Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-17

Florida narrow strait which cln be eectually block
.aed by two active l.gaes, and probably by one
Even # trading vessel should pass such blockadng
force IN the night would have but one PAIN open 10
for great distance and might, Of course, be pursued
with a certainty OF being overtaken IL wonid TOT en-
ioy even The ordinary chances OF escaping from
blockaded por into wide and open sea-
The facts To which have thus adveried, show
striking popularity in condition. The greatest Pof
ION Of our commerce, confined to single channel OF
some hundreds f miles, exposed IN peculiar man
n.r TO any enemy haying possession OF the sea-and,
what would render condition still worse,ii we ht
without avail force, that commerce may be anniMla-
led nj cost which would not be felt By any tenth-'aie
maritime power
If these views be correct, am at loss to perceive
what portion of country is not interested IN them
To The States bordering the Cult of Mexico and
all those which use the Mississippi river as channe
Of trade the ubject is of deep and daily increasing
interest. So far their prosperity depends on the
outlet of the various productions of their country they
have but single question TO decide lis, or is mol,
their commerce worth The cost oil nara! power aue'
uua,e TO protect il 1t has other protection and u
cannot have any other until its present channels shai
De changed.
To these considerations are TO be added growing oul
Of the peculiar character of our Government and nstI-
uons and the exposed condition OF our lake anu sea
coast, On these pulnts can only repeat the susses
tons offered in my last report NO country IN tue
world has greater interest than oars TO guard iiseii
AGAINST INVASION If We are destined 10 see again The
smoke of an enemy camp we should al least he care
u mol 10 allow TO descend from our own SOIL IL Is
in oil respects better for u.s. TO repel an enemy from
our coast than subdue HIM after he has landed upon
our shores. TO do this, must cherish our naval
oower-not as the institution OF day or OF ycar-not
IS subject which we can lay aside and take up again
whenever we please, the policy or the caprice oil
the moment may dcta:e-bui as great and permanent
institution, worthy ola great penpe, and demanding
the grave attention of Government; an institution
resting upon wise systems, and worthy 10 De MAINTAIN
ed in the spirit OF liberal, comprehensive ana s'apc
policy.
rear of other nations and Of the age IN winch We pf
a. 10 surrender due share OF the dominion OF Ire
seas commerce, such ours demands The prosec
lion OF an adequate naval force; people, scattered
all over the world have TO require the OCCASIONAL
presence Of our flag, tn give assurance 10 all haOhs
tina; their country has both the will and the power TO
protec them Our position among the nations IS such
as to leave US without excuse, we voluntarily strip
ourselves of pawer which all other nations are anX
,ous to grasp Our forms of government and muncipa
institutions, suggest that naval force IS our safest
and perhaps only, defence; and, as an adnitiona
recom,ne ndatiun, OF small weight the expenditure
which this defence requires IL to be made CHIEFLY
amonp our own people, encouag ing their enterprise
lnyiporang their industry, and calling out the abund
an, and now almost hidden resources OF our country
If our Navy is not 10 be put down altogether, nor
abandoned to neglect and decay, 1t high time That II
were placed upon some fixed and permanent plan
With view to this, respectfully offer the following
suggestions:
In the present favorable condition of foreign
laon promising n long continuance oil peace, cannot
recommend any considerable appropriation for building
new vessels Of war. We have already as many vessels
as it will be necessary To keep in conmssloD except,
perhaps the classes of soops oil war and small prGs
and schooners. few of these are required, and
they can be built out OF materials now on hand al
ho pnhuI IN
admit of doubt that policy is to apply as much
as possible Of the appropriations for the general naval
service to the employment of ships in commission.
hope 10 be excused for repeating here an idea thrown
out in my last report, and when am ANXIOUS 10 en-
force because it is The foundation of all sound policy
in regard TO the Navy: II is easy Thing 10 ds'ld
shin of ,car; IL is difficult thing 10 qualify an officer
10 command her This SIMPLE proposition which every
one knows be trne should never be lost sight OF o
nation that does not intend 10 abandon the ocean al
,ope,her II requires five years of strict attention 10
make rood seaman; end not less Than twenty years
OF active service, in different grades TO form pro-
pprly qualified naval commander. Surely, then, since
competent officers cannot spring up with every e3sen
CIV which may require their services, true p"hcy oe
nands that we should keep the requisite number OF
them in constant training 10 be ready whenever their
country shall call for them. The best ship OF war rs
poweriess, when unskfully commanded. We build
fleets for or enemies, when we put them IN charge
of incompetent men.
only that we should keep more ships in commission
than heretofore but that should employ them IN
different manner. Our squadrons on foreign stations,
I'VE been generally kept TOO much IN port, have been
too little employed in cruising and too seldom e1ecsto
IN squadron munpvres To remedy this, propose
stem Of interchange between the several squadrons
and with that view, 10 arrange them that no shiP
except perhaps That of the conmander-in cief, sha
remain more Than one year on the same station
propose that the sqnedrons of the Mediterranean and
hall 40
same number and classes Of vessels and that the same
equality shall prevail between those OF the East Indies
and the Pacific After particular intervals OF time,
vessel Of the Mediterranean squadron shall be sent To
Brazil; and at the same time, Of the same dascrip
ton from Brazil to the Aedilerransan and 50 of the
souadrons Of the East Indies and the Pacific The
advantages or this system are great and obvious.
By keeping the ships more ut sea, the officers will
be more exercised in their proper duties, and will &c
quire of the science and pracIce oil their probes
SION.
9 Dscipline will be better learned and better en-.
forced both as officers and crews ts always relaxed
while vessels are in port
3. The dangerous connexions and fatal habits, so
often formed amid The aeductons Of luxurious ports.
will be avoided.
4 Officers will have better opportunity 10 become
ACQUAINTED with different coasts and hn.bors with their
currents, winds, &c, with the languages, manners,
CUSTOMS SC Of different regions of the globe; ali "hch
information is indispensable to an accomplished naval
commander.
5. The flag Of the country will be displayed in diff
erent ports on many dffent vessels, thereby giving 10
foreign countries better idea Of The extent oil our ma
val power. Heretofore the habit of sending the same
vessels repeatedly the foreign station has pro-
duced the impression that had no others TO send and
has thus detraced from the respect which ought 10 at
tach to us II naval power.
Our vessels of war will be kept constantly in the
tracks Of commerce, and be thus ready, on oil oc
casons and in all places, III afford to whatever as.
sslance il may need. In this way the small force des
tined for the protection of African trade, and for
suppression OF the slave trade, may be occasionally
strengthened by the presence Of vessels of war inter
changing between the Mediterranean and the l5fazlls
Blu, the great interest of our commerce IN The racine
and particularly that most important part OF IT, the
whale fisheries, will derive peculiar advantages ron
this system AT present most Of our whaers rarely see
one or our vessels of war, although il is we'll under
stood tia, they often need their protection Our IA
tlonal Ship crossing the Pacc should be directed to-
half hy