Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-04-11


tb5Y r,0.,d fsebiS aid iloouoGs. | find ia The quarterly
RevieS of June, 1886, an atle article on the navy, tho lead,
iug ideas Of which are repeated in on article which appeared
10 tho Nava! Magazine oil January, 1881. rom 'he as''
ticle | beg leave TO quite as lo!low':
at had been asserted BY a Statesman Of that day, 80 early
as 1898, that ne had the mos. entire conviction that twelve
shlos of seveoty -four guns, as many irigateS, and twenty or
th.rty smaller vess els. would probably be found, our geo.
graphical stu alton and our meane OF annoying the trade OF
tie maritime powers considered, a force sntfl :ient TO secure
, our future peace with me nations OF Europe"
This warning voice Ss lifted IN vain.
We believe most devou,ly thltif this opinion had prevail
ed in our national COUNCILS oil those days, we should have
been shared entirely those ruiuous spolalinns upon our
commerce, carried on IN wanton rivalry by France and her
allies on the one hanj, and England on the other, amount.
inc 10 an aggregate OF $40, 600, 600, together with the detcn.
ton of orr citizens, ,nd the national Impeachment re-
sulting from lost capital. We believe, moreover, that a sui
fcIent navy would have checked those nssresslons "hicn
brought on chat war with England, by which We expended
In ornaments SIPS, co., 0G0; lost by labor diverted from pro.
ductive occupations The sum OF sl5 .0O0, 900; aud were cut off
for a number of years from The profit upon our annual exports
of $40 600 600: and b. which, faally, We were subjected
10 the invasion and DISSOLUTION OF our COSTS, tho suspen'
sion OF our settlements In ths west, IRON the dread OF The
sayages In alliance with our enemy, and to a general inter
rup,iun OF on! enterprise Throughout Inc land. All theee
losses. together with the loss OF that national honor, whlch
was only subsequently, brought back by the olood OF our
seamen, we contend, would have been spared us by the
timely creation OF a navy, growing with the growth OF our
commerce from the err Of our birth as q nstion. Ihas II
will be seen how small an expenditure, made IN time, may
save 10 tho country vast treasures OF blood as well as oil
money. II Y we can maintain our neutrality, and secure is
rights, the commerce of the world viii DC ours. Inc war
will probably be carried by the power and strategy OF RUSSIA
TO the English East Indies. AT any rate England VIII Dc
too busily engaged with her powerful foe t. nave any spare
tire TO protect her Eastern trade, and that fertile stream
will nour almost undivided into our lap; CHINA, japan, anu
AZ the bright Orient, will load our vessels and cn'lca our
r:,rIlntJ. Commerce sho!l then own the mid sway oil our
nag, and take shelter under its protecting folds. II ID indeed
probable that the bridal feast OF Liberty and commerce Is
about 10 BE- spread. Shall we be lie the foolish virgins
that kept no oil 10 thei' cruises, or shall we keep orr amps
trimmed and brightly burning, md be ready to enter IN as
chosen guests Furthermore, l. this war goes 10 the e"'
tent which appears probable, will not Spain DC involved I
Italy, released from French domination. will probably again
deposs its Pope, and war will rage all around her. but
whether Spain is involved or not, when this war has waxeo
hot, and Hungary and Poland are striking for independence,
and when Italy is struggling for freedom, Will NOT tne iaIent
spirit If resistance ID oppression break out IN Cuoa =,
very sure that, whenever there Is u general ana oe'e'"I'"reIr
revolt there against Spanish oppression, il will De successful.
The blood of Cri,lenien ari his associates VIII NOT forever
cry TO Heaven in vain for vengeance. Then will come TIE
golden opportunity, without breach OF treaty Obligation or o,
any violation of good faith, for us TO annex that lndepenH
eat island 10 our coDfederacy; and, by the voluntary consent
OF a free people, quiet forever one Of the most dangerous
questions that claims a solution from the future.
There Is another contingency even more urgent In its c
quirement Of preparation than this. The Cuban au'hofl'ies
nave surrendered the Black Warrior; but the difficulty IS not
terminated. II Spain should fail 10 give the reparation de
mauded Of her tor the injustice done 10 OBTAINING that vessel
and fning LIS owners, or If she should hereafter TecEiess'y
continue such onttases, we may be constrained 10 taSe re
dress into our own hands. The almost universal sentiment
of the country indicates what that will be. But IL Is right ana
proper that we should look the contingency iairly IN Inc iace'
and see what consequences may follow. fetmlI int, ene"'
briefly TO review the course which Englsnd has heretofore
pursued towards US, and her present attitude In relation 10
this continent.
A successful revolt against one who has held the position
Of a superior and a successful competition in business and
renowu afterwards, ia not very well calculated to inspire
kind feeling. Commercial prosperity, too, Ia not generally,
more productive Of wealth Than OF rlvalries, Jeaiousles, aho
troubles.
If England, after the revolution, had exhibited towards
the United States i spirit Of sympathy and good feeling, she
would have proved herself not only highly maenanimous,
but she would have risen above the weakness Of human ma
ture.
1t wac, perhaps, too much TO expect of her. II certainly
is more than she has done. Ga The contrary, she has mani,
tested a spirit of jealousy Of our commercial prosperity and
a determined opposition 10 our territorial extension.
Seeing her own sails flap in every breeze, and whlten 5Very
ocean, she has been unhappy because she has seen ours also
filled with the same wind. and protecting the same trefhc.-
! Having hereeli the greatest lust of dominion and OF terrlto
rial extension, she has been nettled and provoked 10 see ID
widen the stakes, and Iengthen Tho cords which marx the
area OF freedom.
Vety soon after the revolution, our commerce having In
creased rapidly, England began n course Of interference and
annoyance, with a view doubtless to check It's 30 rapid OK
J tension. -,
She claimed the right OF search and impressmcnt, which
c were otious and utterly inadmiss!ble. The result was, that
r with all cur disadvantages. we were constrained 10 atten,p
:, 10 maintain our rights by arms; and the history OF the wal
:. of 1912 shows how successfully we did so, both by land ano
8 by sea. But her attempts upon us did not cease. So recent
" as 1871, under the pretencc OF suppressin. the ioIelst
d slave trade, she sought TO involve other lending nations 0
Europe in n quinlnple treaty, the object OF which douote Is
2 s %as 70 o. os .saIah ,a oa Ta nss. en Z Our sa ao aseious minister lis a, pari
saw, and exposed tho odiors design, and. by detachins III
trench government rom the treaty, SUCCEEDED IN oelcalnl
d it.. Falling in this, she then directed her efforts TO Preven
our acquisition Of territory. II Is needless for me here Il
d record her Vaccinations 10 prevent The annexation oil Texas
3 uaklnd. shall pass over her pertinacious course in refor
encc 10 our North. Eastern and Oregon boundaries.
n ! come 10 a subject Of mere immediate interest. TIT
Il proximity Of the Island Of Cuba 10 our coast its position al
e the mouth Of The Gulf Of MexTco, through which the trade o
6 a great part Of our county pou.s; lis Identity In Interest
:. win that part Of our Union which i, lies contiguous to
these. and other important considerations rendered IL an OBJ
D Icct of desire, at an early day TO our patriotic statesmen. that
ri II uhnuiH M mo ~ hOnnrahla tarna Mamma narf n nnr
. Union. England, lying far OIL in another continent, having
no interest which couldimaterially be affected by the annex
alton, carly set 10 work TO prevent Us from accomplishing
e this desire. | believe il is true that MIR. Canning, before his
death, which occurred in August, 1927, sought to bring about
a convention suarantYin2 CuSa tc Spain. Certain II Is ,ha'
C the English press and English Statesmen before that time
' looked with great jealousy TO tho probable acquisition OF tina
4 island by the United States, and took the ground that Eng
land would i%nterpose with all her force 10 prevent IT,, 1t
was substantially the same feeling that prompted the effort
recently made by the Earl Of MaImesbury, aided oy Nj. de
Tureot, 10 bring about a tripartito arrangement on the cub
\ Though The United States government has never given is
assent TO it, yet TIC pettinacity with which ills passed shows
= the position and feeling Of England on the subject.
. Let US LOOK, too, 10 the position OF affairs 10 Central Ame-
riea. Under The pretext Of maintaining her protectora'e Of
the Mosquito Indians, she is asserting a sort OF exclusive
cnnIroIin that part OF the North American continent
Why may she not as well undertake 10 guarantee the rights
Of the Indians OF Ncbraska7 The sentiment VI our people
IA decidedly agerse TO permitting The leading nations OF Eu'
rope 10 extend by force their dominiOns on this continent.
Where will all this end2 II requires a vision stronger than
my own to soc the cndi and a moro hopeful one 10 expect,
| VIII great Confluence, d UUk UUtIuuSu PCoSS' - 80 w.
a lew days since ihai Lord Clarendon, her Britannia MaIes.
tvs Secretary Of State for Foreign Affairs, announced the
Important, fact that France and England had an understand
ipg as TO the policy TO be carried out elsewhere than on the
European continent: meaning. doubtless, that they agreed
q. to the policy To be pursued here. Sir, II wGs on important
decinratiun. France and England, the Two great nations o
western Europe, united for the frat lime TO maintain a bal
ance of power in Europe, and also TO parcel out THIS cont
nent. The declaration should have thrilled through this
{ lard. 1t was solemnIy made; ii was made from high nuthor!.
~; It is highly important. 1t shows the danger with which
we are threatened in our future policy. We must make Up
our minds to submit gracefully or oppose manfully. To Sub.
mil Is a timid and slavi6h policy, and In direct opposition
to our past declarations. But II is more. 1t is an impossi
Bile policy. Much has been said about manifest dcstiny.-
With many il is a Go1nd of cabiLstic and mysterious impor,
an iopcn sesame to the gates Of powo or and place. With
others il is regarded as unmeaning nonsense. | agree with
t neither party. | regard it as resting on q philosophical prin.
{ cipIe, OF clear and reasonable application. IL eprnss
j from the fat Of Heaven. II is human nature working oui
rs own development according 70 its own laws. II was
manifest destiny which bore tho Tlrtars from the wild
st, ppes of their early home into the beautiful aud mild &c
eiDns which surround ,hs Mediterranean, the Black Sea
and the Caspian. 1t wac manifest destiny which sent the
hordes of Scythia and Scandinavia, pouring, deluge ike
over Italy, Spain, and other regions OF southern Europe. Ii
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