The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-06
COMMUNICATIONS.
FOR me union'
THE fuBtIc pEfENcEs,
To the Hon. LAWS CAsn

To the Hon. LAWS CAsn
Although, IN the opinion Of many, the aspect OF
our foreign relations is less gloomy, and immediate
war With England 10 considered less probable than
II deemed some few weeks since, yet still do l
consider further inquiry into the condition Of our de-
fences important. But, whatever may be the result
Of the recent change In her ministry, whether che
expects we will suffer rights TO Oregon to remain
IN absysues that Tho yexed question will be settled
by diplomacy, coriain IL is there s abatement IN
the hostile preparation Of England. England, !,
seems, can hold, In defiance, our property extend
her laws over our ackno wledged territory, and we
must submit for the sake Of peace England can
increase, at pleasure, her forces home and abroad
threaten Us by her orators in Parliament, and abuse
IN her accredited public papers, but must not
inquire into the condition OF our defenees much less
make any preparation for contingencies lest we pro-
woke our naughty rival into war; From whence
comes this excess OF cautioni From those, who,
unmindfu Of the price paid for our liberties, and
dead 10 the spirit OF our revolutionary sir.s, seem
willing 10 measure our national rights by the yard
SUCK and weigh our national honor by the pound.
Alas that our statesmen should forget the admonl-
Won Of the Father Of his Country I'm peace TO pre-
pare for war" or not learn the true philosophy Of
history, from those examples which teach the salu-
AIRY lesson, that parsimony may entail all the con-
sequences Of profuson--"lbat nothing Is ever gain.
ID by pusillanmity and the country which seeks 10
purchase temporary security by yielding 10 unjust
prslensions, buys present ense at the expense
Of permanent honor and safety"--thst mag
DsnImIty Is the triiest wisdom, and the
prostitution Of national honor, the sure fore
runner Of national ruin. He who in future
times shall read annals, will be at loss TO DIS
eoyerthe causes OF our present national supneness.
We present, indeed, . singular spectacle. A nation
whose institutions differ from those Of every other
power-with constitution OF government purged
Of the vices and abuses which clog and disfgure
those Of the Old World-wth forms Of Office free
from the pageantry which corrupts the incumbent,
and the expense which Expresses the citizen-with
more ample and prodigal allotment Of soil and
territory than was ever enjoyed by any other peo-
pe--with inexhaustibe resources population Of
nstehless skill and ingenuity in mechanic arts
brave ever triumphed on land or sea, and more
sensitive to the impulses OF honor than any people
Of ancient modern times-regarded on these very
accounts, by other nations, with jealousy, fear, and
hate, and yet dtfsnesess, and at The mercy Of ali
And this, too, after a peace OF more Than thirty
years, d part of the time with an overlooking
treasury, the appropriation Of its surplus long
matter Of serious debate, within walls that were
only few years since a smoking ruin from the
torch of foreign foe! The scene once enacted at
Copenhagen, the bcmbardmcnt Of Algiers, the de-
struction Of the Turkish and Egyptian fleets at
Navarino, were perpetrated without the usual for
msty Of a declaration of war We, il may be
said, are protected by treaties So were the Danes,
Turks, and Egyptians but not by paper only.
They were enabled to make brave and noble
defence against overwhelming odds There was
no loss of national honor with them. Vain,
however, would seem to be the memory of
the past. We slumber on in false security, and il
Is TO be feared that nothing can arouse the
nation from its lethargy, but the cannon of an en-
envy laying our cities in ashes and our no less de-
fenceless forts in ruins. An awful responsibility
thnee tn yhor fha IA
hded, and the defence of the lives and property of
our citizens is entrusted. To you, sir and to all
others who are willing to make timely preparation
10 protect the one and preserve the other, further
inquiry into the state of the country will not be
undressing, and, in this confident belief, will
again trespass upon your attention.
In the course of the remarks which have had
the honor to submit to you, have referred more
than once to the report Of the board Of officers who
were assembled some years since TO inquire into the
state of our national defences in order more fully
10 slucidate the views which propose to present. l
must again quote at some length, or rather give an
abstract of certain opinions advanced in that very
able and elaborate document. The board say: "In
order, however, that the navy may always assume
and maintain that active and energetic department
in offensive operations, which is at the same time 90
consistent with its functions and 30 consonant with
its spirit, we have shown that must not be occu-
pied with mere coast defence But il the navy is to
",
ance must be substituted the napy itself requiring for
rs ocn establishment not less than the fo,cns and har-
bors that the detnce be complete" There are doubt
less situations where it may be necessary for US to
present q defensive array, at the same time thai
10 do so BY Notifications alone ,oouid be inprac-
iicabIe. Any very broad water, where deep sound.
ings may be carried at q distance from the
shows greater than effective gun-range, and where
no nsular spot, natural or artificial, can be found
nearer the track Of ships, will present such situ-
alton; and we may take some Of our great bays as
examples Broad sounds and wide roadsteads. az
fording secure anchorage beyond gun.rango from
the shores, will afford examples Of another sort
and harbors with very wide entrances and large sur,
face, exhibit examples of still another kind. rs in
all such cases. srtfcaions alone TOLL be Intellectual and
nevertheless recourse 10 defences Of come sort NAV
be unavoidable, il has not failed to be recommended
in the several reports on the defence Of the coast
since 1878, thai there should be suitable and ii,nel,
provision IF appropriate .Aoaiing offences"
"And first az To gun-boars. Although Of undoubt
ed use in peculiar circumstances, il will hardly b,
contended that gun-boats afford safe reliance In
harbors tina, be entered by vessels Of magnitude
Ships becalmsd or aground, might be sorely bar.
assed, IL not destroyed, by spirited attack from
this force; and there other situations wherein il
would be very effective. But hsrbors defended by
gun-boats win not be attacked in cannns, no,
with adverse winds; and it is not easy to believe
that any probable array Of these craft would i'm.
pede or hinder for moment the advance of hos.
Tile feet Although they might afford useful means
OF annoyance during protracted occupation by the
enemy Of harbors that contained extensive shoa
grounds, and shallow bays and inlets, they would
be nearly useless in resisting the first assaults and in
preventing the Incorporation oflevying contributions
or burning or spelling national establishments. The
true reason Of this feeble defence must not, how.
ever, be misunderstood II is not that the boats do
not carry guns enough, or men enough for the OBJ
lect but nls because, from the comparative weak
ness OF the vessels, the guGs and men cannot be
kept IN an effective POSITION" Now in refutatior
Of all this theory, offer the gallant defence made BY
the i've gun-boats at New Orleans, and will pres.
emily show that the objection urged agains, sail gun.
boats, viii not apply TO steam gun-boats
But the board go to say ''Floatine batteries ot
which good use might be made in peculiar situ,.
tons, would, we suppose, differ FROM gun-boa,s In
being larger, containing more guns, and in being
stronger In whatever way formed it is necesssrI.
ly "a part Of the idea, that they he strong and mas
slve; and consequently, that they be unwiedy, in.
capable OF sudden change Of place, and nospacated
either to advance upon defeated foe, or to evade
Victorious one" "Ifwe suppose these hoatine-be,
hries 10 I've smaller, 80 that, having lighter drsueht
they might be placed near the shores or upon m,
shoals, they might certainly be thereby saved from