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

sources of the ssGreat West,n and Of that magnif-
cent region embraced in the vast ssAmazonian
basin" the imagination can scarcely conceive
All this commerce and navigation will be sat the
mercy" OF any strong naval power in possession
OF Key West and Tortugas
Inc attention OF Congress has been repeatedly
called to the Importance of fortfying the places to
Wnlcn nave made reference: first by Mr.. Monroe.
VINO was President at the time OF the acquisition of
Florida, and since his time by most of the Presi
dents. Secretaries of War, and engineers who have
examined the subject
In my Investigations have been greatly aided
oy reference to a highly valuable document, com
muihcated oy the Treasury Department to Con-
gress at the last session, respecting the trade COM
meree, and navigation of the United States, which
was prepared by j. D. Andrews, esq.,, the intell.
gent and able United States consul for St. John g.,
New Brunswick. 1t ia now being printed by order
Of bSth Houses, and is, in my Judgment, one of
the most important reports ever laid before Con-
gress have been allowed to make reference to
and extracts from some of the proof sheets, which
at my request were politely furnished to An
appendix to that report contains important pa
per, prepared, | learn, principally from data
and notes furnished by one of the most intel
ligent engineer officers in the service, relating to
the Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida. This
document eek. Doc. H. No 1856, lists 32d Con }
will soon be laid on our tables, and solicit mem
bers to read the paper refer to attentively.
In the American State Papers, volume entitled
4NdFdi 1AAalIS, page OIL, tucTe 1S message oil
President Monroe, January 20, 1923, communicate
ing report from Smith Thompson, Secretary OF
the Navy, in which ne says, speaking of Key
West:
From the report of Lieutenant Commandment
Perry, [now Commodore M. C. Perry,] who was
charged with this duty, it has been satisfactorily
ascertalned that this position affords SAFE
nient, and extensive harbor for vessels of and
merchant vessels"
ssThere can be no doubt, however, of the import
of this island and its contiguous waters in va
rious points of view. The harbor affords a safe
and convenient rendezvous for our public vessels
cruising In the West Indies and the Gulfof Mexico;
and the island very suitable depot for provisions
and supplies From the peculiar dangers of the
navigation along The coast and among the Florida
keys, our merchant vessels frequently driven
by distress to seek harbor; and, for want of one
IN our own waters are under the necessity of
making port in the Island of Cuba, which sub.
jects them 10 considerable additional expense.
This island KEY West] also affords very eIigi-
BILE depot for wrecked property, and which is
highly necessary and advantageous where the
navigation is attended with so many dangers and
| difficulties We are at this time in a great mea-
sure dependent on the wreckers of Ne,D Providence
lin the Bahamasl for the protection of property in
case of shipwreck. This not only gives employ
ment to great number of foreign vessels and sea-
men, but it subjects our merchants to heavy
penses. These some of the obvious benefits of
this position in time of peace; but its advantages
in time OF war with any European power having
West India possessions still more important,
both as it respects the protection OF our own com
merce and the annoyance OF our enemy. An en-
envy with superior naval force occupying this
position could completely intercept the whole
trade between those parts of our country lying
north and east of it, and those to the west, and
seal up all our ports within the Gulf of Mexico
&c.
The late Commodore Rodgers, in an official let
ter written November OATH 1928, (ibid D. ], l2I, !
says of Key West:
''As an auxiliary to an extensive and permanent
southern naval depot, (perhaps at Pensacola such
as proper security for our commerce and the
permanent union of the States seem to render in
dispensable, it will be found am inclined to be.
lieve that the island in question will soon become
object worthy of the serious attention and con
sideration of the Government Nature has made
it The Advance post from ,phich to ,cntch end guard
our commerce passing to and from the Mississippi:
lohile at the same time IT'S peculiar situation and the
erceence of its harbor pont it out as the most GER
tain ken to the commerce of the Havana TO thatof The
Gulf of Merico, and 10 the retayn;ne trade of Ia
aica and vent,re to predict that the first imnort
ant naval contest in ariich his colntr1 shall be en-
gagged ,piu be in the neighborhood of this yeyu
Island !" &c.
The late Commodore David Porter, it is well
known, repeatedly expressed his opinion that Key
West and Tortugas were the most important points
in the Gulf. and he unhesitatingly avowed, on all
occasions, his decided preference for Key West as
naval station. Before he left our service, and
while in command of "the Mosquito fleet'' against
the Cuban pirates, he rendezyoused at Kew West:
and after he became commandment chief of the
Mexican navy, he adopted the same course. In the
Annendix,, referred To II il stated thai he of.ct
naliv hlocksded Havana and Matan1ss 49,, -
nrofacted bv the Go r;sh A a no;a1 r h.S IL
ppnnar;or forca f~'-''- 81 Ia ooio' WIN :"
$3.50 " W.. rp.
aAy \ - ~ " .us az a. % siiuaeeo
49,. " liz IA 'la sn9 itiatanIes as Ell
$500 as, ~ Lo LIZ aue "a 'Ie uuii passing
aad ~ Fior;se .h Tue isaanu VI Gupa
40 va ~ ~ .ney nave r an auvan
.ht ,as. -, ue ilss -,
&c, a IS s.io t.le euuies anu
~ ho,J r,ba 'sS S,o 49, aioS .uI
frea,soti inonoss;nia ~ 49, 49, n.t aho
ipa III ,rfo,sn.a ~ t .aI poi ~ .he
nerhans in the world 20 oors o 40,
and sptrsnce thar Kev West al Tort,,app D..
the fnoat irnnortant difference and advsnta ;s
that it Is irnrossbe exoent with arsatt,, ssr;or r
force to blockade ether of these KEYS eas havin
more than one mass to the Strs;t5
In December 1871 Secretarv Conrad :; nLooi
ence 10 call from ConTress 1maJa -,
tion to this Honse an TIE snb;eoI IF eoot;Eoa.a.a
renlete with valuable informat;on o. 800 O.
(Ev Doc No < LAT session aoJ IN pase 9
saws: 'S' oons sS''' he
ne TWO remaining works now in course of
t construction are those on Key West and the Tor
Iesa.ao 70 tnese there can be but one opsn
Lon. heze isianos, situated directly In the mar
TOW 70 chahhei between the southern extremity of
fiorlua ana the Island OF Cuba, may be said to
oolaniaha tHe nol.nern gateway OF the Gull, as ia