Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-01-04

Of our potts and harbors.
[oosTINuED.I
Mr.. GARDENER said, that tho 10 favor
of uavy, vet he shought this topic would
be better discussed az another time. As
TO- CUR boats, there seemed 70 be various
opinions 90 their utility; he .hought il.
better upon the whole that this bill should
pass. For himself he should vote for the
highes. number; not so much that he be-.
lieyed ia the efficacy of these feeble ma.
chimes, being of contrary opinion; but
because it was an experimental measure.
Ii was a matter of speculation whether
these gun boats would answer the desired
purpose or not ;fif not, the natien would
lose The money expended on them, utthey
would have made an experiment OF their
efficacy, and il would not be tried again
it on The contrary they did answer, aud the
uumber should be more than necessary,
il would be an excellent surplus. Al.ho'
he should vote 10 this manner, be did no,
wish it to be understood that he was at al
friendly to gun boats he had with others
been guilty Of laughing at these hos,s,
which had been so much complained Of,
The nation had been accustomed to the
operations OF cur infant navy so fasas it
had developed It's powers, IT'S success had
dane honor sothe nation, aud had also pro.
dnced sentiment 10 other nations, which
was calculated TO impress the people 10 This
country in its favor. The navy and qua
boats never came 10 con.acs withous pro-
ducirg comparisons uufavorable TO the<lae.
ter. Our commerce had been amply Sc.
cured by the protection which this infant
navy had afforded il. II was no. there.
fore to DC wondered tia, i, had been popa.
lar. |. was still popular, and the only OBJ.
lection was to the expence attendant on II.
When, however, the navy was Suffered to
go into decay, when thar svs,em zess.s.
m end. d by St,c au,bor OF the uotes on Viz.
ginia, was abaodoHed, these gun boats were
introduced. He agreed with the gentleman
from North Carolina thar gun boats were
GO par, of navy quo boats did not attach
exclusively to the ocean orfofhe land, but
belonged 70 both; the gen,lemsa was
therefore RICH, when discussing thia sub-
sect, not 20 consider ,hem as naval arma-
ment, but rs land defence.
40 q government: ike this, it must be
expected that great many men would
have their different speculasions If the
house determined to adopt no system but
that which me, with universal approbatioo,
they would adopt none at all In she ope.
rss:uDs OF government, CREST many OBJ
jecss mass prove unsuccessiEi. Every
thing which proEisea safety or pyo,ec,ien
should be tested by experiments: Thus
those who could nor convipce, themselves
entirely of ,hv Utility Of gan boats nigh,
vote for them BY wav of trial MIR. q.
was in short 70, adopting every mode of
defence which SHOULD be suggested, excrpt
its expence should be totally beyond our
resources. He was for giving fair trial
10 any mode that should be suggested ty
any respectable man and he HOPED that
other gentlemen would grant them the
same indolgescea as related to fortihca,ions.
In New York, the people were Of opinion
that substantial forti6ca.ious were better
than gun boats. II was, howeyer, better
that an estimate of the expencc should DO
gone into, than thar for want of proper
expenditure. some Of the most ias Portans
cities ip the u. S, should be left ueprotect
ed. Heshought, this was a time in which
gentlemen should NOT adhere too closely TO
their particular opinions. Money e1pend.
ed in the purchase Of gun boats would be
well thrown away if forrlGcations alone
were suHicien, for defence. They should
not stand on calculations ofsexPence at
this time; one single question ough, 70 be
asked, whal was necessary 10 be done for
the national safety and kooors Aod that