Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-01-19

An fncrease Of the Navy 20 Protect the
south and slaverysss

have the cat let out Of the bag Read
it, northern merchants, farmers, me-
chanics and workingmen, as with
anointed eyes, and then ask, what
have WE to do with slavery ?-Ls6-
orator.
4 But these views, although suth-
ciently important in themselves to
Justify and require a very large in
crease Of our naval force, are by no
means the most interesting which
The subject suggests. Ranking in
the first class Of nations, we are un-
der an absolute necessity to regulate
our policy, in some degree, by that
of other countries, so far as their pol
lev may affect us. AL the consider
able maritime powers have, within
late years, added greatly 10 their
naval forces, and are at this moment
actively engaged in the same work.
This fact alone would seem to rem
der it absolutely necessary that we
should make similar preparation on
our part. In proportion as other
countries multiply the means by
which they may annoy US, we ought,
in common prudence, to add TO our
own defences and to our own means
Of resisting insult and injury. Any
other course will only invite agrees
ions upon our rights, which will con-
tinue to increase so long as we shall
patiently bear them, and which must
ultimately force US to resistance, at
the precise time when we are least
prepared to make it successfully.
Free Governments, which are
necessarily more embarrassed in their
councils, and slower in their action,
than those which are not bound to
observe the necessary forms of free
government, have peculiar interest
to guard their soil from invasion:--
The nature Of Our institutions presents
very strong. appeal upon this point.
A1war between the United States
and any considerable maritime pow
Ell would not be conducted at this
day as It would have been even
twenty years ago. II mould be a mar
Of incuysions, aiming at reUolution.-
The first blow would be struck at US
through OUR OWN INSTITUTIONS. No
nation, tits presumed, would expect
to be successful over us for any
length Of time, in a fair confess Of
arms upon our own soil !; and no aoise
nation would attempt it. A more
promising expedient would be sought
IN arraying what are supposed to be
the hostile elements Of orr sociaj system
against one another. An enemy so
disposed, and free to land upon any
part Of cur soil. which might promise
success to his enterprise, soould Be
Grmedsa5ith a four fold poaoer Of annoy
ance. Of the ultimate result Of such
iicursions, we have no reason to be
afraid !; but, even in the best event,
war upon our own soil would be the
more expensive, the more embar-
RAISING, and the more horrible IN us
effects, by compelling us at the same
time to oppose an enemy in the field,
and 10 guard against attempts to subvert
OUR social systems.
Heretofore we have found in the
shallowness of many-of our waters
security, to certain extent, against
invasion by sea. So long as mari
time wars were conducted in vessels
oflarge size and great draught, we
had little to apprehend from them,
except at few points, and those
were susceptible of adequate defence
on.land. But this security can no
longer be relied on. The applica-
ton Of steam power to vessels Of
war, and the improvements which
have recently been made In artillery,
,,,ore destined 10 change the whole
system OF maritime war. Steam
boats Of light draught, and which
may be easily transported across the
ocean In vessels of a larger class,
may invade us at almost any point
Of our extended coast, may penetrate
the interior through our shallow riv-
ers, aud thus expose half our country
to hostile attacks. The celebrity with
which these movements could be
made, the facility with which such
vessels could escape, and the
prompmess with which thew could
change the point Of attack, would en-.
able. an enemy, with a comparative.
ly inconsiderable force, to ha1ass gu,
whole seaboard. and 10 carry All ~