Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-12-11

ed Tor their good discipline and order. am nap
py to add, that the display of maratme force
which was required by the events of the summer,
has been made wholly within the usual appropria-
tons for the service of the year so that no addI-
tlonal appropriations are required.
The commerce of the United States, and with
it the navigating interest, have steadily and rapid
y increased since the organization OF our govern
ment, until, it is believed we are now second to
but one Power in the world and at no distant day
we shall probably be inferior to none Exposed
as they must be, il has been wise policy TO af-
ford to these important interests protection with
ships of war; distributed in the great highways
oftrade throughout the world For more than thir-
ty years appropriations have been made, and an
nually expended, for the gradual increase of our
naval forces In peace, our navy performs the
important duty of protecting 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 Introduction of
war steamers in great and increasing numbers in
to the navies of the principal maritime Powers OF
the world due regard to own safety and TO
efficient protection to our large and increasing
commerce demands a spending increase on
our part. No country has greater facilities for
the construction of vessels of this description than
ours, Can promise itself greater advantages from
! their employment. They admirably adapted
to the protection of our commerce, to the rapid
transmission Of intelligence and to the coast de-
! fence In pursuance of the wise policy Of grad
ual increase of our Navy, large supplies of live
oak timber and other materials for ship building,
have been collected and are now under shelter
and in a state of good preservation, while iron
steamers can be built with great facility in vari-
Gus parts of the Union.
| The use Of iron as material, especially in the
construction of steamers, which enter with
safety many of the harbors along our coast now
J ~ e lkt..
practcabiity of constructing them in the interior,
strongly 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 ma
ton was in It's infancy, our shipping Interests
and commerce comparatively small, our resour-
ces limited, our population sparse and scarcely
extending beyond the limits of The original lhir
teen States, that policy must be essentially DIFF
ferent now that we have grown from three 10
more than twenty millions OF peOple,-lhat our
/ commerce. carried IN our own ships, is found in
every sea, aud that our territorial boundaries
and settlements have been greatly expanded
! Neither our commerce, nor our long line of
coast on the ocean, and on The lakes, can be
successfully defended against foreign aggres-
sion by means of Notifications alone. These
are essential at important commercial and mill
lary points, but our chief reliance for this object
must be on well organized. efficient navy
The benefits resulting from such navy not
confined to the Atlantic States. The produc-
tions of the interior which seek market abroad,
are directly dependent on The safety and free
dom of our commerce. The occupation of The
Baize below New Orleans, by hostile force,
would embarrass, if not siagnate, The whole ex-
port trade of the Mississippi, and affect The val
lie of the agricultural products of the entire val
ley of tina, mighty river and It's tributaries.
|, has never been our policy TO maintain large
standing armies in time of peace. They are
contrary TO The genius of our free institutions,
would impose heavy burdens on the people, and
be dangerous to public liberty. Our reliance
for protection aud defence on the land must be
mainly on our citizen soldiers, who will ever
be ready, as they ever have been ready in times
pasl TO rush with alacrny, al the call Of their
COUNTY,, to her defence. This description Of
force, however, cannot defend our coast, har.
bors, and inland seas, nor protect our commerce
on the ocean or lakes. These must be pro-
,ec,od by our navy.
! Considering our increased naval force, and
especially OF steam vessels, corresponding with
our growth and Importance as nation, and
proporlioned TO the increased and increasing
naval power of other nations, of vast Importance
as regards our safely, and the great and grow
ing interests 10 be projected by II, recommend
the subject TO the favorable consideration of
/ Congress.
The repor, of the Postmaster General here
with communicated contains detailed state
menl of the operations of his department during
the past year. IL will be seen that the income
from the postages will fall short of the expen-
diiures for the year between one and two mil
lions of dollars. This deficiency has been
caused by the reduction of the rates oi POSTAGE
which was made by the act of The Sd oil March
lasI No principle has been more generally
acquiesced III by the people than that this de-
parlmenl should sustain itself by limiting its ex-
pendllures 10 It's income Congress has never
soug hl 10 make il source of revenue for gem
efal purposes. except Tor short period during
he las, war with Great Britain, nor should il
ever become charge on The general treasury
J If Congress shall adhere To This principle, as
think they ough'. II will he necessary either
10 cnr'al the present mall service, SO as To re-
duce he expenditures, or SO 10 modify the act
OF the ihlrd OF March last as 10 improve its rev.