Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-04-05


Correspondence Of TIE baltimore Sun.
Mr.. Jefferson and hts GunbOats--Kfs De-
sign OF Attacking Cuba---ENis Views ON
Our DiEficuRtfes with spain and 0PFesE-
ton 70 Fulibusters. &c.
WAsuEoTos, March %.
President Jefferson's gun-bOat hoIilla hiss been
brought late notice Of late in connection with de
sign imputed 10 that statesman Of using them for
the purpose Of seiz ng upon Cuba. Twas doubted
by some whether Com. Stewart had made the state
meBt attributed 10 aim this subject. But his
letter, daed March 30, is now before the public
Il AYERS that the appropriations for the gun boats
built after the TripOlitan war we're obtained under
the pretext Of harbOr defense bat that he had
never seen IN Dir. Jeersons published letters the
declaration that he Intended them especially for an
attack on the island Of Cuba as the most efficient
means fer biOckading those ports, and for attack
on their protecting batteries
There is no doubt that this statement Is 10 be SUBJ
stantiated by reference to Mr. Jtffersou's private
correspondence III was SO jealous in the defense
Of bis gunboat theory that he made many and re-
peaied suggestions to its advantages both for Of
Tense and defense long after be left public life Be>
SIDES, in December, 1905, he apprehended necessity
Of war with Spain. The mes age Of that year 8
rather beligersnt. He bad already given orders 10
our troops 10 repel by arms the inVssions made By
Spain on he ierrit ry OF Orleans aud the Mssissip
pi. He proceeds in the same message 70 recon-
mem, in view of the injuries We received from
beligeTent powers, measures for ses-cosss Defense
and for placing our seaport towns out Of Danger of
insult in AID Of land batteries he recommend
ed competent number Of gan hcsts to te in re adj
for service ct the opening Of the next session.
He made Suggestions also TO the sugmenta ion of
our home force, and the oIga liion of The militia
An imne late prob bion Of The expectation Of arms
aLd ammunition is slso recommended
year afterwards, in his message Of December q
1906 be refers to another difficulty with Spain bul
drec potent sutjurgations against private indisil
usls who we're combining together, srmiug aud or
gaining contrary law carry on militia
ry expedi ions sinst the territories of Spain This
is the strongest anti-flbusier document on record
and yet it was issued at the very time when the dis
tnrbei condition Of relations with Spain led
TO a consideration Of the ezpediency Of enlarging
our regular force
In this message he states that the gun boats or
dsred would be ready for the services in the spring.
and he says q much larger number will be wanting
to place our sea port towns and waters in state
of defense. The special message Of 10th February
1907, is all about gunbOats fOr the protection aud
defense Of batteries"
Land batteries, movable artillery, floating bat
eries and gun boats propose for the purpose Of
opposing the entrance of enemy into our harbors
From the beginnipgt the end Of his messages on this
subject be refers to the gun boats as source of de-
Tense, and argues that il is in with every modern
maritime nation for that purpose. He insists that
powers Whose system is like ours is peace and
Defense" hsvs res orted to them. He urges the
Distribution of 200 gunbOss along our shsres. The
last sentence of this gunboat message is conclusive
against the idea that he designed the proposed 200
gunboais for the purpose OF Invasion of Cuba or
any foreign country. 1t would be superhuous to
observe" he says 'thst the species Of naval arma>
meat is proposed merely for defensive operations
that il have but little effect toward protecting
our commerce in open seas, even on our coast and
still ess can il become excitement 10 engage in Of
Jsnsive maritime Dar, toward which it would furnish
no means"