The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-02-07
The Stenr nlockndo.

Tie late foreign steamers bring Il ltiila of the
protest Of .ho British Goyernm M pgl,1s, thu
sinking Of tho stone vot soils at tho entrance vi
ChNls,,cn llarbor and its remon'rarce against
the same courte being pursued attn otter
Southern ports. Tho remous'rance vail provo
fatilc from the fact that It has not bon IA
intention Of the Administration to blo'k up
any other hatbor than that of Charleston.
This hnIo; has been thus treated in no spirit
Of malice or revenge, as it may appear to
England and other European nations, bat bo'
cause The Port is accessible by dozen differ
snt channels, and tho blockade could no. other
wise have been MADE ,nec,ual.
Some Of tho Lupiish journals assert that AS
we have yielded in the Trent difficulty so VIC
shkll readily yis.d to any rsmors,rance which
i-ssAi IL iAin may make upon tnis subject. A
ruin'd ~ the Sit hing ot th,sO vee,cls, To b,
bu' the thal.owost Of ial ohoods. Tnp .-bor 4
SsbasioPOl wa, closed by more woit,hty vessels,
'uIk IN vser q much grover depth than pro-
Vails on Ciarcston bar, and potion Of the
inner barber WAS half filled Up 10y vessels sunk
duii9g 'ho f'c'o Yet all tho Instructions were
removed within fow years
where tho waters Of the East river sweep with
great depth and violence towards those Of tho
Huc, on, was blasted out in a comparative bri, +
space Of time, and the tumultuous curren of
Hell Gate were lossened by similar process
upon Pot Rock. At this spot ths depth Of
water ard violence Of the currents, surely .hrow
every conceivable difficulty in tho way of sub
marine blasting, but these Difficult les proved
readily surmonntaLle. 1t Is not TO be- ipp,sel
that the old hulk5 Of Charleston. scarce coreroi
at low tide, and holding but small stones, can.
not be entered by sub-msrins divers. if the
huils hold together, and, by powder clis,ons
placed within the holds, be more readily and ,s.
fectuaiy shattered, than the rock lie yes of our
harboT.
Again, our Government could we'll aT.rd 10
clear Charleston harbor, II the English would
agree to do the same for the harbor of say,n.
nal, which that Governm ent caused to TO Oh
suuc'eaSi'h sunkon vessels during the Rovo.
luton. Those vessels arc now kno IN as the
''wfeeks' in the Savannah river, a5ou. two
miles below tho City Exchange. They form
the most scrious impediment 10 tho nav sl.ion
OF the lower river, reducing he chanuel 10 tho
d'pth oi about eight ioet at mean loy tide.
The weeks at this point were sunk during III,
Revolu''on Q'7N by direction Of ito com nand
or oil tie i.ns ish forces, then 10 pos ession OF
SavanIsb' to block the entrance to the Fr,at
rivt', az protection against tho approach Of
the Ffscch and American fleet, S, far a,can
be AsctftSined tho yesfels SUI we're the f |.
lowing His mSjeity's ship Roso, the Swan.
nah Armed Ship, purchased into the kings scr
vice some tine before, and four transports.
which b!C' khded up the CHI inuel.
30 ua' We have Erglirh precedent, uTon our |
OWE coasts Tor our efforts in this reetior. and
as Congress, In 1852 appropriated mtuy tsol.
sands q dollars TO cloariDg Eugl,,h Srecss from
SAVaunah haTtor, it is not likely that Charles
ton ha'bo' would long remain obstfueted. aNer
her citizens should have returned to po4cs and
teast II.