The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-02-05

an appropriation of $4,000 for the commence
ment of two additional forts for the defense of
Portland harhor, including the purchase OF
sites Mr.. Blaine proceeded as follows:
L desire to state very briefly, if l can get the
attention of the committee. that am instruct
ed to offer this amendment by the Commit y Of |
on Military Affairs, and that they propoIho for |
the instance of the Secretary of War, W WIZ
warded to that committee . conilnap Hmm
from the chief of Engineers, 1e ala Commit- |
phreys. This item was lett out py Us Substantial
tee on Appropriations, but ne ssbonId be made |
at This fine I do not desire 10 oepate .he
matter ut any length, and unles1 sGr'o senIie
man desires further INFORM, nst;nr 20 .ho a o'
br;af statant,nt leave the question TO the COM
mittee. r4h;nL ,va hove throuy,, or,oy
vi Pnouoh on Notifications already; and
oatimates / think we better vote them all
down. -.- -.
there were-ayes twenty.
Before the noes were counted, lt
Mr. Blaine said desire, if there is no OBJ
lection to make statement to the House.
Mr. Spalding-I object.
Mr.. Blaine-I did not know there would be
any objection to this item, or would have
made further statement when had the heor
Mr.. Spalding-I object to any debate after
division upon the question.
Mr.. Blaine-I withdraw my amendment.
The amendment was accordingly Withdrawn.
Mr.. Blaine-I now move to amend Dy insert
ing the following:
SFor the commencement of two additional
forts for the defense of Portland harbor, Maine,
including the purchase OF sites, $l5o,ooO.
That is 900 more than my other alnenuo
ment proposed to appropriate, ana Is tneleiore
adifferent PROPOSITION. Upon TINS ainehomeht
/ am entitled TO the floor, and Will make
statement to the House ofthe facts OF TINS case
as coneisely as can
priation of S150OO0 for the purchase OF sites
and the commencement of two forts in the
barbor of Portland, Maine. He says, in
communication to the War Depart ment,
under date of January "a, 1867, which now
hold in my hand
"Ihe largely increased range of modern ar
tillery has had the effect of diminishing the Sc
curity hitherto afforded by such of our sea-
coast works as are situated so near to the OBJ
jects they are designed to cover that iron~clads
may approach near enough to shell those OBJ
jeets without being themselves seriously en-
dangered by the works. 1t therefore becomes
necessary in such cases to establish an exterior
line of works which shall hold an enemys
ships at a greater distance, while the present
works will serve the indispensable purpose OF
a second line with which to meet the enemy
with powerful fire in case he should force the
new outer barrier, or pass it with portion OF
his feet while the rest are engaged with the
works This is the condition OF things at Port
land, where the present line of works, consist
ing of Forts Preble, Scammen and Georges, are
so near the city and shipping in the harbor
that both the latter may be shelled simultane-
ously with an attack upon the works.
Mr. Chairman in the opinion of the Engin-
eer corps, and especially of those who are en-
trusted with our sea coast defenses, the city
and harbor of Portland are of superlative i'm
portance; deserving and demanding the utmost
protection that the most thorough Notifications
can afford The city and harbor do not de-
serve this merely because of the thirty thous-
and enterprising inhabitants in the one nor
the valuable shipping in the other; but because
OF the immense Importance OF the position as
affecting the defenses of the whole country in
the event OF a a foreign war. Should we ever
be so unfortunate to have war with Eng
land, her first point OF attack would be Port
land, and with her most powerful navy against
the Notifications we now have there 1t would
be presumptuous folly to declare that she might
not capture it, And L ask gentlemen ON this
floor if they can measure the magnitude of thai
loss to and gain to our enemy. 1t would al
once give to England, not only the finest ma
val station on the North American coast but
would give her the command of the entire line
of the Grand Trunk railway. And England in
possession of Portland, Quebec and Montreal
could hold the Grand Trunk railroad against
any force we could bring against her, and hold
ing it she would have both winter and summer
the most expeditions and complete channel OF
supply to her troops along our northern from
tier from Island Pond to Detroit.
Indeed the loss of Portland and the Grand
= ;4 ~ Ei,,i - 80 T., tS3;otoJ ~ ~ -
ale ~ No nsntnred Now 0rieanS and 70
gained control of the Mississippi. river. And
Iassure my friend from Ohio Mr.. Spalding)
SIs0 600 81 his Enc he nav ba nntt;na in ,,or;i
that which, if once lost, $780, 900 would fail
toregain. L pm not seeking to give the i'm
f ar nd inst tba Wis yary 1872 o,
Vi war "A ana trus' .ne uay Is very remote Wheh
D. 1 @ ~ III ;;',a,;o,, . 20 a,, ~.
an time of neaoe' and We know - moreo over
III 'liie VI Poaoo, u 80 A NV nioie w.
yar TO na 'me
; 49, 49,, 49, - o. - pi3JI T,.
tbn re,gs which hana aoTarns5 tho anm;n 90,
denartment in nrgnr the erection Of aSdifi;nnol
forts st PortIand ana with tb;s hr;af n.asa,,,al
- 81 .ho Iead;To taotS Of tha oaSa + a IL; III
;n 70 shpit he omast;on tn tba ;nao, GU. =. =,
The Honee 'o' "
Mr.. Spaidino-I object to this augmentation
f a. nas, flat - - g. ~ tt 'o ,t
'n ma H. :; =; 20 ~ ~ n .trIy au fort oil
ready cnmmenced there Int II Is tn commenc
a new fort there i'm Portland harhor. an ammo.
priation of $4,000 to commence new forts.
The gentleman from Maine Mr. Rlaine1 saw
that Il is necessary to have these outer forts
constructed for the nurnose of strengthing the
forts already buiIt there He NAV with coral
nronrietv ask for an annronriotion to bn;ld st;ll
another line of forts nntside of tbose no, .nl
norad in o,lJar 10. otrano+lon a., -" r. Il
shall have been built, Beside. there are NJ
estimates from the War Department for this
eynpnditura. nona at all
Mr. RIaineThis item cones 10 ,,o II, n oo,,-
munication from the War Department signed
edwin M. Stanton" who. / believe! is still
Secretary of War. hold in nv hand his let
ter transmitting the communication from Gen
eral Humnhreys chief of En0inaars fron,
which / read an extract at the Reginn;no ~
nv remarks Mr. Stanton. in his own Letter
saws:
These new works recommended nv the chief
of Engineers are regarded as yery imnortant
and have the approyal of the War Danart
ment" -
| ask the gentleman from Ohio If this ia not
a very distinct and yery emnhatic recomman
daton from the proper official ouarter9 71T1
Mr. Spalding-The proposition to make tbis
particular appropriation at this particular neri-
cd of time is a very extraordinary one r think
we are dealing with the money oftbe neonIe in
a very loose way when we undertake. to vote
away, at the instance of some one member OF
this House, $4,000 for a new Notification
Mr. Blaine-The gentleman saws this ia asked
at the instance 'of one member OF this ltouse"
Why sir have this moment detailed the cir
cumstances under which this proposition is
now here. 1t came / repeat from the En-
gineer Bureau specially Endorsed and reco
mended by the Secretary of War annroved nv
the Military Committee of this House and now
moved by me in pursuance of instruot;ons e.
that committee 1 hope need NOT have tn 70
peat these facts again M - NJ -
Mr.. Spaulding-I saw further that dur;no
the last year we have voted 5O) OOO nrob.bl,, e.
this very town of Portland
Mr. Blaine-Oh, no. IL .... ..
Mr.. SpauIding-And oentlaman sbo,,d mn.
complain if we require = little time Coz doi;i,
Grafton before we vote $15OOOO more.