Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-08

WINGED think, by few extracts ftom the Report it.
self The Secretary, after marshang the most
answerabe arguments in favor of The Navy the chief
means Of national defence proceeds 10 say, Tpage Is ),
"lf these views he not altogether deceptive, the policy
ii increasing Navy, without further delay, is Oh
vious. Hooc far il shall lie increased, the wisdom OF
Congress will decide Looking TO il the chief, II
the only adequate defence OF our country against
these OF imcursions from which much evil i
10 BE- npprehended respectfully suggest that wc can
safely stop SHIRT II half the naval force of the
strongest maritime power in the world -"With less
than this, our fleets would serve only 10 swell the
rnmphs and feed the oupidiiy Of enemy. II is
better 10 have al all than 10 have less than enoug
TINT this great increase of naval power
rannot b. Effected any shorttm propose it only
the object nj which policy ought 10 aim, and TO-
wa rd the attainment of which your ought TO
be steat,y directed. An annual appropriation, Ebe
raj The means OF Tie Treasury ,otH aiOnc riH in a
ep years. accomplish all that is desirable What
be more explicit than this How the prospective
spirit of the Secretary propositions be misunderstood
That it is necessary 10 increase our effective naval
force, is evident TO every rejecting mind If Navy
good for any thing, il should he able TO act
guard against the sudden ncursons Of any mari.
time power, and stand ready 10 enforce just
demands upon the powerful nations TO whose ar
rogance and aggresslons on extended and al.
Turing coast of than four thousand miles, and
our widespread commerce constantly liable
To be convinced Of this, shall wait ill the
of war brought TO fresides, till
mercia cities pillagcd, and the enemy have penc-
trated to the capitol aud again burnt il to the ground;
Shall we wait, and be counting parsimoniousy the pen
MES which proper naval defence would cost, till the
enemy have only brought loss upon us of
hundred and fifty millions Of dollars the last war,
but OF five hundred millions oil dollars they could do
in the first year Of war, before could get ready 10
contend with them? 1t the noble boast of the
Sparans TINT their wives had the face Of
enemy: so should it be boast We have rival
nations upon the Western continent, whom We need
even watch with suspicion; and if we have sufficient
navy TO keep off invading fleets the peaceful industry
and prosperity of our countrymen may never be inter
rupled What if France in 1886 had chosen The profsr
alternative Of war; instead Of answering the just de-
Inands nobly made by our President Tor The rights
and honor ofthe country? We should have then found
10 our shame, that had power to sustain those
demands for the rights and honors Of country
What if our difficulties with Great Britain in relation
the Boundary Question, the Mcleod case, and other
matters had involved in war with Tint mistress Of
the ocean, We ready for her: What it the new
difficulty in relation TO the Creole affair." together with
the Boundary questions should involve u.s. they may
even very soon in u war with parent and rival
country could we pretend TO meet the first fleet Of
steamers line ships, and small craft, all differed by
msn better acquainted with our harbors than many Of
naval corps which she would send over against
us, say nothing Of protection al the same time 10 the
five hundred millions dollars worth of our property
ailoat upon the seas doubt not, that we might
in year or two be prepared to meet, aud braVey
repel the enemy we have done before; but the
preparations would be made under every dsndvan-
tage, with double the usual expense, and while the
enemy in the mean time, would be destroying and TAX
ing enough of property TO sustain an efficient navy
for u century The whole interests Of the country,
for these times of peace demand increase Of our Ma
Wy. The traders the East Indies, at China, Poly
nesia and along the North West coast have been long
complaining, that Navy does not keep pace with
tba adu af Manu- nj thpm
seldom, if ever the cheering power of their
try represented at places where they have established
places of trade, and where protection IS most needed
II may presumption in Inc to urge this subject
further upon your attention, alter referring to the able
report of the Secretary, which is full of sufficient
reasons to the purpose but feel deep interest
in the subject. have felt with many others, how all
important the Navy is for our national defence; and
that for several years, il has been not only insufficient
but almost paral ysed by neglect. Hitherto the blame
has been laid upon the Secretaries; but now, we have
Secretary who comes 10 US like sknl physician IA
miar with the powers and liabilities Of his patient, and
ambitious TO restore the defect. He bids stretch
forth the almost withered of country, that he
may strengthen and deveope il in fair proportion 10
our other members Then, some future time, will
save US more than thousand fold the expense Of de-
velopng and sustaining it, and al all times, and all
places, It will be ornament and al honor to US
Mus, lie be told, that although some attention has
been needed for long time 10 our fright arm OF de-
desired i'm prorcmenls: Shall the country, now grown
into full stature and with immensely accumulated
sources, restrict its necessities 10 the allowances OF
boyhood The Secretary, in his table of estimates,
only asks for about three millions more than the appro
pria,on of las, year, aud what is that TO seventeen mil
lions OF people, possessed Of the richest country and
the most prosperous commerce in The world: But IN
another view, this additional appropriation Tor the in
crease of the Navy would be- great degree merely
nominal IL would be given to educate and train up an
additional number Of galan, sons of the land 10 an
honorable professions; rescue many more orphan and
distressed boys from the haunls of dissipation and
crime, 10 their country; and support many more
of our hardy tars upon their chosen element part,
also, of this appropriation, would 60 TO the Western
and other producers of beef pork flour and ship stores
to our manufactures and coon-growers Tor CLOTH
ing, sails, and cordage; and portions, besides TO
encourage all kinds of industry. The Secretary
in fact asks for little in order 10 accomplish his
magnificent prospective plan for the Improvement of the
navy and the honor of the country than this that the
people should take the means, which he asks, ont OF
one pocket and have put into another equally their
own We are told side and the other, that this
ca mot be done, that the people will not allow IT, how
ever feasible and commendabe the plan oil lis disposal
Have the people been nskcdl Have they considered
the subject in its important bearings upon every inter
est of the country without regard TO party influence
fthey have so considered il, or may be persuaded to
consider it in this manner they will unanimously Sc
cond the propositions Of the Secretsry with cordial
approval For yourself, Sir, if you are now onsnced
upon further examination of the Navy report, that
YOUR first impression of the Secretarys purposes was
wrong, trust you will do all in your power to coun-
teracI The evil and lend your aid 10 sustain the noble
measures, so universally praised, which our able and
earnest Secretary Of the Navy has urged upon Con-
gress - H. D.
NJ We have no "frst impressions 10 correct-no
aeyil to counteract." We never thought, we never
said that the Secretary proposed Immediately to build
up Navy, half as large that of Great Brtain-We
quoted his own words, and then showed how magnif.
70 nj was the scheme 10 which he ultimately aimed The
very distinction taken BY j. II. b. we drew on Tuesday
last.
We protest against the eplhets he is pleased to ap-
ply TO those staunch and able Democrats, essrs. Wei
Ter and Williams. They Demagogues-and no
gratutous charge ought to be made against them, Of
perverting public document Our Correspondent
writes WE'LL and with these exceptions, we oheeruy
give him place in our paper.-[ Enquirer.
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.