The Indianapolis daily herald., 1865-12-16

dcfences. and goes on to recount the naval
operations which took place up the 2d Of June.
VESSELS now IN SERVICE.
There were i'm the several hlockading squad
rOns ia January hast, exclusive of other duty,
four hnndrcn and scvcnty-One vessels, and
two thousand four hundred and fifty-fve guns.
There are now but twenty-nine vessels re-
I manning on the coast, carrying two hundred
and ten guns exclusive Of HOwitZerS. Dispo-
sition has been made of all the others. some
of the vessels are laid up in ordinary, some
with their crews are on foreign service. but
many have been sold. and. with most of the
men that Were actively engaged in hostile OPP
craions. ayc employed in peaceful operation.
six squadrons are now i'm service. namely,
the Atlantic. Gulf. European, Brazil. East
West indi Squadron. The European Srlrt,-
ron j. commanded by Rear Admiral l.. NJ.
Goldsborough. and consists Of the following
vessels: Colorado. kearsarge. ricondcroga,
Frolir. Inc and Guard, t. which the Cananda-
qua will shortly hc added. The field Of opera
tions Of this squadron. besides the coast Of
Europe and the Mediterranean. will comprise
Madeira the tananes and the African coast
rs far Is II. Paul de Loando.
THE NAVY DURING THE WAR.
Mr.. Welles gives an historical sketch Of The
growth Of the navy during the war. From
800 men in service At the commencement Of
the rebellion, the number WAS increased 90
LOO at is close In addition 10 these. The
aggregate Of artisans employed In the navy
yards was l6.SS1, instead Of ssh previously
IN the pay of - Government. This l. cXclil-
>ise Of those employed III the private shipyards
and establishments, under contracts. constitG-
ting an almost equal aggregate number. Two
hundred and eight vessels have been commence
cd. and the most of them fitted for service
during this period. 4 few OF the larger ones
will require still further time for completion.
Since the 9Th cf March, 1861 AS vessels have
: /. .
Mt cost Of SlS .3G6,6Sl -. and Of these there
have been sold $40 vessels. for which the Gov
crument has received S5.62i 800 -.
Three hundred aud twenty-five officers
traitorously abandoned the service al the out
break Of the rcbellion, hut their piace. were
supplied from the merchant marine whence
800 naval appointments were made during
the war.
EUROPEAN "NFUTRALIrY."
After abiding 10 the eager haste with which
the maritime powers of Europe recognized
the rebels ~ bclligcrcnt>, Mr.. Wclles observes:
Virtually excluded from the ports of the
great maratime powers by this assumed neu-
trtily. The diiieuity Of maintaining even a
limited naval force abroad WIS greatly in
creased. The Withdrawal of our squadron.
lett our unprotected commerce EXPOSED Ia the
drpredations Of semi. piratical cruisers. which
were built. armed. manned and sent cut 20
plumber and destroy our merchantmen from
the shores OF neutral Europe. To these aggra-
waited wrongs we We're compelled. I'm the great
emergency which existed, to submit. for under
no cir ,umstauces would the Department relax
the blockade or permit IL. efficiency to boz inn
paired.
The suppression Of the rebellion enables rs
10 rs-esiablish squadrons abroad. and q dis
play again the flag of the Union in foreign
ports. our mcn-of-war, released from Tho
blockade, will soon be found In every sca. pre-
pared to assert American rights and protect
American interests.
Concerning the shenandoah, he says:
The English Government, in the exercise Of
all that neutral tenderness and care which il
has manifested Tor the rebels from the begin
ming OF the insurrcciion, when finally COM
PEELED 10 admit the eXiinguishmrnt of the re-
bcllion. made special reservation 20 protect the
rebel plratical cruisers. and particularly the
Shenandoah, which was an outlaw, without
country or home other than England. after the
prostration Of the rebel organization.
Warned by neutral England. whose subjects
constituted almost her entire crew. that the
organized iusurrcciion was annihilatcd. the
shenandoah had no alternative but 10 seek
again the shelter and protection o. that neu-
trail power where she WAS built. and from
which She was armed and manned. Under
the name Of Sea King she had cleared AMI
sailed ~ an English vessel, with an English
dag and IN English crew, aud a. late n Feb
ruarH she stood on the books at the Registers
oliee Of British shipping Ia her original name.
anu III lut NAME ol tiff Original owners. such
may have been the case when the irate was
warned that he had not the preteXi ii a rebel
organization 10 soften his crime. and that be-
VIZ. an outlaw. OF all her captures not one was
ever sent for ajudica,ion. and | am not aware
that she ever entered the port of any country
but England. II VS. fitting. Therefore, that
She should return for refuge 10 the country Of
her origin.
THE flag TO FOLLOW COMMERCE
The Secretary contends that our flag should
now be- carried into every sea ami penetrate
every commercial port where American eapi-
tai J. employed. and he adds:
Wherever oUf merchant ships max lee en-
Flowed. there should be within convenient
proximity al force 10 protect them and
make known our national power. Sli,h are
the energy and enterprise II our countrvfucn
that they will. How that the War has .!ascd
compete for the trade and commerce Of the
worid. provided iAc Go,crnmrni performs IL
duty in fostering and protecting their interests
Besides guarding the channels hitherto oecii-
pied and explored. II would be wei that ex-
aminations hc made for new avenues II trade.
TN connection with this subject. I would SUI
gr.t thc importance 81 a more thorough sur
,sy and Nploraiion Il the principal Islands IN
liz pac.iic oge..n. aud that the Department. have
authority tn carry THIS suggestion into Ell