Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1804-12-06
F,sr ibs National INrsLLIcrscsR.
10 THE PEOPLE.
THE DEFENIE-No. TX.

DASSlNG on to view of the mea-
N fures of the war department of
the government, we are naturally led
to offer few remarks on the policy
of the United States. There is pro-
badly no CIVILIZED nation on earth
Whole welfare is not connected with
the maintenance of peace. Yet true,
and even trite as this oblervation is,
there is fcarcely a Gngle nation that
long maintains it. The ambition OF
rulers. the prejudices of the people,
the injuitice OF nations, are the con-
Giant cauCes that kindle wars for which
plaulble pretext is never wanting.
When, therefore, the United States
took rank among the independent ma.
tions OF the earth, and held out the
promife of ia free government,in which
the oppreHed might find an afylum,
it was with deep and fearful anxiety
that the philanthropiit marked the
iteps which fhe took. The enemies
of republican inlfiutions predicted
internal divi6ons and external wars
and announced the early diiiolution of
her union. In the firf ftages of the
government, both before and after
the formation of the contribution, too
many grounds of apprehension arofe.
An Indian war, diiaitrouny puriued,
was fucceeded by an inlurreStion and
in the rear were obferved fome dark
omens OF war with Britain, and after
wards with France, the mott power.
ful nations of Europe. During this
alarming period the republicans de-
clared themfelves the friends of peace
and their efforts promiled but little
iucceis in longer averting war, when
public opinion placed the government
in their hands. Then the voice OF
faction founded ilill louder, and pro-
claimed an impending war with Eng
land, long hnce charged upon the
members of the administration as fa-
vorite meaiure.
Four years have nearly elapCed,
and thefe awful warnings have turned
out to be " mere lpirifs," and have
" didolved into thin air." All i'm
pending alarms have been removed.
The favages have been hu(hed into a
profound peace, the whole interior is
b!eHed with harmony, that has nor
been dilturbed in the imalIef difrist
Of the union, the citizens have not in
a Jingle remembrance complained of a
folitary grievance, and all Europe is
at peace with US. Has this been efec-
ted by vatt military apparatus I; by
an impre6ive diiplay Of cannon and
bayonets and uniform ! No. The
GrIt meafure of the adminillra-
ton was, as we have already leen, to
reduce the army from five to three
thouland men thereby diminifhing
the annual expence of saa, 900 dolls.
With this fmall force, every necehary
purpofe of an army has been anfwer-
ed, and this too amidft circumstances
of no little difficulty. When the pre-
fent Secretary came into Office, he
found the department in that fitua-
ton that neceGarily arofe from the
character of his predecefor. 1t is not
the end of thefe remarks to make in-
furious reflections on the laif adminil.
tration not abfoluiely necehary to illu-
cidate the view we are taking. But it
is a fad, whole notoriety cannot be
extended, that the former Secretary
was as little qualified for the traniae-
ton Of the bu6nefs devolved upon
him as, perhaps, any man living.
The war department requires a