Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-01-24
nnh ot'the business.


il one strong pint in this Gulf of Mexi-
CO. She has also a West India Island,
another strong pint close at hand, and
both these places are pritty convenient
for her ships to run in for supplies and
repairs, aud ships aint good for much
without such places, for they are prltty
much like horses on road they need
stopping places for water and oats, and
q black smith shop TO repair.
Now how are we off there? for l 60
on the principle that if we are to eat
porrige with the Devil, we must have
as long handle to our spoon as he has,
or we stand no chance at all. Not
France only, but any one who may take
notion to scufile about our windows
on the Gulf of Mexico, and pritty much
every nation has ports in the West In
dies right along side this Gulf if we
have no port there where our ships OF
war can 90 to repair rudder-mend
mast-or caulk leak, we are as bad
off as man who starts from homo with
his Wagon on journey, and when Eis
horses get hungry or lose n shoe, re-
turn home again to feed and mend mat
ters.-and then starts agin-for if our
ships have to come North for any thing
its about as bad,-and looking at the
map and seeing how far the Northern
Ship yards are off from the GulfofMeXi-
co and the time to go and get back
the windows may not only all be
smash d in-but the Enemy in the front
door.
But fortunately we aint as bad off as
some folks think. And when l was
puzzlng myself about the matter, and
wondering how we could get over the
trouble and feel sale-Uncte Sam fetch
ed lne slap on the shoulder and put
his finger right down on n spot, and
says he, "look at that, what do you
think" says he, "tnat place was made
for 7" "Why, says |, that's Psnsaco-
lu-that's no place at ALL" says L.
"It aint-aint it I" says he" well, :"
says he, if Natur was to try agin, il
couldn't make better for my purpose
any how" Why, says |, Uncle Sam
some folks do say there aint nothing for
thirty miles round but pine trees and
dry sand-and no river to the up coun-
try, and Of course no trade, and ony n
small town, and how on airth, says /,
will you make any thing Of that. -
"Well now" says he, "I'll tell you-
the pine trees and dry sand is just the
very thing for health--if the land was
rich all around in that climate the le-
vers would tell another story. If there
was big river to fetch down steam
boats and cotton, the same river would
bring down mud and fill up the harbor,
and ships of war could not get in
now," says he, "see how things are
workng-we are building forts and
dockyards there, and private folks are
making an Iron R;rer right up to tho
middle of Alabama-on this Iron RiuerI
produce can 90 up and down without
waiting for tides and when this is done
you'll soon see what kind of town
Pensacola will be-" That's all very
well for talk" says I, "Uncle Sam, but
fear it will be all talk there is .aIa-
Jan,a, she'll go for Mobile, for that be-
longs to her. She won't do nothin for
Pensacola, for that is in Florida-and
New Orleans won't do nothin-and 9TH
CT folks won't do ,nothin because it aint
their place, and so among the whole
nothin will be done" Uncle Sam ricd
up considerable at this, and says he,
"what on arth can oppose it in reason
and common sense; aint all interests
sarvcd right by it; what have ! to do
with this place or that place, but to do
good to a!l--look back upon the hull
Il h,, ia ,,I
pint--is this u time to stop and listen
to petty local matters? No, no, says
he "if all the money in the Treasury,
hard money and paper money, Treasu-
ry notes and Biddlc's notes, and bonds
too, and Safety Fund notes, was jest
enuf to pay for maxim Pensacola what
she must be made, I'd spend every dol
lar ont" "The windows on the Gulf
of Mexico must be left OPEN" says he,
''and we must have the power there to
defend and protect or we may as well
shut up shop and larn French as soon
as possible" "Why" says he "if
neglected that matter what would all
that Country that send their produce
to the Gulf of Mexico say"-and here
he lowered his voice and whispered
something about the power that an enc
my would have in case he took Pcnsa-
cola from us and declared universal
abolition-and so forth-and also what
his fear was if he warn't spry-and
what he fear'd the French would do
during that indemnity matter, and that
they would have that out Of us some
how or other if we did not look out
sharp--and upon the hull his notion was
that the only way was to put the House
in order and be prepared-and that "a
stitch in time saved nine" Uncle
Sans dander is up about this matter
and may say more about it. So no
more at present from
j. DOWNING, Major,
Do,rningrille Militia, Cd Brigade.