The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-22
mo. g.!

of -i:e river It was understood by the COM
mittee that the people of New York very ge-
morally agreed, thatit might De necessary for
the more efIectual protection of the CITY, that
certain obstructions should be placed IN their
waters, such as sinking blocks in the river.
The committee also understood, that the Pre-
sident OF the y. s. would not, without the
consent OF the Legislature of New-York, a.
gree to place any distractions in their waters
ihe amendment proposed was intended TO
give him the power to do tiff the legislature.
should think fit to give their consent; and
whcn II was necessary to fill the blank in the
Bill, Mr. Is. said he should add to the sum
reported on a former occasion, as much as
would be sufficient to meet that object,
Mr.. Masters said, If the amendment of the
gentleman from n. Carolina, (M.. Blount)
had fnr its object to authorize the President
to dam up Hudson river by sinking blocks, he
trusted the good sense of the committee.
would reject sdcha preposterous proposition.
he injurious consequences OF such aIs e>.Fe.-
rinental measure to the city of New York &
the state at large, would be bevond caIcula-
ton. 1t would in all human probability inun-
date, in high freshes, considerable part of
the town ; and in low water in the summer
season to prevent the influx of water as to
cause the tide to recede more than thirty
miles, and ruin number OF most f9arishinp-
towns one hundred and seventy niles up the
river. The effects would be ruinOus to one
Of the finest rivers in the world It was a
fact we'll known that sinking the piers of
Westminster bridge in the river Thames
caused the tide to recede in th>t river up
wards OF seven miles; taking the same data
icr calculation, and the tide in Hudson river.
would recede more than fifty miles, This, said
Mr.. M. is q visionary scheme TO evade the re-
al object of defence, ~ to introduce false
notions Of economy. Whenever we attempt
to make appropriations for permanent forts
and batteries, eNpencc and economy are
brought forward rs IN objection. The OBJ
jects of necessary defence & prudent, we'll
regulated economy can be easily reconciled :;
but your plausible and popular sound Of econ
omy, which is always the sweeping argu
ment when this and similar measures are un-
der consideration, islike fine net, which is
intended to catch everv thing both great and
small. Ii may serve for fine fancy to Gil
up speech with ; but will not answer for.
Notifications. It will endanger the nation by
keeping us defenceless and weak, tempt sue
cess, and invite the destruction Of our sea-
port towns Where then will be YOUR econ
omv
It viii be more FOR the advantage Of New
y trk not to have any appropriation even to
have the city laid under con tributicn rather.
than have their harbor destroyed. The dis
advantages of natural obstruction. by sand
En-
rope and America, are so obvious to the
most common capacity. as to be conclusive a.
ga'nst making artificial ones. What is cal
led good harbor Is tnot depth cf water
T. admit the free passage Of ship Of any
size with GOOD archorine ground and land
locked. New-York has every natural ad-
vantage which It is our duty to protect, and
no, DESTROY. How often have the citizens Of
New-Fork huInbled themselves bvpetitions,
CT-
their heads with disappointment. Shall we
~ tell them that the general government
has concluded u defend them by making
dam across the channel. For Gods sake, let
Us lev aside these doctrines and chimerical
schemes, and adopt some rational system, and
persevere in it, 1t is of The most essential
concern to that city /; If is measure of the
highest Importance to the nation. Some gen
tlemcn say, New-York cannot be fortified
from its situation. Ihave been informed bv
those who are veneratcd for their age, men
venerated for their talents, & military skill,
men almost adoned and veneratcd for their
military and political services, that -. York
is capable Of being defended against the at
tack OF the most powerful force, by forts and
batteries aided by block ships. and ships Of
war. Tell us then candidly and plainly, will
YOU protect and defend us, or win you not
Mr.. Bfotrt said, that the gentleman from
New-York had worked himself into consiI
derable fermcnt on this occasion. If he had
attended to what had been said Just now, he
would have understood that the President Of
the Quilted States had determined to place
no obstruction whatever in their waters, ex-
cept the assent Of the Legislature Of New
York should be previously given. Tt was
thought proper that An appropriation should
he made to meet this purpose if that Assem-,
should be given. The gentleman certainly
knew that an opinion was prevalent in New
York, that by placing distractions which
would net tend to destroy the navigation ofthc
river, better protection would be afforded
than by any Notifications whatever and that
millions tens millions he might say, would not
be sufficient for combleating Notifications on
land, which would afford az cfFectnal protec-
ton Us that mode. lie could assure that gen
ticman that he had now before him three diff
tercnt estimates Of the cxp-nce of placing
these obstruction3 i'll three different places in
that river rs well as soundings which had
been taken for that purpose by cant. Chaun-
cey OF tho United States Navy. The gentle
man might also rest assured. that if the legis.
laturc Of Ncw-York should choose TO aufho-
rise this measure, it would not totally block
up the channel as lie had supposed
Mr.. Quincy said, he would only ask tho
gentleman from North-Caroiina as 70 his pre-.
ffcs AZ.