The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-06-01
OUR POWER FOR MISCHIEF.

with Foreign powers, from which we take an
extract After giving some tables, setting
forth the strength of our national and CON-
mereial marine, as compared with thatOf the
governments of Europe, the Herald says:
From this il appears that the United States
stands second in the list, being very slightly
behind England. 1t has more ships than all
the rest Of Europe together. II Great Bri.
tain, France and Spain were united against
this country the three combined would only
possess one-ffth more tonnage than the
United States has afOat And rs we ind
that the tonnage has nearly quadrupled since
1912, it is safe TO assume that four or five
years hence, the American merchant navy will
be equal to theirs, and will only fall short by
small figure of equaling the entire tonnage
of Europe.
This is startling fact, If viewed in con-
neetion with the possibility of war. During
the last war nearly all our ports were block
AIDED from time to time; all were under pa.
per blockade; United States merchant vessels
were swept from the sea, and the few transient
gallant deeds Of the navy only served to
make the national failure on that element
more conspicuous. Had the United States
possessed one-halt her present naya! strength,
the battles of Chippewa, niagara and New
Orleans would have been fought somewhere
on the soil of Ireland or England. The his
tory of the struggles of Perry and McDonOugh
to get their miniature squadrons af1oat on the
lakes, will illustrate the previous weakness
of the American merchant marine on those
waters; if war were TO break out now, the
lakes would in week be private waters un.
der the dominion Of the United States. So
Of the ocean. Gallantry is an excellent thing
in war, no doubt but rs the fate of the brave
Englishmen in the Crimea too plainly proves,
the real issue depends not on valOr, but on
the number of men, the amount of ships and
munitions of war, and the sums of money
that can be used or spent. The table above
shows that wee war declared tomorrow, the
United States could send abroad very nearly
rs many vessels armed us privateers as Great
Britain, nearlr seven times as many as France,
fourteen as many as Spain or Austria; and IT,,
rs would certainly be the case, several months
notice were given before hand, there is no
reason whJ out Of these merchant vessels, n
national navy should not be built equal to
the combined Davics now in the Baltic and
Black SECS.
In respect Of men, this country could not
compare with inland warike nations like
Russia CT Austria, accustomed TO keep four
or five Of seven hundred thousand men on
foot in time of peace. But on the other hand,
these immense armies would be powerless
against This continent. We might not be
able to sonquer Austria or Russia, but they
certainly could not do much mischief here
The United States could always raise men
enough to repel an invasion. As compared
with the maritime powers of Europe, the
United States would have nothing to fear
from land operations in any quarter of the
globe Great Britain finds it impossible to
keep up her army in the Crmea to standard
of 10000 men.
During the first six weeks of the Mexican
war, one hundred and fifty thousand men
volunteered to serve; and in the course of the
following months, ms many more made like
request. Had any exertiOn been made, no
doubt half a million of men might have been
raised-mOre than France and England, with
all their exertions, could ever bring into the
field together. These men of ours, moreover,
would be, or at least nine out of the ten of
them, stout, hale men, and good shots. The
British and French levies now being sent to
the CIimea are represented as half grown
boys, city fed, and never trusted with mus
ket in their lives till they enlisted. Every
third man in this and the other cities and
villages of the Union has been or is a mem.
Der of a target company; the experience of
hat
stance tells in face of an enemy. An ancient
military man has stated that in the ordinary
European line, at fair range, not one shot in
hundred is effective; the reason being that
the men do not know how to take aim
What difference this would make if few
thousand Of such men were pitted against our
practiced marksmen!
In respect of munitions Of war, money and
defences, the United States would have moth
ing to fear. England, which is generally
considered the richest nation in the world, is
very glad TO have her last loan taken at a tri1e
over 80, and her funds would rapidly recede
rations OF stockholders. Repeated purchases
by the government have raised our Federal
securities to exhOrbtant prices; but allowing
that new issue Of six per cent stock, to an
amount o: say fifty millions for one years
serious war were made, il is not likely the
depreciation would exceed go per cent. and
that would still leave the price above par
Materials of war abound in this country. We
could build all the ships the world would
need for centuries, without buying dimes
worth from abroad. We could east all the
cannon and balls-make all the rifles and
swords and bayonets that would be needed,
in our own factories in far less time than
would be consumed in the negotiations pre-
liminary to the war We should not need
to go abroad for any single article of necessi-
ty or general use. Finally, and this is not
generally known, the system Of fortifcations
which have been in progress for some years
are in such state of advancement, that il is
exceedingly unlikely that any naval force
could lombard any of our seaboard Cities
New York, for instance, might be considered
comparatively safe. A few months would
place the defences on the Narows in such a
state that no feet could pass through, and
we have reason to believe that the other
great cities are equally safe.
The monarchs in Europe had better count
the cost before they attempt TO abolish slave
ry in the United States by force.
CROPS IN NORTH GEoRGiA.--The editor Of
the Chattanooga Advertiser has recently
traversed nearly the whole extent Of Walker
county. He writes that the wheat crop is
hatterng, corn looks well, oats have suffered
for want Of rain, but now are promising
There is, however, at present much distress
from want of corn. few farmers have a
supply, but are holding on for $3.50 per
bushel-some, however, have been obliged to
stop blowing for the want Of corn to feed.