Year: 1861

The Navy and Secretary Welless

 For some months past, almost since the first o March indeed, various newspapers have delight cd themselves and q certain class of their reader with sneers and insnuations against the Secreta

 Y of the Navy,--ridiculing his appearance sheer ing at his ability and affecting to doubt his com potency for his high office.

 Mr. Wellcs has made no reply whatever t these attacks, preferring that deeds not word should speak for him, and why should not we ir Connecticut, now that the whole country is ring ing with the praises of what has been done ant what accomplished in the great Naval Expedi ton lately landed on the coast of South Carolina point with pardonable State pride to the secre tary and his work.

 live consider from what beginnings this ex petition, which has struck the first resolute blow st the heart of the rebellion, arose. what dificul 6es it has encountered, what obstacles have beer overcome, and what it has at last accomplished we shall rejoice the more in giving due praise and honor to the almost superhuman and efh' eient labors of the Chief Officer of the Naval Bureau.

 Everybody knows by report, what lamenta- ble condition Mir. Secretary Welles found our noble Navy in upon his accession to office; how meagre it was, and how the few ships we had were scattered, whether purposely or not it is of no purpose for us now to enquire, how destitute this most effective branch of our resources for the suppression of the rebellion was of proper outfit and armament for g state of war, but hardly any of us can fully realize how vast has been the la bors of preparation, how multiarious the things to be done, how urgent the necessity that all should be skillfully and thoroughly done to ac eomplish the grand and successful results we have seen during the past fortnight.

 New Gunboats have been built and old ones re fitted, merchant ships made over into ships of the line, and war steamers created out of the peaceful passenger boats that but lately carried our mails and commerce across the seas, the grand fleet finally arranged and manned, its de. situation determined on, and every preparation A0oS, GU tAot HHGA ~ otIuCh tuS UlOW u DC attended with the effect and success which we all sec now.

 1t will not be denied that in connection with the Navy department the excellent management of the War department also added to aud con- pleted the glorious work, by which at this moment we are in complete and undisturbed possession of ports on the coasts of either of the Carolnas and by means ofwhich weare prep,rol to hear of yet more brilliant exploits and tictories hereafter; yet every thoughtful man will acknowledge that 1t is to the Naval branch of the Government that we are indebted for the first great and decisive victory that we have obtained, and the first deci- ave blow to the rebellion has been effectually struck, the honor and praise of which is due in the largest measure to the skill, energy and fore sight of the Head of the Navy, GIDEON WELLEs.

 It was poetic justice that Mir. Welles should succeed directly to the former Secretary of the Navy who dsgraced our State and we'll nigh overturned the government; more than poetic justice will be rendered the present executive ot this branch of the government service by poster. ity, who shall laud its efficiency and ability while it points with pride to what the gallant Navy has accomplished in this war against rebellion.