Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-24
commission. These were the President.
a; United States, a.; Constitution. Al:

commission. TMese were the President,
a.; United States, a.; Constitution. A;
Essex. 81: and Congress, 36.
War was declared by
against Great IBri tain on June Is, 1872.
and was proclaimed by the President
on the following day. AT that time the
ma 20 force Of the United States includ-
'd the following vessels: Friga,es-Cun-
stitupi"n. a.: Chesapeake. SO; New York.
SO; Constellation, IS; Congress, Sc; Bos-
ton. 81; Essex, 81, and Adams. 81. Cor
~verute-John Adams, 26. Ships of war
Wasp. 16. and Hornet. l6. Brigs-Sren,
is: Argus, 16: Oneida. 16. S~:ellUoners-
Vixen. IL: Eautilus. -: Enterprise. -:
Wiper II. Bomb ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Spi;fire. Aetna and Nesuvius and ITO
E~unbOatS.
The number of registered seainen in
the United States. according 10 the re
port of the Secretary of State. arnpunt
ed at shat time to LOG. 157. On the other
about 1000 vessels. OF which 2S3 were ot
the lime.
Despite the great superiority Of the
~a'ritis'h navy. the United States was
particularly fortunate i'm WINNING sew
etal decisive engagements. The BRAY
cry and the Skill OF Aelnrican seamen
made. up for what the Country lacked
i'm vessels Of war. The b1'liiant eX-
plofts OF Decatur, Someis and Stewart.
Perry, Paul Jones and Lawrence and
TN iiFE IVSi NlAl uiTuCIl WAX WltISISiIlS
tl,t. reputation of the American navy.
Th. close OF the wan found the nav
IN a state Of great efficiency. 1T was
popular with the people and with con
grtas. The ships, instead of being ne
elected. as had happened after the
French and Tri9lolinan wars. were
maintained in all their efficiency:
while at different periods additions
We're made TO their lumber
The republic being ait peace with THE
whole world the navy WAS divided into
four squadrons. destined respectively
nnd West Indies. I'm 1871 a home squad
ron waS created to cG-uisN. on the coasat
Of tht. United States. In this way THE
dignity of THE nation was maintained in
all parts of the world. and American
commerce wats everywhere protected.
With the application Of steam to
ocean ~nrv'igation attention w1as directed
TO war ste ame-rS, and several vessels Of
this character We're constructs by THE
Government as experiment. For manE
years prior to the WAT with Mexico the
chief additioIs to the navy We're of this
character. while several Specimen Shops
rf war were also constructed i'm order
TO determine the most advisable model.
In Twenty Years of Congress" Mr..
Inm~es &. Blaine sums up the nava sit
IaliCn up to the civil war. He says:
''SinS~A the CLOSE of the second war
with Great Fritain the navy mad en-
joyed no opportunity for distinction.
The war with Mexico was wholly a CON
test ON land. and for a period of forty
tive years the navy Of the United States
had not measured fits strength With amy
foe. Meanwhile. however. it had made
great advance in the education and
,rai1rins Of its officers and the. general
zone of the service. Under THE Stcrr-
'aryship Of George Bancroft. THE tsrndn-
''nr iSt"riln Gin the Cabinet of Mr..
Fplk). an academy had been established
ut Annapolis for the scientific tra.ntl,g
" naval officers. by this enlightened
policy. fnaugurltc-l. il npt ORIGIN
ally conceived by Mr.. Rancroft, naval
officers mad. for the first time, b.en
placed ON Equal fhotilrg with the officers
If the army, who had long enjoyed .ht