Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1845-06-05
What is the use of the NAVY of the
United states?
BY SAMUEL Z. CouEs, ESQ

su'sl'age OF Inc Navy! What is its
function in peace! VIVA, does i, ac-
compllsh in war! In plain words,
what is the use Of the Navy!
A few years since, it was taken for
granted, that navy was absolutely
necessary. i his was the established
public oP'nitr: no one questioned the
utility Of orr ships of war. Fighting
vessels were deemed as impor,an, as
colleges or schools. But the times
have changed. The question is now
boldly and openly asked, all over New
England, wha, is the use of the navy!
It's asked, not only by ultra peace men
who set themselves against all wars,
defensive and offensive, bu, by those
who still hold to the opinion, that.
at times, war is unavoidable. There
are very many who can see no benefi,
rom Inc navy in time of peace, and
who regard the fighting ships as the
means OF useless slaughter in times of
war.
"A very common apology for the
expenditure for our navy.--by those
who take limited view of the subject
U.s. that the money is not wasted. for
supports mechanics, artisans. seamen
ana othcers. giving TO them their means
OF living 1t is true, that it thus af
fords to many their support. The
navy IS popular among those towards
whom the money flows out in golden
streams. For instance. the navy pays
annually TO about sixty men, as cap
talns, quarter of million of dollars.
The building and repairing and sailing
one ship Of the line disburse one mil.
hon of dollars. There are many who
desire thus 10 live out of the public.
Since the accession of Mr. Polk, in the
short space of three or four months,
there have been several thousand appli-
cations for midshipmen's warrants.--
For one vacant office. that OF I'd lieu.
tenant OF marines. there were over
fwelve hundred applicants Blu. we
ask. who pays the money for the ma.
Wy! 1t comes from the pockets of
those who have earned it. to 60 to those
who spend it. 1t is mere transfer
from hand to hand The nation does
not gain. The nation, in fact, loses
when 1t supports men who do nothing
for the common good.
The next answer TO our question.
and II is the answer the most relied
upon--is, a navy is needed for the pro-
lection of commerce. Commerce is
the interchange of merchandise, the
circulation throughout the world of the
conveniences and luxuries of life. |,
supplies the United States with the
productions of other countries, and
furnishes other countries with the sur
plus goods Of our own. We do not
underrate the value of commerce. 1t
builds up our cities. 1t supplies many
wants. 1t accumuates capital and
stimulates the productive industry of
our citizens.
But, our country could have all this
profitable commerce, without owning a
single ton of shipping, without one
sail on the ocean, bearing the stars and
stripes. Foreign vessels would carry
on our freigh,ing as well. as cheaply,
as our own, and do their own fighting
if fighting were necessary to protect
them. The carrying trade is distinct
branch of business. The owning of
ships has no necessary connection with
commerce, more than carling or wag-
oning has with the merchants purchas.
es and sales.
Already, nearly half of the merchan-
die imported into. and exported from,
the United States, is carried by foreign
vessels. In l643. the proportion of
foreign tonnage employed by our CON-
merce 10 American tonnage. was as
100000 to 100000 tons. During
the present year. in four of our cotton
ports, there were. at one time. $50
foreign ships to 900 American; the tom
mage of the foreign ships. being larger
vessels, almos. equalled the tonnage of
the American. OF all the foreign ar
rivals a. Boston in the year 1914, half
(though small vessels generality were
British vessels. and at other eastern
ports existed the same state of things.
The ships of northern Europe have
the bulk of the exports from New
York. to that part Of Europe The
tobacco Of Virginia, the coffee of Cuba.
the oil of our whale ships. 60 usually
on board of these vessels; and foreign
vessels have been chartered or employ.
ed by our own merchants for their East
India voyages.
II we had not single ship, we could
receive or send away all the goods
which. in the prosecution of CONNER.
cial business, are required TO be receiv.
ed or to be sent away. This, too, at
fair prices Of freight; for so rapaid can
be made the increase of ships. tina,
goods will always be freigh,ed at the
lowest possible price, and as expert
ence thus far has manifested a, lower
prices in foreign vessels than IN the
vessels Of the United States. From this
cause. we are now rapidly losing he
employment Of our ships; they are no,
able to encounter the foreign competi-
ton. We certainly. therefore, need
no navy for the protection of CON-
merce.s
1t will. however. be said, tina, if the
navy is not needed for the protection