Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-12-11

I
the event of war, will be, as it has been,
! a most efficient me ans Of defence.
the successful Use Of steam navigation
on the ocean has been followed by the in
PRODUCTION Of war .steameis in great and
} increasing numbers into the navies OF the
principal tnaratime Powers OF the world.
due regard to GUY own safety aud 10 an
efficient protection 10 our large aud in
c reasiEg commerce, demands a cores.
poading increase on our part. No coua-
try has greater facilities for the construc.
ton Of vessels Of this description than
ours, or can promise Itself greater EN-
ployment. They are admirably adapted
10 the protection Of our commerce, TO the
rapid transmission OF intelligence; and
coas, defence. Ia pursuance of the wise
policy OF gradual increase Of our navy,
large supplies of live oak timber, aud
other materials for ship building, have
peen collected and are now under shelter
and IN state Of good preservation, while
ron steamers can be bull, with great fa-
ciuy 10 various parts Of the Unlon. The
use Of iron as a material, especially 10
the construction Of steamers, which can
enter with safety many OF the harbors
along the coast now inaccessible to vessels
Of greater drsnght and the practcability
constructing them in the interior, strong
ly recommends that liberal appropriations
should be made for tbs important object.
1 Whatever may be our policy IN the Ear
ler stages OF the government, when the
nation was in its infancy, our shipping
interests and commerce comparatively
small, our resources limited, our popuIa-
.ion 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 TO
w MY millions Of people, that our com.
mere, carried in our own ships, is found
m every sea, and that our territorial boun.
darles aud settlements have been so great
ly extended. Neither our commerce,
nor our long line Of coast on the ocean
aud on the lakes, eau be successfully de.
Tended against foreign aggression by
means oil tort icatons alone. These are
esssn1ial at important commercial and
military points, but our chief reliance Cor
this object must be well-organlzed, tffi.
Gent navy. The benefits resulting from
such navy are not confined to the At.
tansic States. Tue productions OF the in.
terror which seek a market abroad, are
/ directly dependent on the safety and free
dom 0f our commerce. The occupation
|, Of the B,lzs below New Orleans by a
hostile force would embarass, if not stag.
naie, the whole export trade of the Mis-.
| nd Al ant th. y.tt IF he
agricultural projucts OF the entirs valley
Of that mighty river and its tributaries.
/ II has never been our policy to main
tain large standing armies in time Of
peace. They are contrary to the genius
t OF our free institutions. would impose hea-
, Wy Burdens on the people, and be dan.
: gerous to public liberty. Our reliance
3 for protection and defence on the land
must De mainly on eur citizen soldiers,
: who will be ever ready, as they ever have
, been ready in times past, 10 rush with ala
GRITTY, at the call of their country, to her
defence. This description Of force, how
ever, cannot defend our coast, harbo.s,
t and inland seas, nor protect our com.
merce on the ocean or the lakes. These
= must be projected by our navy.
{ Considering an increased naval force,
r and especially OF steam vessels, cores.
, ponding with our growth and importance
, as nation, and proportional to the in
r creased and increasing naval power of
other nations, Of vast importance as re-
CARDS our safety, and the great and grow
E ing interests to be protected by It, re-
commend the subject TO tho favorable
! consideration of Congress.
, The report of the Postmaster General
herewith communicated, contains a de-
= tailed statement Of the operations of his
3 department during the past year. 1t will
e be seen that the income from hostages
e will fall short Of the expenditures for the
3 year between ono and two millions OF
| dollars. This deficiency has been caused
by the reduction Of the rate of postage,
which was made by the act of The third OF
g March last. No principle has been more
s generally acquesced in by the people
a than that this department should sustain
' itself by limiting its expenditures to its
D income. Congress has never sought to
/ make it a source Of revenue for general
$ purposes, except for short period during
: thu last war with Great Britain, nor
should it ever become charge on the
= general treasury. If Congress shall ad.
4 here to this priucip.s, as | think they
! ought, it will be necessary either 10 cur
: tail tho present mail service, so as to re.
y duce the expenditures. or so to modify The
= act Of the third of March last as TO i'm.
q prove its revenue.
Y The extension of the mail service, and
! The addillonal facilities which will be de-
= manded by the rapid extension and in
a crease of population on our western iron
r tier, will not admit Of such curtaiment as
f viii materially reduce the present expen-
: dtures. In the adjustment of the tariff Of
hostages the interests Of the people de.
D mand, that the lowest rates be adopted
which will produce the necessary revenue
4 10 meet the expenditures Of the depart
ment. invite the attention of Congress
10 the suggestions Of the Postmaster Gen