Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-07-09

| Sir, this immense properly, this vast pub.
lic interest, demands projection ct our hands.
Armies can afford it no assistance. A navy
is what we need, and navy cannot be con-
stituted without disciplined seaInen. Amer.
lean commerce is every day growing, and
widening it's sphere Of operations. We have
sent expeditions to China and Japan, at great
expense, to back up our commercial negotia-
tions. We have partially succeeded; and
there is prospect Of still greater SUCCESS
We have States growing up on the opposite
shores of the Pacific. and q trade and inter.
course of vast and indefnate extent in dee.
tined to spring up between them and the
hitherto exclusive and unsocial, but indus-
trious and wealthy, Chinese and Japansse.-
Here is boundless field for American COM
mercial enterprise but one which peculiarly
demands the projection Of navy. The civ
iIizlton Of China and japan is very pecu-
liar; they understand the arts of life WE'LL
they have the elements Of an immensely val
liable trade in the products Of their agricul-
ture and mechanical industry, but they are
wholly ignorant OF tho European ard Amer
lean system of international law, and they
are prone to treat all foreigners, or "outside
/
to fall into their hands.
These people must be school in the laws
of nations. They must be ma. sto respect
the rights Of foreigners, individual and ma
tional. The only way to compel attention to
these lessons is to send an efficient naval force
into their waters. The Asiatic character is
peculiar in this resTe,t; you must f-st pre-
sent the argument of force, or you will not
be listened to.
Mr.. Chairman, this is not the time to relax
our efforts for the maintainance Of home
bred race of seaman, whose patriotism may be
| relied upon in the event Of IL war. Are VIC
not at this moment threatened with a war.
Has not our flag been insulted repeatedly
within the last month?
Sir, when our intercourse is rapidly in
creasing with all nations, and especially with
this new commere of the Pacific dawning upon
us, would it not be most unwise for the Gov.
ernment to fall into the new policy which has
been proposed, Of gripping our naval resour-
ces? Is this 4 time to abandon system
which has been deemed essential to the exist
cnbe of a navy by every Administration, from
Washington to the present? For Mr.. Jefer-
son is no e2ceptation to the remark, since he
was opposed to the establishment OF Il navy
wnile President, but became convinced Of
his error when he saw what navy cou d
achieve under the administration OF his sue
cessor. He saw defeat succeed defeat, and
disaster follow disaster, on the land. He
saw the spirits of his countrymen droop, and
their hearts almost die within them, in view
Of these saddening events. But he saw that
hour of national sorrow, shame, and de-;
spondency, relieved as often as tdings camo
up from the sea. Our navy consisted of
few small vessels. mistaken policy had
regarded it as of secondary consequence, and
treated it accordir ely. That policy had pro-
vided only small handful of vessels for this
great emergency; and doubtless the general
expectation was, that our little fleet would
be swept from the ocean by the invinciblo
power and prowess Of England. But its
achievements have added permanent glory
and honor to the nation, and in the hour Of
greatest need rendered it essential service.
Our sailors are to be found along our ex-
tended scacoast, asccrtainin: with unerrins
certainty the precise position, and laying
down on the chart, every rock, shoal. OF
quicksand. They are making science tho
ally of the practical affairs; and are cxplain-
ing to the world the principles which gov
ern the currents of the sea, the winds, and
storms, and teaching man to control the ele-
stiles and pleasures. They have sounded
the depths and shoals of the wide Atlantic:
and it was reserved for an American naval
officer, Lieut.. j. NJ. Brook, to perform this
wonderful task. They are at this moment
engaged conformity with the mother country,
in laying down the mystic wires in oceans
depths, which are to transmit human
thought from ct ntinent to continent vita
the rapidity oil lightning, and to connect with
electric currents all peo,,G; - a.. n ,a,non.. 90
az s,oeu. 4I.vy are guarding our Immense
commerce over every sea, and protecting our
citizens in all lands, and aHording all need
iul assistance and relief to our commercial
marine,
Such, Mr.. Chairman, is faint sketch Of
some Of the labors and responsibilities Of our
gallant navy.
But, sir. will trespass no longer on tho
patience of the Committee. l will conclude
by repeating, in the language of Mr.. Web.
ster, that "thc fisheries We're the seeds from
which these glorious triumphs were born
and sprung"