Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-06-27

Wisconsin, an honorable member of the
Senate facetiously called it proposition
for sending that vessel son voyage Of
discovery 1t would be well, sir, ifyou
were to fit out many such voyages ofdis-
covery there. and | have no doubt they
would tend 10 remove much and profound
ignorance relative TO the condition, the
wants, and the nakedoess of defence OF
that remote region of your frontier.
There is no portion of your extended
boundary so naked Of defence, so hope
lessly exposed TO terrible destruction, as
that portion Of it which extends from the
upper extremity Of Lake Erie, through
the Straits of Detroit and Sinclair, to
Lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior. /
was most painfully reminded the other day
ofthat fact by remark made here by an
honorable Senator from Missouri. AT
tier outlet into Lake Erie, the Straits of
Detroit are perhaps from four 10 five miles
wide. Immediately above that outlet, and
opposite the British.for. at Maiden, they
may be from threeto fur miles wide;
and vet the only practicable channel for
vessels ascending or descending is be-
tween the island of Bois Blanc and Fort
Maiden, where, presume, the shores are
at no point more than one quarter Of
mile apart, ard [ should think at some
points not three hundred yards. And yet
sir. entertain no doubt but that al very
trifling expense channel of sufficient
dep,h and Insufficient width may be FORM
ed near qour shore of the straits, and en-
tirely beyond the reach of any batteries at
Fort Maiden or the island of Bots Blanc.
Is it right. sir, that this should be so p
That your navigation should remain in a
condition so exposed? The value of your
commerce upon the lakes is estimated, as
you are officially advised, at between six
ty-fve and seventy millions of dollars for
single year and yet it is but the en-
bryo of that which is TO be. Your mines
are unopened as yet; your broad acres
unreclaimed; your resources there all
undeveloped What will this commerce
be in future time And shall it continue,
TO whatsoever value il may attain, 10 pass,
as heretofore. under the very muzzles of
the guns of foreign Power! Sir, gen.
llemen have been admonished that we talk
too much of war here-that the public
ear is becoming too familiar with the
SOUND. MS if it were pastime NEARLY.
am no alarmist, and none more than can
deprecate war with any foreign 20 wer
but if we would preserve honorable peace
we must be prepared to vindicate and de.
fend it. Nor is there any political max.
i'm more wise than the one so unceasinc.
ly pressed upon this people by Washing.
; ton, shat the most sure and efFectua
means ofpreserving peace is 10 be pre-.
pared for war; As the condition of youl
frontier now is, sY.ihe British fort at Ma!
den unqdestionably commands at tha
point the navigation ofthe straits. Some
eighteen or twenty siles higher up, a
the city of Detroit, the straits are les
than mile in width, In 1887 or 1888
think the valuation of property assessed
for taxation in that city was from sever
to eight millions. of dollars. / am not ad
vlsed what it nov is; it may be ten o
Twelve millions of dollars; and vet tina
and the whole city may be reduced TO
heap of ruins by two hours cannonade
from the British shore opposite.
You may recollect, sir, with what diff
Guilty an inconsiderable appropriation wa.
obtained here some two or three year:
ago for the erection of small military
work in the neighborhood of that city,
Well, sir. either from an entire forgetful
ness that there aras .sucha country as Mich
igan, or from combination of circum
stances which [ have not been able &c
comprehend. the great part ofthat appro-
priation was suffered TO lapse Il believe
that is the technical term) into the Treasu.
nv again 1t was not Convenient 10 erecu
the works yon had ordered! During the
latter period of the border troubles as
they were called, after the Patriot battle
of Windsor, and while men were assem-.
bling from afa: in great force at different
points along that frontier, some four OF
five companies of your soldiers were or.
dered there. The peace of the frontier
HE faith of treaties, the honor of the ia