Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-05-29
Sn 9euatf.
DEBATE
DEBATE
On the bill concerning the NdUdl Esfab-
Eshmeut.

this bill has been referred having been gone
through with, | now beg leave to offer a new
one by an additional section to the following
effect =
BE it further enacted, That the President
of the u. S. be, and he hereby is authorised,
to cause to be built as speedily as may be, on
the most approved model, frigates, not
exceeding SO guns each and that a sum not
exceeding dollars be, and the same j.
hereby appropriated for building the said fri
gates out of any monies in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated
1t is my intention, sir, to move for 20 new
~frigates: but the number | have left blank,
in order, should the Senate be favorably dis
posed to an increase of the navy, and disagree
with me as to the degree of that Increase,
they might regulate the number at their plea
sure.
Sir. | have been induced to offer this amend
ment from an impulse of duty towards my
more immediate constituents, and also from a
sense OF the obligation imposed upon me,
however feebly | may be able to respond to it,
in the honorable station in which ] am placed,
to endeavor to the extent of my ability 10 sup
port the dignity, protect the rights, and adj
vance the best interests Of the U. 5. Sir, |
trust the amendment under consideration, if
adopted, would have a relation, and a favor
able relation, to all those objects.
Ii it be not the determination of the govern
ment to engage in an open, actual, efficient
war to place the nation III such a complete
state of preparation as may avert war from
our state of readiness to meet it; then the
measures of the present session, those of till
ing the existing military establishment, and
thereby adding to it between six and seven
thousand men, thatof e~nlisting a standing ar
my of 25, 900 men to serve for five years, I'M
less sooner discharged-of providing for tie
employment of $4,000 volunteers, and of
holding in readiness one hundred thousand of
the militia, would be not only inexcusable.
but nearly treasonable-as they would in such
case, without any adequate object, impose
severe and heavy burthens upon the people of
the u. S. from which years of the highest de
gree of prosperity would not rolieve them
But. sir, | am bound to believe, that unless
redress be obtained it is the determination Of
the government Of the U. S.. to enter into an
actual, vigorous, real war, or at any rate to
put the nation into a perfect state of readiness
to IN it, should it be necessary and
in either of these cases, an efficient naval
force is as indispensable, nay much more in
dispensable, than a land force.
a few days since there was exhibited to the
Senate an account OF sales of $50 hogsheads of
tobacco, and a parcel of cotton recently dis
posed OF in the dominions of his majesty the
emperor of France, VINO processes so much
affection for the U. States, from which it ap-
peared, that the tobacco, which cost with the
charges near &c, 900 dollars, was not only to-
tally sunk to the adventures, but involved
them in additional loss for the payment of the
expenses OF near one thousand dollars more
OF the cotton, tltteen-sixteenth parts were al
SO sunk. Nor did this arise from a bad state
OF markets, the hazard of which merchants
must always take, for the markets were I'M
precedentedly high. The tobacco which could
nave been bought in the o.. 5. from 3 l-2 to 5
dollars per cwt. sold at 80 dollars-and the
cotton which could have been purchased at 10
cents, sold at 30 cents the pound. The loss
arose solely from the pertidy and rapacity of
the French government, in Selling upon the
greater part of both the adventures, under a
p%retence for the payment of duties, which it
shifts ad ttbitum as suits either its avarice or
caprice, or promulgates or withholds as best
answers its purposes.
Sir, you will remark that these accounts of
sale bear date July Is, only eight days ante
cedent to the information communicated to
the American government by Mr.. Serrurier,
in his letter to Mr.. Monroe of July %, 1911,
III which he states that " the introduction OF
tobacco is not prohibited in France-it forms
the first object of culture of some of the Union,
and his majesty, having an equal interest In
the prosperity of all, desires that the relations
of commerce should be common to all parts
of t federal territory" Yes, sir, this is IN
disputably the sort OF interest, which his ma
jesty is pleased to take in the OF
U.e u. S. and this the sort of benefit, which
he, without doubt would delight to render
common to all parts OF the federal territory.
This information was given in too authen-
tic shape to admit of its being questioned 1t