Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-05

noient TOT the encouragement and protection
Of our countrymen engaged in legitimate
commercial pursuits, and for UNFOLDING our
Gag abroad.
Some notifications Of the limits Of tho re.
spective squadrons, and the substitution of
steamers for sailing vessels, will infuse more
vigor into the service, and IL is designed that
there shall hereafter DO greater activity and
vigilance In their operations. The number
OF vessels and crews on foreign service will
not be greatly increased over those Of former
years, while tho number Of guns will be less;
yet the superiority Of steam over sails for
naval war vessels, and the improvement and
new patterns Of ordnance, will hereafter give
our force abroad greatly augmented efficiency
and power.
The European squadron is commanded by
Rear Admiral L. NJ. Goldsborough, and con-
sists Of the following vessels the Colorado,
Kearsnrge, Ticonderoga, Frolic, Ino, and
Guard. TO which the CRnandaigua will shortly
be added. The field of operation of this
squadron, besides the coast Of Europe and
the Mediterranean, will comprise Madeira,
tho Canaries, and the African coast as far as
st. Paul de Loando.
The Brazil squadron Ia commanded by Acting
Rear. Admiral 3. W. 0odon, who has ten vessels
on that station, viz: the susquehanna, Brooklyn,
%s.n s1i SPS SSs1s
ern coast Of South America, this squadron will
cruise on the coast Of Africa from Cape Town to
St. Paul de Loando.
The East India squadron consists at present Of
four yessels--the Hartfort, Wyoming, wachusett,
and Relief. The Shenandoah will be shortly ad.
ded to this number. This squadron Is COM
manded by Acting Rear-Admiral II. u. Bell, who
called fron New York in his flag ship, the Hart.
for, in August, and has probably already reached
his station.
Tho Pacific squadron remains in command
~ -Nt.- u ID.
and comprises eleven vessels, viz the Lancaster,
Powhatan, Saranac, Suwanee, Mohongo, Wa
teree, Saginaw, 81. Mays, Cyane, Nyaok, and
TusesrorS, and two.store ships, the FredonIa
Qncluding two Of the iron-clads) will he laid
up In the harbor Of San Francisco, ready for any
emergency that may arise.
The extensive limits OF this squadron, en-
bracing the whole western coast Of North and
South America, with the islands Of the Pacific;
the rapidly increasing population Of the States ;
and the growing and expanding commerce, and
the vast interests involved, render 1t advisable
that the naval force OF the Union should be
largely re-enforced in that quarter Conside.
rabie addition to the number OF vessels will
therefore be made. and II is proposed at an early
day to make division Of the squadron.
Bat few vessels, and they on merely tempo
rary duty, have as yet been employed In the
West Indies. The Connecticut, the Kansas, the
De Soto, and nearly all the vessels which have
been sent to the coast Of Brazil have visited some
Of the more important points, particularly In the
island Of st. Domingo, and given attention to
American interests there. tits proposed to re-
vive the West India squadron to cruise in those
waters, where we have so large q trade, and
where, owing to the proximity Of the islands to
our shores, II Is essential that we should Guilt
vRte friendly relations. Commodore James s.
Palmer has been designated to command the
squadron, having for his flag ship the Rhode
Island. In addition to the De Soto, now on that
station, II 10 proposed TO send the Swartara, Mo-
nongabela, Florida, Augusta, Shamrock, Ashue-
lot, and Monooacy, making squadron OF nine
vessels.
In regard to the volunteer naval force, the
Secretary makes the following remarks:
Three hundred and twenty two (322) snicers
traitorously abandoned the service to which they
had dedicated their lives, proved false to the
the government which had conhded In their
honor and relied on their fidelity to sustain It in
conflict and peril The embarrassment caused
by these desertions In the moment Of trial was
temporary Better men from the merchant
marine, educated and vastly more efficient,
promptly volunteered their services, in many
instances at great pecuniary SACRIFICES, to tight
the battles Of the Union. About seven thousand
hve hundred Of these gallant and generous
spirits have, after examination, received ap-
pointments and been employed In the navy.
Schools were established'to instruct and perfect
them in the rudiments Of guunery and nautical
routine, and II is due to them to say that they
have acquitted themselves with credit and served
with zeal and fidelity.
GERS and the officers Of the regular navy has been
productive Of mutual good will and respect. II
will, trust lead to lasting personal friendships
and insure enduring intimacy between the com
Inercial and naval service. Most OF the volun :
teer officers hrve received an honorable dis
charge and returned to their peaceful profess
sional pursuits. l take this occasion to renew
my annual suggestion, that some Of tho most
distinguished Of these heroic and loyal men, OF
admitted capability and merit, who have serve
the country so faithfully and SO well, be added
~ W,tn atNa ha. -
officers appointed for that purpose. Such an ad
dition to the navy, Of brave and intelligent rep.
resentRtiyes from the commercial marine, will
be fitting and honorable recognition Of the ser
vices Of body Of men who came CALAMITY for
ward in period Of national peril to sustain the
cause Of their country.
Secretary welles Is justly severe upon the So
called neutrality Of European nations when our
Government was assaulted BY the so.called Con-
federate States Of America, aud sharp lecture
is given to England upon the subject Of rebel
cruisers. Respecting the Shenandoah he says;
The English government, In the exercise OF all
that neutral tenderness and care which It had
manifested for the rebels from the beginning OF
the insurreetion, when finally compelled to ad =
nit the extinguishment OF the rebellion, made
special reservation to protect the rebel pratical
cruisers, and particularly the Shenandoah, which
was an outlaw, without country or home other
than England after the prOstration OF the rebel
Warned by neutral England, whose subjects
constituted almost her entire crew. that the Or
gained lnBurrectOn was hnnlhllhted, the bhena-
doah had no alternative but to seek again the
shelter and protection Of that neutral power
where she was built, and from which she was
armed and manned. Under the name Of Sea
King she had cleared and sailed an English
vessel, with an English flag and an English
crew, and as late az February she stood on the
books at the Registers office Of British shipping
in her original name. and in the name Of her
original owners Such may have been the case
when the pirate was warned that he had not the
pretext Of rebel organization to soften his crime
aud that he was an outlaw. or all her captures
not one was ever sent in for adj Indication, and
am not aware that she ever entered the port Of
any country but England. 1t was fitting, there
fore, that she should return for refuge to tho
country Of her origin.
The sea King, alias the Shenandoah, entered
the Mersy on the 9Th OF November. and her pirate
captain, In q formal letter to the English Minister
surrendered the vessel to the English Govern
ment.
our navy yards which have insufficient accom- .
mediation for our present naval force, and as any
foreign war we might be compelled to wage
would be mostly a maratime conflict 1t is import,
ant that our navy yards should be placed in
proper condition
Ii is stated as an extraordinary fact, that there
is less sickness on board the iron olad monitors
than on wooden vessels. The facts and tables
given in the report Of the Chief Of the Bureau OF
Medicine and Surgery are worthy Of careful
study.
II Is recommended that proper site on Chesa
peake Bay be Purchased for the location Of the
naval academy.
EXPENSES AND BsTIHATRs
The policy Of the department has been to pros
ecute the war with energy and vieor, and to
avoid at all times needless eX penditure In pur