The War of Independence was much increased in length and difficulty by the want of a navy, the maritime6 resources of England giving her a great superiority in striking suddenly, and in force, at distant points.
It was natural, then, that so important an arm, for both attack and defense7, should be prepared to act with energy, and this was one of the first cares of the new government; and so efficient did this branch of national strength become in the thirty years of peace, to the war of 1812 with England, that the easiest and some of the most important successes of the Americans, in that conflict, were on the sea.
The care of Naval affairs was, at first, committed to the Secretary of War. In 1798 it was erected8 into a separate Department, and a Secretary placed at its head. He was entitled to a seat in the Cabinet, as one of the advisers9 of the President, and received his appointment by nomination10 of the President and concurrence11 of the Senate, in the same manner as the Heads of other Departments.
As the President is the highest officer, in command, in the Navy, he ranks as second, and acts under his direction. It is his duty to procure12 naval stores and materials, and to oversee13 the places where they are deposited; to attend to the construction, equipment, armament, and employment of vessels of war, to make out the commissions of naval officers; to see that efficiency and discipline are maintained in the service; and to assume the control of the movements of the vessels of war that are kept cruising in every sea for the protection of our[304] commerce and citizens in foreign parts, and the preservation14 of the international rights and dignity of the United States.
3. A chief clerk was formerly15 the second officer in rank in the Department, but, in 1861, provision was made, by Congress, for an Assistant Secretary, who should act as Secretary in the absence of that officer.
Formerly there were five bureaus in this department, but in 1862, three more were added, making eight, as follows:
1. A Bureau of Yards and Docks.
2. A Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting.
3. A Bureau of Navigation.
5. A Bureau of Construction and Repairs.
6. A Bureau of Steam Engineering.
7. A Bureau of Provisions and Clothing.
8. A Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
The President and Senate appoint all the heads of these bureaus, and select them principally from officers of high rank in the navy. They are all appointed for four years.
The Secretary appoints all the numerous clerks employed in the various bureaus and assigns their duties.
He must annually17 report to Congress the condition of his department, the manner and amount of all expenditures18, furnish estimates for the expenses of the following year, and give such advice in regard to the naval interests of the country as his intimate knowledge of that branch of the service may suggest. He requires an intimate knowledge of maritime affairs, and of International law, and a high and enlightened appreciation19 of the policy to be pursued in our official and commercial intercourse20 with all foreign nations.
The following list embraces the names of all the Secretaries of the Navy, from George Cabot, the first, to George M. Robeson, the present incumbent21:
George Cabot, Mass., May 3, 1798.
Benjamin Stoddert, Mass., May 21, 1798.
[305]Robert Smith, Md., July 15, 1801.
J. Crowninshield, Mass., May 3, 1805.
Paul Hamilton, S. C., March 7, 1809.
William Jones, Pa., Jan. 12, 1813.
B. W. Crowninshield, Mass., Dec. 17, 1814.
Smith Thompson, N. Y., Nov. 9, 1818.
John Rogers, Mass., Sept. 1, 1823.
S. L. Southard, N. J., Sept. 16, 1823.
John Branch, N. C., March 9, 1829.
Levi Woodbury, N. H., May 23, 1831.
Mahlon Dickerson, N. J., June 30, 1834.
J. K. Paulding, N. Y., June 20, 1830.
Abel P. Upshur, Va., Sept. 13, 1841.
David Henshaw, Mass., July 24, 1843.
T. W. Gilmer, Va., Feb. 12, 1844.
John Y. Mason, Va., March 14, 1844.
George Bancroft, Mass., March 10, 1845.
John Y. Mason, Va., Sept. 9, 1846.
William B. Preston, Va., March 7, 1849.
William A. Graham, N. C., July 20, 1850.
J. P. Kennedy, Md., July 22, 1850.
J. C. Dobbin, N. C., March 5, 1853.
Isaac Toucey, Ct., March 6, 1857.
Gideon Welles, Ct., March 5, 1861.
Adolph E. Borie, Pa., March 5, 1869.
George M. Robeson, N. J., June 25, 1869.
” ” reappointed March 17, 1873.
点击收听单词发音
1 prominence | |
n.突出;显著;杰出;重要 | |
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2 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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3 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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4 profusion | |
n.挥霍;丰富 | |
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5 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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6 maritime | |
adj.海的,海事的,航海的,近海的,沿海的 | |
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7 defense | |
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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8 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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9 advisers | |
顾问,劝告者( adviser的名词复数 ); (指导大学新生学科问题等的)指导教授 | |
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10 nomination | |
n.提名,任命,提名权 | |
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11 concurrence | |
n.同意;并发 | |
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12 procure | |
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 | |
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13 oversee | |
vt.监督,管理 | |
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14 preservation | |
n.保护,维护,保存,保留,保持 | |
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15 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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16 ordnance | |
n.大炮,军械 | |
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17 annually | |
adv.一年一次,每年 | |
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18 expenditures | |
n.花费( expenditure的名词复数 );使用;(尤指金钱的)支出额;(精力、时间、材料等的)耗费 | |
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19 appreciation | |
n.评价;欣赏;感谢;领会,理解;价格上涨 | |
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20 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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21 incumbent | |
adj.成为责任的,有义务的;现任的,在职的 | |
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22 badger | |
v.一再烦扰,一再要求,纠缠 | |
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