Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-16

territory. II that IL not The meaning end the
application Of il. should like the honorable
Senator from Louisiana to point out the mis-
take, when considered in connection with
the context which declares that this il an age
Of the expansion Of all the great powers OF
the earth. Sir. have we reached such point
OF perfection within our present limits. social
and political, Of our organization TO insure
the establish ment Of justice, TO insure domes-
tic tranquility every where, develop the re-
sources. promote the general welfare within
the limits Of the constitution within the States;
mean within the State Jurisdictions, as well
as i'm the United States. for this doctrine oi
growth must apply 10 the whole country III
MI Its local legislative authorities ard State
jufisd 'ciion-? Has the policy of this country
under the control of this GOVERNING nj, been
settled upon such a satisfactory basis in rtla
tion to the great questions of currency, Of
commerce. either internal or external. that
there il no longer any scope for the employ
ment Of genius. no stimulus TO lofty ambition
in our stat smen! Is IL true that our vast do
main, or which has been 50 latrly vast. has
been reduced by the contingent inflnx of m
igrants from abroad within such harlow limits
as to afford no space, no rom. for the over
flowing population of orr native citizens? l.
that the condition of things?
1t appears to me that the honorable Sena-
must have misconc"iv'd the magnificent cx-
tent Of our present territorial possessions; and
yet cannot suppose that he is unacquainted
with it. Sir. we have an area twice as great
as the RCman Empire ever pnssl ssed in her
palmie-t days. One million six huBdr d
Thousand square miles was the limit of her
power al any time when her boundaries were
established with any certainty. We have al
ready a territory three-fcurrls greater than
T., -. q
territory. VIC are under obligations to pro-
tect and d,fsnd it, without aud within; to in
sure the establishment of Justice throughout
the whole extent Of il; 10 bring about every
improvement and amrliOratiou of il in the
condition Of the country. within the Federal
Constitution; but the growth from within
comes from the States. and j. the work of tn"
State sov'r,ignties aid jurisdictions. as well
as the United States. The obligation Of de-
fence leads US 10 a view Of what is the extent
of the country We are bound to defend aud
protect. We must secure law and order. the
administration Of Justice. and preserve re-
publican institutions. and guaranty them to
all the States. As l said. the area Of tb"
Roman Empire was one million six hundred
thousand square miles, hy the best computa-
ton that can be made. The ar, a OF our
present territory is within a fraction of three
million square milCs-ncarly double that of
the Roman power. We have a water aud eX-
terror line of sca-ceast navigation. If sea-
coast frontier of five thousand miles without
counting the inuO-itirs. or the inlets and
hays; and If YOU add Ia this our lake coast,
including the lines have Indicated Of bays.
and the principal inets, sounds and harbors.
ii would give YOU a sca-coast frontier. or
watcr-line. Ia defend against a more powerful
naval power than this, of twelve thousand
miles. Besides this, YOU have a frontier Of
three Thousand miles bordering upon the pos
sessions of Great Britain in North Am RIGA,
one of the most powerful Governments. to
say the least. on earth: and. Ov' and above
all this, let gentlemen consid r that We have
an interior frontier, as | have learned from
gentlemen who are better acqunint, with
the facts and extent of it than mysc'f of at
Least three thousand miles, exposed To Occa-
sional and constant incnrsiOns of hostile NJ
mndic bands of indians, and Others.
Now, sir. when you come to consider what
IL require d 10 protect these vast possessions.
you may arrive at something like a safe con
cuaion ~ TO whether we have arrived at
that period of progress and Improvement.
that maturity Of growth within our present
limits, that demands further expansion. What
will it take to d,.feid this vast sea cost from
tier against England alone? | will not say
against France and England. but against
England alone. | leave military man TO
correct me; hut it will not take less than one
hundred thousand men standing constantly
under arms, to be anything lik" an adj. quate
protection to the most exposed points of our
great Pacific border and the Atlantic and
Gulf border, Guarding the principal points of
attack. How many ships-"t-war will it take?
At least half az many either Of the two
most powerful nations OF Europe. We might
depend, perhaps upon the superior energy
and spirit and courage of American seam"n,
and the gallanjry aud kill of our American
officers, to exc out som thing for meeting
upon an equality. and with success, all the
force they could spare, either upon tn" Paci-
tic or the Atlantic coast. in assailing rs.
There would be required not less than two
hundred or two hundred and fifty war
steamers-those ter, ible engineA Of destruc-
ton, the invention of modern times.
Why, -ir. is it known what is III" quantum
of orr own force at this time. with which we
would have ii in our power to meet such an
assailant, or such an en- my. as Great Britain
or France either? France Possesses five
hundred aud fifty ships of war, two hundred
and sixty of them war steamers; and alto
gether fleet of sail vessels and aud war yes
sells. propelled by steam. carrying fifteen thou
sand guns. The honorable Senator from Flor
ida MIR. Mallory stated yesterday. believe,
or few days since. from his pl ice here, that
one Thousand one hundred guns was the ut
most that could be mustered in all our shins.
Including those out of :, nv CO or such as
never could Ice r paired for service. do not
intend to say that the resources If this cOun-
try would not enable il TO reach this point of
inability and strength; that We have not the
means OF constructing a navy to m ct. with n
FUR prospect OF succcss, even the power OF
Great Britain. The Senator of G rOrSia how
incl Itl,l hntb a. r...t II itaiu and lar
He would have to make another computation
oi the power he would have to mvet-thr
power OF thousand ships of war. and up
wards of five hundred war steam, H., and
twenty-sevcn thOusand guns, with your one
thousand one hundred. This may give some
idea If what the duties and obligations OF
this Government are in the protection aud
defense Of the country which we already
have. | said il wonld be within the power OF
our resources to accomplish all this. to defend
the country in the end. after seeing for years
and years, our sea-coast ravaged aud pluud-
cred by even an inferior force; but we coIld
achieve it. We have got the energy and the
resources in the end to achieve it, That is
not the question, however. The question Ii
whether il is eXpedient to expand Onr terri
tories beyond the wants of an ad, abclug pO-
pulalion; not whether We would not have
power to protect any extent of new country
hat We might choose to annex; but whether
{ S wise or expcdenl TO do ia.
That is The military aspect OF the question
Now, as to the economical aud civil aspect,
wish Ia say Il few words. know that The
popular theory is, and seldom hear il ques-
ion,d, that this Government may be expand
ID indefinitely, aud may extend not only
throughout the tropics as il i stat d by the
senator from Georgia that it is our policy.
,ut throughout South Am, RIGA, aud To- take
n all Canada, ! subscribe to no such vision
AIRY aud wild CONCLUSIONS There must he ,
'ome limit TO the poSer of this Government
20 be practically aud benriicially administer
d.. There must be ZONE Limit to it's capacity
% administer its functions with due energy
lad efficiency aud beurnt Where that limit
= II Is not 50 IL cessary to inqdire. ~ it is to
Examine and see whether we find auy weak
,,ss any dimtnish,d ,firian.y .. ,,,..,,,,