The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-11-24

This OF the public defence is becoming favorile
with the American people. The distinguished George Can
nng in the British House Of Commons, short be-
fore the war of 1sl2I5, rldcued the idea OF The "fr-
built ships of the United States navy, with bits OF striped
bunting flying their head, ceniending with The
wooden walls OF old England, " the queen OF the ocean,
the mistress Of the seas" Well. war was declared bx
tween England and the United States, and Mr.. Canning
lived to ascertain, after the capture OF the "Guuere" BY
the Constitution, in command of the gallant Hull, and
The capture OF The Cyanc and Levan, by the same ship,
under the command of the intrepid Stuart the desperate
feet engagement Lake Erie, which ended in the sur
render OF the English vessels the American force IN
der the skiiu and heroic Perry. that there was some
me,,le in these "h-bult vessels and that there was
some virtue in the Americas flag styled "bits of striped
bunting" The navy of the United States indeed achieved
impesabe laureIs in what has been called the "second
war Of American independence and the intrepid valor Of
its officers and has ever been gratefully remem-
bered by their counlrymsn We repeat, the navy is
pet OF the people. and unite with the Delaware
Gazette" from which we extract the subjoinsd article.
in the expression OF the hope that interests viii no,
be neglected by The coming Congress;
The increasing commerce country and the e,..,
OF seaboard the Atlantic and Pacific co. .s
through the public press the SUBJECT require con.de
rsble addition naval force. la this i'm portant arm
Of national defence and protection, have at all times
been greatly dsicien 1t is true whenever have me,
the enemy ship ship or in fleets OF equal loce were
always successful owing to the superior build sailing
qualities OF our vessels and the activity and parrio,
ism Of our saiors But in the OF lsl2-l5 with Eng
land, little navy wholly insufficient to protect
our commerce harbors. and, as a consequence our
mercantile marine was nearly destroyed, and foreign
and even domestic trade along our coast, almost
entirely broken up At that time, when the popula-
ton OF the nation only about third OF its present
number. and tenth part OF what they
the government excussbs for neylectins TO
build up effective navy Such the ca .. now and
think actual necessity exists for only large in
In the navy bnt for its reconstruction dlffe
plan, by tesorng mostly, other natoos have done 10
mships instead OF sailing vessels If this reform in the
navy should be adopted by Congress- we sincerely hone
will be taken in the construction of govern
Than heretofore are assured by Off
of The navy that the Mississippi the only one now
soa fit Tor service, while England, France and most OF
the great European powers have large and effective ste
marine We excel all nations in commercial ships.
and ought not 10 be behind them In national vessels.
We have full faith and confde that the
ton and Congress will take this subject into seous
sdcraton, and make this Of national defence efficient
and worthy OF great commercial nation We
this the desire and hope OF the people of section Of
The Union, perhaps without exception"