New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-09
THE n ATIONAI4 DEEElK Cil'

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Il We are glad to sae quarters o. least, that
the subject, and vital one " the lneiil-
oir national seacoaat claim
ling attention. The following resolution, preceded BY
IN preamble. clearly setting forth ne
cessies 81 tlie case and the imperative duty Of the
General Government 70 act promptly and vigorously,
Lis now, or was recently before the Legislature of
sPennsylFania (: MI z53
III ssnaiofs eoneress 6 nsneted md
e 70 nrge md u syss
sums fof of FeF liz
sne be needed e give tlat
an
What JIG true of Penlsy Yana. is equally true OF
Louisiana, and Of much Importance; for, although
in wealth and population We do not equal the great
Key Stone State still, the gateway, as it were,
to the valley Of the Eissssippi-and that gateway
must be protected, else in Of war interests Of
aincalculabe value might be placed in jeopardy
II the members Of the House and Senators from the
States situated in the Great Western Valley would
only look at the matter this, the only practical
light, the seaboard approaches to Louisiana would
soon be guarded in an imp Enable manner, no mat
ter what hostile fleets might menace the gritty OF
oar coasts AS the cations now are half of the
moiety of the war steamers of the Baltic feet could
destroy every Southern city, and most Of the Allan
penetrate far into the interior and do an
immense sfmonnt Of damage These are plain, inds-
putabe facts and should receive the early attention
of Congress. Further delay would not only be sui
5cidal hut criminal. $,is5 s.F lz{sz,
But the repair and construction Of a series sea
board Qualifications does not finish the duty Of the
General Government in the premises Not BY q long
The work will not be more than half completed.
Two years ago Congress ordered the construction of
sx.war steamers. The arguments used on the occa-
sion demo ID our wretched nfenority naval
power, while they proved that, with single excep-
ton, We had tile largest marine Of any nation upon
earth 1T was also proved, in case Of sudden col
lison with any great naval government, would be
comparatively helpless to defend ourselves and that
Ne would have first to build a nauy before we could
hope cope, nything like equal terms, with our
enemies on the ocean Irrefutable Arguments, like
these were repeated over and over again before Con
gress would consent to order the building Of the six
magnificent steamers now near completion, IA
The present Congress should forthwith order the
construction Of a dozen more war steamers. Even
& then We would hardly have respectable navy; and
additions should be made yearly until our naval
strength becomes, in some degree; commensurate
with our commercial marine. AS it is, the disparity
is distressngly great and the more it is reflected
upon the greater the necessity Of adopting the policy
we have suggested, appears.
We trust our Legislature at Baton Rouge will take
some steps to bring bout consnmation 50 ardently
to be desired They should instruct the Senators and
request the Of the State to urge upon
Congress WHAT proposed il the Pennsylvania reso
luton we have quoted, respects Louisiana and te
all in their power to- produce an early augrnenta
Y ton Of our naval strength.
50 far as national matters are concerned cannot
See how they can take wiser action, recommend
policy dictated BY more prudence, sounder Judgment
Tor greater substantial economy. a5s