The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-18
= .N,I GAMES, LECTURE,


crowded audience; the large church on Calvert
street being filled. He said his experience du-
ring the late war, when the transportation alone
had cost the government fifty dollars per barrel
for flour, had called his attention to the subject,
and that, as was his duty, he prepared and sub
mitted to the Department project of turnpike
roads from the central states to prominent and
exposed points the frontier, as indispensable to
a defensive war,-that since then the discovery
Of steam had revolutionised the whole art of war,
and that the facility with which large ornaments
of steam ships could be concentrated at our
seaports rendered more efficient means of inn
mediate defence and of concentrating the dis
possible force of the interior at the point of in
vasion, the only means of protection. He argued
that ordinary Notifications cannot arrest the
progress of feet at night, and especially of
steam ships, and instanced the descent of the
hotilla of three hundred vessels on the st. Law
renee, which received a severe cannonade and
lost but man killed, single shot having
taken effect. Hence he argued the necessity for
floating batteries on the water, and rail roads on
land to protect our cities. We submit below
brief statement giving scme of the considera-
lions which he enforced in behalf of his system
After he had concluded, he was followed by
his accomplished lady, who read some remarks
which she had written on the Horrors of War.
The editor of the New York Herald having
Published q very incorrect report of her remarks
in New York, we will endeavor, in few days,
to give true copy. Gen. GAINES is an snthu-
siast, if you please, and his accomplished lady
has entered with all wife's devotion into his
views. The cause they advocate is the cause OF
their country-of humanity, and in such a cause
thev NAV well encounter the criticism of preju-
diced or grovelling minds-but the truths which
they speak, and the cause in which they have
embarked, will gain strength as it progresses,
until the wonder will be that a system having
such claims upon the public support should now
need such advocates. We earnestly hope that
Gen. GAMES may be induced to deliver another |
lecture. and to treat on other considerations
nected with his system, that the attention of the
people of Baltimoe may be aroused to the deep |
stake which they have in its early adoption by
the General Government.
The following brief was prepared by General
GAINES as indicating some of the prominent con-
siderations in favor of his plan of National De-
fence:
|. NV system of National Defence is based
ipon the transcendent revolution which Steam I
Poacey has produced in The art of war throughout
he world: revolution which is destined soon
o give civilization to every part of the human
an,ily; and to give selt-government only to such
1atiuns as may provide for themselves means of I
IL fence commensurate with the increased Gscili-
ies Of attack which steam power affords to every |
nation disposed TO act oGsnsiSsly.
2 Happily for nations disposed to be just, and
0 cuI.iine their views to the magnanimous prin-
iple OF defensive war; they have it in their pew
r now Tor the first time since the earliest dawn
ton to avail themselves of a system OF
ational defence which will enable them in de- )
ance oI the offensive policy of neighboring ma O.
ions, to adhere to the principle of defensive q
var; and to do mere, to convert the most exPen-
i've structures Of national defence into sure
ans OF Nati,nal Revenue, ard of great COM )
u, rcial prosperity and social benefit in peace and
n War This islndeed promising much, but the
ppiicatiun Of Steam Power to Ships Of War,
M to Boats and Floating Batteries, and more. 3
yer, 20 vehicles Of land transportation on Rail y
Road warrants me in promising more-much b
more. i.
3. MY proposed system Is the first and only
Ian ur National Drfsnee, known to history
ancient or mudern-whereby any nation having,
Is we have, an extensive sea board, and border
ID on the opposite side by vast regions OF lakes
and rocky mountains, could be rendered infinite
ly mure TOT mldsole in system OF defensive IMAM
off nSipe war.
Upon this point am clear in the conviction
that by the system OF defence which propose,
we can hold forever the attitude OF honest de- |
fauce against the combined fleets and armies Of |
the 1nhOLe epoTid. And that without such sys-
tim of defen e, we could not defend sea |
ports against England, France, or Russia; nor
indeed against any one Of the smaller powers of
Europe supplied with feet of forty first rate |
steam ships of war
The proposed system Of National Defence will |
moreover enable US more efectually, and at a |
less expense of men and money, to repel the in
pastor, of all Europe; than to overturn any
government of country near our OVID numeri- |
cal strength and resources.
(See section LIST to 9th, and sections 10, IL, IL,
IS and IA Of my meuorial)
A. The proposed project constitutes the first |
and only system of National Defence known to
history. by which the Sarage genius Of fcGr has
been or can be so far reclaimed by the arts of 1
civilization as to be turned to the most essential
purposes of peace and commerce.
Hitherto soor has ever left even the cictorious
bur always the unsuccessful nation with an
empty treasury; embarrassed with national
debt-most of her resources having been wasted
in the construction of Forts and other scOTkS Of
defence-dilapidated and wholly inapplicable to
any oil the useful purposes of peace; nay, more;
requiring heavy annual expense to keep them
in repair, and hold them ready for another expen-
sive and perhaps disastrous war; Whilst the G
proposed system of National Defence by Float
ing, Batteries moved by, steam to lock up the 8
outlets Of our rivers and harbours against tbe I
sudden attacks of fleets propelled by steam now.
err, with rail roads leading from the central and
western states, will enable us, in war to throw 4
forces and military stores from the centre 10 S
the seaboard with ten times the rapidity and
feet, hitherto produced, and with but one-tenth !,
part of the expense; thus providing against the
greatly increased celebrity and certainty Of the
attack By steam, posoer-and thus securing a h
speedy and glorious termination Of the war, by
overthrowing the enemy; and then, ON the re-
turn OF peace, when the dilapidated, and indeed
the best of forts found to be useless and h
heavy burden upon the country, these rail roads.