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

riously demanded by every consideration OF pru-
dsnce 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 ,hat /" Had war with
Great Britain been the result, rs was at one time
generally feared, of the subjects oil difficulty now
In course of adjustment between that power aud
the United States, not only would our trade have
been liable 10 great interruption, and our merch-
ants TO great losses abroad, but naval force,
comparatively small, might, on our very shores
have seized our merchant ships and insued our
Tag without suitable means of resistance or i'm
mediate retaliation heing at The command oil the 60"
vernment. To guard against such resnt-to he
over ready 10 iepel or promptly to chaslise ng"
gresson upon our own shores, IL is necessary that
powerful squadron should be kept af1ont at
home. This measure is recommended by other
considerations. There is no situation in which
greater skill or senmanslIip con be exercised ana
acquired than on the coast of the United States !;
and in no service would our officers aud senInpn
become more thoroughly Initiated in all that is
necessary for the national defence and glory ~
that service, aided by the coast survey now ~
PROCESS, thorough acquaintance would he gaineh
with our own seacoas extensive and hitherto INT
imperfectly known the various ports would he
visited the bays nets, aud hnrbOrs carefully
examined the uses TO which each could DC made
available during the war, either for escape, de-
fence, or annoyance be ascerallled and the con-
fdence resulting from perfect knowledge would
give us, what we ought surely TO possess, deci-
ded advantage over an enemy on Our own
shores"
In addition to the excellent ard comprehensive
view presented by the Secretary, the committee
beg leave to submit few observations in regard
TO the present state of our seacoas deieiccs Their
efficiency in OF war, and the measures now
being adopted by Great Britain and Fnnce TO
change their naval ornaments from the common
vessels of war to armed steamers. III is fact nj
most too notorious for remark here, that our for
tificatious are in most inefficient condition. Many
of those thHt have been completed arc not suppl
ed with cannon, others are going rapidly 10 decay
some are unfinished and progressing go slowly
that it will require many years to complete them;
none of them arc properly garrisoned aud some
have not man TO keep the gates closed.
These fortresses have cort immense sums Of
money, and if well supplied with guns and garri-
sons would afford but partial protection to n few
points on our sen cost and to our armed sqnndrons
in time Of war. They could not defend us against
the armed steamers of an enemy, which might
pnss them in the night or avoid them by entering
harbors where there are no Notifications This
last remark is peculiarly applicable to the South
ern coast, where there are nutiefous ha bors OIL
the Atlantic and the Cuff of Mexico, and not n
fort, from Charleston to Mobile, in condition to
fire gun. In the event Of a war with Franco or
Great Britain, the Notifications ut Pensacola, and
perhaps others, might he seized aud held Ivy the
enemy, or any of our unprotected harbors nigh,
be entered by fleets Of armed steamers loaded
with black troops from the West Indies to annoy
and plumber the country.
The Northern portion Of the Atlantic coast,
where such vast sums have been expended TO
place in state of defence, would by no meaus
I've secure against the rapid movement of such an
enemy. The haror OF New York itself might
he entered through an inlet at Amboy and Staten
Island Sound, and the Notifications at the Mar
rows entirely avoided. The city might be sacked
or laid under contribution before n sufficient
force could be collected to prevent the approach
or escape Of so formidable an enemy; aud il is
seriously to he feared that there is not hnrbor on
our whole const, however well defended against
the sailing ships of enemy, that these steamers
might not enter, by avoiding the forts passing
them in the night.
Ii this is true it must be perceived that not only
our commerce, but cities with all their wealth,
would be AT The mercy OF an enemy employing n
force SO rapid and certain in its movements. 1t
therefore becomes n question of the most urgent
i: vital importance to the people and Government
OF the United States how they can soonest o. best
provide the means of meeting this new and pow
erfhI auxiliary in maratme war. The cmploy-
ment OF a bone squadron, as recommended by
the Secretary of the Navy, mast he Justly regard
ed as not only the best means OF meeting amy sud
den emergency that may arise, but of leading to
such Interior measures as may be found necessary
10 give TO our commerce and sen coast the great
est possible security.
AS connecting Itself iin-ciihray Nth tins
subject and colling for the most vigalant course
OF policy on the part of the Government of the
United States, the committee beg leave to call the
attention of the House 10 the measures now being
adopted by Great Britain to keep aloat aud active
ly employed on our Northern coast and in the
West Indies a large number Of steamers of the
largest class many OF them with their guLs on
board, and others ut all times ready TO receive
them.
Some time since, n contract was made with
that Government by Mr.. Cunnrd and his associ-
ates, 10 carry the royal mail from Liverpool to
Halifax for the sum OF sixty thousand pounds
sterling, or 29I 500 Gollas per annum. In CON-
piance with this contract, four steamers have been
constructed and placed on the line, of 1900 tons
burden aud $50 horse power each. These YES.
sells leave Liverpool and Halifax every fortnight
and perform the trip across the Atlantic each why
with great certainty in twelve days. These
steamers commandedd by officers of the roy
al navy, and are to he at all times subject to the
orders OF Government.
So great have been not only the facilities af-
forded to commerce and intercourse, but saving
10 the revenue in the cost of carrying the ma
that 1t is now proposed 10 double tho number ol
steamers, that they may leave their respective
ports every week instead of every fortnight. The
London Journal of Commerce snys: Under the
old packet system, between Falmouth and Hall
fax, by the gun briggs, the expense to Government
was about forty thousand pounds sterling annual
ly more than the receipts of postage. by Tho
line OF Cuuard's steam ships, a balance Of invent,
thousand pounds appears already TO the credi
side Of the Atlantic mails This line has beer
extended to Boston
On the Goth Of March, 18l0,n contract was en-
tered into between the commissioners of the Ad
niiray aud "the Royal Mail Steam Packet Com
pany," for conveying sal hor Majesty's mails
from such ports in the British channel as the com
missioners shall prescribe, to the West India Isl
ands, the const of South America, Mexico an,
the United States, touching and delivering tin
mails at the ports specified on the map annexed
to this report, on which are traced the variou
lines of communication 10 be established in pur
suance Of tho contract
The company is hound to "provide, maintain