The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-10
UONGRE SSIONAL,
REMARKS OF Mr.. wEsTcorT,
OF FLORIDA,

Ia ssnsie, February, g. I846-,,n the bill providing
for ths augmentation Of the naval iorces OF inc
United States. u
Mr. WESrCoTT said, tina, when this bill was
taken up on the 2lst Of January, he then Expressed
Inc hops - = UsnAk - dsssdsd ~ ~ ssrfy dsy,
and that he thought the measure Important, whether
or not we were 10 have a war with England, Mex
leo, or any other power. He then objected TO It's
consideration being fixed for the day assigned to
the Oregon questions, and declared his opposition
10 the measures being mixed up with each other
He had also on that occasion IN reply to the remark
Of the senator from Ohio that he desired the Oregon
questions settled first taken occasion TO say, thai
he (Mr W. desired the question Of the defence Of
the Atlantic and Gulf coast, TO be first settled and
that he would not for the notice 10 end the JOINT
occupation, (appprehended as 1t was by many, and
ayowed by some, 10 be measure that might In
erase the probabilities Of war; until that coast was
placed in proper state OF defence by the adoption
Of this or some similar measure, and the cree
,ion Of necessary Notifications. When he (Mr.
Wy moved the adjournment on last Thursday, in
order to give his views the Senate, he observed
that although he in favor Of the general poll
cy Of this bill, and its leading features, he was
not partial to some Of It's details, did he wholly
coincide with some Of its friends 10 the grounds
upon which they urged its passage, or as TO the
manner in which il had been brought forward,
Mr.. w. said he would, before he took his
seat, explain fully what induced him TO make
the remarks he had just referred to, and he
would at once explain some Of them. He had
listened atteniiyely to the able arguments Of the
senator's from Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi,
IMr. Benton, Mr.. BAaBY, and Mr.. SPEIGHT,
against this measure but they had failed to change
hs opinions just referred to, either to the wisdom
Of the policy or as 10 the time when II should be
adopted. But he wished not to be misunderstood.
lie was not in favor of this measure as one Of a
series Of "cay- msasurs, TO he adopted by the gov
eminent. He did not regard it connected with
al. d. IN aEa adj He-
pendant upon the probability of a war within few
months.
Il was true, II such war was probable, the neces-
sity OF this mea&arc becomes more imperious. Nay,
If we were 10 hive war, no one could deny that II
would be the extremity Of folly to neglect to adopt
such measures, and others Of much more attended
Ansaer. The extent Of the Atlantic and gull
coasts of this confederacy 10 little less than five
thousand miles.
The neglect to adopt such measures, if there ia
| any danger of war, would be an abandonment in
advance ofthe whole extent Of that coast from the
Rio del Norte, in Texas, to the ST. Croix in Maine,
70 he rayaSss Of the enemy and especially that
enemy shnnh be Great Britain, possessing, as she
does, tn most tremendous naval power ever WELD
ed by any nation. The Atlantic seaboord Of the
southern States and the gulf coasts of the States Of
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and
Texas, would, by such "urmasierly inactivity in
providing for their proper defence be peculiarly
posed. They are now well nigh entirely defence
less. They were, in his Judgment, efectualy de-
fensble only by the kind and character Of naval
force EARNED war-seamers) provided for in the first
section Of this bill, and in the amendment Of the
senator from Indiana. Mr.. HANNEGAN.1 The armed
steamers that Great Britain could at once employ in
assiling these coasts render similar force necessary
TO be had by US. A refusal to provide it would be
the devotion of the entire southern coast to certain
devastation If war comes The dreful effects Of
such state of affairs would not be confined to the
immediate sections rsvaged by the enemy. The in
terror, southern, southwestern and western States
and particularly those whose trade is tributary To
the Mississippi, would feel il. The whole COM
| merce of the gulf would be destroyed, and every
city, town, hamlet, and neighborhood in the "grea
| valley" would denounce the faulty which denied
the means of preventing the calamity it would Their
be too late to avert So, too il war really should
take place. the refusal to provide for the other
force besides steamers specified in this bill, Che re-
ered to the fitting of the vessels in Ordinary" and
on the "stocks" ready for sea- would be a sucida
sacrifice of the widely extended and valuable com
merce Of the country in every part Of the globe.
The evil results would not fall upon those only
who owned the ships and merchandise, or the sea
men who would be captured by the enemy for the
want of proper and efficient protection. The whole
Countrywide North and South--the remote Yves
as well as the cities on the seaboard would be deep
y affected by such misfortune. The agricultural
the manufacturing, the mechanical interests-al
would feel the evil results. The monetary affairs
would be more seriously derauged than they eve'
we're by the mere talk of war in Congress, which
we have heard so solemnly deprecated on this floor
Every soul within the government would feel it
b The prosperity Of the whole country is more or es
dependent on commerce. The pain Of blow
received by il will be suffered by all.
Mr.. w. said that he could not conceive of any
principles of craftsmanship upon which, if there wa
the siFkAsk uround for experimenting war, the adop
lion Of this measure, and forthwith, could be op
posed. Indeed, the senators not in favor Of tn
passage ofthis bill, and who had spoken against il
all Conceded that II ipar did come much larger ap
preparations should be made for the navy, and I
much greater increase provided for than is propose
Uby this bin. a8
The senator from Alabama declared that the aug
msntation was not sufficient for naval "war estab
lshment" for this country. He agreed with him
II the enemy with whom we should be in conhic
should be Great Britain. In war with that gigan
nc power TO defend our coasts properly, to protet
our foreign commerce, and to combat her offensive
Ily upon the high sens, and on her coasts, and til
coasts Of her colonies, (and the true policy IN sue
war, as well in regard to economy as every othe
consideration, would be to take the far fror
a increase contemplated by this bill would be expe
dent If not absolutely necessary; BESIDES also, pro
vision for naval forces on the northwestern lakes.
But the objection is urged that though the pre-
posed augmentation is not enough for naval ",ua
establishment" for this confederacy it is yet unnece'
lhTge TOT Wnht IN coHtnOn1 Cabeu OuE nhNe
peace Establishment"
Mr.. w, said that the restriction he desired to i'm
pose upon himself to the examination of the COZ
ectness OF this position, apart from any other argu
vment that had been urged, was difficult one.
The Oregon question had land he conceive
umpropery) been no mixed up with this measure
20 thrust upon the Senate when this bill was undo
discussion last week and on prior day, that
was almost Impossible to comment upon anythin
that had been said upon this bill, without touchin
he questions Of our past diplomatic intercourse an
present relations with Great Britain Joint occup,
lon," "notice," compromise" national honor,
&c growing out Of the Oregon controversy
Mr.. w. repeated that he conceived all these mai
te- should not have feathers weight in the dec
Hon upon the general principles and policy Of III
measure, and should only be considered with refe
tnee to the i,ns when il should be adopted. He r
earJed the time as in some degree important, ar
s hs the present position Of our foreign relation
FAouh accelerate our action on this bill. The OPT
On was entertained by many throughout the cou
vV-even here in the halls Of Congress-that o
relations with Great Britain and Mexico were,
y use the most moderate term 10 a critical poso
and that false step in Legislation even towards