The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-06-05

BY bA TX u l. H. W EoR'
ask of iudicious and practical men
the following questions: What is the ad-.
vantage ofthe Navy? What is its unc-
! ton in peace? What does it accomplish
| in war? In plain words, what is the use
of the Navy?
A few years since, it was taken for
granted, that navy was absolutely nee
essary. This was the established public
opinion; no one questioned the utility OF
our ships of war. Fighting vessels were
deemed as important as colleges or
schools But the lines have CHANGED
The question is now boldly and openly
asked, all over New England, what IS
the use ofthe navy3 1t is asked, not only
| by ultra peace men who set themselves
against all wars, defensive and offensive,
but by those who still hold to the opinion
that, ct times, war is unavoidable
There are very many who can see no
benefit from the navy in time OF peace.
and who regard the fighting ships as the
means of useless slaughter in times OF
war.
A very common apology for the ez.
pendilure for our navy by those who
take q limited view Of the subject 49,,
tina, the money is not wasted, for 1t sup
ports mechanics, artisans, seamen and
officers, giving TO them their means OF
living. It is true, that it thus affords to
many their support. The navy is popu'
| lar among those towards whom the mon
ey flows out in golden streams. For
instance, the navy pays annually 10
about sixty men, as captains, quarter
of million of dollars, The building aud
repairing and sailing one ship of the line
disburse one million of dollars. There
are many who desire thus TO live out OF
the public. Since the accession OF Mr.
Pol;, in the short space OF three or tour
months, there have been several thou
sand applications fer midshipmen's war
rants. For one vacant olhce, that oil "a
lieutenant of marines, there were over
tweire Aundred applicants. But we ask,
who pays the money for the navy' 1t
comes from the pockets Of those who
have earned it, to go to those who speed
it. IL is a mere transfer from hand 10
hand. The nation does not gain This
nation, in fact, loses when 1t supports
men who do nothing for The common
good. ,+ =,
The next answer 10 our question, -,
, and if is the answer the most relied upon
is, a navy is needed for the protec-
ton of commerce. Commerce is the
interchange of merchandise, the circula.
ton throughout the world ofthe conVen-
fences and Iuxuries life. Ii supplies
the United States with the productions
of other countries, and furnishes other
countries with the surplus goods OF our
, own. We do not under rate the value
-, of commerce. 1t builds up our cities
', It supplies many wants. i accumulaies
, CAPITAL and stimulates the productive In
' dustry ofour citizens
, But, our country could have all this
profitable commerce, without owning q
i single ton of shipping, without one sail
It on the ocean, bearing The stars and
d strpes. Foreign vessels would carry on
=. our freightiug as well, as cheaply, as our
e own, and do their own fighting, if fight
u ing were necessary TO protect them
;. The carrying trade is distinct branch
). OF business. The owning Of ships has
!. no necessary connection with commerce.
r, more than catting or wagoning has with
e the merchants purchases and saies'
IS Already nearly half of the merchan
e die imported into, and exported IRON
!. the United States, is carried by foreign
20 vessels, In l843, the proportion OF Tor
N cign tonnage employ ed by our commerce
IS TO American tonnage, was as 5OO,UoU K
1900 zoo tons. During the present J ca
Of in four of our cotton ports, there were
% at one time, $50 foreign ships 10 3O(
ID American; the tonnage OF the ioreIg,
. ships, beng larger vessels, almost equal
e. ed the tonnage of tho American. vi al
| the foreign arrivals at Boston in ih'
,e wear 1874, half Though small vessel
g, generally were British vessels, and
e other eastern ports existed the same stats
,e of things. The ships OF northern Eu
Al rope have the bulk of the exports iron
n, New York,to that pant Of Europe. Ih'
tobacco of Virginia, the COTE OF CUBA
id the oil of our VIVA ships, 20 usually OF
N board Of these vessels; and foreign YES
W sells have been chartered or employed b.
an orr own merchants for their East lndt
voyages. 49,. 49,,
a. if we had not single ship, we coul
Is receive or send away all the goods wihc
of in the prosecution of commercial busi
ness, are required to oe received or to b
sent away. This, too, at I0ir prices c
to freight; for SO rapid can be made the IN
a crease of ships that goods will always b
OF lreigh,ed at the lowest possible Prlce
to and as experience thus far has manlles'
at ed at lower prices in foreign vessel
40 tho, IN the vessels ofthe United States