The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-06
For the Uunion.

To the Hon. LEWIS CAss:
IL is not the high rank which you hold in the Sen
nate--not the reputation which you have gained Al
a dPomatiSt-your varied requirements as scholar
or Acknowledged abilities as a statesman, which
induces me to address this communication to YOU
but because in times past well as the presen
moment, at home and abroad, in peace and il
war, IN every and all public emergencies, you have
shown zeal and devotion in the service of The re-
public which can only emanate from a patriots
bosom, csfaln am !. then. that at this n,offentous
crisis IN the affairs Of the nation haieger renfs
10 the condition OF the country lis state of I,repn
ration Tor war and ultimate mean Of defence Win
not only claim your attention, but IL suppDrted ia,
facts and the analogies ofpast experience win meet
with your most cordial support Whatever may be
the issue OF the great question which noW agitates
the pnblio-whetIer We are still 10 enjoy the besg.
Ings VI peace whether war and all is dire caa,p
ilies II 10 ehsue-the response which has come lncE
with every refuent wave Of public opinion as well
as The unanimous vote Of the Senate, Altesls the
wisdom OF the resolutions lately submitted by you,
calling for Information 10 the state of our ma
donal deleHees. IL was, indeed, time 10 arousc
when lhe din OF preparation came TO us on every
breeze which swept across the Atlantic. The pub
lie press-the debates in Parliament--the confident
not to say arrogant tone OF the minislry-ali
show that England IL preparing for n gceat slrug
in the enlargement Of her military and naval estnb.
lshmenIs, the arming Of her foriicatons the Great
ing OF new depots, providing munitions, and per-
fecIlng every arm, engine, and implement of war.
The intelligent correspondent OF the New York
Courier and Enquirer, writing from London, under
date OF the 18th November, says, never since The
time Of Napoleon have such immense, such extr,-
ordinary military and naval preparations been ma
king IN this country as at the present time and for
many months past. Fully six months ago was NV
atteruon hrsl attracted To this subject The actiyitv
prevailing at DePuord, Woolwich, (particularly for
guns and steamers at this vast Sheer
ness, Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth and Penn
broke, is really wonderful. Not only in the govern
ment dockyards are ships and steamers being pre-
pared with the utmost expedition, but also in pri-
vaie bodybuilding yards iron ioar steamers being
constructed, not only the Thames but also si
Liverpool and Glasgow. From my Inquiries have
every 10 believe these extraordinary wariks
preparations are made in reference TO our country
The war steamers now preparing with SUCH energy
and promputude will make dash upon Portland
Portsmouth, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Bal,
hmore, Charleston, &c, &c, simultaneously With
out giving US time to prepare and resist this sudden
incursion." ........ ... ... II. ...
The attentive correspondent Of the Boston A,,ss
under later date from London, states, that the
attention of the British government has receptIv
been directed to the importance Of fitting wnr steam
ers with extra strengthening pieces and beds
for the reception Of mortars. Several EXPERIMENT.
have been made on board the war-steamer Seourge
and they have proven that steam vessels are csnabr
Of bearing the discharge Of morars Of the heaviest
caibre, without injury to the vessel her machine
ry. Last week twelve consecutive l3nch shells with
the 20pound charge of powder, were fired from The
Seouge in twenty minutes, and while the vrs-
sci was under full steam. The shocks wero consid-
cradle, but the machinery Of the steamer was not
injured The l6-feet ffty-six FOUNDER pivot gun OF
81 hundred weight was then tried Ii pounds of
powder were used each time, and forty shots were
fired. The recoi was very slight. The mortar 10
placed on the deck, as the conclusion has much
less effect The Scourge Is upwards of eleven hun
bred TONS" . ...--. = . IT,, .....I -
The London Morning Herald remarks, tina, ",be
Introduction Of mortars into steamers will form an
era In the science of offensive naval warfare as
against towns and Notifications situated on an en-
emy's coast, or on the margin of navigabe rivers
their effect would be most destructive. Eight or Ten
vessels armed like the Scouge po,ld be more effective
than fleet Of irenfy sail Of the line. 1t is said that
since the recent experiments were made, government
intend to order number of steam bomb vessels.n
In the London Times, under date of the 9TH De-
cember, it is also stated that, swhin the las, few
days, survey has been going on under the direc-
ton of naval officer high in rank, of the large mer-
camille steamers in the mai-servce of her Majesty,
with view to the ascertanng of their capabilities
for carrying guns of the largest calibre An ar
rangement has also been entered into in virtue Of
which these steamers are to be placed at the COM
mand of government In the event of their being re-
quired as vessels of war"
Many more extracts of similar character might
be given from other leading papers, to show the eff
forts which England is making to concentrate her
power in Canada, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, and eve
ry other point from which she act with effect on
the frontiers, we'll as seaboard of the United
States. Not the least though the most covert and
insdious of these efforts, are being made THROUGH
her agents and servants OF the Hudson Bay Compa-
ny, to bring all the northwestern Indians under the
protectorate ofthis emprencorporation invested by
acts Of Parliament with civil, judicial, and military
power, and made the instrument by whose pratical
and rapacious acts, like those Of the East India Com
pany, England acquires territory, amasses wealth
and increases her power, while she denies the NOR
al and international government responsibility I'll
those very acts. Ii hns at all times been the poIicy
Of Great Britain-a policy little in keeping with her
ostenatious humanity in regard to the black rice
to keep the red men under subsidy to her. 80 as 10
have them always ready to bring into the field
against the United States In the declaration of in
dependence the King of Great Britain was reproach-
ed with exciting domestic Instruction among u.s. and
bringing on the inhabitants of our frontiers the mer-
ciless Indian savages whose known rule of warfare
is undstinguished destruction Of all uges sexes and
conditions. During tho revolution we proposed that
the Indians should be suffered to remain neutral |
but England refused. She has kept them under
arms, or in semhostile st lie against u.s. from that
day to this. Our commissioners at Client proposed
an agreement for the perpetual neutrality of the In
dams, but again England refused it. The ,pcrsever
Of Great Britain in this unchristan policy has
been deporobly injurious to us, and its effects are
written with the scelping knife and the brand Of the
Indian in letters of blood and fire. in The history of
every one Of the disasters Of the western and south
ern States, from the massacres Of Wyoming and
Cherry Valley, and the defeats Of Harmar and ST
Clair to the late wars Of Tecumseh the Prophet,
Black Hawk, and Osceoa. Ever since the charm
of her naval invincibity was broken by our brave
tars in equal contest Of ship to ship, and fleet to
fleet, and her veteran and before unconquered le-
gions were defeated by undisciplined militia,
England has brooded the Notifying events;
and now, rivaled in manufactures, exceeded in com
mercial enterprise and thwarted and exposed in her
insidious attempts to recover her ocean-supremacy
by being made high-constable OF the seas, she re-
CARDS the United States at once, with hatred, fear
and jealousy. Her hostile efforts, though unseen,
have yet never ceased--at one time by pretended
crusades Of philanthropy, at another by diplomat
&c intrigue, and at all times by fomenting jeal
ousies and creating discomfort through secret
agents and hired emissaries. In the coming
war, for come ninsi, Indians and slaves are again
to be the instTuments used for our annoyance; for
all history, os well as our own experience, has
proven that that power which boasts to be the
hnl rar Of hrisf cL n