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

ured us duty but II - much too suaii 10 fehae al
The services expected Of II IN INIT remote res'o"
Every par; of tina, vast taresSd W our 'lao
rr vessels and N evary part oil 1t The protection o
our naval ~ consequently required Inc lew sn'Ps'
allowed even the largest squadron that we nese
ever sent 10 the Pacific, are mol enough TO euafo u
whaling interest alone. Ii can scarcely De e5Psc~u
lba, 1--WE or SIX vessels, most OF winch are OF the sa
est class can properly protect our commerce anu ou
people, along coast OF three thousand miles !" eA
lent and throughout an ocean TOUR thorsahu "i'e'
wide. | respectfully suggest mat loo niue a''enl"
has heretofore been paid the importsni interests VI
orr country in the Pacific Ocean. There IS al inns
time stronger necessity than ever ior more s''o'
y,rilance aud active exerton on our la'' Z" p.
vent other nations from sutJectng our lInue " n.y.
rious RESTRICTIONS aud ADVERTISEMENTS Inc Engi'sn
settlers have by their enterprise nearly enstosscu m
trade from the Columbia RIVER to The ISLANDS, 80 '
our couurymen are e!fectnaly cot oil ifot H. Us
they had no rights IL that quarter. iae people " va
rous countries are rapidly forming set'!eih MS al
,lon, the shores of the Pscc from Columbia river 10
the Gull OF California; and tins, too, with The coun
,enance and suppo,, OF their respective Governments
In the mean tne are doing literally no'h'nS io'
our own interests IN that quarter 20 tpose VI ou'
own people who inclined IL settle there we 90 "o'
even mia out the encouragement OF reasonable e1
oec,a,op , we will prote them against The violence
md ioiuscc of other nations lew SINAI! vessels,
scarcely as many we ought To Keep constantly upo
the coast oil each of the South American nations on
the Pacic-lhese, too, charged win the outies "'e
tVcI
offer but e AID support TO the infant settlements
Of our People remote from each other, and demanding
the constant presence ut some protecting power
There are many considerations, CONNECTED win 'h'S
subject of deep Importance IN themselves, ou'
belong rather to other departments oil the Government
than To this advert to them only so far as to Jns,
me ia recommending very large increase OF the acme
squadron. r.
In the East Indies We haze only two ships, the irl
gate Constellation Captain kesrny, commanding Inc
sonadron. and the sloap of war Boston, Commander
Long 1t is owing to our good fortune IMAM l"
our strength that our commerce has suffered no mate
r.al interruption. That Nt!c squadron has done all
tia, could have been expected "i IT. ana II deserves
much credit for It's great vigilance and activity, ah8
for the prudence and sound discretion with which
Commodore Kearny has acquitted himself OF The I'M
portGnt trusts reposed IN HIM ~
On the coast Of Africa we nave no squadron lh'
small appropriation of The present year was believed
10 be scarcely sufficient answer the pressing demands
of more important stations and hence no vessel has
been equipped expressly for the African seas Inc
sloop OF war Vundala, Commander Ramsay, belonging
10 lie Home Squadron, was assigned TO that service ~
March last md il still ie The ratification oil
The Treaty with England renders il necessary that
squadron of at least eighty guns should be assigned to
/, that service.
regret to say, lha, in consequence Of the unpTotect
ed condition of trade on that coast several Of on'
vessels have been captured by the natives and Their
crews barbarously murdered. The last aggression OF
this sor, was upon the schooner Mary Carver captain
Farwell in the district Of Berbee ninety miles SCUM
OF Cape Palmas Instructions have been gwen to Com
mander Ramsay Ia proceed TO that point anu demand
such repara,ion the circumstances oil the case may
require THIS however, will he al best but little satis
factory since chustsement which can be Inh'c'eo
upon such sacancs, either do honor 10 our nag, m
prevent other outrages OF The like Kind. Cor commerce
with Africa is rapidly increasing and IS well worthy OF
all the protection which 1t asks. THIS protection Is |"
be derived from any terror which can be INSPIRED
by the destruction Of few miserable villages on the
sea beach, but from the presence OF armed vessels, able
10 prceent, well as TO punish, oil violations oil Tue
| rights and laws of fair trade.
need scarcely add thai our duty in the Suppression
of The slave trade he discharged wthouta much
rer force on the coast Of Africa than We have ever
yet maintained there
the command Of Lieu,enan, Charles Wilkes, has given
10 the country rich and abundant stores in all the de-
par,ments of natural history. | am nov arranging
them under the authority If law OF the last session
Of Cong ress. Lieutenant Wilkes himself Is engaged
in preparing narrative OF his voyage, and IN COM
nile ipG the various charts of the numerous surveys
made under his direction. In this work he has, at his
own request, the assistance OF L'entenants " Carr,
| T. A. Budd and g. NJ. Tot,en, of The Navy. regret
Tia, have no authority to furnish him with the add
tional aid which he has gh, to expect, from The SCI
enl,!;c corps attached to the expedition There IS no
fund under my control, out OF which compensation
could 30 paid 10 them. respectfully suggest 'hat
provision ought 10 be made Tor ttis Inc country
/ .Dnk
expedition and il is due not less 10 the officers con-
cerned IN il, than the country ITSELF that they should
he fairly ard properly LAID before the world III can
scarcely be expected that Mr.. Wilkes, even with the
aid OF the lew naval officers whose ASSISTANCE he has
asked can in auy short time accomplish task oil so
mncb labor nor s i; reasonable suppose that naval
ntI;cers however skilled in what properly belongs to
their rrolsssion will be able 10 peiec, the drawings
and other mechanical works, and works OF art neces
sary to prepare this publication in the style contempla
ted BY Congress
When had The honor to present to you the usual
re por, from this Department. at the commencement oil
the last session Of Congress- proceeded upon he idea
that il was the settled policy of the Government gra
dually 10 increase the Navy notwithstanding the
favorable change which has since occurred IN our to-
recn relations, and notwithstanding the present an
farOrodc condition Of the public Treasury have seen
no reason believe tha this policy IS less approved
now than heretofore, by the great body OF our people
II il true tina; the in which we are now
placed render necessary, very great modihca'ions OF
The ayscus which would otherwise be proper; but the
opinion is as general IS il ever has heen that
suebis narY absolutely necessary to the protection
o: trade The security Of cur people, and the re-
spectabili,y of Government Fortunately, there IS
nothing IN the circumstances Of our country to render
this in any degree local question. Apart fon the
general proposition that Lal s best for the general
interest should be regarded best for he whole, there
is local and particular interest IN nine tehhs Of our
country which demands respectable naval establish,
ment The commercial towns our sea board by
which nearly all our foreign and coasting trade IS con.
tuctrd have so immediate and direct interest in the
subject as to render unnecessary any remarks upon that
point.
The various agricultural and manufacturing classes,
scattered throughout the country and connected with
and dependent upon this trade hive indrsc, inter
est no, less apparent The grea, and increasing COM
merce OF the lakes although less exposed than that OF
the ocean, yet far too important 10 be left undeend.
ed even against the single power which may become
enemy (Iulc of Me Xco has peculiar
claims II is believed that there is not in the world
an equal amount of commercial and agricultural in
tcrest belonging 10 any one country, SO much at The
mercy Of the most inconsiderabe maritime force ns
is that of the G ulf OF Mexico Not only The States
whch lie Immediately on tina. waller, but MI those
whose streams enter INTO it, including the vast and fer
tile region Of HE Mississippi and lis tributary waters,
make this their chief channel Of commerce. And wei
may properly add, also, inconsderable amount of
The Article of commerce sent from Texas by means Of