The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-03

II will never do to let Great Britain any other power
command thai sheet Of water with her ships an war
To whom shall its deences be inasled bat 10 the PEG
pie OF the South and West, who have so much at stake
there
Therefore forily the Tortugas and build up the navy
yard at Memphis.
The South and West have been himbis-rigged out OF
that work The law has made il naval depot or dock
yard II has been converted into rope-walk, and there
by il has become by-word and reproach. IL not an
eye. sore repeat here what have recently had oeea-
sion elsewhere TO say upon the same subject
"The enterprise of American citizens is about 10 open
one or more commercial highways across the isthmus
The 10 them lies through American waters They
will be the channsls OF communication between the distant
shores OF the nailonits great highways IRON one part
OF the Union 10 the other.
The faith OF the nation has been pledged touching the
neutrality OF some oil these communications The
country will expect It's navy TO keep them open IN war
and 10 preserve ansulled the national faith.
The way TO these thoroughiares and the road TO mar
ket from the Mississippi valley run side by side through
"No system OF measures for providing for the common
defence can be considered either complete or elective
unless secure the command TO us oil this mare ausnm
Its commercial Importance already great, Will IN lew
years more be paramount
''Already the natural outlet for millions. il is destined to
surpass all other OF the for its commerce, Ills
wealth, and its national importance.
1.-The currents and winds at sea such as 10 unite IN
the Florida pass the commercial mouth OF the Amazon
with that OF the Mississippi.
.The market way across the seas from the valley OF
the Amazon 10 the Ornoco, the Magdalena, the Atrato
the Coatzacoacos. the Rio Grande. and the Mississippi
passes through or upon the borders OF this sea.
The works projected which will turn in that drec
lion the of the East and all The ships engaged
in it, whether from Europe or America. will sail through
the Gulf OF Mexico and Caribbean sea, passing by our
doors, both coming and gong.
",Through the Gulf OF Mexico and the Caribbean sea,
thai country will require safe condact in for its mails
its citizens and their merchandise, they pass 10 and
FROM one part of the Union TO the other.
The natural outlet to system OF river basins that IN
clude within their broad dimensions 7Uo oil latitude,
the fertile lands in either hemisphere. and area
of them exceeding in extent the whole continent oil
Europe, this arm OF the ocean that is spread out before
our southern doors occupies that position upon which
the business OF is 10 reach its fullest develop.
ment
'Here is to be the scene Of contest between maritime
nations in Here are the gaeways OF the ocean,
and the power will hold the keys tbeeof that has the
naval supremacy in the Gulf Of Mexico.
The great sea-fghts OF this country are probably to
ln the valley of the Mississippi Nature has placed the
means and free institutions the men for defending
that Gulf and the interests connected herewith Unless
avail ourselves OF these resources now, will be dill
fcu and expensive to command II IN war.
Therefore in providing system OF national delences
to complete the navy yard at Memphis, and make Of
establishment worthy oil its object, and capable OF giving
force and effect in TINA OF TO the immense naval
sources, power, and strength OF the great valley oil the
West
40 Memphis. Pensacola. and the Notifications al Key
West and the Tortugas ought TO be mainly ntrusled the
ueIenceS Oh the oull Vi nicAtCO.
II has been said " II is too expensive build navy
yard at Memphis piles will have TO be driven al the
edge of the river" Yet it would seem il is not too
pensive to drive them in The bottom of the al New
York and build there dock which the Secretary OF the
Navy in his last annual report tells the country has cost
81. 1925 SO.
| do not comprehend the logic which makes il too
pensiye TO provide for the defence in the Gulf of
Mexico-ihe most vital port in our whole syslem-when
1t has been by too expensive to provide de-
fences for the Atlantic. Provide efectnally in
efecually we care not which. for the defence
OF the Gulf for the common defence of the Atlantic.
All we want jusiice-even- handed, impartial justice
According to the report OF the Secretary OF War just
presented Congress the subject of Notifications the
amount expended upon the army and navy, exclusive OF
dock yards in providing for the defence since
1916, has reached TO upwards oil S75,O00,00O. How
much of this has been expended upon Gull deences,
for the benefit OF the people whom address Precious
little We all know the Atlantic States have enjoyed
double benefit from this expenditure: first, OF having the
works in them and secondly OF drawing the money from
the South and West, and spending it in The North and
East.
To me, gentlemen, il is immateria whether proper
naval establishment at Memphis will cost twenty
millions OF dollars found it, Let have il. say, If it
be necessary. II the country want il, and If great inter-
ests OF State demand it, shall nation like this expose it,
self injury and insult because il afford TO supply
have an establishment there worthy OF lis object and of
the people whose purposes il is TO subserve II should
be The pride and the boast OF the entire Mississippi valley
In times Of peace il would stand you in the place OF
great university for teaching the higher branches OF many
of the mechanic arts 10 your young men.
The workshops connected with such establishment
would be filed with apprentices, whom the government
pays while they learning their trade These work
shops would draw 10 your section OF country many OF
tho most sklful mechanics. They would stimulate the
industrial pursuits of that region and assist the deve
opmen OF lis mineral These are some OF the
incidental advantages which such establishments carry
along with them in peace, and which make their presence
greatly TO be desired along the Atlantic borders.
You have assembled TO plan foundations for your iu-
iure commerce To provide the means OF defending that
commerce appears TO me TO be intimately and necessarily
connected with the subject OF your deliberations Hence
the reason for calling your attention 10 suitable naval
establishment at Memphis, and for pressing il upon your
consideration with all the earnesness that is admissible
The free navigation of the Amazon is the greatest com
mercia boon that the people OF the South and Wesn
deed that the people OF the United Sates-can crays
That river basin is but continuation OF the Mississippi
valley The Mississippi takes its rise near the parallel OF
so degrees north latitude, where the climates are suited
10 the growth OF barley, wheat and the hardy cereal
grains The river south, crossing parallels of lat-
iude, and changing with every mile its climate and the
character OF quality OF the great agricultural staples which
are produced its banks
Having left behind il the region for peltries wheat
and corn, for hemp and tobacco for pulse apples wbis-
key, wne OIL and cotton, and having crossed the pas