New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-10
THE SEA MILITIA.

THE SEA MILITIA.
II was proposed by this Journal few days
since that the Government should call to its cid
a militia of the seas, as well as a militia of the
land. 1t was proposed for two reasons; FIRST, as
an efficient aid to the Government In making
thorough and mpenetrable the blockade Of the
Southern coast; and second, as a measure Of re.
lief to shipowners, who, no doubt, would be
glad Of any sort Of service that would Keep their
sup, in repair and running condition. We have
seen no reason for reversing our judgment upon
this topic, but, on the other hand, have bad it
confirmed BY one strong authority The Journal
Of Commerce. That paper disapproves Of and
sneers at it, and we are quite sure, therefore, i
must be right. The journal would be sure to
disapproye Of anything that would be an effective
instrument for the subsection Of its Southern
friends; and as private ingratitude may very fifty
be joined to public treason. The Journal Of Com
meree naturally turns against the hand that has
fed and pampcred it, aud would hinder if it
could scheme Of public service that would be,
at the same time, benefit to the New
York merchant How the merchant Of New
York. who rather prdcs himself on hi. high sense
Of honor, and OF rising superior to political trick.
cry and peculation. will relish The Journals In
uetdo that be would like to employ his ships on
the terms that were given to the Caeline 10
question for the pa'ties TO settle between them
selves. ..rr .... ..f....
As TO the original plan of a Sea Militia, we
advocate it all the more. Tie Herald is attempt.
ing 10 get up another panic in regard to our
foreign relations, and Incl Il that England AID
France will both force the blockade of our
Southern coast. the one for tobacco, the other
for cotton. We do not believe, as we said
few days ago, that England will, even for cotton,
take the risk Of war with this country tIll il
is compelled to do so by an absolute scarcity Of
the staple, and that Is not likely {, happen under
year. II France takes any such stop, il will
be, it is argued, as the ally of England, and the
argument presupposes that she viii not do it eN-
cept with tine authority Of such alliance. But if
we have nothing 10 fear from England for
year or fifteen months, and nothing to fear fron
France TIL England has taken the initiative, we
may dismiss our fears on this subject.
We may dismiss our fears provided we act
with common prudence. Ii We expect to main.
tam paper blockade, aud that England or
France OF auy other nation will respect such
one, we shall certainly find Ourselves very much
mistaken. II Mr. jeff Davs's Secretary of
War-,hoeyer that custodian Of stolen goods
may be-fnds that he can run over from Cuba
in snail vessels the fine lot of arms just landed
there from the ship Biuberg, and put them
ashore in the shallow coves and concealed bays
that 20 abound along the Southern coast, he is
not in the least likely TO regard Mr.. Linccln's
Proclamation of Blockade. To insure that doe
ument any respect whatever, it must be pro-
claimed over and over again from the mouths OF
Long Toms or whatever the things arc called
which swing ON pivot on ships decks, and out
of whose mouths the babes aud suckings Of nav
isatior, the small craft that can run in any
where, are seat TO the bottom. a.5
Ii should DO understood that il is not q real
and ehectua blockade that is likely to be broken
at the probable price of war, but an unreal
aud Intellectual one that will be disregarded, be-
cause il does not command and does not deserve
respect and because to break such one cannot
be made the legitimate pretsxt OF war. The
way TO avoid difficulty, then, is TO make the block
ade complete; and this We can only do, with our
present limited navy BY putting in commission a
number of vessels Of various tunnage, such as
can be found at our wharges at this moment to
be had ut fair remunerative prices. and not, as
The Journal thinks our merchants would demand,
Catiline prices. r.