Taking  into  view  the  geographical  position  of  the  United  States,  with  reference
I"  oiher  natinns  with  whom  we  arc  most  likely  to  be  brought  into  future  collision ;
Ihe  great  extent  of  our  maritime  frontier,  and  the  extn'nie  importance  of  securing
the  communications  of  the  whole  valley  of  the  Alississippi,  thou};h  the  Oulf  of
Mexico,  and  the  intercourse  between  all  parts  of  the  coast ;  the  eBicient  protection
"I  our  widely  extended  and  extremely  valuable  commerce,  under  nil  circum»lancee;
ii'id  the  great  naval  and  fiscal  resources  of  tlie  country,  the  boiird  consider  the
[imj«T  limit  for  the  e:rlcnt  of  the  nnval  force  to  be  that  which  can  be  properly
"mined  when  the  country  may  be  involved  in  a  maritime  war.
In  ei'timating  this  extent  it  is  assumed  that  about  ninety  thousand  seamen
an  employed  in  the  foreign  and  coasting  trade  and  fisheries.  As  the  navigation
lw«  l»en  generally  increasing-,  there  is  little  reason  to  ap])rehcnd  any  immediate
liimiuuiion  during  peace.  lu  any  war  which  would  require  the  employment  of
nil  oar  naval  force,  it  is  believed  that  such  interruptions  would  occur  to  our
ciimmerce  as  would  enable  the  navy  to  obtain  without  difficulty  at  least  thirty
ili'iu-'and  seamen  and  ordinary  seamen ;  nnd  if  it  should  continue  long,  it  is  prob-
slile  that  a  larger  number  might  be  engaged.  The  number  of  thirty  thousand,
■'th  the  landsmen  who  may  be  safely  combined  with  them,  will  therefore  be
a"utned  as  the  number  for  which  vessela  ought  to  be  prepared  for  the  com-
DiMicement  of  n  state  of  hostilities.
