Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-12-15
[Debate tobe continued I
(Tuesday's proceedings continued.

1uesday'S proceedtngs c0n1inntd.J
On motion of Mr.. BurzveH, the house wer
into committee of the whole on the bill tror
the senate for building gun-boats, and the BIZ
for terrifying our ports, as reported by Tn
committee ofaggressions; MIR. 6assef IN tn
chair.
The bill from the senate being still nnde
consideration,
Mr.. l4llsaor said, when he was on tho Hoo
yesterday, and interrupted by the messag
from the President, it was his intention t
have moved an amendment. The bill pro
yided for building 1873 gun boats ne move.
to strike out the words g and eighty eight
so as to reduce the number to one hundred
He thought an hundred gun boats III addition
to those they already had, would be FULLY sui
fcicnt, if they also adopted other modes Q
defence. He had yesterday stated that ne dlt
not believe the building additional iortiicatl
ons and an additional number OF gun-boats
would effect the object which appeared to be
contemplated by the committee. lie confess
ed he did not place as much reliance IN gun
boats as some gentlemen did. While nc
thought they might be useful in aid OF lane
batteries or frigates, it was also his opinion
that if gentlemen examined the statement re-
spectilg different acts ofaggressions by GER
tain power, they would find that not one SIN
gle act of aggression could have been pre-
vented or punished by any batteries on LAND
or gun boats in aid of them. They were no,
committed in the face of our batteries, or in
that part of our ports and harbors where gun
boats could have acted with effect; they were
committed within the mouths of our rivers
or Just outside them. He thought the con-
strucsion of a few frigates would be expcdient
in addition to those now in our possessioll.--
They might act with guu-boats and might
drive any foreign nations either to the neces-
sity Of bringing large force on our coasts,
and keeping it all together, by which the
number of their aggressions would be lessen
ed, or expose their fleets to force which
would be able to avenge the insults offered TO
u.s. He was not of opinion that they
ought to have large navy, nor was he a
friend to one but he thought a few ships
would be of essential service. He was Of
opinion that one ship of this country acting on
our coasts, would give them a power OF re.
pulsion equal to the force of three or four
ships of foreign nation and would compel
the enemy at all times to be on their guard,
and to keep their fleet together. His object
was, as he had expressed it, 10 reduce the
number of gun boats, because the number
proposed would draw more money from the
treasury than was necessary for this purpose,
and because he wished to retain littls money
for other modes of defence.
I p.,s-,aU 49,: 4 l. % - I'LL ..ot>
the amendment proposed, and ia favor Of
the number reported by the committee of
aggfessions, as contained in the bill from
the senate now under discussion. II ap.
peared TO Mr.. 3. that the gentleman from
Pennsylvania had taken very iucorrec.
view Of the subject. That gentleman has
objected TO this law because is did not make
provision for ships Of war to serve as
defence TO our commerce. and because ha
supposed the committee had taxed up this
mode obedience in preference to any o.
ther.
Mir b. said thA il must be obvious 10
every gentleman chat it was slim ost impos.
sible 10 have crowded into one bill all the
measures Of defence which might become
necessary; thus il contained 40 provision
for arming the militia, for raising stand
ing army, building or repairing frigases,
&c. The only question now was. OF
building number Of gun boats for defence
against the attacks ola foreign nation. He
thought sufficient oumbcr should a. once
BE- authorised for if the number were in.
sufficient TO answer the intended purpose,
the money expended in their purchase
would be SO much thrown away, 80 ;nn CT
expended from which the public would
derive 40 benefit. The opiaioua Of those
msn bess acquainted with the force which