Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-02-07
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
DRY DOCkS.ss..5
Ian. lU. lS39

mT. lCheuS ToSt dlu Sdlu, tldtdS, WuCn
up before, he sustained this appropriation
in the original bill OF SiU0,UUO for a dry
dock al New York, he now felt, from the
range of discussion, disposed to make. a
few more remarks 10 addition 10 what he
had already said. He would first notice
what had fallen from tie gentleman from
Peuusy ylvania. Mr. Petrikin.] Thai gen.
tleman had given us very good lecture
on economy and Democratic principles,
and had thought properto extend a portion
OF it to him Mr.. Pickens. He was sur
prised to find gentlemen from the South,
that had heretofore been good economists,
ranged III suppor Of this appropriation
All this was good doctrine; ;and MIR. Pickens
only regretted that The gentleman's prac-
tice had no! entirely corresponded. with his
precepl. He, Mr.. Pickens.] had taken
that gentleman last session as his file lead
er on economy. The gentlemen had even
set his cue to the tune Of economy, that we
might follow iu his wake; but, sir, when
we cume to voting appropriations for the
Cumberland road, what was my aslonish-
nent when found my file leader, wheel
ing TO The right about, aud voting aye!-
And is this the gentleman 10 rise here now,
and read me lecture on economy, be-
cause | choose to support an appropriation
of SlOO,OU0, for a branch Of your naval
service, while he supported an appropria-
ton of near a million for the Cumberland
road!
will not condescend to institute COM
parison between the two objects. Sir, |
glory in supporting liberal appropriations
for every thing connected with your navy.
1t is the only safe aud efficient arm ofna-
tional defence in a free republic; and some
of the very gentlemen who will now vote
against this appropriations. you will find,
AT the close of the session, voting what
they have hereby saved. and millions
more, TO dig out harbors upon your inland
seas, where God and nature never intend
edIhal any should oe. Many gentlemen who
will now vote dos" such appropriations
as the present, will combine hereafter in
scheme Of legislation under appropriations
for your Cumberland road, your light
house and harbor bills, and your other
thousand miserable local appropriations,
by whch private spectators have been
enabled TO swindle the country out Of mil
lions of dollars. and yet all this is sound
economy!
The true and only questions, before the
committee are, is a dry dock needed al
New York, and is this appropriation fit
and proper! Upon these points there is a
concurrence Of sentiments ia those who
have considered the matter. Where can
such an establishment, with more propri-
ely be located than New York, the centre
of commerce and navigation, and not
withstaudug all her sins, in commercial
point Of view, the pride of the Republic? ?
We now lose, for want Of dry dock AT
that point, in two years. by the decay and
injury Of our vessels Of war, more than
would be required 10 construct the dock.
From the extreme Northern point on the
coast of Maine TO Cape Cod. from Cape
Cod to Capr Hatteras, and from Cape
Hat,eras to Cape Florida, and from thence
10 the Sabine, by examination Of the map
you will find between each of these promi
nent points, great bays or ldenturesin the
coast of the United States; and there
ought to be ia the centre of each. navy
yards on the m,sI liberal and substantial
basis-une at Boston, one at New York.
one al Charleston, and one at Pensacola
With more Than two thousand miles OF sea
coast, and Il comparatively sparse popu-
laiI0u, it is vain and idle 10 think of any
other efficient system Of (ortifca'ion or ma
;ional defence except by a navy. In the
next great conflict, your land forriica,ions,
which have been copied from The French
system, will be as impotcni and useless
iexcept al isolated points, as are the cas-
ties in ruins that now frown over Europe,
transmitting TO US nothing but the recollec-
tion Of the barbarian nobility who once in
habited them. No, sir; if war does come,
(which may God in his mercy avert!) it
will be upon wafer, the fate Of empire will
he decided, Your armies upon land will
be OF little or no service. Under the erea,
changes in modern times, the true system
Of defence and povr,is to take advantage
of all the inventions and Improvements
particularly in steam) oflhe day, and give
such efficiency to your navy as wiIlfenable
MS TO meet any contingency that may arise.
confess tina. am proud ofbeine The sup
porter of that glorious and noble arm Of
our national defence. 1t has borne our
stars and our stri pes in honor to The most
distant seas of the habi!able globe: and the
vo'ares of freedom in every land have
been cheered ,y the broad folds Of our ma
lioual banner, as it has swept along the
remolest coast Of this earth.
But. sir, il has heen sadthat appropria-
tions on this subject have heretofore been
sectional; that, while we have not re-
ceived our share, Others have received more
than their share. Sir, 10 certain extent
this has been true; but contend that ex-
pendiiures on this branch, more than every