Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-02-17
The Naval Discussion.

most brilliant men in Congress, took oc-
casion a few days since to attack, in his
seat. the administration of the Navy De
partment, in every essential Particular
The speech was brilliant one, full o
sharp points and very grave charges. He
criticised the Report of the Navy Depart
ment, calling into question its accuracy
and its reliability. The Navy is rot hall
as large as represented, the vessels CON
structcd are worthless, comparatively. the
speed is that of the tortoise, and their eff
cheney, is beneath contempt. We had
read the Report of Mr.. Welles, with a
good degree of pride and satisfaction, and
wondered at the marvellous proportions oil
our Navy. the creation of but Il few years,
thinking all .he while that the man who
presided over this department, must have
genius, industry, and great administrative
ability. We had also read the comments
of the London Times, and its favorable
impressions of our success in this branch
Of the service, favorable words, that We're
extortel by stubborn facts, and We're set
ting down in the belief that we had on
efficient Navy, and an able, competent,
and successful Secretary. But when we
read Mr.. Davis speech, if he is to be be-
lieved, we were all wrong. Mr.. Welles is
thick -healed.-a wooden-hcaded officer.
and his assistant anything but au honest
officer. Tie monitors are failures, the
doable-enders serve only as marks for
ridicule, and there was nothing right save
and except some few Old vessels handed
down to the Department from the preccd
ing administration. The speech was an
swered by Hon. y. II. Rice, chairman Of
the Naval Committee, ably: triumphantiy
and fully. We rose from the reading o.
this vindication, breathing freer and deep
err. We have navy, powerful, a victo-
rious Navy, demonstrated Mr.. Rice, and
the House at later day echoed the senti
ment by its vote.
Mr.. Davis. desired to have board of
admiralty established, to advise with the
head of the Navy Department, making the
Department not a .sdouble-ender," but a
many headed and an unwieldly machine.
His speech was a telling one, no member
of the House could excel it, but it failed oil
having its desired effect. When the facts
were laid before the House by Mr.. Rice.
and when he narrated the labors of the
Committee in its many and laborious ses-
sions to investigate all the facts bearing on
the points in question, it was plain to he
seen that we have a Navy and that Mr.
Davis was in the wrong.
To show the labors of the Naval Com,
mittec of which, Mr.. Rice is chairman, il
was stated by him '.that the resolution
submitted by Mr.. Davis alone consumed
more than seventy sittings during the last
session of CONGRESSMAN average of three
days of every week of the session from tho
time the resolution was introduced; ant
the investigation, viii. al the diligence. al
=, ;, 49,, -, -,
the labor ana all 'he care Whlch couid be
bestowed, was no.concluled until the very
last DAYS of june
A.. p;oo COW, i, h, ror,, o,,;.,,,o
"', ''''o s' " '.'' wy "'1''' ''''e
speech that the American IDEA mas peei
in constructing war vessels, '.to take away
as far as possible target for the enemy,
cuns. and in tla conssrnrtion If the o-,E
saaS anu III TIC oos's'' ''''o'i u tue o'a'