The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-06

the defence, and beyond doubt vastly superior IN
the sixe and qualities Of the vessels, well their
amament for, from tabular statements now before me
but too long TO be inserted here, find that instead
ofhe old Yorniout and defective gtns or the short
rahgs "iaedilss," with which Dur vessels are in
many cases supplied the English navy; Sai-skipa
as well as war steamers, are armed with cannon OF
the largest caibre and greatest rsnge-almost every
steamer having bomb-csnnop or heavy 6s;pounders,
and her eighty gun line carrying 20 le.s hsp
navy which England already possesses, said to ex-
eeed one hui bred and thirty war vessels, and that
WHICH, according 10 all accounts, she is preparing
for US, aided and supported by her innumsrable
sai-nayy, what force Could We gsther 10 oppose an
entrance into any one hsrbor along our coast Ger
ainly not ships, frigateS, or such hotil
las as have described for from their heavy draught
Of water, wherever such these could CO. the SEA-
going ships and wsr-steamers Of the enemy could
follow, even to the wharyes and docks Of our prin-
cipal cities, IL would be fatal falacy to suppose
hey could be stopped by land batteries, aided by
aoy temporary obs4uetionS, suddenly placed IN the
ehshnsls Of approach, A powerful war7stsamer
an empty hulk lashed to her side, or arse mer.
ehant-ship filed with fascnes cotton bags, would
pass any and-battery which we boast Of and II one
could do IL whole feet might follow in rapid sue
e. ssion. What, them is to be our defence In what
manner shall we meet the requirement. How can
we provide force, sempo puais, which shall
be superior 10 any which can be brought
swsr, land ! am willing % itbntii TIE opin-
ions advanced TO every test thai the experience
OF the past can give, or the forethonghi OF The f.
tufe can suggest,) lst, throw aside our defective
ordnance, and, by establishing national fpundries,
provide cannon for every branch OF the public ser
vice, equal in efficiency To those possessst ty other
powers. Put flesh upon the bones Of our skeleton
army, I'LL up the ranks Of existing regiments, create
new corps Of flying artillery and mounted rangers,
and establish Gordon Of posts along our frontiers.
Organize and discipline the militia Of the Union, ac.
cording to the plan Of Major General Scott-the
only plan which combines the wisdom Of the states-
man with the skill science, and tactics Of the sol
der. Complete, with as little delay as possible, our
principal Qualifications, supply the armament re-
quired, and make ready the accommodation for
theft garrisons 10 be drafted from the militia, or
stpped by volunteers, as proposed in the plan al
luded TO. Register, classify, and bring under The
control Of the government, by condtonally char.
tering, all steam-vesses suitable, or which can be
made suitable, for forming such fotillas as have
described. Instead OF building ships to rot upon
the stocks or boarding up materials to be captured
or burnt BY an enemy, increase our navy; If not
upon scale regulated by the preparation making
by those with whom we may he brought into colil-
sion, at least 10 extent sufficient TO enable it, in
the event Of war, to carry protection TO our COM
tant settlements, and wherever opportunity offers
TO gather fresh laures on the ocean wave. And
last, though not least by merging the officers of the
marine and revenue service, create corps OF sea
with crews recruited from landsmen,
land watermen, or lake seamen, to be employed In
steam gunboats Of the size, form, and descrip-
ton set forth In my last communication. Such
steam gun-boats, of some 300 tons burden, drawing
not more than Ave feet water, armed at each end
with long heavy Sc or 68-pounder, by being alone
capable Of taking the best position, and keeping
their own distance, with the superadded advant-
ages Of their peculiar form, size, and structure, !
maintain, in defiance Of all objection, would prove
superior to rgates and line-ships are the latter
TO the oSmer for seagong cruisers; and Il matters
not what the opposing propeliing power may be- the
would still hold good, for there would
be some superiority in such steam gun-boats over
steam-ocean war-shps, as sail gun.boaa have over
sea. going ships In shoal water This, then, is the
force, since similar and like vessels could not be
brought over the ocean, which, united with, and
timing our othsr means Of defence, would give us
at all times, and at all points, force superior 10 any
which could be brought TO the attack
shall not undertake to show the advantages re.
sultng from the economy Of the mode of defence
tits enough to say that the whole cost
of building arming, and equpping one hundred ofthe
steam gun-boais, would be less than the amount re-
qured to complete the contemplated projected for-
fcatons ofone single city our coasts certainly less
than the value of public property destroyed, not TO
say anything of the national disgrace which was
inflicted, by the capture Of our Capitol during the
last war.
With these remarks, leave the further discus
sion to others more capable. have had no purpose
to subserve, no desire to crafty, but to throw my
mite into the scale Of national defence and in doing
so, trust have advanced no opinion uttered no
sentiment, which, however feebly expressed, would
be unworthy to be ascrbed to the pure patriot and
enlightened statesman whose name have borrow
ed. LOWNDES