Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-18
and still prevail. among

q! s0S Navy !Oi inc DreSeat CONDITION OF that
brsnc1, Of the national defence; and for grave
suggestions having for their object the in
crease OF It's efficiency, AMI a greater econo-
MY III It's management. During the past wear
the officers and men have performed their
duty in satisfactory manner. The orders
winch have been given, have been executed
with proni,tuess and fidelity. A larger force
t',an has often formed one squadron under our
f,g Was Readily concentrated in he .1uif Of
a!eAico,ani apparently without unusual effort.
1t IS especially to be observed, that notwith-
standing The union of 81 considerable force,
no act committed that even the jealousy
of ~, irrita,ed power could constIue rs an &c,
OF ggylession: and that tie commander Of the
squadron, and his officers. in strict conforms
ty with their Instructions, holding themselves
ever ready Tor the most active duty, have aclr-
ieved the stil! purer glory of contributing to
the preservation OF peace. 1t IS believed that
at ali our foreign stations the honor of ot.r
flag has been mainia ued, and that generally
our ships 81 war have been distinguished for
their good discipline and order. am happy
to add, that The display Of maritime force that
was required by the events of the SUMMER,
has been made wholly within the usua! appro-
prations for the serrice of the year. SO that
no additional appropriations are required.
Tie commerce OF the U. S. and with it the
navigating interest, have steadily and rapidly
increased since the organization OF our gov
eminent, until, 1t is believed, we are now
cend to but one power in The world, and az
no distant day we shall probably be inferior
TO none. Exposed as they must be, it has been
d WISE policy to afford TO these important int
erests protection with our ships of war, distri.
buted in the great highways Of trade ,hro'ous
the world. For more than thirty years APP
preparations have been ma le and annually
expended, 10 the gradual increase Of Our na-
val forces. In peace, our navy performs the
important duty OF protecting our commerce,
and, in the event of war. will be, as 1t has
been, most efficient means of defence.
The successful use of steam navigation on
the ocean has been followed by the introduce
ton OF war steamers in great and increasing
numbers mo the navies Of The principal mari
tiTne powers OF the world. A due regard to
our safety and to an efficient protection
10 our lsrye and increasing commerce DEM
ands a corresponding Increase on our part
No country has greater facilities for the con-
structon OF vessels Of this description than
ours, OF can promise Itself greater advantages
from their employment. They are admirably
adapted to The protection of aur commerce,to
The rapid transai sslon OF intelligence and To-
the coast aeience. In pursuance Of the wise
policy, Of gradual incre;lse OF our navy large
supplies IT I've OAK tiniber, & other materials
for ship builling have been collected, andsare
now under shelter and IN state Of good pre-
seryaton, while iron steamers can be built
with great faciljtyain vnrlous parts of the I'm.
ion. The use OF ron as material, especially
III the construction of steamers, which can en-.
ter with sa'eiy many of the harbors along our
coast nov inaccessible to vessels of greater
draueht AMI the practlcability Of constructing
Them i'll the nterior, strongly recommends
that liberal appropriations sliou be mrde for
this important object. Whatever may have
been oar policy IN the earlier stages Of the
government. wien the nation was in It's lnfan~
cy. our shipping interests and commerce com>
paiauveiy small. our resources linited. our
population sparse aud scarcely extending be>
/, end the origin tii.rieen States, thai policy
must be essentially different now that We have
grown from three TO IEofe than twenty mill
lions OF people, hat our commerce, carried
IN our own SHIPS is found IN every SEA, and
that Our t>rr.tUriai boundaries and settlements
have been SO greatly expanded. Neither
our commerce, nor our long line of coast on
the ocean and Gil the lakes can be successful>
iy defended against foreign aggression by
means OF Notifications alone. Tnere are es>
sentiai at important commercial and military
points, but Our chief reliance for this object
must be Oh we'll organised, efficient navy.
The benefits resulting from such navy are
not confined to tile Akant It ties. The pro
l,Ictions Ut the ,eror Which seek a market
abroad, are directly dependent OH the safety
:siri freedom OF car cO,nipcice. The occupa>
ton of the Baize below New Orleans by \
hostile force would embar.sss, if not stagnate.
the whole export trade OF the Mssss ppi, and
affect the value OF the agricultural products
Of the entire valley OF that mighty ciyer and
its tributaries.
/: has never been our policy 10 maintain large
standing ;il9niea IN time CT peace. They are
contrary 10 The genius OF Our free institutions,
would impose heavy burdens Oh the people, &
be dangerous 10 public Liberty. Our reliance
fer prutecloh and defence OH the land must DO
slainlY OF, our citizen soldiers, who will be ev-
ar ready, as they have ever been ready in pas,
times. 10 rush with alacrty at the call Of their
5ounlIy to her defence. This description Of
orce, however. cannot defend cur coast, harb-
,rs, and inland seas, nor protect cur commerce
IN the ocean or the lakes, These must be pro-
eeted BY our navy.
Considering an increased naval force, s. es-
,ecaly Of steam vessels corresponding with
,ur growth and Importance as nation, and pro-
y,Itioned to the increased and increasing naval
lower OF other nations, of vast Importance as
egaris our safety, and the great and growing
interests 10 be Protected by it, Irecommend tho
utject to the favorable consideration of Con-
,ress. E
The report Of the Postmaster General here
With communicated contains detailed state
nenl Of the operations of his department during
he past year. II twill be seen that the income
rom hostages will fall short of the expenditures
or the year between one and two millions of
lollars. This deficiency has been caused by
he reduction of the rates of postage, which
vas done BY the act of the third March,, No
principle has been more generally acquiesced in
" the people than thai this department should
sustain itself by limiting its expenditures to its
income Congress has never sought to make