In 1821, Congressman Samuel Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means committee sent a letter of inquiry to the Commissioners of the Navy regarding the current condition of the Navy and its expenses. The following year, a similar letter of inquiry was sent. The 1822 letter included the following five inquires:
No. 1. List of piratical vessels, &c. captured by vessels of the navy of the United States.
No. 2. List of vessels of the navy of the United States, in actual service.
No. 3. List of vessels of the navy of the United States, in ordinary.
No. 4. List of vessels built and building, under the act for the 'gradual increase of the navy;' and, also, a general view of improvements at the several building yards.
No. 5. Copies of correspondence between the commanders of our cruising vessels and the Spanish authorities
The Secretary of the Navy responded with a full report entitled, "CONDITION AND EXPENSES OF THE NAVY". In 1822, the report was delivered to Congress by the President rather than through the congressional chair and by 1825 it was regularly delivered to Congress with the President's own annual address. It was renamed "ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY" but continued to follow a similar format. Not always, but often the President shared a summary or highlights from the report in his own Annual Address as did Martin Van Buren in his first State of the Union Address in 1837. There was nothing spectacular that year, but Van Buren did share an update on a few of ships and squadrons. Specifically, Martin Van Buren shared an update on the newly launched 74-gun ship of the line Pennsylvania, and updates on the Ohio, Delaware and Columbus all currently in service for repair or maintenance, also known as in "ordinary".
USS Pennsylvania (1837)The Pennsylvania was one of nine ships that had 74 guns or more. It was authorized by Congress in 1816 and launched in July of 1837. In 1842, she became a receiving ship for the Norfolk Navy Yard, and remained in the yard until April 1861 when she was burned to prevent being captured by the Confederacy.
USS Ohio (1820)
The Ohio was a ship of the line launched in 1820 and then commissioned as a war ship from 1838 to 1840.
USS Delaware (1820)
The Delaware was launched in 1820 but kept under roof in ordinary until 1827. She served as American commerce and diplomacy ship in 1830 and again in 1833 when she received President Jackson on board with a 24-gun salute. The Delaware was placed in ordinary again from March 1836 until May 1841. In 1861, the Delaware was also burned to prevent being captured by the Confederacy.
USS Columbus (1819)
The second Columbus also had 74 buns and was launched on March 1, 1819. The Columbus served as a flagship for Commodore Bainbridge in the Mediterranean until 1821 and as a receiving ship until 1833 when she was placed in ordinary until 1842. On April 20, 1861, the Union forces sank the ship to her from being captured by the Confederacy.
Here the except from the Secretary of the Navy that Martin Van Buren shared in his 1837 State of the Union Address:
By the report of the Secretary of the Navy herewith communicated it appears that unremitted exertions have been made at the different navy-yards to carry into effect all authorized measures for the extension and employment of our naval force. The launching and preparation of the ship of the line Pennsylvania and the complete repairs of the ships of the line Ohio, Delaware, and Columbus may be noticed as forming a respectable addition to this important arm of our national defense. Our commerce and navigation have received increased aid and protection during the present year. Our squadrons in the Pacific and on the Brazilian station have been much increased, and that in the Mediterranean, although small, is adequate to the present wants of our commerce in that sea. Additions have been made to our squadron on the West India station, where the large force under Commodore Dallas has been most actively and efficiently employed in protecting our commerce, in preventing the importation of slaves, and in cooperating with the officers of the Army in carrying on the war in Florida.
The satisfactory condition of our naval force abroad leaves at our disposal the means of conveniently providing for a home squadron for the protection of commerce upon our extensive coast. The amount of appropriations required for such a squadron will be found in the general estimates for the naval service for the year 1838.
References
“First Annual Message.” First Annual Message | The American Presidency Project, 5 Dec. 1837, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/first-annual-message-4
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/p/pennsylvania-i.html
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/delaware-iii.html
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/columbus-ii.html
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