The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-29

atc.y commenced. IL was not to lie expect
ed that a proposal to add To cur naval cytab-
liShmcnt, which had uniformly produced :,
much discussion, would pass through even
this House in two wccss, which would be
too long delay OF defensive operations. II
the gentleman could convince him when the
subject was before the House, that IN increase
of the navy was necessary measure, ne
would vote for it with him ; but the bill should
not now be hampcrcd by u proposition OF this
kind.
Mr.. GGrdrcr felt very conscious of the i'm
portancc of terrifying the various ports and
harbors OF the u. >, and should give the bill
his support on its passage; but he had been
In hopes yesterday that the amendment pro
posed by the gent man from Pennsylvania
would have prevailed. He wished to see the
system of gun boats put into operation and 10
see the efficiency of that mode Of defence
properly tested. There appeared t. be MAN.
different opinions on the subicc. and he
perceived the House would nos be satisfied till
the experiment was tried, and their Utility
known. He was willing that as MANI Cah-
bo2ts tfea'lhe employed as was sufficient for
defence IL those waters whcrG tiicp might DC
useful; but he did not think they would be
efficient in the Northern and Eastern ports
of the L. :. He should be obliged to gentle
men i. they would strike out. part of this
number Of gun boats, and appropriate the
sum applicable to them to another mode of
defence. There appeared 10 be a large ma
iority in favor OF the bill, but if they would be
50 condesccntling as to fortify the Northern
ports il way most agreeable to the people
Interested in their defence, he should feel
gratifcd it. fIe was in favor ofthe amend
ment, though he would rathcra larger mum
Der should be stricken out; and hoped the
question on striking out wouid be carried
whether shrs Of war were inserted or not
1t had been Yesterday said by gentlemen
from Virginia, that if less number were
built than that proposed, they would be use
less. This argument could have no weight
with those who did not think they would at
ford defence At all; but for his own part, he
should vote for any thing in tie shape OF de-
fence, till it should be found insufficient by
experiment.
Notwithstanding all that had been said on
the subject of gln-boats, he had not heard
that they had ever been tried but bv nations
who possessed other naval force. He hoped
the number wonld be stricken out from :.
spirit OF accommodation, ard frigatcs substi-
tutcd for the beats which were assigned to The
ports north and east Of y. York.
Mr.. Biount said, that the House could do
nothing on this subject, were they nclined
while it was under the consideration of . com
mttec of tho whole. The committee on our
military and naval establishments had re
ported blank resolution for building ships
OF war, which was referred to committee
81 III" yhole- If gentlemen wished to have
the whole sable IT before them he would Sug-
gest tothem Il mode OF doing it throw all the
reports from your tables, demolish the COM
mittces WHO made them, and erect one great
committee of defence. He thought himself
that this should have been done in the first
instance bat as another method had been
pursued, gentlemen would better promote the
interest OF their country, and their own views,
by permitting TINS bill to pass, and they might
then call UP tho report on the subject OF a
navy.
MIR. .7Homcs had been Of opinion that it was
proper to reduce this number of gun-boats,
and that the number now proposed to be in
serted was sufficient but since a majority
seemed in favor OF the original number, he
should acquiesce in it. When the subject of
notifications and other objects of defence
shoIld be taken up, he had no doubt but a
liberal disposition would he manifested b. the
House.
Mr.. Bdcon observed that some gentlemen
had undertaken iii themselves to represent
the whole northern part of the union. and had
expressed their wishes thar the House would
cOndesCend to listen To the united prayers 0i
the representatives from those states. He
only rose 10 say, that he for one protested a.
gainst being considered as joining i'll chat re-
quest. He was Of opinion that the mode en-
braced by the bill would better accord with
the sentiments of the people of the northern
states, than that which those gentlemen had
proposed. he had no intention to make any
calculations on the subject, because he did
not consider himself qualified to do ii: bat
would barely observe that were the quest on
fairly tried in the northern interest, ,hoAc gen
t!cmsn would be found in the negative
MIR. Gardner said he did not pretend to
represent larger portion of the northern
country than fell to his lot bu. the reason
why he urged the cXpCdiency of this amend
mcnt, was that lie perceived that one mode
of defence was brought forward to drain Il
large sum of money from the treasury, which
might exclude others Ire also concei, ed that
there was propricty in uniting g1n-boats
and frigates together. This mode had been
brought forward by the chairman of the
committee of ag9ressions; and was to be
,Crammed down their throsts whether they
would or not Why should not the northern
states have a chance for their mode of de-
fence, as we'll as tho southern statcs' lie
was willing those states should have them,
but wished other states also to have their
wish. They had been told that this mode
was recommended by the heads Of depart
ments; he was only sorry that it was nos re-
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