36 Let us also earnestly request the Government to aid in opening the communication for our iron gun-boats from the Mississippi to the Hudson, the Delaware and St. Lawrence. Then in the event of war, our iron-clad ships from the West, through the loyal States, could sail directly into the lakes, proceed to the head of the St. Lawrence, and protect the crossing of an army sufficiently powerful to command that river as low down as Montreal, and thus prevent a single British soldier from penetrating the interior. This accomplished, what amount of opposition could the unaided and defenseless Canadians make to our Western troops ? The navigable waters of Canada secured, this inland fleet could forthwith repair to the aid of our defences at the mouth of the Hudson. Aperiod of from ten to twenty days would place them at either point. In thirty days, in despite of the utmost efforts of England, the United States could control the upper St. Lawrence and the whole chain of lakes, for they have no iron-clads competent to navigate those waters, and to meet our superb Western iron-clad fleet, with its 11, 13 and 15 inch guns. Since the inauguration upon the waters of the Chesapeake, of a new era in the art of naval warfare, we have placed our country at the head of naval powers in effective strength, and the mechanical force of the country, for the time being, should be called into requisition in enlarging and strengthening the navy ; and the comprehensive policy should be adopted of allowing the merchant marine to aid in its own defence by its incorporation into a militia navy, under proper laws and restrictions. We ought now to commence, and complete within six months, a heavy fleet of iron-clads of superior speed, and at least twice the capacity of the Monitor : and of the three millions of enrolled militia in the loyal States, with one million in the field, we may confidently anticipate bringing this infamous Rebellion to a triumphant close. With such an army and navy, with the forts armed with the modern improved ordnance of large calibre ; with the valuable inlets to harbors, roadsteads and soundsj skillfully obstructed ; with an interior water communication between the several ports and harbors on the Atlantic, so as to make it safe and convenient to speedily pass a fleet from one to another entirely beyond the observation of any enemy lying off a fort ; with a navigable communication between New-York bay and the lakes, ami between the lakes and St. Louis and New Orleans, that would allow of a movement of the whole fleet from New Orleans to New- York, or from New- York to New Orleans, by an inland route free from danger and observation, surely we can maintain our national unity and our national honor. But I must draw these remarks to a close. New-York again today, as at the beginning of the struggle, demonstrates that she is still loyal to the Government and the Constitution. She feels the deepest sympathy for the martyred dead, who have fallen in defence of constitutional, well-regulated liberty. As the tidings of this great gathering are borne throughout the loyal camps, it will animate the heart and nerve the arm of our brave and intrepid soldiers. In behalf of that immense army of privates, who have left home and kindred and friends, to meet the traitors striking at the heart of the nation, and who never mean to abandon this contest until the old flag again floats over every inch of our original territorial limit, I ask you to send them the cheering words of your hearty commendation.
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