The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-02-07
preparations than the ordinary appropriateness con

preparations than the ordinary appropriateness con-
template. el- 4.~s, - ,esf
These greater preparations should consist, a,
Car as possible, Of such expenditures rs will hs
but anticipa,ons Of what, a, an early day, Womb
be required, even in Of the establishment NJ
ma rmuny with alb nations.
They should consist frst, of an accumulate,
Of naval material and stores necessary for the r,pd
Equipment Of the vessels which afioat for such
OF those on the stocks as il may be desirable 10
employ, and for such others as Congress NAV An.
thdrized to be built. IL means are granted, imme.
date measures can be adopted for The collection
Of such materials and stores and the early Dur.
chase of many of them would DO bot an antici-
paton of what would soon be required for ordinary
expenditures. $500,
The second branch Of expense that should n,
once be authorized At the discretion of the Presi
dent, should be the repair and equipments Of all
the vessels in ordinary. and Of tho frigates and
! sloops on tho stocks. Were such authority and
means granted, the President could exercise ,
mure free judgment, in the selection Of vessel,
for immediate preparation, whilst the actual e1.
penditure could be limited to existing urgencie,
for the vessels, and Improbable OUTLAWS, be avoid
ed, il peace should continue.
Ii is also advisable that tho Limitation hereto
fore imposed on enlistments in the navy by which
she number is confined to 500 seamep, be sus
pended for definite period, and that further
Eenilsments be authorized and provided for.
1t is further proper. even in the event of peace,
ito increase our sea-going steamers. At present,
the United States have but two, the Princeton and
Mississippi, that can cruise al sea. II would 70.
commend that authority be granted for the con.
kslruciion Of ihree steam frigates five steam sloops
Eand two steamers of a smaller cisss. Such an in
cfease would not be disproportionate TO resour
ices OF wants in time of profound tranquility.
II Ii will also hecome necessary to increase the
Ordinance and ordnance stores. This again would
be but an anticipation Of expense, which at IN
early day must iu any contingency be required
/ A system Of steamers for harbor defence, to be-
Ethouroughly effectual, would involve the necess-
Ety of fleet of steamers for each haIbur in tho
Ecountry. The enormous expense would be fur.
Their increased by the annual repairs which would
require a repiiition of the " hole outlay once in
seven or eight years. Ii is further To be- consid-
Tered, that these steamers, being only for the har-
bors and coasts. in time of peace. prove eoslly
burden without an adequate equivalent In the
event Of war, the immediate employment of mer-
camille ships and steamers, for The defence of
ports in co.ol GRAFTON with resident citizens, would
be attended with less aggregate Gust, and The
facility of invention and activity Of patriotism,
would, as danger approached, be qulckened TO de-
vse methods Of defence, which, though some-
Iwhat irregular, would prove effective till a force
could be organized suited to the emergency.
i Inquiries ATE making into the capacity Of our
mercantile steamers for being thus employed
and the result shall be communicated to you az
soon as received.
| The dangers to be apprehended from inroads
upon territory by hostile fleets will be
greatly diminished by the disasters consequent,
storms, the necessity Of frequent returns to pons
for supplies of provisions and water, the saperad-
ded want TO steamships of fuel, the general mac.
feasibility of the coast from shallow ness of water,
the certainty Of vigorous resistance the part Of
our citizens IN the more densely peopled regions,
and the uselessness Of naval attacks on sparsely
settled coast for any permanent influence on tho
issue of a war. These circumstances, have, in
all times past, made great naval expeditions al
most fruless of resulss against remote settlements
| on land.
| The measures recommended, if adopted, will
not involve useless expense, even on the contin-
gency that is likely to occur, and as preliminary
to more extended organization in the event it
should become necessary Il will place the navy
in condition to inspire respect, 10 render aid in
Iprotecting commerce., and TO contribute effec~
IiVely towards the preservatioR of peace.
Ii GEORGE BANCROFT.