Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-06-18
after bestow nothing but blessings on the people oi

10
| their very existence. Mon living by plundcr submit
to discipline for the purpose of acquiring it, but be-
come mutinous, and resist all control, when the
spoil has been decided, and they to the enjoy
| ment ofthcr own private share. This places the
plebeian, the common soldier at variance with tho
patrician, the General, and his officers. In peace,
or when no more nations are left to be piaged, the
one class has employment for the other; and
| each becomes the object Of mutual prey and spoil.
The civil wars Of the paricans and the people, and
the bloody con6scations Tberius, are but the il
Illustrations OF this principle. The full effects Of 1t
| upon The military governments Of antiquity were
finally developed in their overthrow and the abish
ment thsir ruins OF a military dominion under
| the feudal system.
| During ancient times, two modes obtained Of ap-
propriatDg the wealth OF a conquered country. BY
| one, the whole race was exterminated; and their
property divided among the conquerers. BY the 9TH
or, all property plundered; but all survivors Of
the battle were spared by the victors and made
slaves, and compelled to labor for the emolument of
| those who had conquered them. THIS condition Of
servitudc originated a form OF government part
y military and partly free; and this form has come
down TO modern times; exhibiting the singular anom-
ally Of States, proiessedy living, and ourshing, by
labor; and yet controlled by the spirit, and painting
for the powers and pageants Of military government.
Would IL be singular, that, in modern as well as
| ancient times the same causes should produce the
| same effects! Some the finest nations Of aniqui-
y, who subsisted not by their own, but by the labor
| OF slaves, seem in great measure, themselves en-
shaved to tho spirit Of military dominion. In our
own country, almost all the States, incumbered by
one of these evils, are now troubled and not able to
| free themselves, from the other.
Our nation was commenced and has been extend
ed and established on the other great principle Of ac
QUESTION, that of becoming wealthy and powerful by
labor. Vassalagc tenure OF land, was abolished
in England, after settlement of this country COM
n,cnced; but our title to our lands, derived from
purchase, not conquest, discovery; and is purely
allodal, held by no lcaliy, and subjected to no for
| feiture. Our have been altogether defensive.
No vestige Of military dominion has Marked
polluted soil; will it obtain footing
here, unless the madness Of the people should call
the ioes Of the old world, TO plumber, and ensaye
| the new.
will not call your attention to the various pro-
| gress of our domestic industry, under that system
| which, at the commencement of the present govern
ment established for the encouragement of each
of the great branches Of our national labor You are
more Immediately interested in the present posture
Of public affairs, in what has been done during the
present administration; and the probability of con-
tinung the present wise policy OF our government by
reelection for another term, of the present Chief
| Magistrate. To gentlemen, such as am now adj
dressirg it is neediu 10 make many statements,
relative TO the current condition of public affairs.
We are at peace with all nations All questions, Of
trade, territory, in fair tram Of adjustment.
| The finances Of the country are IN condition SO
prosperous, that, the close Of the year, there will
have been paid during the rrose"t administration, :,
more tht forty millions Of the public deo:. .
The President, in his first message to Congress,
| recommended some suitable provision, to be made
for tho venerable surviy RS Of the utionary
army. All men acknowledged the value Of their
vices the perils and prvations, under which, they
had rendered them the inadequate nature of their
subsistence and payment, during the war; and the
utter inability OF the nation, either before, or at the
time of establishing the funding system, TO make up
them any compensation equal to their suierings,
and services in the cause of their country. Rchef
has been extended to part OF the army, at the last
session Of Congress; but this measure was received
by the ii ,use from the Senate, at so late period,
that the friends OF the provisions prepared tor the
benefit ofhosc, yet unproyided for, were persuaded,
that time sufficient to carry them through both
Houses, did not remain; but that no reasonable doubt
ofsuccess at the next session, could be entertained,
if the bill remained pending before the House until
that time. Whatever estimate amy men may place,
on my Efforts do service to those venerable patri-
ots have nothing left 10 regret only that the part
which was done, was much less than what was
mcrtcd and nat the other part, which had been pro-
posed Congress by the committee on military PEN
sons was, from necessity, left unfinished
1t has during the last four years, come TO be set
tied principle OF the administration, that the Navga-
ton and Commerce OF the country, which so largely
contribute the public revenue, shall, by the ds-
position Of that revenue, be secured IN peace and In
yor M, only on the high seas but throughout all
ho ,v,,ers of the United States. The gradual ia
crease of the navy and the perseyering labors, on
nr svstem of maritime iorticatIons, wN secure The
6tst Of these obccs. The other Is in prosress.-
Uarbors are surveyed, preparatory to thef peins
cleared Where nature has not made harDors, and
Lo ,ce,v of commerce may require them, they mus,
| ha o,octcJ bv art Delaware Bay has long been
| nlaco of dangerous navigation. Appropriation has
been made to build a pier III 'ia' "a'o' NS'''','
which the commerce and navigNion V" 'u' ''a't,
may take shelter, aud be relieVcu rom SO much
peril TO Ii aud property ship canal across the
Cane of Florida was proposed at iormer session
and when made, would relieve oir whole navigation
with the gulf Of Mexico, from the most hazardous
norton of its passage Tho rivers Of the west are
connected with the commerce Of the East; and the
safety Of their navigation concerns the security OF che
| immense wealth continually moving upon them.
The friends OF the present policy oil our government,
in that region, arc quite as liberal towards improy-
og the navigation of the Atlantic coast, as we are
or can be with regard to their great channels of wa
ter transportation. Four hundred thousand acres Of
land WERE at the last ofCongress, given 10
Tennessee, enable that state to complete the ma
! vigation Of their river round the Muscle Shoai-
THIS will unite the navigation OF those waters, above
and below this obstruction and save 10 the whole
transportation, the expense OF land carriage, for al
mos, oitv miles. Under tho influence Of this lber-
al spirit, peculiarly ostercd by the present policy
of government, every harbor and every ivcr viii be
swept clean OF all distractions piers and moles erec-
ted lor the perfect security oil navigation; aud
lights held out from every point, and promontory,
shall direct the beni gted traveller Of our waters III
safety to his haven.
The wear before this Adminis ration commenced,
Congress, by a standing law, appropriated Thirty
thousand dollars, for the purpose of making surveys
tor roads and canals. THIS was preparatory to tho
mencement Of n great system OF internal com
muncation throughout oui country. The appro-
priation, this year, though under much opposition
from many, hostile, as well to the whole measure,
as to the present administration, yet passed the
House Of Representatives by large majority. La
the Senate loss liberal spirit governed aud, nn-
der amendment, the bill was returned doubtless
with the hope, that the whole appropriation ni,git
be defeated. A compromise was ELECTED, waich IN