Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-10-26
LIE My Of tie u. Statss.

w. ,.ocnlnt nd The following Letter. not only 10 Inc
s.c,sy Of the Navy. but to the country al large IL
.,,ren IN a ye,y superior style-and The graces OF
i .,n,o.,ion no, less than tie valne OF rs iacls
%, f,ily reward the attention Of the reader. The main
4 ,son wh;c, the writer discusses and presses upon
y, pspl6inc ap2raTs to US Qandubhers as we are)
r,rv feasible ana eypedient, that cannot but hope
zIli receive from the active and acute mind oil lie
,,esry thu, consideration TO which !, is entitled;
FOR THE ENG CiRER.
THE MARINE CORPS,
H. =, Ron JameS &. PauldtRg, Secretary 81 the Nary
II 81, Your appointment 10 the eminent station which
, may occupy was received with great satisfaction,
Il opy by the Navy but the Nation. Your well known
i ,,-sr 10. ability and hrmness raised general e1
,u,cn that from your energetic hand this important
i , cT the national defence would receive new I'm.
an efficient reorganization That il stands very
,,b in need Of renoYating Influence is unVfr-
ny c!r,.l.d About the causes OF this conceded dc'
~, i IS not my purpose here To enquire no TACT is
Zen, e. is repeat, generally admitted that The
>, .f the American Navy q speak not now OF the IN
6va character oi lis oitcers) has somewhat cecayed
lin, It's discipline is seriously impaired; lis energy
- diminished This is The 10 be regretted, since
-. maritime nations have lately given ncEeaseda at.
,,,n and efficiency IN this important instrument OF
,n.si stack aud defence. Eng land, especially, has
,,n, urua her ancient iaures She has been adopt
p. Improvements, repairing errors and adding 10 her old,
r resources amcnS others. iae mIshty power OF steam
-, Giant even in infancy. C"nreTsing lately with
.urt!shed American Just returned from abroad, he
+, wness the contrast between our apathy, on this
q7crant subject and the spirit The energy, the enter
.T1- O; the Governments OF ErtoPe-Partlcuariy that
Great Britain And yet. there we find men like
Duke Of Weliin gop. cf eminent ability and expert
.,s and moderation, upbraiting the Government for
iardInpss Of it: maritime polcy! France, although
seemed 10 have been actually driven out OF the wa
Nv her ancient rival, has turned her pride chiefly to
IA, regeneration of science which has pToduceda Jean
Ill snG DuEay 1roGin and, should we ever come In
/ ,.piarl
wears ago she would certainly be very formidable
,rrary Russia, too, has emulated her example, and
intelligence and hardihood, her navy is not TO be sur
iss"G SHAT has become O! the enthusiasm which
zee filed the breast Of every American, at the bare
r. n'l,n Of the Navv' Il has vanished and been
,,cr by apathy which is unaccountsb!e as II Is
n,sc and reprehensIbe. Instead Of quarrellng about
ae causes personal or political, Of this melancholy
DANCE c the efforts Of all be directed 10 renovae the
r restore the energy OF that gallant Navy, whose
nors are Yet fresh and green, which has ven such
sfac'e, the nation, and which is essential TO lis
lpspeIlly lis Defence nay its very political existence
10 YOU, ST. II you understand your position and are
rual 10 IT, reserved The noble task OF regeneratng
S"vice with which Won have been much Connected TO
sbrh your early talents were devoted, aud which ap
a' so strongly 10 the pride aud patriotism OF every
7-r of his county A of honorable ambition
sold mol choose better opportunity TO sgua!ze him.
81 and hereafter
But nv particular object in addressing you a, present.
10 call your attention TO thai neglected branch of the
'Gcs The Marine Corps. To expaliate upon its ne
H'r o. merits, would be supeIiiuous. As guard
police for ships and yardsas important auxilla
naval actions peculiarly efficient in military CO.
ta!on and in descents upon the lane, il would scarce
4 b. possible 10 e1aEgera,e its utility. | know that
Je attempts have been made in service abolish
altogether. end that with few officers, principally
rid and inactive feeling adverse to still prevails
Bu; The unbiased suttages CT large majority OF the
cers and The long rprence Of all naval powers
crldety against innovation novel, hazardous,
III tnI L., md
"r al is safest 10 follow, such project would be
crmed loo absurd for serious attention In service,
4 w"sre one.thrd IF oil these employed marines,
lch design would be regarded in the same light as
rmrg'ajrg third 0t the human body IL is very
c0aJlI whether idea of the kind has been
oa'ted even in the long history Of the British navy
tJqs PER mae Per trTanR to adopt the devices OF
ne mg5mc corps, The services Of marines have been
- signal and important to Justify such scheme for
moment The maritime history Of England is full Of
achievements. 1t is not perhaps generally known,
a. one Of the most brilliant exploits Of the British
'"s-i mean the capture Of GlbraaI-was accom-. |
SHED by The effective assistance Of marines. The
"N msy he asserted OF The conquest Of Mnorca in the
e part Of the last century A; the celebrated siege
btis!c, the marine corps covered itself with glory.
iS' US not forget the damage inflicted upon BY this
Sn IN tescents from the British squadron, which
'Ged lhe Potomac in the last war; the fact, that
''s''he only resistance made by the gallant Ina.
s Blade n>burg, under the command OF the veteran
'h"'y Within the last few years, The naval coope
Non OF England with The Queen Of Spain, stipulated |
BY the Qradruple Treaty, has been effected chiefly
iAe employment Of marines Nay, more: At Tier. |
'a no, only he whole British legion, but the main
~! Of lhe Spanish troops, saved from total de-
G'i'n b: few hundred marines. Neither is our |
81 n''si history barren Of their exploits. AT Irpoli,
os'or' III Florida, and the Creek country, at Qnaila
'Hey have gwen signal proofs OF their courage
1 t"c'elcy' These few instances are cited oul OF
.nuteos that might be adduced Butt, would scarcely
sot a'a'sfy Sir. to recall TO your mind reasons
~, "I's " generally known and admitted.
"a" o iSiI fixed The marine establishment OF the
,1 SAFES al $50 men, and it subsequently raised
"V That tals force is not sufficient, may be easily
-'T H'Ua' a. Our seven principal yards, at Forts
.%1' Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington,
ok and Pensacola, require at leas, 10 sentres each,
Nni Of course. with their resie!s, daily guard Of
~ -'eh This guard, according TO military rule, can
IA his capacity but every third day, the two other
- ee;ng employed in drills, military exercises. and
nike service which gives ofcourse SO men; TO which,
ing noa commissioned officers musicians and arti-
~ IN The proportion Of an artillery rrgiment-say Is
,Hr'e''ss the number 10 1lS in active duty, and a
."e' allowance of ~ for the sick and those in con.
~eos Eases it to $780, which should be the full guard
@ Of each principal yard, of which there are seven,
..'!ng IN oil $40 men This calculation is very sim
. ."o upon strict military data The number Of guards
oy SHIPS al sea is not easy TO Tx, the estimates
4 * ,er1ns In the appropriation for provisions IN
a NaYy commissioners estimate for 662-and
a -,o, Tor 03o both being rather under the fact, as
81 "''', ''"iy, OLA HuHeito e"o 10y
s. "a'incs al sea, and Commodore Dallas has called
. aoa'Honal supply for the West India squadron, the
~ 4Gao''hs being also deficient the relief squad
l''"s, oi Course, force OF similar strength -
pQ,, doubled, and being added to tina, OF the
co,rs q, y,s on shore, gives in round numbers
the .s. .%N drmanhed by the rigorous exigences
nd ,r,, exclusive OF commissioned officers
trjII and t.cona force required at Washington, for
'eprss ~ instruction Of young officers and for emer
ss'c,,nd Inns caicual:on which all will admit TO be
g ,hnn "ras'r proves Tint the present marine esta
;.,-n,o' Tie American Navy is miseraby deficient
Aanbsss scaiccIy the skeleton Of an efficient corps
eops hs n "n derived from
a-n on ,is authorities. The strength Of the corps
Aa;g Ca neSis OF Banbridge, when President of the
,o s .,h,ss'3ners, in 1926, should be 29sl accord
So 29e e''s oil The Commissioners, 9Th December,
Of S.' mat adopted in Tie British servce-3432
,@ rs.'ia'e ., the Nary Department, for 1887