New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-08

u
ient appreciated 1t changes The whole character OF
blockade md in future wars IL will be found thai few
fast piyatecrs by steam VIII harass or annhiiate Tue
commerce ofthe most powerful begerent nations
Our country has been compelled by this civil war TO
take the initiative in Orgsnznga vast steam navy with
which to establish and enforce the blockade Of our Whole
coast, from the Chesapeake Bay 10 the Rio Gr,nde and
also 10 suppress the depredsous o. prntical pr
yatecrs built by skilled English mechanics In English
ship.yards, ard manned by Englishmen which, under
the Rebel fag have roveu The ocean. destroying our
merchant shipping and have found refuge and supplies
in English aad neutral ports
When hosiilites commenced. our Government had
provided suitable navy yard with mschDe shop5 anu
boundaries 10 manufacture the Necessary machinery LOT
gu. rapidly increasing and expanding navy but tie
department compelled 70 rely On the lew private
establishments which IL could divert from other en-
gsgemeAts FOR the immense Work thA was Gazing on
lie resources Of the nation.
Graf reimbursement wes experienced IN conse
quence o. this neglect OF the Government az tho very
Commencement Of the war anu although the naval SCI
vice and the country are suffering constantly from this
neglect measures for the establishment Of suitable
navy yard for the construction snd repair al iron yes
sels their armatnre AID steam machinery are si de-
!ayed
AS early as March, 1862. ard several occasions
since have had tie honor 10 present my views to Con
gress on this subject. The earnestness and frequency
with which II has been brought forward mus mud an
| apology in It's great importance.
1t las never been the purpose Of tho department. III
INV OF its suggestions or recommendations to increase
the number OF our navyyards nor 70 alter their local
distribution The yard which we now have at Phila'
delpha il altogether inadequate to present or fu
wants II was proposed therefore 10 substitute
new one on the Delaware. In the vicinity of Phadel
pa. League island. within the limits Of that city II
adopted site must gradually absorb The works al
the present yard whica Wcnld then be discontinued
All of our present navy yards IT WI be remembered
were established for the construction ana repair OF
wooden sailing vessels. steam ana armoied vessels
have superseded these and the inability OF our present
establishments FOR tue work imposed ny this war has
been the Of ineIpressble anxiety ana o'en Of
great disappointment and public injury. To relieve the
navy yards from work which they have blt limited
means TO execute and 10 necessary repairs The
department has been compelled to establish stations ior
machinery aud means OF rcf'ment at Mound Cl'y
Memphis New-Oreans Ship Island, Pensacola, Key
West Pert Royal, Beaufort, Norfolk and Baltimore.
But these and all the pr, establishments OF the coun
try besides other calls upon them. have been insufh
cent 10 keep the present nsyy in necessary order 90
that IL 10 the duty Of blocka1ng there were added
ocean conflicts with naval power by which our ships
would be often disabled the sad spectacle would be pre-
scented Of our naval vessels laid up in time Of for
want Of a proper establishment with the shops and
means to repair them.
! Oar country whose strength and power among ma