Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1845-12-27

cfen formed one squadron under our Gag
was readily concentrated in the Gulf Of
Mexico, and, apparentlE, withost unusual
effort. tits especially 20 be observed, that,
notwithstanding th6 tlnion Of 20 considera-
Bile q force, no act was committed that even
the jsalously of an irritated power could
constrae a. an act Of sggression) and that
the commander Of the squadron, and his
officers, in strict conformity with their in
holding themselves ever ready
for the most active duty, have achieved the
still purer glcry Of contributing to the pres
er, alton Of peace. It's believed that al all
our. foreign stations the honor Of our flag
has been maintained, and that, generally,
our ships Of war have been distinguished
for their good discipline and order. | am
happy to add, that the display Of Inaratime
force which was required by the events Of
the summer, has been made wholly within
the usual appropriations for the service Of
the year, so that no additional appropria-
tions are re luired.
The commerce Of the United States, and
with it the navigating interest, have stead
lily and rapidly increased since the organ
ization Of our government, until it is be-
leved, we are now second to but one Pow
er in the world, and at no distant day we
shall probably be inferior to none. Ex-
posed as they must be, it has been wise
policy to afford to these important interests
protection with our ships of war, distrib-
uted in the great highways oftrade through
out the world. For more than thirty years
appropriations have been made and annu-
ally expended, for the gradual increase Of
or naval forces. In peace, our navy per-
forms the important duty Of protecting our
commerce, and IN the event Of war, will
be, as it has been, most efficient means
Of defence.
The successful use Of steam navigation
on the ocean has been followed by the in
PRODUCTION Of war steamers in great and in
creasing numbers into the navies Of the
maritime powers in the world. A due re-
gard to our own safety and to an efficient
protection to our large and increasing COM
merce demands corresponding increase
on our part. No country has greater ia
cilities for the construction of vessels Of
this description than ours, or can promise
itself greater advantages from their en-
ployment.
They are admiralty adapted to the pro-
lection Of our commerce, to the rapid trans
mission 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 ma
terials for ship building have been collect
ed and are now under shelter and in stae
Of good preservation while iron steamers
can be built with great facility in various
parts Of the Union.
The use Of iron as material, especially
in the construction Of steamers, which c. n
enter with safety, many of the harbors
along our coasts now inaccessible to ves-
sells of greater draugtt, and the practicable
ity Of constructing them in the interior,
strongly recommends that liberal appropri-
ations should be made for this important OBJ
ject. Whatever may have been our policy
in the earlier stages of the government,
when the nation was in its infancy, our
shipping interests and commerce compare
lively small, our resources limited, our
population sparse and scarcely extending
beyond the limits Of the original thirteen
States, that policy must be essentially diff.
ferent now that we have grown from three
to more than twenty millions Of people
that our commerce, carried in our ships, ii
found in our own sea, and that our owr
territorial boundaries and settlements have
been SO greatly extended. Neither oul
commerce nor our long line Of coast OF
the ocean and the lakes, can be success.
fully defended against foreign aggression
by means Of Publications alone. These
are essential at important commercial ant
military points, but our chief reliance fol
this object must be on well organized
efficient navy. The benefits resulting from
such navy are not confined to the Allan
tic States. The productions of the inter
ior which seek market abroad, are di
rectly dependent on the safety and free
dom Of our commerce.. The occupation .
the Balize below New Orleans by hos
tile force would embarass, if not stagnate
the whole export trade Of the Mississippi
and effect the value ofthe agricultural pro
ducts Of the entire valley Of. that might,
river and its tributaries. S s..
/ 1t has never been our policy to maintail
large standing armies in time Of peace.-
They are contrary to the genius of our fire.
institutions, would impose heavy burden
on the people, and be dangerous to publ
liberty. Our reliance for protection an
defence on the the land, must be mainly o.
our citizen soldies, who will be eyerread
as they ever have been ready in time
past, to rush with slacrity, at the call {
their country, to her defence. This des
cription Of force, however, cannot delen
our coast, harbors, and inland seas, no
protect our commerce on the ocean or III
: lakes. These must be protected by ou
navy.
+ Considering an increased naval fore,
especially Of steam vessels, correspondent
with our growth and importance as M
ton, and proportioned to the increased an
increasing naval power of other nations,
vast Importance az regards our safety, an
: and the great and growing interests to /
protected by it, / recommend the subject
: the favorable confederation Of Congress.
. The report Of the Post Master Gener,
: herewith communicated, contains detal
: ed statement Of the operations of his N