The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-25

California ID the island OF Bermuda. ships from ue
ports bound the other hemsp pass on oae sae VI
his Island while those from the northern STATES pass on
he other side q l. Is powerful pGs,,DI a s% s,oss Of
all few steamers stationed as lookouts on lha
aad would give intelligence o. The arpIo sr 4, ,s rock
island OF ST Helena, another centre oil naval opera
road California But getting safely by this we next come
the Falkland island another station upon when Tue
British navy perched right in the middle OF our road Is
cape here would be miracle for at this point the tracks
OF all vessels come together preparatory 10 doubling ue
pass by this port without molssation, would be only
the storms and tepesis oil the cape ana there
nnsubsidized allies OF that proud realm, US me winds o.
heaven styled BY British statesman and afier
all these dangers are passed. The haven we seek would sun
be three months oil u
The deal therefore, Of sending 10 our Pacific coasts any
in time OF around Cape Horn, OF oil furnishing
any navy supplies by such route, is mere chimera-
wholly and utterly inprscticabe
taking this view OF the subject the committee propose
consider the Of naval defence which economy
true policy and sound forecast require should be pro-
that they propose recommend plan for accomplish
ing T. .,, 49,, ,,.r.,,o,. which ough,
TO be made In peace for the defence In OF any coast
line, there is for wide aad honest differences OF opn
ion especially neither the time nor the motive oil
that war can be oressen be known who the other
begerent may be- But in this case and on this OCCASION
though degree OF preparation IS necessary that pre-
paraton involves tedious undertaking nor exavagan
appropriations
or among the islands the Pacific There is not so much
dockyard to be found from one extent 70 the
though inquiry has been made that there is single port
in the Pacific ocean, along its shores that at this
capable, with Its own resources, OF building or equip
ping much second class frgate Maritime ma
England France and Russia have colonies there
but naval stations OF any consequence whatever
Hence it appears that the naval supremacy on the sea
is easily acquitted and when once acquired and placed in
likely to be wreed from them, or even to be dispu
ted In the event Of war; Great Britain finding us nnp,e
OF her stations and other facilities send force there
superior the small now kept in commission and 50
Iaaaf apnUt a
she would be induced TO make the attempt
But at the breaking out OF war she should see ships
already built and lying in ordinary Ia our Pacific ports II
she should there the means and facilities OF
and repa-none Of which she has she should also
i'm exon with this state Of paraon the Marbehead
and other fishermen whom the war would throw out oil emf
sna b q aFs hs ssod ss
there these very men, standing as corps Of reserve and
the last such of remembrance, she would
doubt be disposed TO leave us alone IN that quarter
" AS long ships be built on the Atlantic, and
delivered on the Pacific cast cheaper than they could
built there, true policy and economy reoare that they
should be built here and sent there"
will detain the Senate but few minutes longer
while express my regret that the prevailing spirit OF the
present Congress seems TO be adverse to the extension OF
the system OF mail steam ship lines. There are great de-
ects the SYSTEM but these defects should not be used TO
desoyt Let avoid the OF former laws but never
abandon system which is Intimately connected with our
commercial prosperity. shall on future occasion go
more fully into this subject and content myself Tor the
present, with showing what great advantage Great
Britain would have in war between the two countries,
by using for war purposes the steamships now employed
BY that government in carrying the mails all over the
world.
In the event OF such war, Great Britain would arm
her mail steamers and fill them with seamen TO man the
prize vessels they may capture she has nese steamers
would answer her purposes.
Her Mediterranean mail steamers would be ordered 10
the Straits OF Gibraltar Here they would capture every
American vessel in the Mediterranean sea, and all
sells bound thher and send them into Gibraltar Tor con-
fscaon and safety.
the Straits OF Sunda Gaspar Macassar and the Cape Of
Good Hope This would enable them TO capture nearly
every American vessel in the East Indies Their prizes
would be sent 10 Singapore and Cape Town, or the Cape
Of Good Hope, for safety and conhscalion.
Her Rio and Rio de la Plate steamers would be ordered
TO cruise on the Equator and they would capture all the
vessels that escaped round the Cape oil Good Hope and
Cape Hon well all vessels going 10 and from Rio
de la Plate and The Brazs Their prizes would be sent 10
the Falkland Island, St Helena, Jamaica, and other
islands in the West Indies for safety and coDtsea,ion
Her West India, Boston, and New York steamers
would be ordered cruise of The habsrs of the United
States, and their prizes would be sent TO Bermuda and
Halifax for safety and confscation.
Her HAVE steamers would capture all vessels sailing
10 or from Europe.
now come TO the North Pacific ocean. Here alone
Great Britain has no fortified point where her prizes
could be deposited for safety and contscaon But she
could soon remedy this defect The Sandwich islands
are poweress, and contain good harbors, and the
past history OF Great Britain shows that she would not
hesitate seize these islands, and make their harbors
the asylum for her prizes. Thus her Pacific steamers
would capture our Wnaiefs anu merchant Ncssts III
ocean, and send them TO Brons bay, other har-
Dor in the Sandwich islands, for safety and conscalon
That this is no exaggerated statement OF the power
oil the British government in the event OF war
with this country, is easy OF demonstration had |
the time TO enlarge upon the subject Ii should be borne
in mind that her mail steamers are built with express
reference 10 their steamers. am inform ed
that simultaneously with their building, ornaments
prepared and desposed ports where they can short
notice. be fitted TO the vessels, and have them ready Tor
war service.
The only point on the ocean where we have any adj
vantage Great Britain is in the North Pacific. As
shown in the report have just read there she has
fortified harbors naval depos docks for the repair OF
vessels Her steam marine is weaker there than in any
other part OF the world. We have already more than
dozen steamers engaged in carrying the mails from Pan
anna to California and Oregon With fully-equipped
navy-yard and such a dock this bill proposes 10
build. could in incredible short space OF time,
turn 6ese steamers into vessels and sweep the
Pacific ocean, sending prizes into San Francisco for
safety and con6scaiion. With knowledge OF the fac,
that her whole Pacific commerce would be destroyed,
and her East India possessions endangered Great Britain
would not engage in war with this country, unless
forced TO do so by Although she could, stated cut
up and destroy commerce with other parts OF the
world, yet with the ocean supremacy the Pacific in
hands, II would be question OF the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF her empire. In the North would her North
American POSSESSIONS and in the East we would destroy
her dominion in Asia.
have spoken OF the dozen mail steamers running be-
tween Panama, California and Oregon, which could
equip vessels in emergency, ii had the ne
cessary OF docking and fitting them up. But gve1
the important works asked for in this BILL and we will
soon have live times many steamers, and vast naval
fleet in ordinary in the bay OF San Francisco, that could
be speedily put IN commission, and thus secure TO the
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