The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-12-17

) ~ State actua,ed by feelings Of justice ane
} regard for our national honor, submit tt
you the interesting questiop,whether some
= thing cannot be done consistently with the
rights Of the States, to preserve this much
| injured racer
AS q means Of efiecting this end, sug.
gest, for your consideration, the propriety
of setting apart an ample district West Of
: the Mississippi, and without the limits o
> any State or Territory, now formed, to be
guaranteed to the Indian tribes, ss long a,
they shall occupy II: each tribe having &
; distinct control over the portion designated
for its use.-There they may be secured
, in the enjoyment Of governments OF their
own choice, subject to no other control
from the United States, than such as may
be necessary TO preserve peace on the
frontier, and between the several tribes
There the benevolent may endeavor 10
f teach them the arts Of civilization, snd by
promoting union and harmony among them,
to raise up an interesting commonwealth,
destined 10 perpetuate the race, and 10 al.
test the humanity and justice Of this Gov
ernment.
This emigration should be voluntary; for
it would be as cruel as unjust to cemyel the
aborjgines to abandon the graves Of their
fathers, and seek home in q distant land.
But they should be distinctly informed that,
! if they remain within the limits Of the
States, they must he subject 10 their laws.
In return tor their obedience, as indiyidu.
ale. they will, without doubt, be protected
in the enjoy ment of those possessions which
they have improved BY their industry. But
it seems TO me visionary to suppose that,i
this state OF thrgs, claims Gun be allowed
on tracts of country on which they hive
neither dwelt nor made Improvements,
merely because they have seen them from
the mountain, or passed them in the chase.
Submitting to the laws Of the states, and re-
ceiyng, like other citizens, protection in
their persons and property, they will, ere
long, become merged in the mass of our
population.
The accompanying repor, OF the Secre-
tary Of The Navy will make You acquainted
with the condition and useful employment
Of that branch of our service, during the
present year. Constituting, az it does, the
bes, standing security OF this country a.
gsinst foreign aggression, 1t claims the
speciel attention Of Government. In this
spirit, the measures which, since The ter
mination OF the lest war, have been in op.
GRAFTON for its gradual enlargement, were
adopted: and it should continue to be cher.
ished as the offspring of our nntional exre-
rcnce. 1t viii be seen, however, that.
Notwithstanding the great sollctude which
has been mantle sted for tha perfect organ
izator ofihis arm, and The lberaity Of tie
appropriations which that soliciiude has
suggested, tins object has. in many impor
tant respects, not been secured.
In time Of peace, We have reed Of no
more ships of war than ore requisite to the
protection OF our commerce. Those not
wanted .orthis object musl lay in the har
bors, where, without proper covering, they
precautions for their preservation, must
soon become useless. Such l. already the
case with msny Of our finest vessels; which,
though unfinished, will now require i'm.
mense sums of money to be restored to the
condition IN which they were. " hen com
mittcd 10 their proper element On this
subject there can be but little doubt that
our best policy uld be, to disc ortinuo the
building Of ships Of the first and second
class; and look rather to the possession Of
ample materials, prepared for the emorgeil.
cies of war, tbon 10 the number Of vessels
which we can iloat in q season Of peace, as
the index Of our rayal power. Judicious
deposites in Navy Yards, of timber and 9th
er materials. fashioned under tie hands OF
skliul workmcn, and fitted for prompt ap.
plication 10 their various purposes, would
enable Us, nj all times, to construct vessels
fuC In "a
the heavy expense of repairs, except 10
such vessels as must be employed in guard
ing our commerce. The proper points for
The establishment Of these yards are indi
Gated with SO much force, in the report Of
,hc Navy Board that in Recommending it to
your attention, deem it unnecessary to do
more than express my hearty concurrence
in their views. The Yard in this District
being already furnished with most of the
machinery necessary for ship building, will
be competent to the supply Of The two sc
lectcd by the Board as tho best for the
conc entra;on Of materials: and frcm the
facility of communication between them, j,
will be useless 10 incur, at these depots,t the
expense of similar machinery, especially
that used in preparing the usual metallic
and wooden furniture Of vessels.
Another Improvement would be effected
by dispensing altogether with the Navy
Board, as now constituted; and substituting
in its stead. bureaus. similar TO those alrea
dy existing in the Wm Department. EacI
member of the Board, transferred to the
, head oia separate bureau, charged will
specific duties. would feel, in its hig hest de
gree, that wholesome responsibility whiel
cannot be divided without far more than
proportionatc dimnution ofi's force. Then
valuable services would become still more
so when separately appropriated 10 distinct
portions of the great interests Of the Navy
TO the nrosncriiv of which cnch wonll ht