The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-22


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It is well understood that Commodor,
Foote was opposed to giving the rebels Al
opportunity TO leave Columbus. He fell
sure Of his ability, with his gun and NOR
tar boats, to shell them into speedy sur
render, but was compelled to give way to
counsels of military commanders.
When We couple the strategic position
acquired by our occupation Of the Ten
nessee and Cumberland rivers with the
completion of the mortar boats and the
absolute command of the river given us
by the armed gun-boats, there remains
no mystery about the evacuation OF Co
lumbus The two arms of the public ser
vice are equally entitled to the credit of
frightening the rebels from their strongest
position on the Mississippi river, if not the
strongest in their Whole military jarisdic-
ton.
Yesterday the intelligence reached us
that the western fotilla, composed Of ten
gun-boats and ten mortar boats had started
for new scenes Of conflict and to achieve,
| doubt not, new and greater triumphs.
The country is assured that, whatever
can beaccomplished by gallantry and nauti
cal experience, will be performed by Com
modore Foote and the brave officers and
men under his command. We await the
announcement of new victories.
Ihave thought it proper, Mr.. President,
as western Senator, in some degree
charged with the examination of naval af-
fairs by this body, to bear this testimony
to the worth of that branch of the public
service in the western campaign, and to
the noble deeds Of the flag officer in that
command. No one can over-estimate their
services to the country, and to the North
west in particular and in the name Of
that great section of the whole country
l thank them, one and all, officers and
men.
But would avail myself of this occa-
sion to accomplish another purpose. l
am anxious that the people Of this entire
country may feel that the exploits of the
Navy, wherever performed, are their ex
ploits, that its glory is their glory, and
that while they are taxing themselves to
support it, they are supporting the right
arm Of the national defense. / desire the
citizens of the most remote frontier to feel
that he is equally protected and equally
honored by the brave deeds of our naval
officers with the citizen of the Atlantic
coast. wish the men Of Iowa and Min
nesota to know that they are as efectually
defended in their liberties at home and in
their honor abroad, by the achievements
of Dupont and Goldsborough and String
ham and Footc on the water, as they can
be by any victories won by our armies on
the land.
MIR. President, ours must be . great
maritime nation Heaven has ordained
that it should be such, and we could not
make ii otherwise if we would We have
coast, both on the Atlantic ard Pacific
oceans, which, with its numerous indenta
tions, is many thousand miles in extent,
occupied by hardy, nautical population,
and fanked on either side by soils and
climates that furnish the most valuable
productions of the globe, and which must
be supplied to other nations. On the
north we have succession Of great lakes
already bearing upon their bosoms reg
istered commercial Tonnage of nearly haif u
million, and nsvigated bya race of daring,
industrious, northern seamen. Unlike
any other maritime nation. ours is trav-
ersed by nsvigable rivers, thousands Of
miles in length, floating an inland com.
meree unequalled by that Of any other
country in the world. except, possibly,
that of China, and capable Of navigation
BY armed vessels Of great capacity. With
country Of such extent, soil and eli
mate furnishing such productions, and a
population along our ocean, guilt, bay.
lake and river coasts, accustomed to nav
lgatlon, who does not see that ours must,
from the very necessities of our geograph-
ical position, and the conformation of our
continent, become a great commercial
people? Our products must be borne te
remote nations. in our own ships, naviga.
ted by our own seamen, and protected
wherever they may 60 by our vessels o.
war.
! know not with whom originated The
phrase that the Navy is the right urn O
the public defense but / know that
truer sentiment was never uttered. In my
conviction it will always be in this coun.
try the most efficient and far the Least
dangerous arm of the public service BY
which to maintain the national integrity
and to defend the national honor. His
tory teaches us that every nation that ha,
depended upon navy for protection ha,
been comparatively free by the side o.
those which placed their reliance upon ar.
mics. I need not go back to antiquity Il
prove this. ] point to Holland aud Eng
land In modern times. The former, Will,
she continued to be the greatest nava
power on earth, was the freest govern
ment on earth, and only began TO be sbor,
OF her liberties and Of her territory wher