Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-08-03

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West India mais, at least ten will be cons antly
Iemployed IN conveying them the various lines al
traced on the map hereto annexed; and il will bC
seen by reference TO II that this formidable feet will
Ne al all times within three four days run o. our
| southern coast. In the event OF n declaration Of
| var by Great Britain against the United States, as
she wil, OF course, possess the normatio
~ 10 enable her 10 Concentrate her forces all the
| steameIs IN the West India m,i service can he CO..
| lecicd at any point on the southern coast by the
| time the declaration would bs communicated to the
| tfeSuent. Those employed on the Northern lines
| % New York and Boston, may eommenc, hos,ili-
Ties before the least Preparation DC nadc meet
| them Dcp0;s of coal are TO be esla slshed at
tiahiaS, and at several ports in the West lod,es.
from whence these fleets can lie supplied and the
prediction made some years since by an intelligent
| and experienced British officer, that their sailing
ships Of war would become coal carriers to their
steamers, will be fulfilled.
There are, 1t is said at this time ten thorsand
black troops in the Blush West Indies and that or
ders have been recently issued tn the num-
Der TO twenty five thousand These troops are dis
ciplncd and Commanded by white Ulcers, and, no
doubt designed to form n most importan; portion Of
the force TO be employed N any future contest that
may arise between Great Britain and the United
States; and by reference TO the map Of the West
India mail lines, II will be that. IN present
deenceleSs condition, q force composed Of AIMED
steamers and troops OF that description would not
only give great annoyance to coast, but most Ell
iectuhIly and at once put stop to all communica-
non around Cape F'orids, through the passes OF
tho Yves. ladies', 10 or from the Gull Mexico and,
consequently, the Commerce Of the great valley Of
the Mississippi must fall into the hands OF the
nay, its vast productions, cut of from market, be
rendered vaiueleSs.
France is pursuing n couse OF policy in every re-
speet slmlST TO that OF g rrSt Bgain. The last Off
cia register OF her navy shows lhnt she then had
thirty seven armed st3amers, cauyin: heavy guns,
equi in all respects If not superior, to those OF any
her natl. n. The sudden appearance of one Of
them some two years ago, IN the harbour OF Btlu
more, must be rcco.!ected by all. law has re
Gently been nicted authorisir. the Cove nmenl 10
establish lice Of armed steamers from Havre to
New York, on the plan Of the Biush West India
mail line; and, surprising as II May seem, number
OF gentlemen OF Boston have actually sent IN propO-
sNlS 10 take the contract, If that city nSte'd OF New
York shall be inserted IN II. Thus II will he per |
ceived that our merchants, driven by the laws
OF trrde ana intercourse, are about throwing the
whole weigh: OF their skill, enterprise, and capita.
into the HANDS oi one - our great martins rivals,
for want or proper action and encouragement the
part orrheir own Government, and that the humi,
latin. spectacle IS likely 10 oe presented Of Amer
can merchants, who have cNceiet ali others in COM
mGrclal pursuits, being empioyCc 10 support na-
val force that &c directed against the cities IN
which they reside.
Under the old system ofmariiimc war, our SQUAD
rons could be employed in the protection OF our
commerce and our flag abroad, without darce. OF
aggression on our coast, because the fleets OF
an cic ny ClulA NJ SnOlsT apprOtCn or assam tnln
our OSn return 10 dJIeni Us. Bat the introduction
Of steam power has effected such astonishing changes
hat armamsnts or the most extensive scale are no
Ion.,rro be considered alone suited 10 the purpO
nfwaT, but the most foTmid ,be vessels The world
has seen are TO be employed tn the transportation
Of The mail, passengers and freight 10 pass along
the whole Inc o. our coast, and into ports,
hulAdy as common trading ships. lfihese vessels
can De rendered prrf'o5e IN time Of peace, the Sc
Guilty thcy nj siiOrl to parsons and property,
L. IL
vessels, will render them Indispensable in time
Of war.
This system is yet in its infancy; ard i, is
not in the power Of the committee to say,
with any degree OF accuracy, how far It
may be rendered useful TO our commerce, or prof
taoly connected with cur navy; 10 what ex'en, 1t
may be made 10 support Itself, the policy OF OH
cr Governments, and proper regard for our own
safety, may render its adoption wise o. necessary.
These are questions OF the utmost imI or;lnce TO
a. portions C. this widely extsIjei country, add
ouEh. 70 be promptly and properly inquired into,
ana satisfactorily answered.
4 gen, -nau Of great respec,abiy and much CT
Ds-lelce 10 commercial affairs, and particularly 10
steam nav CATION, has given .i MS opinion that
contracts could ue made Immediately Tor lines oil
four steamers from Bls ION 70 Have Of f0ur from
New York 10 Liverpool. OF three f,om Norfolk, via
Charles on and Savannah 20 Havana, and o. three
from New Orleans % Havana, by the guaranty Of
the Government OF less than million OF dollars
per Aunun, with moral certainty Of receiving hack
than h0 OF Il from postage on letters and pa
pcrs Immediately, and the whole N d few years"
This arrangement would keep equipped and officer
ed for immediate service al least fourteen steam
frgaIes, without the annual charge for rCpGIrs man
ming, yictusllIng, Sc sc. This system would bring
10 tile aid OF The GoyeTnmeGt all the energy, skill
and economy Of individuals who wlIi, IN enterprises
of this nature, always suEpasS %.
From what has been stated, !; must, IN The op.n-
ion OF the committee, be perceived that powerful
squadron has become necessary for cur protection
at home the employment; o! our ships OF war has
hitherto been, may HEREAFTER Oe, Tor the prolec-
tion OF our hlg aud commerce abroad. This squad
ron ought at to be established and from time
to time Increased, rs the means placed at command
Of the Department may permit, and the various OBJ
ects connected with u, as pointed out IN the report
Of the Secretary, may best be promoted and attain
ed.
For this purpose, the committee repOr, herewith
a bill appropriatng the amount asked Tor by the
Secretary, and recommend the adoption Of the fol-
lowing resolution:
Rssorsi, Thst The Secretary Of the Navy is here
by directed to inquire into the expedency o. aiding
individuals or companies IN the es,ab ishmeni OF INES
Of armed steamers between some Of our prnc.pa
Northern and Southern ports, and to foreign pots;
u advertise for proposals for the establishment Of
such lines 5s ne may deem most important md pracu
cable; md To report to this House al the next Sess on
oil Congress.
s.