The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-01-07 00:00:00, page 2

POST-ROAD FROM WHEELING
TO MARIETTA.
A Petition tor this object is now at the
Office ot the Repository, for signature.
C O N G R E S S.
House or Representatives.
December 10.
Gun-Boats.
[On the passage of the bill from the
Senate, appropriating money for buihi
ing 188 additional gun-boats, consider
able debate took place relative to the ef
ficiency of gun-boats for the defence of
our ports and harbours. Our limits do
not permit us to publish many of the
speeches delivered on this subject.—
We select the speech of Mr. Burwell,
ol Virginia, in favour of the gun-boat
system, and the remarks of Mr. Quin
cy, of Massachusetts, on its inc fficacy.J
Mr. Bl rwei.l observed, that in case
of a contest with G. Britain, he thought
it would he in vain to attempt to defend
our commerce on the high seas. If all
Europe were unable to do this, how
could the United States effect it ? IIis
policy would be, in case of a war with
Great-Britain, to defend the property in
the towns and cities, and should the
British land troops in the United States,
to be prepared to repel them. If a war
snouiti take ])lacc, tile resources of the
country, arising from imposts, would he
cut up, and at the time they would he
demanded, it would he found impossi
ble to collect taxes. IIow then think of
a contest of that sort, in which we would
be sure to l>e the losers ?
He had no hesitation in declaring it
as his opinion, that we were totally in
capable of combating with England on
the ocean. This country had not the
necessary resources. Jt must relv on
the effect produced in England hy the
want of its commerce, and on taking
possession of their valuah e possessions
in its neighbourhood.
Gentlemen seemed anxious for large
vessels for the protection of the ports
and harbours of the Unit l States.—
Suppos that tin re were TO UK 44\% or
tv>. n a greater number, lying in the har
boui of New-York, would that prevent
the llritish from laying any other town
on the sea-hoard under contri! u.ion ?
Any naval force the United States
could build, would he useless, so long
as England could bring a greater naval
j force against them. Gun-boats were
| more useful, because they could be mo
ved from point to point as necessity re
quired.
Every one appeared to be impressed
with the necessity for this kind of 'de
fence to a certain extent. This, so far,
was an evidence that it was a proper
mode ot defence. He thought it the
best mode at present practicable. He
thought too the number provided for by
the bill the proper number ; for that
number, together with those already on
hand, were thought adequate, with the
aid of land batteries, to the defence of
our most important towns.
He was not acquainted with the origin
of gun-boats, but he believed all the na
tions of Europe were in the habit of us
ing them. England herself had upwards
of two hundred of them, and they had
been highly recommended by naval of
ficers of the United States. One reason
why he wished to confine them in their
operation to the defence ot towns, was,
that he thought them adequate to that
defence. But if it was attempted to
drive Great-Britain from the ocean, it
would he found in vain : the whole U
nited Slates, sold at auction, supposing
there were persons able and willing to
purchase, would not defray the expense
of such an experiment.
i he expense, or gun-boats, according
to the estimate of the secretary of the
navv, appeared greats but he had no
doubt it would be reduced, when great
er experience; had been gained in build
ing them. The present boats were sea
vessels, lie was an enemy to that con
si ruction; they were unnecessarily large.
J hey wouhl hereafter be built on a
smaller scale, as they would not be
wanted for sea voyages.
As to the expense of keeping gun
boast in service, he thought eleven thou
sand dollars per annum entirely too
much, and he would never vote for it.
But the committee thought it practica
ble to devise some plan of arming those
boats in a short time from the neigh
bouring population. At Norfolk, f>!)
boats were to he stationed. It would
he easy to draw from the popul ition of
that place and its neighbourhood, a suf
ficient number to man them, and so in
other places. With respect to the ap
portionment of the gun-boats to the se
veral points mentioned, it was not in
tended to be permanent. They could
he removed at pleasure to wherever
most wanted.
The gentlemen Appeared to place
great reliance on large ships for the pro
tection of ports and harbours. They did
not appear to have answered that pur
pose at Copenhagen.; nor did they ap-.
pear to have been of more service at
Huvanna. At Havanna in 17b2, the
British took twelve sail of the line from
the Spanish, though they were protected
by one of the strongest batteries in the
world. He believed that the want of
ships had saved the country from war,
ancl he wished it not to have them.
The gentleman from Connecticut had
acknowledged that some gun-boats were
necessary, but said they were the only
mode of defence proposed. The gen
tleman was surely aware that there were
a number of other propositions for de
fence before the house : for erecting
fortifications,—for raising troops,—for
arming the militia, &c. With this
knowledge, how coulu the gentleman
make such an observation ?
Upon the whole, it w as to him a mat
ter of doubt whether the number was
sufficient. If he thought them r ore
than sufficient he would vote against the
bill. If he thought them altogether use
less he would vote against it; or if gen
tle m n would bring forward some more
eligible mode of defence, lie would sup
port it. He had no prejudices in favour
of any particular plan. His object was
to place tne country in a state ot cle
ft nee, that it might not be unprepared
should nn enemy appear.
Mr. Quincy said that he had not in-,
tended to have taken any part in the de
bate on the bill. Hut as he considered
it his duty to put his negative upon it,
and as an honourable colleague of his
had stated it, as his opinion, that a ma
joiity of the people of the Northern
states were in favour of*such a number
of gun-bouts, he felt compelled to make
a few observations upon the measure*
He would not presume to assert u hut
wr cite sentiment of the great body of
the Northern section ot the Union upon
this subject* He kn< w of no mode by
which their sentiments could he col
lected ; he never knew they had been
expressed ; ai\d certainly he could not
pretend to vouch for them. Hut as lar
as he had any knowledge upon the sub
ject, he deemed it his duty, after the
broad assertion of his colleague, to state
it to the house.
As this had been a subn et fr qucntly
under the contempl ition ot Congress, ho
had felt it his duty to seek such inior