The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-05-05
who, Il will no. be pretended, could have had

US with Tie reasons and grounds OF thoir pref.
erence. Among other reasons by which al
should be Influenced, we are told that if here
after IL shosld be thought advisable to macsd
amise the road, the expense of macadamisnq
the Western route would not be so great al
either of the other routes, by twelve hundred
thousand dollars. So far, then, as expense /,
concerned, and judging from the information
which comes before me, together with the
| recommendation of the present and former
committee, I am led to conclude that the
| Western is the preferable route for US to a
dopt. Let 1t be remembered, that in settling
this question, we are not 10 bo governed ex
clusivey by state ofthngs which may now
exist, but should look forward TO the future
and although the population on particular
route may be spare at present, we must look
| to tho resources Of the country as they will cx
| ist when fully developed by the facilities
which such an avenue and communication a,
this road will open to them. We are not d
legislate in this matter for 10 day, but for year,
and centuries TO come. For. myself, Mr.
Chairman, am, perhaps, less encountered in
giving vote than some gentlemen may be
have no con institutional scrnples TO impede
me, nor have | any difference from former
course TO embarrsss me. shall vote now az
have voted heretofore, for my course has, on
| questions of this description, been uniform
the same yesterday, today, and with my pres
ent convictions, will bo forever. As TO local
feelings, thank God, there are none to divert
| me- have none TO lead mo to prefer the up
per to the lower roue; my great desire has
| been to ascertain which would be best for the
country at large; and if have been so fortu-
nate as to make this discovery, am satisfied.
] might, in that spirit Of selfish feeling
which has been manifested by many gen.
| tlemen who have addressed the committee
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 appopria.
tions for roads and canals; not dollar TO
give us new roads or to improve the con.
dition ofour old ones. am happy in say.
ing we want no money from The public
| chest for that purpose; our common ronds
are better than the best turnpikes in this
part ofthe 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 rela.
tion to tho general distribution, it may be
said we have had our share on other sub
Jects, and If il has been a small one, it has
been IN proportion to the comparative size
OF our State. What has 1t been? was 30
fortunate once, and not without q struggle,
and in eHecting what had in view receiv-
ed more aid from the other BRANCH Of the
legislature than this, to proc ure for the i'm.
provement of one Of the harbors in Rhode
Island, an Appropriation of four thousand
dollars; this sum, contend, was not for
our exclusive benefit, any more than the
several light houses on our points and pro.
montories; it was for the benefit of the nav.
Ina nd nf thn h,1o
try. But it may be retorted, that very i'm
portant fortiicaiions have been projected.
and actually commenced in Rhode Island.
II is true these works are within our State,
but do not consider Rhode Island under
any special obligation to the govcrnme pt,
because the erection of these Qualifications
was not from any special regard TO us.
Tho appropriations were the necessary
resntof our peculiar situation in reference
to the coast of tho Union. Without these
Notifications one link would have boen
wanting in tho grand chain Of defonces Of
our sea board without fortyfying Newport,
neither New York nor the Chesapeake
could be defended. From the communica
tons which were made by the executive,
at the commencement ofthe session, it up.
pears that his eyes, the attention of the
Secretary Of the Navy, and the Board Of
Navy Commissioners, have been directed
to the waters of Narragansett Bay, in
Rhode Island, as place for one of the
grand naval 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; it has
been found, that our waters, our noble and
,apacious harbors pres nted d better place
or a naval depot than was elsewere to be
found. am still, therefore, warranted in
saying, that in regard To any Improvement
IF the resources ofthe country, nothing, or
next to nothing, has been done, or project
ed for the State from which come. Yet
am not, because the government has been
ess liberal in its grants than many in the
State that represent could wish, or per.
haps all desire, to be influenced by section.
al considerations or sectional designs. Is
this any reason why should withhold my
support from any object which is national
in it's character? Itrust not. A gentleman
from N York Mr.. Mcneil said a few days
ago, that his State had knocked at your
door in vain, and be cause the gentleman's
State received nothing, he is now opposed
to this bill. He should recollect, more es
recially as he seems to have some consti !,
scruples, that the Legislature Of his.
State Lad none for the appointment Of a
gents to solicit tho aid Of government. in
their great canal was . re.
cognition OF the constitutional power to aid
works Of this kind. Other reasons might
have induced the refusal beside opposition
TO the principle Of internal improvements;
the party then in power might have been
opposed to appropriations for internal i'm
provements; but since change has taken
place in this respect, is their conduct on
that occasion good reason for voting a.
gains, this bill now? Surely not. The
government of the United States at tho
time that application was made, might not
hnye heen in n situaiion from inability 10