Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-04-01
From the National Intslligeneer, Of March 9.
CONGRESSIONAL REPORT.
THE u. STATES g. GREAT BRITAIN.

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THE u. STATES g. GREAT BRITAIN.
The following is fuller and more exact
account than we have heretofore publish
ed of what MIR. Pickens Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Relaions) took oc-
cason TO say in the House Of Representa-
lives on Monday, (March ~ in The discus
sion Of the Fortifcalion Bill:
Mr.. Pickens rose for The purpose Of dis
abusing The minds of the committee i'll re-
lalion 10 rumor which he was astonished
to find was in existence, in relation 10 the
case of Mcleod. When he came into the
Hall, to his great astonisment, he found
that a rumor was in circulation, and had
been alluded to in debate, that an angry
correspondence had taken place between
Mr.. Forsyth aud Mr. Fox in relation to the
imprisonment Of Mcleod. 1t was with
pleasure, therefore, he stated that he had
received Information from the most authen-
tic source that there was no foundation
for such rumor. There had been no cor
respondence calculated in any way to pro-
duce any more difficulty than previously
existed. 1t was true that correspondence
had taken place, hut was calculated TO va
ry the position OF The parties since the cor
rcspondence which had last been present
ed to The House. These falso rumors had
been alluded TO from several quarters Of
the House, and were calculated to produce
unsound legislation.
Mr.. p. then proceeded 10 say that he
hoped the bill reported by the Committee
of Ways aud Means would be adopted
speedily.
The general system of furtifcation de-
mandcd by gentlemen required pracIi-
cal knowledge before all its bearings could
be known; and he would take occasion 10
say that, when the next administration
came into power, let them propose a gen.
eral system as a achole-a system of de-
fence for all the points of the country; aud
if it should be system that his judgment
could approve, he would pledge himself
that he would not stop to ask what was the
miserable amount of revenue that might
be derived from tax of wines and silks,
but he would cheerfuly vote an amount
equal 10 the whole proceeds of wines and
silks imported, if the next administration
should deem itrequisite and proper for the
country by any new contingency.
Mr.. 2. went on to contend that no sys-
tom of fortiication could possibly answer,
unless it should he connected at various
points with the Navy. 1t would be utter
Iy impossible to protect our extensive coast,
unless proper connexion was had with
naval force. Take central and leading
points which can project and sustain your
naval defenccs. suited TO our extensive
coast OF 1000 miles. II is steam batteries
and steam ships that can give you defence
suited to the Improvements of the age.
MI. 2: contended that oggspsosenl sys-
! tPfn lortlnCdlI0n5 was uttci oo0u'tu"ro ~,
for the present wants of the country. The
system had been partially brought from
France, in 1916, and, since the introduc-
ton of steam power, was to great extent
inapplicable 10 our extensive territory and
sparse population.
In answer to question from Mr.. Mon
roe, as to what was the system brought
from France
Mr.. Pickens explained its nature, and
said il was principally carried through by
General Bernard, distinguished in France
and in this country; and again urged that
it was system now, since the in'roduc-
ton of steam power, totally lnapplIcable
for the defence OF country with such an
extensive coast as ours. Mr.. P. then said
how he would connect the land fortihca-
tons with the naval force. He would, he
said, establish points at the following pla-
ces, where the forls could cooperate with
The NAVY. He would take central point
between the ST. Crox and Cape Cod; and
then New York and the mouth Of the Ches-
apeake, between Cape Cod and Cape Hat.
teras; and then. between Ha,teras and
Cape Florida, he would fortily Charleston
and the mouth OF the Savannah river; and
then, between Cape Florida and the Sa'
bine, he would fortify Pensacola and the
mouths of the Mississippi; he would have
all these points well fortified to protect ano
: sutain al efficient system of naval defence:
suited to your extensive seacoast and com
mercc. As 10 the interior points of forlifi
cation, and those Of smaller grades, ht
would discard them; he looked upon then
as behind the age.
But. (said Mr.. P.) any olher system o
forliiication confined exclusively 10 lane
will prove miserable failure.
In answer TO another inlerrogaiory, MIR
P. observed that it would be folly to think
. that England would ever think Of Invad
ing us again from the Canadas Eng lane
could have no object in attempting per
mauent invasion on that frontier. The
case now and at the last war in 1872 wa
. widely different. In 1912, that portion o
the country on the lake frontier was thinly
populated, and had hut little connexiol
with the Atlantic cities. Owing to lis de
fenceless position, the consequence wa
that The British formed their plan of inva
r sion or the lake coast with view to CON
meet military Gordon through The inle
rior 10 New Orleans, and cut oft Val
lev of the Mississippi from the Atlantic
States. They had some prospects OF sue
5 cecding at that period; hence the invasion
was there. But now the case was widel.
different. That part of the country wa
now densely populated, aud with popu
l,,ion too. decidedly warlike and spIrite,