Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-12


effect was disastrous, since il never failed TO
draw out the whole population on each side,
and to Sscpit in the field while the squadron
remained there. The expense attending this
species Of defence, with the exposure of the
Inhabitants, and the waste Of property, may
readily be conceived.
| The occurrences which preceded the war,
and those which attended il, were alike repleie
with useful instruction as to Our future policy.
Those which mark the first epoch, demonstrate
clearly, that, i'm the other powers, we can rely
only on force for the protection of o,,r neutral
rights. Those of the second demonstrate,
with equal certainty, that, in any war in which
we may be engaged hereafter, with a strong
naval power, ths expense, waste, and other
calamti,s, attending il, considering the vast
extent of our maritime frontier, cannot fall
unless il he defended by adequate FORTH
cations and suitable naval force, To cores
pond with those which were experienced in
the late war.
/ Tw,' great objects are therefore to be re-
garded in the establishment Of an adequate
naval force The first, to prevent war, SO far
~ it may be practicable the second, to dimn.
lsh its cahmities, when il may be inevitable.
Hence, the subject Of defence becomes init
rnately connected in all its parts, in war aud in
peace, for The land and at sea. No govern
ment will be disposed in its wars with other
powers, To violate our rights, lift knows we
have the means, are prepared, and resolved,
20 defend them. The motive will also he
Diminished, if it knows that our defences by
land are So -e!l planned and executed, that
an INVASION OF our coast cannot be productive
| of the evils to which we have heretofore bee
exposed.
1t was under a thorough conviction of these
truths, derived from the admonitions Of the
late war, that Congress, as early rs the year
1916, during the term of my enlightened and
vntuOus predecessor, under whom the war
had been declared, prosecuted, and terminated,
digested, and made provision for, the defence
OF our country, and support of its rights, IN
peacea as well aslnwar, by acts, which authorized
and enjOned the augmentation of our NAVY.
To prescribed limit, and the construction of
suitable Notifications throughout the whole
extent OF our maritime frontier, and wherever
else they might he deemed necessary. 1t is
10 tne execution OF these works, both land
and naval, and under thorough conviction
that, by Fastening their conpeIion,I should
render the best service 10 my country, and
give the most efectual support to our free re-
publican system-of government that nv hum
bic faculties would admit of, that / have
devoted SO much of my time and labor 10 this
great system of national policy, since | came
INTO This Office, and shall continue to do il, I'M
I'll my retirement from it, at the eud of your
next session.
| The Navy is the arm from which our gov
eminent will always derive the most aid in
support ofour neutral rights. Every power
engaged in war, will know the strength of our
naval force, the number Of our ships of each
class, their condition, and the promptitude
with which we may bring lbem into service.
and will pay the due consideration to that
argument. Justice will always have great
weight in the cabinets of Euro pc but in long
and destructive wars, exigencies often occur
when press 80 vitality on them, that, unless
| the argument of force is brought To its aid. il
will he dlsregard-d. Our land forces will al
ways perform their duty in the event of IS ar !:
but they must perform it on the land. Our
navy IS the arm which must be principally
relied on for the annoyance Of the CONNIE, ce
of The enemy, and for the protection Of our
own and, also, by Corporation with the land
forces, for the defence Of the country. Ca
pable OF moving in any and every direction, it
possesses the faculty, even when remote from
I our coast, of extending its aid to every inter
EST on which the security and welfare of our
Union depend. Annoying the commerce of
the enemy, and menacing, in turn, il, coast,
prorldeh the force on each side is nearly
equally balanced, 1t will draw its squadrons
from our own and, in case of invasion by
powerful adversary, by land and naval
| u.
ought to he provided against our navy may,
by like corporation with our land forces,
render essential aid in protecting our interior
from incursiOn and depreciation.
I The great object, in the event of war, is to
stop the enemy at the coast. If this is done,
our cities, and whole interior, will be SECURE
For the accomplishment of this object, our
notifications must be principally relied on
by placing strong works near the mouths of
our great lnlets, IN such positions as TO com
I Dand The entrances into them, as may be
done IN many instances, it will be difficult. if
not impossible, for ships to pass them, espe-
clally " other precautions, and particularly
that of steam batteries, are resorted to- in their
aid. In the wars between other powers. into
which we may be drawn, in support of our
neutral rights, IL cannot be doubled that this
defence would be adequate to the purpose
intended 10y IT nor can il be doubted, that
the knowledge that su0ii works existed, would
form strong motive, with any power, not
to invade our rights, and thereby contribute
essentially To prevent war. There are, il is
admitted, some entrances into our interior,
which are of such vast extent, that it would
be utterly impossible for any works, however
extensive, or well posted, 20 command them.
Of this class, the Chesapeake Bay, which is
An arm Of the SEA, may be given as an exam
pie. But, in my Judgment, even this Bay may
be- defended against any power with whom
we may be involved in war as third party, in
the defence of our neutral rights. By erect
! InS srnng works at the mouth Of James river,
IN both sides, near the Capes, AS we are now
doing, and az Old Point Comfort and the Rip
R'ps, and connecting those works together by
chains, whenever the enemy's force appeared,
| placing in the rear, some large ships and