The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-17


<sovsv~or Seymour and enc Mesropoatsan
Police COMMUNICATIVE Wei,es
waking Up-His challenge to tno Mer-
camille Marine. &C., SO.
special meeting OF the Chamber OF Commerce wac
hed yesterday afternoon, the President, Mr. A. A. Low
Va the chair The principal object OF the meeting 10
<aks INTO consideration The removal by Governor
Seymour OF the Board Of Police Comm
oovxSSoR poucr ooaxlssosxss-
The meeting being called 10 order.
Captain AAssaaiL roso TO propose o resolution He
said he regretted tina, The important bee, which had
called them together had not attracted o larger
taags Of the Merchants OF the city. The Chamber be
thought ought TO have been fa OF members such an
OCCASION The question snder consideration most
rant one II with reference 10 the management Of
the pccc or the city, They all knew that effort had been
made by the Governor OF the State 10 upset The police
force wac at preseu, nizedhat force Son whom
the cns had relied for protection to life and property
Sor many years past g,thout further remark he would
move the adoption OF the following resolutions
sssSes . *. fsSs as
srsty 70 me s Y, asnor Il Of ss are
VISION Of saose Who have been bringing
ss III ssd: sss.: s:.
esn Y a1ss as @ y a sns
10 ne s Of this cns 4 = o.
eats Of his @msnty and 70 i.s psrman.n! prosperity,
sropoasas Police Department should Sc preserved The
he ss
.srsy conceded And me high ard Of eSceaence at
1assd "h h., ss.o s, ss,t
eGu sg.r q ss A os 70 ,y e
The energy feel bravery The police resisting
sapp, EASING have deserved asd ,sssiysd wsrmss
,saa: any snsSse q which BY Trial has
pved rSsi The bill the Senate BY sena
NJ. department. nader sd@nissra.ion secure
ss q 81 nee
t,es OF he pc pie In the sta.c Legis allure
. e &
He bopei tho resolution would be adopted. He hoped
Shat the committee TO be appointed would 60 70 Al
barry and npn the Legislature to put stop TO that
sort Of work which Governor Seymour pursuing.
The resolutions unanimously adopted and The fol
lowing gentlemen appointed committee 70 carry out tnc
Object OF the meeting:Nessrs G. W. Blunt Jonathan
sturgcs 6. &. Cnittenden, r. Roberts Wm Ortop, "a
iher b. wyman and Jno. Austin stevens, Jr.
CHALLENGE FROM THE SECRETARY NAVY
The following letter vas here read by the Secretary:
Navy DEY.RrAEsr. wAsniaeros Jan 10, 1864
% ps s s~ the Nav,
Tor building SLOW s.s%es is best answered BY compare
maize one Of our Vessels against Inc
The s e ne o Earle Ss .o. }. ss
Gunard line are believe 10 New York a. nj. time The
a. y he fnS .S "wS as @ snde
sroand @ 'a arranged AM d. Her sen
mage s q. and nd Der drs6 eight feet six and she
smooth water. Very respectfully, . v. FOX.
Mr. Mosks II tho letter Just read was 40
answer 10 sny Communication to the Chamber.
The PRE- IDkN1 sad no. that the letter sent 10 Mr
Boni who merely had asked 20 hayo read 10 tho Cham
Der.
Mr. BLUNT said he had been desired read the letter
that all the action that had been taken on IL.
Mr., 6RSNsII did not think the Chamber q proper
medium through which that letter the pub
lie II IS a chslenge 10 by the Assistant Sec
q
run against any vessel we may select
Tho PRESIDENT dd not deem the remarks OF the gentle
well timed
MIR. GRmSFL TO rec ,nsidor me vote taxed upon
tho reception OF the letter.
Tie motion was carried
Mr. GRnsELL glad 10 tnd that TIE Secretary Of the
Navy felt that We had navy that could outs,rip in
npeed any merchant vesesls The Secretary had
spoken OF the Adriss and other vessels which certainly
stood at the head OF marine but puts
this vessel Of tine vessels built by
the government within the last two years and half He
should like TO see tn, trial MADE but he had doubt
that the government would totally fail for experience
has shown that clearly enough He however objected
W have the Chamber made the medium through which
this challenge Of Mr. Foxs should reach the public
eye and he thought the Chamber should have nothing
TO do with IL. II the trial came OF be would become
vessel, aud he would contribute readily any sum Of
money TO the matter thoroughly tested for the time
had come when the whole public should fully understand
and know what total failure the Navy Department. had
been 10 hs construction OF vessels as TO speed There
were about forty gunboas but they better than
common drags making at the most, six or seven knots
an hour The Chamber would be acting uBdignihed
part Is received this letter and made itself the medium
Of its publicity He was glad, Notwithstanding, that the
Secretary bad awakened the matter He thinks he
got speed out u his but for bis Ont Grinpe
part he did not believe IL.
Mr.. BIZ s1-n the gentleman had read The tribune OF
this morning he would have different opinion Oh The
subject
Mr. GNSsIu,-I never read the Trbass sir. Iaugn.
yer
vas The remarks Of the gentlemen not 10 the
navy For he not willing 10 believe that the
majority OF the government vessels we're not much faster
fhnfu nd had IN
tina, Chamber with regard character
vessels times past when the gentleman (hr GrinDe
justification the reading Of The letter II certainly
from high source, and TO exclude such letter
would be mighty dscourteous and improper.
Mr.. 9RlsSnl would have glad be present when
ane navy The subject Of comment 10 that Chamber
for he az all times anxious TO his feelings with
regard 10 very frankly as every citizen had right 10
but, ipasmuch the subject up he would say
became the medium Of presenting this challenge Of the
Secretary 10 tho public. would De very strange indeed
~ out OF the numerous vessels ouit by tho Navy De-
partmont they could not get one fast boat among them
Mr.. Low-1be navy as a class could not 90 e1ceilod.
Mr.. GREynL-what is the experience Of every man
what the sEeci,veness Of The shys Was not
recordf He would appeal TO every sensible man con.
versant with the vessels the country II it was
tho universal experience that navy amounts
almost total failure With regard to speed Our navy
has become common byword so far tho gunboats
concerned None Of them have power to 20 m1rci
seven or eight knots an hour, and some Of them did not
exceed Six lie again objected TO The letter appearing be-
fore the public through the Chamber.
Mr.. MryI, IN presenting the letter, dd not intend to
brine on discussion on the subject. Tho navy spoke
for itself Some thousand aud thirty vessels mad
boon captured the mepccd and required
speed - effect that result.
Mr.. GnsSnI--Row many vessels rao the blockade that
not captured9
Mr. BlusrI do not know SIR bat the aearnoss OF every
shns south proves conclusvely taat blockade has
Ooen most effective. Wilmington with .s two entrances
was now completely bl0Ssaded-a very difficult ask for
afmo. The navy, groat services had
been unustly assailed AID blamed without stint The
reading OF tho otter no way scd the Cham.
Der
Mr. GESnk1 wlsnod % be Understood mat 10 speaking
OF he government vessels he spoke eay Of those that
bad been bui and constructed by tho goverument Of tho
unted Sates There had boon Der OF vessels pur-
chased that very fsr-tbat the pest that
could be done pader the creams taioes-abd many
cf them were faod ard serviucable vessels But his
remarks only referred 70 the vessels built constructed
FROM tbs keci 10 lie dock BY she lie held
sha, the vesses bui ny The government what
tbe government ought " have bet aud nof speed
not what Ia shcuil DC