Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-02

grea, advantage to the SUBJECT which he had direct
ed their attention.
1t was with no feeling Of hostility to the navy, that
he made this proposition. Some OF his most valued
friends held commissions the navy but believing IT.
TO be the duty Of tina, House to restrain all LAWS
peditures, he had called their attention TO this point,
and he did no, mean TO be diverted from his purpose.
He had not introduced the subject for any idle purpose
nor Tar the sake of having hobby upon which to ride
10 popular iavo. but he had done So from sense Of
the obligations which rested upon him, as one Of the
Representatives of the people upon the hoor OF that
House
Mr.. J II INGERSOLL (who, from his position
in the hall, was but mperiectiy heard in that part OF
the House where The reporter sat, and consequently,
an outline only of his remarks here be given,)
next addressed the House he had fault 10 find with
the resolution Of the gentleman from NeY Hampshrc,
as every inquiry of this kind contributed TO the nor
mat on of members, and of the country at large. But
# the resolution were intended as preliminary step 10
cutting down. reducing diminishing the Necessary
expenditures of the naval establishment Of this
try, he, for one, Notwithstanding the rnh - rage
which had manifested itself among all parties of late
favor OF rerenchment would stand up against IT, He
was opposed that sort Of retrenchment which strikes
the existence Of important branch Of the nation
al service. The country required Navy, and 1t must
have one. In relation To The home squadron, the c
quiry made by the gentleman rrobjectionabIc in
itself In fact, II WAS highly necessary, in the way Of
information. The gentleman Ind, however mscon-
strued The report of the Secretary # the Navy; which
report lie must be permitted 10 sly had been drawn up
with grea, ability and candor. IL nowhere stated
in that report that the Of the home squadron
confined the defence oil the coas ing de Of the
try. On the contrary, it designed, when occasion
reouired to course the world of wnt.rs-to pass
be yond the Pillars of Hercules, which bounded the
view of the ancient mariner, and 20 carry le rroec
ton of fleets 10 the most distant quarters of the
globe. Its operations begin the banks OF New found
laGd, extending thence 10 the Gulf OF Mexico sweep
ing the coast "f That immense inland sen, proceeding
onwa,ds to the caribbean occan, and protecting our
commerce throughout the West Indies II was not
| confined to the home trade
When his honorable friend from Massachusetts, Mr..
Adamsl raised his voice against an object upon which lie,
rs citizen and he nigh, say palriot-ielt pc
cuar interest," he COME ID his hear: sunk within hun,
for he dreaded the influence which the gentleman had
in bis power TO exercise from his just appreciation
of every subject from his xpefience and his judgment.
He rene rendered we'll when, during the last Congress,
the subjec, Of retenchmcnt the army and navy
brought forward, and which succeed,d but well,
when there seemed 10 be doubts lowering the minds
fgenemcn tina, floor; and hen that gentemln rose
and expressed he sentiments, with weight and force
and manner OF language which he knew (he had almost
said better than any hody s-) how exercise he
red every body wnh him. lie, (Mr. J however, had
then resisted and would yet be demonstrated he
was right
What was it that could induce that House to endca.
vor TO carry oct this Of retreDcmen in regard
10 that branch of the public service, Inch had tended
SO greatly to build up and to increase the prosperity Of
this country In l5lG, law passed 10 increase
the navy; and III le22, another law was passed, by
which half million vas appropriated annually for six
years. for the increase oil the navy Why did they in
crease the navy Was IL that they might again sut It
d;wn; The prosperity Of tie country, at THIS mom.nt,
was mainly owing TO the ns:runenali.y Of The navy
and, unless tina, navy was kept in proper condition.
unless the seanen were properly encouraged and The
officers properly qualified fo the discharge Of their du
ties, which could only be done by liberal expenditure
this Government would not be doing justice u itself
In fact, they would soon he in state oil retogression
He asked TIE gentleman, the Of The restitution
to poL what there III the repct o: The Secrc-
tary OF the Navy which was liable to objection, or
which could be made The subject Of conn plant What
vas it, Was it tina, part which recommended for the
officers Of the navy course OF honorable AID useful
employ Was it tha. part which recommended
| announcements TO be extended 10 s.amsn Do
owe nothing to our navy: He did not sand there TO
pronounce a eulogy upon it, but he would ask, ought
they not 10 cherish that navy winch had rendered The
country such signal service during the last wartbat
navy which had equasd nay, surpassed, the achieve.
men,s Of the middle ages Time could never cancel
the obligations which they owed TO their navy The
sentiments and opinions Of The people were decidedly