The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-16
LETTERS FROM THE soUTH-NO O. |
Sr. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA,
November 20, l642.
Hon. CHARLES A. WIcKLIFFE,
Postmaster General


States, in her military operations in defence OF our
Southern borders in the event of war, with naval
power in connecting the Atahtic by railroad WIN
the Gulf of Mexico, from some point on the d.
Johns river to strike the Gulf at Cedar heys on 'e
Suwannee river, its outlet
1t must be admitted that Florida, with seaooard
of near thirteen hundred miles, without forinca'oh
from Pensacola to st. Augustine is the weakest anu
most exposed frontier Of the United States. IL can
not be doubted by any rational mind that an enemy
with navy worthy of the name, would attack our
most vulnerable quarter Destitute OF all defence
| every town seaboard could be laid IN ashes
| by war steamer, even a common privaieer' eA-
cept Pensacola on tho west and St Augustine near
the eastern boundary of this Territory To give the
necessary protection and security to our seacoast IN
time of war, the number of men required for defence
must be much greater than if we had proper and ef
cient Notifications. w it'll so extensive frontier IN
the vicinity Of the West Indies over whose popula-
ton some of the great European naval powers can
exercise unlimited influence the number oil men
must be unusually great to secure and protect our
whole Southern border from the invasion Of race
more dangerous to the South than the best appointed
and disciplined army, that could be formed IN or be
transported to country from Europe. From
what quarter would our military draw the necessary
provisions for their support if hostities should COM
mence between the United States and France or
England Not from New Orleans, for the enemy
who held the naval superiority would certainly oc-
cupy the mouth Of the Mississippi 1t would be the
first object Of the enemy to cut of our exports in the
West and this woud certainly be effected by block
AIDE, and half the exports Of whole country would
perish before any portion could find the way open to
market. Georgia, then, must furnish provisions to
the defenders of the East and the greater portion Of
Middle Florida, and these supplies, without railroad
or canal TO connect the Atlantic with the waters of
the Gulf of Mexico, must be transported by land,
hundreds of miles, at vast expense. This mode of
providing for the subsistence Of troops in the pen
insua and Middle Florida would be attended with
delay, often too limited, and your army would be bad
| ly ratoned at enormous expense.
Establish the proposed railroad, and we at once
command the resources of the fertile upper grain
growing countries in Georgia and South Carolina,
and by the railroads of these States extending far
into the interior, Charleston and Savannah would
furnish all the subsistence required by the military
engaged in the defence of East, and much of Middle
Florida. The inland passage from Charleston to Sa-
vannah, and from thence into the St Johns river is
in common by steamboats,, and is safe and GER
tain route st. Johns river is navigable for large
steamboats, hundred and fifty miles from the sea-
and much further for smaller boats-thus penetrat-
ing far south into the peninsula The railroad is cs
sentia to the defence of East and portion of Middle
Florida and it is equally to the protection of the
southern frontier of Georgia, which now, and for
long time to come, will be too weak to resist an in
vadng army, should it pass through this territory.
If Congress would call for the amount expended in
the Florida for transportation only it is proba-
BILE not less than four millions has been paid for trans
portation alone. Many whose capacity and oppor-
tunity of estimating this branch of military disburse-
ments, say that much larger sum has been paid.
1t is subject worthy of inquiry by the National Le-
gislature, and the result would satisfy the nation of
the vast importance of the connexion between the
waters Of the Atlantic and the Gulf Of Mexico.
| No intelligent military man, statesman, cen
view the map of the Southern country in the
United States, without being convinced, that the de-
| fence of Southern frontier, will be essentially
strengthened by this direct communication. Il is un-
necessary to descend TO particular vantages, other
than those already mentioned, they will naturally
occur to every rejecting mind Aside from all local |
party Considerations, every friend our Union
and to the general interests of country must ad
nit, that internal improvement in the nation, not
excepting the noble and grand scheme devised by !
and in part brought into action, by tho capacious
mind and penetrating genius of De VIII Clinton,
giving Immortality to his fame, aud ath and |
grandeur, his empire State, compare in utility
with connexon such is proposed, between lhe At |
lanc and the Gulf of Mexico. The frsl is admitted |
to be noble work, designed for and sgnally answer
ing its design, to pour into her emporium, from her
own fertile lands in the West and the vast regions
that surround the inland in the North and North
west, the various rich, and increasing products of
many soils and cimes giving employment and sup
port to many thousands Of her citizens, building up
fortunes for her princely merchants, AID giving So
| lidty and grandeur to the State
These advantages, however beneficial TO New
York, are almost entirely confined to her own citi-
zens, but the Union at large will receive many sub
stanial advantages reaching every portion of the
Union by the execution of a work so truly national
and New York herself will profit largely by its COM
pe,ion.
The United States will thus bring the pr oJucts of
the upper fertile Southern States in competition with
the Western, and this completion will enable the
General Government 10 provide for our army and
navy at much cheaper rate in peace. The
railroads will continue towards the valleys of the
Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, as soon as the
great pressure on the country now prevailing shall
pass away; ADD Tennessee and North Carolina will
find II their interest to unite with CT orxa and South
Carolina, in extending their present railroads to the
Western waters. The STATES Right party can have
no constitutional objection to making a road through
territory belonging 10 the United States 1t is the
sol OF the nation, aud can be used in any mann and
for any purpose Congress may direct. The road as
proposed, IT made by Congress- will secure. to the
United States n all times free and CHEAP rute FL,