Washington sentinel., 1854-03-25

iend our commerce? Here we are in this
western hemisphere, reposing as securely in
our selfcon6dence as if the probability of war
were out of the question. Our merchants
send their ships around the world; the defences
OF the Atlantic coast are regarded as amply
sufficient for any emergency; and California
is without gun in position. In that distant
quarter there is literally no defence whatever; ;
nor have We the means of sending there men
and munitions of war, except by the way of
Cape Horn or through the territory of a for
eign nation. Our naval force in the Pacific
consists of one frigate and two sloops of war.
Since the last great naval war, steam power
and Paixhan guns have come into use. The
city of New York has for its defence, in the
approaches to the harbor at the narrows, Forts
Hamilton and Lafayette on one side, and a
water-battery on the other. AT Sandy Hook
there are no Notifications, and inside the spit
there is anchorage for large feet. The gar
rison ut Fort Hamilton consists Of two small,
raw companies of badly-instructed artillery
AT Fort Lafayette there is no one; nor at the
water-battery opposite. Thus is this great
commercial city, the very heart Of our coun-
try, defended on the approaches from the
Atlantic. On the East.river side an enemy,
coming from the Long Island sound, would
be bafled by the work at Throg's neck, called
Fort Schuyler very formidable fort, but as
yet unfinished, ungarnished, and not garri-
soned. The harbor Of Charleston could be
well defended by Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter,
and Castle Pinckney but the only garrison in
Fort Aoultrie is very small, Fort Sumter is
unfinished, and Castle Pinckney is not occu-
pied. New York, San Francisco and Charles
ton are taken as three great military and COM
mercial points, and their means of defence
pointed out. Now, it is understood, or COW
ertly talked about, that we are in danger of
collision with Spain in regard to the Cuba
question; and it has also been seriously OBJ
served by men in high stations, in the Senate
and elsewhere, that there is determination on
the part of England and France to prevent our
acquisition of that island. If the latter asser-
ton be correct, is it to be supposed that they
will use argument, instead of force, to carry out
their designs? And, further, are we to believe
that any nation, that's determined to go to war
with US, is going to give us time to organize an
army, build the forts and ships, and man the
guns, that are to serve as our protectors No.
The first intimation we would have of their in.
tsntions and their demands would be the ap.
pearance of fifteen or twenty sail of the line,
steaming into the harbor of New York; another
feet at San Francisco, and another at Charles
ton or Boston. This is no chimerical idea, but,
on the contrary, quite within the range of pos
sibility. Every military man must acknow-
ledge the truth of these remarks. 1t is for our
lawgivers and our Executive to give the subject
the most serious consideration. We are in
greater peril than we allow ourselves to dream
Of. Let US prepare for the worst. A judicious
expenditure for proper military defence, made
at the present day, may avert from the coun-
try bankruptcy and disgrace.