Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1846-01-03

not more magnificent than just. 1t is a
great high way Of nations--the extended
central-tract-way Of the largest and most
fertile valley on earth; it is a road TO and
from wide spread nursery Of independent
nations. Upon it shores now rests the in
cipient existence Of independent States that
are destined ere long to spread undivided,
the blessings Of civil liberty and free gov
ernment over this whole continent. This
great valley which but afew years ago was
inhabited only By the wild beasts Of the
forest, and the Indian savage, still more wild
and cruel than they, now teams with the
busy multitudes Of civilized men. Cities
are reared as BY magic; villages spring up
In day, while mountain, plain and valley
are made to smile beneath the improving
hand of civilized man. All this vast mul.
titude must send forth their oceans of sur
plus produce through the Gulf Of Mexico,
and past the towering shores Of the Island
Of Cuba. ae
The acquisition of this Island is not only
Of Importance 10 the States upon and near
the Shores Of that great river and its trib-
utaries, but it is Of equal importance to the
inhabitants upon the shores of the Alabama
river and its tributaries, and all the rivers
that flow, either directly or Indirectly, into
the gulf from that quarter.
1t is also Of equal Importance to the pres
ent and future inhabitants of that sunny re-
gion now denominated Texas. All the
rivers watering that inclined plane fall di-
rectly into this gulf as the great reservoir
Of the waters that drain from the central
regions Of North America.
BY the acquisition Of Texas we have be-
come directly interested in all that ccantry
bordering on the Rio Crande, and it is now
evident, that ere long our free citizens will
inhabit the upper valleys Of that stream in
the regions Of the North, as they viii its
plains and shores where il empties its pure
waters upon a coast Of perpetual sunshine
and flowers.
1t beehooves us then as wise people,
having such hopes to cheer us on, and such
prospects before us to provide well for the
future, TO seize upon the strong holds of
the country, and to arm ourselves with the
outposts Of protection, which the formation
of this continent and its island coasts, have
so happily thrown in our way.
The Gulf Of Mexico may be denominated
an internal sea. Its position Is unlike that
Of any other body of water on earth. An
immense cove seems to have been scoped
out Of the continent Of North America for
its accommodation; it is surrounded on
three sides by the main land of the conti-
nent, having coast Of unequalled fertility,
forming great circle Of many hundreds Of
miles in extent.
II is the rcceptabie -cf an llthose great riv-
ers and upon its bosom the greatest portion
of our commerce must float. tits eur only
outlet; through it our ships must pass, if
we would hold any intercourse with other
nations Of the earth. Hs2.tat .si l2la1i7
Immediately in the mouth Of this Gulf
extending almost from Yucatan, to Florida
point, is situated the Island Of Cuba. J Its
position commands the whole coast, and the
nation that possesses it could control the
entrance of the Gulf Of Mexico almost as
easy as they could blockade the mouth Of
river. sD 8 Hait#.ft5a5 U
This fertile Island possesses all the re-
sources of war and peace; its harbors are
not surpassed by any on the continent, and
upon its rock bound coast, batteries and
defences might be erected that would defy
the combined forces Of the world to take
them. .tt.s .n...s. q
No country possesses greater facilities
for an extensive naval depot than Cuba,
and in proportion as the improvements are
made in war steamers, and the navigation
Of the ocean by steam is extended, the val
ue Of this station in a military point Of view
becomes more apparent. N..
Let us for moment suppose this Island
in the hands of such power as England
or France, and that nation in the midst of
d war with the U. States, a naval depot
could be made al HAVANA or some other of
its ample ports; fleet could be easily con-
centratcd, and cheaply subsisted there, that
would most eifectually close the Gulf Of
Mexico from all the surrounding nations.
From this depot armed vessels and armed
men could be sent into any port around the
Gulf at the shortest notice. BY such ma
val station our commerce in those seas
conld be annihilated, our cities sacked and
burnt, and our inhabitants masacreed. But
put that Island in our hands, and we could
hold it for self defence without the power,
even if we had the will, to do harm to 9th
ers. 4. , 9 e.. .iarn 9sl
AS q matter then Of national defence, and
self-preservation, we should have the COM
lnand of tl,at outpost, and as matter of
economy we had better expend millions in
acquiring it, and thereby save millions in
erecting fortresses, and concentrating ar
mics upon that long line Of almost defence
less coast surrounding the Gulf.
It may be said that this outpost is now
in the hands Of old Spain, and that is a pub
lie power, and there is no danger 10 be ap-
pretended either from lis position or the
power oil its owner. This TO some extent
IS at present true. Spain Is a feeble pow
er, and that want Of strength leads US to
fear, that the time is not far distant when
this ancient, and once powerful empire,
will meet with the fate OF ancient Poland,
and be partitioned out among her more
powe erful neighbors, and in that division we
cannot tell to what nation of Europe this
important province may fall. II it should
get into the hands OF Great Britain our an
cient and avowed enemy, millions Of treas
ure and much blood must be expended, be-
fore we nut ourselves in the position we