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

$500
extract After giving some tables, setting
forth the strength of our national and COM
mereial marine, MS compared with that of the
governments of Europe, the Herald says:
From this il appears shat the United States
stands second ntbe list, being very slightly
behind England. It 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 0ne.filth more tonnage than the
United States has afloat. And as we find
that the tonnage has nearly quadrupled since
1912, II 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
a small figure Of equaling the entire tonnage
of Europe.
This is n startling fact. i viewed in con-
neciion 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 naval strength,
the battles of Chippewa, Niagara and New
Orleans would have been fought mewhere
on the soil of Ireland or England. The his
tory of the struggles of Perry and McDonough
to get their miniature sqnadrons nfoat on the
lakes, will illustrate the previous weakness
of the AmercaBilherchant marine on those
waters; VI war wcfa TO break out now, the
lakes would in week be private waters I'M.
der the dominion of the United States. So
Of the ocean. Calamity is nm excellent thing
in war, no dvut; but as the fate of the brave
Englishmen in the Crimca too plainly proves,
the real Issue depends not on valor, bus 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 were war declared tomorrow, the
United States could send abroad very nearly
as many vessels armed as privateers as Grent
Britain, nearly seven times as many IA France,
fourteen rs many rs Spain or Austria; and il,
rs would certainly be the case, several months
notice were given before hand, there is no
reason why but of these merchant vessels, n
national navy should not be built equal TO
the combined navics now in the Baltic and
Black seas.
In respect Of men, this country could not
compare with inland warlkc nations like
Russia or Austria, accustomed TO keep fonr
or five or seven hundred thousand men on
foot in time of peace. But on the other hand
these immense armies would be powerlcss
against this continent. We might not be
able to conquer Austria or Russia, bnt they
certainly could not do much mischief here
The United States could always raise mer
enough to repcl an invasion. As compared
with the maritime powers of Europe, The
United States would have nothing to feal
from land operations in any quarter of tn,
globe. Great Britain finds it impossible tc
keep up her army ia the Crmea to standard
of 10000 men.
During the first six weeks Of the Mexican
war, one hundred and fifty thousand mer
volunteered to serve; and in the course of the
following months. rs many more made lik.
request Had any eycrtion been m,de, M
doubt half a million of men might have beer
raised-more than France and England, will
all their exertiOrs, could ever bring into th,
field together. These men of ours, moreover
would be-, or ut least nine out of the ten o
them, stout, haze men, and good shots. TIL,
British and French leves now being sent t.
boys, city fed, and never trusted with mus
ket in their lives till they enlisted. Ever,
third man in this hnd the other cities ant
villages of the Union has been or is mem
Der of II target company; the experience o
the Mexican war shows how that circum
stance tells in face OF an enemy. An ancen
military man has stated that in the ordnar,
European line, Mt lair range, not one shot il
II hundred is effective; the reason being tina
the men do not know how to take AIM
What difference this would make if few
thousand Of such men were pitted against GU
prncticed marksmen!
In respect of munitions of war, money an,
dcfenees, the United States would have moth
ing to fear. England, which is GENERAL
considered the richest nation in the world,
very glad to have her last loan taken mt n trifi
over 80, and her funds would rapidly reced
below that figure if it were not for the opt
raions of stockholders. Repeated purchase
by the government have raised our FEEDER,
securities to exhorbitant prices; but allowin
that new Issue of six per cent stock, to II
amount OF say fifty millions for one year
serious war were made, il is not likely tn
depreciation would exceed 30 per cent. an
that would still leave the price above par
Materials of war abound in this country. w
could build all the ships the world woul
need for centuries, without buying a dime
worth from abroad. We could cast all tn
cannon and balls--makc all the rifles an
swords and bayonels that wouId be needle,
in our own factories in far less time tina
would be consumed in the negotiations pr,
liminary to the war; We should not nee
to go abroad for any single article of necess
ty or general use. Finally, and this is NJ
generally known, the system of fertilization
which have been in progress for some yen
are in such state of advancement, that il
exceedingly unlikely that any naval for,
could lombard any of our seaboard cities.-
New York, for instance, might be considere
comparatively safe. A few months wOul
place the defences on the Narrows in such
state that no fleet could pass through, an
we have reason to believe that the 9th,
great cities are equally safe.
The monarchs in Europe had better couI
the cost before they attempt to abolish sav
ry in the United States by force.
CRops IN NORTH GEoRGlA.-The editor
the Chattanooga Advertiser has recent
traversed nearly the whole extent of Walk
county. He writes that the wheat crop
hattering, corn looks well, oats have suflere
for want Of rain, but now are promising
There is, however, at present much distre
from want of corn. A few farmers have
supply, but are holding on for $3.50 p
bushel-some, however, have been obliged
stop blowing for the want of corn to feed.
fB' Principles are vital and indestructibl
They cannot die. They cannot be ignore