The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-24
Congress-.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
DEBATE
ON THE NAVY QUESTION:
QUESTION,

Wednesday, Dec.16
The House resolved itself into n commit
tee,af the whole on the bill trof:i :l,e Senate
=" To increase the naval establishments"
Mr.. SAWYER made motion to add the
word "teen" to four" SO rs to make it four
teen "a gun ships. b,
Mr- >. thought it a proper occasion to
try the question, whether we were to have
a Navy or not; He took the occasion to con-
graduate the House upon the repeated VIC
tories OF eur little Navy over the enemy !;
and OF the grateful prospect of a speedy
termination To the despotism OF the seas
National piracy.is about tn be exterminated,
and all nations permitted to traverse their
great high way in safety. The thing can be
done and if we say. 50, with the will of
God, Will be done. The experiment upon
which the proof hangs, has been made. e.
British arms Cannot withstand American
upon the sea. The bully hc.3 been disgraced
by an infant and fear shall no longer re-
strain an abject world from vindicating its
long violated rights Give us but respect
able fleet. and il is all we ask. Hut what
CAN we do with seventy tours They are
mere mockery- five do mean to make
u serious stand upon the ocean, such q force
must be out o! all character. II we mean
merely to annoy her trade (ald he trusted
we meant morc) frigatcs viii do: but TO
make any serious impression that way, we
must have respectable fleet; at least in
his opinion, ii sail of the line. That would
give US a prcponderance on our own coast,
and enable us TO bring in our prizes with
safety. Who can bear the idea of orr being.
obliged to burn or sink all the ships we may
take from the enemy, for fear of their being
recaptured lie thought we should save
enough by the protection they would afford
TO our prizes. to support the expense of them
We can easily support such force. The
expense distributed over our widely extend
ed population would be less than a dollar g
head and where is the American who
would grudge such sum for such an object
The people, | am confident, will cheerful
iy pay it; because we are now at war, and
a navy is found the most efficient weapon in
our hands against the enemy. lie therefore
trusted that If il was the disposition Of the
House 10 have Navy, they would estab-
lish such one rs would answer some pur-
pose.
Mr.. SEYBERT said he did not anticipate
that the bill from the Senate would have
been called for to day by the Chairman Of
the Naval Committec-notwi,hsta he
had bestowed some attention ON the subject,
he confessed his remarks would be made in
a manner not entirely satisfactory to him
selt--he would however proceed with them.
Mr.. Chairman, said he, ! wish it was ~
easy to build, equip and man the seventy
foirs, as It viii be To add tic word feeq to
four, as is pr posed by tho gentleman from
n. Carolina. SO far from adding to the
number o. these ships contemplated By the
bill, lie had intended To move that no seven
ty-four gun SHIPS should be. at this time, au-
thoriSed by the Legislature.
On former occasion, Mr.. s. continued,
when naval establishment was the subject
under Consideration, he stated at length hIs
rcasons Tor ojp7sng tho propositions before
Ele House. Thc .2iDioos Which lie Men 81