From lines 9–20 of “Old Ironsides,” you can infer that the speaker believes that?

Her deck, once red with heroes' blood,
Where knelt the vanquished foe,
When winds were hurrying o'er the flood,
And waves were white below,
No more shall feel the victor's tread,
Or know the conquered knee;--
The harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea!

Oh, better that her shattered bulk
Should sink beneath the wave

The speaker believes that Old Ironsides is no longer useful, and that once brought into port, the ship will be stripped and dishonored. The speaker would rather see the ship sunk and remembered than torn to pieces.