Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-11-24


be enforced IL the lannon's mouth, is, we
hGd, at this moment, and has been all a.
Tong the subject OF amicable discussion.
Whether ihen we Judge from the existing
state OF The negotiations, from The reason
OF Things, or from the issue of past events
Intimately connected wi h Tins transaction,
we have right 10 indulge the eXpeciali-
on oi IN anne happy and honorable result
IN Tins as ia he other distance.
The ntxt lupic 10 which the President
alIudes is that OF Con Beats, so fertile 4
source OF merrimeut to the opponents OF
the admlnistra ion. Ii is not little curl
Gus that these gentle men, amidst their
deep toned denun: iations against the go
rernment. have all along had some light
matters winch have happily engaged their
talent ior wit and humor. For Il long time
the Mommoth Cheese was the vehicle OF
inilnile pleasantly, aud now novelty being
a necessary ingredient we find their face
uous faculties occupied on gun boats. H.
tn former instance, the republicans salts
he'd themselves with silent admiration al
the bright display OF talents on so barren
II topic; and even ia the latter the same
equvocai Indication OF establishment or IN
difference seems 10 have prevailed. With
out meaning To disturb The playful sports
OF iuXuriant fancy, we proce, d to notice
the ideas suggested by the President
Those, who ae so unfortunate as to be in
sensible TO The charms of wit layished on
this topc, may expect serious notice OF a
measure connected on one hand with a con-
siderable expenditure OF money and on the
other with he defence Of all important
part OF the cou>iry.
Ihe Message presents the text of per-
haps all that can be SAID on the subject.
Ii appears:
|. ! hat the measure has not arisen in
Executive discretion but has actually
proceeded from an ACT Of congress of the
2sth Of February, 1903, which so far as
VIC recollect, passed bo,h houses of con.
Gress with perfect unanimity.
We are informed,
.. THAT gun boats are an obstacle to the
naval enterprise of foreign vessels against
our sea ports.
Is this u just remark? II il is, the nea-
sure Cannot be too highly approved by The
whole community, and particularly by The
commercial part Of it.--This is a point
so entirely technical, that an individual un-
versed in nautical tactics cai:not be expect
ID to discuss 1t in detail. We must ne
ccssariIy resort to The opinions of the best
seamcn.-having made ii Our business 10
make ourselves acquainted with these, we
venture TO assert thai they are uncquivo-
cally in favor of the adoption of ihly mode
q 1Hla he {.
particular purpose, in the power of The u
nited States to adopt. Besides this, eye-
ry one acquainted with the naval arma-
menls Of the European nations knows thai
a certain number Of gun boats forms an
essential part Of them.
3. Their utility towards supporting
w.thInour waters t:ic authority OF The laws"
is recommendation OF them which, i, is
presumed, no man sill dispute.
4. The promptness with which they
may be manned by the seanen and mill
tia Of the place in The moment they are
wanting, and the facility OF their as2e nj
bling from different parts Of the coast to
any point where they are required in
greater lorce than ordinary" give them pc
Collar value 10 a DalIun whose coast is
so extensive, and whose naval armament
is so limited as that of The Unlted States
S. The ec0roBiy of their maintenance
and preservation from d cay when not in
actual service, and Tie competence Of cur
finances To this d, Ir'iaiVe provision without
arv new burther, ave considerations which
Will have due weight with congress in de-
cldugnu the eXpeoiicncy OF adding to their
lumber from year TO year, as erIisr1ence
shaHfesf Mrir ufiiity, until all our import
ant harbors, by these auxiliary means,
shall be secuted against insult and oppo-
sltion TO The laws
We are here presented with two pow
erful arguments in favor of gun boats
first, their economy secondly, their de-
fgns,ve chara6ler.
With the enormous expense Of navy
our readers are dDub less coDversant. In
the British navy tie building and equip.
ing ship of war is supposed 10 cost
thousand pounds sterling gun. . sum but
little below FIVE thousand dollars. The
expenses in this country are considerably
increased. When built, the larger yes.
sells, such as frlga,es and ships of the line,
are generally 81 perishable as not to sur
vlve more than twenty years.--The gun
boat, on the contrary, is susceptible of