Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-06-05

pense of the militia, called from dlSs
lance at the hazard of their lives, and
consequently the happiness other tami-
lies but the country left just as bare or
protection after they have returned home,
as if not cent had been expended.
If we consider our actual situation,
there cannot be a greater absurdity than
leaving our sea coast IN its present UNI
protected condition. The nation with
whom we have the greatest danger Of
collision, is mistress of the ocean, and
our great commercial cities, let them
look to IT'D the depots of our commerce
and wealth, are seated on the margin OF
the ocean, within her grasp. Without
Notifications they are PLEDGES of our
good behaviour, and should we be fore
ed to resist, to protect them, we will ex-
haust our means, and will, if the enemy
acts with wisdom, be compelled to sub
mt to his terms tor Sucn is the i'm
portance OF our commercial cities, that,
if but menaced, the whole country must
be IN arms, rather than they should be
destroyed. Our debt in future wars will,
for their defence, if unfortiied, be in
creased by millions on millions, and our
means will thus be finally eXhausted.-
Thus circumstanced, we must sue for
peace, or be plunged into the greatest
disasters, by being overwhelmed with
debt, which will bear down our energies
and endanger our liberties. Let us look
to the past to Judge of the future. We
had, called out and under arms, 100000
militia, in the fall of 1914; and still
every part of the country was calling out
for farther protection; and, in a war OF
two years and nine mo! tbs, we added
more than one hundred and twenty mil
lions to our debt, besides laying the foun-
dation of our present ,nonied difficulties,
by an eXtravasant issuo of paper to meet
the necessary expenditures.
How different the effect ofthe opposite
system Should our coast be once ef-
fectually fortified, at all of the important
points, two important consequences will
result. The barbarity with which wars
have been heretofore urged, will either
not be repeated, or should it be attempts
ed, must be in great measure impotent.
1t requires no small temptation to induce
any enlightened nation, in the present
condition of the world, to trample on the
rules of civilized warfare. Much must
be always lost by such barbarous con-
duct, and much, consequently, must be
gained by it, to tempt 10 its ad6ption.---
Our unprotected coast and defenceless
cities hold out precisely this temptation.
Thus situated, 10 menace with desola-
ton, to plumber and burn would be the
most effectual mode of subduing us, aud
will not fail to be resorted to by an ene-
my. Give efectual protection and the
temptation is removed, and war will as
sumo its usual character between civil
lized nations. If we have not public
spirit, or patriotism to meet the neces-
sary expense TO give this protection,
when our cities are sacked or wrapped
in flames, hope we will at least bear
our calamity with tortitude, and not cla-
NOR and whine about the barbarous con-
duct of the enemy. If we are too henA--
riou8 to afford the means of protection,
why should we expect to be spared by
the hity of an enemy
Bot will be told, that we ought to
look to The navy, and not to Notifications,
for This protection. None can value the
navy more highly than do. j know Of
no Just limits to its increase but the
means of the country; yet it would be
the extreme of folly to rest on it alone.
Till we have superiority on the ocean,
which ought not to be soon expected,
with the steadiest adherence to the en-
largement of our navy, our ships will be
found much more powerful to annoy an
enemy than to protect our coast. The
navy alone will be SO far from atfording
the means Of protection, that Judicious
system of ratification will be found al
most indispensable to give to it not only
activity, but protection. This is so wen
illustrated by the report already referreE
to, as to require no additional observa-
tons to establish its ruth.
might add many other reflections, to
prove, that it is our true policy to give
the highest perfection TO our naval and
military preparation in time of peace;
SO that, By mourning expenses when the
expenditure can be Judiciously made,
tenlold their amount may be saved in
war, when we can least afford to make
them. 1t is thus, when forced into
state of war, those immense expendi-
lures and mighty military efforts will be
avoided, which at the same time exhaust
the country. and endanger its liberties.
If we have not the wisdom or virtue to
see future dangers, and to take timely
measures to avert them, we will deserve
the fate which must await us. Neither