The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-06-25
OUR. NAVY


We understood, that some eighteen ship car
Penters were discharged from the Navy Yard, on
Monday, In consequence it is said, of there not
being work for them to do. We were led 10
nope, short time since. that this would not be-
II should not be.
we have ever maintained that this great coun-
try. the refuge of the oppressed. the land of tho
Tree, the future dictator to the Eastern Hemis-
Phere.-and disguise ii as they will the Eastern
Despots know and feel our power no,u, in our in
fancy. and dread. our future influence--has not
navy sufficient for peace establishment. A
navy that commands that respect. from Foreign
Nations, that it should receive; and give, that
protection, To our vessels and citizens, that our
vastly increasing commerce requires.
Ask our Intelligent shipmasters that have visi-
ted near. as well as distant freign ports, if the
protection and support they receive from our YES
sells OF war when they are oppressed in foreign
p"!ls or on tho high seas. are not like angels
visits? 2" They will tell you tina, they have
sailed for months-have visited scores of fur
e'gn ports and scarcely ever see-except at the
principal foreign stations. an American vessel of
war. That they have to suffer the extortions and
insults OF petty foreign officials, ar sacrifice tho
interests of their owners--that i, often occurs,
that they are grossly insulted by some foreign
lveried Jackanapes, as in the case Of the French
steamer " Tonnare," and the schooner {" Catha-
rine," of New York, off the Moro. And why ia
1t Is SO? We have not sufficient naval force To
protect our commerce,--a commerce that sun
ports the Government that is too parsimonious TO
protect 1t. Look at the English and French
commerce, is not that protected Yes, where
one insult is offered to their vessels, five are of
fered To ours.-when their vessels and subject.
are insuted, it is promptly redressed And why :?
Both Nations keep sufficient force ALWAYS at
sea-In all quarters Of the globe TO give foster
ing protection to those. that richly repay them.
They have five times rs much naval force en-
ployed for the protection of their commerce as W.
have, although they each have, but a few thou.
sand more tons of shipping. We again say. this
should not be. Commerce supports our Govern.
ment; our Government should support our com
merce.
Our officers and seamen are as brave as apy in
the world. They would sacrifice their lives in
projecting their countrymen. Give them the
means, and the stars and stripes would float
IN every clme-but they have not the means
Fit out the vessels that are living at our dock
yards'-fnsh those on the stocks nearly readv
for launching, which can be done for few tbon-
sand dollars-the whole cost would not he fiftv
cents tor each voter in the Union, and then we
would have respectable and efficient naval es-
Enlistment, of which as Americans we wou,,
be proud, and our noble marines be- secur. f,or,
oppression and insult
where now. are our vessels in commission q
Three frIgates, sIoops, and | schooner. are con.
centrated near Monterey in the Pacific. Three
frIgates, sloops. 8 briggs, and 2 steamers. are in
the Gulf of Mexico, in the neghborhood of Yer,
Cruz. One frigate, 2 sloops, and | brig ara m
the Coast of Brazil. One IA. and sIoop. in the
china Seas; and frigate. | sloop. and brips
are On their way carrying dispatches. Have W.
single weasel to protec, our commerce from Can.
Horn to the Isthmus of Panama, on The Pacific Z
Arc there any American vessels of war in tho
Mediterranean sea- What vessels have we :,
the immediate vicinity of the piratical parts o,
| the West India Islands? We leave the answe,
to those questions, to our Representatives q,
Washington. hoping, that they may draw tina,
attention to the proper protection of our great and
growing commerce that it imperativeIy demands
We shall revert to it again.