The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-29

thS PoWST 10 IFOUfQc u navy Is not Only 81
ven TO the general government, but faken
zsuay or denied to the several states. In
adopting the constitution, this question was
considered at rest, and navy was deemed
the necessary consequence of this power
iii the Virginia convention, where great ia
Tents and ingenuity was displayed in the
debate, the point Was so considered, and
the objection rested OH that ground; the
consequence of adoption was supposed t. be
an unequal strengthening of the commercial
parts or the union. So deeply impressed
was President Washington with the impor-
lance OF navy, and so true to his duty and
the Just Claims OF commerce for protection,
that he could net consent to quit his high
station in the public councils without pla-
cling on record his sentiments for the good
| OF his country-this he did in his speech to
the Fourth Congress (second SESSION. in
language that we'll attests his wisdom and
paternal care and soicitude for his coun-
try. He recommended and urged the poll
cy OF navy i'll the strongest terms, and |
VIII not believe thst the hauing lesson OF
that great and good man will be lost to his
country--there is certainly too much res
pect for his memory to disregard his solemn
| advice and counsel on any subject. In this
policy Mr.. Jefferson also concurred at
period most suspicious to fair inquiry and
dIspassionatc judgment; it was before the
tempest OF party arose, to obscure the great
| luminary OF truth and blacken the political
| horizon.
| But it is now said that Agriculture, the
| farming interest, is not concerned i'll the
question OF navy-that it can receive no
bencht-that we have no commerce TO pro-
tect. This is strange language. Need |
here, sir, refer to first principles, common
maXlms, to shew how inseparable are COM
| merce and agricuiture-that they are en-
barkcd in one common bottom & must stand
| or fall together How is it possible that the
rich tide OF commerce should not reach and
| gladden. our fields ? What barrier is to OPP
pose-what partition wall to separate Flow
is the sun of prosperity to shine on por
ton OF the community and not on the other?
Commerce multiplies your towns and cities,
and your towns and cities both consume and
| export the products of the SOIL History from
the earliest period, and in all countries, at
vests, IN manner not TO be mistaken, the
| influence OF commerce. Surely, sir, COM
MERGE can never be Indifferent to the farm
ing interest. What have we seen in this
| hall within very few days? A proposition
| TO restrict the export trade was rejected
ence, again and again, and by whom an
swer, by farmers. 1t is impossible to mis-
take the springs Of action, which moUc cue
ry thing and put every thing in ohhosi.ion
20 rest What may be the sentiments of
| farmers in the gentleman's state (Mr. NJ
kec) l cannot say, but the farmers of New
YORK, not little exceeding in numbers and
| falling not short, l trust, i'm a knowledge of
their interests, call loudly fer a nQvy-they
insist on naval protection as hledged 10 them
! by the contact, they claim ne band Of voR
they strengthen the claim by pointing to
the heavy contribution to your treasury from
the port OF New-York, amounting for seve
raj years past, to about one-thrd of the
whole revenue OF the union-a revenue they
would never have yielded to this govern
| ment but from the fullest confidence that
the Far on commerce. would be QhIlEed TO its
protection. Had the impost of New York
been retained by that state, the state would
before this have been able to build a navy
superior to the present naval force. of the
union and the known sentiments of her citi-
zens would have impaired to the govern
ment the necessary disposition. Its impos-
siole not to see that, could that state have
| foreseen the course of the government i'm re-
lation to navy. the objection to a relin-
qulshment OF the impost would have been
greatly strengthened, and the adoption of
the constitution put i'll great jeopardy. 1t
was best perhaps that the future was hidden
from them; the advocates Of the constitution
great and powerful as they we're, had suffi-
| Gent obstacles to contend with. But it is
| objected that our ships of the line, few in
| number, will be overwhelmed by the Bri-
tish navy. answer, are not our frig2tes
equally exposed! Are not our ships OF the
line as well matched ag anst theirs, the
battle equal and fair, as between
our frigates and theirs /? If such are the
best arguments against the bill, weak in
deed must be the defence.
! 1t is further objected, that there is not
sufficient seasoned timber on hand for four
seventy tours. On this point every gentle
man must satisfy himself--my information
derived from source entitled to credit
leads me to the conclusion, that the de6ci
ency of timber will not be considerable. and
that the building OF the ships may with pro-
priety be commenced, & that what little j,
wanted may be procured in the progress of
the work. Iii obvious that this objection is
urged not for It's appropriate effect, the re.
duction OF the number Of ships to the guam
/ THY OF timber, but to defeat entirely the
| OBJECT OF the bill as to the ships of the line
the objection flows from a source far beyond
the aiiedged cause or justification.
! i will not, sir, longer tresDass on the pa
tience of the committee if gentlemen are
not satisfied, that the objections and argu-
ments heretofore relied on against Il navy
are invalid and grouhdlcss-that they are
swept away by the events upon the ocean
o. the last three months. nothing which I
can say will remove those objections If the |
mo;ion to exchange the provisions for shihs |
VI the line from the bill shall prevail, we |
fnuet Eics MIR ,-cd hard rc /. a., l. c,, ,,,