The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-03

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10 SAx xDTToR 0y TEE NEW roax HnALD.
Britiah authors whs 40 wristsa histories Il To
struggles between tbs United States ri thsir owa
country, after acknowledging the bravery Of IL
Americans, have always soothed tAsir feas by mag
ming that epposition to taxation VIII prevent the
United States from upportisg such arnaments -
viii make them dangerous rivals. This they infer
less from The failure q any attempt In Congress 70
increase the army and navy; than from the oppcsi.
ton which our forethsn made 70 the yrannical tax
ations Of George I'LL From this Circumstance, tho
British derive their idea Of the avarce and mean
meas Of the American character, and believe that is
is more the object Of our government TO save ex-
pense than to promote the welfare OF the country.
COMPENSATORY In one instance-bAs never shown
sny extensive repugnaaoe to appropriations for our
defence; ard for that ngle exception, tho reasons
II they were not good, were at least plausible The
reasons which brought about the reduction Of the
navy during Je6erson's administration, cannot be
considered arising from spirit Of opposition to
that arm Of defence. Il was merely cutting on Of
the extraueous or euperAuous matter, and, In man.
FER adding to it's efficiency, by lessening its die.
Of olass which Was rapidly falling into direpute.
Most Of them, believe, were frigates, rating twon
ty-eight light guns ON spar and gun deck, or
s!oops Of very inferior quality and the probability
is had they been retained in the service their worth
soon followed, and having no confidence In their ao-
ity on the ocean, the people would forever after
ward have scofned the idea Of supporting navy.
ne vas snsn Ss 10 m
competent officers could be found, than by diminish
ing the nun Der Of vessels. This gave tone and
high discipline to the service, which has ever since
been gratifying to the pride Of the country, and
those who rejoice over tie reputation OF our arms
and the fact that We possess navy have reason to
thank Congress for this fortunate proceeding.
But the direct opposition Of Congress to the navy,
in 1901. was much less reasonable II was deem
ed impossible TO keep vessel afoat In the IA % of
the British feet and 1t was even proposed that the
men Oliver which the country possessed, should be
laid up In ordinary, to prevent them from falling
into the hands of the enemy. This course was sng.
gested by naIrowneas Of thought and soul, little
becoming tie goa-head chara cter Of the Amer aus,
and had been followed, would have resulted in the
destruction Of the navy-as 1t is obvious the people
would not support an armament which, from its
cumbrance 10 war. It is said to be owing to the en-
ergetc Interference Of two officers in the navy that
this ruinous design was given over, and If this be
true, had they never done anything else, their
names would deserve to be landed do to posterity
and held in hs most grateful remembrance. They
were, l believe, Commodores Rodgers and Balm.
bridge. The administration had confidence in their
representatives, and our little feet went forth to
battle against the most powerful navy the world had
ever seen, and won renown that will forever cause
us to be respected on the ocean. Ever since this
the country has been willing TO sustain navy and
no American with any soul could wish that she re.
putation il has gained for the country we're done
away with, provided tho dollars which It cost us
were restored to the treasury.
Several addit0ns-And important 0nes-have been
made to It since those days; but still every must
regard our navy as being entirely small for COM
merce and our position as nation. Brazil, . country
with population Of not more than six millions, has
navy larger than our own, and every Insignificant
European State has it 10 its power to insult whom
ever It may choose. The United States ia able Of
maintaining navy as powerful as those Of England
and France, and the one We possess is Q reproach
TO the country. Il goes far in giving the English
authors faith in their way Of reasoning and proving
that though We are conscious Of our aptitude for
course expression" viii prevent us from taking sd
vantage Of 1t. The people themselves de NOT de-
serve this taunt, but those who have the manage
ment Of their affairs, do deserve it. The smalness
Of our navy and army results from the timidness Of
our politicians and not from an unwllingness of the
country TO support them. They seem to argue-like
the English authors-the innate avarici0usness of
the American character. and fearing to risk thsir
popularity by proposing any extensive increase Of
present diminutive state. Each member of Con.
gress knows the positive sity OF increasing the
army and navy, but does not feel willing TO make
himself conspicuous by moving to that effect. fauy
ODE OF Them bad the moral courage to do this, it is
probable there would not be dissenting voice
as " fellowship insvice makes the blame lessn Let
one propose fair increase, and as we can irfer
from past occasions, we shall have such navy as
our position ss Q commercial nation demands and
ocr resources warrant.
Tie navy at present has seven to.erabls ehics OF
the line, about cozen ffigatts and shty steamers
sloors, and briggs force truly ridi nous when the
resources OF the country are thought of. We ought
always to have in commission as many loe-ofbattle
ships as we now possess, or at least, the COmmo-
dore Of each Of the naval stations ought to be al
lowed to hoist his broai pennant on . ship Of the
lima nutS ~o<A 80 - l<~s~ - A.
largest vessel we have in active service is ffgase
OF A guns-prcperly rated-atd the Commodore
OF the East India station has his pennant flying from
the mast head Of little nut shell OF eleven light
Is generally noble three decker, mounting
from SO to 12O cannoDs; and cannot see
why we Americana, with o commerce and terri.
tory more extensive than highlands, and q finance
never exhausted, cannot treat our commodores in
like honorable manner. II we can give them no
three deckers, We might afford to man for them
few seventy -fours. Besides the actual protection
and encouragement which the presence of large
men-ofwar would give to our commerce, It would
impress reign nations with knowledge of our
Myth, and cause them to treat uS on all occa-
sions with Difference Que us, and calculated to
fatter the pride Of young and growing country.
Had our government vessels been in the habit Of
appearing of the barber of San Juan, it il probable
that ptain Hollins would never have met with an
opportunity for proving the might of his CSsne,
and the country might have been spared many
little qusrrels which only produced Ill feeling at
home, and hatred abroad for the American name
That bcasted philosophy which scorns 'shov," does
not so much become nation as an individual; snd
when nation adopts such faita, the cha acter Of
Job may be specially reccmmend ed to it, and if il
does not succeed in becoming marvellousIy patient
and forbe arirg, it may well wish the mountains to
fall on 1t, and hide it from the rest OF the world
The history Of our own country at the beginning of
the present century shows some good exsmples Of
the mortifJiI instances which such philosophy
produces. Our isolated men- )f-war were made the
objects OF foreign bIavado and were insulted in
whatever parts OF the ocean they sailtd. TIE
Chesapeake was compelled 10 surrender in tine of
peace, to British vessel, and the Baltimore was
overhauled in the middle Of the Atlantic, dlyested
OF fifty OF her crew. made dancing room 81 by
soma naval officers, and then despatched on her
way. Had We possessed navy at that time in auy
shape worthy OF the name, is folly to believe that
England. pressed as she was by the wars OF Napo-
leor, would have iDsnlted us ia this manner. Rad
callsm and republicanism not twin brothers and
republic can consistently make some display whes
1t both nourishss national price, and is Of astus,
solid worth.