The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-09-07
MISCELL ANY.
For rAe hAoDx ISLAND R1pUaLIcAx.
REMARKES ON TORPEDOES AND
SUBMARINE NAVIGATION.
NO. VII.

A certain description Of people have vccif-
Grated loudly against the employment OF the
torpedo. They severely condemn the use of
this engine as an unfair aud dishonorable
mode Of warfare. What their real motives
are in .hus attempting to discrcdit and i1urc
our most formidable means Of defence, we
shall not pretend TO Judge. We shall only
observe that the English, 50 renowned for
honor end hnmondy, arc continually bawling
in the same dissonan, strain. The reason,
however, why our mereifui invaders have such
strong AFFECTIONS To il, is no, difficult to de-
termine. They may possibly experience some
con,usions and shattered limbs, or, perhaps,
be transformed into species OF ariai naviga-
tors while lettering round our shores, or co.
deavoring TO get possession ct our barbors
aud seaport towns. BY The explosion Of this
machine they may be prevented from burning
our villages and manufactories, plundcrihg
and Inu, ing defenceless citizens, and vio-
ls,ing the chastity of our beloved wives and
daughters. This would be sore di,ap-
pointment TO them indeed. That they stould
be clamorous in ana, a,hema,zing submarine
attacks is not, therefore, matter OF sur
prise. But that there are to be found charac-
tiers who have a claim to the privileges OF tho
American government, whose lives aud inter-
ests are under lis protection, and who profess
themselves the friends OF their country and
their country's tights, who can Join with the
common enemy in opposing the use OF those
means necessary for the promotion OF our Sc
carity, and the annoyance OF an ovcrhwelming
foe, which is threatening our very national
existence, is certainly . singular circumstance
which cxcitcs astonishment and regret.
We would, however, enquire OF these op.
poscrs of the torpedoes, whether its employ
ment is more unfair and ilIiberal than that Of
mines ? Whether the destruction of British
Commodore would be more dishonorablc and
ungcnerous than that of the iIlustrious Gene
raj PIKR On the subject Of subferrene ex-
plosior they are totally silent. Why! Because
IL has not been resorted to on our part. Oh
hypocriles s,rainlng at snst and swallow.
ing camel!
The art Of war consists In calculating on
superior advantages. One method to acquire
these superior advantages, is the employment
OF instruments aud engines which the aniago-
mist does not possess, or has no acquaintance
With. This practice has obtained ~ all ages
and in all countries, aud universal usage has
sanctioned IL as a thing tolerated hy the law oil
nations. Even the British, who are so much
Interested ard feeling on this point, have ire.
pueniIy gained their boas,ed victories by this
means. Indeed no nation has been more IN
the habit of making use Of these advantages
than that with which we are conteoding hut
we sincerely hope tina: all domestic complaints
on this subject will soon cease, and this newly
invented engine Of naval warfare receive the
most ample encouragement.
We shall close our remarks by an extrac,
from some ingenious observations on torpe'
does which appeared about Elk years ago.
/" This invention, and the practice oil II, Is yet
in its Infancy. Men in general viii have