Daily national Republican., 1863-02-26
ouR NoRrHERN pEFENcEs.

The present unhappy condition of our coun-
try, and the threatening aspect of our foreign
affairs, has called public attention earnestly to
the consideration of our dofences, not only to
the improvement of such as are already erected,
but to the construction of SUCH others as tho
! exigencles Of the times demand.
Among the most prominent of these, and,
perhaps, cngrossing public attention in the
largest degree, has been tho construction, as a
between the great Lakes and the tide waters Of
the Atlantic, in such manner as should enable
the Government at all times during the season
of navigation TO transfer gunboats and NUM-
tlonB of war from one point to another with
the greatest possible facility.
The occurrences of the last year have gone
far to disturb and obliterate among our own
people the kind feeling that has been of such
slow growth towards England, while her Gov
ernment and governing classes have given us
most abundant proof of their hostile feeling,
and have shown us that the feeling Of deep
modification consequent upon their failure in
the war Of the Revolution and Of 1919, although
for the time smothered, is not extingulshed;
and that all that is wanting is opportunity for
it to develop in acts of open hostility.
Prominent among the indications of this
feeling in Great Britain is the fact of her Der
mitting the construction and fitting out In her
principal commercial ports of the Ocean
Bandits 3" that now roam the sea, manned by
men shipped in English ports, who prey upon
nun-unarmpd in ,yin1 =
international and British law, but also in vio-
lHtlon of the royal proclamation; this is now a
matter of history, that may be read by the
whole civilized world, while midnight is lllu-
mined by the flames of our whaling and COM
mercial marine. 1t should be remembered by
every American citizen that while we listen to
the wall Of despair and starvation from the la
boring people OF, Lancashire and other portions
Of England, which calls into active operation
all our sympathy for their suffering and puts
our generosity in active motion in the form Of
ship loads of food to her famishing people, at
the same timO pirate vessels are being built on
the Clyde, the Mersy and the Thames, designed,
in conjunction with the Alabama, for career
of rapine and devastation upon the shipping of
the American Republic.
In view of these facts, does not the question
of the defences of our North and Northwestern
frontier, proximatc as It is to British possession
becomes question of grave moment and vast
importancef 1t is no naked, barren frontier,
that is In danger. Populated as 1t is with near
ly ono-third of ourpopulation, and possessed of
a commerce. Of the annual value of moro than
81 200, 900, 900, and having ahoat upon its wa
ters and inland seas tonnage of more than
S14, 900, 900 in value.
The project Of strengthening the dcfences of
the North and Northwestern frontier BY the en-
largement of the New York and Illinois State
canals has been rejected, whether wisely or un--
wisely, 1t Is not now necessary to discuss. The
rejection of that plan does not in any degree de-
tract from the necessity as means or element
Of military strength of a connection of the up
per lakes with Lake Ontario, which shall be
under the control of the Government, and made
fully effectual as a military measure and as an
outlet for the growing commerce Of tho West.
The constitutional power Of tho Government to
do the work cannot be successfully questlonedby
any one who will read the Sth section of artlrloy
of the Constitution. 1t is strictly a measure in
the words of the Constitution to "proyIdc for
the common defence and general welfare of the
the United State" nor is 1t any new PROPOSE
tom as carly as 1886 Government caused olabo-
rate surveys to be made around the Falls of Nj
agara upon the American side, and fully de-
termined It's feasibility. The numerous surveys
since made fully confirm it. Therefore the
feasibility of the project cannot be successfully
disputed, and that an urgent necessity for the
work exists, as a war measure Is plain, while as
a commercial one, II is entirely beyond cavil
binding as 1t will in indlsBoluble bonds the
great producing West with the great manuiac-
turing East. The proposed work when com
pleted will be but six or at most seven miles in
length, and through a section that will enable
1t TO be easily and successfully defended against
the attack Of an enemy. Nor can the objection
Of want Of wat or be urged as 1t was to the
proposed enlargement Of the Erie canal. Its
construction would obyiate in time Of war the