The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-01-04

patton Of the latter. A long anu narrow
strip Of land, scarce thirteen miles in
width, along the shore, at the entrance of
the st. Lawrence (Which is all they would
. here leave us, in this quarter, on the right
bank, cannot be considered a very tena-
ble possession. The navigation of the
river becomes endangered, and the very
passage of the mails extremely circutotIs.
and extremely precarious. The situation
of New Brunswick renders it the centre
Of our empire on that continent, and the
territory in question is the very point of
union; and as Il prudent commander would
reserve his chief force and vigilance for
the protection of that position which So
cures the connection and support Of ea, Z,
extreme, no less anxiety should be shown
by wary Government along the line of
It's domlnlons, more especially If so criti-
cal part has already attracted the de-
sires, and even the attempts, of our adyer-
sary. In commercial as well as politi-
cal view, this conneXion has now become
OF consequence, and the course of future
events may prove it far more important.
For if the Union Of all those Colonies un-
der one general government, as is some
times suggested, should ever take place;
or, lfby any unforeseen exigency, the ties
between them and the Mother Country
should ever become less intimate, or less
eifectual, such communication and con-
neXlon would become TO them an important
bond Of union, and would create and Sc.
cure community Of feeling and interest
and prevent their falling separately into
the hands Of that eighboring Republic,
whose power and commerce already
threaten to rival Great Britain, and TO
whose increase, except in the present in
stance, we do not know what other oppor-
innity, will be ever found to prescribe a IL
init.
eth. But if these considerations appear
Of remoter interest, there are others more
immediate, and perhaps more important.
For 1t is not merely the communication
between the Colonies themselves that is
ut stake, but the communication between
the Canldns and the Sea-between the
Canadas and Great Britain. During eight
months of the year, from the ist Of Sep
tember TO May, not even an answer from
England to any intelligence from Quebec
can be thero received, except through the
United States, or through the province Of
New Brunswick. Supposlng the latter
communication Interrupted (as it viii be |
most eiiectually, IT any other boundary is |
accepted, but chat claimed by his Maicsty's |
Commissioners it may easily be conceiv-
Ell what advantages an enemy in that |
country would possess, who should com.
mcncc hostllities little before that period,
IN the mouth Of August or July, aud thus
have nearly u twclvcmonth To overruu
those Colonies, before they could receive !
the assistance Of q single man, or n single
mlsket, from the Mother Country; whose |
armament, on arriving, the next June,
might possibly fad the enemy cncampcd |
on the Heights of Abram, or their very |
alag on the walls Of Quebec. Or if the
Nation with whom we hQce to contend |
were such as would probably overlook tins |
advantage, still should any disaster occur :
in the course Of the war, how iniurjons !
must be SO long delay, and how frequent.
w must succor arrive too late. In short
- it impossible for Great Britain 10 retain /,
and defend IA coustry, FROM which she I,
would not only be so perfectly severed. by .
distance and climate, but OF the yory oc.
currcncos in which she must remain in
utter ignorance, during the greater parl
ofthe year?
at is not merely Route to convey the
Mails that IS wanted (which the AIncri
cans would very SpccJusly offer, by pro
posed exchange OF territory, leaving on the
left side Of the Madawaska, for I'm euuiva-
lent on the right OF the 81. Johns, aud +,
which even then would contiuac at their ;
mcrcy,) but Military Limo of c0mmuni. :
cation, the means Of Transporting troops
and stores; from ~. Johns, or Halifax, to ,
Quebec, with convenience and security.
The advantages Of thE Line have been
already in some measure perceived. Dur.
!pg the late war, regiments were marched
through, and sailors transported, in the
depth otwintcr, with perfect safety, to the
Upper provinces, where their arrival was Il
very scasonable; and similar, aud far more
extensive, services, cannot fail to be re-. .
,olved, or regretted, in case Of future con u
'ilct. Such is the Importance of preserv- u
ing this communication, that the present e
Boundary question can hardly bo consid. u
orcd i'll any other light, than rs nvolving
he question the eXpedlenoy of retaining u
,r rollnqushing, the whole of the British IN
Colonies in North America. re
at would really appear to be family hl
perceived, or seldom considered, among RI
is, how formidable rival we must one 81
ay have TO contend with in the United ia
States; how rapidly that day is approach. L
ne; and how momentous must be the is pa
uc. Also great distance, and compare.
lvcly Of minor interest, little is here oh. In
erved OF the intriguing, ambitious. and OF
mperious character Of People and Go. M
ernment, who consider every thing they L'
an clam and reach, rs already their own. De
nd every thing they cannot, as an injury u
} be borne only till they have acquired Sc
lrther strength. In the very terms of
revlous concession they can find subject
Or fresh demands With reeiprocitv for an