Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-08-04
The Condition of our Navy.

The condition Of the American navy il
deplorable That part of the national de
Tense is weak, if indeed it can be really
called pref ext even for a defense in it
present con dition. 1t seems strange tina
it should be allowed to remain in tina
condition by Congress, after the facts il
the case had been laid before them botl
by the President and the Secretary of thu
Navy. Mr.. Robson is making every eff
fort to rebuild our broken down navy, and
is determined to press on to the extent OF
the means and powers given by Congress.
He has ordered the employment of q
larger force Of men at various navy yards,
and the work of repairing and remodel
ing the vessels on hand and those being
placed out of commission, is to be vigor-
ousIy carried on The Secretary says
that when the rebellion commenced the
country WAS without a navy the vessels
we had were simply wooden ones. With
a seacoast and ports to protect and sea-
coast and ports to blockade larger in ex-
tent than any three other powers in the
world, it was haste, and most any kind
of material, that was W anted to carry out
the blockade, etc. The rebels had no
navy, and therefore IL required no strain
of time, trouble, or expense to get up
navy for the sea. Millions of money was
expended for the vessels for our river and
harbor fighting, the monitors for fort
fighting and wooden vessels wherever
they could be obtained for blockade pur-
poses. AT the conclusion of the war all
the old hulks, wooden steamboats,, cap
tured blockade-runners, ETC., were sold,
and to-day the navy is no better, if as
we'll off as it was before 1861. The navy
is our great arm of defence. We want
small army for the Indian frontier and
for our forts. If necessary to increase it
by the hundreds of thousands, procla-
nation needs only to be issued, and in
month we have an army which the world
cannot conquer. But it is vastly diff
ferent with the navy. A ship or an iron
lad cannot be built in a month, nor
ready and placed on board and the vessel
sent on her mission in a month, or year
either, for that matter. Our navy should
have at least thirty frst-class iron-clad
frigates and ships of war built at once
The machinery should be at once manu-.
featured and placed in our navy yards to
build these vessels. They should be built
on the most improved plans, and Congress
ought to increase the naval force 5000
men, three thousand of whom could be
called reserve force" etc.
The people will realize the force of his
arguments and suggestions on the subject
when perhaps it will be too late, or after
our national pride is sorely Inundated
and the nation are without the power to
resent it, or to punish those who may
take advantage of our situation. The
European powers know the condition in
which Congress has seen fit to leave our
navy, and their officials care very little
for our wishes or opinions. The President
agrees with tho Secretary of the Navy in
the sentimt nts of the Secretary, which we
have given, and sustains him in the course
he is pursuing. In the estimation OF
President Grant this matter is of 60 much
Importance that he will go to Washing
ton and hold special meeting of his
Cabinet on Friday next to consider the
subject. 1t is certain that it is deemed Of
such vital Importance that full attend.
ance of the Cabinet will be secured.