Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-01-20
THE REGISTER.
THE NAVY.


and view with Jealousy any action that
might, in any contingency, raise up among
" those agencies which have inaugurated
ssvolutions ID other countries. Thus the
military and naval powers have no. been
highly favored BY our legislators. The
policy may have been benefcis! in an
economical point Of view, because Of our
disposition to peace. and the rare conflict
hitAsrts Of our interests with those Of 9th.
er powers, and not becsuss Of any superb
Or wisdom IN the policy itself. Circum-
stances that have rendered armies and ns
viss formidable to monarch,es, are either
wholly wanting OF comparatively harmless
70 10. s- g.. .
Hsre alone among nations there is no
combination againss the government prop.
o., aiming to exchange it for one Of diff
Ssrsnt character. Nor can there be unless
men will combine against themselves
their own inteDests and honor. While we
would not advocate an increase of the ma.
" simply 10 display 10 the world our
ability TO man and rig model ships Of the
line and manage them with admirable
skill and effect, yet We insist that if there
10 need Of maintaining single armed yes.
ssl for defence, there is as certain need Of
maintaining . naval force sufficient to af.
ford the fullest protection to our commerce
and coast. If a large and efficient navy
u necessary, there 10 an end Of argument.
Our resources and energies should then
Be taxed to supply the want.
Experience proves but too strongly our
weakness in this respect. From modest
sdventurers upon the sea in inGerio,
vessels with scanty burthens, we have ris-
en- 10 an equality with the first Of COM
mHcial powers. We have more shipping
s8oat than any other nation entering
every depot Of Undertaking along our
interests and forming an important ingre.
dent Of our wealth and nationality.
Wherever the spirit Of enterprise can
end > reward, on sea or land, in peril or
safety. there are to be found Americas
sons, who expect the far.reaching> pro:ec
ton Of this government In the legi,i
mate exercise Of their privileges, Difficult.
ties will often arise, involving the national
integrity and calling upon the government
70 vin1icate the rights of its citizens. The
timely presence Of . ship Of war will ordi.
nsrily effect this, yet with the present ma
vsl force it is impossible to exercise this
surveillance over ell the ports where our
commerce has penetrated. Consequently
oil difficulties have to be first referred to
the government for adjustment, thus caus
ing delay, greatly to the injury Of our cit
izsns. Protection gives spirit and bold
ness to commerce, and this will net be
adequate until the navy is large enough
70 sentinel the pathways and destinations
Of oil our merchantmen.
Our relations with all the South and
. Central American States are daily becom.
ing more important, and are constantly
endangered BY the stupid and uncertain
regulations Of those States. As against
them ready power is everything. The
presence Of . few guns will remove their
sbstinscy and humble their pretensions
sooner than regiment Of diplomats
Could such precautions have been taken,
the majority of those petty disputes that
have SO long annoyed us, would in all prob
ability never have found their way to our
national capitol.
Our interests are multiplying upon the
Pacific coast, ~ithout corresponding pro
vision for their protection. ULder the in
creased contributions which Asia has
made to trade, commerce is taking new
seeking new routes, and pouring
it, abundant riches upon new locaiities,
greatly to our own advantage. The i'm
portance which is thus attac hing itself to
our Pacific possessions, will invite the At
tack Of our enemies upon that region in
time Of hostiii,ies. In such an emergen-
cy VIC must necessarily turn to the navy
for defence, and as u means OF repelling
the invssioL-nor could seasonable relief
be afforded unless that coast be fortified
with squadron sufficient to act ON the
defensive until more material aid could be
rendered.
Besides, the numerous harbors on our
eastern and southern borders, and the nav.
igabls rivers ranniBe cut 10 the sea, are
- many exposed and vulnerable points.
How shall We secure these and the vast
inland commerce to which they give life
and movement and direction 7 War is
always imminent. The diverse, and in
many instances, hostile manners, charac.
tsrs and institutions with which we are in
daily contact, may embroil US at any mo.
ment. Our most vital interests are upon
the ocean, and in such an event We are to
. great extent at the mercy Of the naval
powers Of the old world. The first re.
suits Of an open rupture cannot be other
wise than humiiating TO us. Our navy
has always proved Itself fully equal in
daring and skill to that Of any other na.
sion. But the odds against il are so great,
and the interests depending upon il so
comprehensive and scattered, that il would
not be competen, power in the exigen.
ces Of conflict. The deck covered by the