Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-10-10
From The National LnteMgencer.
MR.GALEs,

SIR,
Seeing in one Of your late papers an in
vitation to a discussion % the advantages of
creating and maintaining permanent navy.
Permit me to offer few remarks on that sub
ject-in doing which, two previous questions
occur.
First, That an establishment Of this ma
tiee intended to guard our Foreign Com
nercs, evidently presupposes the Importance
of that Commerce; and as the necessity of
providing navy to defend it, has been sup
posed to depend ON the mode of conducting
it, when It's utility was established, The
importance of cur navigation naturally pro-
duces the second question.
Upon these two questions, / shall general
~ remark, that was the Atlantic Ocean
which separates us from Europe no wider
than the Anacostia or the Potomac, and the
countries which bound us on the west, DOW
erful empires; we might, like Sparta OF
Rome, look for employment in arms-But
remote from the common theatre of war, to
realize a military spirit we must dissolve the
Union, give to each state military form
and, renewing the ca ly ages of the world,
derive activity from perpetual rivaships and
contentious among ourselves.
Placed at a distance from the warlike ma
tons of Europe, the American politician
lowing the principles that promote activity
in peace, an unrestrained operation-He
must awaken the industry of the farmer, by
opening market for the surplus fruits of
the earth-the manufacturer he must invi-
gorate, by the certainty of obtaining subsis-
tence in exchange Of his wrought materials
lie must admit the man oftaste, to indulge
his desire of refinement, and that desire to
gain strength from the arts which il creates
in short, until the structure of the mind be
changed 1t must be provoked to exertion
Nature herself seems to have contemplated
an union of mankind in a commercial inter
course ; and it has more than once been de-
clared by a solemn vote Of Congress, that
We could not relinquish our navigation with.
out virtually relinquishing our Independence
1T would be su1enderto the most pow
erfuI nation in Europe monopoly of our
productions, OF controlling our industry and
commanding our resources. 1t would enable
such a nation in the exercise of her lawful
rights without affording us the least shadow
of complaint, to stamp what value II pleascs
OF. the motives cf our industry, or on orr in
dustiy Itself fear, sir, that a surrender Of
our nav igation would become a fire brand Of
diScord among ourselves.
Let rs reverse this scene. Retaining our
navigation we continue to transport our own
commodities; the fright for Transportation,
the shifts, the artists who build them, and the.
hGr6y seaDlen who direct them are the pro-
pcrty Of the misunderstanding aioft a neutral
flag, we are no longer at the mercy, avaricc,
or ambition OF every nation who might chuse
70 disturb the tranquility Of the world. If
then 1t be impracticeble 70 abandon our ma
vigation without surrender of that indepen-
denoe which Nature Acknowledges and which
We once SO molly asserted; itfoilows that VIC
last afOrd It an adequate protection; and
as a navy only can afford this projections, the
question arises, What force will be required
to afford this protectionS 7 could here
quote the oprnion Of the immortal author of
the Declaration Of Independence in his Notes
on Virginia, on this subject. But / shall for
the present defer this discussion for another
time.
Forthe present shall observe, that Is a
navy Is the only natural protection that can
be afforded to commerce, so will it prove q
strong bulwark Of national defence a navy
can be employed to protect, but never to de-
stroy our liberty; to be useful, however. II
must be permanent. To build q navy, is not
The work ola day nor can the nine at which
IT'S service may be required be always seeu.
Providence has blessed us with the finest ma
terials tor constructing a navy, she has plan
ted the live oak, cedar and pine trees along
our coast firm St. Marys to ST Croix Che
has deposited in cur mountains rich mines
ct copper and ircn, and chcrishcs in our coil
the articles Of fax and hemp She e,tende
oar commerce through every ocean and
cline; she braces the nerves and hardcns
the sinews a our seamcn and fires them win
an intrepidity which difficulties serve only tn
conbrm, and no dangers can apDaI And
shall we spuru these ADVANTAGE al d., 80,