1822 - Edocs

196
phere, and mildness of climate, it is a situation where
her troops may always calculate ou enjoying good health,
and where it is represented that breadstuff's and other
provisions continue almost as long in a perfect state of
preservation as in most of the northern posts in the United
States.
In addition to this, your memorialists will take the present
occasion to remark, that a military force, stationed at
Pensacola, would in time of war,, give efficient aid in the
defence of New-Orleans, as well as additional security to
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, by presenting a
formidable barrier, by which inroads through West Florida
would be checked and prevented— this assistance could
not with any certainty be obtained from Tampa Bay and
no other position it is believed can be selected south of
Pensacola which promises the other important advantages
we have described in consequence of it remaining a
great distance from a dense population, and the difficulties
of transportation, it cannot be so conveniently connected
with the adjoining states, and must rely for defence
almost entirely upon regular troops, a much larger
number of which will be necessarily required. The occupation
of Pensacola with the necessary fortifications is
calculated to afford a more complete command over the
commerce of the Gulph of Mexico, than any other position
which could be selected on the southern coast ; with
this peculiar advantage, the United States would exclude
the shipping of an enemy probably from the only port in
Florida, in which they could anchor witii safety, owing to
the violence of the West Indian Gales. Your memorialists
are of the opinion that there is no other harbour save
that of Havanna, in which they could ride with security
during a storm. But the benefits arising from the selection
of Pensacola as a Naval station, are not entirely of a
negative character, we should not only be enabled to exclude
the hostile armaments of Foreign nations, but our
own vessels could be protected from capture and disas-
ter, the harbor of Pensacola will always be»a place of secure
retreat, a station from which expeditions may be
fitted out without interruption, and from which the West
India commerce of an enemy might receive the most successful
annoyance. Were New-Orleans assailed, Pensacola
would be competent to afford co-operation for its de-
fence, both by land and water, which could not fail to excite
in the enemy the most fearful apprehensions, by our
vigorous and well directed efforts her commerce would
be cut off", her detachments captured, and in the end her
surrender and retreat accomplished, the security of this
place then is believed by your memorialists to be inseparably
connected with the prosperity and defence of New-
Orleans, and the contiguous states. We therefore pray