New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-30
NETWORK TRIBUNE.
NAVAL STATION ON THE PACIFIC.
The Gulf of Ronsecn.

acni, demand that every proper measure shall be
aiken BY our Government to promote the Com
neroe Of our country and secure the rights Of ouy
citizens in that quarter. The rise OF an active
commercial State in California, aud the settlement
d Oregon, will open new channels Of trade on that
hitherto essentially non commercial coast With
she;r growth will spring up O traffic with the trop
cal republics In Sugar, Rice, Coffee, Cocoa, &c&c.
prvsyortionate TO that which exists upon the Allan
iio Coast " it'll the West Indies. This Commerce,
Il ia easy 70 ioresee, will be carried on In Ameri
can vessels. But this is not all; the establishment
Of new routes Of communication between the two
ooesps across the Central lstbmus, by railroad or
canal or both, will open new but large aud
pro6ta Bile trade between the eastern U nted States
And the States OF Central America, New. Grenada,
Peru and Chill a. also with the rich Pacific slope
of Mexico. This trade too If proper precautions
are taken, will fall into American hands. And
with these facilities, the creation Of which is no
longer a speculative, dreamy thing, bat practical
and immediate, who cannot foresee the reyolu-
ton which must take place In all existing CONNER
cial relations with the great centers OF Aslatc
trade, and comprehend the new and Improved posi-
sion which the United States VIII assume In re-
spect to them
These are matters the importance OF which is
obvious TO every rejecting mind. What, then, with
this new Geld Of enterprise opening before US, is
the immediate duty Of our Government Unques
tionably TO establish such relations and enter into
such arrangements with the Pacific Republics and
States as shall place our commerce with them and
the rights Of our citizens the best possible basis
ado ping as far as possible, the principle OF rec
pretty. This has been comprehended by our Gov
ernuRDt, and was made the subject OF remark by
Gen. Taylor, in his Message to Congress. And
practically something has been done in carrying out
these liberal views. Our treaties with New
Grenada, Nicaragua, San Salvador, &c. apart from
their important special provisions in respect TO in
ter.oceanic communication, concede all the rights
pertaining to native citizens in respect TO trade,
transit, &c. to our people and their property and
make oil the ports OF these States free TO our COM
nerce and we are assured that our diplomatic
agents have sgni6ed 10 the Cabinet atW ashington
that arrangements may be made, If such is the dis
position of our Government for the exchange OF
suoh commodities or staples as are the exclusive
products of the respective countries, free of duties
Thus the -four and cotton, woolen and iron fabrics
Of the United States may enter those States free,
provided their coffee, cocoa, indigo and cochinea,
Brazil wood, DC. shall enjoy the same privilege In
the United States. That this reciprocal system
should be extended 30 far it can be without in
terfering with the encouragement due to home
production, s, it seems too evident proposition to
need the support Of argument.
But the duty OF the Government extends still
further. 1t has always been deemed important to
naint ain a considerable squadron on the Pacific.
Our large whaling feet in these seas our relations
with the often threatened Sandwich Islands, and
various other obvious causes, have rendered neces-
sary a naval force adequate to any emergency.
This necessity is much augmented by the present
and prospective condition Of affairs In that quarter
A single year has quadrupled our interests there,
and it is impossible to calculate the ratio OF their
increase. And recent events have shown that our
progress has not been witnessed without Jealousy,
II not alarm, by rival nations. These events have
also shown that right and justice stand in danger OF
being sacrificed by those nations, in their zeal to
check our rapid advance. The outrage on the
Sandwich Islands on the part OF France, and the
not less unauthorized assault upon Honduras by
Great Britain need only to be referred 10 In luus
fxation OF our remark. All these things demand
net only an augme ntaton OF our naval force In the
Pacific, but also the establishment there OF con-
yenient and easily Inaccessible naval station, with
which the Government can promptly communicate
in case of need. And this station should be at
some point whence operations in any direction
may be rapidly conducted 1t should ALSO il posi-.
Bile, combine the requisites OF security, good
climate, and abundance OF supplies, including ma
terials for repairs.
And here It may be observed that it has always
been the complaint Of our Commanders In the Pa
eRc that they are dependent for their latest infOr
nation upon the British Squadron. Even the news
of the declaration Of war against Mexico reached
pur aeet through the British Admiral after it had
been retained several days, in order TO enable him
70 make such disposition Of his forces az he thought
necessary in consequence And what is true Of
the American squadron 10 true OF the American Di
plomaiic Agents that side Of the Continent
With less interests at stake, the foreign Govern
Ments are twice as yiglant as our own; their COM
nunica atoms by means Of paid Agents are prompt
and rapid and as q consequence their movements
proportioustely active. This state Of things should
be RENE died.
San Francisco is no doubt an eligible position for
Naval depot, aud we shall unquestioDsbly always
have greater or less naval force at that point
Bat whstever foreign naval service may be re-
CURED must, from necessity, be to the southwark
nopg the coast OF the Continent or to the westward
ut the islands or the Asiatic shore. In either
case, and for long time to come, until communica
ton with California 10 more directly established,
MI orders for the feet must pass the Isthmus
OF Panama or Nicaragua, and thence In Is or 20
days to Gan Francisco. An equal number OF days
must be lost in the downward trip Of the vessels, If
destined for any southern service. Again, We have
now naval station at Valparaiso la order to
Transmit orders there, about the same time is lost
- In sending them to San Francisco. Both points
are eminently inconvenient. We want station
a. before said, which may be easily and speedily
reached, and from which operations can be readily
carried chi and such station must be sought some.
where on the western shore Of the Central Amer.
can lstbmus
Ii may be suggested that Panama is favorable
position Ii is true 1t may be reached 10 10 or IL
days from New.York, and would be, in this respect
n great improvement on Valparaiso But it has
no harbor proper the bay Is much exposed; the
climate, though not deadly like Chagres, is never.
theless bad and supplies and the means Of repairs
are deficient. The prevalent winds are also unfa.
vorsble for sailing 10 the noTth~ard Of that
parallel
There il however, 900 miles to the northward, q
position admirably adapted for the purpose 10 ques
tion, ard it needs only to be known to be regarded
BY every man as by far the most inn ortant point
on all the Pacific coast. 1t was wisely selected by
Drake 80 his headquarters. during bis piratcsl
operations in that ocean. This is the Calf or B ay
of Fonseca or Conchsgua, stretching its wide
arms into the three States OF San Salvador
Honduras and Nicaragua. Ii is about 90 or 100
miles long 30 or 40 in average width, completely
land ocked, and secure a. the Bay Of NewY
The entrance 10 broad, and the land marks 40 con.