Year: 1862

Effects OF Blockade OF California Ports.


In the event of war with England and
France, or with either Of those powers, an
attempt would doubtless be made TO block
ade the ports on this coast; and it is possi-
bic an effective blockade might be estab-
lished. Some timid souls are already
whining about the terrible consequences
of a blockade, and no doubt 1t would be
very inconvenieDt for time. But there
are some advantages that would attend a
blockade which should not be lost sight Of
This coast produces all the Becessaries aud
many of the luxuries Of life, and blockade
of our ports for two or three years wonld
teach US to live within ourselves, and keep
the most of our gold and silver at home
The only danger TO be feared is an invasion
of our territery, and the Legislature now
in session should take measures to provide
against such possible contingency.


The San Francisco Call has the following
on the advantages Of blockade:


If blockade of California and Oregon ports
is to be all, or the greatest evils to result from
a foreign war, we may look upon the prospect
of one with complacency; nay, even, II our peo-
pie could be assuerd that nothing more serious
than a perfect blockade Of all American ports
on the Pacific would result from war, it would
be their interest and duty to do all they could
to provoke a foreign war, and to keep it going
4, fk m
be hermetrically sealed for that period. Such
a war, and for the time named, if its worst fea-
ture were to be the blockade, would leave Cali
fornia and Oregon in a far more prosperous
and wealthy condition than they can reasonably
hope to be for the next twenty years. We have
within our borders the means of providing all
our necessaries and most of our luXuries-shut
us out from the rest ofthe world for few years,
and we would not only be in a perfectly inde-
pendent condition so far as regards most manu-
features and natural productions, but we would
have enough gold and silver accumulated to
enable us thenceforth to control the commerce
Of the world. What California and Oregon
particularly need just now, and for four years
to come, is a strict blockade of all their ports,
and otherwise to be "let alone" severely. Unlike
the Confederate States we would not be COM
PEELED to depend upon rotten paper currency !;
we should not lack for salt, satpeter or sulphur;
we should have an abundance of breadstuHs
and meats, and plenty of wine and "whiskey;"
we could also cultivate tea, coffee, cotton, sugar
and silk, and perhaps produce a little hemp /;
meantime golden fves, tens and twenties would
become as plenty as strawberries in summer
A complete blockade of our Pacific ports would
be the very least Of wars injuries; in fact it
would rather prove to be one of our greatest
blessings-always "made and provided" Of
course, that we should be inflicted with nothing
else but blockade. Such being the case, we
urge upon the next Legislature to be prompt in
taking such steps to prepare for perfect harbor
and coast defences, as may, in case o! war,
enable us to experience no more of it than
blockade. If we can keep the enemy's armed
vessels and men out Of our harbors, they will
be welcome to keep all other ships out, and us
in. We can stand blockade of our own ports
longer than any one, who is likely to blockade
US, can.