The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-30
HE NAV v.

for the Navy, even before the detailed estimates
are fairly in the possession of The House, com
plains that "ihe Navy has long been the petted
child of the nation and il was now taking the
course that other pets were accustomed TO take
il was running away with the whole patrimony
of the State" IL is undoubtedly true that the
Navy has long been The pet of The nation, as we
trust il will long continue to be; but this is q
somewhat culious reason for assailing il so vlo-
leny and does credit TO Mr.. Hale's frankness
at the expense OF his judgment. There are not
many aspiranls for popular favor, who would
endeavor to signaze themselves by laying rude
hands on the pet Of the nation.
The Navy has justly been the pride of the
whole country. II has added more than any
other branch Of public service TO the reputation
OF the nation abroad; it adds more TO its strength
with respect TO foreign nations il adds more 10
The commercial prosperity of The nation, and in
directly to its agricultural prosperity, by the pro-
lection which it gives to trade and it is upon
the Navy chiefly that we must rely Tor defence
against The most powerful nation on earth, and
the one with which we are most likely TO be
brought into collision. At the same time it is
free from all the dangers attending standing
army.
These are the reasons which have made the
Navy the pet Of the nation, and induced the
People most willingly to assent to large annual
appropriations for its gradual increase, beyond
the immediate urgent wants Of The country,
with the view of building up Navy which
may in course Of time place this great Repub-
lie at least upon level with a second or third
rate European power. The effect of this an
nual increase Of the number of vessels has been,
Of course, to increase the amount Of expendi-
lures annually required for their support. Blu,
it seems now to be suddenly discovered that
comparatively large and growing Navy is not so
easily supported as a small and stationary one:
and fayorite policy of the nation, steadily pur-
sued through all mutations Of party is as flip
or negligent increase of contingent expenses in
one of the Departments.
An increase in the number Of ships alone is
not an increase of the Navy, and in case of war
would add nothing to the strength of the nation
They must be manned, and it is more difficult
u
mercantile marine is. to be sure, good nursery
for seamen, but nothing more than a nursery
and sailor taken from the merchant service re-
quires far more drilling TO become a serviceable
man -ol-war's man, Than a laborer taken from
the plough does to become soldier. The Sc
cretIy justly observes in his report, that 1--WE
can have competent and skilful officers,
good and efficient sailors, only by a long
course Of active service. That is the
school in which they are taught, and in
which they acquire knowledge of their duties
To build Navy without the experience, skill,
and force necessary TO sail and efficiently to
manage IL, in the event Of war with a mari
time Power, ronld be, in effect, Jm adding TO
the force Of the enemy of the nations cost ana
The nation al disgrace" To send public YES
sci 10 sea, in time Of war, with raw and unds-
ciplined crew, is in fact nothing more than ma
king present Of her and her armament and
equipment to the enemy. The only humiliation
which we sustained on the ocean, during the
late war with Great Britain, arose from the com
mission Of that fault.
But as the pay and provisions of seamen are
the heaviest items in the naval estimates, an AID
mnistration seeking popularity only, or endeav
oring TO avoid unpopularity from exlravagan
expenditures, would naturally fix on these fo
reduction, as they are not actually and immedi
stely necessary, and moreover add little or moth
ing TO the patronage of the Government. TIL,
consequence OF this has been that, heretofore
the wishes of the People with respect to tn,
Navy have not been fully carried out. The ef
icency of the Navy has not, in fact, been in
creased in anything like fair proportion TO tn
increase of vessels and officers, because the
have not been kept in active service an,
so far from being pet, as the People desired,
has been cheated of its just allowance in ordc
that other expenditures, involving more patro
mage, might not be reduced
II this Administration, therefore, or The Sec
rotary Of the Navy, were seeking popularity
they would have been careful not to ey
cecd ia the Navy estimates, and PARTICULAR
in the item (pay Of seamen,) in which the pre-
sent estimates exceed those of last year, whic
eau add nothing whatever to their amount {
patronage. Seamen ahoat can contribute yer
htu' w '''t'o"sVihs P"'FoStss Il NC Nttn Z
provisions, in which some abuse might be i'm
agined. has not been increased from last year
but diminished.
But, besides that, the aggregate OF estimates
differing only two millions from that Of the frs
year Of Mr.. Van Buren's administration, J is NO
so great as it ought to be, in order TO conform {
the intentions Of the People in Increasing til
Navy, I'VE think that there are obvious and i'm
peratve seasons for the increase now oh
vious that, although we have never yet SEE
them urged to Justify the increase, they were ,