Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-29

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si9n aud try to prevent it; aud that awful tug5ear
me Pre''oas question: has received its full share Of
pcung, IN The course of this discussion Gentlemen
meeo not lay the haering junction to their souls
hat we lear their speeches We perhaps not quite
asstrong believers in the magical influence of spceches
as some other gentlemen-for believe that the
people determine the merits of their servants not by
tner 'SPeeehes, but by their acts We had a fine spe-
cmen oil the potency of speeches years ago. when
was SO confidently foretold that your canals would
soon DC "a solude and your lakes desert waste of
waters: The evanescent influence of speeches was
tr,umPhantiy shown by The pronpness and facility with
winch discriminating and indignant people averied the
bght, with which the to be- forgotten panic max
es of that day attempted to blast all their prosperity
But is it true, that gentlemen here who belonS TO
the minority have unreasonably and arbitrarily pre-
vented from making their speeches? Who have made
mencemen OF this session? Certainly the majority
The minority have made and published more than three
times as many volumnous set pamphlet speeches. the
majority, and all candid gentlemen will bear witness
n s gentiemen OF the minority have consumed their
nun .n",s of ,e nnc and attention of this House. in
The incidental debates that have sprung up since our
session commenced. Gentlemen of the minority are
already beginning To lecture the majority for not execu
ng the business OF the House, but take special care
NJ the same time TO inyeigh most Indignantly against the
previous question. They tell u.s. that little or nothing
has as yet been accomplished, and that the majority
VIII DE heid responsible. How pass bills If
gentlemen viii eiernay talk about them and what tho
remedy for this retardng talking disease but the pre-
vous question? | hope, sir, that the vocabulary of
epithet will longer be ransacked to find terms strong
enough to characterize the previous question" and
that after subject has been fairly debated that every
gentleman must have made up his mind to its me-
rIts, we shall witness scruples about the ex-
ercise OF the most saluary power with which legis-
dve body was ever invesed and if gentlemen by this
means lose the opportunity of making their speeches
for the Benefit of their constituents the remedy is full
and an easy Let them write off their speeches and
prnt them We have high authority in the honorable
gentleman from Massachusetts, in my eye, (NIr
Adamsn for printing unspoken speeches; and am
certain that II Is not decidedly the best mode Of deliver
ing them to the nation and 10 the world for have long
thought, that speeches made for any practical pur,
pose but To produce conviction here.
But 1T high time that should take
sident-making portion of the speech of the honorable
The subject before the committee Preliminary
however, to the views propose to submit will pre-
mise that there is one circumstance connected Will III;
discussion which is indeed fair subject of coneratua-
ton II this, sir that in all the speeches which have vet
been made there has been demonstration of hostility
to yorr navy no seeming unwllngness make liberal
appropriations towards fostering and chershnp it,
This is, sir, it should be- Our position our habits
our enrrrze our pursuits and the experience have
already had as nation, plead loudly, eoquenty, and
most lrneslsby, the of the navy We are alrea-
dy tile second commercial nation the globe; soon We
ry soon, we snail be Tue rSt The history Of civilized
nations tells u.s. that 10 carry extensive and
cessu commerce for long series of years. without an
efficient navy to defend and protect it, is lust as limos
sbe it for the fruits of the earth grow without
the and rains of heaven and nourish them
The pirate must be driven from the The refined
European, the Turk and the Hindoo the barbarian and
the native OF the remotest islands OF the Pacific must
be taught respect your flag There place the
habable globe where may not be the evidences of
American genius and enterprize and wherever the Anne
rican citizen pushing his lawful adventure bring
new treasures into the country there ought you be
able ii necessary TO cheer his onward course by dis
playing the stars and stripes of his native land. Your
navy should be put upon footing strong enough to
vince the world that IT is not mere empty bravado when
you proclaim the moito mittionS for Defiance not
for tribute"
The honorable gentleman from Tennessee M Bell
seems 10 think that have many navy yards to
consist with the economy and efficiency of the service
The utility OF having number of navy yards located
al"ng coast like ours must be obvious TO every gem
teman who viii Oes,ow upon the subject little refiec.
ton. The honorable gentleman from Maine chairman
OF the naval committee, (Mr JarvisD has ably and
trlumphanty demonstrated it, and has anticipated most
OF the considerations which had intended urge upon
this point. We have vast extent of coast with nu-
merous and large estuaes and very much exposed to
an enemy in time of war, whether he be powerful or
comparatively insignificant. The object OF your navy
yards IS to build and equip your ships, enable you
keep hand at proper Places suitable supply of ma
teras for repairs and manufacture of vessels of war;
and il necessary furnish shelter for the vessels he
longing TO navy, and to afford them every possible
facility to refit and enter again upon their cruzes
There are II seems two kinds of depots necessary,
building and manufacturing yards aud those for repairs
and equlppng; and OF the yards we now have
are exclusively devoted TO the other purpose and
some TO bch and the attention that have been able to
besow upon the subject, has convinced me, that we
could reduce the number of Yards without pre-
Judice to the public service. If we had but or two
yards, and to get into with of the great
naval powers of Europe the enemy would at invest
those naval stations, and prevent vessels from coming
or going out Suppose that in the event of with
such great naval power, suddenly breaking out, had
but two naval depos and eight of vessels
upon cruise of four FIVE and six months or wear
The first movement of the enemy would be to invest
those stations Then, how could your vessels enter 10
reft repair? This conld no! &c ie case if we had
several naval stations scattered along the would
not be possible for any of the great val powers TO
blockade all of them eecually But, it is asked why
has not Great Britain increased her satons9 The
honorable gentleman from Maine, (Mr Jarvs0 has
shown you that Great Britain has the number
of her navy yards, but if she had not would mill
tate against the necessity of maintaining at least six
or seven. The same do not exist for the in
crease Of the naval depos Of Great Britain that seem
TO indicate the necessity OF maintaining
number have. Our navy yards a-e or should be-
located in reference to the facilities that may exist for ac
curing the particular material which to be used al the
particular station They should be located in reference
TO proximity 90 timber, and other materials necessary
be used Not 20 Great Britain She gets her timber
from the Canadas from Norway and from other quarters
of the Globe and from her nsular position one station
IS about convenient another, in regard materials
required her naval depos Nor need she increase her
naval stations for fear Of the exposure blockade Of
very limited number She has naval force enough 10
project them and 10 always her ships free in
gross and egress. If England, them had adopted the
policy represented hers by honorable gentleman
different os IS our positions and of de-
fence, 1T furnishes IN faUOr Of foliooinQ IT,
The bill now under consideration, Mr. Chairman, pro-
poses works, navy yards. The amount
proposed 70 he appropriated is rather larger than usual
and far IT exceeds the ordinary annual appropra-
ton may be regarded and has been regarded as an ex.
aOrdnary appropriation, in the Of this debate
Following, then, the example Of honorable gentlemen
who have preceded me in this discussion may well
here any other OCCASION say what have 10 say
favor Of the course which intend to pursue upon pro-
positions involving extraordinary appropriations for the
permanent defence Of country Whether the parti-
cular item Of extraordinary appropriation be great or