The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-11-15


British merchants. We can fit out three or
tour OF these Tor the cost IF one sloop of war !;
even the smallest class were equal to cope
with any northumberland they were net
expected to catch frigates. They had been
compared to hawks. Making use of This
comparison. he said he had never heard of
hawk Catching an eagle. though eagles fire.
qoentiy caught hawks. For, he said, these
small vessels were not expected to encounter
frigates or sloops of war; He compared them
to the skirmishers of an army, who fight till
out-nuintered, and then retreat to the main
BODY. Our large vessels could not get in or
out, whilst these Flyers wcud defy the cruz
zers OF the enemy to blockade them. A phi
OF guns, he said was able to take
merchant ship CT 10 guns and only half Il
number OF men. de made some alusion to the
use OF hquid hre, to be used & spouted on the
enemy. Gentlemen might laugh, at this idea.
he said, but he had no doubt, if itwere made the
interest at the region from which the gentle.
man from Mass. Comes, the people in that
quarter would find the means Of applying this
Invention which had received the warm an
probation OF some men well skilled in nautical
war. IL these vessels carried too m any guns.
It would impede their sailing. This descrip-
ton OF vessels Baltimore Flyers1 reon;rt.d
to be trimmed and navieated in partse,,inr
way and he did not know, II the enemv got
POSSESSION OF one of them, but they would I'D.
set 1t from ignorance Of the manner of sailing
1t. " would be folly of an extraordinary
Kind, Mr.. w. said, to send our frirates
out Tor the purpose of fighting alone against
SO superior force us they must encounter
-ior even the french with their great navy,
n'.a oeen ooisea to lay 1t up when at war
with England, or else to send out souadrons
by stealth. As to these schooners, Mr.. w.
sad, they couid not be Caught Won m;eht
as we'll attempt to catch bird. They car
sail nearer the wind than square-rigged YES
sells, &c he knew enough of navigation To
Know that they could, in that way, out-sail
square rugged vessels. &c. He hoped there
fore, the gentleman from Massachusetts, would
SANCTION this bill as it stood, any thing in b;s
opposition to the war to the contrary notw;tb.
standing.
MT. 1o7v',des said he should vote against
this amendment. in expectation that the a.
mendmert suggested by Mr.. InsersolI wro,ld he
accepted. He was in favor of vestine a dis
erection N the executive as TO the precise
rate OF these vessels. Listening attentiveIy 10
the arguments, he could see no ground ON
"hich to Believe that the House were more
competent to decide the question as to The
proper rate of these vessels. * the nroner
number OF guns or masts they should carrv.
tnan the secretary of the Navy, to whom
therefore hewas disposed to consien this
question:. In respect to one point, the ca
pacity OF schooners to outsan sauare-ripged
vessels. he could say the gentleman from
Marylan was mistaken. He was informed
oy naval officer, than whom there was none
IN "nom more confidence might be reposed
Captain Perry that ne had never known an
instance IN which a brig of the United States.
had failed to overtake a schooner. The
origs OF the enemy might not be able TO over
take our schooners; but this difference arose
from the superiority of our seamanshiu
| without assigning the reasons which satisfied
! his mind of the expediency of a larger class
Oh Vesseis,h ne SAID he should vote against this
amendment, with a view to vote for one
which should leave wider discretion with
the Executive
ne question was then taken on Mr. Peed'e
motion TO amend the bill, and negatived, ayes
only 40
Mr.. InsersoH then moved to amend the
Dill by striking out ID, the maximum, and in
'erting y guns, so that the rate of the YES
sells should not fall short of eight or exceed
twenty-five guns.
The motion Mr.. ]. supported BY a speech
IN which he expressed his decided preference
TOR the larger class Of vessels He reviewed
the cruizes OF our frgates, pronouncing the
capture of the Guerrero BY RE Constitution
as having been more important in it's moral
effect. than all the cruizes of all our oriva.
teers put together and certainly the most
SihCiehI CTuiZe OF any vessel, great or small
had been that of the Essex. IF these vessel,
were intended merely to act as priyateers.
they had nothing to do but to take off the don,
bic duties on prize goods, and they would have
no occasion to employ public vessels on that
service.
Mr.. Peasants spoke in explanation. Fl.
had no objection to the amendment now pro-
posed, gong TO extend the Executive discre
ton, but that it woald Interfere with the bill
as 1t had been arranged with some care in
the Senate, and passed that body. The idea
OF di grace attaching to vessels from runni,p
from superior force, vas more romantic than
real On what principles ought naval COM
hanoefs, or even military commanders to
act Livery wise general, every prudent sc a.
captain, viii get out of the way of force too
heavy for him a ship flies a frigate, a fri
gate seventyfo &c. This objection he
thought, had as little weight as any otbsr
which had been urged.
The question on the amendment proposed
by Mr.. 1ngersoll, was decided in the afFirma-
tive by large majority.
Mr.. I'm. Reed then moved to amend the
bill, so as to put it in execution, {" as soon as
measures are taken to equip for sea such of
the larger vessels directed To be buDt by form
er laws, as are in such state Of foryardness
as that they may be equipped during the en-
suing winter"
This motiouh supported by speech Of
considerable length, in which nc expressed |
ant