Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-24
4 dollars per annum.1


Carfy on the war with vigor, he would pot
shrlnk from any appropriations, which could
'ehu 10 produce that effect; by protract;,c
'ie contest for the want of means. exnence
VIII be accumulated and we should acbieS..
nothing N'SfS
Mr.. 5. would not assent to an increase os
the navy, with view to reconcile other nao-
sures to the opposition--to him tina. vct,.
promised no such resul,--our political o,,no-
nehts' continued he, will tell us, as regards.
~. ne navy you are doing right TO add to il.
nus iar we viii go with you, we always
49, " .n' ms 70 he the proper course:
~ your goioen dreams iii Cauada, we
"iIi aoahdon them to yourselves exclusively
such were his present imnress;ons Z
woald crafty him 10 find himself 70 have
oeen mistaken. He declared his intention
!" oppose the building of 74's or double
ueokso sh'ps, and to advocate a greater
n"''oer or the largest class of frigates-if.
however, ms statements should not prove.
saIsiactory to the House. he declared the
TAI are would not induce him ultimately tn
Voe against that species of force which a
majority might deem expedient.
~ said Mr.. ). the great reason, for now
iiaylng the keels of the doublc-decked shins.
De Ias was lately acknowledged elsewhero
w nlsn authority to !est the intentions of
~, o'''" "S 10 permanent naval esta-
y. uNNl',hents ne tor one declared he would nos
mus DC te$sea, nor could he be thereby in
duced 70 vote in favor of the pronosit;or--.
he would always be governed by circum..
stances. va
Inc declaration of the committee. thatic.
was proper TO meet "like with like.'' orin
otuer words, because the British have ~
gnn-ships, the y. States should have them
.! the same class, would have no effect On
ann we might as well say, because thera
are ships IN the British service, which carry
40 guns, we should also have such. 'rb,s
reasoning IS faliacious No one has a,tempt.
ca 10 a'vecate the latter proposition. Adj
UttinS that you had q seyenty-four gun
sn'pS on your navy list, he maintained, they
wouid answer no good purpose-in the
-! .n or tue following year, their number
VIII De more than doubled and tre,JeS On
the part of the enemy. The c,menonence.
would De, that your most expensive ships
must either combat under very unpromis-
ing circumstances, or they would be block
saea IN your harbors, and then be verse
'ilan use less-they must be kept at a heavy
expense, ana their crews would deprive o..
'"cf Slips OF the men necessary for their e.
quipment. He said, the ouinions which he
mad Just advanced, we're not the result of
| idle specuiations At the fre-sde; thew were
supported by intelligent commanders. and
res:ed upon the firm base OF experience
-"ey we're Se1i'.tfF'ed by the ConYerSatiaus of
So"'e whose splendid achievements adorned
s.e pages OF our revolutionary history, and
| oy otne;s who rank as the heroes of the nre..
sent war. He asked. WHY need we r.sors
TIC other authority, when that of the head os
the Naval Department can be brought to
pear testimony in favor of the proDusiiion.
iaiu down! In the year 1898, the Sec'ry OF
the Navy informed the House, that 10 1se-
Vehty-fours, as many frigates, and 90 on. 50
smaller vessels, "wonld probably be found
| sufficient TO insure Our + ture place with the
nations of Europe - in 1871, it was detIar-
ed that . y sail of seventy tours. and 20
well constructed frigates, with cur smallere
vessels, were necessary TO annoy the COM
mercs of the enemy, and guard our coasts
tothis he added, that in the year 1911, dur
| ing state OF peace with the United States,
the British had ships Of the line on the A.
| merican stations, independent of SOS, FRI
gates and smaller vessels--at the same tins
| they had 80 ships of the line ON the stocks
Tell me, said he, what is to keep areas
proportion OF them from your coast in 1879
Mr.. Chairman, proceeded Mr.. s. lam dis
| posed 10 doubt your having the timber in
| your yards, which will be necessary fer tho
| frames OF the double decked ships, cCnteu..
| plated by the bill. A ship of this descript,nu
requires, for the frame, &c, coo cuhia feet OF
| timber, and $4,000 cubic feet Additional for.
! plank, wales, Exc. The purchase Of ths
timber, supposed TO be on hand was autho-
| rised by an act passed in the month of Fec
brusry, 1799-my information on this subj
Ject states, that from the year 1900 to 1902.
inclusive, the timber originally designed for
The seventy-tours, by the gos eminent Of the
III Gfa+-g -
yards, as follows: At Boston, 30 O36 cubic
feet; 1T Portsmouth, IN. H. 1906 feet
at NewYOrk, u ,676 feet 1t PHILADELPHIA
2O,426 feet 1T Norfolk IS, $40 feet; making
! total Of ,j66 cubc feet II is generally
| admitted, that Of the timber originally pro.
cured, as much as is required Tor Of the
| SHIPS has been necessarily applied 70 other
purposes so that vyc must deduct 6OO00
cubic feet from the quantity delivered-this
leaves a balance of 5d,SS6 cubic feet. a
quantity sufficient for the frames of two
! such vessels! lie could not satisfy himself
how the timber lCr the other swo- frames
was g be procured IN Lime--it will require
months for It's selection, eating, and season-
ing--if you fail to feilit before the end OF FeA
| 5ruary, you hazard much as 20 its dufabi>
] 'ity--tweiye months arc required 70 build
| "a after all the materials shall be ready in
| the yard. The timber foI The larger ships
| can only be procured frcm tie south, say
| Georgia, Louisiana, and Florida; consider
the risks attending its transportation bv sea.
will you pretend 20 insure It's arri,a2 These
are all important considerations al ibis zine.
lie furthei objected 20 the tonnage allow
ed by the committee for the rs. They wera
| rated at 1920 tons. Experienced and MEL
! ligent naval architects, pronounce Isis much
too little. MIR Humphries &C Philadelphia,
| veil known orhis knowledge 3. skill in ship
building, says, doubie-deckcd ships should