The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-02-25

airy public have not. He stated in his
place in the Senate yesterday that the ma
val ex oenditures of various European Gov
ernments were as follows:
Great Britain. 1862. SIS .40l ,940
France, isb3. ..................... JO,OUoO Ohu
Spain. 1852 ;63. Observation-Disclosures. l9.I2l 6l7
Russ sia, leb2. .................-. IL, 49,
Austria 1868. ....... .......... 5,3l4 900
Netherlands. 1869. 62........... 3,6J5, ,4,9
Sweden. 1865. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. S,5D3, ,496
Prussia, 1869. 2................. l,4S9 260
Portugal, 1862 ........ ........... III, los
Italy and Denmark publish no naval ex-
peuses separate from the general war
expenses; but the expenses of the
civilized world for year, taking some
times 1862, and sometimes lS62-63,
and some times 1868, as they are given
amount in the gross to S13s,3lS,692.
Now the naval estimates Of the United
States this year are Sl+2 100000. So
that We are called upon to spend this year
some 81 ,000 900 more than the rest Of the
world, with the exception of Italy, Den
mark and Turkey. 1t may be said ON the
other hand, that the European powers are
made in time oc peace; but Mr.. Hale also
meets this by giving the expenditures of
the European powers at the time OF the
Crimean war as follows:
Great Britain during the entire war .s92, ,o32 $40
Frarca
Total Observation-Disclosures. 49,. l49 1863 ,5Io
This vas less than Sl00, coo, 900 per
year during the war, in which, while it
lasted, Englaud built $50 gun and dispatch
boats of various Dimensions, besides q large
number of line of battle steamships, frig
ates. corve.tes. &c. Thus We are called
upon to subscribe ;his year at time when
the rebels have been dispossossed OF near
ly all their strong fort. approached BY wa
Ter, nearly as much as was spent by
France and England combined during the
Crimean War. The question will be ask
ed. w hat is all this vast expenditure for
at the present time!' 1t cannot be to put
down the rebellion. And If it is in antic-
ipation Of iorei gn war, we have need to
be very cautious of the class of vessels we
build The whole question of naval arch
itecture at the present time is in very
chaotic and transition state. 1t is evident
that the old style of vessel is no longer
suitable. But the problem to be solved is
what Is the most valuable and suitable OF
the new. Isit the turret or the brcadside
principle2 We went into the Monitor or
turret principe, and found it to operate
very wellagainst st wooden vessels in smooth
sea; while at Charleston, as a means of of
fense. it has proved failure. The Eu-
ropcan nations adhere TO the broadside
principle aud arm,r-platei vessels of large
size. and use the turret form seldom 1t is
pie. although for all kinds OF work, espec'-
ally in the open sen. the broidsilc primo
pie ScculS 10 HAVE thc afNaHeaSO' "O
have spent over $50 ,00o,0Jo on the Non
itors. as an experiment. Is it best TO lay
out 500 900 coo on broad side vessels in
the same manner l. it not better to wait
and profit by the experiments OF others
Another thing. in naval war We can not
expsct to cope against the fleets of En-
GLAND or France. no more than we did in
last war. when those of the former power
assembled in force 1t was by operating
ON the vessels of England in detail; by Il
swift scla-s Of vessels of ours, that we
gained our great naval triumps, which are
such glorious evidences of our naval prov
ess. l. it not by single vessels of great
speed and heavily armed, that we are to
gain our successes in any future war;
And has the navy now any considerable
number of such vessels These are the
questions for the Investigating Committee
of Mr.. Hale, and it is of vast importance to
the country that they should be Intelligent
ly answered Especially should it lie de-
termined whether the country should now
be saddled with an immense sum to create
navy, which it was assuppoSed by the mass
es of the people had already been built, for,
time and time again had the country been
told that VIC now possessed navy, con
sisting Of E hundred vessels, and capa-
bic os e. the. Of England OF
France. s