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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
JULr 7, IsiI.
Mr. THOMAS BUTLER KING. from IN,
Committee on Naval Affair.", to whom the subiec
had been referred, submitted the following Report
The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was
referred much OF the Presidents Message and
accompanying documents as relates to the Navy,
ask leave TO report on the expectancy oil providing
for the support Of Home Squadron. as recommend.
cd in the report Of the Secretary OF the Navy.
The changes which the Introduction OF steam
power has already effected and IS constantly produ-
cling in the naval ornaments of the maratme Pow.
ers OF Europe evidently require the most prompt
and efficient action on the p,rt Of the Government
oflho UniIed States, meet this new ard powerful
auxiliary in naval warfare by SO changing the con-
strucion and employment OF our Navy rs most ct
fsctulily to protect our commerce and gusgd our
seacoast against the sudden approach oil an caemy
employing this and formidable description OF
force; and II the opinion OF the committee that no
measure IS more Imperlously demanded Uy every
consideration OF pTudence and safety than I'at
commended in the report of the Secretary-the EN-
ployment Of a Home Squadron, composed in part
of armed steamers. lie very Justly remarks, that
Had war with Great Britain been the result, rs
at one time WAS generally feared, OF the subjects Of
difficulty now in course OF adjustment between that
Power aad the United States, not only would our
trade have been liable to great interruption, and
our merchants TO great losses abroad, but naval
force, comparatively small, might, on very
shores, have seized our merchant ships and nsuted
flag without suitable means oil resistance or I'm.
mediate retaliation being ut the command of the
Government. To guard against such a result-to
be ever ready to repei or omptIy to ehasise sg
erosion upon our shores, It is necessary that
powerful Sauadron should be kept shoAt at homo
This measure IS recommended by other cOnsldera-
lions There is no situation in which greater skill
or selmanship be exercised and acquired than
on the coas, Of The United States; and in service
would our officers and seamen become more tho
roughly initiated in all that is necessary for the ma
tional defence and glory. In that service. aided by
the coast survey row IN progress, thorough &C.
au.intancc would Ice gained with our own scacnast,
extensive and hitherto but lmperfecllY known; the
various ports would be yisi cd; The bays n.etS, and
harbors carefully eSamInedj the uses 10 which each
could he made available during war, either Tor cs'
cape, defence annoyance, DC asccrtal1sd and the
confidence resulting from perfect knowledge would
give US, what ought surely to possess, decided
advantage over an enemy on our own shores"
In addition 10 the excellent and comprehensive
yisw presented by the Secretary, the committee beg
leave 10 submit few observations IN regard the
present state of coast detenceS, their ecisn
CIV in case Of war, and the measures now being
adopted by Great Britain and France 10 change
their naval armamen's from Tie common vessels Of
war to armed steam rs IL is fact almost to1 no.
torous for remark here, that our ioT;Ihratons are
in mos, inefficient condition. Many of those that
have been completed are not supplied with cannon,
others are going rapidly to Gecly-s0me are unfn
ished and progressing so slowly that 1t will require
many years TO complete them; more Of them are
properly garIisonej, and some have not a man TO
keep the gates closed. These fortrcssss have cost
immense sums OF money. and II well supplied with
guns and garrsOns would afford but partial protec
ton IN few points On our seacoast and TO our arm
ed squadronS 10 lime of war. They could rot de-
fend us against the armed steamers Of an enemy,
which might ptss them IN the night, or avoid ;hem
by entering hlrJJrs where there are no forhcations
This lass remark IS peculiarly applicable 10 the
Southern coast where there are numerous haTboEs On
the Atlantic and the Cult Of Mexico, and not a fort,
from Charleston 10 Mobile, 10 condition 70 nce
e III &C.,
B,.tain the Notifications e; Pensacola, and perhaps
Others might be seized and held Uy The eueny, c.
any of our unprotected harbors might be e1;ers-
by fleets Of armed steamers loaded with black HOOPS
from the West Indies 10 annoy and plumber the
country. The Northern portion o! the Atlantic
coast, where such vast sums have been expended 10
place it in a state of defence, would by no means be
secure against the rapid movements OF such nm enc
my. The harbor Of New York itself nigh! lie en-
tered through the inlet al AmOOy and Staten Island
Sound and the Notifications at the NaTows entire
ly avoided. The city might he sacked or laid I'M
der contribution before sufficient force could be
collected to prevent the approach or escape OF so
formidable an enemy; and II Is seriously 10 be fear
Oh 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 passing them IN the night
II this is true, It must be perceived that not only
our commerce, but cities with oil their wealth,
would be al the mercy OF an enemy employing q
force so rapid and certain IN It's movements. IL,
therefore, becomes a question OF the most usgen;
and vital importance TO the People and Govern
ment o: the United States how they can soonest and
best provide the means of meeting this new and
powerful auxiliary IN maritime war. The employ
ment OF home squadron, as recommended by tie
Secretary of the Navy must be justly regarded Us
not only the best means OF meeting any sudden
emergency that may arise, but of leading to such
Interior measures may he found necessary 70 give
to our commerce and seacoasI the greatest possible
security.
As connecting itself Immediately with this sub
iect and calling FOR the most yiguul course Of poIl-
cy on the part Of tie Government OF the United
States, the committee beg leave 20 call the a,ienuCG
-of the House TO The measures now beng adopted by
IGr5al Britain to keep Bf1a. and ectvty employed
or our Northern coast and m The West Indies large
= number OF steamers Of the largest class; many Of
them with their guns board, and the others at ell
times ready 20 receive them.
Seine lime since cJntgN-. made with ,ha,
Government by MIR. CunaTd ard his associates 10
carry the Royal mlil from Liverpool To HaifsE
for the sum Of sixty thousand pounds sier in. or
S29I 600 per cnnuTa. ln compliance with this con
tract four steamers have been constructed and p.a-
ced on the line Of twelve hundred tons burlsn an
$50 horse power cach.-IhCse vessels leave Ii
liverpool ond Halifax every fortnight, and perform
Il re trip the AtantSeach way with great GER
tainty IN twelve days. These steamers are com
manded by officers If the Royal Navy, and 10
be at all lines subject to the orders OF the British
Government. So great have been not only the ia
elites afforded 10 commerce and intercourse, but
Swing 10 The revenue in the cost Of carrying the mall
that II is now proposed to double the number Of
steamers, that they may leave therrespec'Te ports
every week inste of every iOr.night.-The Lon.
don Journal OF Commerce says :-"UnJer the old
packet system, between Falmouth and HafbK, by
the gun brigs, the expense 10 Government was
about forty thousand pounds sterling annually more
than the receipts Of postage. BY the line q Cum
nrd's steam ships, balance Of twenty thousand
pounds appears already 70 the credit side Of the A.,
lantic nails This line has been extended % BJs
ton.
On tic 2Oh March, 1870 a cortract4 Ter.
ed into between the Commissioner Of the Admiral
~ and ",he Royal MAJ. Steam Packet Comp5ny"
for conveying cal her MsIcsty's mails" from such
psrts in the Brrtgl channel as the commissioners
shall prescribe, 10 the West India Islands the
cast Of South Amerlca, Mexico, and the United
States, touching mo delivering tho mails az the
ports specified on the map annexed 10 Ibis report
on which are traced the various lines Of cDumunct-
ZION % I've established On pursuance Of the contract
The company is bound 10 provide, maintain, keep
ssaworihy, and in complete repair and readiness"
for the purpose OF conveying the mails, ga sufficient
number-not less Than iourtcen-uf good, subsian-
Uai and efficient steam sells, Of such construction
nnd strength as 10 be NJ and able 10 carry guns OF
tho largest cniibrc now used on board 0l Her Ma.
issty's sic ,m vessels Of war" To ADOPT on time
70 time and at oil times such changes or improve.
ments IN construction, machinery, armament and
rigging as the commissioners may require. Toclr.
~ certain number Of Government officers erd
men, az a stipulated price, and OF all times 10
hold their vessels subject to the orders Of such Off
GERS as may Je placed on board 10 assume command.