Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-12-20


orally, our ships Of war have been distinguish
ed for their good discipline and order. ! am
happy to add, that the display Of maritime
force which was required by the events
OF the summer, has been made wholly
within the usual appropriation for the service
Of the year, so that no additional sppropria.
tons are required.
The commerce OF the United States, and
with it the navigation interest, have stead
y and rapidly increased since the organza.
ton of our government, until, it is believed
we are now second 10 but one power 10 the
world, and at no distant day we shall prob.
ably be inferior to none. Exposed as they
must be-, il has been wise policy to afford
10 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 increase Of our naval for.
ces. In peace, our navy performs the i'm
portant duty of protecting our commerce.;
aud in the event Of war, will he, 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
principle maratime powers Of the world.
A due regard TO our own safety and TO an
efficient protection to our large and increa
sing commerce, demands a corresponding
increase on our part. No country has
greater facilities for the construction OF
vessels Of this description than ours, or can
promise itself greater advantages from their
employment. They are admirably adapt
ed to the protection Of our commerce, to
the rapid transmission Of intelligence, and
to the coast defence. In pursuance Of the
wise policy of a gradual increase Of ou'
navy, large supplies Of live oak timber. and
other materials for ship building. have been
collected, and are now under shelter, and
IN state 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 can
enter with safety many OF our harbors
along our coast now inaccessible 10 vessels
Of greater draught, and the practlcablity
OF constructing them in the interior, strong
ly recommends that liberal appropriations
should be made for this important object.
| Whatever may have been our policy in the
earlier stages Of the government, when the
nation was in its infancy, our Shipping inter-
ests and commerce comparatively small,
our resources limited, our population sparse
and scarcely extending beyond the limits
Of the original thirteen States, that policy
) must be essentially different now that we
have grown from three 10 more than 90,
900 900, OF people-that our commerce.
carried in our own ships, is found in every
sea, and that our territorial boundaries and
settlements have been so greatly expanded.
Neither our commerce, nor our long line OF
, coast on the ocean and on the lakes, can be
successfully defended against foreign ag
, erosion, by means Of Notifications alone.
These are essential at important CONNER
f cial and military points; but our chief rell
{ ance for this object must be on we'll or
, ganized, efficient navy. The benefits re-
suIting from such navy are not confined
to the Atlantic States. The productions
Of the interior which seek market abroad
are directly dependent on the safety anc
freedom of our commerce. The occupa
lion Of the Ballze below New Orleans by
a hostile force, would embarras if mo-
stagnate, the whole export trade OF the mis-
sissippi, and affect the value Of the ogricul-
tural products of the entire valley OF tha
mighty river and its tributaries.
e Ii has never been our policy to main
{ tain large Standing armies IN time OF peace
They are contrary to the genius OF ou
e free Institutions; would impose heavy bur
dens on the people, and be dangerous Il
public liberty. Our reliance for protection
and defence on the land, must be mainly OF
our citizen soldiers, who will be ever ready
as they have been ready in time past
to rush with alacrty, at the cal of the
country, TO her defence. This description
/ OF force, however, cannot defend our coast
harbors, and inland seas, nor protect ou
4 commerce on the ocean or thelakes. These
: must be protected by our navy.
: Con sidering an increased naval force
and especially of steam vessels, correspon
ding " tn our growth and importance, as ;
nation, and proportional to the increased
and increasing naval power of other ma
tons, Of vast importance as regards GU
safety, and the great and growing interest!
to be protected by it, recommend thu
: subject TO the favorable consideration o
Congress.
The report of the Post Master Genera
/ herewith communicated, contains detailed
: statement Of the operations of his depart
=. ment during the past year. 1t will be seer
}. that the income from hostages will faI
: short of the expenditures for the year be
$ tween and 100000, Of dollars. Thu
deficiency has been caused by the reduction