The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-24

vanced concerning an extensively perma-
nent naval establishment fer the u. States
we've still believed to be well grounded -
He dtlhot hesitate 10 declare his intention,
at this time, and under the pressure of pre-
sent circumstances, to yield much To gene
raj feelings and the sentiments of the nation,
nevertheless he should guard against being
carried too far-by the Current OF popular o.
pinion. 1t is equally my duty, said he, to
keep i'll view what is conceived 10 be the
permanent and vital national interest He
declared uniform Opposition 20 that esta5-
lishment, which coul,. not &c brought within
the means and resources of the nation to
maintain it. We have made war, said he,
to guarantee the honor and independence of
the nation, as we'll as for the support OF the
just rights of our citizens---with these OBJ
Jects in view, he had consented u authorize
a regular force OF IS 900 men, and advoca-
TED one more numerous, though in principle
he was opposed TO standing armies. Ifthen
a greae portion Of my teliow-ci,izcns deem
an increase OF the naval establishment cs-
sental to promote the great work, why
Shouldn't be refused on my part No oppo-
sitlen would be made by him to the principle
or spirit of the bill before the House, though
he confessed he did not approve the provis-
ons as to the kind Of force therein contem-
plated.
Mr.. S. continued at this time our princi-
pal object should be, 20 authorize that sre-
cies of force, which can be furnished in the
! shortest period, and which promises to be
tue most efficient in the present contest
ii the views of the govcrnt;nent were not
! now confined the present war, he consider
ed it inexpcdient to build public ships. 1t
was necessary that the revenue should be
cautiously applied. Ii it be employed 80 as
to carry on the war with vigor, he would not
shrink from any appropriations, which could
tend to produce that effect (; by protractlng
fhe contest for the want of means, expence
will be accumulated and we should achieve
nothing.
Mr.. S. wopl& not assent to an increase of
! the navy, with view to reconcile other
Inc ssures to the opposition-to him that vote
pragnised no such result-our political op-
iponents, continued he. will tell us, as re-
CARDS the navy, you are doing right to add
toit. thus far we will go with YOU we always
maintained this to be the proper Course as
to your golden dreams in Canada, we will
abandon them to yourselves exclusively
such were his present impressions, it would
crafty him to find himself to have been
nis.aken.-He declared his intention to OPP
pose the building of 74's or double decked
ships, and to advocate a greater number of
the largest class OF frigates-if how YER his
statements should not prove satisfactory to
the House, he declared the failure would
not induce him ultimately to vote against
that species of force which majority might
deem eXpedient.
| If, said Mr.. :. the g-eat reason, for now
laying the keels of the double decked ships,
be las was lately acknowledged elsewhere
ny high authorty,) to test the intentions of
the Legislature as 10 permanent naval es-
Establishment, he for one declared he would
not thus be tested, nor could ne be thereby
induced to vote i'll favor Of the proposition
he would always be governed by circum-
stances.
The declaration Of the committee, that il
was properto meet =" like with like or in
other words, because the British have "a
gun ships, the u States should have them
OF the same class, would have no effect on
him. We might as well say, because there
are ships in the British service, which carry
10 guns, we should also have such This
reasoning is talacious. No one has at
= tempted TO advocate the latter proposition
Admitting that you had seventy four gun
ships on your navy list, he maintained, they
would answer no good purpose: in the course
OF the following year, their number will be
more than doubled and trebled on the part
OF TIE enemy. %. ID.
The consequence would be, that your
most expensive ships must either combat
under very unpromising circumstances, or
they would be blocladed in Your harbors,
and then be worse than useless-tbey must
be Kept at heavy expense, and their crews
would deprive other ships OF the men ne
cessary for their equipment. He said, the
opinions which he had just advanced, were
bot the result of idle speculations at the fire
side they were supported by intelligent
commanders g. restedupon the firm base of
eXperlence-theywe confirmed by the con
4 versasons OF some whose splendid achieve
ments adorned the pages of our revolution
airy history, ard by others who rank as the
heroes OF the present war. He asked, why
need we resort to other authority, when tn
OF the head of the Naval Department can
be broughtto bear testimony in favor of the
propositions laid down In the year 1898,
the Secretary of the Navy Informed the
! House, that ID seventy tours, as many fri
gates, and 90 or go smaller vessels, " would
I probably be found sufficient to- insurs our
future peace with the nations of Europe :"
in 1911, it was declared, that /" IL sail of
seventy -fours and 20 we'll constructed fri
gates, with our smaller vessels" were ne
ccSsary o annoy the commerce of the enc
my, and guard our coasts--to this he adj
ded. that in the wear 1871 during a state of
peace with the United States, the British
bad ships OF the line on tire American sta
tons, independent Of SOS. frigates. and
smaller vcssels-.at the same time they had
so ships Cf the line on the stocks Tell
me. sad he, what's to keep a greet proper