Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-10

give li'iie ior thc cohecuon oi our regular troops,
militia, and volunteers, to that point, and there
by contribute essentially to his ultimate defeat
and expulsion from our territory.
Under strong impression, that Peace Es-
Establishment of our Navy is connected with the
possible event OF war, and that the naval force
intended for either state, however small it may
be, Is connected with the general system of pub
tic defence, have thought it proper. iii com,nu-
nicating this report, 10 submit these remarks OH
the whole subject. JAMES MONROE.
Washington, jim. 80, 1924.
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT..
Jcnunry, -, 1921.
SIR:-ln compliance with the resolution of
the House OF Representatives, oil the 18th De
cciubcr last, ''that the President of the United
States be requested to communicate plan for
Il Peace Establishment of the Navy of the Uni
ted states" have the hononr to present, for
your consideration, plan for recognizing the
naval establishment. Ii is Designed merely as
the project of bill, 10 exhibit the princi pies
which arc deemed beneficial III their applic;-
ton to the service, without regard to the words
or form of the law, should one be founded upon
1t; and is accompanied by variety of tables
and estimates calculated to explain and illustrate
its operation.
In fixing the naval establishment, the first OBJ
Gets OF atteDtionarc, the number and size of the
vessels whichare to be built, both for peace and
war; BY them the number and grade vi the
officers, aad the number and size of the navy
yards, stations, aud depots, must be regulated.
Considerations peculiar TO each of those natural
" come into view, but the whole must have C.
eahon the first object The management and
Il nnft
code of rules and regulations. adap cd TO the
character of the establishment Such a code
must be prepared, should this or any other pro-
lect be carried into execution; but as ii must he
founded upon the law, and be consistent with
ITS principles, 1t cannot be prepared until after
the law has been passed. To determine the
number and grade of officers of which the este
blshincnt ought to consist, it is necessary, first,
to ascertain the proper number and Importance
OF navy yards and stations, and the number and
class of the vessels which the situation of the
country requires to be kept in commission and
IN active service; aud, secondly, how many
ought TO be kept in readiness for state of war
The former will prescribe the limit below which
We cannot descend without i disregard OF the
public interest. The latter will exhibit a point
above which we need not rise. The former is
Indispensable prudence and policy demand that
we provide for the latter.
II Is believe! that the naval stations at Erie
and Whitehall are rot useful now, and that no
course oil events can Hereafter render them nc
ccssary to the public defence. Two only of the
vessels at Sackctt's Harbor arc worthy of pre-
scrvatlon, and they can be protected by few
| men. The two former of these stations NAV
| therefore be abandoned soon as the public
property at them can be disposed of or removed:
and the latter may be maintained on avery re-
duceds scale, at an expense of about 50 900.
| The three stations now cost, annually, about
| S27 600.
! When proper depots shall DO selected and es-
tabhshed, several OF the existing wards and sta
tons on the Atlantic board may be either alto
gether abandoned, or the expense Of them great
! lycnrtailed, by maintaining Z few officers and
men to minister 10 the wants of vessels which
necessity shall compel to visit them. either 70,
provisions or repairs. But, as there are vessel,
San the stocks at six of these yards, none of them
can, at this time, be abolishcd; but the expense
OF them may be somewhat diminished. Their
number and situation are well known. and their
ANIMAL cost may be seen by paper ID, annexed
| 10 the bill. In the report from this Department
at the commencement of the Session. the force
Is mentioned which it was proposed to keep in
commission during the present wear. and . bor.c
expressed that it might be found sufficient to ar
conplsh the protection and defence of our com.
rnercld and other interests. That force. how.
2ver,"as caicuIatcdf tor state of the most peace.
iul and friendly relations, and looked only TO fhe
interests then mentioned, without reference 10
the policy OF promoting the growth of the navy
or any OF those considerations which arise frc.r
changes IN our relations with other powers. u,
the propriety ofsuch disposition of our naya
force, as shall enabeu us to pass with least iniur,
from the attitude of peace to that of war: ant
| give TO our officers the skill and cxpcrienc,
which will mt them to defend and protect th,
| honor and interests OF the nation. In re-orran
| lling the navy, these considerations cannot b,
| overlooked. And it is belivcd that there is O.
nough IN the state of the world, and orr owr
situation, to prevent us from being unarindful o
them at this time. 1t seems to be our DUTY I,
keep such a force in commission, as will profec
all our scattered interests, secure the rcspect ~
other powers, and give active service sufHcien
10 qualify as many officers as will be required {,
command and manage the whole OF our vessels
when necessity shall call for their USE LONG
and active employment arc essential to give ma
val skill and experience; and. without them
our vessels are insecure, aud orr character. q,
nation, in danger OF being degraded. II were
better to have no ships, than to have them fiIIef
with incompetent and unskilful officers.
The following is the least force which If ,voulf
be safe to provide for, and keep in commission
and IN active service: In tic Mediterranean
one ship of the line, frigate one sloop of war
and one schooner: In the Atlantic, INCLUDING
our own coast the West Indies, the Gulfof Mexi
co, and the coast of Africa, one ship of the line
one frigatc, four sloops OF war, aud four scboon.
ers In the Pacific, one frigate, two sloops OIL
war, and ono schooner: For occasional services
IN which the vessels on those stations cannot be
employed, one frigatc, and one soop of warm
the whole two ships Of the line, four frirates
eight sloops of war, a:I six schooners. Nam
of these vessels Will be on distant stations IN