Tuesday, November 24.
British Aggressions.
Mr. Blount, from the committee appointed on so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to aggressions committed within our ports and waters by foreign armed vessels; to violations of our jurisdiction; and to measures necessary for the protection of our ports and harbors; presented to the House a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, stating that, in a letter addressed by him, on the twelfth instant, to the chairman of the said committee, some erroneous information had been given, and an omission made, which he had since discovered, and thought it his duty now to correct. The said letter was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Blount, from the committee to whom was referred so much of the Message of the President of the United States as relates to aggressions, &c., reported further, in part,
“That the numerous aggressions and violations of our jurisdiction recently committed within our ports and waters by British ships of war, whether they are to be regarded as the effects of positive orders from the British Government, or as proceeding from that unrestrained insolence and rapacity in British naval commanders which previously produced the murder of our fellow-citizen, Pierce, and the perpetration of many other well-remembered outrages and irritating acts, are convincing proofs of the necessity of placing our ports and harbors, as speedily as possible, in a situation to protect from insult and injury the persons and property of our citizens living in our seaport towns, or sailing in our own waters, and to preserve therein the respect due to the constituted authorities of the nation.
“That the committee, having maturely considered the subject, are of opinion that the protection desired can be best and most expediously afforded by means of land batteries and gunboats, as they have been induced to believe that by a judicious combination and use of these two powers, effectual protection can be given, even to our most important seaport towns, against ships of any size unaccompanied by an army.
“That our most important ports and harbors, and those requiring the earliest attention and the most expensive fortifications, are, New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston, S. C., Wilmington, N. C., Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, New London, Newport, R. I., Boston, Salem, Newburyport, Portsmouth, N. H., and Portland.
“And that the ports, harbors, and places of minor importance requiring protection, and which may be protected by less expensive works, are, St. Mary’s, Ga., Beaufort, and Georgetown, S. C., Ocracoke, Albemarle Sound, James River, York, and Rappahannock Rivers, Potomac, Patuxent, Annapolis, and Eastern Shore, Md., Delaware Bay and River, Egg Harbor, N. J., Amboy, Long Island, Connecticut shore, Tiverton, R. I., New Bedford, Marblehead, and Cape Ann, York, Kennebunk, and Saco, Kennebeck, Sheepscut, Damarescotta, Broad Bay, and St. Georges, Penobscot, Frenchman’s Bay, and Passamaquoddy Bay.
“Wherefore, your committee holding themselves bound, by the tenor of the resolution referred to them, to report hereafter their opinion of the expediency of interdicting the waters of the United States to foreign armed vessels, according as circumstances, now unknown, may, when known, seem to require, submit the following resolutions, viz:
“Resolved, That it is expedient to authorize the President of the United States to cause such fortifications to be erected as, in addition to those heretofore built, will, with the assistance of gunboats, afford effectual protection to our ports and harbors, and preserve therein the respect due to the constituted authorities of the nation; and that there be, and hereby is, appropriated for that purpose, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of —— dollars.
“Resolved, That it is expedient to authorize the President of the United States to cause to be built an additional number of gunboats not exceeding ——, and to arm, equip, man, fit, and employ the same for the protection of our ports and harbors; and that there be, and hereby is, appropriated for that purpose, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of ——.”
The report was referred to a Committee of the Whole on Thursday.