The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-28
From the u. S. Gazette.
INCREASE OF THE NAVY.

the most Illuminating Inconsistencies, involving
not unlrequenty they do, the sincerity and patriot
ism of the parties in the darkest clouds of suspicion
To throw dstrust upon an administration, garb OF
the loftcst patriotism is assumed and Indignation
hurled against trucking and bastard policy; the
nation is called upon to condemn and turn out those
in power and to place in their stead others who will
vndicate the national honor, and protect her rights
and interests.
Striking examples of these Inconsistencies were
made by members of the retiring party, by Mr. Pick
ems in his warlike report, by Mr. Stevenson by the
Globe, and host of members of Congress in rela-
ton to the Caroline affair, to Mceod's case to the
Northeastern Boundary, to the searching of yes
sels and now during the present session. the Gre
ole case. All these instances afford occasion for
grave consideration and serious dspeasure as trench
ing upon the sovereignty the honor the rights and
the interests of the nation.
BY these self-constituted lovers of their country
the conduct of England has been Justly denounced
as insultngly Hectoring while that of our own Co
vernment has been ingoriousy forboaring and dila-
tory. And why, let us ask, has this been so
We repeat the question-Why has our Government
failed to resent with proper spirit the wrongs and
indgnities of imperious Britain We will tell you,
Messrs. Patriots, why our Government has been
compelled to adopt this humiliating policy. 1t is be-
cause you have refused to give your country the
means surely to repulse foe and to chastse every
aggression upon our rights and interests You, by
your influence and your votes, deny to your country
from the nation the only eiectua weapon, and raise
a great outcry, because, all unarmed and unprovd-
ed as you have left, and you keep her she
does not perform those acts which only the best
armed and best provided can accomplish Your
conduct is as though you had Samson shorn of his
hair and then demanded of him to perform a Sam
sons feat.
That our Navy must be our sure and main reliance
is the common conviction ofthe Nation. That its in
crease should keep pace with our increasing popula-
ton and wealth, is nowhere denied. That it should
grow up perfect system than is at present or
ganzcd is conceded That the Navy, in its present
amount and condition, is alike incapable of properly
protecting interests, scattered as they are over
the whole world, and of indicating honor and
our rights against aggression from any quarter. is a
conviction painfully impressed upon every mind and
heart.
Why, then, will gentlemen in Congress continue to
complain of great and admitted evils, which an in
crease of the Nevy alone remove, and yet obst-
natcly refuse that necessary increase Shall our
Navy never be increased If at some future period
large augmentation is needed, would it not be better
done gradually through series of years. than to wait
until an emergency rendered it instantly imperative
by the sudden outlay of enormous sums, Just at mo-
ment when Government most diunds, and when
the increase would have to be made under circum-
stances the most adverse to judcious and complete
Do we not daily experience mort-
fcaton from the nsuficency of our Navy adequately
to repel the encroachmens which this very weakness
invtesi
Let gentlemen who talk SO loudly of the necessity
of indicating, at all hazards the interests and the hon
or of the nation, make some little preparation to ena-
BILE their country to meet successfully, all The hazards
of an encounters to'protect her five hundred millions
floating upon every ocean TO strike back and to strike
home, the foe which seeks to make this rich booty
her prey, TO poute our soil, and to dcyastate and
harass property and people with ceaseless in
cursons II is not expected that Congress can under
the severe financial embarrassmcnts of the Treasury
appropriate very largely TO immediate increase but
il may project an immediate and prospcctively increa-
sing system, adequate to our present wants, and the
growing magnitude of our interests
The voice Of the nation has been consistent in its
demand for an increased Navy.