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

lt'u'N', which WIS inc ODJect ticy row WIS'le q
to accomplish. lie knew a number Of gen
E,,emcA VINO were formerly greatly opposed 60
this mode of detence; but no sooner was the
outrage on The Chesapeake committed. than
they embraced the opinion in favor of their
utility, and were convinced that the country
Could not adopt better mode. What were
these gnn-boats- contemplated bv the bill ,
| hey were vessels that could carry heavy
metal 80 Founders; they were indeed r1ovea-
bic notifications. If p vessel were to pass
Modification, and number Of gun-boats were
! 20 pursue her; they would ultimately free
that vessel TO surrender Suppose, said he
there were AN eneny's fleet upon our coast
and they were to understand, that we had a
number of gun-boats prepared for their re-
! ceptlon, would that feet come within our
waters No. The reason was evident thew
| Knew that our boats would make riddles
| of their vessels; because in those situations
gui-hoats could act where large vessels could
not turn round TO defend themselves. Mr.
n. had understood from naval officers of very
great skill. that a number of well construct
| ed gun-ooats were to be placed under their
command, they would risk their reputation
on the preventing an enemy's squadron from
entering orr waters; and he doubted not,
IRON tae known character ofthe naval officer
at Norfolk, as well as other officers in our SER
wee, but that they would prove the efficacy
OF that means Of defence, whenever an CD
porjunity offered
When our naval force was employed at
; lrpol', where that gentleman who was now
no more so conspicuously oiistin9lH shed him
self, did he place entire reliance upon his
ships CT war? No. Did he not procure cum
boats, & from their assistance did he not make
considerable impression upon that power
lie nd SO; and was comics: d bv the DOW
| er itself on whom the attack was made
There was one object, Mr.. n. said, which
should certainlybe considered By the House
| it was this; that if they did go to war with
Great-Britain they could not carry on an in
tercourse from one part of the u S. to the
| other by sea, because the enemy being in I'M
] doubted possession of the ocean, our vessels
could not venture out This communication
must be carried on by inland navigation and
1t any gentleman would examine the man of
the y. ,. he would find that canal which
would connect the waters of N Carolina with
those of Chesapeake bay, was almost com
Pieatcd, as well as other canals, which would
suffice for the transportation of the produce
OF one part Of the country to the other Now
If they did not keepthe Chesapeake clear Of
prvateers, they would totally deprive the
people of even this mode of CONVEYANCE.
! his was certainly an object of considerable
Importance
Mr.. n. concluded by saving, that convinc-
ed as he was, that the mode of defence BY
lgun-boats would be of great benefit to the
people on the sea coast, and might prevent
their Houses from being battered about their
ears, he should be decidedly opposed to the
amendment proposed by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania.
Mr. Gardener said, that although he was
not one OF those who entertained great pas
SIGN for gun-boats, yet he could see certain
situations IN which they would be useful in
! AID OF toreihcatioDs; but they should be re-
stricted to a certain number The mode of
Iortitlcation which was proposed was by grn
boats and batteries; and the proportonate
expenditure for these two objects, how rnuch
for one, and how much for tn. other. was a
subject which would engage the attention of
the House when il came properly before them.
tie should feel no objection to vote for the
whole number Of gun-boats, were he certain
at the same time that enough would be an
propriated for land batteries and other OBJ
| jcctS.
Mr.. G. thought the first th;H- - be corsi
dcred was the end to be accomplished; and
afterwards the means to accomplish that
end. Instead OF this he had perceived dis
position in certain gentlemen to enquire fret
what were our means, and to determine from
! their extent what might be done The coun-
try from which he came, notwithgt andirp
the faVorite theory Of gun-boaes, would b..
better satisfied with permanent substantial
| notifications; other places might tie better
defended by gun-boats, ard he had no chico
ton that they should DC allotted to those places.
1t seemed that a certain sum had been rct
apart sor gpn-boats, and certain sum for
Notifications, the two making q sutn total FIR
defence & protection against foreign bowers.
1T certain circunscribCd sum only were to
be appropriated ifthc 'Cfcasurv could spare
but certain limited sum, ard part of that
sum was to be appropriated to each part of
the system, he should be in favour Of reduc-
ing the nuntber Of gun-Loats, that more mo
ncY might be applied to Qualifications. Upon
the whole, however, ic Thought they might
g0 into committee Of the whole on the other
bill Tor Qualifications; and they could then de-
tcrmine whether both objects could be fIllv
accomplished IF both could he accomplish
ed. having 10 objection to sufficient number
of Sun-boats, he should be satisfied if not.
he snouid wish to take from guu-boats and
add to the Notifications. Under these i'm
prcssions, lie should vote against tho amend
men. at present
Tho motion for striking ont the words
"anf Lightweight" was then negatived-
Ayes n.
The bill from the Senate being gone thro'
&c committee took up for Consideration the
bill supplementary to an act for erecting for