Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-10-23

Sii;Lpe. en8s Fin G+atEES .-.a rH
THE U. s. NAvy.-On our first page
to-day will be found a letter addressed TO
tho Hon. HENRY Clay, relative to the
u. S. Navy, and the exposed condition Of
the Southern States to q maratime foe.--
The number selected, is the last of a series,
in which the subject is canvassol by tho
hand of a master ; and although the atten-
tion Of bat one man in the nation is par.
ticulariy solicited, we are convinced that
u topic OF greater moment could not be
brought before the whole. Hence we pro.
pose to give Il synopsis Of the most proini-
nent facts at hand, and urge upon our
readers the Importance of turning their
attention TO the reality, rather than the
" shadow Of things hoped for"
There is no doubt that we all feel warm.
ly and deeply for the honor and prosperity
of the nation !; nor is it less to b. doubted
that to preserve that honor intact, and
enhance in n degree commensurate with
our present fame that prosperity, something
besides idle talk must be done. We must
examine our situation and its ~exigencies,
and move onward as these direct.
In accordance with this system, let us
at present cast an eye over the particular
section we chance to occupy, and enquire
whether the aspect presented is that which
=, country situated as Louisiana is, with
her immense internal wealth and foreign
commerco--with her peculiar civil and
domestic institutions-be such as prudence
and sound Judgment would describe.
At frequent intervals for moro than three
years past, our country has been alarmed
by the cry Of ''war warl" The shock
thus communicated to the sentiments Of a
few intelligent men, has never failed to
lead them into renewed representations Of
our want of preparation for so dreadful! a
catastrophy, and of the system of attack
that would be pursued by the adroit and
powerful foe with whom the conflict
threatens, and Of the points where the
most formidable assaults would concen-
trate. The improvements which twenty
years of science and studious devotion to
the subject, have added to the art of war
the total change id the features Of naval
contests produced by the application of
to the purposes of navigation, and
the consequent relative ~approxinity to
each other Of countries formerly SO distant
.the great wealth Of tho South. West
~combustib!o quality Of that wealth
exposed condition Of the coast-the
quiet, peace loving character and unmit;-
la:y habits OF the citizens-aIl point to
this section Of ting union as the most at
to an enesny, Tie most vulnerable
to his attacks, and the least capable of OF.
Icrlng %efiectual resistance should hostilies
Our enemy is fflly equipped for a long
Ind f:artul struggle. England could at a
warning disSatch for our coast a feet
If fifty ships, and twenty steamers of war
of which latter sany three, unless arrest
ID by some provisential hand, could de-
troy with impuniIy every city, town and
from the sBalize to Louisville
our warehouses, dwellings, stores,
and destroying all the valua-
lie machinery oa our plantations, DIS
the inhabiants AID generating in
'ur very midst, ! species Of warfare at
he thought Of whch the blood runs cold
n its channels. ahe report of Mr. King
rom the committee on naval affairs at the
lte session of Congress, disc'oses facts
important to us all, giving ''fear-
al note" of what. awaits Louisiana and
Mississippi, in ~lhe..event Of war.
ain the event Of a war with Great Bri-
he says, "the Notifications at Pen
acola, and perhaps others, might be seiz-
d and held by ths enemy, Or any of our
Unprotected harbofs might be entered by
of armed ~steSniers, loaded VITA black
from the West Indies, to Annoy and 4
the country. There are, it is
lid, ten thousand black troops in the
ritish West Indies; and that orders have
zen issued to increase The number to
thousand. These troops are !
sciplinod aad cotamands4 by white Off /