Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-17
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
Richmond. Fs5ruary IA, lsl6.
F8E B.4Y OF .CHES.9PE.qKE.
Ne dsomez. jamais, ct seuve'H dtscpte-

We are glad to find that our Chief Executive
Magistrate has called the attention of the Gene
raj Government to providing eifectually for the
defence of the Chesapeake Bay. The extract an
nexed to this article constitutes part of letter
addressed by him to our Leg stature. on Monday
last, Feb IL. Experience, stern and melancholy
experience, has taught US in inculcations not to
be mistaken, that, whenever an external enemy
attacks us, his object being to barrass and de-
stroy, because the mpossibliity of conquest.ne-
cesssrily forces itself on his conviction, he begins
by surveying the resources and relative impor-
lance of the assailable parts of the Union, and is
naturally led, in taking such survey, TO observe
the immense benefits flowing not only to Firgi-
mia, but to the States in general from the foreign
and domestic commerce of the Chesapeake and les
waters-the opulence of the numerous ,ipuGrys
settlements in the lower parts of this Common.
wealth, and the comparatively unprotected state
of those settlements. The nation with whom the
United States have been at war, and are more
likely to be so, in the course OF time, than with
any other people fully understands the advan-
tRges of maritime trnnsportaton--whic imparts
wings to the assaant--which, at will, brings him
into contact with his prey-or, with eagle-like
rapidly, remove him from danger and chastise-
ment-and enables him, merely by shifting the
scene of piage, TO neutrIize aud deride, when
collected, those scattered means obedience which
To collect employs days, weeks, and mon his
The large rivers which ntersect Virginia, and
which in time of peace, bring commerce to the
door of the agrculturist and so happily favor the
great results of national industry, INVITE in time
Of war, The rude gpproach ofhostility and depre-
dalton.
When we consider the vast extent the shores
oSVirgiuia Maryland and PENNSYLVANIA, washed
by navigabe waters, and accessible through
passage Of few miles only--when we further
observe the produce Of The fertile country irr;ea-
ted by the Roanoke, seeking a market chiefly
4hrnuorl, Of yitart a..
probable, and we might say, certain connexion
between the Ohio and The Potomac--a connexiun
which will open FOR the Western States I new and
important outlet, especially in time of war, We are
necessarily and forcibly struck with the exped-
ency of efficiently guarding the passage alluded
TIVE mean the entrance of the Chesareske-
either with feet (Which would not exclude fix
ed defences )--Or with floating batteries of i'm
meuse, yet attainable rTength-Let an enemy
once penetrate into the vas basin formed by the
confluence Ofso many navigable rivers, and il be.
comes impossible effectually to protect every yrl
ners5le point. Movable batteries Of proper
structure, & ofsuch power as some modern Archi-
mides may iinpart to them, offer in our Oh mon,
the only sure and cOextensVe means ofdefencc
Through the Capes the Invader must come,
and through the CApes le must re,urn. Lookout
boats at sea might easily convey 10 these bate.
Ties, conveniently stationed, notice of his an
Proach and similar boats, in the Bay, give in.
formation OF his entrance, should he have eluded
the vigilance ofthe former. If the General Co
veTmnent should, contrary to our expectation,
refuse to provide Tor the object in view, the
combined resources oftwo opuIent States, Virgil
MIA and Maryland, are certainly adequate to the
experiment, whenever war shall again disturb
our now Peacssble slIores--and, surely, when the
mass ofannoyance, injury, and distress to which
the want OF marine protection may expose the i'm
Tnense extent Of asssFlable country, is considered
calculation decides in favor OF some such plan.
Forts, OF, IN other words, fixed batteries, can
protect few points only.-The Invader must
be met on his own element--ITe must either be
stopped between the Cspes--or pursued on the
water, IN all his incurvons.
Wefear this word is not English--Iet il then
hemsde SO Deflr cipitas Many other words
deserve naturalization; and our scruples On THIS
subject are very sles,dcr.