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

imposing force both land j. naval. In Il Csc parts
where the po;.Ilation was most dense, the pres
sure was comparatively light but there was
scarcely an harbor or city, ON any OF our great
inlets, which could be considered secure. New
York and Philadelphia were enmcntv exposed,
| the then existing works not being sufficient; for
Their protection. The Same remark is applca-
! bic, IN certain extent, 10 the cities eastward
OF the former; and to the condition Of the
whole country southwark of the latter, the c.
vents which u,ar>cd the wa. arc too recent to
rcq"rc detail Our armies and navy signa,ized
themselves in every quarter where they had oc-
caSion TO meet their gallant foe, and the militia
voluntarily flew to their aid, with Il patriotism,
and fought with 4 bravery which exalted the
| reputation o. their Government and country.
and which did them the highest honor. In what
ever direction the enemy chose TO move with
their squadrons and to land their troops our for
hhcations, where any existed, presented but lit
tic obstacle to them. They passed those works
without difficulty. Their squadrous. in fact.
annoyed our whole coast, not of the sea only,
but every bay and great river throughout It's
whole extent. In entering those inlcts, and
sailing mp them with small force, the effect
was disastrous, SINCE it never failed to draw out
the whole population on each silc, To keep it 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 it, were alike rcplete
with usctul instruction a> TO our future policy
hose winch mark the first epoch, demonstrate
clearly, That, III the wars of other powers, VIC
can rely only OIL f0rce for the protection of our
neutral rights, Those of the second demon
stratc, with equal certainty, that, IN any war in
which we may be engaged hereafter, with
strong naval power, the expense, waste, and
other calamitics, attending it, considering the.
vast extent of our maritime frontier, cannot fail
unless it be defended by adequate Notifications
| and suitable naval force to correspond with
those which were experienced in the late war.
| Two great objects are therefore to bc regard
| cd IN the establishment of an adequate naval
force The first TO prevent war, 81 far rs it may
be practIcablc the second, to diminish its ca
lamities,' when it may be inevitable. Hence
the subject OF defence becomes intimately con-
nectcd, in all its parts, iii war and in peace, for
the land and at sea. No government will be
disposed, lii its wars with other powers, To vio-
late our rights, if ii knows we have the means
are prepared, and resolved, TO defend ,hcn-
The motive VIII also lie diminished, if il knows
that our detenccs by land are so well PLANNED
andcxccutcd, that an invasion of our coast can
not be productive of the evils to which VIC have
! heretofore been exposed.
1t Wis uINitT Il tlD.bUIu C0nNiCilCn OF these
truths derived from the almonitons of the late
war, that Congress, as carly as tue wear 1916
during the term Of my enlightened aud virtuous
predecessor, under whom the war had been de-
ciared, prosecuted, ana terminated. dicestcd
and made provision for, the defence ofour coun-
t.y, and support Of lis rights. III peace us well
as in war: by acts, which authorized and enioiu-
~ the augmentation of our Navy, To a pre-
'cfibcd limit, and the construction of suitable
tprltcations throughout the whole extent of our
maritime frontier. and wherever else they might
be deemed necessary. 1t is to the execution Ct
these works, both land and naval, & under tho
rough conviction that, by fastening their compile
ton, should render the best service to nv coun-
try, give thcnosr cticctual support to our free
republican system OF government, that my hum
De faculties would admit Of that have deyotctis SO
much ofmy time and laharto this great system
"f national policy, since came into this Office
and sha! continue III do it, until my retirement
from it, nj the end of your next session.
The Navy i the arm from which our govern
ncnt will always derive most aid i'm sIpport O,
1ur neutral rights. Every power engaged in
var, will know the strength of our naval force
the number of our ships of each class, their con
h'on and the promptitude with which VIC NAV
bflnS thenmto service, and wll! pay the due coz
slucratlon 10 taat argument. Justice will al
ways have great weight i'll the cabinets of Eu-
rope; bat in long and destructive wars. ext
gcncies often occur which press so yitalIy on
them, that. unless the argument of force is
brought to Its aid, it will be disregarled Oar
land forces will always perform their duty in
the event OF war; but they must perform it on
the land. Our navy is the arm which must be
principally relied on for the ANNOYANCE of the
commerce OF the enemy, and for the protection
OF our own and, also, by cooperation with the
land forces, for the defence of the country
, Capable of moving in any and every direction.
it possesses the faculty, even when remote from
our coast, of extending its aid to every interest
on which the security and welfare of our Union
, depend Annoying the commerce of the enc
my, and menacmg, IN turn, its coast provided
the force on each side Is nearly equally balan-
ced, 1t VIII draw its sqladrons from our own :
and, IN case of invasion by a powerful adverse
fy, by land and naval force, which is ALWAYS
TO be anticipated, and oughtto be provided a.
galrst our navy may, by like cooperation with
our land forces, render essential aid in protect
ng our interior from incuIsion and dcpredo
ton.
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 forth
hcatious must be principally relied OH. BY pla-
eng strong works near the mouths of our great
lnlets, In such positions as to command the en-
frances INTO them, as may be done in many in
stances, 1t will be difficult, if not impossible for
ships to pass them, especially if other precau-
tons, and particularly that of steam batteries
are resorted to, i'll their aid In the wars be-
tween other powers, into which we NAV be
drawn, in support of our neutral rights, 1t can
r not be doubted that this defence would be ade-
qiatc to the PURPOSE intended nv II nor ,.,,, -