WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1842.
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frontier as will secure it from alarm and danger, unless produced by a regular and formidable invasion. The Honorable Congress, at the last session, though respect- fully called on by the Executive, refused to indicate any wish or opinion in relation to the naval arm of our defence, although at the time it was engaged in foreign service unauthorized by law, and unexampled in the history of any other country; and thus ,vas thrown upon the Executive the responsibility of keeping it employed without adequate provision or appropriations to meet the necessities of the service- of continuing it in the situation in which it then was, or when its commander might think proper to return, of causing it to be laid up in ordinary without means for its preservation from ruin. ·The contract, however, under which it was absent, at length expired, and it returned at a crisis when it was deemed advisable by the Executive to have it with- out expense to the government, refitted and continued in active operation. It is expected that in a few days, the principal part of the squadron will be on the Gulf, prepared for active and efficient service. In order to preserve one of the vessels from utter ruin, she has been placed in charge of an individual who is bound to refit and equip her for service, and hold her in a situation advantageous to the country. The steamship Zavala, though reputed one of the best vessels of her class in the American waters, for the want of repairs and the means of preservation, is now sunk, but in such a situation that if the Congress desire it, and she is placed at the disposition of the Executive, with the necessary means, she can be repaired and rendered highly useful to the government. I need not urge the high importance of this branch of the public service, and the necessity of maintaining it at all hazards in a state of efficiency. We are apprised that all the capacities and energies of our enemy are directed to the attainment of naval superiority over us upon the Gulf; and unless we are in a situation to successfully compete with them our commerce will be ruined, and many calamities visited upon us. If our seacoast is without this means of defence, we shall be in the most vulnerable position for attack, and we may expect the infliction of wounds from which we could not readily recover. This subject and that of our mili- tary condition with the report of the Honorable, the Secretary cf War and Marine, are respectfully submitted for the examina- tion and action of Congress.
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