~~~~~c-~~~~~~~~~~caa o Ga I, A ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~rti - k c: %I m zl i NORTHWESTERN DEFENCE, THE FORTIFICATION BILL, AND THE MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL POSITION OF DETROIT, The House being in Committee of the Whole to represent, against what i[ anm compelled to desig.on the state of the Union, and having the Fortifica- nate as the unfounded, the inconsiderate and recktion Bill under consideration, Mr. GIDDINGs, of less aspersions, which have been heaped upon them Ohio, moved to strike out the first item of appro- by the honorable member from Ohio-heaped, air, priation, viz: c" For defensive works and barracks upon the oldest city of the Northwest, and by one, near Detroit, $15,000." Pending this motion, I regret to say, who claims to be a Representative Mr. BUEL obtained the floor. He said:. of the Northwest. I will read from the remarks Mr. CHAIRMAN: When I obtained the floor on of the gentleman, as I find them reported in the the adjournment yesterday, it was:' mt with the Globe of this morning: intention of submitting any lengthy remarks in re- "The true reason for the appropriation was, not the proply to the honorable member from Ohio, [Mr. tection and security of our commerce, but the security and CARTTER.] Nor do I now design to depart very protection of those who have, all their lives, been subsisting upon the bounty of this Government-old rusty officers, who far from my original purpose. It is against my have been conquering a peace about thirty years in idleness inclination and sincere wish, ever to be drawn into and sloth." a debate under:uch circumstances as those by This, sir, is bad enough, but it is not all, and which I amn nowX drawn into this. But the whole I shall make no compromise with the gentleman, by House will bear me witness that I am in a meas- accepting it as an equivalent for what I find supure compelled to participate in it, by the very extra- pressed in the report, but which the honorable ordinary remarks, which fell yesterday from the member was well understood as uttering, and. lips of that member, and without the least provo- about which there can be no mistake, as I noted cation whatever on my part. at the time the extraordinary language, which I First of all, I desire to say, Mt. Chairman, that am about to cite as part of his remarks. I am about to engage in no personal controversy Mr. CARTTER here fully disclaimed all agency with the honorable member from Ohio. I cannot on his part in the preparation of the published rebe forced into such a controversy, without at least port of his remarks. giving my consent. If an occasion should occur Mr. BUEL. I have not before thought of that_. for engaging in such a controversy with him, or I did not intend to impute to the honorable memany other gentleman upon this floor, I have a right ber any such agency, and, having declined making to consult myself, my own inclinations, my own cause for personal controversy, I do not think I feelings of self-respect, before determining if I will should have imputed it to him, even if he had muembark in it. I have a right to be consulted as to tilated the report, and such mutilation had come to the occasion, the subject, the manner, the circum- my knowledge. stances, the person; and further, before engaging But let us now look at the language uttered, as in such a controversy with that gentleman or any well as that published. 1 charge the honorable ger-.,other, I am entitled to some reasonable assurance tleman with having, in epithetic style, designated that he who assails me, in argument or otherwise, the city of Detroit, as having been fora long period shall come clothed with honorable armor. the "6 common receptacle of public plunder, " and her I respectfully decline, therefore, engaging in the people, or some considerable portion of them, as personal controversy, which is evidently provoked I( appendages of pauperism and idlestess;"' not disby the very indecorous and unparliamentary lan- criminating as to those to whom this latter phrase guage in which the gentleman has seen fit to insin- was to be applied. Now it is very evident, that uate, that the item of $15,000 for completing the I have risen, not for provocation, but for Aefece,. fortification near Detroit was inserted in this bill The gentleman fronm Ohio has not assailed me, to operate on the iinds of the "G northwestern but the city which I represent on this fl9or; not members," as a base motive in securing for it their me, but the people amongst whom I live and have support. I rise, therefore, with no view of vindi- lived for many years; amongst whom I have cast eating liyself in one single particular, but it is for my fortunes, and with'whose confidence I have thae sole purpose of vindicating a portion of the been too oftened honored, not now to raise my voice Country and constituency which I have the honor in defending them against such foul aspersions. But, Mr. Chairman, the assaults of the honor- Mr. Chairman, I am reminded that there is near able gentleman go still further. Michigan has me a distinguished member from the Northwest, many other fourishing towns and cities scattered [Mr. DOTY,] whose feelings could have been not along her water boundaries, but her people have much less violated than my own, by the remarks ever been wont to regard Detroit as their great of the member from Ohio. I may be permitted commercial emporium, into which comes a large to say, that Detroit was the early field of his pomajority of their imports, and from which flows a litical distinction, and it was there that I first large majority of their exports.' They are not en- became acquainted with him. Wisconsin then vious, but proud of her growth and prosperity. I formed part of Michigan, and was ably reprebeg, therefore, to remind the honorable menmber sented by him for several years, I cannot say prethat, when he assails Detroit, he assails Michigan — cisely how long, in the legisl tive council of that I mean her people, her commercial pride.nd honor. Territory. He knows well the early character of Nor do the assaults of the honorable member Detroit and her people, and, were he to speak, rest here. Is he so ignorant as not to know, or so would pronounce the language of the honornlble regardless of political ancestry as not to care to member from Ohio to be slanderous and libelous. know, that Detroit can claim for itself an honor But, sir, the honorable Delegate from Minnesowhich but few cities can claim-an honor which ta, [Mr. SIBLEY,] who occupies the same table was claimed by primitive ATHENS, that of being with me, not now in his seat-I perceive him sita mother-city, THE MOTHER-CITY OF THE NORTH- ting before me-delicately reminds me, that the WEsT? Where, sir, was Ohio nearly one hundred language of the member from Ohio must have inyears ago, when that little band of Detroit pioneers flicted still deeper wounds upon the just sensibilwas gathered, with their wives and children, ities of our nature. He is a native of Detroit, and within the pickets of this little town, successfully the remains of his honored and distinguished defending themselves against the attacks and in- father repose, within its environs. I knew him cursions of a savage foe, led on by Pontiac, the well, but not until age and the privations of piogreat terror of the northwestern forests? Ohio neer-life had brought him near to the close of his -was then one vast unbroken wilderness; and I earthly ca.r cr. He emigrated to Detroit towards think I[ speak the exact truth when I say, that not the close of the last century. He lived there, was one inch of her soil was then occupied by the foot a judge for many years of the Northwest Territoof the resident white man. What, sir, was Ohio ry, I believe, and for a long period of the Michigan at the adoption of the ordinance of 1787? Still a Territory; and he died there, lamented and honwilderness, with perhaps here and there the soli- ored by all who knew him. And, sir, at an early ary habitation of a white man, whilst Detroit was day, his name was as well known to the extremes the chief town of all that vast territory which now of the Northwest, as that of the member from Ohio constitutes the five great northwestern States, and can be supposed to be to the extremes of his conafterwards became the seat of government of the stituency. -le was a fir exemplification of the Michigan Territory upon its organization in 1805; character of many of those bold and excellent to which, in 1i18, on the admission of Illinois into men, whether of French or Anglo-American blood, the Union, and the extinction of the Illinois Terrn- who early emigrated to Detroit. tory, W iisconsin was attached for political pur- Such, sir, were the men, and I could name many poses, and so continued until the admission of -there is one at the other end of the CapitolM3/ichigan into the Union in 1836. the distinguished Senator from Michigan, [Mr. I said, sir, that Detroit has been the mother-city CAss,]-who,and whose descendants, have been so of the North west, and It m fully justified in thatii wantonly reviled by the honorable Representative assertion. Was it not to this point that the ear- from the Northwest; men, sir, who, when the liest emigration of the Northwest wag directed? eyes of that gentleman first opened upon the light Was it not at this point where the waves of civili- of Heaven, were enduring all the trials and hardzation first touched the Northwest, as they grad- ships, the dangers, privations, and sufferings of nally swept over the continent?-one entering the pioneer-life in the forest, occupied by and swarmSt. Lawrence, followed its waters upward to De- ing with a savage foe —pioneer-life, sir, in that quartroit, bearing upon its bosom such men as Henne- ter of the Union, which had a common origin, pin, Charlevoix, and Lahontan; whilst another which now has its common interests and sympamoved on from Plymouth Rock, with such spirits thies, and of which I should like to consider the as Winslow, Brewster, Standish, and Carver, who, honorable member a representative. Why, sir, there or whose descendants at a later period, met the is haardly a forest of the Northwest which those earlier French pioneers at Detroit, whence, with mei! or their descendants have not explored, and hand joined in hand and heart with heart, they in which they have not slept; a morass which they long sent forth their children, as from a fruitful have not penetrated; a lake or river which has not mother, to subdue and populate the wilds of the borne them upon its waters in their bark canoes, Northwest. engaged in their survey and exploration. The Such was the metropolitan position of Detroit very red men of the forest, who are now wending for nearly a century, in reference to the towns and their way towards the setting sun, and who were settlements of the Northwest, and she maintained driven by these brave pioneers from the rich wheat her superiority over all, not excepting St. Louis fields of the Northwest, that they might be for the and Cincinnati, until, I believe, about the year easy occupation and enjoyment of the honorable 1817. And, sir, let me add, that her distinction member from Ohio and his constituency, would is reflected upon the State to which she belongs. now, if they were here, pronounce his language a Her honor of a mother city gives to Michigan the slander and a libel. The spirit of many a red man, honor of a HMOTHER-STATE IN TIE NORa'THWF.ST, I;who now sleeps beneath the green sods of Ohio, mean in regard to its p1timii.ve aette.lmenat ad civ- H and who feil biy the hands of the Detroit pioneer ilization, or his descendants, would pronounce it a slainder and a libel; and, too, the spirits of the women and i ernment in relation to a fortification near Detroit, children who fell upon the northwestern frontier and which I am able to find at this moment, is by the tomahawk and knife of the savage, if they contained in the report of Colonel Totten, the head could rise from their graves, would pronounce the of the Engineer Bureau, accompanying the report of same judgment. i Mr. Poinsett, Secretary ot War, in 1840, upon the Heaven forbid,sir, that I should follow the exam- I subject of "' National defence and National foubtdple of the honorable gentleman, by sayingone word' I res," transmitted to the House of Representatives in disparagement of a single sister city or State in complianch with a resolution for that purpose., 1n of the Northwest. I do not stand here as the rep- reference to the importance of Detroit in a militar.y resentative merely of my own city, district, State, point of view, that distinguished officer uses the or section of country from which I come, but as following language:'the -representative also of the whole Union, anti I "in the event of war, Detroit would undoubtedly be a. am proud of it all and every part. 1 am especially point of considerable concentration of troops, not merely for proud of the great State of Ohio —prouder of her, the defence Of that portion of the frontier, but fobr such offersive operations as might be deemed expedient in that quartero I must confess, than of the language and senti- It may be regarded as the centre of the upper section of the ments of her Representative. But, I am well aware, northern fiontier, and has important relations, both geographit is not my province to undertake her eulogium. ical and military. Although true policy would in such a. That would more properly belong to you, Mr. case dictate that our chief efforts should be directed against That wold more properly belong to you, Mr.a. the vital points of the enemy's possessions as low down this'Chairman, than to me. Yet, without undertaking line as practicable, still it might become expedient, with a such a task, it is my right and privilege to rejoice view to distract his attention and divide his forces, to menace with you over her greatness and distinction. It is him above; and this is one of the points from which he might be assailed by minor expeditions, especially if he -my right and happiness to rejoice with her, that should relax his measures of defence in looking to h4t she can so soon boast of her two millions of peo- safety elsewhere." ple; of their industry, enterprise,and wealth; of Such is the opinion of Joseph G. Totten, their canals and railroads; of their cities, which Colonel of Engineers in the United States service, have out-stripped the old mother upon the straits; concerning the military importance of Detroit, opof their rivers and lake; of their trade and com- posed, I am sorry to add, by the amateur opinion merce; of their flourishing towns and cities upon of the honorable member from Ohio i! Besides. the north, and their " Queen City of the West" sir, I am well acquainted with the engineer, under, upon the south, the apple of the eye, the pride of whose personal supervision this fort has been, I their hearts-of your heart, sir, as you are its believe, chiefly brought to its present degree of honored representative, (Mr. DISNEY in.the chair.) completion, Lieutenant Meigs, of the Engineer But the gentleman, if I understand him, is op- Corps, who now resides in Washington, a gentIe. posed to the bill generally, and especially to the man of the highlest character as a citizen, of coatsmall appropriation which it proposes for the prehensive intelligence, and of distinction in his completion of the military works near Detroit. I profession. The construction of this fort. was know of no reason why he should be particularly commenced about five years since, and it is now~' hostile to. Detroit and her interests. I hope there nearly finished. The small appropriation in quesis none, and I prefer to believe that it is its chance tion, is asked for chiefly to complete the barracks position at the head of the bill which has exposed and quarters, some of which have been lately con.it to the brunt and the first onset of the battle. He sumed by fire, and sincd the report of the present has spoken of the particular and general merits of estimate, no part of which, therefore, is based the bill with all the freedom and flippancy of an upon such loss. The question of appropriating old, professed, and experienced engineer of the the small sum asked for, is merely the question of army. Yet I do not know, nor do I believe, that adding a little more to the investment, so as to perhe makes pretensions to any such excellence, and feet the fork and make the whole serviceable inL if, upon a time, he may have turned his eye through case of need. As a work of art and skill, it Wilt a theodolite, his vision was perhaps bounded by compare with any similar worlk in the counltry, the central woods of Ohio, and such experience, I having been constructed, I believe, very muchi am sure, would not qualify one for a hiher. post I upon the plan of Fort Brown, opposite Mata.than that of connoisseur or amateutr engineer in the I moros, which, with a handful of men, resisted a. stern science of var. heavy bombardment for so many days, during Be this, however, as it may, the honorable gen- the critical condition of General Taylor and his tleman has handled this subject of defence and for- army, on the breaking out of the late war with tification, war and peace, ships and soldiers, piles Mexico. It is sufficient, sir, for me to know, in of stone and mortar, sites and locations, reports reference to the merits of this appropriation, thai; and recommendations of old distinguished engi- the mrilitary department of the Government, and neers, planting his war-dogs in this place and that its ablest officers, all concur in asserting the miliplace, erecting a fortress here and demolishing one tary importance of Detroit, and of the fortifica.tion there, with all the ease and quickness with which in its neighborhood. the child handles its little toys. But, sir, this fort was never projected for the But, sir, I am willing to try this appropriation protection of Detroit merely, but of the whole for completing the works near Detroit strictly by northwestern lake valley. In the opinion of Colits own merits. Upon such a trial, however, I onel Totten, before cited, Detroit, in a military shall make no pretensions of personal skill. I shall point of view, is important for "offence" as well at least ponder well and hesitate long, before under- as 5"defence," and may be regarded as the "'centaking the hazardous task of overruling with my Ire of the upper section of the northern frontier "' it judgment the opinions and recommendations of our has been well called the " Key of the Northwest, l' most distinguished military engineers, who have in respect to any hostile movement from below, made their profession the study of their lives. The directed against the Upper Lake coantry, which earliest information communicatedl to the Gov- I could not be reached without pa.ssing under t;he ,guns of this fort. lit is situated upon an eminence the Detroit river? Does he forget that it furnishes directly upon the bank of the river, and has the chiefly the waters' of the great cataract, and that nmost perfect command of its channel. It is the the St. Lawrence is mainly its continuation? -only fortification west of Buffalo, which can be That the surplus waters of the'great lakes Supesupposed to furnish any adequate protection to rior, Michigan, and lake St. Clair, all pass through the northwestern lake valley, from that city to this'"girt of a narrow channel?" So far fromt Chicago, a distance of a thousand miles. We being "the girt of a narrow channel," as dehave Fort Gratiot above Detroit, at the outlet of scribed by the gentleman, it is a large river, Lake Huron, commanding the St. Clair river; averaging about a mile in width,from thirty to sixty but it is no fortification; it is a mere collection of feet in depth, and flowing at an average rate ofbarracks and quarters, surrounded with pickets. three or four miles per hour. How many Croton MTe have, too, Fort Holmes, at Mackinac; but it aqueducts would such a river fill? I cannot estiis well known that, although it maybe important mate that, but I may be permitted to state what has in many respects, it cannot command the Straits, been recently published by Mr. Charles Ellet, jr., in consequence of their great width. We have civil engineer, under the auspices of the SmithFort Brady upon St. Mary's river, at the outlet sonian Institution, in a very interesting menoir of Lake Superior; but this, too, is a mere stock- concerning the geography of the Mississippi valley, ade fort, designed originally, in the main, for pro- that six pipes, having the size of the Croton pipes, tection against the Indian foe. or three feet in diameter, with a head of sixty feet, It may therefore be truly said, that Fort Wayne and emptying into the Ohio, would double its volat Detroit is the key of the Northwest, in respect ume of water " at usual summer stage." I state to its defence against a hostile movement from be- this fact, not with a view of instituting any invidilow. But the British Government, with its usual ous comparison between the Detroit and that noble sagacity, has acknowledged the importance of this river which bears the name of the State of which military work, and manifested it most effectually, the honorable member is a representative, but by recently planting the nucleus of a military es- solely for his benefit, and that he may know, that tablishment for the Upper Lake country, at Pen- nearly the equal of one sixth'of the water usuall~y tanguishine, on Lake Iroquois, or the Georgian discharged by that noble river at this season, is bay,in the northeast corner of Lake Huron. I have daily consumed, drank and used up, in the city of been recently informed by an officer of the Gov- New York. ernment, that England is now maintaining there a But the harbor of Detroit has been described,small force of troops and two or three war-steam- very disparagingly. I must say, that the honoraers. Is it not evident, then, that a fortification ble member from Ohio, as a northwestern repreupon the Detroit river is for the protection of Chi- sentative, has displayed a want of information on cago as well as Detroit-of Wisconsin and her lake this part of the subject which is hardly to be partowns and cities-of western Michigan, and, in doned. I quote from his remarks, as follows: fact, the whole Upper Lake Valley? But 4i im- "c The true policy was to erect a fortification where there portant to that country, in defence against a hostile was something to protect, where a ship could ride and make movementfrom below, it might, for similar reasons, a harbor, which he denied that any ship could do for half be important to the country below, in defence the time at Detroit, Fortifications should he built where aainstantostihemov ntfrom abeo, inf your commerce is collected together for shipment. They against a hostile movement from above, for we might withb more propriety be located anywhere, than up'have seen that, at some futmre day, in case of a this river where ships could never move for want of a. war with England, the country below may be men- wind." aced by naval operations from above. The coun- Fine information, fine discovery this, for the try above and below Detroit upon the lakes, is commercial world of the Lake valley! The comprotected by this fortification, very much as the mercial men, the old sea-captains, and the sailora country above and below Quebec upon the St. of the lakes should be obliged for such discoveries, Lawrence is protected by the great fortress upon though made at this late period. " Fortifications," Cape Diamond, a second Gibraltar. A still more he says, " should be built where there is some.apposite case exists at the extremity of the Medi- thing to protect." Is not the whole Upper Lake.terranean. Detroit, sir, may with propriety be country, extending to the extremities of Lakes called the'BosPHoRus OF TIHE NoaTHTWEST. What Michigan and Superior, "' something to protect"9;',prevents the English and other fleets of the world Is not even Detroit " something to protect," havfrom passing' out of the Mediterranean into the ing a population of nearly twenty-five thousand, a. Black sea? The Turkish forts on the Bosphorus. large commerce, and the largest commercial ton.What prevents the fleets of Russia from passing nage of all the Lake cities, except Buffalo? The out of theBlack seainto the lediterranean?, The population of this city has increased since 1840 Turkish forts on the Bosphorus. Sir, at this mo- about 150 per cent.; during the last two years ment they are protecting the liberties of all Europe, has received a wonderful impetus; is now ad'as a great barricade against the progress of Rus- vancing in all the elements of a permanent prossian ambition. perity, with'a rapidity far, surpassing that of I will now follow the honorable gentleman from any former period in its history; and at the Ohio a little further in his criticisms upon the mer- present rate of' increase must rival Buffalo n' not its of the appropriation for Fort Wayne. He far from ten years. enters the Detroit river, and there he finds what Besides, nature has placed Detroit in medias res, he is pleased to designate as the " girt of a narrow between the extremes of Lakes Erie and Michigan, channel," whose general outline is from a " half and thus rendered her most easily accessible to a to three quarters of a mile wide."' Why, sir, is majority of the shipping in cases of accident or re-' the gentleman ignorant that there is but one-river, pair. This fact, added to the advantage that her 1 believe, on the North American continent (the season of navigation commences nearly two weeks Mississippi) which discharges mnore water than earlier than at, either extreme, in consequence of the late ice in the Straits of Mackinac, and that long, and large and deep enough to contain thedriven in and piled' up' at Buffalo by the westerly navy of the world. spring gales, and the further advantage that her The honorable member from Ohio has sought season of navigation often continues below after also to disparage the commerce of Detroit. I wish it is cut off above by early winter at the Straits, I had time to treat this subject as I should like. makes her the best natural harbor of the lakes for He tells us that fortifications should be built wintering, and the usual spring repair and refit. " where commerce is collected for shipment;"j"ust The gentleman from Ohio says further in dis- as if Detroit be not such a point. Why, sir, does paragement of the harbor at Detroit, that fortifi- the honorable gentleman know, that the comcations, should be built " where a ship could merceofDetroit, her imports and exports, amountride and make a harbor, which he denied that any ed in 1846 to $8,706,348; that in the ensuing year, ship could do for half the time at Detroit," and (1847,) which was a great year for exports and "Canywhere than up this river, where ships could imports, it must have been vastly augmented? I never move. for want of a wind. " Why, sir, does regret that I have not the means at hand for stating his nautical science teach him that a deep naviga- the amount for subsequent years. Now, sir, these' ble river is not a harbor? imports and exports are chiefly bought and sold at But, the gentleman from Ohio says, the harbor Detroit; paid for by the Detroit merchants. But cannot be made half the time for want of a wind. "'paupers" have not money to buy millions' worth I think, Mr. Chairman, that I understand a little of produce, nor do peoplegenerallytrust'paupers 9 of the geography of Detroit river, and something with millions to buy produce for them. Besides, about the points of the compass and the winds in sir, all these imports and exports must be received, thatregion of the Northwest. It is by no means a handled, stored, shipped, and unshipped; but.winding river, but its general direction is north "'idlers" will not do that. and south, except for about the first six miles from Furthermore, what is the commercial tonnage of its commencement, where it is northeasterly and the Detroit district? Greater than that of any other southwesterly, It is apparent, therefore, that none lake district except Buffalo; greater than that of but north or northeasterly winds, which do not every other district in the United States, save fifoften prevail there at the navigable season, are hos- teen; greater than that of any other in the southern tile to the ascent of this river by sailing vessels. States, save two-Baltimore and New Orleans; A very moderate wind of any other direction, fa- greater than that of Salem, Nantucket, Oswego, vors the ascent and overcomes the current. Norfolk, Charleston, (S. C.,) Savannah, Mobile, But, sir, one question further about ascending St. Louis, or Cincinnati. So says the Report of this river. Has the honorable member from Ohio the Secretary of the Treasury, on Commerce and been asleep' since the days of Fulton? Is he ig- Navigation, for 1849, lately laid upon our tables; norant of the wonderful changes in the mode and and, it says, or rather shows, further, by figures, means of navigation, which during the, last few that the Detroit district is largely in advance of years have been going on, upon the lakes as well eve-y other lake district in the business of shipas the ocean? Where are the numerous and large bui ing.' I have the facts and figures before me propellers and steamers of the great lakes? They to sustain what I say, gleaned from the Reports on do not seem to have been thought of, sir, by the Commerce and Navigation for the three last years. gentleman. The short time allotteld me, will com- The following table exhibits the tonnage of the pel me to pass rapidly over this, and any other prominent lake districts for the years 1847,'48,'49: topic, upon which I desire to address the commit- Districts. 1847. 1848. 1849. tee; but I beg leave to inform the gentleman, and Buffalo, tons............. 35,413,01 42,6-3,73 40,667,64 the committee, that as early as 1846 the. steam Detroit................ 27,164,79 25,850,20 33,466,94 tonnage of the lalkes was 60,825, whilst the sailing Cuyahoga (Cleveland,)....25,493,72 30,403,32 30,047,11 tonnage was only 46,011, or about two fifths of icago3,951,56 10,488,62 17,33,4 the entire lake tonnage, (106,836;) that in 1849 the This table shows a slight decrease in the Bufaggregate tonnage was about 200,000; of which, falo and Cvahoga districts, during the last year, observing the proportion of 1846, the steam ton- and an increase in Chicago district of about 7,000 nage would be about 110,000. But it may well tons, and in the Detroit district of about 8,000 be estimated, that the sailing tonnage of the lakes tons. The report for the year ending January 30, has not'increased at all within the last four years, 1849, furnishes statistics of an equally interesting and- the advancing triumph of steam, now monop- 0 character, concerning the number of vessels built olizes about 150,000, or three fourths of the pres- during the last year, and their tonnage. ent lake -tonnage. | i! Districts. No. of vessels bailt. Tonnage.'We cannot shut our eyes to the fact, sir, that Bufalo....................... 5,74 the sailing tonnage of the world is being rapidly Cuyahoga.................14.............,...252M61 converted into: steam tonnage; that propellers are Chicago................................210,t taking the place of sailing vessels for the transport- A comparison of ship-building for the years:ation of heavy freight on the lakes, and that the il 1847 and 1849, shows the following results: harbor and commerce of Detroit are, in no sub- 1847. 1849 stantial respect disparaged by the particular direc-, Districts. No. of V Tonnage. Noo V. Tonnage. Buffalo........ 16 3,892,84 5 1j780;72 tion of the winds. There are but few harbors I letlroit........... 2,864 24 1,78072 on the lakes which do not require artificial aids; Cuyahoga........37 7,852,77 14 2,252,67 but, sir, Detrolt has none, for she requires none. I Chicago.....no report. no report. 13 2,21,84 She asks not a dollar from the Government for her i H Eere we perceive there was a great increase of harbor. She has no piers, no breakwaters to bel the new tonnage in the Detroit district, whilst erected-no sand-bars to be removed. The God I therewas a great falling off, in others, and that,,of of Nature has given her all the harbor she wants- the former, (Detroit,) nearly equaled that of all the' her noble river, a mile wide and twenty-five miles others named, But the honorable member from Ohio [Mr. heard of Taylor at Palo Alto and Resaca, after the jCARl'TER] says, Detroit has been a " common re- lapse of more than half a century, it seemed to be c.eptacle of public plunder." There is not the as bright as ever. I allude to General HUGIuI slightest foundation, sir, for such a charge. The BRADY, than whom no man has faced death upon United States has no public building in that city, the battle-field with greater coolness or bravery, wvorthy to be named, except a court-house. There Now, Mr. Chairman, let us look a little into the are no works there, such as are usually called plan of the honorable member from Ohio for deworks of internal improvement, constiucted at fending the Noythwest, and the vast commerce of Government expense, and there never have been the lakes, the aggregate net value of which, in itlny to my knowledge, worthy of being named. 1848, was $90,500,276, and, estimating by ap-.Equally unfounded and foul is that other asper- proved principles of increase, will, in 1857, amount Lion, cast by the honorable member upon the peo- to $170,545,247. How is he to defend all'this? pie of Detroit, or a considerable portion of them, He tells us, it will defend itself; that, on an hour's that of being "' appendages'of pauperism and idle- warning, it will furnish a fleet sufficient to annihihess.' Sir, I shall,enter into no elaborate defence late any naval force England could send against against such a charge. None but one profoundly us. Easier said than done, sir. But very few of ignorant of Detroit and her people, would dare to our lake vessels, it is well known, are strong make it. I shall, therefore, dismiss it now, with enough to be used as war vessels. Colonel Abert, the single remark, that, without claiming any su- of the Engineer Bureau, says, they might furnish periority, Detroit does claim at least not to be in- a 1" mere auxiliary fleet, in addition to the national ferior to a single city of the Lake valley, in the military fleet, which may have to be established intelligence, industry, and enterprise of her people, upon the lakes." He says, however, 6 the lake in the increase of her population, in the growth of corammercial marine could furnish on short notice her commerce and tonnage, in omens of future all the transports needed." And even this suppoprosperity, and, in short, in all the elements neces- sition, he says, " takes for granted that we have sary for sustaining a large and flourishing com- the command of these lakes, and of the Straits of mercial city. Detroit and St. Clair." Such was his opinion in But she is charged, too, with containing "old his report of January 5, 1848, to the Secretary of rusty officers, who have been conquering a peace War, Mr. Marcy; and I am not aware that his about thirty years in idleness and sloth." Equally opinion has been changed. slanderous is this language, not only upon Detroit, Let us look a little into the mod-us operandi of his but upon the many brave officers of the army, who system of defence. He says, there are towns in have at times been stationed or have resided there. the Northwest which demand protection much In the first place, in my opinion, there are no offi- more strongly than Detroit. He named Cincineers of the- army anywhere, who deserve to be nati, Zanesville, Cleveland, Toledo, and Erie. I characterized with such language, and least of all have not a word to say disparagingly of these have there been any such in Detroit, fQr the six- noble cities. I am proud of them, sir; and they are teen years in which I have been one of its citizens. all situate in Ohio, save one! if I am not misDuring that period I have known many of them, taken. and all, with scarcely a single exception, who were But would forts at any of these places, very living at the commencement of the Mexican war, effectually protect the upper lake country, by premarched from Detroit, or such other point as they venting a hostile fleet from passing to it from bewere then stationed at, to the battle-fields of Mex- low, through the Detroit river?' o'one, I think, co. There they fought, sir, for the honor and sir, will pretend that, unless it be the honorable rights of their country, and there many of them fell, member fromOhio. He said also,erect a fort rather never to rise again. I saw, sir, the fourth infantry on one of the Sister Islands in Lake Erie; at regiment embark fiom Detroit for the theatre of Put-in-Bay, rather than at Detroit. I do not find. war, under the guidance of those brave officers, this in his reported speech, but still we all know now so reviled by the honorable member from it was urged, and the gentleman seemed to give Ohio. Amongst them were the gallant, the noble this site preference over all others which he named. Captain Martin Scott, and many others, who I shall not spend much time upon this idea of a. fell forever in the desperate conflict at Molino del fort in the middle of Lake Erie. Just think of it, Rey. But few of these brave men returned, and I sir-a fort in the middle of Lake Erie, to protect am proud to have an opportunity for vindicating the Northwest, the country of the upper lakes! a their memories and characters against such a fort in the middle of Lake Erie, to prevent a Britcalumnious charge, as that of having served their ish fleet from entering the mouth of the Detroit, country in " idleness and sloth." forty miles distant!! A fort there, sir, to protect 1 said, that theofficers of the army, who resided Chicago, Milwaukie, Wisconsin, and western or at times had been stationed at Detroit, were Michigan!! Can any pretension, sir, higher than found on the battle-fields of Mexico, with scarcely that of an amateur in the science of war, sustain a single exception. Yes, there was one exception, such a system of defence? A fort there for the and Detroit had one " old" officer who did not go protection of Put-in-Bay as a harbor of. refuge, to that war. But, sir, it was not because there would be a different thing. I am not discussing was any rtlst on his sword. Though his locks were such an idea.'then whitened with the frosts of nearly eighty But, it seems,there are several, I know riot how winters, with the fire of youth he asked the Gov- many, who are opposed to the whole bill, on. prinernment to let him go. Hle used his sword, sir, ciple, on military principle, and who have spoken nuder Wayne, in defending what was then a wil- against the whole plan of undertaking to defend derner4f,- but now the glorious home of the honor- the country by any systemn of protection in the able member who assails him. He'used it too at form of permanent and heavy fortifications. Where Bridgewater an. Luandy's Lane, and when he do they get their authority for such opinions? They cannot get it from the practical military men So would it have been, if war with England had of this or any other country. The present military come out of the Maine boundary dispute, as was at department of the government entertains no such one time seriously threatened. So, too, would it opinions. I know that the distinguished head of the have been, had war come out of the Oregon controEngineerBureau, ColonelTotten, hasnosuch opin- versy. I. know what was the state of the northions,and heattachesmorethan ordinary importance western frontier at that time, when the arrival of to this work near Detroit. Mr. Poinsett, in his re- every mail was watched, to learn the news of peace; port before alluded to, says: "It would,nimy opin- or war..,There wa# little or no government prepIion,provea mostfatalerrorto dispense'withkthem, aration for defence except at our forts. A few [permanent works of defence,] and to rely upon soldiers only were scattered along that frontier. our navy alone, aided by the number, strength, There was at Dearborn, ten miles fiom Detroit, the I and valor of the people, to protect the country only arsenal of the Northwest, and that had costi 6against the attacks ofan enemy havingggreat naval the Government about halfa million. In fact, the " means." Neither the practice of England, France, whole frontier was exposed, and without much Russia, or any other country, whether civilized or ready defence, except that furnished by our fortifiuncivilized, furnishes authority for such an opin- cations, whilst the frontier from Fort Malden to the ion. In relation to the Detroit river, England Vermont line. was bristling with thousands of Britherself has set us an example; for she has her Fort ish bayonets, ready for action on the first sound Malden, near its mouth, which she has keptup. of war. Such, to some extent, must ever be the. ever since the war of 1812; and he, sir, has read state of things with us on the eve of a war upon history to but little purpose, who imagines he can the Northern and Northwestern frontier. I subfind there authority for the opinion which I now mit, therefore, in conclusion, that it is the part of call in question. We need not go far back for prudence and wisdom, to provide for it in peace,. illustrations. I have already alluded to the for- so fnar as the nature of our Government will pertress at Quebec, and to the forts on the Bos- mit. photus, which strangle the ambition of Russia in that quarter as with an iron chain. There is Fort NaTE-It is proper to add, that General Cass, in Brown, near Matamoros, which resisted such a his report of April 7th, 1836, as Secretary of War, long bombardment, and contributed so much to on" Military and Naval Defences,"expresses himthe salvation of Taylor's army. There was Cha- selfunfavorably to a system of permanent defences pultepec, near Mexico, which Scott dared not the lake frontier. But, on examining that leave behind him before entering the city, al- report careflly, Mr. BEL finds that such opinhough it could have been avoided, and the city ion has reference merely to the point which the entered without capturing it., But the case of the Secretary first discusses, viz: " The policy of Castle of St. Juan de Ulloa, perhaps, teaches us fortifying the Irlrbors on the lakes;" for in his views te best practical lesson. There we hfad a pow. under that head; it will be fountd that he uses the erful fleet, which, however, could do nothing more following language: than blockade Vera Cruz, because it could not pass the guns of that fortress. It, together with ", It may perhaps be deemed expedient to establish a depOt for the reception of munitions of war, in some part of the our transports, was obliged to ride out the fierce peninsula of Michigan, and to strengthen it by such defences northers; but we lost from these storms the Hun- as will enable it to resist asy coup denmain which may be atter and the Somers, would have lost the Cumber- tempted. From the geographical features, of the country, land, but for the speedy aid of the Mississippi our possessions here recede from their natural points of support, and are placed in immediate contact with a fertile and lost a large number of smaller vessels; and and populous part of the neighboring colonly. In the all because the guns of the fortress shut them event of disturbances, the ordinary communications might out2 fIrorm the harbor. be interrupted, and it would probably be advisable to have rBesides, it this discussionr oe mrust not rorgetin deposit a supply of all the necessary means for offensve BXsides, in this discussion, we must n.t fo r defensive operations, and to place these beyond the reach how much the use of steam has facilitated the de- of any enterprising officer who migilt be disposed by a sudstruction of cities exposed to the attacks of steam den movement to gain possession of them." mTnarine. It moves s wifty, and a large city may He could not have referred to a mere arsenal, be suddenly put at the absolute mercy of a single for that at Dearborn was already established and steamship. We captured Alvarado in Mexico, built. It was to be strengthened by defences with a little steamer of one gun. Tabasco was which would enable it to resist any coup de main. taken in like manner, on the firing of a few guns. Besides, his report must be supposed to have had But, Mr. Chairman, I feel that I am hardly ex- some reierence to the state of the Northwest, and.;usable in multiplying words upon this point, of the art of war at that time. The whole Upper Gentlemen, I am sute, can be hardly serious in Lake country was then almost without people and proposing thus summarily to overturn opinions, commerce. War steamers had not come into which have the sanction of all nations and ages of general use. Furthermore, it is evident he could. the world. Even if our fortifications should cost not have referred to a narrow strait or communia few more hundred thousands to complete them, cation, like the Detroit:river, for, in the preliminary and two or three hundred thousands annually to re- general observations contained in his report, he pair and sustain them, all that in twenty-five years expresses the same opinion, but applies it expresswould amount to buta mere trifle, compared with ly to those " expensive fortifications which would the millions worth of property that would be de- do little more than protect the space under cover stroyed in a war with a neighboring nation, on an of their guns; which are not required as places of' extended frontier like ours, for the want of a proper depbt," and to those which, in his own language, system of frontier defence. As it was in 1812, so "GtTARD No AVENJE OF COMMINICATION." Thus would it be now without such a system; for we do we see, that a strait like the Detroit river is halve now ten millions to lose where we had one then. plainly excepted froim his opinion.