The Arkansas banner., 1844-02-20

aThe Tortugas harbors in particular are said to afford shelter for vessels of every class, with the greatest facility of ingress and egress There can be no doubt that an ad- versary, in possession of large naval means, would, with great advantage, make these har- bocs his habitual resort, and ,his point of ge- neral rendezuous and concentration for all operations on this sea. With an enemy thus posted, the navigation of the Gulf by us would be immedialy hazardous, if not impossible; and nothing but absolute naval superiority would avail any thing against him. Mere military means could approach no nearer than the nearest shore of the continent.
 4 Ii k believed that there are no harbors la the Gulf al all comparable with these, that an enemy could resort to with his larger yes- sels. To deprive him of these would, there- fore, be interfering materially with an organ ized system of naval operations in that sea The defence ofthese harbors would, however, do much more than this. It would transfer to our own squadron, even should it be infe- rior, these most valuable positions, and It would afford point of refuge to our navy and our commerce at the very spot where It would be most necessary and useful. By oc- eupying two, Or at most three, small islands. the harbors of the Dry Toriugas (there being an inner and outer harbor) may be thoroughly protected.o
 Only three millions of dolaFs-less than l the harbor defences of Norfolk have cost are required, according to the estimates Of the Engineer Department, to put Key West 1 a441 t1ao fH,,rf1frac cOpn11l of dp- l fence. What arc three millions in compari- son with the interests at stake II IS not a tthe of what the South and West have paid for the lelences of the North. Nay, 1t is scarce tithe of the taxes levied every year in tariffs of revenue and protection upon those two regions, and taken from them, either di- rectly in the shape of navy and army appro- priations, or indirectly in the shape of boun- ties to manufactures, and expended at the North
 But, let us view the subject in another light.
 England has hedged us in at the South with a chain of islands and military posts and naval stations so closely linked that the sound of her cannon might he heard in one unbroken line from the mouths of the Oro- noco to the waters of the Southern Georgia. But this military network would avail her little in her schemes of ocean grandeur, un- less, while there is peace, she should create and foster commercial marine. sufficient to supply her with the perSOnnel requisite to meet her heavy demands for seamen in war. The sceptre of the seas is the cherished ob- feet of her heart, and though she has moved nations and stirred up kingdoms, and filled the world with alarms at her feats in battle on account of 1t, there never was a time when she has made greater efforts than she is now making to preserve the trident in her own and to keep it from the hands of others. For the most part, these efforts and sacrifices are peaceful, 1t is true; but the time has come when she must, with her own hands, throw down one, or consent to see each in the great trio of her national idols gradually shon of it's power and grandeur. Grinding corn laws have built up an agricultural interest on principles at variance with the manufacturing and commercial prosperity of the realm- From time to time this interest has been trenched upon more and more, gradually to enlarge the privileges of the other two If We look back into the commercial and agrl- cultural history of England, we shall find that the time was when Legislature declared trade with France a nuisance, and that 1t was once against the laws to export corn or cattle; then came an export duty, and then a bounty on the latter. And, even few years ago; it could not be imported until famine was about to come upon the land.- But, as other nations have increased in com mercial importance, and began to compete with Great Britain in manufactures and trade, she has redoubled her efforts and multiplied her sacrifices. Lest she should be overtaken in the race, she has continually pampered her ships with some privilege or other at the ex pense of the landed interest
 Now, while we write, the Ministry have staled thei places upon the Canada Corn Bill-another encroachment upon the former privileges of the agriculturists, for the benefit of the commercial and manufacturing inte- rests of the realm. In advocating the pas sage of this bill, the British Premier resorted to artifee, and was guilty of a quibble. As to it's operation, he represented to the manu iacturers that 1t would make bread cheap, and to the farmers that it would keep up the price of their corn. And, not to excite the fears of his agricultural friends in Parliament. he quoted from McCulloh to show that the United States are not grain growing country!
 The average price of wheat in England, for the few last years, has been $l A to $l 50 the bushel The whole charge of duties and freight between Canada and Eng land will net exceed thirty cents. Unless wheat can be brought over from Pomerania and the Baltic, and delivered in Canada cheap CT than 1t can be from Ohio and the Western States, this bill will, in all probability, give rise to a new and extensive trade, through Canada, with England. all of which will be carried on in English bottoms if so, it will have the effect of keeping the price of corn in England below the mark on the sliding scale at which direct importation of wheat may take place from foreign countries. Be- sides the encouragement of the shipping in- sefest ef itle welfare of which the policy of the Prime Minister shows taat he never loses sight for a moment, is there not, also, in the two bills of corn to Canada and pork to the West Indies, a double object in view Are they Hot intended to benefit English manu-