Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1841-11-01
COUNCIL BLUFF. Jaiy 20, 1911.

COUNCIL BLUFF JWy 20, 1871.
SIn,--I.et us now look into Tho condiiio Of our
Naval establishments and means OF defence In tho
South. Tako the map Of North America. and east
Your eye on II from the Cnpes OF Virginia down the
Atlantic coast-passng around the Florida reefs. in
To the Gull OF Mexc To the remote South Western
corner of the United Statcs-a distance Of ahouttwo
thousand milcs-and you will not hnd u 81 gle Ma
val Depot, Al winch even "A sloop-of war, whether
disabled IN gale, or c,ipped III action, could ba
repaired. Nut great while ago, u small Revenue
cutter hid IN be sent rom the so-called Navy Yard
1T Pensacola to Charleston, South Carolina 10 haze
he, sics caiked and some slig lat repairs made.
Now, take the Other side OF the y ciufe. Gu back
to Mason X D,xun's line, aud run Your finger to-
wards The Month on the map, that youmay see what
has been done Tor that region, IN the way Of Naval
delenccs and mproyem la The watets Of tho
Chcsapeak, you find Two we'll appoini ed Navy Yards,
aud Naval Station. In the waters of the DeIa-
ware is another large building lafd-ess than tao
degrees tarthcr on, you come 10 another extensive
Dock ard nj New Y otk-- aud u few hours thence,
to Two more-B Boston aud Portsmputh--both in tho
waters oi Massachusetts, el in all this partial pro-
teruon aud unequal dnrihuton Of tho national
bunny, the S0ulh aud tho West have complained
not. la these matters, Southern and Western
statesmen have taken grounds above mere local
interests, state pre- udees, sectional jealousies;
they have occupied the high epipence OF pat otsm;
w'th lice will aud liberal hand, they have been "
mong the foremost TO vote away the public money.
wherever AMI whenever The honor, the safety or the
ing whether his or that Sac would be most ben
Gifted by a Naval appropriation, they have striven
make tie Navy al that the dignity Of their coun-
ry abroad. or It's safety al home, requires II TO be.
A despatch vessel oi-war sent from New York 10
Pensacola, in the Gulf Of Mexico, was thirty four
days in making the passage on one occasion, and
Giy-six on The other. ponan average would take
twenty thirty days for a Naval force, from tho
port Of The Month. to Garry rel ell TO The pro-
perry of our ciiizens in the III Of Mexico. In
,C surh n II uist,i Of the DubO
Dock Yards and Depots, most Of tho European
powers, with thc, steam s'i iwar. are actually
nearer 10 our commerce in the Gulf oi Mexico, than
we ourselves. In case Of war, they have, much
than we, secure places OF rend zvous for ves-
,els OF all kinds. To us, heie would be no snffio-
cnt shelter, nea,er that Norfolk.
Is protection less due To the south, than TO the
Nonll Does the vicinity Of the Wtst-lndLa Islands
with their black -a.moor regiments, aHord 10 The
South especial guaranty, thai 10 war she shall
enjoy Immuuiues. and be exemp from dangers uu-
known to The Nonh! Oris ii because the safe ~ Of
Georgia and tie Carolnas, the IN egrilyof = cir soil.
/ are less sacred-the products oi Western Pennsyl-
/ wanna and Vugna; OF ONO, Indiana, Illinois aud
Missouri; OF Iowa, Florida aud Wisconsin; OF Ken
! lucky and Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama,
! Louisiana and Arkansas-which pass through tho
Gull of Mexico their way to market-afe all thess
interests say, left thus exposed, because they arc
! Of less importance IN the Federal eye, than their
sister interests IN The Moth % shall the defence
less condition oflhe South and the West. be ascribcd
10 the Sc f,hness of the North aud the East. which
/ hitherto have hcen ascendant in the National
| Councils! No sir. Ascrbe thai rather 10 the apa-
thy of the former The subj c and 10 their
numerical in the leg lsalive halls OF the na-
tlun. 1t rests with you 10 rouse ten up Under
the apporlionment Of representation, their repre-.
senatIves will outnuniber those Of the Northern an0
Middle States on The floors Of Congress. Fer6uw
sat.
Bordering on the Gulf uf Mexico, are the Islands
1 of Cuba Jamaica, and ST. Domingo, besides groups
of smaller ones, and tie States oil Texas, Mexico,
aud {, nra America a J ,or all oil winch, Me ma,
Bile to be occupied by powe,sa With The Ua"ea
States.
The Gulf is the Mediterranean olthese countries;
which, owing 10 he winds al The South, Cuba aud
the Baha.nas at the East, is much closed against
the Mt dueiranean proper, except thIo gh the STRAITS
, oil Gibraltar.
The only pass from this Gufblongs 10 US; and
by us should be secured, AT whatever cos. hey~
West is the Gibraltar al these straits, with iarbas
susce pble Of beng strengthened aud rendered un-
, prcgnable that.
, The South and the West ale eve! secure, NOT
their detncts complete, uu tins be made strong
holdwhe the public vessels my rend zvous 10 VAT
and ue, ciiantne retreat Tor safety.
, France has made Tonlpn, IN tie Mediterranean
n her great Naval establishment. Spain TOO lad he
!, Cauhapena What Touon is 10 France. aud Car
thasena was to Span, Pensacola IS tn u, Ihongn
Spain had the 1)o,k- IafJs 81 Feyal aud Cadtx add
= Francr those ui Cheiberg and Bres. outside oi tns
+ Mcdn,uanean, The caiseuetes ot war sooH taoSa