The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-07-06
WHOLE NO. 403.
Gideon welles.

"IOcOh eAAcS.
Nothing seems TO disturb the selccom
placency OF this Old Man of the Sea, who
hangs like a milestone around the neck OF
American commerce, and gives no indica-
tons of any intention to let 60 his hold.
Since the epoch when national navies were
first organized, no great maritime country
has ever been placed in more mortifying
position than that which the United States
now occupies as a naval power. The do,
tard-it is the name that best fits hiri-
at the head Of the navy department, with
facilities pecuniary and mechanical at his
command as no minister Of marine ever
before possessed, has tacitly permitted a
few insignificant buccaneers to drive our
merchant flag from the remote seas, while
1t is no longer protection to cargoes and
passengers even on the beaten track of tina.
highway Of nations, the Atlantic. Our ex.
ports sneak ou: of port, our imports sneak
in, under foreign bunting, and our shipping
trade is going to utter ruin under the ad.
ministration Of the incubus whom it is the
pleasure of Mr.. Lincoln to keep in office
"in spite Of lamentations here and else.
where" Gunboats that can scarcely be
kept afloat, shoddy transports, vessels built
for swiftness that North river mud -scow
might distance with the wind we'll abaft,
whole squadrons that are the scoff Of our
private ship-builders and the laughing
stocks of Europe, are the fruits Of the Sc.
cretary's imbecllity. His career in cffice
has been one uninterrupted series Of "hgh.
gravel blind blunders. The President
must know that he is utterly unfit for his
post indeed, for any post that requires
brains and energy-and yet turns deaf
ear TO all petitions for his removal, and
thus the interests, the honor, the prestige
to insane partiality CT to stubborn pervcrse,
ness! ...... -
Mark how our shipping interest is going
to ruin under the mal-administration OF
Gideon Welles. During the past four
months of 1862, the aggregate of United
States tonnage entered at the United States
ports was 3l6,79l tons in 1864, during
the same period, it was Isl $50 tons-a
decrease Of more than one halt The fall.
ing off in clearances has been only frac-
ton less. We cite these facts from pub.
lished tables, which We presume to be
correct. Is It disloyalty to the government
to say that the cause Of this curtailment Of
our commerce ought to be dismissed from
Office? Would it not be treason to the in
teres:s of the country to say otherwise?
France and England are building war
ships of speed With which none Of our
national vessels can compete. 1t may be
that twelve knots an hour can be coaxed
out of the smartest Of the secretary s
flyers" though we doubt it. In the
meantime, our private ship yards think
nothing of building vessels that will make
sixteen knots time with ease. Our screw
sloops- s-of-war-the 'cracks" Of our armed
marne-cannot make two and half miles
to the Alabama's four. Nevertheless, Rip
Van-W inkle Welles continues to carry the
trident, and will do so, we presume, to the
end of the chapter that records the ex.
ploits of the present administration. Blu,
then not to support member of the
cabinet is to give aid and comfort to the
rebels In our opinion, their best com.
forters are those who blindly endorse weak
and fatuitous public officers. Sunday
Times.