The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-20

country their full efficiency and development in any
emergency OF war, il becomes our duty TO guard with
increased vigilance against all OF sectional irIita
on and to Eradicate, FAR possible from the national
councils and policy the seeds OF sectional strife as we
would the deadly nigbtshade from our grounds not by
prescription and denunciaon but by culuvatnga spirit
oil mutual iorbearance and cancellations,
Thirdly. To strengthen our national deiences-to place
them upon footing which may not leave The country ex-
posed in the emergency OF TO shameful and morIfy
Ing disasters and especially to add largely 10 our mill
ary marne-a demanded by our extended foreign
trade and the manifest nadequacy oil The present naval
establishment to give 10 il that protection and security
which 10 necessary even IN time OF peace.
From statement, the most authentic and reliable |
have been able TO procure OF the present naval
mens oil the States OF Europe, IL appears that Great BIZ
tain can put aoa fleet oil CTS effective waryessels OF
all casses-l5O OF which propelled by steamwith
navy consists OF 325 effective vessels, with az
gregate OF 5000 guns. Russia has fleet OF us effect
I'VE vessels. with an aggregate complement OF 5000
guns. besides 4io gun-boals, The proportion OF
steamers in the nayes of France and Russia have had
no means OF ascertaning
will not detain the Senate by any notice Of The naval
establishments OF the inferior maritime powers OF Europe,
but am sure the Senate will take an interest IN the stale
ment able 10 make OF the navy OF the United States,
which consists OF 70 effective vessels OF all classes with
an aggregate complement OF 1880 guns-o these YES
sells, are propelled by steam!
Such is the naval force that we rely upon for the
protection OF the honor OF our fag-our commerce,
which peneaes every accessible TO American enter
prise, and an ocean frontier OF SIX thousand miles in
tent
Such Is the beggarly and miserable preparation OF the
means OF maritime warfare either offensive defensive
with which proceed TO provoke and insult the great
powers of continental Europe Why, sir. one single fact
ought TO be sufficient 10 awaken IN the minds OF the
people OF this country lively apprehension OF the perls
OF the condition and attitude in whiciiswe may be pa-
ced. Oar communication al this moment with Calfor.
MIA and Oregon for all purposes OF effective supply and
defence is by searequirng average voyage OF -four
thousand miles by the slhmus route and OF sixteen
thousand miles, and not les than six months time il the
passage be made around Cape Horn, or through the
straghts OF Magellan. Ii will thus be glance
that either OF the maritime powers of Europe, whose
navies have alluded 10, could in Two months
time so efectually block up our only reliable COM
munication with California and Oregon, as to defy
all the of this country short OF year or twos
preparation TO reopen II.
But that is not the most lamentable and mcrifyine
aspect OF the condition OF affairs in this county, at
period of time when all the world may be regarded
as trembling upon the verge OF CONFUSION and Change
when principles most vital and momenous 10 man
kind threaten to become the subject OF universal
| conflict; at period when we may be exposed &c
a hostile combination OF all the great powers Of con-
tinen,a Europe. AT such period this, under such
circumstances thesc-what the prevalent ideas
and passions, and cares which occupy our american
politicians and statesmen! The passion for place and
| poson--the idea OF power! These the ideas and
passions which control every great interest this country
every branch OF public policy, internal and external
foreign and domestic commerce. the extension and i'm
provemen OF internal communication; the pubic de
fences; all all become but secondary considerations
regulated moulded into shape and form, subsevent
the purposes or adapted to the exgencies OF the great
the eternal conflict which goes to whose hands
or what clique or faction, or party, shall bt made
the repositories, from tins TO time, of the power
and patronage OF the government. Even the slave
question could not escape the predominant and csnro
lag passion OF the tmesorgnally stimulated into being
and wrought up to It's present complexion by the same
teress and indebted still for all its presen disturbing vital
iiy the necessities and exigencies OF these achons
parties-if you please TO dignity them by the nane-n
GLIDING, il you chose. the party to which belong.
would not do so great act OF dscourtesy of in
justice 10 the honorable members who grace this cham
Der by their presence and enlghen by their cornses
nor TO politicians and statesmen of the country gen
orally, TO deny that there many individual excep
tons the general avement have made TO the pre-
vaent passions and influences which control public AT
fairs But, with this explanation, repeat that all polti
cal calculations and speculatons verge to one end On
idea regns triumphant throughout the land the idea o
power And this ioo at such period in the affairs
the world-this too, in the American republic. Wei
may invoke the spirit and the counsels OF Washing
| ton TO inspire with wisdom and kndle II
our bosoms the flame OF revolutionary patriotism