Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-05-12

yesterday, to-day, and with my present
convictions, will be forever. As to local
feelings, thank God, there are none to
divert me. l have none to lead me to
prefer the upper to the lower route my
great desire has been to ascertain which
would be best for the country at large ;
and if l have been so fortunate as to
make this discovery, am satisfied.
j might, in that spirit Of selfish feeling
which has been manifested by many gen
tlemen who have addressed the commit
tee in relation to this road, inquire what
has been done by this government for
Rhode-Island The answer must be,
nothing to improve its internal condition
by appropriations for roads and canals:
not dollar to give us new roads or to
improve the condition of our old ones. |
am happy in saying we want no money
from the public chest for haf purpose ;
our common roads are better than the
best turnpikes in this part ofthc country
and our best, better than all the money
in the treasury, or all the surplus fund,
when the national debt is paid, can
make some roads here. In relation to
the general distribution, it may be said
we have had our share on other subjects,
and if it has been a small one, it has
been in proportion to the comparative
size Of our State. What has it been
| was so fortunate once, and not with
out struggle, and in eflecting what |
had in view received more aid from the
other branch of the Legislature than this,
to procure for the improvement of one
of the harbors in Rhode-Islrnd, an ap-
preparation of four thousand dJllars: this
sum, contend, was not for our exclu-
sive benefit, any more then the several
light houses on our points and prOmOnto-
ries; it was the benefit Of the navigation
and commerce Of the whole country
But it may be retortcd, that very impor.
tant Notifications have been proj ccted
and actually commenced in Rhode-ls
land. 1t is true these works are within
our State, but did not consider Rhode.
Island under any special obligation to tht
government, because the erection o.
these Notifications was not from any spe
cial regard to us.
The appropriations were the necessar,
result of our peculiar situation in refer
encc to the coast of the Union. Withou
these Notifications one link would have
been wanting in the grand chain of de,
fences Of our sea board; without fortify-
ing Newport, neither New York nor the
Chesapeake could be defended. From
the communications which were made
by the executive, at the commencement
of the session, it appears that his eyes,
the attention Of the Secretary Of the
Navy, and the board Of Navy Commits
sioners, have been directed to the wa
ters of Narragansett Bay, in Rhode Is.
land, as place for one ofthe grand nava
establishments of the country. AND
why? Because that State had any claim
for large appropriations for her benefit
Not at all-but owing to our location; il
has been found, that our waters, oul
noble and capacious harbor presented q
better place for naval depot than was
elsewere to be found. l am still there
fore, warranted in saying, that in regard
to any Improvement of the resources o
the country, nothing, or next to nothing
has been done, or projected for the State
from which | come. Yet | am not, be-
cause the Government has been less lib
cral in its grants than many in the State
that l represent could wish, or perhaps
: all desire, to be influenced by sectional
considerations or sectional designs. Is
this any reason why | should withhold my
support from any object which is nationa
in its character' | trust not. A gentleman
from N. York Mr.. Mcneil said few
days ago, that his State had knocked a
your door in vain, and because the gen
tleman's State received nothing, he is
now opposed to this bill. He should reco!-
lect more especially, as he seems to have
some constitutional scruples, that the leg
islature of his state had none for the ap,
pointrnent of agents to solicit the aid ol
government, in constructing their grea
canal was a recognition of the constl'
tutional power to aid works of this kind
Other reasons might have induced the
refusal beside opposition to the principle
Of internal improvements, the party ther
in power might have been opposed to ap
propriations for internal improvements
but since a change has taken place il
this respect, is their conduct on that oc'
casion good reason for voting agains
this bill now' Surely not. The gov
ernment Of the United States at the time
that application was made, might no
have been in situation from inability I,
grant the aid solicited. But, sir, it i
not too late for New York to obtain th'
aid Of this government for enlarging he
system Of internal improvements, and ex
tending them still farther than at present
She has fiom all that appears dispo
sition to do this too bills have been re
ported ut this session, to authorize sub
scriptions TO the stock oftwo OF her ca