New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-14

OF military commanders. 49,
When we couple the strategic position acquired By
our occupation OF the Tennessee and Cumberland
rivers, with the completion Of the mortar boats aud
the absolute commsnd Of the Iiver given US by tho
arrnored gunboats, there remains no mystery sbout
the occupation Of Coluwbos. The two arms Of tho
public service are equally entitled TO the credit
Of frightening the Rebels from their strongest posi-
lion Of the Missssipp River, if not the strongest IN
their whole military jurisdiction.
Yesterday, tue intelligence reached MS that the
western hotllla, composed Of ten gunboa~ and ten
mortar-boas, had started forward TO new scenes Of
conflict and to achieve, doubt not, new and yet
greater trnmphs. The country il assured that what
ever can be accomplished by gailantry aud nautical
experience, Will be performed By Commodore FOote
and the brave officers aud men under his command.
We confidently await tie announcement of new
victories.
have thought it proper, Mr.. President, a. Q
Western Senator, in s0rne degree chsrset with the
examination Of Naval affairs by this body, TO bear
this testimony to the worth Of that branch Of the
public service 10 the Western campaign, and to tho
noble deeds Of the Flag Officer IN that command.
No 0yerestmate their services to the country,
and the Northwest in particular, and in the name Of
that great section and OF the whole country, thank
them, ouc and all, officers and men.
Bat would avail myself OF this occasion TO 90
compiSh another purpose. 1 am anxious thai me
people of this entire country may feel that the ex-
PLOTS OF the navy, wherever performed, are their
exploits that its glory is their glory, and that while
they are taxing themselves to support 1t they arc
supporting the right arm Of the naiIonal defense.
desire the citizen OF the most remote frontier TO eei
that he /, equally protected and equally honored by
the brave deeds of our naval officers with tue Gi-
zen OF the Atlantic coast. / wish the men OF Iowa
| and Minnesota TO know that they as efectusliy
defended IN their liberties at home. as web their
honor abroad, by the achievements OF Dupont, and
Godsboroogh, aud bingham, and FOote on the
water a. they can he by any victories won by our
armies on the land.
Mr.. President, ours must be a great maritime na-
ton. Heaven has ordained that ii should be such.
and We could not make IL otherwise if we would.
We have a coast both on the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans which, with its numerous in0en atoms, il
any thousand miles 10 extent, occupied Ivy hardy
nautical population, sDd taEked on either ride BY
soils and climates which furnish the most valuable
productions OF the globe, which must be supplied TO
other nations. On the north We have q succession
of great lakes bearing upon their bosous regis
tered commercial tunnage OF nearly half million,
and navigated by race OF daring industrious
northern seamen. Unlike any other maritime Datioa
ours is traversed by Davigabe rivers, thousands Of
miles in length, floating an inland commerce une-
oualed by 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 aud climate furnishing such pro-
auctions, and population along our ocean, gulf,
lake and river coasts, accustomed TO navigation,
who does not zee that oars must. from the very
necessities OF geographical position and the con-
formation of our Continent, become great COM
mercisl people Orr products must be borne to re-
mote nations in our own ships, navigGted by our
own seamen, and protected wherever they go by our
own Vessels OF war
know not with whom originated the phrase that
"the navy is the tight arm OF the public DEFENSE,
hut know that truer sentiment wac neveru uttered.
I'm nv conviction il will always be In this country
the most efficient and tar the least dan zerous arm OF
the public service by which 70 maintain the national
Integrity aud defend the national honor History
teaches us that every nation that has depended upon
navy for protection has been nparalvely free BY
the side of those which have placed their reliance
upon armies. l need not 20 back to antiquity TO
prove this. l poin, TO Holland and England in
| modern times. The former while she continued to
be the greatest naval power on earth, was the
| freest government Oh earth, ard only begun
10 be sh0rn Of her liberties and her territory when
she neglected TO maintain her Dees. England, the
most liberal of all governments save our own, IL In
no ANAL degree indebted for her present position
TO the fact that she manta ns only email military
force On the British islands, and relies upon her
wooden walls us means OF attack and defense
She puts 10 faith in large standing armies,
aud will not until her people shall be prepared TO
surrender their freedom. With her garTisoned pos
ses.ionf encircling tae globe, Der entie military
establishment does not exceed 10000 men, France,
Austria, Russia and Prussia, maintain large stand
ng armies their own soil snd In those countries
the liberty Of tie people is measured by the will OF
the soyereigns. The freedom they enjoy Is the
gratuity OF Emperors and Kings; the sefyiude they
endure is enforced by the presence OF standing
armies. The people Of this country can never sc-
cept the rights which they enIy as the GIT oil any
being inferior TO tneir Creator. do not believe
that ANYBODY but tue puDlc eneuy has had any
thing to fear from the numerous and wel-appointed
armies we have raised. Yet no one OF us Ia pre-.
pared to TINT, with an army much longer Isolated
| from home scenes and home ideas, concentrated IN
large bodies and taught the most implicit bedience,
da Ger 20 our free il sii uons might not arise. No
such danger can arise from the existence OF navy,
however large or however commanded Sesnen
are cosmopoii'ans. Always employed, and gen.
orally ahOat, they never become Us armies sometimes
do as dangerous TO friends N time OF peace as "
enemies IN time OF war.
might 90 on to show that, situated all our
large cities are, upon OF the ses or upon nav
igabe rivers, the navy might be made more efficient
IN suppressiug domestic Instruction Well as
peng foreign invasion, than the arny. might
show too, that, notwithstanding much that has been
said by protessed saisticaus, the support OF navy Ia
much les expensive in comparison with the service
il renders TO maritime nation, than that OF an army,
but shall not detain the Senate by entering upon
such an exposition Al this time.
At said at the outset my purpose III rsing TO ad-
dress the Senate at tbis tine 10 call the atfeu-
tion OF the oouutry to the successful operations OF
the Western hotiila but cannot refrain from aud.
| ing for one moment 10 the successes OF our navy
elsewhere. The whole southeastern Atlantic coast
has been swept by the fleet Of the gallant Dupont,
and is now eiectually held by both inside and an
outside blockade. The enemy have been driven
from the waters of North Carolina by Golisborough
and their towns occupied; and | predict that, IN
few DAYS at farlhest intelligence viii reach us that
he forfs 81, the mouth OF the Mississippi River have
been cap,ured end that Farragut and Porter are, or
will soon DO, IN Possession OF New-Orleans. But
Inc startug events that have recently occurred in
uamptou Roads attract, they ought, the attention
of All. IL would be well for lis TO reflect upon what
Ihe-e events have clearly demonstrated, viz:
| /. That in modern naval warfare wooden sailing
vessel. are perfectly helpless and harmless.