The third degree of naval force, Mr. Clay regarded as entirely in the power of the nation to raise and sustain. It was a force competent to prevent any single vessel, however large, from interrupting our coasting trade, from entering our harbors, and levying contributions from our large cities. This he argued and proved was within the immediate means of the nation, although vigorously opposed by those hostile to the war. He triumphed, however, singularly over them, reprobating with severity the policy that refused to provide against any dangers because it could not guard against all. ‘If,’ said he, ‘we are not able to meet the gathered wolves of the forest, shall we put up with the barking impudence of every petty cur that trips across our way?’ It was Mr. Clay’s ardent desire to provide a navy whose power should be commensurate with the interest it was designed to protect. This, our limited means in actual possession, the unavailability of those in our immediate vicinity, but above all, the depressing tendency on our financial department of those measures of inhuman cruelty towards our mariners on the one hand, and of arbitrary commercial exactions on the other by transatlantic powers, forbade us to expect. His remarks at that time in relation to this branch of our national defence, are worthy of the most attentive perusal. They abound with lucid argument, beautiful illustration, and convincing demonstration, with which it would be difficult to find a speech of similar length more replete.