The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-04-13


cr.nearly SO, that one must be subordinate
to the other; that not only the we'll being,
hut thcfvery being. Of that society depends
UPON it; that ffthey forcibly and suddenly
we're put into state Of equality, a strug-
gle. would instantly cnsue TO re-cstablish
the former condition. that it must be re-
established, or that the. one or the other
People must be eXtinguished. The supre-
ton Of the other, is the necessary condl-
ton OF SUCH society; and any attempt Tor
chilly and suddenly to change it, is to at
tempt to change the nature OF things; and
however benevolent, in Intention, is crml-
nalin fact. The gentleman, then, Is mis-
taken, II he supposes that we see with M
difference any events that would threaten
them with this danger; such, for lnstancr,
- those revelations in the island OF Cuba
and Porto Rice, which he has imagined,
and which he deprecates so much and so
justly. And if we do not sympathize IN
his fears, it is because we are persuaded
that this measure, instead OF leading To
those revolutions, will have contrary
tendency; and is the best Of all possible
precautionary measures IN our power TO
prevent them.
So much for this report Let the hon.
gentleman from Tennessee still say If nc
viii, that its reasoning is conclusive. The
report says, that this mission will link our
destinies with those of the Spanish Amer
lean nations, and that the Congress at Pa
mama viii control both; ask, is this PROV
ede Is not the contrary made evident? The
report says chat the mission will or may
conprorAit our neutral relations; ! ask is
this proved? Is not the contrary made ev-
ident? The report says the mission may be
uIifavorable to our policy Of preventing
the conquest or the revolutions Of the Is
land Of Cuba and = 'rto Rico--I ask, is this
proved? Is not the contrary made evident?
1fnow am asked in my turn, If any
certain advantage is certainly to arise from
this mission; / answer, that the good OF
any mission whatever Is, and must be, In
great measure,c contingent; depending upon
those conjunctures OF human affairs to be
disclosed in the progress of human events;
and which are beyond the reach of human
foresight; the conjunctures may be such
that the mission may be the means Of do
ing great good, or of averting great evil.
The probability of such results may be a
sufficient warrant for the mission.
The friendship Of those nations, let gen !
tlcmen abuse them as they will, is very
important TO us, and it is our interest to
strengthen It's bands by all the proper !
means in our power. 1t is evident that
this mission will be highly acceptable to
them; and viii have the effect of strength
ening those bands, beyond any other ex-
peCient we could employ, SO little onorous
To- ourselves. Is not that friendship lrnpor- /,
tant to us? Look for moment at the STU
alton of things. Nature seems to have
formed the two helnispheres for mutual
commerce; and to us, our commerce with |
them is Immensely valuable, especially |
when the present is taken In connection |
with the future. 1t is only since The era
OF their independence, now but a few
wears, that our commerce there had be-
ginning; and it already constitutes no in
considerable portion OF all our foreign
commerce, immense rs that commerce is
and the day is coming, and is not distant,
when it may constitute by far the most
valuable portion of that commences; the
most valuable in itself and especially the !
most valuable for its effect on every branch
of the national industry; and on every in
tcrest in every part of our widely extend
on empire. The causes Of these results
are planted in the nature of things, as
might be shown, were this the proper occa-
son. We all recollect the report of the
Committee on Commerce, on the subject OF
discriminating duties; and the gencralvlews
of our foreign commerce exhibited by their
chairman; his very able comments upon that
report his very interesting illustrations; but
especially his animating development otour
commercial prospects: but nothing, on that
occasion, so much excited my admiration as
his view of this pcriior of our commerce,
particularly in the rapidity of its increase.
IL must be so. These nations now are ma
tons of rreemcn, and left to their own en-
crcies; and the energies Of regulated free
dom never fails to carry forward q nation
with astonishing rapidity in the career of
national prosperity. Their population is
great at present, upwards OF thirty millions,
i'll mistake not, with an unbounded scope
for its increhse; and poss essed OF all the
means which have been ioun d to accele-
rate it's progress For this great and growing
commerce we have the world for compet- |
tors. but none can contend with us on equal
ground, if we are attentive to all the means !
Of securing all the advantages of our situ !
alton. England is our great rival for this
commerce. She is eXerting all the arts of
her policy, TO gain the advantage. to pFcoc-
cupy the ground, to establish her connoe-
tions, and to secure the command of their
markets Had she received the invitation
which we have, believe she would not
have debated so much, nor hesitated so
long, as to her interest, in acccdng to it.
No. She is too Quick-sightedn in seeing, too
prompt in seizing every advantage, TO have