The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-12

&c, given up to her, chiefly concerning her local
defence and commerce. admit that Georgia has gone out
and secured to herself the Savannah river deences ad
NIT that the Mobile forts have been given to the
Mobians, the question recurs to the forts at Key
West and Tortugas and those commanding the entrances
Of the Missssippi-sha they, too, be given up9 Shall
tho aboundng river of commerce, which rises in Mime
sofa and the Rocky Mountains which converges from all
the slopes Of the great Mississippi basin into the Father Of
Waters; which flows thence in stately march the
Gulf and through the Straits OF Florida to enrich and
bless the whole world shall the custody OF this rver and
OF the return current Of needed commodities which
reciprocal and civzing sends back for difu
sion all unequaed basin, be tamey abandoned
to toll gahercrs, thorns in the side and robberies
the highway If Louisiana finds IL in her heart to
secede, God grant she may not she must, at least
leave the great river free-uttery aud entirely free
Even then and at BEST che will dominate and control
Its derment this transit commerce. and by the forts
the Mississippi outlets unduy overshadow and dictate
ts If she chooses to incur the ire Of the great North
west And shall not the commercial States operative
with this Northwest secure so much guardianship Of
their own commercial river as will come from the pos
of the Florida reef harbors, lights aud forts
The Mississippi valley is natural unit, which
ought to be and cannot long remain divided, and the
Florida channel is but the outer mouth OF the
IL
least which should satisfy the Northwest and North ha,
they should together hold this outer mouth,
Louisiana, while in the Union, will always have
her propostonac share Of influence and upon the
Flor keys reefs and channels Should she secedc the
Northwest and North must, in justice 10 themselves,
assert their claim to these channels, harborS aud
defenccs Offset, and as a guarantee against
any undue domination by louisiana over the
Mississippi outlets. The Northwest will always, az
Gu's commerce and the North will always, be It's
clief factor and carrier such Is nxtures decree
IL hence vitality concerns both that NO state OF southern
conf,dcracy should exercise sole custody OF this
mercia route II louisiana or southern confederscy
Is 10 the forts commanding the river mouth, "
should in equity and without demur, abandon the Gull
outlet and its defences counerbaance and partial
corrective In favor OF the other parties to this commerce
Whatever be the future organization OF the southern
States the vital interests OF the producing Nor thwest
assertion OF their Joint control over the Gull entrance
to secure regulate and assist their commerce, aud 10 OF
get The control of the river mouth necessarily appcr
taining 10 Iousana.
This argument from intrinsic equity and from balance
OF power considerations is powerfully reinforced by
other contingent prospect Of war the command
Of the Gull channel possession Taylor
Jefferson would inevitsbly pass from any southern con
federacy TO some stronger naval Power Any such league
would be weak at sea, and this weakness would
inevitably end In the Substitution OF the Ameri.
can, British French or spanish ensign Cor the
neither has create except BY precrniural and
dspruportonate effort sufficient naval strength 70 pre-
fences by eilhcr Of these Powers especially to
pctc these forts would require outlay little likely to
be made Southern account The concession OF forts
Taylor and jefferson TO Florida cotton confcderacy,
would, amid the provocatoDs OF these revolutionary
times in their transfer to England France,
either By violence BY the aid and comfort process
This transfer, once made, would be lasting the
tenure Of Gibraltar, Malta or Mgers Thus moderate
Northern bottoms bowling obedience 10 England rrsoce
OF even Spain the condition Of entry and exit al the
gate q great national highway Of traffic This pros
n. ultEn
and TO the free states viii be simply intole.
rsbie. Some bold Southern enthusiasts are eager
are abandoned 10 Florida, we submit that Spain
is more likely TO strike across the channel. A few
harbor and had this fleet been disposed 90 hlibusering
southen confederacy could scarcely have restrained
sneeess'ua e, - esersse ~ % cpnspos.c % pn ~
hold Key West and Tortueas can al sny time exercise
any elective police Of the channel from them as bases
simply because the requisite naval strength viii be want
ing and only be had by such alliance with
strong naval Power will carry the possesn OF these
stations out of Southern hands.
IN csse OF her secession has Florida any right 10 the
United States establishments along the reef as her part
of the oominon estate None whatever Originally
bought by the United Statcs then conquered from the
ndiana nj expense OF eighty millions and many yaiua
bic lives. built up throughout by the patronage and
finally donated 70 herself II largo part by sif.
OF immense landed domain, she owes all, and
has repaid well nigh nothing 10 the Union she repudaes
Forts Taylor and jefferson have each cost about million
aud quarter Several hundred thousands have been
expended IN building the reef lights and, after some
what careful examination, find that the regular cost
OF maintaining the Florida lights for year Is just about
equal to the entire annual state tax An Admiralty Court
o the highest grade has given law and protection 70 the
wrockng interest, until IL Is as well ordered and ss
respected industrial organization as any other BY
expenditures the most dsproportionate, mas have been
carried 20 places of the least nsgnincsnce florida has
indeed been the pampered beneficiary OF the general
government and too much Kindness meets now with US
wontcd return OF iugrstitude. Among her citizens are
many who feel and respect these manifold obligations,
and who would Join In shameless demand for the con.
ccsson Of property on which the State has not even
beggars claim. The mainland has no valid posses
sory title 70 the keys and reefs, from which
widely separated by the Bay Of Mexico and the
impassabe everglades than II s from Cuba. Key West
in much closer communication with Havana New Orleans
and New York than With Tallahassee II Ia only BY the
gaherers periodical visitation that reminded Of
It's being in florida; though this reminder bids fair
70 become quite frequent and exactng enough 70 quicken
the sowest memories IL Florida secedes from the Uni
ted states, Key West may prefer 70 secede from Florida
ghe Union feeling strong and prccpitate accession has
found favor there the Convention election showed
In Florida coueummates her self-eectment from
the Union venture 10 propose that Key West should
frr DOyt.