The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-26

fne I0rtug0s, at Ship Island, and at one or two
more such places, are those which will protect our
cities and towns from the broadsides of men-of-
war.
"The forts already completed, or we'll advanced
towards completion, are believed to be sufficient
for this They should, however, be mounted with
bre for throwing erplosive shot and shels''
The entire report of Lieutenant Maury possesses
great interest is full of useful information and will
amply repay perusal and study. From p. l79 to
1874 inclusive, he treats OF the deenees of the uf
of Mexico, and proves in mastery manner that
the measure propose is not only important, and
one that concerns the whole country, but that it
is essentially necessary to protect the commerce Of
the Gulf
As early as May, 1910, this officer published, in
the columns OF the Southern Literary Messenger,
(vol. 6 p $40, &c.,) views, opinions, and recon
mendations similar to those contained in the docu
ment last referred to This paper is of a charac
ter that deserves the attention of every statesman
Lieutenant Maury there expresses the opinion,
now generally entertained, that the Florida Pass
is to be the battle-ground of the next war in which
wernay be engaged. On page 80 he says:
SIN future the West Indies are to be the scene of
our great nasal engagements THE vast slaughter
house OF maritime nations at war. France and
England have their islands at which their ships
may rendezvous. But such is the unprotected
stateo OF our southern coast, and the condition of
our navy at present, that in with either of
these two powers, Pensacola and all the rich out
poTings of the Mississippi ,coud be at their mercy
After speaking of the necessity of trongly
fortified rendezvous for our chips of war and mer-
camille marine, he shows that every man west of
the Allegheny '.has direct personal interest in
the NATTER and that ssall the immense wealth
which is poured in and out of the Gulf is at the
mercy of the enemy" and makes strong appeal
to western men.
He says, page 3l1:
''Let them take map and examine with view
to ascertain what protection is guaran eed to their
commerce in time of war. They will find that the
Gulf of Mexico, studded with islands its eastern
borders, is hemmed in on all eides by other ma
tons; that every pass is commanded by them.
And, IN time OF war, the only outlet for their com
merce is around Cape Sable through the Gulf of
Florida; that along this pass it must have a
strong guard lest it fall a prey into the enemy's
hands. And they will then that, cost what
money it may, the United States should have the
command-should hold the keys to this .pass.'''
He then adds, still appealing to his western
countryme1:
warn my fellow-citizens there of the dangers
which some day may blight their prosperity; and
as one who may be called to ward off these dan
gers in the face of death, | beseech them to look
to their welfare; and now, while it is peace, to
listen to the dictates of prudence and of wisdom,
and warn their representatives N Congress not to
let their especial interest and the nations wealth
be found in this exposed, unprotected, and de-
fenceless state in the hour of DANGER
1t is not inappropriate in this connexi. n to re
late N anecdote of General Jackson, which have
heard from good authority, and which, think.
was first published by Lieutenant Maury Soon
after he was elected President, the sOld Hero'
told friend there were three things he had much
at heart, and in his peculiar, decided way, de-
clared, with the blessing of God these three
things will cause to be done Paw off the national
debt, Kill the monster bank at Philadelphia, and
fortyy the Icrtugas." He succeeded in the first;
the second he accomplished most effectually. The
third ne constrained by the remissness of Con-
gress to leave to his successors; and appeal to his
friends to heed the counses and carry out the pa
triotic wishes of this iustrious man
so strongly impressed was be with the great i'm
Portance OF this measure that one of his first Off
clal acts was in respect to it. He ordered within
month after his Inauguration, 'ssuch a general
examination to be made (by naval and military
omcers) as would lead to a just estimate of the
value, susceptibility of defence, &c., of the Dry
Iortugas " This duty was assigned to C, mmodore
Rodgers, in April, 1929. Governor Branch. then
Secretary of the Navy, in his first annual report,
(senate doc No. p. 81, lst $685. 2lst Congress-
said OF the report of Commodore Rodgers, it twas
so favorable as to justify full and minute survey
which was entrusted to Lieutenants TattnaIl and
Gedney. Of Tortugas, Commodore Rodgers sa vs..
% 236, same doc.:l
..Besides afording safe anchorage at all seasons
OF the year. 1T s sufficiently capacous to ride in Sc
curlty all the navies of Europe; but what is most
singular, there is within this harbor another still
more secure, which in its character may be said to
De unique, uniting as it does, sufficient depth of
Va
entrance not more than one hundred nd5twentv
yards wide; easy OF lngress and egress; and NAV
be entered or departed from at all times let the
WIND De from what point of the compass it may
In March, 1880, General Jackson still manifest
ing the interest expressed in this subject prior IN
his Inauguration, sent special message to Con-
gress, calling ''attention to the importance of this
position (Tortugas) to the United States a naval
station, and transmitted letter from the Score
tary of the Navy, WHO said sit would be difficult to
estimate the oolue of such position for sGcol rem
d. Suous and depot &C., and also the renort IF
Lieutenant Tattnall, in which, among other recon-
mendations, he said
ga fortress at the Tortugas, looking directly
into the port of Havana, in conjunction with q
naval force, would be strong if not an etfectuaI
check on such disposition, AND GIVE Us AT All
TIMES THE coNTRoLoF THE ISLAND OF CUBA (Sen
doc vol 2, No. III, PIP. /, 2, and 5, let sess 2Ist
Congo
In subsequent Communications he continued To
press this subject on the attention of Congress.
But, sir, 1t is useless to multiply authorities.
Enough mas been said to show that this measure
has received the sanction and earnest adyocacu If
oar most enlightened and patriotic statesmen. and
OF all the experienced and scientific officers Of the
army and navy who have turned their attention 10
the subject Nor has the consideration and die
cussIon OF this question: and appreciation of its i'm
portance, been confined to our own officers and
statesmen. 1t often attracted notice and ELECTED
debate in the British Parliament before the cession
of the FloFdas, and waa subject of FREQUENT: ami
mated, and most interesting discussi at and soon
after the cesson. In May, 1919, the Maraui ofLens
downe, (the famous Sir Henry Petty, } then a oppn
stion peer while speaking on the subject of the v
ecution by General Jackson Of Arbutbnot and Am.
brister, British ss hlibusters' among the Florida
Indians and negroes, (upon whom doubtless thew
desired to confer all sthe blessings of civil and re-
ligious liberty,') alluded to the purchase of athe
Floridas" BY the United States, and took Earls
Bathurst and liverpool to task for having permit
ted the cession, and gave fc6gent reasons for his
censure, the chief of which was the Importance of
the naval and military positions the United States
obtained by this acquisition. will quote d few
passages from his speech, as reported In Hansard
Parl. Deb, LIST series, vol 40, p. 29l. He said;7
.sIt was impossible for him not to advert to thai
event, which had so materially changed the sit
uation of this country, [Engiand.] with respect
to its colonial power in the West IndiesEbe
meant the cession of the Floridas. He could state
without fear of contradiction in that House. or
elsewhere that colonial cession so nnateriallu ar
fecting the interests Of this country has eyer 6pfore
taken place 1t was his anxious wish, and he be-
lieyed that of all the country, that the peace now
enjoyed should be of long duration; but neither
their lordships, nor those who administered the
government, were justified in overlooking the pros
pect Of rene,cal Of The hostiities at some period
or other. Should a war take place, the relative
situation OF this country would be essentially
changed He could ,oittout the slightest hesitation
rssert, that the acquisition of the loridas auould
place great part of the commerce of this country
Nth the West Indies at the nercy of he Un;t,a
States In the case of hostllities, our honeuard
bound heet could not pass The (I,Jf of EsJor;Jo