The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-12-20

has been maintained, and that generally
.our ships OF war have been distinguished
Tor their good discipline and order.
"a happy to add that lha display o
msrallme force which was required by
The events of the summer, mas been
made wholly within Tie usu1l appro
Iprisuions Tor the service OF the, year St
that no additional appropriations are re
quirrd.
The commerce Of the Uniled State
nd with u lhe psvlgaung interest, nave
steadily aod rapidly increased since lhr
| ,rganizllion OF our government, until,
It is believed, we are now second to bul
rne Power in the world and at no DIS
ant day we shall probably be olerlor
o none. Exposed as they must be, il
mas been n wise pol cy TO afford 10 these
important interests protection with ouI
,hps of war, distributed in The grsa,
Highways of trade throughout tho world
For more ttan thirty years opprOpria
lions have been made and annually ex
pended for the gradual increase of our n
val forces. La peace our navy perform,
he imporan, duty OK protecting our
commerce; and 10 the event of war will
be, as it has been, most Efficient means
delrnce.
The successful use Of steam navigation
on the ocean has been followed by the
introduction Of war-sleamers in grsdr
and increasing numbers into the nsvie,
of the principle Powers Of the world
A due regard to our own safely and to
an efficient protection to our large aud
increasing commerce demands CORES
ponding increase on our part. MOI
country has greater facilities for the con-
.truclion Of vessels Of this description
than ours, Or can promise itself grea,er
advantages from their employment,
They are admirably adapted to the pro.
lection Of our commerce, to the rapid
Of intelligence and to the
coast defence. In pcr'Oance Of "a wise
policy of gradual lacrosse Of our navy
iarga supplies Of live oak timber, and
other material for ship building, have
been collected, and are now under shel.
or in a state OF good preser vstion, while
ron steamers can be built with great
facility in VARIOUS paris Of the Union.
The use Of iron as a material especlslly
IN the constructions OF steamers, which
inter with safety many of the hsrbors
dong out coast now inaccessible to yes
sails Of greatsr draught. sod the prac'lca-
biIity Of constructing them IN the inier'-
or, strongly recommends that IIbcra
appropriation should DO made FOR this
lmpousnt object.
Whatever may have b"en our policy
"a The earlies, stages Of The government
when ihe nGion WAS in ils iofancy, ouI
shipping interests and commercs com
parslvey small, our resources limited
our population sparse and scarcely ex
teudiug beyond the limits Of the orig.
nsl thirteen States, that policy must bt
essentially different now 'hst we have
grown from three 10 more thai twenty
millions of peopI",-'hal cur commerce
carried in our own ships, IS found lnI
every sea, add that our territorial boun
dsries aud settlements have been SoI
greatly expaoded' Neither our CEN.
mercp, nor, our long line of coasts on
ocean, and on The lakes, can be success
fully defended aga;ns' foreign agrees
ion by means Of Notifications alone.
These are essential at importGnt com
mercisI and military points, bu, oo
chief reliance for this object must be OF
a well organized, efficient navy. ThcI
benefits resulting from such a navy arr
not coofled to the Atlantic States. The.
productions Of the interior which seek o.
market abroad, ere directly dependent
VI the safety aod freedom Of our com
merce. The occupation Of the BsI,zr
below New Orleans, by hostile loUcr
would embarrsSs, if not s'agnaNe, lheI
whole export trade Of the Mississippi,
and tIec, the value Of the agricullurolI
products Of The entire valley Of that
mighty river and its tributaries.
It has never been our policy 10 main
tain large standing acmies ia tine Of
peace. They a'e contrary TO the geni-