Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-06-05
STEAM AND NATIONAL DEFENCE.

There are many opinions about the best and proper
means to protect harbors and seaport from hos
tile steamships of war; Of need yet none seem to
meet the requirement in every particular An increase
of steam marine, the continued construction of
FORTS and the experiment of floating defences are
advised, and good yet something more is wanted.
Between the advancing desposms of European Govern
mens the hand, and the two only liberal Govern
ments in the world, the United States and Great Britain
on the other, is drawn line of demarcat;on l:l v,os
sariy makes us faternze with the latter vet had
not the once mooted question Of the Oregon boundary line
been settled in the it was we should have had
war proclaimed by British steamers from the lannon's
mouth in the harbors Of our comparatively defenceess
cities
Nor should we be too sangune of security or the
mpossbty of war in these strange times Of peace nor
suppose the manufacturers Of our cotton will much inu
ence British statesmen in their decisions or that espotc
European Powers, having more ships of war than our
selves when we brave Them may attempt to give us
a lesson.
The power which steam gives to land every where upon
our coasts and even on eeshore, makes it necessary
to be prepared to meet enemy where he should think
proper to land out Of range Of our harbor defences
From the facility with which the Russian feet passed
the Dardanees, in the with Turkey in 1923 in the
face Of the defences of that position and the
the still shorter time they would be under fire. we must
expect that feet Of twenty thirty Of
war would any fortress at night without the neyta
bic consequence to sail vessels Of being sunk or disabled
But should we for that dsmane our forts and
harbor defences, or leave them unfnshed BY no means
Tor the improvements in the caber Of ordnance and ho
low shot render them formidable to passing enemy how
ever numerous and powerful and bar his exit in Grip
pied condition, while they prevent insults from an insig
mhcant force But to protect our numerous towns
which have defences, and to meet efficiently the re-
qurements of the feature Of war adduced by steam
the following is devised to call attention thereto or some
thing better:
We have on hand at Charlestown Mass navy yard
alone no less than hundred Of all sizes and
Sorts of approved model thoroughly tested and proved
and many at other arsenas Now, let the Ordnance De-
partment issue the light brass edpieces which are in
store to replace the old heavy iron field batteries wher
ever these found in service and ALSO instead of
muskets for citizens who FIRE rifles better let Congress au
horze the further make, necessary and distribution Of
such brass pieces volunteer uniform companies of
militia, especially in localities along coasts and con-
hguous to railroad lines say four Founders and two
twelve pound howzers to each company Of one hundred
men, with friction printing tubes instead Of lint lint stock
porre and stock these pieces to be MANAGED en-
rely by hand and with bricols Two caisons should ac
company each train, and proportion Of fixed ammun
ton should be kept on hand.
These guns, ever ready for transportation along
railroads to any point would be available in the
hands of regulars and volunteers when needed in the
shortest space Of time and the effect of thousand such
pieces upon an enemy land, be well APP
preciated by military men, and with the force of small
which we could bring bear they would render us
invncble to the world in arms
With this arrangement weak points would lie only
on the Pacific coast and railroad from Fort Leaven-
WORTH across the continent uniting the valley Of the Mis-
ssspp to the Pacific ocean, already required for travel
trade and economical military purposes would equally
strengthen there bI
For the preservation Of these guns they should be sub
cc to an annual inspection by officer Of the regular
army under orders from the War Department. unless
purchased by the companies themselves a cost price,
which should have at discretion in all cases. supply on
application the requisite number and kind Of pieces hold
ing recipients responsible for proper usage
AN OPINION