The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-26
EXTRACTS FROM SPEECH OF HON.
e. C. CABELL,
OF FLORIDA

rreonred TrOm
House of Representatives., Tuesday, December 81,
1852.
The House beingin the Committee of the W hole
on the state of the Union on the resolutions to
fer the annual message of the President of the
United States, Mr.. CABELL, of Florida, offered the
following resolution:
Resolved That the Committee on Military At
fairs, TO whom has been referred SO much of the
Presidents message as relates to Publications, be
instructed tolnquire into the expectancy OF appro
priating the amount necessary TO complete the for
tfce tons at Key West and Tortugas, known as
Fort Jefferson and Fort Taylor
Which being read, Mr.. CABELL said:
The proposition submit for the consideration OF
the committee does not involve the question of the
merits or dement's of that "magnifcent and
which in reference to the advanced stage of mill.
tary sclence, nautical skill, and steam power, has
been styled that "absurd system of coast defence y
about which 80 much has been written and spoken
and which was so decidedly condemned by the
present House OF Representatives at it's last session
acqulesce' TO some extent, in the propriety of
some OF the denunciatons of certain sswd and ex
trayagant schemes which have, in times past
been recommended by high official authority. The
language used by an able writer this subject,
that ''these schemes Utopian in the extreme,
and fit only to be discussed by the inmates of a
mad house., is not perhaps too strong in reference
to some of them: will not, however, discuss this
TOPIC at this time.
Bot whatever objection may be made to the sub
ject of Notifications generally, to any particular
system, think that the public mind is satisfied
that there is great proprety in fortiiying the points
to which have called the attention of the commit.
tee-Key West and TortUgas. Every considera-
ton of national policy demands that the construc.
ton of the works, commenced more than five years
ago at these points, should be continued and pros
ecuted to completion as possible.
speak not now as the representative of Florida
for this is matter in which my own State has
comparatively less direct interest than even New
York and Massachusetts. 1t is question deeply
affecting the trade, commerce, and navigation of
every section of the United States, and indeed of
the world. But these important points are in the
State have the hon to represent and it is per.
haps most appropriately my duty to urge upon
Congress the necessity Of taking prompt measures
with reference TIC them, Their importance and
the interests involved in their complete fortica
ton cannot be too highly estimated They are
the keys to the Gulf OF Mexico, the West Indies,
and the Caribbean sea. Being in the direct line ef
navigation, the entire Gulf commerce must pass
near and In sight OF them. A large portion of the
export and import trade of Georgia, the whole
trade of Alabama and the other Gulf States and OF
the valley of the Mississippi, of Mexico, of the Ca
ribbean sea, and of the eastern coast of South
America, far down as La Plata, including the
rich and almost UNEMPLOYED country watered by
the Amazon, ''the King of Rivers navigable for
three thousand miles, and its tributaries said to
be capable OF sustaining population of two hun
dred Millions must pass through the Florida Straits.
In late publication stated that IS property of
upwards of $500, 000 600 in value, it is estimated
annually passes along large portion of the Flori
da coast''
Ia making this estimate was controlled by an
estimate of the Treasury Department, made in a
communication to the Senate at last session,
(Sen. Doc. No., in relation to the Florida Ship
Canal,) IN which the value of the merchandise,
annually shipped to and from the Gulf ports was
put down at $250,000,000. Though believed then
it was an under estimate, deducted $50 ,00O, 900
from 1t, to avoid any charge of extrava nee,
which | had heard made against the Treasury es-
innate. Since then have investigated this mat
ter with care, and fully convinced that
the value Of our Gulf trade, commerce and nayi
<lar- oFo1- "a
value. And since the Treasury report have cited
made, the subject has under gone further and
fuller investigation by MIR Hodge, the Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury, and ] have seen
letter addressed by him, some weeks ago. to Mr.
Andrews, correcting his former report, and esti.
mating oar Gulf trade, commerce and naviga.
ton, as amounting annually to 1925 900 600
This is of the Gulf ports of the United States onIu
All this must pass, wheresoever bound, within
sight of Tortugas and Key West. In this esti.
mate the $50, 100000 of gold annually received
from California, by the Chagres and Nicaragua
steamers, the value of the other property or ler-
chandse carried both ways by these steamers, the
value of the tonnage in that trades our Cuba trade
and tonnage, worth more than S 80 900 600 annu-
ally; our trade and tonnage with other West In
dies and with Honduras, amounting annually to
at least S25, 600 600 more; our annual trade and
tonnage with Brazil, worth more than 800, 1000 900
more; and eur trade and tonnage vith all the east
ern coast oil South America, down to La Plata, are
not included Most of this trade, particularly on
the homeward voyage, passes through the Florida
Straits, and near to Tortugas and Key West Con-
slderlng all this trade, commerce, andnavigation,
and estimating the tonnage at $50 per ton, Tin
stead of $75, az stated by Mr.. Hodge, which is
perhaps too high an estimate for series of years
though it may be reasonable at this time, } hest
tat5 not to say that the value of Aneriran sspro
perty' annually passing through these straits in
stead of being but 5000, 600 900, actually exceeds
$500 900 000 In this estimate none of the British
French, Dutch, Spanish, Mexican, or other foreign
''commerce or navigation" passing through these
straits Is included 1t amounts annually to at least
Sl25,0OO,OGO My information on this subject has
been collected with very great care; feel assured
OF the correctness OF my statements, but will be
happy to rectify them if shown to be erroneous
Where, ask, Mr.. Chairman, is there ON the
lace OF the globe position belongin q to any coun
try so important for the defence of that country
and Tor attack upon the commerce of an enemy,
and Tor the protection of its commercial and navi.
eating interests to such an immense amount as
these facts show Key West and Fortugas to be 10
the United States?
My estimates in round numbers No official
returns OF our coasting trade are received at the
Treasury. Estimates of it, therefore, can only be
Approximately and to be gathered and com
piled from statistics otherwise Obtained Our CEN
sus returns of products and manufactures of the
different States, and the statements in commercial
magazines and newspapers prepared by the cham
bers OF commerce, or other reliable local author-
ties OF the different cities and ports, furnish the
chief data.
The value of our exports of raw cotton alone to
foreign countries for the year ending 50h of June,
which was from the Gulf ports; to which should
be added ACE, lOS bales consumed in this country
out of a crop of 1885, PSF bales The whole cotton
crop of the United States for the year ending Sep
TENDER /, 1852, was 3,0l5,029 bales of which
COB ,029 bales were consumed in this country.
The entire crop of the world for the same period
is estimated at 3,44S,000. The States of Texas,
Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ala
bama, Florida, and part of Georgia, produced
and shipped through the Gulf ports 2,1T5464
bales los 445 bales than two thirds of the
entire crop of the United States for the year ending
September l, 1852. Estimating the bales to aver
age $50 pounds, the crop amounts to 97S, 1858 800
pounds, which, at the average price of nine cents
per pound, makes the value of the cotton crop
alone from the States | have named 1888 206 292;
the whole OF which, whether shipped to foreign
ports or to the Atlantic cities must pass through
the Straits Of Florida. Most of the merchandise,
foreign or domestic, purchased with the proceeds
OF the sale OF this CROP goes back to the States which
produced By The same channel and it's value ia
orally quite equal TO that of the cotton Soaiso is If
with respect to the sugar, tobacco, hemp, lumber.
RICE naval stores, and all the products of the same
regions, and OF other western and northwestern
States, and the immense shipments, foreign and
coastwise, of breadstufs, pork, bacon, lard, beef
tallow, and other products of the whole Mississippi
valley made through New OrIeapg and the return