Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-10

L
| dollars. These vessels were certainly built
on good terms; aud it IS from their cost that
| form my idea as to the probable value of
the Guerrire; and my impression as TO the,
value vt her stores and prize goods is deri-
we'd from personal observation and infoima-
| ton obtained ON the occasion from different
| persons.
have The honor to be,
| Very respectfully, Sir,
Your obeden servant
iSA &C HULL.
| Honorable Burzreh Basret
Chairman ofttr Naval Committee.
-: y: -
ofthe Committee ahh,tqfed on that fart III
! the PrrSidenk's IfssS4g ~ 4ir6 r. hrs 70
The -Ntval Establishment, r,c2ansevd.,se,
an increase Of tie Nary If ne Unite@
0'4SS' R1poRr y
THE Comnaitfee ah4otnted o. that hart q;
| the Presidents m,sslgc qohich retates 10
tie Naval ESfQ6dsement-
REPORT IN PART:
| IDA L inpe formanCe of the duty assigns
| ed them, the committee could not ia. to
advert to the report made at the last ses
sion of Congress- on this subject. Having
adrerted to 1t, they could nor fail, from the
JlSthesS OF its reasoning, to rely on il, nd
| prdy that 1t may DE taken as part ST ,hcir
report. The little experience as yet ali r,,-
| Ell US III naval warfare corrnsorates the
| principles there commended for, and III his
view hey think themselves supported by
that passage in the Presidents message
which says: "Our trade, with little excep-
ton, has reached cur ports; having been
much favored liz it by the Course pursuedby
s1uAdron OF our trigates under the Com
mand of Commodore Rodgers"
lhey therefore concurred in the opinion
that 1t is proper To INC ease the naval estab--
lishmeHt. For infoi mation de to the nude,
OF increase, they applied to the Navy DE
partment. & obtained the Il Cumeuts which
they submit 20 the House. The comparative
effect of vessels of difI5rert rates Must be
considered as demcnsuated b, these docu-
uients. Yet we're your committee appraised,
that in the complicated ,ys'em of naval YAK.
fare no "ne principle could be relied on as
applicable to all times and all coca ions, bus
that patient comparison of may prinoi~
pies wasnecessary to just conclusion. They
were appraised that fac htv of moyciocns
| should be combined with e.Hcienc, OF force.
| Nor were they regardless of the bc6ti.t Ok
| occasional division. lnasJnuch howe, er as
great gain will some times foiow from the
power to operate on many points ut once,
yet at others it May be all important 60 give
unity TO your force. To obtain the three
things desired, it's essential your naval es-
tablishment comprise ships of different Iates.
1t is e,'.'ent too from the documents. that
you economist in men and money. by provi-
ding some of the larger ships. This conciu-
sion So well fortified b, reason, is found i'll
unison with the practice Of I'll natl ~ Tho
have had the fiscal md other means Hf roa.
curing "a navy. Indeed it would seem l.
most he spontaneous effect Of instoct,
without the aid OF reason, 70 oppose Ike
with like. T. ye'd he adj, an,age OF She
sabre, the bayoDet, or FIRE arms, to you en-
envy, would by all men be deemed miser.h e
policy. Can reason change with the c'e-
men Let us then have for defence 70, Sc
and II gun ships: because we are 2p oss 4
to an enemy possessing all these means Of
attack, and because they combine al advanr-
tagcs III naval warfare. X is not the ten
ton of your committee toPut aside the gun
boats /, but they believe that considering the
= opportunity afforded them for action, THAI
All ample portion of that species of force has
been provided. Your committee cannot
, conclude their report without bringing to the
view of the House the fact, that the nav al
s superiority of Great Britain, which secures
, her integrity and supports her dignity, is
y maintained at a cost much below the military
: establishments of the continent. And it is
j with something like ezultatiOn, as republi
s cans, that they present a species of national
II force that, whilst it will best subserve TIC
national defence, can operate least on the
national liberty. Ii is a bright attribute 10
= the history Of the tar. that nc has never do
j. stroyed the rights Of the nation. In its de
fence only is he to be found. Thus, aided
n by economy and fortified by republican
1t principle, your committee think they ough
strongly to recommend that the fostering
D, care Of the nation be extended to the nava
establishment il is far, very far from youi
a committee, to extend their views OF a nav
n TO the mad and wicked prospect Of foreigi
d, conquest, or a silly contest TO DC mistress o
the ocean. Their view is limited Co thei
IN own defence, and TO enforce respect 20 thei
p just rights. To The objection that It Is Oh
70 nature Of man To- run into extremes, the
~ answer, that it is the end, not the beginning
ny we should guard against. IL is surely yield
0 ing much of the argument 70 surrender a
AZ Of the subject that IS good, and require sut
rJ mission to evil that good may come therco
h, Rather separate the wheat from the cha!
show the god and the bad. Let IL 81 iH
p eSsed on every citizen, that 90 use force
project and maintain the rights aud ,ijs .ti'
of his country was his hrst duty whilst
is the greatest " crimes 20 attach With torC
tile rights o. olhgsS