Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-12-14

st,,es and Territories, and other citizens Of iE'
tetIigence and experience, upon the scknowi-
sdvs.l defec,;y. condition Of our Militia system,
and up,n The irnorovernents Of which it is sus-
eep,i6le. rhe report Of the Board upon tbis'
,iect Is also submitted for your considera'
tsJn.
In the estimates Of appropriations for the en-
suing wear, upwards OF hge millions ct dollars
will be submitted for the expenditures to be
paid from the Department OF War. Less than
two ifths of this will be applicable to the NAM
tenance and support Of the Army. A million
and half, in the form OF pensions, goes as
scarcely adequate tribute to the services and
sacrifices OF former age; and more than e.
quail sum, invested IN forthicatlons, or tor the
pre- oar siions of internal improvement, provides
Tor the quiet, the comfort, and the happier ex-
istence Of the ages to come. The appropria.
tons to indemnity those unfortunate remnants
OF another race, unable aiiket share in the
enjo, nents, and to exist in the presence OF CT.
yiiiration, though swelling in recent years to a
magnitude burdensome to the Treasury, are &c.
nersIly not without theii equivalent, IN protita-
BILE value; or serve to discharge the Union from
engagements more burocnsome than debt.
In ike manner, the estimate OF appropria.
tons for the Navy Department viii present ga
aggregate sum of upwards OF three MIL
lions ct dollars. About one halt OF these.
however, cover the curreAt expenditures Of
the Navy in actual service, and one half con.
stitutes fund of national property. the pledge
of our future glory and defence 1t was scarce
IS ose short year after the close of the late
wat and when the buFthen of lis expenses and
charges was weighing heaviest ufon the coun
Try. that Congress, by that act OF 29th April,
1876, appropriated one million Of dollars anna
ally, for eight years, to the gradual increase 81
tie Na1s.. At subsequent period, this snnu-
vi appropriation was reduced to halt amiilion
FOR six years, q which the present year is the
last A yet more recent appropriation the last
two years for building ten Sloops of War, has
nearly restored the original appropriation of
1916. Of a million tor every year. The result
is beiare Us all. We have twelve line OF battle
Ships, twenty Frigates, and Shops of War in
proportion; which, with few months OF pre-
paration, may present line Of floating tortif.
cations along the whole range OF our coast,
ready to meet any invader who might attempt
to set foot upon our shores. Combining with
system Of fortihcations upon the shores them.
selves, commenced about the same time under
The auspices Of my Immediate predecessor, and
hitherto systematically pursued, il has placed
IN our possession the most effective sinews of
war, and has left us at once an example and
lesson, from which our own duties may be IN
ferred. The gradual increase OF the Navy, was
the principle of which the act OF goth April,
1916 was the FIRST development 1t was the
introduction OF system TO act Upon the char
acter and history ofour country for an indie
finite series OF ages. 1t was a declaration of
bat Congress to their constituents and to pos.
terty, that it was the destiny and the duty of
these Confedered States, to become. in regu-
nj o. hy oil
a grea, Naval Power That, which they pro.
posed to accomplish il eight years. is rather to
he considered as the measure of their means,
han the limitation OF their design. They look. =,
ed forward for a term Of years, sufficient for
the accomplishment ola definite portion Ut ther
purpose, and they left TO their successors to fill
up the canvass ut which they had traced the
large and prophetic outhne. The ships OF the |
line, and frigates which they had in con.empla- |
ton, will be shortly completed. The time
which they had allotted for the accomplishment
OF the work has more than elapsed. 1t remains
for your consideration hoy their successors
may contribute their periIoA of toll and of
ire Assure Tor The benefit OF the succeeding age
in the gradual increas. of our Navy There
is. perhaps, no part otthe exercise OF the Con-
stitutonal Powers of the Federal Government,
which has given more general satisfaction to
the people of the Union, thst this. The sys.
TEN has not been thus vigorously introduced,
and hitherto sustained, to be now departed
FROM or abandoned. In continuing to provide
for The gradual increase OF the Navy, it may
not be necessary or expedient to add for the
present any more 10 the number OF our ships,
but should you deem it advisable TO continue
the yearly appropriation OF hal! million to the
same objects, it may be proftably expended in
supply OF timber to be seasoned;
and other materials for future use; IN the con-
strnction OF docks, or in laying the foundations
of the School for Naval Education, as 10 the
wisdom of Congress either of those measures
may appear to claim the preference.
OF the small portion of this Navy engaged in
actual service during the peace, squadrons have
continued to be maintained in the Pacific o.
cean, in the West India Seas, and in the Me-
diterraneans to which has been added a small
armament, to cruise on the Easien coast of
South America. In all they have afforded pro-
lection to Our commerce, have contributed to
make eur country advantageousy known to
foreign nations. honorably employed multitudes
OF our sesmen in the service of their country, |
and have Injured numbers Of youths OF the RI |
sing generation 10 lives of manly hardihood and !
OF nautical experience and skill. The plracies !
with which the Yves: India Seas were for Sc
veral years infested have been totally sup
pressed. But, in the Mediterranean, they have |
increased in manner affective to olher nations
and bat for the continual presence OF Our |
squadron, would probably have been distress |
ing to our own. The war which has uRfortu. |
nately broken cut between the Republic of
Buenos-Ayres and the Brazilian Government, |
has given rise to very great irregularities among
he Naval officers OF the latter, by whom princ. !
pies ~ relation to tleckades, & to neutral navi- !
CATION, have been brought forward, to which we