The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-12-20
Report Of the Secretary Of the
Navy.

Report OF the Secretary Of thu
Navy.
A synopsis Of the report Of the Secretary
of the Navy is telegraphed to the Western
: press. MIR. Welles reviews the services oil
the different squadrons, and says, immedi
ately after the fall of Fort Fisher and Will
, nnston, measures were taken for the re-
duction oftke navy, which had been con.
: tinued until, at the present time, there are
actually in commission, at home and abroad
but III vessels of all descriptions, and this
|! number will probably be further reduced rs
'lsoon as domestic troubles are over. For
leigh squadrous were re-established which
are considered sufficient for the encourage.
ment and protection of our commerce
Three hundred and twenty-five officers
i "Iroved traitors when the war begun
Their places have been filled efficiently with
volunteer officers from the merchant SER
vice, and it is recommended that appoint
ments from their number be added to the
navy.
i Since the 4th of March, 1861, Ais vessels
had been purchased, at a cost Of 1885,
66l of these, three-fourths have been sold
for $5,62l 800.
i The Secretary suggests athorough survey
t of islands on the Pacific coast. The history
of the Sea King, alias Shenandoah, is given.
The enlargement Of the Boston and Now
York navy yards is urged, and the COM
1plction of the yard at Mare Island, on the
Pacific; also the rebuilding of the yards
at Norfolk and Pensacola. League Island
is recommended as suited for the buildin,
of yard for iron-clads. As to the lealthi-
ness Of iron-clads, the statistics show tina;
they are superior to ordinary vessels. The
Secretary recommends the appointment Of
one-half the mipshipmen from enlisted APP
prentices, and the remainder from Con-
gressional Districts. Number Of vessels
captured and sent to courts for adjudication
from May l, 1861, to the close Of the war,
ll5l whole cumber captured and destroyed,
1904; gross proceeds of property captured
since the blockade, prior to November, $2l :
829,543; expenses, Sl,6l6,223. Estimate
for the department for the year ending
June 80, 1864, is $23,982,457. The ex-
penses of the Navy Department since the
commencement of the war have been but
8 3-lOths per cent. Of the expenditures of
Government during the same time.
BGA The New Orleans Picayune Of the
9th says:
Mr.. Elan, in his speech or report in the
Legislature, embodying his extraordinary
theory. that the recognition of the constitu-
ton of 1864 is one of the conditions of con
quest Of Louisiana by the Federal forces,
refers to the proposition of calling a con-
vention as chiefly Objectionable on the
ground of the heavy expense it would in
we've. He estimates that expense at $780,
fC. . or 100000. We are at loss to know
guess what data or precedents justify this
VACANT estimate of Mr.. Elan. Our
States of Mississippi and Alabama re-
lc lily held conventions which adopted con-
itutions that were approved and ratified
~ the people, and the cost to these States
did not exceed $4,000. Will Mr. Elan
inform the people Of Louisiana why they
cannot ACT as wisely, patriot lily and econ
omicalIy as those of Mississippi and Ala
|bama? Are not this and similar illusions
unworthy and anjusti6able slurs and reaee-
tons on the character Of our people and
State?
| They are the more improper in the gen.
tleman who utters the remark referred to, as
he was a member of a State convention the
work of which was ten times greater and the
sessions Eve times longer than would be
those of the convention to abolish the pres
ent constitution and make new one. And
vet this convention did not cost the State
- third of the amount which Mr.. Elan
,...s.tes as the probable expense Of another
dayention. It may be that Mr.. Elam's
s eas ofthe expense of conventions is based
non his estimate of the cost of the present
LEGISLATURE, and may be stated as a propo-.
sition Of the rule Of three, that if an extra
session Of the Legislature of Louisiana, con-
veued for q few special purposes, appropri-
ates in the first ten days of its session one
hundred thousand dollars to defray its ex-
penses, how much will convention which
| is to secure and establish constitution for
the State cost? BY that rule of calcu' alton,
the estimate of Mr. Mam is not an e1trav-
agant one.
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3. T. BUTLER.-The New York cores
pondent Of the Louisville Democrat says: