The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-04-09
EXTRACT FROM A MEMOIR

1889.
"SIR: Our true policy is peace, and we
should preserve it at every sacrifice short Of
national dishonor; peace with US Is equally
the policy of Great Britain; and in her pre-
sent relations with,sem of the more power
ful nations of Europe, tits even more neces-
sary to her than to US. II would be unwise,
however, to trust to the interests of either
party in case which may be influenced by
national feeling or even national caprice !;
events not within the control of the Govern
ment ofeither may so precipitate measures
that war may come before we are prepared
even for its first shock. 1t may then not be
amiss to examine into the commercial and
military power of the nation with whom we
may have to measure our strength, that we
may form a ust estimate ofthe means she is
capable of welding against US, aud our ca
pacty for resistance or offence.
Great Britain, secured by her insular po-
sition from all danger of attact from without,
avoiing herself of her great mineral wealth
and mechanical skill, has been able 10 call
into action resources SURPRISING those of all
other nations; resources which by the crea-
tive power Of her artizans, aided by an i'm
mense machinery, performing the labor Of
more than hundred nilliens of men, are so
multiplied as to constitute the elements of
the richest commerce in the world-a COM
merce which is the foundation of all her
greatness, and to extend and protect which
is the sole object of her policy. ..|
In the higher strategy she has exhibited as
sublime military talent as she has evinced
wisdom in the management of her internal
affairs, and the regulation of her foreign and
colonial commerce. Intrenched behind the
ocean, she is, in fact, great fortress in front
of Europe, commanding, by means of her
fleets, that entire front from North Cape 10
Cape St. Vincent. Approaching fully the
military advantages Of her position, it has
long been cardinal point in her policy to
obtain similar advantages in other sections
of the globe, and she has perseveringly ad-
hered, and still adheres 10 that policy; hence,
as the fortune of her arms Or other circum-
stances have favored her views, she has
seized upen every spot, however doubtful or
promising the advantage. Il e..
She holds Gibraltar, Malta, and the Ionian
Isles, by which she commands the whole
coast of the Mediterranean and the commu-
nication with the Black sea; the Cape oi
Good Hope and the Island at ST. Helena
by which cha commands the way to India
the Mauritiac, tse Island Of Ceylon, and
other important positions in the east, which
give her the command OF all southern Agia
as well as of the territories and commerce
of the Pacific. Approaching our own cont
nent, she holds Bermuda, strong castle in
our front, commanding our whole southern
trade, including that otthe Gulf of Mexico
Trinidad, at the month of the Oronoco, and
to the windward Of the principal West India
Islands, which gives her the command of the
Carrbsan Sea, had with the Falkland
Islands, which she has recently taken, OF
the whole front of South America and the
way to the Pacific. To the northwest she
holds Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, which
secure the Canadas from maritime attack
command the Newfoundland and the Gulf o
St. Lawrence fisheries, and exercise ia;
same controlling influence upon cur Atlantic
coast which the basicus of fortress have
upon its curtains. Those important posi-
tons, held by comparatively small force
enable her to exercise military infuenc
over tho affairs of nations equal 70 FIVE mi!
lions of men under arms; those positions ar
great out-woyks whence she projects he
missile (ships Of wary upon the wings q
every wind, and maintains, if may be al
lowed the expression, a cross fire upon tn
) surface Of the whole globe. 10 complet
the entire military command OF the globe
she requires only the Island of Chloe, and
good naval station at OF near the mouth c
= the Columbia, at the northwest coast Of ou
continent.
Always prepared for war, she has th'
power to command peace, almost upon he
own terms; she never makes war but for tn
interests Of her commerce, nor peace bu
TO secure commercial advantages. By mean
of her naval ascendancy she ievies upon a
nations in time Of war, friends as well a
: foes, tribute nearly equal to that which sh
cxacts from them in peace by her superlo
productive industry.
Among the elements OF her commerca
and military power, her North American Co
onies hold an important rank, not only ftor
the resources which they at present supply
{ but from those which they are capable
yielding in addition. "Iiemp for the Britis
Navy is now derived principally from Russl'
and timber and other stores in large quaint
i ties from Sweden and Norway. The sol
and climate of the Canadas and New Bruins
wick are peculiarly adapted to the cultivatioo
of hemp, and timber and other stores Nigh
, be supplied from those provinces TO any IT
5 quired extent; and should political even
, occnr to interrupt her trade with the Baltic
she might at once render herself independel
of Sweden, Norway, and Russia, for thos
naval stores which she has derived from thel