The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-17

ecu'ivo had n, ID A,r. Il -~as therefore mr.
per to grant it. Mr.. NJ. said it was prou.r
20 adopt this numbcrif the Thought il neces-
sary to answer the purpose OF defence but
he believed that they were not to take all the
IDEAS of the executive for granted. If they
we're, however, they had nothing to do but
pass such laws as they chose to ask for and
.then adjourn. 1t was the opinion of Mr.. M.
that it was proper to take into consideration
all the modes OF dc ence, and to have the Sc
veral parts Of Il proposed system before
theio thu they mi, HI act with efficiency.
The gentlemen had said that ifthey would
bring forward proposition for erecting ma
Wy, he might vote for it. MIR. Nj wished to
save something for other modes of defence:
IT 1t were only the sum of 4 or 500 600 dollars,
he would wish to save even that sun Some
hint had been given as to the cost of a fri
gate; 1t was not proper now 10 60 into an en-
curry on that; but he would observe, that the
United States had now in hand timber for
five or six "a gun ships, well seasoned. and
which would grow worse instead of better.
from further keeping; they had also canvass
cannon, and other materials necessary 10 c,n-
plete these ships; so that the cost would be
considerably less than would nc necessary if
nothing was prepared for the purpose #
)uil rs Or equipping these frigateS He be-
heyed it would be pursuing true economy 10
erect these vessels, because if the should not
be built, the timber would become useless
and be completely lost TO the United States.
It theref'rc it We're contemplated to build
ships at ALL this was che propi.ious moment to
commence that purpose.
Mr.. NJ. wes not for DELAYING the defence of
the nation; he wished it to hive been com
menced long ego; ; but since they had at length
commenced it, he wished to have The whole
system brought i1to view at once. They
should have well digcstcd plan before them;
not enc part t. day, and one to morrow, bat
the whole system at once, in which he wish
ed to see Included a few ships OF war
Mr. Bi2r1t. The gentleman last IN has
stated that wished this mode of defence, be-
cause 1t was the wish of the executive
T. stated expressly, and the gentleman must SO
nave understood ne, that the committee had
selected this number of gln-boats because
they were informed that IT, number would
be necessary; referred 10 the document
where TINS statement is expressed and where
1T nay BE ifi5'. int to exp. SIS the 1in-
ion that if we built a less number than pcce~-
sary- II would be waste of public money:
and that protection would not be obtained by
less force than nat which is proposed
Mr.. b. also said, that the 88 gun boats would
/ cost 100000 dollars that sum when acDiied
to the building of frig te would not cJnIoiet.
her; and when built she would Curry put "a
guns, cne half The rumbcrof gins wfi;ch would
he carried BY SO gur-boats; besides which,
the cxpence IS rigging and ma clus her 1T for
service would he enormous. Thus. b build
ing one iTigate only at The same cxneAcc IS
would complete IS eln-5oats, the lest ~
guns, besides the additional eXpencc Of fit
ting ont and manning the frig9te nc had,
however, only risen at this time to explain
that he had been misrepresented wien it
was stated that he had SAID ne should v9le
tor this number If gun-hoats, because the ex-
ecutiye had recommended T.
(Dehaie II he con- inued }