The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-03-31
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POLITICAL.
FoR THE r. I. REpuBLIcAN.

4 You are called on to oppose the pres
4 ent Government Of the State, in orda
that you may manifest your hostility (,
the General Government ofthe Union
You are called on to vote for LnMunI
II. ARNOLD, for Governor of this State
instead Of JAMES FENNRR, because
Gov. Fenner is friendly to the present
Administration. Without alleging any
other cause worth mentioning, you are
requested to give your votes against
Gov. Fcnner, who was called to Office
by the united request Of all parties and
with whose official conduc, all have
been satisfied.
Is this good reason to offer to the
Freemen of Rhode-Island, and partic-
ularly TO those of Newport! That Gov.
Fenner is friendly to the present Ma
tional Administration is true, and that
he should be so there has been and now
is sufficient cause. Let any one read
the Presidents messages, let him ex-
anime the reports of the Secretary of
the Navy to Congress, and he will there
see who are the friends and advocates
of Justice of the rights of X. Island
and of this place in particular. The
following extracts from President
Jackson message, ,aad from the reports
OF the Secretary of the Navy, will CON
vince the most incredulous Of their
friendly disposition 10 render us every
service in their power:
From the Presidents Message sf 1890
"The proper points for the establish
mcni Of these yards are indicated with go
much force, in the REPORT OF tho Navy
Board, that in recommending il to your at
tention, deem it unnece essnry to do more
thnn express my hearty concurrence in
iaeir views"
From The report OF ths Secretary Of the Navy
of 1899.
"Our maritime frontier presents two pr ON
inent positions, of which ehilful invading
enemy would endeavor to gain possession
-ss enabling him, more effectunlly than
any other, TO hsrrass our coasting and for
eigh trade, and cut of our internal con-.
BY water--while they wonld>
also enable him, with but q small military
ioree, comparatively, to compel Va TO main.
tain more than ten times his number Of
troops to protect points in the very heart OF
our country, which he might be continually
threatening, although he might never seri.
ously design TO attack: These positions
are precisely those which we should most
gigilantly preserve from his grssp. The
very reasons which repder them objects OF
great interest to him, render them doubly
ant % Tf 10 a.
could thus seriously annoy us, we, having
them in possession, could thence most ef-
fectuallv protect our line of coast, and as
sail him, should he attempt a blockade.
An enemy excluded from these positions,
can no where upon our coast find more
than temporary shelter for his ships II is
indeed confidently believed, that, if we had
these two points well secured (and we
surely possess amply the means of render.
ing them so the inducements to maintain
squadron upon our cosat would be 90 d.
m;nished--the difficulties, inconveniences,
and hazards, would be 20 numerous and so
serious--that an enemy, even one physical
ly and numerically our superior in force of
ships, would find it his interest 10 avoid
such an attempt.
The history Of cur Revolutionary war.
and our experience during the last war
with Great Britain. Indicate thoss two po.
sitions too clearly for them 70 be mistaken.
Our past suferings admonisb us that the
Chesapeake Bey, and the waters near
Rhode Island. are our mast vulnerable
points; but while this 10 admitted, there =
great sstisfaction in the reflection that they
are known to be susceptible Of perfect do.
fence--and from their relative positions TO
each o.her---their accessibility, at oil timos,
to ships ofthe greatest drausht Of water,
and their greater range OF anchoring
grounds than are afforded by any other
barhors on our whole line Of coast, they
FORM in the opinion Of tho Commissioners.
the two most important and dssirsblc points
for the general rendezvous Of our Navy,
in peace as well ss in war; and fhcsc, they
think, would, in every view, be the most
judiciou locations Sor our chief naval de-
pois.
The central position, the mildness and
salubritv Of the climate, the facilities Of in.
CESS and sgrsss, end the almost inexhaus.
tibie supplies ofship timber afforded by the
Chess peake and its tributary streams, rem
der IL superior TO any other place on eur
whole line Of coast for q great naval station |
and depot; and next, in the order ofinpcf- |
sancc, fos such purposes, Is Newport, !
Rhode Island. or some other spot IN Mar
rangansett Boy.
Aside Of all considerations which rscsm.
mend these 40 the most important positions
for naval depots and ssstiens, in reference
10 the local advantages and facilities they
afford for the rendezvous Of ships, there
are othor views which strike our minds
with increased force and interest, snd con
duct us to similar conclusions. sl. I
Lot us, for q moment, contemplate a. state