The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
REPORT ON A HOME SQUADRON.

iiouSh " REPRESENTATIVES,, JULY z, 1871.
Ma. THOMAS BUTLER KING, from the Com
mlttee on Naval Affairs, 10 whom the subject
had been referred, submitted the following Re
por.:
The Committee on Naval Affairs, 10 whom
was referred so much of the Presidents mes
sage and accompanying documents as relates TO
the Navy, ask leave TO report on the expedlency
OF providing for the support Of home squadron,
as recommended in the report of the Secretary
OF the Navy.
The changes which the introduction Of steam
power has already effected and is constantly
producing IN the naval ornaments of the mari
time Powers OF Europe, evidently require the
most prompt and efficient action on the part of
the Government of the United States TO meet
this new and powerful auxiliary in naval war
fare, by so changing the construction and EN-
poyment OF our Navy as most efiectualy To pro-
tect our commerce and guard our seacoast
against the sudden approach of an enemy EN-
ploying this new and formidable description of
force and il is the opinion OF the committee
that no measure is more imperlousy demanded
by every consideration of prudence and safety
than that recommended in the report of the
Secretary-the employment of a home squadron,
composed in part of armed steamers. He very
Justly remarks, that " Had a war with Great
Britain been the result, was at one time gene
rally feared, of the subjects of difficulty now in
course of adjustment between that Power and
the United States, not only would our trade have
been liable TO great interruption, and our mer-
chants to great losses abroad, but naval force,
comparatively small, might, on our very shores,
have seized our merchant ships and nsulted our
flag, without suitable means of resistance or im-
mediate retaliation being at the command of the
Government To guard against such a result
to be ever ready TO repel or promptly TO chastlse
aggression upon our own shores, il is necessary
that powerful squadron should be kept afioat
at home. This measure is recommended by
other considerations. There is no situation in
which greater skill or seamanship can be exer-
cised and acquired than on the coast of the U.
States and in no service would our officers and
seamen become more thoroughly initiated in all
that Is necessary for the national defence and
glory. In that service, aided by the coast sur
yey now in progress, thorough acquaintance
would be gained with our own seacoast, extern
sive and hitherto but imperfecty known the
various ports would be visited the bays, inets,
and harbors carefully examined; the uses TO
which each should be made available during
war, either for escape, defence. or annoyance,
be ascenaned; and the confidence resulting
from perfect knowledge would give us, what we
ought surely to possess, a decided advantage
over an enemy on our own shores" In addition
TO the excellent and comprehensive view pre-
scented by the Secretary, the committee beg
leave to submit few observations in regard 10
the present state our seacoast detences, their
efficiency in case of war, and the measures now
being adopted by Great Britain and France to
change their naval ornaments from the common
vessels of war to armed steamers. II is fact
almost too notorious for remark here, that our
Notifications are in most inefficient condition.
Many of those that have been completed are
not supplied with cannon, others are going ra-
pidly to decav-some are unfinished and pro-
crossing so slowly that twill require many years
TO complete them; none of them are properly
garrsoned, and some have not a man to keep
the gates closed. These iortresses have cost
immense sums of money, and if well supplied
with guns and garrsons would afford but partial
protection TO a few points our seacoast and 10
our armed squadrons in time of war. They
could not defend us against the armed steamers
OF an enemy, which might pass them IN the
night, or avoid them by entering harbors where
there are no fornfications This last remark IS
peculiarly applicable to the Southern coast,
where there are numerous harbors on the At
lantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and not fort,
from Charleston to Mobile, in condition 10 fire
a gun. In the event of war with France or
Great Britain, the Notifications at Pensacola,
and perhaps others. might be seized and held by
the enemy, or any Of our unprotected harbors
might be entered by fleets OF armed steamers
loaded with black troops from the West Indies
to annoy and plumber the country. The North
portion of the Atlantic coast, where such
vast sums have been expended TO place II IN
state of defence, would by no means be secure
against the rapid movements oil such an enemy.
The harbor of New York itself might be enter
ed through the inlet at Amboy and Staten Island
Sound. and the Notifications AT the Narrows en-
trey avoided. The city might be sacked or
laid under contribution before a sufficient force
epulb Ia, cd Ia ar
escape of so formidable enemy and it is
seriously 10 be feared that there is not harbor
on the whole coast however well defended
against the sailing ships of an enemy, that these
steamers might not enter, by avoiding the forts
or passing them in the night. II this Is true, II
must be perceived that not only our commerce,
but our cities, with all their wealth. would be at
the mercy of an enemy employing force so ra-
pid and certain IN its movements. II, therefore,
becomes question of the most urgent and vital
importance to the People and Government OF the
United States how they can soonest and best
provide the means OF meeting this new and
powerful auxiliary in maratme war. The en-
ployment Of home squadron, as recommended
by the Secretary of the Navy, must be justly
regarded as not only the best means of meeting
any sudden emergency that may arise. but OF
leading to such Interior measures as may be found
necessary to give to our commerce and seacoast
the greatest possible security.
As connecting itself Immediately with this
subject and calling for the most vigilant course
Of policy on the part OF the Government OF the
United States, the committee beg leave to call
the attention Of the House To the measures now
being adopted by Great Britain 10 keep aioat
and actively employed on our Northern coast and
in the West Indies large number of steamers
of the largest class; many Of them with their
guns on board, and the others AT all times ready
to receive them.
Some time since, a contract was made with
that Government BY Mr.. Cuuard and his assocl
ates to carry the Royal mail from Liverpool 10