Year: 1863

develop the commercial resources of Mexico;
and we may reasonably doubt his ever giving
up the country until forced to do 30. II must
be borne in mind, however, that a. yet the
French have not captured the city of Mexico
We are inclined to believe they will find this
much more difficult matter than was the taking
of Puebla; snd even when the tricoIor floats
over the Halls of the Montezumas there will
be manifold difficulties for the invaders to
encounter They will find it impossible
to keep open their communications with the
sea, save with very large force To put down
the guerilla bands will require q still larger
force, while the organized armies which will
spring up, first in one portion of the country
and then in others, will keep constantly en-
ployed large numbers Of the French troops
Napoleon will find to his cost, or we are much
mistaken. that it will bs long time ere he can
safely exclaim. Mexico is ours"


arH
The Defenccs Of New York Harbor-Ne.


cessfty for Immediate Action.


Some time since we called the attention of the
administration to the fact that General Lee in
tended making an invasion Of the North. We
were earnest In our demands that prompt msa-
sures should be adopted whereby the rebel
general might find his plans defeated Strange
to say, no notice was taken of our repeated
warnings, and now we find Lee almost at the
gates of Washington, while Pennsylvanis is
undergoing all the horrors of hostile raid.
We sincerely hope that Governor Seymour and
Mayor Opdyke will prove more heedful than
did the people Of Washington to our warnings.
We call upon the Governor of the State and the
Mayor Of this city to see that our harbor de-
fences are at once placed upon proper foot
ing. In their present state the rebels might
sail up to the city, FIRE our shipping, bom-
bard the town, and get clear away without in
curing loss or danger An immediate change
for the better must take place. Our forts must
be garrisoned, men trained to the use Of the
guns, and some fast and heavily armed ships
of-war be kept stationed in our port. We well
know that at the present time the rebels have
some seven or eight formidable vessels-of-war,
and what is there to prove that, now oil our
available vessels are off after the pirates, the
rebel privateers may not meet off Sandy Hook,
sail up to New York, and burn the town.


We must be prepared for all emergencies, and
we call upon Governor Seymour and Mayor
Opdyke to see that without loss Of time our
harbor defences be rendered of service. Let
them abandon politics for the moment, and pay
attention to nought save the safety of the En-
pire City. The condition of New York harbor
must be well known to the rebels. Maffit the
~kosr ofth tho boo q ~ buo lo1O
Of all the passes and channels of the bay. He
was for years employed in our coast surveys
We are aware that he is bold man, and should
not tempt such as he to the committal of some
daring enterprise against New York by leaving
our harbor In 80 de 'enceless state. Boston, New
Bedford and Providence have taken prompt and
SUFFICIENT measures to render them safe from in


yasion. New York alone seems singularly apa-
thetic. We should have mentioned above
another circumstance which goes to prove the
entire knowledge Of our harbor and its defences
by Southern officers; General Mansfield Lowell,
who, 1t will be remembefed, was in command
OF the city of New Orleans at the date of its cap
ture by Fsrragut, is the only man who ever did
anything towards putting our harbor de-
fences into proper shape. He was, at
the time we refer to, a captain Of the
New York City Guard. He drilled
the men to the use Of the guns at the forts,
became intimately acquainted with the nature
OF our harbor defences, and would Of course
impart valuable Information to the rebel autho-
rites in case they determined upon the attack
Of our city. These circumstances should cause
the immediate action Of our authorities in this
matter. New York must be made safe from
any sudden and desperate attack. At present
it is not. The danger is imminent and calls
for immediate action.


The citizens should stimulate the authorities
by meetings convened without loss Of time.
We believe that Governor Seymour and Mayor
Opdyke will see the danger Of delay. and will


act accordingly: but at any rate we are de-
termined to demand prompt action in this mat
ter. aud shall continue to do SO until New York
is safe. The merchants Of the city must be
made to understand that is not by any means
free from danger Of being attacked; they must
comprehend that II behooves them to make Q


prompt display of liberality and patriotism,
and that, like other cities, New York must fur
nish the means to protect herself from the foe.
without depending upon the administration.


New York can surely accomplish as much as
Boston in this way, and should have set the
example, instead Of having to follow IT, When


we reflect upon the consequences of an attack


which may at any moment be made
by the rebel privatecrs. we wonder at


the apathy displayed by our people. and can
but attribute it TO utter ignorance as regards
the state Of our barbor defences A few days.
nay, hours, would remedy the evil. We sim
cerely trust that this warning will be needed,
and shall expect Immediate action on the part
of the Governor Of the State and the Mayor Of
the city. The people, now made aware Of their
danger, will doubtless second our appeal to