Mr. BLAINE. I now move to amend by inserting the following: For the commencementof 2 additional forts for the defense of purchase Portland harbor, Maine, including the of sites, That is $5,000 more than my other amendment proposed to appropriate, and is therefore a different proposition. Upon this amendment I am entitled to the floor, and I will make a statement to the House of the facts of this case as concisely as I can. The chief of Engineers recommends an appropriation of $150,000 for the purchase of sites and the commencement of 2 forts in the harbor of Portland, Maine. He says, in a communication to the War Dept, under date of January 24, 1867, which I now hold in my hand “The largely increased range of modern artillery has had the effect of diminishing the security hitherto afforded by such of our sea coastworks as are situ nted so near to the objects they are designedto cover that iron clads may approach near enough to shell thoseobjectswithout being themselvesseriously endangered o the works. It sary thereforebecomesneces in such cases to establish an exterior line of works which shall hold an enemy's ships at a greater distance, while the Presentworks will serve the in dispensable purpose of a 2nd lige with which to meetthe enemy with a powerful fire in caseheshould force the new outer barrier, or pass it with a portion of his fleet, while the rest are engaged with the works. This is the condition of things at g. Portland, wherethe line of works, consisting of Forts Preble, Scammell and Gorges, are so ping near the city and ship in the harbor, that both the latter may shelled simultaneously with an attack upon works.” Mr. Chairman, in the opinion of the Engi neer corps, and especially of those who are entrusted with our sea coast defenses, the city and harbor of Portland are of superlative importance, deserving and demanding the utmost protection that the most thorough fortifications can afford. The city and harbor do not deserve this merely because of the 30,000 enterprising inhabitants in the one nor the valuable shipping in the other; but because of the immense importance of the position as affecting the defenses of the whole country in the event of a foreign war. Should we ever be so unfortunate as to have a war with England, her 1st point of attack would be Portland, and with her powerful navy against the fortifications we now have there it would be Presump tuous folly to declare that she might not capture it. And I ask gentlemen on this floor if they can measure the magnitude of that loss to us and gain to our enemy. It would at once give to England not only the finest naval station on the North American coast, but would give her the command of the entire line of the Grand Trunk railway. And England in possession of Portland, Quebec, and Montreal, could hold the Grand Trunk railroad against any force we could bring against her, and holding it she would have, both winter and summer, the most expeditious and complete channel of supply to her troops along our northern fron tier from Island Pond to Detroit. Indeed the loss of Portland and the Grand Trunk road would be as heavy a blow to us in a war with England as we inflicted on the rebels when we captured NewOrleans and regained control of the Mississippi river. And I assure my friendfrom Ohio