The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-03
For the Union
ARMED NEUTRALITY. LIGHT DRAUGHT WAR
STEAMERS-THEIR ADAPTABILITY TO OUR Ma
TI0NAL DEFENCE.


power for retaliation for resistance among the for
among the latter prevents aggression and oresals
insult That the eebeness of navy is such invite
both Is admitted all sides Among other patriotic
presses the Philadelphia North American had some days
since orcble editorial the necessity of providing for
our national defence if would be respected adducing
no less authority than that Of the Father of his Coun
try whose apostolic word has warned u.s. on more than
one OCCASION that rank is due us among the nations
which win be withheld by exhibition of weakness
But were wanting in the teachings of his wisdom the
Of the few past weeks would show that
spirit abroad among powerful alliances that broods
good TO the safety and the welfare of our country and
which waits with impotence undisgusedy repressed
but for favorable opportunity break forth in overt and
decided acts Lord Clarendon has already ntimated that
the purposes of the Angio-French alliance look to the
western well TO the eastern hemisphere The London
Herald has told recently that grasping America would
be made TO crawl back into her shell by the combined
squadrons of England and France and the cautious
Louis Napoleon cam this period of his ENHANCEMENT find
such wolf and amb-like for complaint against the
government of the United States the acts of Mr. Dillon
for the invasion of Sonora and the address of Mr. San
ders, prigate citizen to the liberals of France When the
water is thus made to run up stream their ships may not
be long in running dorm commerce. in striking at
that most vital point of the coniederacy, the straits of
Florida
We aooud have peace--nay more we ayant it. Through
peace conquer We conquer with the olive held in the
hands Of our commerce. extending East and West to fold
the world. We conquer wealth and power with genius
and enterprise and institutions conquer for the
"GOdspeed" of the nations and the hearts and with the
hearts, the hearths of the oppressed around But
shall have peace unless command it, We cannot
craze it, very few oour presses would feel disposed do
We must buckle the shield while the sword is yet
sheathcd and in the scabbard it may remain Assuming
them that must to extent to ward off the
cessiy OF having to arm ON gigantic scale will attempt
to throw out such suggestions the observation Of pass
ing events has prompted to venture soliciting indul
gence for my the plea Of my intentions. We
cannot in time of peace, incur the cost of armament
which would up by of millions national
Indebtedness but can, without great sacrifice hold
our own upon this continent. We should first guard
gates roadseads extensive bays and inets and
our shallow coasts We should furthermore provide for
the protection of ishman commerce through and
past 'mare cdusun the Gulf of Mexico then let
clippers loose if necessary and Foasides The recent
operations of the allies have disclosed two facts ls the inn
portance of the Mimic rifle for various purposes war 3D.
the adaptation of large shelguns to ghtdaught steamers
for warfare in shallow waters and intricate navigation The
War Department has lately introduced into the service with
commendable forecast and professional spirit the French
rifle drill, which will probably lead to the adoption by
militia of the improved tactics for weapon eminenty
efficient in the hands of our countrymen. What the Mimic
rifle is on land the lightdraugh, war steamer is on
the seawith this popularity that both require that self
reliance and individual daring which the character
scs of people. We have recently that the most
powerful naval armament that the world has ever seen has
failed to attempt blow upon the Russian srongholds
in the Baltic and the allies have turned upon small steam
of six feet draugh aided by floating batteries
effect that which their superb rst-rates of l3l guns
proved unable to perform Well and bays,
sounds and nets, rivers and above ALL the West
India islands, with the banks of the Bahamas the reefs of
Florida, the Aacranes and the Coorados all of most
intricate navigation, afford parallel to the Baltic and pre-
sent nnumerable positions which the ships that form the
pride of Europe woud find eHahe if proper system of
defence were adopted by us suggest therefore that in
addition to steam ne-otbattle shipsof which al
most in total want and the necessity for which Me high
and for distant service be obviaed by any other
craftwe construct vessels propelled by steam of from
four six feet draugh mounting each two Of the heaviest
columbiads which they be made to carry and in
such numbers the foresight of Congress may determine
and the probable danger render
To make their utility plain let suppose that powerful
fleet OF the enemy sent to the straits of Florida
of communications with the several ishmuses block
up immense exports from the Mississippi stop
coasting trade between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mex
co and southern borders with depreciation
with descent of Cuba and Jamaica blacks. Could such
fleet long live IN the vicinity of two five or hundred
ght-draught steam vessels carrying 10 l-mch column
biads and manned by the Paul oaeSe aud Decaturs who
would spring up from navy and merchant service
Finding a convenient retreat Key West the Tor
ugas the innumerabe keys of Cuba her shallow southern
coast the Bahamas the reefs of Florida the Alacranes
and Coorados, when over-mached they would make q
dash the moment opportunity presented itself of exhibit
ing their proWess.
1t is true that at close quarters large vessels-owar
would have these craft the advantage of high bull
warks. They however not intended for such service
but for attacking them at long range and from those
shallow waters in which the positions have mentioned
much abound. 1t is also true that equal number of
ne-obattle ships of would dispose in all probability
we judge of the future by the past of any fleet the
my might send the Atlantic but toRen acod then
be J1H Very late if evertoo late to answer the pur
poses that less costly and wieldy armament would
almost instantly eecthe rigid police of and Of
its neghboring islands
line, may sink loogun ship This simple fact at once
shows the formidable character of such armament for
defence especially for such as those of our
southern States deficient in deep harbors for those
of the West Indies where although there good harbors
there also good banks and sounds and reefs
and keys with the enangled navigation inaccessible
to any but craft of this description Their advantages
and peculiartes are, that they can be constructed in
month to any extent, in all parts of the United
States. They would float down the Ohio and the
Missouri, and spring forth simultaneously from every
creek and bay of extensive territory The range of
their armament being greater and their draugh less than
that Of the enemy they would inhct injury ofener than
they would receive it, Their FIRE being Rsur deat would
make sad havoc in the bulls of their antagonists while
they would scarcely present target for their broadsde
In naval combat the fire of 80 100 such gun-boas