Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-16
THE NAVAL BEFENCES OF
The LAKES.
The Argument Of Hon. 3. O.
Parsons and Mayor George
B. Senter before tbs
SenaIe Naval Com.
mittee,
The Necessity Of Naval Dsfeness En-.
tJreIE Vindieated. s

The subject of naval defences for the
Lake frontier has awakened the greatest
interest in the citiel along our Northern
borders, and delegations from different
points on the lakes are in Washington,
urging the immediate necessity Of action
on this subject. Colonel George B. senter,
Mayor, and Hon. Richard o. Parsons, the
committee appointed by the City Council,
the Board of Trade, and the citizens of
Cleveland, to pfesent to the President and
Congress the wishes Of the people upon
the question, appeared before the Naval
Committee of the Senate on the sth Of Feb
Iu&ry, and presented a statement, which we
sppsnd. that apparently contains full and
satisfactory ressons why Congress should
listen and at once grant the prayer of the
petitioners;
& GENTLEMEN: Judge Spalding, the mem
Der Of C0Dgress from the Cleveland Dis.
trict, has introduced q resolution into the
House of Representatives, directing the
Navy Department to appoint 8 commits
sion to examine the different sites for one
or more Navy Yards along the frontier of
the great lakes, and report their opinion as
to ths best location to Congress at its next
session. That resolution has passed the
House, and hss been referred by the Senate
TO this Committee for its action,
The grave Interest felt by our people In
this, to them, vital subject, has shown itself
in the resolutions herewith submitted, pass
ed BY the city councils, the board of trade,
and the citizens of Cleveland, and the sp-
pointment of the undersigned q committee
TO urge upon the President, Congress, and
the Navy Department the absolute neces-
sity for immediate action upon this sub
ject. The exposed condition of the lake
frontier, and the sbsalqte necessity for its
protection has long been felt by our people.
With a coast of over one thousand miles
in extent with 100000 tons Of shipping
now engaged in freighting upon the lakes,
and an annual commerce passing from the
East to the West, and from West to East,
greatly exceeding the value Of all our for
eign commerce, they feel the deepest solici-
tude for its protection and defense.
The number of inhabitants residing in
the great States directly interested in the
trade OF the lakes, and whose property Is
exposed to dangers In case of war with 8
foreign power, exceeds more than half Of
all the people now acknowledging the au-
thority of the United States. Their right
to ask Congress to relieve them of their
anxiety, to aid them by all necessary legis-
lation, is unquestioned, and they expect
that their Representatives will give them
that protection which they feel so necessary
TO their safety and homer. It is these peo-
Die who have 50 largely paid out Of the
common treasure of the nation for its de-
Tense and nationsl glory. They have
cheerfully built forts and srsensls, naval
depots and navy yards, ironclsds and ships
of war, land defenses and floating batter
les, and supplied men and money without
stint, TO carry on this war. They have
done this, not only without murmur, but
cheerfully and nobly, feeling that YhsteVer
of blood or treasure was expended for the
common defense was expended for one
common interest, and to attain one com"
mon end.
With the exception of works Of little
strength at Detroit channel, Rouse's Point
Oswego and Buffalo, the great chain Of
lake frontier, with all its wealth, its pros
porous cities and villages, and Vast com
commercial marine, is absolutely without
protection, should hostilities ensue with
our powerful and VigilAnt neighbor. Our
inon-clads snd navy, our forts and batter
les, furnish an almost insupersble barrier
to sny successful attack by sny nation on
the Atlantic coast; while large proper
ton of our common country, stretching s
thousand miles along the borders Of s for
etgn nation, presents, in case OF hostiElies
with that power, the vulnerable side to at
tack, at present being compelled TO depend
entirely upon private individuals, and the
resources of private property, 70 repel any
force sent sgsinst it. This We submit
ought not to be. A people that pAy q
large proportion of the taxes furnish q
majority of the soldiers, and produce the
largest source of national wealth, have 3
right TO demand from the government that
protection which their interests inpera-
lively require. ....-.------.-.
While onr people pay cheerfully for sup
port, protection, and advancement Of the
/ interests of every portion Of our common
country, and have spent freely from the
common treasure to protect the Atlantic
coast from danger or violence, yet they
now submit, that, when their interests
have become nearly as great when their
property is exposed deteneeless TO all the
dangers that would inevitably ensue In
case Of q war with, q foreign power, they
feel justified in asking Congress to prompt
/ " relieve them of their anxiety, and grant
them such relief as the necessities Uf the
case may seem to require. Undertsnd,
we desire to take not one dollar back We
have ever advanced to forward our ns-
tions safety or honor. We glory in the
power, the grandeur, and the stability Of
this Union; and whatever tends to add to
its prosperity; or elevate 1t in the rank Of
natsons, we desire, above all things, shall
be speedily and promptly done. And we
desire this, at ali times, st any expense Of
blood and treasure, believing that she
that soReth bountifully, shall reap bounti-
fully, and he that soweth sparingly shall
respsparingly."
Think Of the vast interests af the great
WeEt which would fsll sAcrsncs TO the
enemy in case war should find Us wholly
unprepRred. The rich cities and villages
along the shores, the vast wealth which
hosts upon the great lakes, the Thousands
Of tons of shipping, all present splendid
inducements for an enemy to seize upon
and destroy. And onecan hardly think Of
q greater blow being struck st the nAtior-
al prosperity than the sacrifice Of these
great interests, and the vast resources Of
the West cut of from connection with
the Atlantic, coast. Such results would al
most psralyxe the land. r.
But 1t IS said, there Is no occasion fol
navy yards or building Of vessels of war
because there is no probility Of wRrl Il
this altogether truef Why repeal treaty
which IN ifseJ protected the Rhole lake
frontier from direct violence from eul
neiehbor, if it was simply to give Great
Britain the right to place upon the lakes
| such portion of her navy IS sks desires