The weekly union record., 1864-02-06
Our Navy.

Complaints OF the lnelnclencY or the Navy
of the United States are not uncommon. The
chronic carpers at anything the Government
may do or may not do sneer at our Navy
Even loyal men, in fretful and unthinking
moods, sometimes rail at it. Senator Hale
severely criticized It's management recently, for
which Senator from State sufficiently far
from the smoke and confusion of battle to in
sure better standpoint for impartial Judgment
reproved him. To prove that the Navy has
accomplished nothing, fault finders point TO the
Alabama and few other pirates still ahoat.
History will show, when this cruel war is
over" that the rebellion was greatly shortened
in duration by the strict blockade of Southern
ports kept up by our fleets. Indeed it may
prove that the rebellion failed Of success mainly,
if not entirely, through the efficiency of that
blockade as with the willingness, ay, the
strong disposition, manifested by England and
France 10 help the rebels they could, had
their ports remained open, have had anything
and everything they required for the successful
prosecution of the war from those Governments.
Even as it is, so great is their sympathy for
the South - Notwithstanding words to the
contrarv-that all risks are incurred, aud all
descriptions OF war material are shipped in vast
quantities, to enable these quickly and eagerly
recognized "belligereDts" to prosecute to u
successful issue their unhoy attempt. That
much of this material should reach its destiua-
tion is not a matter of wonder. That it has
not all passed in is fortunate for the national
cause. The captures of blockade runners by
our ships, since the war broke out, is stated at
l,045; of which 547 were schooners, 497
steamers, l3l sloops, 80 brigs, 26 barks, 10
ships and II smaller craft. lad these vessels,
with their loads OF cannon, shot and shell, of
powder, steam engines and iron rams, of cloth
ing, provisions, salt and medical stores, reached
the ports for which they were designed, the
relative position Of the loyal aud rebel sides
might be sadly different from what it is to day.
Had these ventures succeeded, the sea would
have been white with these neutral sails
Fastening to the succor of rebellion. They
would then have brought, not simply munitions
of war, but regiments of disciplined men-and,
as in the Revolution, we would again have
been compelled to fight for our liberties and
homes against hordes of Hessians. While the
South pretend to sneer at our armies they do
not venture even that at the Navy; they feel
too bitter toward it for that 1t holds them
like wise it cuts off their aliment it draws
their fangs, or rather prevents their Importation.
1t is the veritabe anaconda. 1t should not be
forgotten that, while our armies have had to
fight the rebels. our Navy has had not only to
help fight them, but TO watch and challenge all
comers-has not only had to watch England
and France, but has had to watch such British
merchants as composed the "290''-and, when
the story is all told it will be found that it has
had TO watch some of our INSCRIPTIONS traders
| in New York aud other ports. 1t has had to
sentinel English ship yards and harbors, as well
as seal Southern ports. As to the Alabama,
Florida, etc, they are not regular war vessels,
do not fight as war vessels do; they do not
seek an enemy, but skulk from him they care
only for booty, for wanton destruction. A few
Yankee privateers. duly authorized by Govern
ment, would have made short work of them.
Government has not deemed it advisable to
issue letters of marque during the war. And
there is as yet nothing to convince thinking
men that the course adopted is not for the best
The rebels never did shrewder thing than
when. under the administration preceding open
hostilities, and while they had the power they
dispatched the most effective of the national
vessels TO the opposite ends of the EARTH Had
we been enabled at the first outbreak to have
instituted strict blockade, the rebellion would
not have lasted a year, and, when it is finally
and forever ended, the Navy will divide equally
with the Army the glorious laurels. The
| Navy, of old the favoriie of our people instead
of lessening, has increased many fold its claims
upon their high esteem.-Bee.