The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-25

4
| luyoluntarily 10 his annual Messages 10 Congress,
while he filled the first msgstracy, 10 assure our
selves that our memory did not deceive US, and that
! Il was possible Tor mso OF Mr.. Adamss s6e and
character in so brief space to forget aud rePudiaie
! a line of policy he had 50 earnestly advocated
In his first message, under date December D, 1879
Mr. Adams speaks Of the Navy as follows, after emu
meraing the various duties IL had performed during
the preceding year
7" II were indeed vain and dangerous illusion 10
believe, that in the present or probable cohdi,ioh
Of human society, commerce SO extensive anu 30
rich as ours could exist aud be pursued ID safety,
without the continual support Of military inaino-
the only by which the power OF this Coniedcracy
can be estimated or felt by foreign nations, and The
only standing military force which can never be dan
gerous TO our own liberties at home. permanent
naval peace establishment therefore, adapted 10 our
present condition, and adaptable 10 that gigantic gro"h
io ,oheh the nation is advancing IN its CAREER Is among
the subjects which have already occupied the fore
sight Of the last Congress, and which will deserve
your serious deliberations Our navy, commenced
at early period of present political organiza
ton upon scale commensurate with the incipient
energies the scanty resources and the comparative
indulgence OF our infancy was even then found ade-
quate to cope with all the Powers Of Barbary save
the first and with of the principal maritime Pow
ers of Europe
! /" At period of further advancement but with
little accession of strength, il not only sustained with
honor the most unequal Of conflicts but covered itself
and our country with unlading glory But it is only
since the close of the late that, 10y the numbers
and force If the ships Of which it was composed 1t
could deserve the name Of navy. Yet II retains
nearly the organization as when II consisted OF
only five gates. The rules and regulations by which
it is governed earnestly call for revision and the
want of naval school of instruction, corresponding
with the Military Academy at West Point, for the
formation Of scientific and accomplished officers, is
felt with daily increasing aggravaton.
ri of of
izing examination and survey Of the harbor Of
Charleston, IN South Carolina of ST. Marys in Geor-
ga, and Of the coast of Florida and for other pur
poses has been executed far the appropriation
would admit. Those Of the Sd Of March last, autho-
rizng the establ shmen Of navy yard and depot on
the coast Of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico, and au-
horzing the building of ten sloops OF war, and for
other purposes; in the course Of execution"
In his second Annual Message December, 1885,
he dwet still more at length and more emphaticaly
and comPacently, upon the means taken Cor the in
Of the Navy, which he pronounced "a fund Of
National property, The pledge Of our future glory and
defence" He says;
At was scarcely one short year after the close Of
the late war; and when the burden OF its expenses
ard charges weighed heaviest upon the country, that
Coz gress, by the act of 29th April 1876 appropri-
ated one million Of dollars annually, for eight years,
TO the gradual increase Of the navy. AT subsequent
period this annual appropriation was reduced TO hall
last. yet more recent appropriation of the last
two years. for building ten soops Of war, has nearly
restored the original appropriation OF 1916, of mil
lion for every year. The result is before us ALL We
have twelve line-ofbattle ships, twenty frigaes and
sloops OF war IN preparation; which, with few
months of preparation, may present line Of floating
Notifications along the whole range Of our coast,
ready to meet any invader who might attempt TO set
foot upon our shores. Combining with system of
Notifications upon the shores themselves commenced
OH 10 ftrne t,pder he If ux rn,e
date predeces ,or, and hitherto Systematically pur
sucd il has placed in possession the most effect
i've sinews OF war and has left W. al once
pie and lesson FROM WHICH OUR OWN DUTIES MAY BIZ
INFERRED. The gradual increase of the navy WAS
the principle of which the act Of 29th April 1916,
was the first development, 1t was the introduction
of system TO act upon the character and history of
our country for an indefinite series OF ages IL
declaration oil that Congress- to their constituents
and to posterity, that II the destiny and the duty
Of these conederated States TO become, in regular
process Of time, and by no petty advances, a great
nara poirer. That which they proposed to accom-
plish IN eight years is rather 10 be considered
the measure of their means than the Limitation of
their design. They looked forward for term Of
years sufficient for the accomplishment Of definite
portion Of their purpose and they left 10 their
successors TO fill up the canvass of which they
had traced the large and prophetic outline
The ships of the line and trigates which they
had ia contemplation, will shortly be completed
ment OF the work has than elapsed. II remains
for your consideration how their may con-
tribute their portion OF tod and OF treasure for the bene
fl OF the succeeding age, IN the gradual increase Of
the navy. There IS, perhaps no part Of The exercise II
The constitutional peicers Of tho federal government tchic
has gren general Satisfaction 10 The people II The
Union than this The system has not been thus vi O.
rously rCduced and hitherto sustained TO be now
departed from or abandoned. In continuing 10 pro
ride for The gradual iacrease Of the nary IT may not be
ma. itANt Ia add sA.
TO the number of ships but should YOU deem
il advisable TO continue the yearly appropriation Of
half million TO the objects, II may be profit
ably expended IN providing supply OF timber TO be
seasoned, and other materials for future in the
construction OF docks, in laying the foundation of
schools for naval education as TO the sdom OF Con-
gress either of those measures may appear to claim
the preference"
In the strain Mr.. Adams spoke Of the Navy. I
IN his thd and finally in his fourth Annual Message
bestowng upon it the encomums which il deserved |
and urging upon Congress the expediency Of continu
ing to axe measures for It's support, mprovem and
increase as the surest means Of preserving and en-
arging the commerce and making the name of the
Republic respected. Yet there never was time
since the Republic lout died. when the foreign re-
latons Of the country in better condition. or
when all It's affairs promised longer continuance of
quietude AT home and abroad or when the flag whe /
Their nJating from public or private vessel, was
more universally honorod. II is not therefore any
change for the better IN the aspect Of our foreign re-
ations that calls for such change Of policy as MIR
Mr.. Adams now proposes On The contrary the com !
merce which he commended, during bis Presidency.
required the protection Of a navy, has indefinitely
increased, and by his own showing the relations OF
the country with other powers in more critical
condition. The chang, then is IN be looked Tor in
Tie nan, not IN the circumstances Of the times Bu,
let US rather regard the noble precep,s he taught n,
In better days while his heart was large enough 10
embrace his whole country and forget II we can the
Authorizations that erbiiier bis present hours