Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-12-09

People 10 him in return. Il will form hereaf
ter, pleasing incident in the annals OF our Uni
on, giving 10 real history the intense interest u
romance, and signai!y marking the unpurciI IA
bile tribute of great Nations social affections
TO the disinterested champion of the liberties o
human kind.
/ The constant maintenance OF =. small squad
ron IN the Mediterranean is necessary substi
tuic tor the iumiiaIing alternative Of paving
tribute for the security of our commerce in thai
sea, ana for a precautions peace, at the mercy OF
every caprice of four Bsrbary States, by whom
IT was Liable TO be violated. Az additional mo.
tive for keeping respectable force stationed
there AZ this time, is'found in the maritime wal
raging between the Greeks and the Turks and
Ia which the neutral navigation of tins Union i,
always fh danger Of outrage and depreciation -
\ few instances have occurred of such depre;la-
tons upon our merchant vessels by prvatcers or
pirates wearing the Grccian dag, but without
real authority from The Greek or any other Co
vernncnt. The heroic struggles OF the Greeks
themselves, in which our warmcst sympathies
as f'rccncn and Christians have been engaged,
have continued 10 be maintained with vicissi-
tudes of success adverse and favorable.
Si:nliar motives have rendered eXpelient the
| keeping of like force on the coasts of Peru
and Chill on the Pacific. The irregular and
convulsirc character of the war upon the shores
has been extended 10 the conflicts upon the
wears, with alternate success, though general
~ 10 the advantage of the American Patriots.
But their naval forces have not always been un
der Tie control of their own goyernncutS.-
| Biockadcs, uujustiiablc upon any acllnow eig-
cd principles of International law, have Lcen
proclaimed by officers in command; and though
hisaVo"cd by the supreme authorities, the pro-
eCticn o! our own commerce against them has
been made cause Of complaint and Of erroneous
I'npGtat!ons upon some OF the most gallant Off
GERS OF our navy. Complaints equally ground
less have been made by the commanders of tho
Spanish Royal forces III those seas: but the mos
effective protection TO our commerce has been
The flag, aud the firmness of our own command
ng Ulcers. The cessation ur the war, bv the
complete" Triumph of tie Patriot cause has re-
noVCd, 1t Is hopej, all cause of disscntion with
re party, and all ycstige of force of the other.
I but IN unsettled Coast OF many degrees of iaii
tudc, forming part of our own Territory, and
a iiourishinE Commerce and fishery, extending
10 the Islands of the Pacific and 10 China. still
eqnIlc dat the protecting power Of the Union
should be displayed under its flag, as w ell upou
the ocean a. upon the land.
The effects of the West lndip squadron have
been 60 carry into execution The laws for the
suppression OF the African Save H.ade: for the
protection ot oar commerce against vessels of
| piratica! character. though hcarag comm ,ssIons
rom e't!scT0i tie bcg,icnt parties: for IFS pro-
/ ieciion against open and InequIyncai pirates. -
| These objects during the present wear, have
bcen accomplished more e1cctuallv than at any
former period The African Slave Trade las
long been excluded from Tie Use of our flag:
aud II seine few citizens of oar country have
continued ia set the laws of the Union, as we'll
rs those Of Nature AMI Humanity, al defiance
hE perseyciU% IN that ahonirabe traffic, 1t has
teen Only by sAeitcnng themselves under tie
banners OF other nations, less earnest for the
ntul -. Il.
irregular pIiva!eers lave, within tho last year.
been III great measure banisled from ti:osc
seas; and the pirates Or months past. appear to
Gavc been almost entirely swept away from the
borders and the shores OF the two Spanish is
lands in those regions. The active, perseYcr
ing. and uareU;Ucd energy Of CAPTAIN War
r;ngton, and Of the officers and fnCn under Iis
command, Oh that trying and portions service.
have been crowned with signal success, and are
cr:tlcd 10 the appreciation ct their county
But experience has shown, that not even TEN
porary lsPension or relaxation from assidujly
can he INDUCED on that station, without re pro
ducIng piracy ana murder in all their horrors:
nor is 1t probable that, for years como, our i'm
Tenseiy valuable commerce in those seas
can navigate i'll security, without the steady
continuance of an armed force devoted to It's
protection.
IL were indeed vain and dangerous illusion
10 believe, that, in the present or probable con
dNlon OF human society, commerce SO exten
sIve and so rich as ours, could exist and be pur-
sued in safely without the continual support of
military marne-the only arm by winch the
power of this conGcderacy can be estimated or
felt by foreign nations, and the only standing mi
hary force which can never be dangerous to-
our owu l5cr;as at home. a permanent Ma
val Peace Establishment, therefore. adapted TO
orr present condition, and adaptable to that gi-
ganic growth with Which the nation is adrauc
ing in its career, is among the subjects which
haze already occupied the foresight of the las;
Congress, and which viii desc your serious
deliberations Our Navy, commenced at an
cariy period Of our present political organization.
upon scale commensurate with ihc incipicnt
energies, The sCaniy resources, aud the compa-
r2tiyc Indulgence Of our infancy, was, even tfcn,
found adequate to cope with all the powers Of
Bafbary, save the FIRST, and With one of the pru-
cipaI maritime powers Of Europe. Al a period
If further advancement but with little acces
sion Of The strength it not only sustained with
honor the most unequal Of conflicts, but cover
cI itself and our country wilh unfadinr GLORY
ijut it is OILY since the close of file late war.
that, b7 the number and force Of thc ships Of
which il was composed, il could deserve thc
nauc Of Navy. Yet, it retains nearly the
same organization as when it consisted only Of
five friratcs. The rules and regulations by
which il is governed urgently call for revision,
and the want of SaraI School of instructions
corresponding with the Military Academy at
West Point, for the formation Of scientific and
accomplished officers, is felt with daily increas-
ing aggravaiion.
The act Of Congress Of 10Th May, 32i, au-
thorizur an examination and survey Of the har
Dor Of Charleston, in South Carolina, Of 81.
M,rt's in Ccorri9 and of the co1st Of EI,ri-