The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-09-14

lea7n, says the National Inteliigencer, that
Com. Porter was about 10 take command
the Naval force at Vera Cruz, apart
ments having been provided for bin, to
guard against the diseases of the shore, in
the Castle of st. John de Ulloa, where il
is as healthy as itcould be on board ship,
until the marine shall be made ready for
sea.
The reception Of Com. Porter az the
seat ofGoycrnment at Mexico has been of
the most satisfactory nature. The emolu-
ments of his station are less than reported.
but still considerable, say, S5,4o0 per an
nun. The Government, moreover, un-
Outstanding that, In entering the MeXI-
can service, Com. p. rehnquished, OF
course, an old ella i'm which he had upon the
Consulate Of Havana, agreed To apply TO
the Government of Vera Cruz to place him
Il possession of a large tract OF land on
tie fine river of Guusacualco. The gov
ernnent OF Vera Cruz has agreed to cede
q the t'en. eleven leagues square Of land
In the richest and most beautiful part of
the State. Tho tract contains about halt
million of acres, aud the route to the Pa
s4r,o, Tor the establishment of which de
cree has recently been made, will pass
through it.
On Com. P's arrival in Mexico there was
some discussion III the public prints, as To
the expediency Of preferring him to any
Casti.an officer for the chief Naval com
mand. The following article is believed to
have closed that discussion
Translated from the Aquita Mejcana ofJuly g.
The .Navy.--NVe have learnt, with great
pleasure, that the Supreme Government
has engaged Commodore Porter in the Ma.
val service Of Mexico. An officer of his
nation, of his republican principles, and of
his nautical experience, cannot fail of in
spring confidence, and of being of the
greatest utility to his important profession,
We candidly confess that these approbatory
remarks would not have been made by us, if
this act of the government had been in the
case of Spaniard, or other European.
We will explain as it is our wisn 10 illustrate
this subject without wounding national
pride.
We are ofopnion that it wonld be inl-
prudent in the Government to place the
Naval forces under the orders OF Spanish
officer. In proof of this position, we state
FIRsT. fla Spanish commander, in the
event of combat against the forces Of his
wards this republic, his conduct would be
justified by those affections for the country
his birth, which arc engraven in charac-
ters ofblood in the most sensitive and noble
part of the heart. Consequently, the glo-
nv and interest ofthe Mexican arms would
suffer by the objectionable indiscretlon oi
the government.
Second. If the Spanish officer should
act with good faith towards the Republic
and if he should be endowed with a noble |
soul, and with Just and delicate principles,
wha, would be his conflict of feeling on find
inc himself under the dreadful necessity OF
shedding the blood OF his countrymen,
friends, aud relations, who are by so many
ties. deserving Of his regardand affections
Consequently, itwould be imprudent IN the
Government to compel person to act in
opposition 10 his nature, in the performance
Of duties, which, in such an encounter, are
susceptible ofa thousand doubts and con-
tradictions. In case a Spanish officer
should net with fidelity, and should be un-
der the necessity ofsurrendering con-
test with the Naval forces Of Spain, what
plea could be urge to that Government TO
arrest its vengeance against an individual,
who would be deemed traitor to his native
country, and to obligations founded on hon
or, correctly or incorrectly understood /:
Consequently, it would be temerity in the
Government to expose man entitled 70
consideration, to such possible, if not prob
able, dangers.
Nothing of this kind could be the case as
regards an American and, In the last iil-
stance, according to the character which
our contest with Spain has assumed, that
Government would contest itself with the
Imprisonment ofan American commander,
without proceeding to the extreme of con-
demning him to an ignominious death.
We have also noticed the case Tan En-
ropean, because, with those men, the inter
est ofthe moment gives birth to the only Sc
curity.--An American in short, has differ
cnt attachment to this part Of the world, and
if, like Commodore Porter he is an officer
of honor, who would not violate his duty.
and thereby tarnish the fame ofthe Sons Of
the North American Union, there exists
still an additional inducement for placing
confidence in such an individual. We
should rot, on this account, exclude every
European belonging to nation differing
from ours in language. We speak ofIt as
q general principle, for South America has
furnished Us with examples of both meritor-
ious andworthless European officers at the
head of its nag.es.
But the character of the question would
be entirely changed, if there were in the
Mexican Navy, native officers possessed Of
the requisite qualifications for naval com
mand in which case. TO those, and 70 those
only, ought the higher appointments ~