Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-10-17

def ncs) the priSon-ShipS of England or France
tnsy be furnished with osptises sacrificed to the
inju&cious policy OF an American navy. Our
marine might then DC considered BY the British.
in the same view with the tyrant who wished
the Roman People had but one neck, that he
might cut it Off at one blow.
We mean however 10 maintain our commerce.
al rights against all the naval force OF Europe,
as their necessities, and those of the Nest In
dies arc more powerful auxiliarics to the com
meroe ofthe United States, than 100 sail of the
line
If we. mean TO maintain navy, il must be ad
equate to guard our foreign commerce, to open
market for the surplus produce of the earth,
and 10 extend our domestic manufactures. Ii
We take this ground, and France and England
are determined TO oppose US in these pursuits,
what number Of ships and scamcn arc requisite
for the United States TO force this trade in OPP
position to them IF France, for instance, by
her DEGREES, should say that our surplus pro-
ouce shallnot b shipped to England, and bring
forward occasionally a certain proportion of 10
ships of the line, and 64 frigatcs; what number
of ships are requisite for the United States TO
counteract thcml Should England b. fer orders,
say the same thing with respect 10 our trade
with France. what number is required of Us in
this controversial Scripture advises us, that
before We undertake any enterprise, To set down
and count the cost, and illustrates the injunc-
tion by observing on the folly OLA king, or ma
ton who adopts system of warfare without
consulting whether he be able with ten thou
sand TO meet him who cometh against him with
twenty thousand.
This lesson is not merely applicable TO one
monarchy towards another, but Is strong argl-
ment in favor of prudence and precau,ion in all
military concerns. The advantages VIC gained
during the American revolution, arose chiefly
from the small privafeers, which at the earliest
u &c.
port, bay, and creek on the continent. Our
wharves were filed with prizes, and all kinds
of the most valuable produce from the West
Indies, the richest articles bound to Quebec, Ja-
maica, &c. were daily sent in by this armed
feet of small craft. The moment we adopted
system of larger and more valuable armed ships,
we began to weaken ourselves, and the prizes
lessened. Seven Fights of our valuable prizes
were captured by vessels of 10 TO - guns.--
The Penobscot expedition came nearer running
the American cause, than any other affair that
took place duringthc war. One coward employ
ed on government expedition, endangered the
whole OF the enterprise. The commander of r.
ny particular department getting into fright
or reVeyie, may occasion disaster which may
throw debt of millions upon the country, and
expose thousands ofsoldiers and scamen TO cap
tuTe. How can we expect commerce to be guar
ded, when every merchantmen depending on
marine feet, must trust wholly to the courage
and prudence of a captain of man of war; If
there is any failure as to his conduct the whole
voyage is Immediately ruined. We may not al
ways have a Rodgers, Decatur, or Hull-and
even these brave officers are not invincible a
gainst ten times their force. Besides, il all the
feet is bound TO one port, what must such car
goes fetch at the destined market The guam
tity would lower the prices to such degree,
that 1t is not probable they would fetch the first
cost What pretty price current would be
returned to the respective merchants and own
ers, with the additional portledge bill for main
tanning and equipping their convoy' If the ma
w protects the commerce, the merchants must
exclusively support it. Additional duties must
be laid on all foreign imports, and internal tax
es must be imposed on our domestic CONNER
cial intercourse. IF the American navy viii re-
quire - or Is thousand seamen, will not the
wages for seamen to navigate the merchantmen
increase vastly beyond the profits that can be
contemplated from the voyage!
As to " God and nature" debating the means
OF navy to extend the happiness and prosper
ity of the u. States, nothing can be more erro-
neous. Il never could be pleasing in the sight
OF Heaven to observe the citizens of this coun-
try entering into an unequal contest with the
European "dogs Of war" on the ocean-and
nature must recoil at the dreadful carnage which
mast ensue between such disproportionate force
as must often be presented between an American
ship & an English man ofwar. Theliv Of our
brave seamen are not to be thus sported with, for
though equal to any enterprise in which the
real interest of America is concerned, vet their
blood is too precious to be wantonly shed in am
unequal engagement. The British and the
French may have objects in view by augmen-
ting their marine-their colonies may call for
this mode of warfare, but while the u. States
possess soil and climate so luxurious and
diversified, and so well calculated for the i'm
provement of agriculture and manufactures, and
our citizens so well disposed for commercial
enterprise in their indipidtaf capacity, it must
be An afIront to Heaven and abhorren to nature,
TO plunge ourselves into the vortex Of a navy
u would be the greatest absurdity for us TO quit
al Je advantages resulting from our internal
situation, and to place our smallest strength ~
to the greatest strength of those Eu-
ropean powers who may envy our domestic pros
perity. Our -four, pork, beef--with the inn
mense variety Of every valuable article for for
eign markets, do not require our fotcipg Them
Tor sale among the powers of Europe bV fight
ing and bullying on the ocean; neither do our
Oblige us TO exchange these impor-
tant articles Of commerce, and such necessdyies
Of life for the gew gaws Of England, or the ar
dent spirits of Europe or the West Indies Our
policy rather leads us TO estimate our national
resources upon their intrinsic value, and bv a.
doping restrictive system as il respects those
commercial powers who impose on us. we might
convince item that the United States have an
internal sfrc1gh which thc world can neither
give nor take away" This properly improved,