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

should not be withheld which may hereaf.
ter operate as a stimuusto our gallant tars.
Inow commend you, fellow citizens. to
the guidance Of Almighty God with full
reliance on his merciful Providence for the
maintenance Of our free Institutions; and
with an earnest supplcation that, yhatev-
sr errors it may be my lot TO commit, in
discharging the arduous duties which have
devolved on me, will find a remedy in the
harmony and wisdom ofyour counsels.
- ANDREW JACKSON.
-.ece-...
DOCUMENTS AccoMPANYISa THE PREsI-
DENTS MESSAGE.
.Napy Yvas-prssent snd proposed.
Navy Commissioners Office,
18th October. 1920
SIR--The Commissioners of the Navy
have given to the subjects to which. by
your letter Of the 18th uit. you were peas.
cd to direct their inquiries, all the atten.
ton and consideration which their limited
opportunity and time admitted, aud they
now respectfully submit the result.
The query as TO the number of Navy
Yards now established and in operation. is
one Of such Importance as to command the
most earnest attention and 10y est tlgailon
The Commissioners are fully sensible that
Its discussion may eXclto strong local feel.
ings-and they are aware ofthe RESPONSE
bility Of any opinion they may express up
on the subject; but referring exclusively to
the unbiased dictates ofthcir judgment in
the performance Of an important 0fhc ial
duty, and claiming the indulgence which a
liberal community will not fail TO extend 10
honest efforts, looking solely to the ad
pancement of the public good, they ap-
proach the question with confidence pro.
portioned to the sincerity of their convc-
tions.
as not the number Of Navy Yards great.
er than is consistent either with economy,
or the wants of the service 2"
To maintain any one yard beyond the
number necessary for building and equip
ping our ships with the utmost despatch,
can, in no view be considered as consistent
either with economy or the wants Of The
service.
II is obvious that the greater number of
Navy Yards. the greater must necessarily
be the expense. A yard used for general
purposes, that is, for building, repairing,
eqnipping and victualling Navy, requires
full set Of officers to superntend il, al
though it may be only occasionally used
for such purposes. The principle Of ac-
countsbilIly in each yard being necessarily
the same, the same system of checks must
be maintained, whether the amount of the
expenditure be large or otherwise. In
yards, not constantly nsed for general pur.
poses, some of the subaltern otfic RS might,
probably, be dispensed with; but moi in suf-
fcicnt number to affect, materially, the ag-
cregs'e amount Of expenses, if we keep in
view the preservation of system.
Were we 10 disregard ECONOMY, plausi
Die reasons might be assigned. even for an
iRcneased number o:yards. 1t might be ur-
gcd that multiplying their number, would
multiply the chaDces Of reaching one Of
them in cases Of en'"rgenc v--snch ~ dis
tress in storms or disasters in battle but
when We look 10 tho localities Of our pre-
sent vards, there arc'but few of them that
eau claim decided reference, even on this
the most favorable. but certainly iallacious
view Of tho subject The harbor Of Bos-
ton can be entered on'y wien the wind
shall happen to be fair. It's SHOW storms in
winter, its fogs in spring and fall. present
serious and frequently insuperablc Difficult
ties. The same objections apply. with con-
siderable force, to Portsmouth, wHamp.
shire, Ne~York. Philadelphia, and Pensa-
cola, are all objectionable. os neither Of
them is easily accessible and the two lat
ter cannot be entsrcd by ships Of great
draught, even at high water.
lfthe number Of Navy Yards were con-
fined to the number necessary for the ser
vice. IN peace, or in war, many advantages
would resnlt. The expences would be
reduced. and efficiency greatly promoted ;
system and uniformity might be more easi.
ly preserved, and the Accountability of those
having the direction. rendered more certain
and precise. By reducing the number of
yards, more work would necessarily have
To be done at each. This would enable
the Government to conc srtra,e artidcers,
chip carpenters, and other necessary ne
chanlcs. osd give them constant employ.
ment and the government wOnld have 1t IN
ito power 70 select and retain in its service
tho most valuable, at fixed and moderate
wages. We should escape tho inconven
ionces to which NO are now exposed. by
employing mechanics a, 90 many different
points TO execute the public works, and dis
charging them when such works are done.
This state Of things not only compels us
frequently to paw high wages, butto accept
the services ofinferior meR--those possess
jng the most skill become dlscontented
when discharged. and will never return,
unless from necessity. BY having few
yards. and those judiciously arranged and
provided with the necessary convenienccs.
much might be gained in the amount Of
daily labor performed. Ship carpenters,
and other meShanics, working under COW
or. can not only do more work per day. but
lose no time from rainy or inclement wea-
tbcr-a consideration important TO govern