Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-22

,,, ,,o;.,s we'll secured land surely posssss am:
,ly the means OF rendering them SOY the 'nGGce-
in,nts,o taaia,ein eQuadTon upon our co.'s, ~Nulu
no 80 Sminshrd-ihe difficulties, incoHveiiiencos,
and hazaris would be numerous and go serious
tina, an enemy, even ono physically and numerically
superior in force of ships, would find ms inter
est 20 avoid Sach un attempt.
The history Of our Revolutionary war, and our
experience during the last war wth Great Britain,
indicate these two positions too clearly for them TO
be mistaken.
Our past snfferings almcnish US, The, the Chesa-
pcake BAY and the waters near Rhode Island, arc
vulnerable points; but while tins Is admitted
there is eat satisfaction i'll the reflection that thcy
, known 20 % susceptible ot perfect defence
and from their relative positions each other their
accessibility at all times to ships of the greatest
drau"ht Of water and their greater raugcot anchor
Inc grounds than axe afforded by any other aT5"cs
ON uur whole limo OF coast they FORM III the opinion
I OF tho Commissioners, the most Important and
desirable points for he general reHd cZvOuS OF cur
I Navy. III peace as we'll as in war; and these, they
think, wouli, III every view, be the most ,ndicionS
luCations for chief naval dcpOts.
The central position, thc uliduess and saluhri'y a
the climate; the acilil's of irgress and egScss ana
the almost iucxhaustlbc supplies of ship timber al
t1rle by the Cncslpcis AMI Its tributary streams,
tender 1t superior TO any DINER place Cur whole
line Of for great naval station ana depot; and
next, III tn" order eft ImpoctaHce for such purposes
is Newport, Rhode Island, or some ether spotm Mar
ragHpsrtt Day
Aside Of all ,hc considerations winch recommeut
these tl" m'si important Positions for naval de
aud ici'it,es they afford Tor the rendezvous OF ships
there are other views which strike MINDS wltt
Increased force aa interest and conduct US To similar
conclusions.
l.ct Sir for ruoncnt, cont plato state o
way. and suppose these 10 be the general rcuGe~1ou
, of our GUerdi Costa, consisting 1T line OF Gotl
ships aided hy steam batteries. These, cooperating
! wiih the permanent iorthca ions, progress
would place those points in state Of security, un
enable lis to protect extensively, II not e"ciuRiy
Our inacd cpa-ting radc and 20 render invasion dit
Ii nit and hazardous AZ any point, aai probably Im
e prac .caor & post-wlIlc oar trgatrs, sioops q
war. and s;ualc- vessels. smiling thence. they
,.O,!l 81 -.ly Cc 1t l.i tGcs, and returning,
they M -ht, IN III winds would annoy t,.r commerce
f OF enemy IN distant seas, his
I snh at the mouths 81 his harOors-to proCct winch
h. would necessarily bc obliged to draw the larger
part of his force from f Stationed there
C We might thus compel nm to the defensive
Il whIi' chances of our and ohcr els
safely returning port, would be greatly incroas-
y ed The imOorjaucs at Navy, does not depend 20
much upon the number OF ships as uDyn their SIZE
and efficiency, and judcious disposition ut thtm III
reference 10 our own protection GSd the annoyance
= OF an enemy To the Ereatest possible extent.
la time OF peace onr SHIPS cIlify tns. of c line and
gaies' ought " be did ZIP situations where they could te
most easily unne aud their services readily conmanGet
M defensive operations against snemv coming suddenly
first Intelligence Of MS declared against In
-. % .e s"n-c' positions rr.cei ~ AGAIN p.-
devious "i or NaJ1cweeV the Chesapeake and Newport,
each beir- accessible easy Of esess and ress
Junction oi tcc stationed dent mi-i generally II
all unic, DE eicctci 10 less han 10 hours rhs a
ls' OF vast Importance, not possessed 10y any other por
III iI' tie TnazoLs of sh1s o az whole
TIME iputr Between Boston aid The Chesapeake, iotn
ten days, longer tiIne but Winds aud
iucnicnanle TO-" 81, loo a. te, .oIs on,i I ot'f w
mei, no; be able get of lie naIbor q Boston
| Yards and what shall he done with rhens
AT Boston, the buildings and nnPro, highly
pc and lie ccok progress al that yard, makes desa-
bic thai -houd be retained an aux,las establishment
mechanics, and other Affords give ii facilities IN
''e %" !"s ari repairing Of shiPs Il understood
cna! IS IN contemplation between Massachusetts Bay and the
waters OF Rhode island and should york be completed
% scale soien extensive to admit the passage Of
Batteries aud Soops oi War would heonc highly important
as presenting the OF aoTdng additional protection 10 our
whole line Of coast last Of Cape COD and Nantucket
Shoa by direct safe; aad speedy communication, between
Boston and Newport while bound TO Boston
woun olen particularly ntme ~ war, avail themselves OF
channel to reach their destined poI For ships reudez-
No sing at or near Newport, Boston might us relied
Ihsls many Of Tie necessary supplies that may be required
either during peace
As has heretofore os,crved Portsmouth New Hamp
s sdNle 1" particular objections; aud MS remote position
and Boston intervening, deprive auy advantages n ht
thlatelpa, and Pensacola neither Of them ea arces
sehe " latter cannot be by ships great
Inc yad Washington les bcs. a5:a....i q, cr-., OK
pense possesses fct"res Of chain cables anchors cam
advantages attach To ulrsc valuable factories, being conducted
under the immediate eye % Goyemnrsniand although like
FnH;hrpha, II does not afford sufficient depth OF wafer Ia
a' VIC passage oil ships OF heavy dau-i wtl t.cr guns and
Sn on 3'fId yet stu considering s with tie
o. e sest class tOwed ampi0u Roads or Nor
ioH by onmmpn steam boats, Wi be- see that ii - not de..
iute 81 advantages, building yard If viewed In c
5i OF Az auxiliary 10 larger and important establish
= ihei1, 10 me lower waters % the Chasa pedaC.
Upon tie whole with respect iir number Of wards, view
s Inc question 90 all ~ aspects tic Commissioners ni the
'"'Y, with great Ceecnce. submit Tie Opinion hat win tho
exception Of the yards al Boston, Wasfugion and Nof,b
aus a'nsf near tie Ggi OF Neyico (ruuripay rs place f
"e oepl't o. sorrs I'll our other va ,t n the coure
"l c" year, taH0@Irg u,- to feipj,e the .i,, r l,
dispfned With, wiiou injury the Naval seyicr-proyIdcd
an establishment bee made Newport, Rhode island Tina,
' plates ~ general rendezvous, peace 80 war stnuf
be Que Cine apedc Bay and at or near Nc,yp9r
mat TIE yard al Washington should be a. an aiy ly
10 ie O"ednd tnat AZ Boston auxiliary to the ot.r
And The opinion IS condeuty entertained fiat ecunon, and
cr'ncy would I've greatly promoted by such arrangement
as 10 tho most ADVISABLE position Newport, slstcto
Tj judgment caunD be formed until thorough ar minute
eNdH'" 90" slah have been made Its Known L re are
{ O. preference.
Vim regard ",tc preservation " shin. fro ori,nsry rc
nc INJURIES arising from climate" much has been .ai and
wuen by men Of practical uoruaou and many tbc1rc,
til exist the subject IL begtd however that al .
CLIMATE om the Chesapeake eastward, does not dsr I
as 10 Affect materially The preparation of ships am one Of
our yaIts more than az another that f ship be originally