A Navy.
--We must not imagine from the present naval inferiority of the
South, that the
Confederate States are deficient in any of the elements and material which are essential to the organization of a powerful naval force.
On the contrary, it is only in the
Confederate States that all the articles necessary for the building and equipment of ships is found.
We have within our own borders that which the
United States does not possess, magnificent live-oak, hemp, cotton, tar, turpentine, iron, and all in the most inexhaustible quantities.--We have noble rivers, deep and spacious harbors, and a geographical position and climate, which, after the establishment of our independence, will command the commerce of this continent.
Under the old Union, the possession, nay, the monopoly of all these natural advantages, availed nothing to the development of Southern commerce.
On the contrary, the foreign trade and the ships that the
South owned under that old Confederacy gradually disappeared after the ‘ "glorious Union"’ was formed — the union of the lamprey eel with its victim and of a blood-sucker with a big artery.
It was wonderful indeed that men could see such fertile fields and glorious harbors as those of the
South deserted, whilst the barren
North was growing rich upon Southern trade, and not perceive that the ‘"glorious Union"’ was, politically and financially, as well as morally, ‘"a covenant with death and hell. "’ The enormous sums which the
North is now expending to restore that Union shows her own opinion of its commercial and material value.
Among the greatest difficulties resulting from that state of dependence upon Northern mechanical industry and Northern commerce which has so long existed in the
South, is the present want of a Navy.
The Federal Government has all the ships of war, and has converted the very mercantile marine which has been built up by carrying Southern products to
Europe and coastwise, into armed vessels for the blockade of the
Southern coast, and the bombardment of Southern towns.
The very passenger and freight steamers which were once familiar objects in every Southern harbor, are now heavily armed, and prowling about our waters in search of prey.
Oh, for a Navy to break up this blockade, and to inflict vengeance upon these maranders!
With the exception of a few efficient ships of the regular United States Navy, the blockading and spiratical cruisers on the
Southern coast could be dispersed with ease by a few vessels constructed especially for war purposes.
It is no exaggeration to say that, if it had been possible for the
South, at the beginning of this war, so put afloat half a dozen iron-plated vessels, this blockade would be an impossibility.
It is no time now to indulge in useless repining.
We must make the best of the means still at our disposal, annoy the enemy with our privateers, and gradually form the nucleus of a strong naval organization.
Some of the best officer of the old Navy are in the
Southern service; the boss navy-yard of the old Government is in our uninterrupted possession, and in his immediate neighborhood is
North Carolina, whose naval stores of every kind are well nigh irresponsible.
With indepdence will , with commerce seamen, years hence the
South will force than the old United of dissolution.
In organ, enjoy all the ad- vantages of the costly experience of
Europe in ship construction.
Great Britain was at vast expense in converting her sailing navy into a steam navy, and when all this had been accomplished, the experiments of the Emperor Napoleon in iron-plated vessels has forced her to begin over again the reconstruction of her naval ships at an expence which no exchequer on the face of the earth, except that of
England, could support.
If may now be safely assumed that no further improvements can be made in the aggressive or defensive powers of vessels, and, with all the lights of the age before her, the
South an build and arm her ships upon a plan which has reached so near perfection as to render improbable the necessity of any future change.
Let her, then, as soon as possible, lay the foundations of a strong navy, so that no future war shall permit an enemy to inflict upon us the annoyances, insults, and injuries to which we are exposed by the maritime preponderance of the
North.
