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

hNcf some conversation on TINS motion, the
committee rose-Aycs 66-Nays 43--and
the chairman reported progress in the gun
boat and Notification bills.
On wish being expressed now to Censi-
ter the bill, which passed through the COM
mittec OF the whole, for building g'm boats,
1T appeared that no agreement to the bill had
been reported.
When, On motion that the House immedi-
ately resolve itself into committee OF the
who'c on this bill, there wcre--Avcs So
Nays S.. The Speaker decided in the af-
iirmativc
The House being againn committee, Mr..
BURw ELL moved that the committee now
rise and report their agreement to the bill
Tor building gun-boats, and report progress
ON the bill for Notifications.
a conversation of some length took place
on the motion, when il was agreed to-Ayes
66--Nays a.
The committee accordingly rose, and re-
ported All agreement to that bill
"WEDNESDAY, December 9.
he House took up FOR consideration the
bill for building gun-boats, Yesterday report
ed by the committee of the whole.
Mr. OureH said, as there appeared to be
a considerable diversity of opinion on this
shn-boat business, and as number OF gen
tlemen from the North did not readily ral
into the scheme of the Southern gentlemen,
and as he was from the North, he woaid
state some reasons why this bill should not
pass. He thought as every gentleman APP
peared to think, that this was crisis which
called for union and great. eXcrlion: the
greal OBJECT was TO arm the nation to meet an
event which they would be called to meet
ere long. The question was now an one spc-
cies of this arming, on WHICH there were diff
ferent opinions. He could have wished that
the whole subject of defence could have been
before the House at the same time, and that
it could have been considered. 1t appear
ed to be conceded on all hands that fortiiica-
tons were necessary, and gun-boats mi ght be
useful TO certain extent; but something
more than gun-boats were necessary, to wit !:
ships of war of some magnitude. This doc
tribe might be considered hercsy in that bo-
d. for aught he knew, bet he felt it his duty
to express his opinion on the subject.
1t appeared that in addition to iortifcati-
ons the precise number of 1873 gun boats was
called for: question had been asked why
that number was exactly calculated as being
necessary; the chairman of the committee
who reported the bill, states that this mum
Der was thought necessary by the Executive
department. 1t was not to the system of
gun boats that he had an objection, for he
tldI 10 certain extent IDsN might
he useful; but he did not believe that gun
boats III connection with Notifications, would
sta'n the end for which they were acknow-
tcQES ~ 10 5roFesc,t. IN ~, bis eve .
yer the documents before him, he perceived
that gun boats were assigned to certain stu
ations in the North, where lie was confident
they could never be of use. He was positive
of this fact. Four gun boats were assigned
to the port ofPortsmonth, n. II. He would
appeal to gentlemen in the house acquainted
with the situation of that port, whether they
seriously believed that four gun boats, or that
twenty would be of any service there 1t
wasimpossiLle that they should the situat-
on of the port, the strength and rapidity CT the
tide were such that they could not be used.
The same observation would apply to anum-
Der of ports east of that; it was generally
conceded that gun boats were not calculated
for deep and turbulent waters, the Nothern
shores were not sand banks, and gentlemen
seemed to think these were necessary to al
low gun boats todefend even themselves.
He saw that for the ports OF Norfolk and
New-York there were assigned large num-
Der of gun boats; he was inclined to believe
that number of frigatcs to the amount OF tie
eXpence Of these gan boats, would be more
coasonant with the wishes of the people in tho
mouth OF the Hudson, than so many gun boats
IL nlt DCcil StdtCtl III lIiS course OF DEBATE
on this subject, that these boats were cheap
defence, and easily attaihable Mr. ID. said
he had taken the trouble to make COMPARE
tive calculation of their eXpenCe it was not
10 be sure from official documents before him
but it was sufficient to convince him, that
they were at least sequaly expensive with
ships of heavier metal. The House had be-
fore them statement, in which the cost Of
lym-bolts wds precisely stated, and it would
be found that the expence ofbuildirg and sup
Porting at sea E gun-boats for one year would
amount to more than 100000 dollars. He
found by recurring 10 documents in MS hand,
the expence Of British ships Of war estimated
at G1OOO sterling per gun. Taking that CAL
cuIation for the expenditure here, he found
that forty gun ship would amount 70 az,
600 dollars and rather more; which was
less than building and supporting at sea for
one year 16 gun-boatS. He would appeal Ia
any gentleman, (who had experience in ma
val affairs) ifany sucfr were within the walls
of tire House, whether a Al gun ship, not
withstandinS il belonged to the navy. and
that this navy such as it was, had been de-
nounced as a disgrace to the country who
thcr IA gan ship would not be Of more If
feet and better calculated to protect that city
and its trade, than 16 Gun boats'
One hundred and twcnty-cisht g1n-boats
TO Norfolk and New York. Tne rxpcnee of
81, one half Of this number, would be fully
ec,,oI the n,s,,o,re. IS f,,r- 4 ,-,,,