The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-10

Qutable plan would be to appropriate fof
the year 1909, in aid of the fund. anaddition-
al SUN of about two hundred thossand dol
lars; such sum to be applied as the fund it
self. under the general directions OF the Pre-
sident but to be expended in the several ports
i'm proportion to the amount actually collect
ed in each on that account during the year
1907, and to be applicable to the relief, not
only of the sick and disabled, but also OF dis
sressed seamen.
am, very respectfully,
Sir,
Your obedicnt servant,
ALBERT GALLATYN.
7. NEwroN, ESQ. Chairman of theO
Committee of commerce and Ma
nufactures.
The resolution was agreed to without op
position.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr.. Boyle offered the following resolution,
o..,,ssss i;.o inc SUBJECT nau neen oerore
the hoase several times, but solemn Geci-
sion had never been had on the subject, ard
these who had witnessed the mode of dispo-
Sing of land on credit, had seen the ill effects
of the present system.
Resoived, that the committee on pubic
lands, be instructed to enquire into the expo
diency of reducing the price OF public Lands,
| and abolishing he credit on sales thereof;
and that they have leave to report by bill or
otherwise. Agreed to.
NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT.
Mr.. Story said. that il the house did not
| wish to be considered as slsmbering ut their
posts, it was proper that they should. after
determining that they would not submit to
the orders and DEGREES of The belligerents,
adopt some more efficient system of warfare,
If war must be the result. On this point he
was decidedly of opinion thatwe could carry
on operations to great advantage on the oce-
an. He held in his hand resolution for in
curing into the propriety of augmenting our
naval force, which he submitted to the con-
sideration Of the House.
Resolved, That the committee to whom
was referred so much of the message of the
President of the u. States, as relates to our
military and naval Establishments, be in
structed to enquire into the expediency of
increasing CIR naual establishment, and that
they have leave TO report by bili or other
wise.
MIR. d. X. Williams asked Of the gentle
man, against whom was this force 10 be APP
piled? From what source could any consi
derable increase be made? He presumed,
as the gentleman appeared Ia have his mind
SO fully made up On the subject, that he had
made the necessary CALCULATIONS, g would ia
vor the house with them. For his part, Mr..
Williams said, if we were to so to war to.
morrow, he would not vote single additions:
floating gun. What had been the conse-
quence of augmentatiens O. naval fa:ce III Ii
Their countries. Were they not perpetually
angmenting the British navye The ministry
would give but small premium to ensure
the gentleman's augmentation (should 1t be
made) safe birth in their ports. Did the
gentleman wish to follow the example OF Den
mark, and nave our towns Copenhagenecr
Mr.. Gardner observed, that a bill for put
ting our present navy into service was alrea-
dy before the house. He should prefer first
acting on that, and therefore moved that this
resolution lie on the table.
Mr.. Story hoped this course would not be
given to his motion, for it might not be per-
feCtly proper not to order the whole naval
force to be put into actual service, and yet
it might be very proper to prepare an add
tional force. We were not, III: said, al pre-
sent at war; but we soon might be. The
gentleman from South Carolina had sup
posed that any augmentation of our naval
force mist fall sacrifice to the British ma
Wy. Mr.. Story said, he could not so much
doubt the courage or character OF his coun-
trymen, as to feel as the gentleman did. l
was born among the hardy sons OF the ocean,
said Mr. S. They never will be guilty of
direlection of their duty or their ceuntry's
rights. They never will submit. If Great
Britain ever obtains possession of our present
little establishment, it must be at an eX-
pence Of the best blood of the country, and
after struggle which would call for more
of her strength than she had ever found ne
cessary Tor an European enemy. He said,
he did n OF wish our naval force 10 be inerea-
sed for offensive measures; but it appeared
to him, that the only force which could eff
fcctually protect our sea coast was a naval
force He wished a Few vessels OF war to co :
operate with our Notifications. Such q force
too, with the known bravery OF American sea-
men, would carry dismay wherever it went.
The passage of this resolution would not de-
eide the principle; it was barely for enqui-
ny. Would not gentlemen enquire whether
an increase of the naval force might not be
proper' Would they hold out the language
that they would permit the scene OF the Ches-
apeake to be.acted over again with impunity :
That they would still remain ON land! Mr..
Story said, he could not believe that the gen
tleman from South Carolina wished TO see
this game played again. He hoped that we
would prepare force to protect us against
every foe. The naval establishments of El-
ropean nations, must be always maintained
at an expence double of the proportionate ex-
pence which would be incurred in this Country
He asked the gentleman from South Carroll
ma, if we had fifty fast sailing frigates, whe-
Their the British nation would send an drma-
II ther