The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-04-05

sident, Notwithstanding all the existing
prejudiccs against navy, ] now conf
IDENTITY express an opinion, that if you
continue to draw your revenue through
the medium of commerce-if that COM.
merce should continue to prosper and in
crease, and if foreign cupidity and vic.
lence should continue to exist, you will
have navy to protect your commerce.
consider the effect as certain as any
other effect produced by irresistible eau
ses. When this effect vii take place /;
when these prejudices will be overcome,
whether this year or the next, or at some
future time, l will not pretend to,say /;
but that it will happen at some time,is as
certain as that any other effect will hap
pen that is impelled by irresistible eau
ses. The extent of this protection Will
depend on the discretion of the govern
ment, and there is security against its
being carried too far by the great prepon-
derating influence of the landed and me-
cbanical interests in the United States.
The present measures, dictated by the
present state of things, are in my judge
ment peculiarly favorable to the accelera-
ton of this result, and l, am surprized
that our eastern friends, Instead of encou-
raging them should be throwing obstruc-
tons in their way. A result at all times
SO desirable to them, and so we'll calcula-
ted to give them that weight, inthe scale
of the union, which they now seem to
think they do not possess ; but which
they are anxious to possess.
Whilst upon this part of the subject,
MIR. President, permit me to express my
deep modification and regret at the un-
fortunate differences ofopinion which ex-
ist between the eastern and southern peo-
pie respecting our foreign relations. |
will not examine into the causes of these
differences of opinion. because it might
excite unpleasant feelings in some gen.
tlcmen, which l wish particularly to a
void. These differences are the more
to be wondered at, when we all know,
that our interests are common in that re-
spect and that in relation to each other,
they are peculiarly mutual and reciprocal.
Never were there people, whose occupa-
tions rendered their interests more mutu-
al and reciprocal, than the eastern and
southern people ofthisunion, whose wants
and supplies were better suited to each
other, or presented fewer points of rival
ship. The eastern people have ships and
seamen, and delight in employment upon
the water, the southern have lands, and
delight in agriculture. Their produc.
tons too are bulky and heavy, and pecu-
liary suited to furnish employment for the
eastern carriers, not only coastwise, but to
foreign trade. The southern people have
no desire to enter into the competition,
but are perfectly content to permit their
eastern friends totake the trouble of car
rying their productions to the markets of
their consumption, and to enrich them
selves from the fruits of their labours and
their specuations yet Notwithstanding
all these things, and notwithstanding we
all know the horrible consequences of di-
visions, we still witness alarming differ
ences of opinion, which have not only en-
couraged and invited the interference of
foreign nation in our political concerns,
but have also pervaded social intercourse
and even materially. lessened the enjoy
ments of society. And after all, Mr..
president, permit me emphatically to ask
you, to whose, or to what good !? Why,
sir, our foreign versaries may profit by
our divisions, but they are equally des-
tructive to the real interests of all parties
amongst ourselves.
Sir, without pressing this subject fur