The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-08
ENQUIRER-ORFICE, Dee. 8.
FOR TIE E.vOUTPER

| Z
| Inc following proposal for the cncrcese
ct Our little navy is submitted to the can.
dad consideration of every friend to his coun-
try. whatsoever may be his political creed
OF denomination.
Tn. policy Of standing MAYA! force in
the u. States. though occasionally the theme
Ut popular defamation, has at some time
or other. received the favor and suffrage of
all our most distinguished statesmen * the
Doiu anu rapid progress OF maritime en-
tcroachncat OH our rights has probably
t,ught all whom history can teach, tina, we
must totally abandon that commerce which
rs so gainfu i'll itself and SO encourag ng to
every branch o' our agriculture, unless we
can make ourselves respected on the ocean.
But it is not intended 10 enter here into a.
disc ussion OF this copions topic. 1t is suai
cicnt for the present purpose that we are
now at war with great :nari'ime power.
and that there is no way in which we can
act 80 efficiently both tor the purpose Of t.c :
Tending ourselves and annoying our enc slY
as ny means of u respectable navy.
Tue Importance of naya! force for de-
fence is readily perceived, when it is con.
sidercd that it we were entirely unprovtl-
ed with that species Of ariaament, a single
frigate, stationed at each Of the six great
communications with the ocean .frcu Bos-
ton Harbor TO the mouth of the Mississippi,
|
merce whereas if we have ships of war,
the same effect cannot be protiaccd unless
our esemy provides at least six times the
number that we possess since any one de-
tachment inferior to our force united would
always be liable to be surpri:rd and over
! powered.
But Great Britain requires SO many ships
of W ar for the convoy of her merchantmen ;
the protection of her numerous colonies u
| Il L.
coasts, watched as she is, by hostile and
powerful neighbors, ever ready o
| take advantage of her weakness, that it
is but small part OF her navy, comsidera-
BILE as it is, which she will ever think it pru-
dent to detach SO far from home.
A very moderate naval force on our par
will then be sufficient to prevent a total
| blockade of our principal ports & par
tial blockade, always of small con,haranve
Importance, would be nearly Insignificant
when the inland navigation of the country
is improved to the degree of which it is ca
silly susceptible.
| Nor is G. Britain invulnerablc to our at
tacks OH the Ocean. Her merchant ships
singlY or III fleets, are to DE found in every
sea of the globe, and offer rich reward TO
naval courage and enterprise. To inter
cept the gains of her wide spread commerce
and to deprive her Of her seamcn, is. TO cut
| =
armed vessels may injure her much in this
way, but it is only by national sh Ups of war
that we can expect to make an impression,
that will be felt. What has been the effect
of all the prizes taken from the enemy, nu-
merous and valuable as they are, compa-
red with single atchievrhent of the gallant
Hull Had we captured tens Ct millions of
their merchandise, would it have so raised
us in our own eyes or the eyes OF our enemy
1 tl,,o
instances of successful valor con Il not fail
to secure us an honorable AMI lasting
| peace.
But the building and equpm cnt of S! y
OF war IS al expensive operation, and as
our revenue is derived chiefly from foreign
commerce which is diminshel by War,
and we have moreover engaged in extensive
military enterprises by land, it happen S
that we are least able to incur the cost s
OF navy precisely at the time when we
most want one. This consideration has sup-
gested the scheme of building by voluptar ~
contribution throughout the state, fright
; or other ship of war, and rendering of It 10
, the General Government.
Should the plan be successful with US it is
probable that the other states would not be
| behind Us in the same patriotic lberality
Though some OF them Cannot be expected
to contribute as largely as this state. yet
olherS OelnS more opQlent, ana owing that
epulcnce to commerce, would exceed us III
supporting a plan whose object it was tc
give commerce protection. =.
/ In this event we should soon have navy
which would be an overmatch for any force
I that could reasonably be expected on on,
) coasts, and soon procure that respect for our
} maritime rights which nothing but power
at Sea will ever give.
a whole nation thus voluntarily takinc
upon themselves one Of the most burthen
some charges of government. at time toe
when the demands of that government are
greater than ordinary, presents d spectacle
) to the wori.? equally magnificent and rare
Every citizen who joined in this act oi
splendid munifcehce would do honor to
, himself for his patriotism, and honor to his
; country for inspiring it,.
i The citizens Of the several counties wht
approve This scheme are earnestly solicited
} to nave pubic meetings for the purpose Of
appointing committees to- receive subscrip-
tions, and correspond with such central
Committee as may be chosen in Richmond
! And it is respectfully recommended that
the money subscribed be paid within a sta
ted time into some enc of the Banks in thi,
state e in order that this patriotic muni6.
cence may be as national as possible. thai
any subscription, however small, be recciv.
ed.
1t may not be amiss to add that this pro
Posal has been fayorably received by a res
pecta5lc number of the citizens of Henry