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

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,,

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,,
TUESDAY, Dec. s.
CeSGte on the bH fi'om tie Senste anthori
sing The bviif;sg IF gua-boats and .for The
defence QfhorfS and harbOrs
(CoNTINUED)
Mr.. Sloan said he rose togve the commit
tee little information on this subject, paiti-
cularly the gentlemen from n. York and Mas
sachusctts, who were so much alarmed on
this occasion. Mr.. S. then stated that during
the revolutionary war, at the time the British
army made an attack on Philadelphia, piers
were sank in the channel of the Delaware,
in direction suited to the position oftlre fort,
and chains extended from one to the other.
This fortified the port above completely, in
somuch that it detained the British vessels of
war from proceeding further He barely
mentioned this historical fact otake off from
the surprise which had been manifested by
some gentlemen 1T this proposition.
The amendment was then agreed to Ayes
So.
Mr. Gi3ynt moved ~ I'll the blark for be
sum to be appropriated for fortifcation,,
with "one million" His reason for naming
this sum was, that there remained in the
Treasury Unexpendcd OF former appropria-
tions about S 5000; 10000 were si:ffici-
ent to complete the fortihcaton ,fthose places
which we're susceptible OF defence by means
of Notifications and it was believed, and he
was authorized to say that the sum of : geo,
COO would be sufficient to erect the works in
the harbor cf n. Y. in case of the assent of the
legislature.
The sum Of S 10000 was then named
Eir. hIastcrs said that fortifcations were
one part CT our defence, and gun boats were
another. The select committee had report
ed beth these modes liz one bill, as Intimately
come Cted together. The sum for each object
| should be propcrtionate, according to the ex-
tent Of their utility. The 199 gun boats
which the bill provided for, would cost 6 $40,
coo, and to keep them, with those already
built, lii actual service for one wear, would
cost the nation the additional SUN of three
millions of dollars. The sum Of fifteen hund-
red Thousand dollars, which he had moved
| for Qualifications, bore no proportion to the
other appropriation, according to the mpor-
tGncc CT the object; it was to be remember-
ed that this sum was TO be applied to more
than thirty different places. He wished
| therefore the bill for building gun boats might
not nc hurried cut Of their hands, until he
could have time to prepare an amendment to
reduce the number Of gun boats and provide
for building some ships of war, unless the
Use would agree to raise the sum intended
for fortifcations, to enable the President to
erect formidable fort on Flag StnffHill, and
rows, to prevent erenv's ships sailing ipto
the ha,bGl' "a EsW-icrl Re had heer ~.
formed by Captain Williams, who was a very
skilful engineer, that fort could be erected
at the Narrows, which would discharge 100
heavy cannon in minute. The Notifications
On Governors ISLAND and the contemplated
works at the battery and on Bedow's island,
w, We only intended TO prevent ships of war
| laying against and firing upon the town no
I l.. II
works with fifty gun boats to be assigned for
| NewYork, were sufficient defence for that
important city. These gentlemen whose ia
vorlte system of defence was gun boats, he
trusted would not object to a liberal appro-
Driation for his system. He understood the
| honorable gentleman from Pennsylvania,
| (Mr Smiiie) &c say, that he objected to any
defence by frigates, because where one fri
/ gate was, another could come, and because
! gHn bo0tS could run out of the wav. This
argument amounts to this, (said Mr.. M } that
| frigates will have to fight, and gun boats to
run out Of the way to avoid fighting and fer
that very reason he should prefer frigates,
which would make great addition to our ma
tional strength.
| 1t had been said, if they have Notifications,
they could not prevent an enemy from land
! ing. The consideration for the House was.
what places were most vulnerable to attack
and upon such places to erect Notifications
! II Gn enemy could land near city or town.
! Improved that forts and batteries were abso-
luteiy necessary, for the defence of such cities
andtowns. He discarded halfway measures :
if narrow selfish policy prevailed, the natl
| on would experience the fatal effects of it. If
the nation responded, it would not be for the
want of men or of small arms it would be
| from their measures, and he feared their gun
boat plans, would paradise the whole system of
national defence.
/ Mr. Fisk said the gentleman last up had
/ told them the sam was too small the chair
man Of the committee of aggressions had made
/ the enquiry of the proper officer, wilose duty
/ it was to make up the estimates and the re-
suit of that enquiry was reported to the House.
! That officer had tod them what sum was ne
cessaryf and che House would not take the
/ Gcntcman's declaration that there would be
a deficiency tcr ne had produced nothng
! but assertion IN support Of his declaration.
/ We're The committee, because a large sum
made i respectable appearance, toappropri-
! ste more th"u was necessary to answer the
purpose lie thought not they had suflici-
cntoccasion furthc;T money. The gentleman
did not appear torcCoIlect that Congress fad.
! year aitcr ycG", been granting money, milf
ons he might say, Tor Notifications if this
| had occurred 90 the gentleman, it might havc
| lr..orsI rI.0 tt,as4talify ,uI,;rb