Year: 1868

THE NAvY's EXISTENCE IN THE FUTURE.


Thus through nearly a century we have traced the
history of the American navy and noted the salient
points in its past and present condition Truth re-
qures US to say that with all the and extra
vagance or the Navy Department the results OBJ
tanned by the officers and have gone far to hide
the blunders and stupidity manifested in the admin
could not have been preserved ana the rebellion
would have trumphed. Except for 1t neither New
Orleans, nor Mobile, nor Wilmington could have
been taken and the passage of Porter's fleet Of IRON
clads by Vicksburg alone enabled Grants army to
turn that position, while 1t paved the way for Sher
mans stupendous march to the Atlantic seaboard
The American people should ever bear these facts in
grateful remembrance, and cherish as priceless In
heritance the deeds OF those who were inspired in
and Porter.


But much remains to be done to guarantee the
have need to put into practice all the valuable expe-
rence so dearly purchased during the war, and to
remedy the evils that still cling to the Navy Depart
ment. stop should be put to the crazy experiments
In steam, which have cost within the past six years
upwards OF $S2000,000 without producing one
eihcient steam vessel II we were to go to war with
England or France tomorrow we have scarcely a
ship that could touch them in their most vulnerable
point-their commerce. We require several more
Hartford-ships that are not all engines and boilers
but with SUFFICIENT auxiliary steam power to make
them to be always moving that carry Goals enough
the same time wholesome quarters for their crews
ships that have ample spars and sails to lay by in
heavy weather or avail Of favorable winds. We need
also fleet Of fast steamers Of the third class
with substantial engines good spread Of canvas
and guns enough to command respect. Nor should
we neglect to provide greater number Of dry docks
and marine railways for the repair OF our largest
ships, besides machine shops and foundries for the
construction and care Of armored vessels. Instead
OF sending the Monitor and iron-cads abroad on
exhibition, they should be kept at home and always
IN readiness for emergencies. There Is no more
sense In showing of their merits in time Of peace
than there would be in transmitting models and de-
tan drawings OF our fortiicaons to all the foreign
Powers But above all things, the navy requires a
permanent Board OF Suryey. such contaminated in
the bill before the Senate, and made up from the
line officers alone. BY this means a wider
scope will be given to the mechanical skill of the
country, and the navy placed on sound footing Of
economy and progress. With the examples before
us the people need have fear to entrust the con-
structon OF their ships to the intelligence Of
those who know so well how to handle them in tenn
pests or in battle Let these men be commissioned
to seek out the disciples OF Eckf9Sd and Steers from
mechanical genius which is born by the red lights of
the foundries and workshops Then, with pine from
Maine, live oak from Florida copper from Michigan,
iron from Pennsylvania, pitch from Carolina, cotton
from Mississippi hemp from Kentucky and timber
for spars from Vermont every ship will symbolic in
The combination of her intricate parts the binding
elements OF the American Union.