Speech of the Hon. Francis W. Pickens, of South Carolina
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| Hersteller: | Forgotten Books (Pickens, Francis W.) |
| Stand: | 2015-08-04 03:50:33 |
Produktbeschreibung
Excerpt from Speech of the Hon. Francis W. Pickens, of South Carolina: Delivered in the House of Representatives, on the 23d of May, 1836, the House Being in Committee of the Whole on the Fortification Bill Our true policy of defence is to increase and strengthen it by judicious points of fortification, so as to enable us to protect our whole coast by a stronger naval power than any nation would be able to concentrate against us. With this view, and looking to the natural division of our coast into four great bays, as it were, - the first from Passamaquaddy to Cape Cod, the second from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, the third from Cape Hatteras to Cape Florida, and the fourth to the Sabine, - I would say that extensive navy yards with efficient fortifications, should be established at the most suitable points between these different capes, so that an ordinary naval force, with brave and enterprising men, could easily defend the whole frontier, and at the same time protect our commerce. For instance, I would have such a navy-yard with fortifications at or near Boston - the same at or near New York - then at Norfolk and the mouth of the Chesapeake - the same at Charleston - and then at Pensacola, for the defence of the gulph and the commerce of the West. I would place these points on the best and strongest footing, equal to any in Europe, and make little or no expenditures on any other points so far as our Atlantic frontier is concerned. It is all idle and visionary to attempt to place our coast in a perfect state of defence by stationary fortifications - this can alone be done by those that move upon the face of the deep. There is scarcely any fortification but what can be passed under favorable tides and winds, and it is a military maxim that there is none but what can be taken. Look to those that were erected at Antwerp, with so much skill and labor, on the same plan of fortress Monroe, and which Bonaparte himself pronounced impregnable, and what was the result? The French battered them to the ground in twenty-four hours. The truth is, that for an invading force on land we must at last rely upon "high minds and brave hearts," with bayonets, and not fortifications. Besides, sir, the genius of our institutions is at war with a standing army. But extend your visionary and wanton schemes of fortifications, and they call for an increased force to keep them in repair. Sir, I rejoice to say, that I believe the majority of the officers of your present army are men worthy to be trusted with the liberties of their country. But increase your military points, and call for a corresponding increase of men, and then place all under profligate and ambitious rulers, and there is no patriot who will not tremble for the consequences to his country. Mr. Chairman: There has been a great change in the condition and resources of our country within the last few years. Under the application of steam power to our coast and rivers., remote sections have been brought together, and the energies of the community have been condensed. Our weakness, arising from a sparse population, has been to a great extent overcome. If this be the effect of steam as applicable to the water, what must be the operation of things under the tremendous schemes that are now in progress to bring the interior West to the sea coast by means of railroads? I would rather have one railroad running from our coast into that brave and enterprising country, for the purposes of defence, than all the fortifications your overflowing treasury can erect. For military purposes, heretofore, communities have been strong in proportion to the denseness of their population. But the recent triumphs of invention and art over nature seem likely to develope new energy and resources, and may change the whole scheme of military defences in an extensive and widely populated country.
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