The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-03
From the baltimore American.
DEFENCE OF THE CHESAPEAKE-INCRE
OF THE NAVY

OF THE NAVY.
The following resolutions, passed unanimously by
both houses of the Maryla land Legislature, very
appropriate, and IN entire accordance with puDnc
sentiment IN the State
An increase of our naval force is requisite whe-
Their the probability of war is regarded not Up
on the lowest basis Of our ordinary establishment II
ought 10 be twice large as II IS now The exien-
sye and growing commerce Of the country would
give active employment TO such force in time Of
peace and the dignity Of the nation can hardly be
satisfied with less.
There are occasions ofteL happening in which the
national honor and the rights of American citizens
abroad require for their prompt vindcation something
more than the slow process OF diplomatic remon-
strance-or in which the latter derives its chief eff
cheney from the presence Of naval power ready to
enforce the claims OF justice. The account we pub
shed yesterday of the affair between the British brig
Charybdis and one of the South American States,
may illustrate such cases as we refer TO- Yet il
would happen probably nine times in ten that, il
such an exigency should occur in respect to an
American citizen, our consul civil representative
on the spot, would find himself without the means Of
sustaining himself and his Government in the de-
mands which his duty might lmpel him to make. The
naval power of Great Britain, dfused all the
world, co-extensivey with her commercial relations,
and exercised with vigor which causes il always to
be respected, constitutes of the most important
elements of her diplomacy. In the recent case
of the Santa Fe expedition, captured in Mexico,
prisoners, was released upon the demand of MS
Minister before the detachment reached the city Of
Mexico But an American citfzen, according to the
statement of young Coonbs lately published, was not
only detained in captivity but was subjected TO ndg
mites and abomnable msusage for weeks in that
capital and when he was finally liberated il not
through the nerposilion of our Minister, which
to have been very indifierenly regarded, but fiom
private considerations which the tyrannical Dictator
of Mexico chose TO entertain With regard to an
u A IN ii hat .,..
Howard, a native of our own State of Maryland, We
know not that any thing has been accomplished 6r
his deliverance
Thus it will be until we come 10 the determination
Of making the power of the Republic known and idt
in the arm of its naval force. We may cherish win,
ideas we please Of our national greatness and lmpor
tance-but foreigners in distant countries, and espt;
ciay semi-civilized foreigners, whose ideas of right
depend greatly upon the power that attends TO enorc
twill believe only according to what they see. The
armed ships of nation are at last its best representa-
tves abroad and this representation Of kind that
is easily understood and appreciated.
The resolutions of our General Assembly relative
to the defence of the Chesapeake deserving of the
special attention Of Congress. The Notifications in
Hampton Roads are of no use whatever in guarding
the mouth of the Bay that the entraHce Of hostile
fleet would be unimpeded The interior of the coun-
try, through the rivers of the upper Chesapeake, is
nowhere perhaps SO accessible as by those avenues.
The Capitol may be approached with facility. il is
not therefore for city alone that we would earn
ssty solicit the attention of the Government to this
subject.
The whole country is interested in il a, Gu"
steamer or two. Will =. ma mater mieh' FORM
n.r, : III Iiome Squadron, would be of essential
service in our bay They would find useful employ
ment very often in aiding such vessels the as
like the Frances Stanton might be driven ashore, or
otherwise suffer distress 1t is proper, too that the
Government, now in time of peace, should be making
experiments of the efficiency of war steamers and
floating steam batteries. And for this purpose there
is no place more suitable than the Chesapeake Bay.
Resolution submitted by Mr. Dennis, the 18th
of February, 1912, and passed by both Houses.
Resoired, by The General Assembly Of Maryland,
That in the opinion Of the General Assembly, the
Navy Of the United States is the right arm of our
tional defence, and that the utmost vigilance of the
National Government ought to be exercised o give it
the most vigorous efficiency.
Resoired, That is the sense of this General As
sembly, that Congress should at its present session
make adequate provision for more rapid increase OF
our naval force.
Resoired, That the xposed condition ofthe Chesa-
peake Bay, ought TO invite the earnest and immediate
attention Of Congress to energetic system of mea-
for its complete defence mperiousy required
for the protection of the interests, not only of Mary
land, but of the whole Union, particularly invov-
ing the safety Of the National Capitol, with its costly
public buildings its invaluable archives, and more
than all, the honor and dignity of the nation.
Resoiped That the Governor be, and he is hereby
requested to cause copy OF the foregoing resolutions
to be sent to each of the Senators and Representa-
tives OF this State in the Congress of the United
States TO be laid before the two Houses of Congres