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


gentleman would not persist i'll the amend
ment he had offered. The suu, of 100000
dollars would be ariere nothing towards o'p-
tanning even a. small Feet 1t. would take
I'VE or SIX millions to bring such an one into
service. Fin Favour of 54's or any other ships
OF war, this was not the way to get at his OBJ
Ject, his proposition should be perfectly dis
t'nct from this. 1fhewas in favour, of d Rect
ne ought also to be in favour of gin-boats
MI y. would not, however, letain the COM
mittee, any longer; he hoped. they would "a
gree TO this bill entire and disencumbered by
any thing else than what it already contains:
hisis but small part OF a system of de-
fence, said he, but as far as it goes, let us
complete it. - -, -
: Mr SntiHesaid, the question was whether,
they would appropriate a'cersain sam of mo-
me- Tor the defence theilports s. har5ours !:
nc NAG not heard it said, ard he hoDcdit ne
yer weuad be said, that they ought to defend
themselves beyond their own shores. Ee
contessedt'la Inc was now called upon to give
ms. vote upon question. to the decision of
Which he was not competent; but it being his
datv TO decide, he should, in this as OH other
SUBJECTS, with whichhe was not well acquaint-
ed aeineno Npen the opinions cf these who
were. he believed many gentlemen in the
| n oase were in the same situation with him
TWAS the duty ofthe executive to commune
cate information in answer to any enquiries
Which " was necessary to make. They had
performed that duty, and the answers were
IN favor OF gun-bo'ts. Should he then pur-
sue any opinion OF his own in contradiction to
this, when he had no evidence on which to sup
port that opinion? Certainly not; he should
depend upon those who possessed better in
| formation on til. subject than himself, eX-
cept there was something so absurd in their
opinions that he couldnot swallow it.
For ms own part, Mr.. S. conceived that
DuiioinS ,uSates was not the proper mode of
defending oar ports and harbors, and he could
not see, It they were to build frigates, why
an enemy,s t1gates drawing the same depth
OF water and being go much more numerous
| than oars could be, could not come into our ri
VeTs, and capture them whilst gun-boats
conia retire into shallow water from the pur-
snie OF so superior force. He hoped they
shouid nevergo beyond their Goa SITS to contend
"lIh the nation with which they were now at
oIt.erence, SO as to have occasion for large
SHIPS or war; gen boats living in cur waters
wca!d render services, and If pressed by a SUI
pe,ior force, could retreat. 80,
lie hoped that the sea was aot the theatre
on which they meant to defend themselves
ne would venture 10 Prephesy, were that 10
DC lne scene OF contest, that all their ships
would soon swellt the navyot the enemy; and
ne dld believe thatthe system of defence pro-
posed was at leastas suitable to answer its in
tenaed purpose as any other.
MIR. Chandler said, when they had irFor.
| nation from actual examination, that the
contemplated number of gun-boats would be
necessary, ne did believe that the proposed
sum should be appropriated to that object
he gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA who NOV
ed this amendment, protested himself as will
ling to protect our ports and harbors as any
gentleman, but wished to strike out part Of
the number OF gun-boats, in order to adopt
another mode of defence. Admitting that a
1rlsate could be built fcr the sum which would
complete 8o gun-boats could he demonstrate
that the force of Al guns would be equal TO
90 OF heavier metal? Another thing ne would
mention; when they had constructed SO gun
boats, part Of them might be removed, &
they could Increase or diminish the force at
any particular place as occasion might re-
qulrc II they had one frigate in place of
theni, they could not divide her strength, and
II coald be retained at one point only.
Mr.. .Vc-yton said it was not his intention
tn take up the time of the committee in a
disq QUESTION on the subject of eun-boats ::
thouCA were he to attempt it, he had nodoubt
out ne might be equally qualified with some
gentlemen who had displayed their clouucnce
ON tins occasion. lie thought they should now
take into consideration the situation of this
country in relation to Great Britain. WHY
were they now talking of defence, of fortif-
cations, and Of g'ln-ooats? Because they had
arrived ut pcrilous crisis the nation had
been attacked; the blood of it's citizens had
been split, and they must have war, if rena-
ration we're not made. They heard by The
papers that minister was TO be sent to ne
gociate on this subject; but when that minis
ter arrived here. would any gentleman say
that they would receive that PREPARATION which
he was prepared to otIerl He believed not.
When cur affairs we're thus situated, and as
the gentleman froua n. Caroliea (Mr Macon)
said Jew DAYS ago, when they were actually
IN state of 'w3r, ought they not to make a
better use CT their time and the public mo-
ney than in debating on the details Of bill ;
1t treaty with G.. Britain were laid unnp
their table 1T this moment, shonld they FOR
that reason desist from preparations for de-
fence 10; that nation had trampled on
every Moral principle there was no faith
IN her; paper and parchmcnts were no secu-
rity for herg9od conduct. If they wished to
be respected by that power, they must place
themselves in situation to return injury for
injury, to retsliate on her for the violations Of
their rghis. When they did this, they mjs-ht
expect something ike decency Of conduct
or respect for their rights from that power :;
until they put themselves in a situation to