Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

THE NAVY.

The following sensible remarks, by Paul Allen, Esq. will no doubt be read with real pleasure:-- [N. Y. Gaz.

It is peculiarly animating to behold the progress made in the United States, in our naval establishment. The launch of a seventy-four occasions no surprise, and is looked upon as nothing more than the gradual accomplishment of a system of maritime defence, which we have been led to consider as indispensable. There is something majestic, in a moral point of view, in these preliminary preparations, for future battle. We behold a great nation gradually developing its strength, and unfolding its energies. While the countenances of our fellow citizens are gay with the smiles of peace, the ocean thunders of America are preparing in secrecy, and in silence. We have learnt wisdom from experience; we have been taught that cool refreshing, fragrant, and serene as the firmament may be, the cloud that lowers in the skirts of the horizon, may be the sable couch, on which the sleeping demon of the tempest may be reposing his vengeance. Washington has long since told us, that there is a rank due to the U. States, amongst nations, that will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness.-

Every frigate, every seventy four, that is now floating upon our waters, or standing upon the stocks, is but a practical comment on the principles of Washington. The present unsettled state of Europe--the evident symptoms of future turbulence, displayed in all the European Governments, are arguments in themselves irresistible, why the system of policy recommended by Washington, should be actively and promptly adopted. No time is to be lost in making vigorous preparation for defence. It is but a narrow and short sighted policy, to neglect such measures merely because our enemies are not seen, because we cannot see the flash of their cannon, or hear their deafening explosions. The fact is, that the whole civilized world is our enemy, if we are incapable of defending ourselves. However we may attempt to disguise the fact, the law of strength is the only national law. Puffendorf and Vattel may lay down the principles of national law; but, whenever did these, or any other writer, arrest the steed that drew the conquering chariot of a hero like Bonaparte. He may, indeed talk about national rights--he may form treaties--he may temporize--but this is only done to allow the armies a time and an opportunity to pant: weary with carnage and slaughter, they require a temporary refreshment and repose. At such an hour, a nation unprepared for self-defence, is a nation subdued, whatever Puffendorf or Vattel may say to the contrary.

The ocean is now made the theatre of contest, as much as the land--it is the highway of nations. The liquid wall which surrounds this continent, affords us no protection from European vengeance--the air is the only element, as yet undisturbed by the ambition of man. That sense of security, which is derived from repose, verifies more especially, at the present hour, the beautiful expression of the Roman bard, who denominates sleep as the next of kin to death. Talk not to us of that niggardly starving economy, which teaches us to believe that our houses--our lands--our fire-side --and our altars, are too expensive to be defended, and, that they ought, consequently, to be abandoned to our enemies.

This amounts, we must acknowledge too much Congressional logic, of many members who look upon a seventy-four as constructed for every other purpose but of self defence. These sagacious gentlemen, we have no doubt, although they live under a government of liberty, have fortified the doors of their private dwellings with locks, bars and bolts. to prevent the intrusion of a midnight robber. We will suppose that some economical neighbor should exclaim, what profusion, what expense! Do you not live under a government of law?-- Abandon such useless precautions, and trust to the safety which our republican constitution has provided. If a robber enters your dwelling, show him the act of the legislature which makes the crime felony, and he will immediately depart. We believe that even a member of Congress would see the fallacy of such arguments, when they were once brought home to his own bosom. Now, if he be told that our seventy-fours are only the locks. bars and bolts of the ocean ; that they were constructed only for the purpose of shutting the doors of the Atlantic, against the approach of European robbers, he may not think it necessary to build ships of war: he may think that such expense is not only consistent with, but dictated by the soundest economy; he may think in short, that self-defence is not absolute felony, and that a European robbery has no more right to invade our waters, than the midnight robber has to enter his private dwelling.