Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-07-26

payment, the annual charges OF the largest mud
most powerful s,enm fleet in tho world, fully
armed with the heaviest ordnance, to act as war
fripates when required by the Government for
that purpose" 70 which may, at any time, he
added the steamers employed in Cunards line,
and those running from London aud Bristol 10
New York.
II is also snid to he in contemplation to estnb-
lish another line from sotne port in England TO
ST. Johns New Brunswick, under contract sim
liar to that made with the Royal Mail Steam
Packet Company. All these lines will soon he
in full operation and employ Mt least twenty five,
and perhaps thirty steamers of the largest class
and most approved construction; those on the
southern line, n,.d probably those on the northern
lines also, having their guns on board. These
steamers are to he commanded 10y officers Of the
royal navy, aud 10 carry such number OF officers
and men as the Government under certain rrgu-
iatons, may require, who will thus derive ali the
necessary instruction To enable them 10 command
vessels of this description.
vi the fourteen destined to carry the West In =
ala innils n, lcast ten will he constantly employed
IN conveying them on the various lines as traced
ON the mp hereto annexed; aud it will he seen
by reference TO it that this formidable feet will be
at MI times within three or four days run OF our
Southern coast. In Tho event Of II declaration OF
war 10y Great Britain against the United States, MS
SHE will, of course, possess the information nc
cessary to enable her 10 concentrate her forces all
the steamers in the West India mail service can
he collected NJ any point on the Southern coast
by the time tho declaration would I've comlnuri-
Gated to the President. Those employed on tie
Northern lines, to New York and Boston, nluy
commence husties before the least preparation
can be made to meet them. Drpots of coal
to be established at Halifax, and nj several ports
Ia the West Indies, from whence i.e fleets can he
supplied, aud the prediction made some years
since 10y mn intelligent aud experienced British Of
hcer that their sailiug ships Of war would he
come coal carriers TO their steamers will DE full
filed.
There ARE, il is snid, at this time, ten thousand
black troops in the British, West Indies, and that
orders have recently l,cen issued to increase the
number TO twenty-five thousand. These irnoIs
IRE dsciIhincd and commanded nv white officers
and, no doubt, designed to firm tncsl important
portion Of the force to lie employed in nny future
contest that may arise between Great Britain md
the United States aud by reference To the mp
nf tho West India mail lines, it will he seen thar
III our present dcienceess condition, iorce com
posed OF armed steamers and troops OF that tie
scripton would not only give great annoyance to
our cOnsr hut most eflec,uny and nj once I,ul II
stop to all communication nrannd Cape Florida,
or through tho passes of the West Indies To or
from the Gnf of Mexico; and, consequently, the
commerce Of the great valley Of the Mississippi
must fall into the hands Of the enemy, or lis vast
productions cut of IRON market, he rendered val
ueless.
France in pursuing course of policy in every
respect similar to that Of Great Britain. The last
official register OF the navy shows TINT she then
had thirty seven armed steamers, carrying heavy
gums eqml ia all respects, if not superior, those
of any other nation. The sudden appearance ui
ONE ot them, suinc Two years ago, in the hnrlor
Of Baltimore, must he recolected by NIL A law
has recently ieen enacted authorizing the Gov.
ernment TO establish line of armed steamers
from ilaVre to New York, on the plan of the
BRUSH West India mail line nnd surprising us
1t may seem, number OF gentlemen oi Boston
have actually sent in proposals 10 TAX the con
tract, il that city, instead Of New York, shall he
inserted in it.
Thu will be perc, ived that our own ,ncrcl,
hnts driver by the laws of trade and intercourse,
are about throwing The whole weight Of their skill,
enterprise and capital into the hands OF OF
our great maritime rivals, for want of proper nc
ton and encouragement OH the part OF their own
government, and that the humilialing spectacle is
ekly 10 be presented of American merchants,
who have excelled all others in commercial Iur-
suits, being employed to support II naval force The,
may he directed against the cities in which they
reside.
Under the old system Of maritime war, our
squadron could be employed in the protection OF
our commerce and our flag abroad, without dan.
ger of aggression coast, because the fleets
than our own return TO defend us. But the intro
duclon of steam has affected such astonishing
changes that ariuanents OH the most extensive
scale 1ioionger TO be considered ms al4no s"Ired
to the purposes Of war, Iii inc most formidable
vessels the world has ever To be employ
ed in The transportation of the mail, passengers
aud freight TO pass along the whole linz Of our
coast, and into our ports ms inmiliarly rs common
trading SLIPS If these YES Is can he rendered
profitable IN time of peace. the security they will
afford TO persons and property, from attacks OF
privateers and small armed! vessels, will render
them indispensable in time OF war.
This system is yet in its infancy; and il is not
in the power of the committee To sny, with any
degree of accuracy, how far it may he rendered
useful to our commerce, or probably connected
with our navy; 10 what extent it may be made TO
support itself, or the policy OF other governments,
and the proper regard for own snf,;iy, may
render its adoption wise or necessary. These are
questions of the utmost importance 10 all portions
of this widely extended country, and ough, to be
promptly and properly inquired INTO, aud salts
tactorily answered
A gentleman OF great responsibility and much
experience in commercial affairs, aud particularly
in steam navigation, Inns given il MS his opinion
that "conlracts could be made Immediately for
lines of four steamers from Boston TO llavrr, OF
four from New York 10 Liverpool, of three from,
Norfolk, vim. Charleston md Savannah, TO Tia
Vna, niid Oi three from New Orleans 10 lInvonn,
by the guaranty OF the Government of less than
one million of dollars per annum, with moral
certainty Of receiving back more than hulf of it,
from postage on letters and papers Immediately
and tue whole in few years" This arrange.
ment would keep equipped and oilicered for i'm
mediate service at least fourteen steam irigales
without the annual charge for repairs, manning
viclualing, &c. &c. This system would bring IL
the aid of the Government all the energy, skill and
economy of individuals who will IN enterprises u
this nature, always s,irpass it,. 80
From wla, has been stated it must, in rho opn
ion of the comniitlce he perceived TINT power
ful squadron has hccone necessary for our pro
lection at home as The employment Of our ship,
OF war has hitherto been, or may hereafter he, io
the protection of orr flag and commerce abroad
This squadron ought al once 10 he established
and from time 10 lime increased, as tho mean'
placed the at command of the Department ma,
permit, and the various objects connected with it
MS pointed out in the report of the Secretary, maj