Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-08-11

We nave Nh iuiiilcnSS extent OF sea C0aSt I,
and he who probably Shall be our future
enemy, Isl the irst naval power m the world.
We have also an extensive western 'front.'.
err inhabited by hordes of savases. Aud
our enemy fran possessing an immense ter
ritory on our N. Western boundary, and
from its proximity of situation to those
parts in the possession of the aborigines the
country, WILDE always enabled to maintain
great ascendancy in their councils, and of
operating through the principles of hope and
fear, on their hckleness, il sincerity, and
thirst for war, which are qualities that ever
distinguish man in the rud. stages of being.
Ne will therefore generally be enabled in
the case ola rupture between the two coun-
tries, to persuade these savages to make in.
roads on our frontiers, and thus procure a
diversion of our arms on that quarter in his
favor.
What, therefore, are the best modes of
national defence is question that nataral-
~ arises from this view of our situation.
Our line OF sea coast from the rivers ST.
Croixto st, Mary 3, extends nlength to up !.
wards of 1se0 miles. For its protection
there have been as yet suggested but two
modes OF defence: "a navy, or q strong line
OF military works. And as both these re.
quire immense sums, and much time for
their completion, IN the case of urgent
danger their practicability cannot become
80 much, as subject for our considerati..
on.
q. Britain is at present the first naval
power In the world and Notwithstanding
the immense numbers of sailors ard mari
ners 70 which commerce gives empi yment !;
yet the present greatne IS of its naval force
has been the effect of an unwearied attenti-
on on the part of its successive princes for
upwards oftwo centuries. That we, there
fore, from our immediate resources should
be able to equip navy powerful enough to
contend with England, is thought that
could have only entered into the brain of
some maniac.
In regard totbe erection of chain of mill :
tary posts along our sea board, not much can
be said for its sdopton as a present measure
OF national defence. If the works be not
sufficiently stroag to resist predatory at
eacks, instead ofpreventing they would only
! serve to invite aggression And chain of
| forts or other military works sufficient TO
protect our coast from sudden invasion, both
require such a length OF time and such
immense sums for their construction that
the erection of such works along coast of
1900 miles, would prove TO US IN case of a
sudden declaration of war, measure e.
qualy impracticable with the equipment
Of navy.
As 10 what respects the erection Of mill.
tary works; the first and NEST obvious con-
sideration that prudence would suggest,
would be the erection of such works in p!a-
ces, where IRON their exposed Situation,
valuable commerce may be liable to suffer
from the sudden stacks of an enemy.
For this end the best measure appears TO
be, the erection OF small forts or batteries
on the commanding scites of our rivers and
navigsble waters; and to- protect their ma /.
yigation by booms, chevaux de -frieze, aaval
horns, &c. or by statoning gun boats in our
recks and neigl,bor.ng shoal waters.
These, from the nature of the moveabls de-
fence hey afford, are we'll adapted 10 pro.
tcct our harbors and rivers from the at.
lacks of an enemy's prvateers.
sut all these means are only calculated
to defend Us from predatory insults they
are incapable in their own nature of with.
standing The regular attacks of fleets, or of
powerful naval expeditions. And yet a
sainst these We must provide az well as de-
f-nd our western and northern fron:Iers
from the inroals of the British and their
Indian allies.
A measure occurs for the complete at
taInment of the last OF these objects. To
wrest her possessions on our n Western
'iciN'Si NOu NJ HIS mas Decn
thought of by some but they have been af.
trigh,ed, by the supposed strength Of the
enemy's military positions and fortresses,
comolned with that natural barrenness
which is supposed tobe consequent upon SO
northern climate.
Those men Ind arguments for their fears,
IN the ancient military strength or Quebec
and IN that annoyance VIII ch the old Ca :.
nadians aud Acsdians have so often given
to English Western and Northern settle
| me'1s Bur the times are changed and the
political situations of both countries are en-
tirely reversed.
Quebec in the time of Wolfe was only
| strong in the direction of the river from
which it was attacked during the Ame-
rican war it must have fallen had not
Montgomery been slain, and even then
our troops had entered and formed lodge.
ment in its works: and it was only in con-
sequence of being left unsupported by the
panic occasioned ny the death of that GAL
liant chief that they were compelled to sur.
render.
! But we are not at present under the ne i.
cessIty OF using all the exerions which the
| British were forced to employ in their FIRST
attempts on Canada nor Consequently shall
We be reduced TO the same distress by the
| nrpQnrufton oft ~ he.