The American patriot., 1855-04-28
GULF OF MEXICO.

GULF OF MEXICO. Ia.O
From an article in Andrews Report, en-
titled: "The Gulf of Mexico and the Straits
Of Florida" we extract the following para
graphs, which give general outline of the
amazing importance of the latter: Nt.
"There is no other such sea as the Gulf Of
Mexico, so entirely surrounded as it is by
countries of such sepcrior agricultural, mine
raj and commercial resources. No similar
Gulf exists; the natural and indispensable
outlet for vast interior States, with a popula-
lation of many millions of Republican free
men, unequaled by any people noticed in an
cient or modern history for general intelli
gence, industry, enterprise, and independence,
and who are consequently thriving and pros
porous beyond example.
"These States extend upwards of twelve
hundred miles from its Shores Their wealth
is exhaustless. Their population may be
quintupled, and they can still sustain such
number in plenty. Their soil, and especially
that of the great valley of the Mississippi, is
of surprising fertility; and their contributions
to the commrece of the world through the
gulf are the varied products of region
spreading over eighteen degrees of latitude
and the same degrees of longitude, and adapted
to the diversified wants of nearly every other
country. And this great "inland sea, though
easy of egress is, at the same time, ready sus-
ceptible Of defence as a mare cluusum by the
States situate on its shores against any foreign
intrusion they may decide to interdict
The Mediterranean OF Adriatic is not equal
to it, nor the Baltic, nor the sea of Marmora,
nor the Euxine superior to it in this re-
spect.
"The chief portion of all our trade, COM
merce and navigation with Cuba and the West
Indies, and especially with Jamaica and the
Windward islands, and with the eastern coasts
of South America, now passes through these
straits, the straits of Florida) and likewise
the trade, commerce and navigation of Eu-
rope, with those places, on their howeward
voyage. Steam vessels, on their outward pas
sage from the Atlantic States, also pass through
the straits, and most of our coasting vessels,
even of the largest class, bound for the gulf,
they generally cross the Bahama Banks. The
voyage through the Windward passage, or the
Mona passage, going near Jamaica or round
Cape Antonio, is sometimes pursued; but it is
several hundred miles longer, and is attended
with its peculiar hazards, and also delays that
render the other passage preferable.
oct;pnoto nf tho %rodn oo,,,,,roo noJ
navigation Of the gulf now annually passing
through the straits of Florida, and also of the
other trade, commerce and navigation of the
United States and other countries above re-
ferred to as pursuing the same channel, has
stated it as probably amounting to 100000
900.
"The prospect of extensive and valuable
trade with the rich countries bordering on the
Amazon and its tributaries being soon opened
to us is favorable; and the recent auspicious
changes in the affairs of the Argentine Repub-
lie promise an increase of our commerce with
the La Plata and the States on its waters. Our
commerce is extending with Brazil, and with
the States on the western shores of South
|
vigation just enumerated, and that in the Pa
citic, and through it to China and the Asatic
seas generally, the anticipated augmentation
of which is before adverted to, must of neces-
sity pass within sight of these two positions
above designated, (Key West and Tortugas)
and most Of it through the entire extent of the
straits d.. .-- z...
"Upon the breaking out Of war between
US and any naval power of Europe, a large
naval force will be forthwith dispatched by
the enemy to their vicinity, (Key West, and
Tortugas, and, as was predicted by Commo-
dore Rodgers in 1928, the first important
naval contest in which this country shall be
engaged will be in the neighborhood of this
very island key West e- =
"A wag says he looks under the Marriage
head OF the papers for the news Of the aoeak
An exchange remarks Had he said moose Of
the weak, the atrocity, of the SANDER would
have been complete and placed him beyond