The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-08

rotary OF the Navy. and LETT this city
on Friday last IFebruary ISL for
Washington"
Nj. badgers associates in the Cabi-
net were: Daniel. Webster. Secretary of
state; Thomas Ewing, of Ohio. Score
tary OF the Treasury: John Bell, OF
tennessee, Secretary OF War: Francis
of New York. Postmaster !
Generai: and John j. Crittenden. of
kentucky. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Never"
boosted the Wing press. was there
an Abier or more patriotic Cabinet
formed in this or I'M other country"
an that seems hardly an
exaggeration even at his day.
The Wings, -jubilant over their tri-
umph. looked toward the future with
commence. Their joy. however, Was
short-lIved. Thirty days after his in
auguration Harrison died and Tyler
succeeded 10 the Presidency: and with
IN less than six months he and the
Wing leaders had quarrelled, the
Cabinet had resigned. and the party
was on h verge Of dissolution.
ne quarrel with the President gave
Baoger no opportunity TO render any
service or importance to the navy. but
the converting of Congress in extra
session. May 81, 1S4l. necessitated his
submitting TO the President a report
in which he offered two recommended
sO " cohAAA wis ESN IIlSl
under the shadow Of threatened war
with England. Several incidents irri-
Eating to the pride Of both countries,
had aroused the war spirit OF the jim
goes in England and in the United
States, n for a while Europe and
America waited in suspense, daily ex-
pecting a declaration of war. So i'm
minent did war seem, that our minis
ter in London urged Commodore Hull,
commanding the American squadron
in the Mediterranean, to leave that
sea, lest, In the ven OF a sudden dec
laration Of war, he should be surprised
and forced to surrender. Such was
the situation when Congress was call
ed In extra session to consider financial
matters. The crisis induced Secretary
Badger to Incorporate in his report the
following recommendations:
Though it is presumed Congress
will scarcely be willing to give arten-
ton TO general matters uncOnnected
with the objects for which the extra
ordinary session Of that body was con
vOked. yet recent events induce me to
bring to your attention, with a view to
the action of Congress, two subjects
az worthy OF present consideration.
The first Is the establishment Of q
home squadron. While squadrons arr
maintained in various parts Of tht
world for the preservation OF our com.
; merce, our own shores have been lefl
' without any adequate protection. Hae
: a war with Great Britain been the re-
suit, as was at n time general,
1 feared. Of the subjects Of difficulty nov
4 in a course of adjustment between tina
Power and the United States, not onl,
would our trade have been liable t.
D great interruption, and OIr merchant
. to great losses abroad, but a nava
force, comparatively small, might. o.
i our very shores, have seized or mel
4 chant ships and fnsulted our flag
without suitable means OF resistance o
g immediate retaliation being at tn
command of the government. L
e guard against such a Tesult-to b
ever ready to repel or promptly t
chastiSe .agre8sion9 upon our oW,
shores, it is necessary that a POVERTY
squadron should be kept af1Oat a
home. This is recommends
C by other considerations. There is n
situation in which greater skill Or sea
manship can be exercised and acquire
8 than on the coast OF the United State
X and in no service would our officer
q and seamen become more thorough
Il initiated In all hat is necessary for tn
national defence and glory. In tha
II service. aided by the coast survey no
in progress, a thorough acquaintanc
le would be gained with our own Sc
, CORS(. extensive dlIu l1l1AC1 b4l Al
perfectly known-the various por1
would be risited--the bays, 1nlets an
harbors. carefully ex~amined-the U.s.
to which each could be made availab1
~ during the war, either for escape. de
= fence or annoyance, be ascertaine
"a and the confidence resulting from pc
feet knowledge would give us, what "
ought surely to possess. a decided az
vantage over an enena on our oN
shores.
1.-The attention OF Congress has bee,
n heretofore, earnestly invited To tt
state Of our and rdnan
stores, and / deem it worthy OF In
=. mediate consideration. A ~suffictel
~ supply of suitable arms and munftior
a, of war is indispensable to the success
T. full operation OF h bravest Offices
n and men; and it cannot from the u;
e ture Of the case. be provided upon
). sudden Z Sailors may I
- hoct;1v oallocfe6 from CUR cOmTneFCi