The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1845-12-12

The commerce Of the United States, and I
with it the navigating interest," have steadily
and rapidly increased since the organization
Of our government until, it is believed, we
are now second to but one Power in the
world, and at no distant day we shall proba-
bly, be Inferior to none, Exposed as they must
be, it has been wise policy to afford to these
important interests protection with our ships
Of war, distributed in the great highways of
trade throughout the world For more than
thirty years appropriations have been made,
and annually expended, for the gradual in
crease of our naval forces. In peace, our
navy performs the important duty Of protect
ing our commerce.; and, in the event Of war,
will be, as it has been, a most efficient means
of defence.
The successful use of steam navigation on
the ocean has been followed by the introduc-
ton of war-streamers in great and interesting
numbers into the navies of the principal mar
atime Powers of the world. due regard to
our own safety and to an efficient protection
mands corresponding increase on our part.
No country has greater facilities for the con-
struction of vessels of this description than
ours, or can promise itself greater advantages
from their employment. They are admirably
adapted to the protection of our commerce, to
the rapid transmission of intelligence, and to
the coast defence. In pursuance of the wise
policy of gradual increase of our navy,
large supplies of live oak timber, and other
materials for ship building, have been col
lected, and are now under SHELTER and in q
state of good preservation, VIII lie IRON steam
ers can be built with great facility in various
parts of the Union. The use of iron as q
material, especially in the construction OF
steamers, which can enter with sa fety many
of the harbors along our coast now inaccessl-
BILE to vessels of greater draught and the
practlcablity of constructing them in the in
terror, strongly recommends that liberal ap
propriati ons should be made for this impor'
tant object. Whatever may have been our
policy in the earlier stages Of the govern
ment when the nation was in its infancy, our
shipping interests and commerce compare.
lively small, our resources limited, our popu
lation sparse and scarcely extending beyond
the limits of the" original thirteen states, thai
policy must be essentially different now thai
we have grown from three to more than TWEEN
ty millions of people,-that our commerce
: carried in our own chips, is found in every
sea, and that our territorial boundaries and
settlements have been so greatly expanded
Neither our commerce, nor our long line o.
coast on the ocean and on the lakes, can be
: successfully defended against foreign aggres
+ sion by means of Notifications alone. These
t are essential at important commercial ant
military points, but our chief reliance for thl
/. object must be on we'll organized, efficien
o navy. The benefits resulting from such
navy are not confined to the Atlantic states
r The productions of the interior which seek
h market abroad, are directly dependent on tn
r safety and freedom of our commerce. Th
y occupation of the Balize below New Orlean
A by hostile force would embarrass, if nc
stagnate, the whole export trade of the Mssls
$ sippi and affect the value of the agriculture
5 products of the entire valley of that M ght
| river aod tributaries.
d 1t has never been our policy to mantai
IS large standing armies in time of peace
r They are contrary to the genius of our free
J. institutions, would impose heavy burdens Of
|, the people, and would be dangerous to publ
n liberty. Our reliance for protection and dc
:. fence on the land, must be mainly on OF
y citizen soldiers, who will be ever ready, a
II they ever have been ready in times past,
rush with alacrity at the call of their countr
Il to her defence. This description of fore
however, cannot defend our coast, harbor
q and inland seas, no protect our commerce
the ocean or the lakes. These must be pro
a tected by our navy.
\ Considering an increased naval force, an
especially of steam vessels, correspondent
with our growth and Importance as natlo
and proportioned to the increased and Ii
creasing naval power of other nations, of vas
;, Importance as regards our safety. and tt
great and growing interests to be protectt
/, by it, recommend the subject to the tavo
!. able consideration of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster General, her
with communicated; contains detailed stat
IF ment of the operations Of his departmei
at during the past year. 1t will be seen that tf
re income from postages will fall short of Il
T. expenditures for the year between one an
J. two millions of dollars. This deficiency hi
r, been caused by the reduction of the rates
ir postage, which was made by the act of tn
rs 3d March last. No principle has been MOI
ID generally acquieseed in the PEOPLE than th'
e this department should sustain itself by lin
lr ting its expenditures to its income Cor
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