The New York herald., 1862-04-25
Our National Dcfsnces.

Our National Dcfcnces.
Among the results of the present " ar is the
awakening Of the country to the necessity of
national defences, which have been too long
neglected. New discoveries in the art of war
have rendered the old weapons and old de-
fences obsolete, and events that have occurred
since the breaking out of the rebellion have
pointed out the danger Of leaving our coast
and Northern frontier SO badly protected. Mr.
Seward did not call the attention Of the North
ern States and of Congress to the matter mo-
ment too soon. The admirable report of the
Military Committee, drawn up by Mr. Blair,
which we published yesterday, is the fruit of
this warning. We trust it will not fall still
born to the ground, but that it will be taken up
in liberal and comprehensive spirit and acted
upon with promptiiudc and energy
1t contains many suggestions of great practi-
cal value for instance, one, that military edu-
cation should be opened to the sons Of such
parents as are willing to pay for it, and that
the army should be open to them equally as
to the cadets of West Point Passing over
several other points, we come to the most i'm
portsnt.
By the treaty Of peace with England, after
the war Of lsl2-l5, it was'agreed that neither
OF the two nations should maintain a navy
anon the lakes which divide Canada from the
United States. England has nentralized the
treaty as far az she is concerned by construct
| ing two short military canals, which connect
the upper with the lower lakes. and the lower
with the ocean, out Of the reach Of our guns.
At sny moment she may send up feet which,
| in the event Of war, could destroy every Ame-
rioan town from Ogdensburg to Chicago, and
enable her to invade the Northern States.
Near the head Of the st. Lawrence, at the foot
Of Lake Ontario, the British. to complete their
supremacy on the lakes, have built an immense
naval depot for the construction and repair Of
vessels, and a very strong fortress to protect
the depot and the outlet Of the lake. AS the
right bank of the Upper st. Lawrence is
in the United States, we have, Of course,
a right to erect Notifications there to command
the river Both sides OF the st. Lawrence
below belong to England. In order to have
unimpeded military communication, canal
has been constructed from the lower part of
where the eminent domain on either bank Of
the river belongs exclusively to her Britannia
Majesty. Now, to place the United States on
footing Of equality, it viii be necessary for
our government to construct fortifcations aud
naval depots, aud two or three military canals
one from the Mississippi. by Illinois river,
into Lake Michigan, and the other from Lake
.r4.. 4 alra nn4a oil
while the Erie and Hudson Canal could be SO
enlarged as to allow a vessel Of 500 or even
1000 tons to enter Lake Eric from the ocean,
which could be accomplished in a shorter time
| from the city of New York than from the mouth
| Of the st. Lawrence, to say nothing OF the dan
ger and delay arising from rapids, rocks and ice.
| As our ships could remain later in the fall and
till the British were icebound, and as they could
enter the lakes from the Mississippi in the
spring month sooner than the British could
| by way of the st. Lawrence, the advantage
| would be all on our side. BY the construction
| of the two canals and the enlargement OF the
Eric, feet blockadcd in New York might be
| removed TO New Orleans by internal water
| communication the Hudson being connected
| Wltl lnc ANVi 10 'hio Hlt' DuOh II
| the wonderful manner in which nature has
| favored this country that, in time of war with q
| great maritime Power, an interior coast channel
| from New Orleans TO Boston can bo completed
at a very small expense, as follows:--Beginning
in The Mississippi river, above New Orleans,
and opening up the bed of the lberville river
| (closcd by General jackson in lSl2-l5), an
inner communication may be continued along
| the coast between the islands >and the main
laud via Mobile and Pensacola (crossing Flori-
da with a ship caDal), Savannah, Charleston,
Beaufort, Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
New Brunswick and New York, through Long
Island Sound Nsrragansett and B,nzard's bays
by short canal to Massachusetts Bay New
! London can be connected with Beaufort by
thrco short and inexpensive canals Of an aggre.
cato length Of only seventy eight and hali
miles. How important in peace or war is this
internal communication, and how beautifully
is it designed by Providence TO nnk the Eortf
with the South and the West win the East .,
an unbroken chain, making. the waolo ON
gsnd country, with ons mighty dest.oy,