5796. NAVY YARDS, Location of.—
From the federalists [in Virginia] I expect
nothing on any principle of duty or patriotism;
but I did suppose they would pay some attentions
to the interests of Norfolk. Is it the interest
of that place to strengthen the hue and
cry against the policy of making the Eastern
Branch [Washington] our great naval deposit?
Is it their interest that this should be removed
to New York or Boston, to one of which it
must go if it leaves this? Is it their interest to
scout a defence by gunboats in which they would
share amply, in hopes of a navy which will not
be built in our day, and would be no defence
if built, or of forts which will never be built
or maintained, and would be no defence if
built? Yet such are the objects which they
patronize in their papers. This is worthy of
more consideration than they seem to have
given it.—
To Wilson C. Nicholas.
Ford ed., viii, 338.
(W.
Dec. 1804)
