The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-03-28

| ter IN The fall than she could; which nat
ural advantage would be sufficient oft
self to turn the scale in our favor.
The completion Of this work upon a
scale commensurate with the objects in
view, Nhe connecting the Gulf and the
Lakes by steamboat navigaton,) is an
important link IN the system of general
defence. 1t Is great National work up
on which in war, the integrity Of our soil
in seven States entirely depends, and one
upon which the great Western Valley IT,
self must mainly rely for safety and de-
fence. | therefore, run up the Lake flag
and go for terrifying them with 'motes,
and dilches,' instead Of parapet and wall.
have not the leisure at this time, nor
the ability at any time, to do justice to
this subject. Blu, that may not excite
the prejudice of any one SO as to prevent
him from giving tia candid hearing anal
fair consideration. | will here state that
have no special interest whatever in the
measures | am about to advocate; that
DO not own any Illinois or other State
stock, nor do know any one who does,
or who is in any manner whatever inter-
ested, except that so far as every Ameri-
can citizen is interested in the payment
of the obligations Of tina, State. Honest
Illinois ! of all the unfortunate States, she
has made the greatest efforts to NEE. her
obligations, and have Witnessed her no.
bic endeavors viii, feelings of pride.
The means Of defence now proposed
are as far as know, practically new.
The plan, besides beng the best and
cheapest and the most efficient that can be
adopted, is in itself good. The cola,e-
raj advantages TO flow from it are grea, in
their bearing and not few in number.
One OF them is in the ability which it will
impart TO that State 10 NEE, her obiga-
tons. | should rejoice as much as any
one. eXccp, the Rev. Sidney Smith, or
some other English bond-holder to see
not only that, bu. all the States in con-
dilon TO meet honest liabilities. Yet, in
a National point Of view, the question Of
State solvency or insolvency has nothing
To do with the merits OF the case. These
relate entirely to the general defence, and
in this view only do propose to consid-
or the matter.
The Notifications at Key West and the
Torlugas and the Dock Yard at Mem
phis, make but part Of the system of
Western defences about TO be common
ced. They are bolts only TO the front
door, the back door, by the Lakes, is still
UNMARRIED and wide open. So long as that
is the case, there is no security within.
Tina. grea! Mississippi valley and lake
country, when properly provided with
the means Of defence, will become our
Citadel Of strength, as it already is the
seat of our national wealth, the fountain
head Of our commercial prosperity; ii
cannot be defended except from the sea.
| urge the fac, upon the country, that I'M
less in war with Great Britain we eau
assemble as strong n Naval force on the
Lakes and get 1t there as soon as she can,
we cannot defend them. Suppose that
England should declare war with us to-
morrow in two weeks time, she could
have. of her sixty War steamers. thirty
or forty on the Lakes. in that time not
one could we add TO the only one which
we have there we could not build them
in So shur, time. TO do that would re-
quire months, and there is no channel by
: which, we could send there any disposal
BILE Naval force which we might have oi
, the Mississippi, in the Gulf, or along tho
scaboard. With such a start Of us, wha
, would become Of our Lake commerce
+ 1t would be struck lleess in day. The
! Lakes are narrow, aud these Steamers, il
, line abreast, stretching across from
, shore to shore might, with brooms a
: their mast head, literally sweep the Lakes
}, from 'Sackelts Ilarbor' TO Fond du Lac.
There would be nothing TO prevent II
, one months time all our trading vessels
c there, might, for augh, the governmcn
. could do, be either sunk or burned or helt
y as English prizes.
$ VIVA, too in the case supposed, woul
4 become of the Oswcgo and the grea, Fri
r Canals of New York Su,h force, w
all must admit, could take possession o
n their mouths, and if necessary, blow NJ
d lock or two, and thus cut short, at leas
c for time, the revenues Of tho great Stat
G of New York herself. In this case, tax
v alton upon her people must come in oil
h der to sustain State credit. And if "
h may Judge from the late anti-ren, move
d men,s on The North River. taxation woul
4. no, be more palatable to the people of th'
C great State, than i, has proved 10 those I
.e some of her unfortunate sisters. But Ia!
Y alton in the aggregate, and by the who'll