Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-29
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY e5.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 95.
THE SUPPRESSION OF PTR.9CY.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, submitted the
following resolution for consideration:
hesofued II nat the Committee on Naval Affairs
ne instructed 10 inquire INFO the expediency of pro
'd'ng ny law for the building of an additional num-
her OF soops of war for the protection of the com
merce OF the United States in the Gulf of NIexico
and INTO the propriey of employing one or more Of
the irsates or ships of war of the United States for
the same purpose.
In offering this resolution, Mr.. JoHSsoN
SAID, that he had introduced proposition
nearly similar in its character two wears ago.
but not having fully attained the object in
view. he considered it his duty again to call
the attention of the Senate to the subject.
mat an adequate naval force should be pro-
vided Tor the protection of our commerce in
the Gull OF Mexico, and To prevent the viola
tion oil our revenue laws on the coast of Lou
isiana and Florida, he presumed would no; be
denied. The Gulf of Mexico, he said. had.
Tor series of years, been infested by horde
of pirates, who had captured great number
OF our vessels, and murdered the crews of
many OF them in the most shocking manner.
The Expectations ofthese freebooters had not
been confined to the sea they have also been
engaged IN smuggling goods, and Introducing
negroes into the state of Leusiana. in viola.
ton OF the laws of the United States and
nave even been SO daring in their atrocities as
te commit robberies in the interior OF the
country, and 10 carry off the property of the
inhabitants. Those evils had prevailed IN an
alarming extent and called for the most
prompt and energetic measures to arrest them.
notwithstanding, he said, the decisive steps
recently adopted by the government for the
suppression of those pirates, and notwiih-
standing the achievements Of our naval Off
GERS employed IN that service. vet we hear
almost every day of recent acts Of piracy.
by letter from Havana, nf the e2d or last
month, we are informed that two American
vessels had Just been captured near the island
of Cuba, by two piratica schooners. and bar-
ges, with thirty or forty armed men that the
pirates had robbed ore of the vessels, and held
consultation whether they would not muir
der the crew and that they stated TO the
crew, that they had the day before burnt the
other, which was brig from Baltimore, to
the waters edge, after having robbed and
murdered the crew. Do not these mopstrous
atrocities call for the exercise of more enerr :
on the part of the government? He said
that he was happy to perceive, thai at length
those Expectations seemed TO have aroused
the indignation of the whole community and,
in fact, every part of the Union is equally in
terested IN suppressing them. Mr.. j. said,
that 1t is not the commerce of the city Of New
Orleans, the great emporium of the west, that
is alone exposed: but every vessel employed
IN the coastlng trade is subjected to great risk.
lie made some remarks showing the exposed
and detenccless situation of Louisiana OF
the immense revenue accruing to the United
States from the commerce ofthe citp of New
Orleans, and ofthe obligations of government
to protect it. He added, that it was extraor-
binary that more had not been done for the
defence ofthe most exposed and important
section ofthe Union. But he would admit,
he said, that the most important Notifications
for the defence Of the country had been com
menced under the direction Of the President
and Secretary of War, which had been sus
pended in consequence Of Congress having re-
fused 10 make the appropriation necessary to-
enable the agents of government to act with
effect, and To guard against the repetition Of
the evils which had occurred, an additional
number of small vessels should be employed !;
and few Shops of war should be placed I'M
der the immediate direction Of the distinguish
ed officer. Commodore Pattcrson,) com
manding the Orleans station. Mr.. j. said
that an able report on this subject, by Capt
Manage of the Navy, who had made a survey
of the coast, and the charts of the Gulf of
Mexico, had been laid before the Senate two
years ago that Congress then took the sub
Ject into consideration, and passed an act pro-
viding for the building Of five small schooners
for that service: not as many as was deemed
essential by the Secretary Of the Navy, or re-
by the report Of Capt. Ramage.
But, he said, that the necessity for an add-
tiona number since that time had greatly in
creased. Mr. j. remarked, that several Of the
piratlcal vessels, before alluded TO, had been
seen at the Havana, and lowering around the
Island ut Cnba, and that there is every reason
to believe that they were actually fitted out at
The Havana, and that the authorities there
countcnance the depredations committed by
them. Is IT not proper then, he asked that
one or more ofOur frigates, or ships of war,
should be dispatched to the Havana for the
purpose Of inquiring into this matter, and act
ng as circumstances may require? The APP
Dearance of several Of our large vessels, among
The West India Islands, would have the most
happy effect. But, said Mr.. j. the measures
hus suggested cannot be adopted without le-
slsIative provision. lie wished the subject,
therefore,, to he referred to the consideration
Vt the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. J. |
concluded by observing that the distinguished
Gentleman at the head Of the Navy Depart
nent, had uniformly manifested disposition !
o do all in his power TO avert the evils COM
,Iained Of
Mr.. SMIrH, from the Committee on the |
reported bill to alter the times off
folding the district courts Of Alabama which |
vas read.