The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-31
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
TUESDAY, Dec. 8.

4
| [coHTINUED)
Mr.. S0cc9e7' said, it was not his intention
to trouble the House often with his observa.
tons; tor being but young member. he sal
thcre more Tor the purpose of acquiring in.
formation than of giving it; nor should he
have risen at this time, had not his duty com.
PEELED him to reply to some remarks, and tc
oppose the amendment offered by the gentle
man from New-Hampshire {Mr. Durelll
The gentleman wished the u States to have
fleet; to have four AZ gun frigates to assist
in the defence Of New-York. For his own
part, Mr.. s. wished the u. s. were in such a
situation as to enable them to usher into ex-
| istcnce fleet capable Of annihilating at one
| blow the whole navalpower of England, which
had SO long proved scourge to all nations,
| and to this nation in particular that such a
lconsummation was devou.ly to be wished :
but the attainment of such an object bv the
| U. $. was. utterly impossible: they had not
| means wherewith to do it, and an ATTEMPT
| which should fall short of the end, would do
the nation more injury than good, by tending
| to swell the already overgrown naval power
81 U. Is Atprescnt, he must say, he was ell
tlIely opposed to naval establishment, and
| differed entirely with the gentleman from
Massachusetts, upon the propriety of anv
| such establishment in the present situation
| of affairs /; he wished to have nothing to do
with any establishment unconnected with a
system OF land defence. There was 4 time
when anaval establishment might have been
consistent with national policy when a ma
| val armament such as could then have been
constructed, might have been instrumental,
| by proper management, in maintaining the
balance ofnaval power in Europe that time
was, when the combined Reets of France.
| Spain and Holland, were nearly a match for
the British naval force but that time was
now elapsed; that opportunity, which might
nave been so advan,ageously seized, was,
| through an unfortunate prejudice in favor of
one nation and against another, suffered to
escape UNDECIDED. They now saw the effects
of that policy; the fleets Of France, Spain
and Holland, were swept from the ocean ::
the British navy retained the undisputed pos
session OF every sea, and it would be an OK
travagaDt undertaking in the u. S to attempt
the creation OF y naval force calculated to
| make serious impression upon CT. B. they
would become the mere ship wrights of G.
B. who wouldbe ready to receive their ships
as fast as they could be launched. Gould
they erect navy equal to that which Den
mark had possessed. Could they build and
equip twenty-four sail of the line at once 2
1fthey could do this, experience had fatally
| shewn, that so far from aiding in the defence
against it England, with a superior force,
would soon convert them into means of of
fence against this nation. But it would not
be in the power Of the ". S. encumbered as
they were by great national debt, and
cramPt in their resources by Interruptions of
their trade, to provide a navy as respectable
as that of Denmark was and surely any
smaller force could not be contemplated. Let
us then, said he, apply our limited means to
mode of defence on which more reliance
may be placed; let us in the first place put
our ports and harbors in such state of de-
fence as will, in great degree, prevent our
feeling the want of navy.
To effect this object he said they must have
recourse to gun-boats. He did not conceive this
means Of defence to be sotriviai as the gentle
man from New-Hampshre Mr. Durel) see
med to think themS not that they could be re-
lied on as an efficient system Of defence by
themselves; not that they were to expel the
British squadron from our shores Though it
was thought they could effect that object J
but because in conjunction with land batteries
* Notifications they would ensure some safety
of persons and property in our seaport towns.
BY judiciouS management, by disposition III
shoal waters, SO as to aid the batteries on
shore, they might be the means of prevent
ing our cities from being plundered and burn
Ell, ana our BANKS anu stores from Dclng rln-
ed of their wealth. In this point of view,
he considered them as part of 4 land defence,
totally unconnected with navy ; they were
not to go into deep water; the ocean was
not their element they were TO remain in
stations from which they might afford the
greatest assistance to Our forts and batteries,
and when hard pressed or overpowered by
force they could take shelter under them
! This, said Mr.. 5. is the great advantage they
have over heavy ships, there being no danger
of their capture while we can maintain pos
session OF our forts. He did not calculate
upon their always escaping unhurt; he trust
ed they would not be too much given TO run
ming they would no doubt be sometimes hit,
and he trusted their brave seamcn would
sometimes expect to suffer and would not
shrink from the danger. He trusted they had
at present many mariners ready To emulate
the glorious eX3 Of those brave fellows
who devoted themselves for their country at
! Tripoli /; but what would stimulate their Cou-
rage and inspire them with confidence, was
that these boats presented but a small mark
to their adversary, while he at the same time,
owing tohs superior bulk, would scarcely e.
yer be missed, and one Of their six and thir-
ty Founders would make no small impression
upon large ship; the wound would be dan
gerOus, and if as he was told would be the
case, they fired red hot shot, very often NOR
tai. These boats in cooperation with forts