The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-02-28

lie annexed enlra y ~ MIR. PEARCE's speech,
on the suhjact oi' stronehmont. preiaecd by
the following conql men,ory remarks.
military ACADEMY
The tol"wmg euSgiGm on this Institution
pronouneod by Ma itarce of Rhode Island, IN
las speech on Retr,i elumont merits special
notice. IL is extrao,td aud sent for pnbhca
lion, by a subscriber, who joins heartily in this
prayer OF tho eloquest member, at the elose
Of his remarks
" II, in peace, il is good policy 10 pre-
pare for war, We must still continue our pa
tronage. Ii the Internal Improvements
long since commenced, are 10 be further
prosecuted, We must continue our patron
age II the system OF Publications com
menced, and now in progressive state,
are 10 be completed, this institution must
receive, and continueto i've The patron.
age OF the Government. III II be correct
To discipline, and make more efficient the
Militia of the States, the institution must
be maintained. And, Sir, if vandalism
should ever commence ils,nroads upon tins
land, dertroying whichever Is valuable in
~,
salutary and liberal policy, pay God, that
thus institution will be the last sparedm
ument, and will remain until long after 9th :
ers have felt its contaminating touch, or
died iron. the imposition Of is whitening
hands.
In the zeal ofgentlsmen to retrench, the
Military School at West Point has occu.
pied their attention, AMI violent hands have
0sen laId upon it. dAl hope that ihi. in.
sntuton, winch Is moIt crcdliablc 10 thus
Government than any cher in it and which.
! had supposed. was tIr iuvorte chlld OF
tic nation. wuuld have fen spured. We
are told, Sir, by the gentleman ii om Ten.
lessee, that II Is the Nursery Of Arlstocra-
W. created for the educSion Of the rich
cans son, aud place where the widow's
syn or the orphan boy cIbnot enter or, If
&c does enter, cannot long remain; eslab
i,hed for the education 81, the sons oimem
Oers OF Congress, und those Who are high
m office. ] would cay 20 the gentleman
.hat he is mslaken; thot although ! shall
Hot question what he has said, IN relation
- the sons Of those conbg from his Own
State. his remarks will not apply 10 those
who have been educated st that School,
citizens OF The State which ! represent.
Let the gentleDaD examine the catalogue
o. ilo graduates, Ind bo will fnd that there
are men who have had the benefits oi this
school, and shared IA iis honors, wbo were
'noi so''e osor~s'''c,s al C.-ns ss44, or ,iror.
n power. lie, the gtl tleman examine the
Army Register, aud lac will also lind thai
The best and most melliorious Of our off
GERS are graduates Of this School, who
we're the sons Of widows, orphan boys, the
sons Of those who had nothing but pOv,ri,
10 leave To their children for an inheritance
and who ure indebted TO this institution
lope for the education " Whcli they received
10 avoid, if possible, the recital Of names,
who is the gentleman, who has now the
principal superDtenGence ofyour iortifca
tons, and who discharges his duties with
$50 much credit to himself and Justice TO
the nation? Who is the aid off your Com
.mander.in.C .Chief2 Who is now the asss
,ant 10 tho Chief Engineer; And might
ieNtend the inquiry 10 very great length,
of men who are ornaments to their country
aud men who, but for this School, would
never have received the education and sd.
vantoges which they derived from il.
once entertained an opinion formed
without reflection, that the doors Of this
only, and the sons Of the wealthy should
be debarred, and stated my views TO the
Vice President Of the United States, and
learnt from him thal others had expressed
the same opinions but, said be, 10 make
this School for the INDECENT, wo1ld render
il less valuable TO them, as they would not
be excited by the same spirit ofemulation !;
that genius was TO be found in all grades
Of society, all classes and ranks Of men |;
and il VAS the object Of the Government Of
the United States 10 enlist into its service
the best talents, whether found among the
rich or the poor. Further reflection has
n.r that the views of the late Sc.
crciafy oi War were correct. Genius is
not confined la my grade Of iifo II il found
among children Of he asylum, and js not a
stranger u 'Lo princely pulaco AT this
q soldiers son, yes, SIR the son
OF Sergeant 10 the Army OF the United
States, rcceBcs ihe first hon0rs, RhIic the
suDs Of fwO gentlemen. who have been
Speakers oi this house, are unable 10 pass
tl.ough the ordeal Of az annual e1Gmiua
ton. 81, fiI fDyocrtigm exiGis insoihcr ~.
stltulions, 1t has no abiding place ia this
for here they all rise or fal. b. their merits
oT detncnts, and there are none who are
the sons ofi1e poor, and mono who arc tie
sons Of the rich: for 40 such distinctions
are kept up by the officers Of that insliiu.
ton The students themselves Roon find
Of how little use they are. Sir, il bqd
son old enough 10 be admitted into tha, A
rsdemy, If ! had influence with those 10
know have nOne-if my friends
bad any. it should be exerted and called
into operation, if necessary, 10 procure for
that son an ajnIittsnce this ] would do
without property. lion the other hond,
had the wealth of nv friend from N. York. |