutrality between the behgerents abroad
from Governments with which amity carrying
with il the semb nce 81 fairness but which, in its opera
ton unjust towards THE Goeernment and country
The United States had extensive which pcne
traed every ses Wbie the rebels without
ships The United States hsd navy and souadrons
almost every ocean; the rebels had not single armed
vessel ut home or abroad With full knowledge Of these
facts the principal msrtme Powers Of Europe fastened
IT, recognise the rebels as begeTent and to declare that
both the brgeFents should be treated alike To-. ports
that the public armed vessels OF neither should remain
than twenty four hours 10 their barb0rs receive
supplies assistance except such ght be absolutely
necessary to carry them bome and for three months there
ar they should not again supplies ia any OF the
ports ~ those oyeygments. While this proclaimed
traly did not affect single ship 0f the rebels for they
had not to be affected Ii eycu led the naval vessels c
the United States from the ports Of the principal martins
Powers throue the world under the restrictions
enumerated.
When the Sumter yessei stoIsn from orr merchants
made her escape and went abroad armed but without
recognised nationality to seize and destroy merchant
men upon the high seas she found, unlike the Agerne
cotalr refuge aud prot elton within the maritime Jurs
dicion Of the great European Powers with whom the
United States in friendship; and finally, ater being
followed by cruisers into the barber OF Gibraltar abe
permitted by the auhortest TO remain not only twenty
four hours but more than Twelve months, and eventu
ally transferred b. English purchaser went to an
English port reted and left the English shores with
conraband cargo and has since run the bocksd carry
4 ing suppl es TO the rebels
| The Alabama, the Florida, the Georgia armed
cruisers built in England have English armament ON
board, and manned by crews who almost excn-
sively European. Sailing sometimes under the English
and sometimes under the rebel Bag these rovers without