The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-18

lI Thus it will be seen, Mr. Chairman. that
/, any one OF Chili's war vessels could run
down and destroy the four war vessels
: which the United States have at that STA
! ton. 1t could even continue its course
enter the harbor OF San Francisco, and
+ put your city OF San Francisco, MIR. Chair.
4 man, lMr. Page being in the chair,) under
y contribution. q. a 81 - NJ, :
From the statistics to which refer it
will be seen that Denmark has more eff.
4 cient armored ships than the United States,
Z! Even Sweden, small as she is, has more
efficient war vessels. Norway has moni.
B tons and % gunboats. Brazil, IS armored
\ vessels and % unarmored vessels. Two OF
q her :armored vessels have maximum
thickness OF armor OF Pinch and nre
armed with l0.inch rifle guns. So that il
Slt will be seen, Mr.. Chairman, any one OF
i the fourth or fifth rate powers could run
B their war vessels into our exposed cities of
5slsoston, New York, Philadelphia, or Balti.
K more and put them under forced contribu.
( t0n.E Can any gentleman conceive of n
7Smore hnmiliating condition for this great
Country 10 occupy, in so far MS the harbor
anu coast deienses are concerned? One
object Of the bill under consideration is:
dnd prprhttd further Tint 81 COO, coo of the aboye
z Gnount shall be applied by the Secretary Of the
3Navy 70 tne following objects. namely: TO build.
lug and hitting the turrrts aud pilot house of Tho
run clkl steamer MlantoionOh;to the launching IN
lhe best advantage Of the iron.clad steamers Nom
aunoSs, Puritan, Amrhitrite,nnd Terror: and 10 tho
: completion oil the engines and machinery OF such
y TWO Of the astiiamed vessels he may Oh c1ainin
alton think most expcdlcnt and best for tile Interest,
ithe sc,ylc.;and that my part Of theapptopta,ion
ssupPlied toward the construction OF engines and
4 by this act. ,s d II. ., M, ,'i'''S -
Nj am heartily in accord with this proyi.
I sionio OF the bill, and desire 10 see these
Smonitors completed, unless there shall he
4 some good reason TO the contrary, IIus
a any gentleman any reliable information
tending to show that there is such yooJ
4 reason? From all have heard in this do.
\ bate, and from what is presented in the
various reports, know OF none such. On
\ the contrary, Mr.. Chairman, it fully an.
Y pears that there is no such roason, and
upon that subject beg to read from the
report Of the Secretary Of the Navy, and Il
:twill be seen that that report Incorporates
4 the views Of his predecessor, Hon. r. W,
thompson. 1t is in the following Inn,
y guage ~ .
twould be highly censumb.e to waste the uboyc
slim Of Sj,o2S, $50 IS by failing TO fnlsh mo yisls
OIL which II has been deliberately expended miles
Z some good mason for cOudGmnliig them Is shown
None such exists. and no person iavors such con.
" tielnnaton. The Secretary Of tho Navy, lion. h
4 thompson who had previously arrested wort
q OIL them, stated In communication 10 tho IIou,r
Goi Representatives OF May.O 1850, The concu,ims
I @! various boards carefully appointed by direction
Of Congress 10 Joint resolution Of April > sso In
inquire whether It WIS for the interest o! he Gov
y ethment 10 complete these monitors: and the Sec.
s Rotary then adds: 80, : 80 w w
unaniuiity OF opinion In rcicrencc 10 each
X o. these vessels would iecn 10 leave no room iOr
tl0uot, therefore, that tho interest OF the Govern
II mcht requires tho completion Of all of them In
" THIS opluion concur for tyo controlling rensonx.
asa' Firs'. That 10 leave them unconpleted. nficr
50 larse = sum OF money hts been extended unnn
y them, would be bad economy, ina,,puch As III"
y ioN would bSvery heavy 10 the Government: and
Is second. laS1utc when complctcd they woniJ
undoubtedly be equal, II not superior to ANY nhc,
vessels o. their class In the world" Ilio,i,c ~.
csaiiSs Document 81, part ., Forty sixth Congress
We owe 1t to ourselves, Mr.. Chairman
;Sas the representatives Of the people. wa
lowe it TO tho country 10 prepare, md pre.
lfpare in time, to meet emergencies that may
Eat any momentarisc. 1t isa maxim OF politi.
4 cal craftsmanship "In time OF peace nrc.
\ pare, fol; war." True, thcre'i is no pressing
emergency lust now; but no human foro,