The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-29
The Fishery QusstSop--Warfske Movements
-Cynsiixion OF Ihe Envy-The Japan Hh-
u.dtttor au.peudsd.

ga, ..,o,u.,oo n 1882 Talleyrsnd : -sno
!. 81 4 ,pis miserable affair Of tbe ,',
~ - -, r,onarchy.'i necklace aoes
not unset the treLeu NV And il was used
Win terrible effect in oxci'ns: tn French populace
10 those atrocious scenes Of Vi .cnco against Louis
XVI and his Austrian Queer :. which brought them
to the guotine, and oper ed those Internal butche
RIGS Of the Reign Of J error II was paltry tax
upon tea that preeip .ated the American revolution
Of ITO 20 now .hc real causes lying far deeper
causes as yas' md omprehensive the conflicting
interests POD aniipathes between the two nations
80 now, tLfs seemingly Insignificant squabble upon
eodyish end mackerel, may yet be famed into
dame which win light up the sea and the land and
The Old World and the New, in a general blaze Of
war. When there Is long suppressed, but still
uusatsfcd propensity between two men, or two fac
lions or two nations, 10 fight, rrfe, preteSt, q
chance colision-the shadow of an offence lis often
sufi sent to embroi them in the most deadly
and protracted warfare. Just nj this mo-
ment, we stand in this critical relation towards
Great Britain. The seizure Of a fishing smack
fgbt between two fishermen q single Goldfish or
maekerel or a solitary red herring, may extend to
rupture between tho two most powerful nations Of
the ea1th inevitably involving the civilized world
in the explosion.
| Our readers have already been informed OF the
proceedings of the British provincial authorities o-
the expulsion Of our Yankee fshermen from the die
puted fishing grounds; as, also of the co operation
4 Of the homo government in detailing feet Of war
| steamers to aid in enforcing their exclusive con-
structon.cC the treaty of 1918. We have now to
state that the steamship Mississippi, at this port, has
been ordered 10 take her station among our Usher
men, with the view CT deterriEg, resisting, if
necessary, any encroachments upon their rights.
1t is reported also, that the frgate Constitution,
and lie Albany and ST. Louis, sloops Of war, and
other vessels Of the home squadron, are to be de-
tailed to the same service. But whether the pre-
of the protecting fleets OF the two parties viii
hare the effect OF quietins the parties themselves,
or Of driving them to the most provoking extrem.'
ties, is a doubtful question 1t would not be sur
p-isng, however, if these attempts on each side to
iDtimidate the other, to result in rupture Of
he peace between the two countries.
Such is tho present condition OF things in the dis
puted fishing grounds thanking Her Majestys North
American provinces. The peace may be preserved;
but petty insults and little retalatory outragcs may
result in collision between the armed vessels of
the two natons-a probable contingency, beyond
which the entire face Of the habitable globe be
comes a theatre OF war.
In this crisis Mr.. Gwin moves in the Senate.
for information concerning the present disposable
force and condition of the navy. And q wise and
proper motion ii is Our immense commensurate
tered over every sea- and in every nook and corner
of the vorla--in the event of war, becomes in
stantly the prey of the enemy, who, with his fleets
OF steamers and sailing ships, can muster war es-
tablishment OF thousand vessels-hs naval steam
"lene numbering over two hundred VIVA. Is
. the strength Of nayyy y nslr uuzvn r~s
steamers, and less than fifty sailing vessels in
commesion-scarce sufficient TO insure the city
of New York against bombardment by the
enomys overwhelming steam force We should
have but little time for preparation Before wecould
put our harbor defences in effective condition fol
Efficient service, might reasonably expect the most
extraordinary ship which has ever enliyened the
) Custom House. Our whole seabonrd as well as oul
commerce out the ocean, would also, for a time
at least, be almost completely at the mercy OF
the enemy: and, in the outset, we should find it
difficult thing to get in or to get out of our best for
tilted halbors-for the system of attacking seaport
town is different now from that which was the
prevailing fashion in the days of cur revolutionary
war.
For example, in those days, an immense British
feet was despatched, under Sir Peter Parker
for the conquest Of the city of Charleston. Enter
|
Island small fort of Palmetto logs hastily thrown
up, for the eitys protection. There was neees-
sity for firing a gun at this fortress--therc was
plenty of sea room, and the hostile feet might have
passed on up to the wharyes of the city. without
giving or receiving single shot, But there was
the fort-a little out OF the way, perhaps; but the
British captain regarded it a challenge to fight,
which he could not in honor decline So he en-
chored bis feet alongside, and after wasting whole
day. with a considerable loss Of men, and con-
siderable cripplipg Of his ships, he hauled or and
put to sea- Even then, he might just well have
gone up to Charleston not, for the way was open,
and it only six miles or; but falling to take
the fort he felt himself in honor bound to refuse to
take the city. This sort Of maritime chivalry no
longer prevails. Now, in the event Of war, if
British squadron of steamers can run up to Charles
ton or New York in the night, without stopping
even to exchange salute with any fort on the
way, they win do it, 1t is against such contingent
ces that il is our duty to make preparations,
With this cloud of war darkenng over the dis
puted fishing banks, it then becomes the duty Of
Congress to look to the expedency of fitting up our
harbor defences, and Of making provision for the
protection Of our vast commerce by the addition Of
liberal force Of war steamers, ofsuperior swfness
rather than superior size. We ought nc least
to have enough to ensure sailing naval vessels
from capture by the enemy's cruisers In six
months, should the emergency require it, we could
/ turn out from two to three hundred steamers
on The ocean; but safeguards ought to be pro.
yided against the damage which we might suffer in
that interval, if suddenly involved in the tolls Of
| war.
| Let Mr.. Gwin follow up his resolution in the
Senate, in step for reorganzing and reinforc-
ing the navy, especially with swift and effective
steamers. We have fifteen millions surplus in the
Treasury. The tart Of 'l6 yields ample revenue
for all current expenses. 1t is shame that the