The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-07-22
Speech of Hon. John Coyode.


ment of the gentleman from Kentucky,
which limits the war steamers to twelve
hundred tons burden each, because [ con-
slider they are to be used if used, at all,
against those Of the enemy of twenty five
hundred or three thousand tons burden.
Although l voted for those ten steamers
to-day, and voted for the four for the
lakes, | was not Influenced to do so be.
cause had the remotest idea that there
is any probability of a war, but because
our naval force is inefficient, and will be
SO long as We rely upon our vessels. l
voted for them that we might have more
efficient Navy.
Mr.. Chairman, I stated some days ago
that We were far behind the English in
the strength of our naval force. | have
been at some pains to look at the COM
parative naval power of the several ma.
tions of the world, and here are the facts
1 have collected; England had, at the
close of the Crimean war, about five hun
dred war steamers. She had two years
ago ninety -one lines of ocean mail steam
ers running direct from England to for
eign ports, employing about four huuered
steamer; and she had twenty five lines
running between foreign ports in connex-
ion with them, employing one hundred
and FIVE steamers; making five hundred
and five ocean mail steamers which re-
ceive large sums direct from the govern
ment as an inducement for their several
companies to establish and run them
These are all subject to the order of the
government whenever the exigencies of
war render it necessary for her to use
them, either as war steamers or transport
vessels. Thus it will be seen that she has
a war force at her command of about one
thousand steamers. besides nearly the
same number of mercantile steamers.
making a grand total of nearly two
thousand ocean steamers. Sir, she
has taken already large share of our
carrying trade, and nearly the whole
of the most valuable portion of it.
There are now forty-four English, five
Belgian, Eve French, and four Hamburg
steamers running in the American trade,
while there are but eight American-ff-
ty eight to eight. No wonder that sew
enty hundredtbs of our commerce was.
last year, in the hands of foreigners; and
they will soon have a monopoly of it if
we 90 on much longer in the blundering
way we have been going under Democrat
ic rule, for FIVE years past.
France, though not first class COM
mercial Power, has gone far ahead of US
in building ocean steamers. She has one
hundred and thirty war steamers on the
Mediteraneau, Levant, Black, North, and
Baltic seas.
Austria, not a commercial nation at
all, has one hundred and ten steamers on
the same seas; and Russias over one hun
dred, and is constantly increasing her
steam power.
The United States has only twenty.
eight of which only carry from one to six
guns; some of them not fit to be sent out
side of a harbor.
We have a few line-of battle ships, old
sailing vessels; but of what use would
they be to cope with modern war steam
ersi Besides, it will be found, | presume.
upon their being surveyed, as they have
been ordered to be, that it will cost more
to repair them than they will be worth
when repaired. l am, therefore, in favor
Mr.. Chairman, of building steamers, SO
that we may be able to meet our enemies,
when We have any, on footing of equal
ity, aud not compel our brave officers and
men to fight at large odds. just as we'll
might we continue to arm our soldiers
with the old fashioned musket and ex-
pect them to whip an equal number arm
ed with Minnie rifles and improved breech-
loading arms.
Mr.. Chsirman, advocating the build
ing of war steamers, / do not wish to be
understood as countenancing the idea that
we are at ell in danger of having war
with England at this time or at any 9th
er time near at hand; but for the sake of
having Navy that can render efficient
protection to our commerce in distant
seas, and command the respect of those
nations which respect only those that ex.
hibit ample ability to protect their own
flag, and all who are entitled to protect
tion under it. SID
Sir. England is governed BY wise and
sagacious statesmen, and no people in the
world know better than the English up
on which side their "bread is buttered."
She and her people are too wise and sa-
gacious to run into a war with her best
customer. unless absolutcl y compelled to
do so. Does she not know that the DOM
inant party have been fixing our tariff
for her special benefit ever since they re-
pealed the Whig tariff of 1921 Does
she not know that under present tariff
laws, foreign nations have almost mo-
nopoly of manufacturing the goods our
people wear ard use. and that she comes
in for the lions share 1t would be the
heigh; of folly 10 her to make war upon
US, or to cause US to make war upon her,
so long as the party in power renders her
such inestimable services at the expense
Lob