The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-31

most sensibly the influence of the argumen
t'at IL we had these ships now, there Nigh
oe no objection to the experiment but be-
'oie we could build them, peace Will take
place, and they will be useless. Good
1eaven and is the peace, the security of
our country, to be thus placed the ha-
lard OF the time when it may please our c.
heiny to give US peace. This was the argu-
inent last year lis now used-and will be
brought up again and again, until the guar
dian genius or America shall dispel the en-
lchanting influence of habit, and restore to
the natural laws of physical force their due
weight III the minds of Congress- 1t is true
that 1t will take time to build ships, but if
we have shewn you, as trust we have, the
necessity and use of these ships, the argu-
ment ought to be the stronger, the sooner
ought you to be preparing them. The time
when 1t is certainly most important, and
! md the opinions of experienced mcE to be
| that the frames of the 76's being already
seasoned they may be built in 10 months
that the frames for the large frigates not
beng ready, they could not be built under
IL months; for the sloops of war it is calcu-
lated that they might be procured on con-
tract, and that our large towns would sup
ply good materials for them, and from six
TO ten months will, it is hoped, put them to
sea. This view is corroborated by me-
moranddm taken by man of experience
from the British backwards. 1t was sug-
gested to the Select Committee, that one,
two, or more of the frigates might be con-
tracted for. 1t was thought unwise to limit
the government, but it is to be hoped that
they will purchase no old vessel, unless it
be under very particular circumstances in
deed, and when they build by contract that
they Will do it under the inspection Of an a.
gent.
1t is cause of some exultatinn to me, that
our naval men, where the opportunity is af-
torded them, give the example to prove our
theory. AS | am told, orders were sent
from Washington in September to Capt
Chauncey, then at New York, who made
ms preparation, took his workmen with
nm To the Lakes, and some days since we
had the account that he had built x launch
ed before November was out frigate of
20 guns. The gallant Chauncey enables me-
TO present an argument that would, could
40 1t Justice, am sure, have much weight.
WIN any gentleman regret that this 90 gun
ship has been built, though the mastery OF
the Lakes has been acquired without it p
Neither shall we regret the building the
Io's, though peace, which God send. should
come before they are launched There is
yet one other objection too important to be
passed over, though it was on a former oc-
CASTOR so ably canvassed. 1t is the difficult
ty of getting seamen. That difficulty ex-
insurmountable. Here again l avail myself
OF the illustrations Of my friend from South
Carolina.
Let me add that it is an admitted fact
that our ships are better manned than tie
British, and though the high price of sea-
mems wages may be cause of temporary
difficulty, yet it will have a two-fold opera
tioh. In country like ours, where at least
3o,ooO men are yearly growing into service.
the temptation of 80 and 40 dollars per
month, whilst ordinary labor is 7 or s, will
soon swell the list OF your seamen to equal
any demand. 1t is to be remarked, that
able seamen make all the difficulty, and the
public service alone i'll the course of the YEAR
greatly removes the difficulty, as many who
enter as ordinary seamen will in that time
be able seamen. It appears from the docu-
heh!S' that IN 1898, 9 and 1900, that YOU
had III service 1000 able seamen. Taxing
them at one third, & it gives you in %, Oo0'
the dehcit OF 1000 able seamen only. foI,
manning IL 76's and 20 frigates, deicien
cy which every one will see must be more
taan made up when compared with the in
crease OF American tonnage since '98, or on
comparison with the encrease Of population.
IL Is due to this subject also to observe that
though there be now a difficulty in getting
seamen, 1t is the result of the number Of
privateers that have fitted out and which
In the ordinary course of things may be sup
posed to lessen With some little DELAY we
nave hitherto manned our ships, and as said
before, better than the British But what
trust Will be conclusive on this part of the.
argument is, that not the fact but presump-
tion is brought against us, and where so great
an interest is at hazard. l will not suppose
that surmise or doubt will be allowed to
defeat the best digested plan. Such | must
be allowed to consider that presented to the.
view OF the House and the -,rtin.. - -
TREND from South Carolina / wonjd ask
OF those who differ with me on this subiect
to look well to the issue at stake. To aban-
don the ocean sweeps by the board all the
hshing and shipping interest of America.
and will wither the luxurant tendriIs of
eastern manufactures, to whose growth and
strength the facility of transportation is so
essential. More than half the product of
the farmer is gone, it his heavy productions
cannot be water borne to market The
cotton OF the south depends much OH the fa-
cilty OF carriage fos it's value
The sugar of louisiana, but for the biFt,
way of the Atlantic, would reach us M a
most heavy cost, if at all. Our ships being
gone, what need will there be for the hemp
or Canvas OF Kentucky Thus east, west.
n rth and south, will feel as if the pasey
was on them, the moment you abandon the
ocean. II, then, there was only hope that
the plan offered would secure this right. |
would intreat of the patriotism of the A.