The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-04

Mr.. Randall, who cordially reciprocate
and said: Whenever in future l can !
Of use 10 you in any possible way, sha
DO very glad TO do so.
Mr.. Cox replied: Ny public career
nearly ended, but / must serve my pet
pie faithfully to the end OF my service
Nevertheless, feel grateful for your kin
expressions, and shall be most happy II
can be Of any assistance to you In th
performance Of your arduous and respor
Bible duties.
| CONGRESSIONAL MATTERs. p! l
WASHINGTON, D. G., December 81
10 now uncertain at what hour to,morroN
the message Of the President will be sen
to Congress certainly not until he shal
be formally notified by the usual Join
committee that the two houses are pre-
pared to,receive any communication h
maybe pleased to make to them. Th
calling OF the roll OF the members OF th
House and the election and installation
OF the new Speaker may probably defe
the deliyerance Of message until 9 O'Clock
The message will be telegraphed henct
to the press. The reports Of the Head
lof the Departments have been Forwarded
sby mail, r,,.,y...g.,,, ,,
The President tonight was engaged il
the transaction Of business and declinet
to receive visitors, with the exception o
a few personal and political friends.
Some Of tho Democratic members o
Congress say that the pHrtywill' act witt
calmneSs and circumtpection regarding
the political complications, and that i
may not be until Wednesday that the pro
position will be made for the appoint
ment OF committees to visit Florida
South Carolina and louisiana, 10 ascer'
tain all the facts accessible concerning
the electoral votes Of those States. Itil
certain, however, that such movement will
be made at an early day. ,f...
Large numbers Of persons were at the
hotels tonight, specializing as to the
events of tomorrow at the Capital. Some
anticipated more than usual excitement,
but there is no reason whatever TO be-
lieye there will be any occurrence OF an
alarming character. No doubt the gal
leries Of the House will be densely crowd
ed by interested spectators. ..Ir.
Col. Roberts, Of the New Orleans
7Ines, desires it TO be stated that In view
Of a recently published telegram from
Columbus, Ohio, that on calling on Gov.
Hayes q few days ago he merely con.
yersed on the situation in Louisiana, but
had no authority to say anything for
either Gen. Hampton or Mr.. Lamar.
Representative Hewitt, Of New York,
called on the President to-day and had q
conversation on the subject OF political
affairs, but no suggestion for the solution
OF the present difficulties was made by
either gentleman. ll
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF NAVY.
WASHINGTON, December 3.-The re.
port OF the Secretary OF the Navy will
show that there are belonging to the navy
l46 vessels OF 160, l57 tons measurement.
Exclusive of howitzers and Gatlings
they carry ], ,T42 guns. OF these 1913 car.
rying 9l3 guns with measurement OF
l20S9S tons have steam, rs are in actual
service, and four are preparing for sea.
Sixteen maybe considered entirely unfit
for service, and the remainder are at the
various navy yards, some requiring
Slight and others extensive repairs. But
most of,them could be made ready for any
special service in short time. There is
also on hand aud stored at the various
navy yards live oak timber sufficient for
f35 new ships Of war, besides large guam
tity OF other valuable timber and naval
material Of every kind. Our navy is
now far more powerful for our warlike
purposes than Il has ever before been in
time Of peace. 1t does not compare,
either in the number or character OF its
vessels, with the expensive establishments
OF those European nations whose mutual
relations keep them always in armed
array; whose contiguous coasts and deep
Tharbors at home, and scattered colonies
jail over the world, seem to require that
they should constantly rival each other,
at whatever expense, iu the size and
power OF their naval vessels and arma.
ments. But for the defense OF a peaceful
people, without Colonies, with danger.
GUS coast and shallow harbors, separated
pby a vast ocean from warlike naval pow
sers our lnavy is not without strength
and when It's fron.clad feet shall be COM
pletod or repaired, work requiring now
but little time and expense, and its
force supplemented by the comparatively
cheap addition recommended, it will be
found sufficient to resist any force which
could bebrought across the ocean to attack
us, and powerful also for offensive opera
tions upon the seas and among the
lalands, which lie contiguous TO our own
shores. In view Of tho fact that the up.
propriations for two OF the prinCi.
pal working bureas OF the De.
partment NOV average but little over
$5,0O0,O00 annually, and considering the
cost of merely maintaining Navy con.
sisting largely otaliips hfriedly .Built Of
perishable material which, after requir.
Ing few years Of constant repair, finally
drop out ofServire from utter worthlees-
ness; the question constantly recurs,
brought up BY conflicting interests ard
opinions, whether We Rhall enter upon
the expensive and unsatisfactory con-
struction OF armor.plated gun.bearing
vessels, involving millions Of dollars
in the cost Of each one, or shall
we be content with providing ourselves at
minimum. post, with the means Of de-
stroSins such vessels should they appear
in hostile attitude on our coast or in
our bays or harbors, fast and we'll built
wooden cruisers, proper for the police Of
the seas serving as schools'o OF instruction
in time of,peace, and capable Of fdestoying
IN enemys commerce in time Of war,
which are under all condition serviceable.
The Monitor class OF vessels has for US,
special and valuable uses In conjunction
with other forces. The torpedo schools
give our officers the Instruction necessary
10 utilize whatever there ia in this most
efficient arm OF attack and defense, and
would add TO the force new element, the
marine ram, which promises when, con-
structed upon scientific principles, in
forms Of special strength for its particu.
lar and appropriate service to be a
weapon OF the most destructive warfare.
The construction OF this class Of vessels
has been carefully considered for several
years past by naval officer Of high
rank, 9 assisted by able experts, and
detailed plans are put at the
service ,ot tho Department without
cost Or charges Of any kind. Tho Con.
stitutiou otsueh aveSsel Of the best ma.
terial and ofspecial strength, would In
yolvA mn Z nArse NJ ahnuks S9hf) f00 and