The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-13
NATIONAL DEFENCES.

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We have already essayed TO urge on Con-
gress the necessity Of prompt action on some of
the questions which have been presented for
MISREPRESENTATION. We are no advocates OF
hdsty Legislation, but when the propriety OF ac-
complishing an object is undisputed, we wish
to see decisive measures adopted for effecting
lit. That in peace we should sedulously make
preparations for war, was lesson carefully in
culcated by Washington. And as fruitoi the
experience obtained by the events Of the last
contest with Great Britain, was the projection
of general system Of defence, for all our mari
time frontier The long proraction Of perfect
peace has tended gradually to relax the energy
which was at first exhibited in prosecuting our
works of defence Fortfcations Of the great
est necessity have been left incomplete, and
those ranked in the inferior grades of imporlance
have not even been yet commenced, though
planned and proposed nearly quarter OF cen
tury ago The present threat of warlike col
lison, should give new stimulus to our activity
though we may have grounds for the hope,
that negotiation may prevent the immediate
necessity of preparation to meet the danger
On Congress the duty now rests of making the
necessary provisions Tor the defence of the coun-
try-and yet, with all the information before
them, nothing has been effected after a session
Of nearly six weeks.
We have already adyerted to the wants Of
our land defcnces--Lut the Improvements with
in the last few years in steam navigation mani
fest, that if we wish to provide all the means
for the efectual protection of our coast, we must
not only finish all the Notifications which have
been proposed, and place them in a complete
state for service, but we must make ample addi-
tons TO our naval force of such character as
will be calculated in addition to the forts which
have been or are TO be placed at the prominent
points, to secure the seaboard efectually from in
vasion.
We have quoted some of the remarks Of the
Secretary of War; we find the suggestions Of
the Secretary ofthe Navy, on this question, pecu-
liarly lucid and important. We do not think
we can add any thing to the force of his repre-
sensations, and the perspiculy Of his exposi-
tons. We shall, therefore, quote his words
appealing at the same time to the patriotism OF
Congress, 10 adopt prompt measures to carry his
recommendations INTO effect, should his views
be deemed sound, and his projects feasible
Whether for offence or defence, the Navy
must be our right ARMAND none Of the squea-
mishness of an ill-judged economy should pre-
vent us from increasing our naval force to the
requisite degree Of strength both for annoying
an enemy abroad or for protecting our own
shores at home. The necessity of addition to
our navy, becomes obvious when we reflect on
the disparity between its strength and that OF
the naves belonging to many Of the nations OF
Europe. The notifications in the character
and construction Of the European ships Of war,
will necessarily superinduce some alterations in
the ships we shall build. When steamers Of
light draught, which enter our shallow rivers,
are employed as the instruments, we must have
suitable implements of defence to meet them.
The Secretary says:
alt is obvious that war thus conducted must be
successful to very great extent, in spite of all the
detences on land which we could contrive. Nothing
less than the conversion of half our country into a
military garrison, could protect us against it Such
the exposed condition of country, such is the
character of Institutions, and such the position OF
our people, that population of twice present
number under the best possible military organization
would avail us but little Whilst the combined pow
ers of the world could not subdue us, secon-
dairy naval power could avoid land defences, set
our armies at defiance, and prosecute against us q
war ntolerably harassing and disastrous.
''1he single question, then, which we have to de-
cide in reference TO this subject is, where and by
whom shall those battles be fought which may here
after become necessary in defence of our property,
our institutions, our honor, and our livesS Shall we
meet the enemy upon the ocean, with men trained and
disciplined for the contest, or suffer him to land
upon Shores trusting to scattered and harassed
people, to expel him from their farms and their fire
Sides This question admits OF but one answer But
it is worse than idle suppose that all those high in
teress to which have alluded be adequately
protected by our present naval force. Four thou
sand miles of exposed and lake coast, foreign
commerce scattered through the most distant seas,
and domestic trade exposed alike upon the ocean
and upon or interior waters are, in effect, surren-
dered to the enemy, when they are intrlsed to the
protection of some twenty ships in commission
/ eff these views be not aogetherdeceptive, the po-
Icy OF increasing our navy, without further delay, is
obvious. Hoic far il shall be increased, the wisdom
Of Congress- will decide Looking to il as the chief
If not the only adequate defence of country
against those wars OF ncursions from which much
evil is to be apprehended respectfully suggest that
we cannot safely stop short of half the naval force Of
the strongest maritime power in the world. Our
policy IS peace, and we do not propose to ourselves
war oil aggression IN any case, except far II
may be necessary as measure of defence. II is not
probable that any nation could detach from other SER
vice than oneourth of its whole naval force to
attack upon coast that, after deduct
ing such part of our own force could not en-
ploy at all, and such part as we should be compelled
to employ elsewhere, we might reasonably hope to
repel from shores any maritime power, with only
half its force in ships With less than this, fleets
would serve only TO swell the riumphs and feed the
cupidy Of our enemy II is better to have none at
all than to have less than enough | aware that