The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-12-11

has been restored among the tribes them
selves, as well as between them and our
own population, will favor the resump-
ton of the work of civilization. which
had made an encouraging progress among
some tribes and that the facility is In.
creasing, &C. extending that divided and
Individual ownership, which exists now
in inoveab!e property only, to the soil
itself; and of thus establishing, in the
culture and improvement OF it, the true
foundation for transit of the savage, to
the arts ard comforts of social life.
As subject Of the highest importance
10 the national welfare. must, again,
earnestly recommend to the considera-
ton of Congress, reorganization OF the
Militia, on plan which will form, it into
classes, according to the periods OF life
more and less adapted TO military servi-
ces. An efficient militia is authorized
and contemplated by the constitution,
and required by the spirit and safety Of
free government. The present organi-
zation of our militia is universally regard
ed as less efficient than it ought to be
made; and no organization can be bet
ter calculated to give to its due force,
than classification which will assign the
foremost place in the defence of the
country, to that portion of its citizens,
whose activity and animation best enable
them to rally to its standard. Besides
the consideration that time of peace is
the time when tie change can be made
with most convenience and equity, il
will now be aided by the experience Of
a recent war, in which the militia bore
SO lnterestining part.
Congress will call to mind, that 10 ad-
equate provision has yet been made, for
the uniformity Of weights and measures,
also contemplated by the constitution.
The great utility of standard, fixed in
its nature, and founded OH the easy rule
Of discimal proportions, is sufficiently OBJ
vious. tied the government, at an ear.
ly stage, to preparatory steps for intro
ducing it 4; ard a completion of the work
will be a ust title to the public gratitude,
The importance which have attach
ed;o the establishment of University
within this District, on scale, and for
objects worthy of the American nation,
induces me to renew my recommends
ton OF 1t to the favorable consideration of
Congress: And particularly invite, "a
gam, their attention to the expediency
OF exercising their existing powers, and,
where necessary, of resorting to the pre-
scribed mode Of enIarging them, in order
to ehtctuate comprehensive system Of
roads and canals, such as vii! have the
effect Of drawing more closely together
every part of onr country, by promoting
intercourse and improvements, and by
increasing the share of every part in the
common stock of nationa! prosperity.
Occurrence having taken place which
shew that the statutory provisions for the
dispensation of criminal Justice, are de-
ficient in relation both to places and to
persons, under the exclusive cognizance
Of the national authority, All amendment
OF the law, embracing such cases, will
merit the earliest attention Of the Legis-
lature. 1t will be seasonable occasion,
also, for inquiring how far Legislative
mterposltion may be further reQuisit in
providing penalties for offences designa-
ted in the constitution or in the statutes,
and to which either no penalties are an
nexed, or none with sufficient certainty
And l submit to the wisdom of congress
whether more enlarged reyisal OF the
criminal code be not cxpctient, for the
purpose of mitigating, in certain cases,
penalties which were adopted into it, an
tecedent to experiments and examples
which justify and recommend a more lc-
nisnt policy.
The United States having been the
first to abolish, within the extent of their
authority, the transportation of the natives
Of Africa into slavety, by prohibiting
tho ,ptrrl,,ot.o,~ <c .l,,.. ,,,l H., ~~.,,