Porter's political language conflicted with the strategic purpose of a navy at war. Belligerents invested in fleets partly to regulate enemy trade, while inconsistent citizenship papers made the sailors' rights dispute difficult to administer. Porter also overestimated the slogan's local appeal in a port whose merchants and commerce relied heavily on British ships.
Notable Point · 48:32-52:09
Porter's slogans collided with naval power and Valparaiso's trade
Free trade and sailors' rights made effective slogans, but wartime commerce control was a core naval function and Valparaiso depended heavily on British shipping.