Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-12-11
THE A Y

CAAAA-
ed States Navy Inferior to That of Amy
Respectable POvver-ResuIts of the PO-
Iaris Expedition-The Death OF Capt.
Hall.
The Secretary of the Navy, in his report to
the President says there are now in the navy
165 vessels, carrying, exclusive of howitzers,
1859 guns, a reduction since his last annual
report, by sale and otherwise, of thirteen
vessels.
A general enumeration of these vessels
presents 60 teamers other than iron-clads
and tugs, CARRYING s26 guns 30 sailing YES
sells, with 332 guns 4S iron-clad vessels,
with 121 guns ; and 25 tugs used for navy
yard and freight purposes. Of this number,
there are at present in commission for sea
service, distributed on the several foreign
stations, and on our own coast 46 vessels,
carrying 407 guns. The cruising or active
force of the navy. as they may be called, and
which is controlled by the appropriations made
and the seamen authorized by law, is about
the same as last year.
Six of our live-oak cruising ships are nowin
various stages of forwardness at the several
navy yards. These are all of moderate size,
and none of them sufficiently advanced to be
of present use, but they are adapted to the
wants of of our cruising navy, and will, in a
few weeks, add materially to its strength and
efficiency. The eight sloors of war author
izea by the last Congress are all in process of
building. The valuable work thus begun
should not be discontinued, but the Depart
ment should be provided with a moderate
amount of funds and authorized to commence
each year to build a certain number of tons,
to supply regularly the regular yearly expen-
diture of the naval force, which will of neces-
sity, occur. The work of putting our IRON
clad force in efficient condition. referred to in
the Secretary's last report, has been proceed
ed with as fast as the means necessary for the
extraordinary work could be spared from the
current appropriations for the support of the
navy. The wisdom of this action needs no
illustration from him at thist time. Without it
we should have been left not only powerless
to assert our own rights, but almost defence
less against arrogance or aggression.
The Secretary says the naval force on the
North Atlantic Station was reduced in the
spring and summer by ordering north as a
necessity some of the vessels which were
much in need of repairs, and whose crews
needed a change, having been long in the
tropics.
The expedition for the survey OF the Darien
and Inter-Oceanic Canal has completed Its
duties and submitted its reports.
The Secretary, in speaking of the Polaris,
says her cruise has been decidedly the most
successful of Arctic expeditions. The geo.
graphical knowledge of the Arctic regions
has been largely advanced by it. A very par
ticular questioning of every one of the officers
and ere of the PoIaris. and of the scientific
corrs, except the three persons yet unexam-
j ined, has completely latistied his associates
and himself that Capt. Halls death occurred
from purely natural causes that his medical
treatment was judiciously adapted to his case,
and that he was tenderly nursed and cared fer
to the last.
The evidence has also made it manifest that
Capt. Hall wasalwavs faithful to the trust re-
posed in him in assigning him to the command
of the expedition that he was kind, firm,
and humane in the exercise of his authority /;
that he was earnest in his desire and in his
attempts to reach a high northern latitude,
and if practicable, the Pole itself and that
his untimely death was an irreparable loss to
the expedition. 1t is also apparent that Capt.
B~uddiDgton, who succeeded to the chief COM
mand on the death of Capt. Hall, proved him
self to be a good seaman, and that in all dan
gerous positions in which the Polaris was
| rloon1 hIo onAr1O nc tho oor,Dao-Io. rraa
skillful and judicious-the natural result of
long experience at sea and in command in
northern ATTITUDES.
The Secretary renews the recommendation
that the forces in our navy yards be increased
and developed so that we may be prepared for
all emergencies that the old navy yard at
Philadelphia be abandoned, and new buildings
erected at League Island that the New York
yard be preserved in its present site, and that
the Pensacola yard be. in a measure, rebuilt.
The Secretary earnestly that
ample provisions be made for the support of
the Ordnance Bureau, in order that nothing
may Interfere with the efforts to supply our
ships with the most powerful guns.
The estimate for the next fiscal year are
S19, 252, 235, and TO this is added the SHEA of
1864, $50 for the current repairs of buildings,
docks, and incidental expenses in the navy
yards, etc. These estimates are less than
those oflast year by rather more than 50, O00,-
600, but they do not include any extraordinary
expenditure for the permanent Improvement
of the navy, nor amounts necessary for the
repairs of our iron-clad fleet, nor for the con
tinued prosecution of some of the great works
necessary to a proper condition of our naval
establishment.
Since the commencement of the present
month events have taken place which make
it proper that the navy should be put at once
upon a footing for active service. 1t is by no
means the province of this Department., as
such, to take part in the conduct or discus
sion of any diplomatic question, nor should
its attitude, at a time when serious interna-
tionai difficulties are possible, be held to in
dictate anything more than a determination
on the part of a military department of
the Government to be prepared for &C
ton should The necessity for action arise. A
respectable force of war vessels and mont
tors is already on the sea and concentrating
at the stations nearest the scene of our pos
sibie difficulties. Our whole available IRON
clad fleet is on-hand, and every wooden war
vessel that will float is in active preparation
at the various naval stations. These will be
ready for sea, fully fitted, as fast as proper
crews can be provided for them: and. if the
II necessity for action should come before the
time for it arrives, all there is of the Amerl-
can navy which can be put ahoat on the At
Iantic Ocean, Will be in condition and position
to take Its proper part.
Inadequate" says the Secretary, as this
force may be deemed to the responsibilities
and pretensions of a Government like ours,
and greatly at a disadvantage, as we certainly
shall be in respect to the number aud charac-
ter of our vessels i'll a contest with the fleets
of any respectable naval power, L believe
tn t the activity, skill, science, and expert
ence of our navy will be found equal to any
difficulty which courage dare to meet OF
energy will avail to conquer"
The Secretary concludes as follows In
taking the action above referred to, the Navy
Department has already incurred CONSIDERABLE
expense, and has been forced to assume re-
sponsibilities unusual in times of peace; but,
convinced of the wisdom of prompt and deci-
ded action, I have not shruuk from those re-
sponsib ilities, nor hesitated, with the APP
prevail of tho President, to make warlike
pre- partitions in the interests of peace and hu-
manity. I confidently rely for support IN
this attitude upon the patriotism and good
sense of the American people and their rep
resentatives, who cannot fail to remember
that our naval condition is tine result OF
causes which have been constantly pressed
upon their consideration, but which have
failed to receive full doubt
less on account of moro pressing pres
ent requirements and Obligations, and
who will clearly realize that duties constantly
postponed are certain to be more difficult and
much more expensive when performed II
haste under the pressure of imperious neces'
sity. The Department has had no necessity tc
overstep its appropriations, even if 1t were
lawful to do so, but the pressing demands OF
the present will consume now what was pro-
vided for the service of the year in several OF
the working bureaus. These must be prompt
ly relieved, if their work is TO go Oh. The &C.