Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-10-19
From the Baltimore American.

Quarterly Review for June, of which we
spoke yesterday, is an excellent one on "Our
Navy" After reviewing, and justly con-
demning the niggardly policy heretofore
pursued by us in regard to the Navy, the in.
telligent writer proceeds TO make an estimate
of the proper armament to be kept in CON-
mission by us in time of peace. There are
no fewer than seven maritime nations which
maintain in commission navy superior TO
our own. These arc England, France,
Russia, Turkey, Holland, Sweden, and
Egypt. Such are however our naval re.
sources that only the two first could cope
with us in the event of struggle. The
Navies of England and France are there
fore made the basis of what ouls oughtto be-.
The Navy of England in commission for
last year amounted to fourteen ships of the
line, fifteen frigates, fity-one sloops.-
Twenty five briggs and schooners, ten sur
veying vessels and twenty armed steam
vessels. Within two years she can have at
sea six times the above force.
The Navy of France in commission, is
ten ships of the line, thirteen frigates, and
lightweight smaller vessels,-capable with.
in two years of being quadrupled.
Our Navy in commission will amount,
with the appropriations for its increase
already voted in Congress, TO two ships of
the line, seven frigates, fourteen sloops, and
seven smaller vessels. In year this force
might be extended to eleven ships of the
line, eighteen frigates, fifteen sloops, and ten
smaller vessels.
Here we see how great is the disparity
between our available naval force and that
of England and France. There is no cor
responding disparity between the relative
amounts of property needing protection on
the high seas. The property of England
ahoat may be estimated at from five to six
hundred millions of dollars F; that of France,
in her own bottoms, at less than three hun
dred millions and that of the United States
at more than four hundred millions. Eng.
land has one hundred and sixty-five thou
sand seamen France claims sixty-six thou
sand, and we have one hundred thousand.
The amount of force that we ought to
have is thus described by the writer in the
American Quarterly
1--WE think, then, with view to our re-
sources and the existing ornaments of other
nations, that our naval preparations should
be on scale suited to qualify us, within
five years, to put to sea with forty ships OF
the line, and an equal number of frigates.
One half of this force should be in condition
to sail within year, and of the other half
one portion might remain constructed OH the
stocks and the other in frames ready for
setting up. As a nucleus to prepare officers
and to some extent crews, for these vessels
six ships of the line, with twice that number
of frigates, and sloops and smaller vessels
in proportion, should be kept perpe.ually il
commission. This is the least force tina
could form q competent school for our navy
or to extend to our commerce in every sea
that ample protection which it demands, ant
secure j; in the earliest stage of hostilities il
foreign waters, from those depreciation
which have been 10 us the fruitful cause o
so many pcrplexities.
Of these ships. three of the line might b,
assigned to The Mediterranean station, tw,
to the Pacific ocean, where VIC have in
terests of great value at stake, and one Il
the Brazilian station. The frigatcs an,
smaller vessels should be distributed between
the stations above named, and the East an,
West India stations, where, for reason
principally connected with the climate, the,
may be more efficient and useful than larg
ships. Our maintenance of squadro
in the Mediterranean had its origin in tn
provision Of defence for our commerce
against the Barbary powers. Their piro
cies have been discontinued of late years i
consequence of chastiscment received fror
ourselves and various other nations. TIL
Mediterranean fleet has, however, still bee
continued, partly as precautionary displa
of force, but chiefly as forming an admirab
schoo! for our officers. The languages
most men in the intercourse Of the civilze
world arc spoken on It's shores, and tt
means and incentives to acquire them al
Is alike impaired to the officers Of our ShiI
!. which visit them. The shores Of the Med