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

anu 10 renueT INVASION hiincult and hu1a
ardoas Of any point, and probably itnprsca
'leable at most--while our frigates, soopS
o' war, and smaller vessels, sailing ihenccs
as they would be able 10 DO at All time =
ana returning, as they might IN all wina.l,
would ammo, the conmerce Of the enemy ini
distant seas, even on his own coasts, and a
the moutifs ofhis harbors--to protect which.
he would necess trily be obliged 10 draw
the larger part Of HE force from our coa,ts
(if stationed there. I'VE might thus eon;S
pei him to aei on the defensive, while ma
chances of our merchant and other vceseis
safely returning into port, would bs rreatlS
Increased. The importance Of a NaVC
1 does not depend so much upon the nnnbee
Of shIps as upon their size and efficiency.
and judicious disposition OF them u refs
erence 20 our own protection and the ana
noyancs Of an enemy to the gfestost pos&
sible extent.
In time Of peace, our ships, PARTICULARS
those OF tho line and higates, ought to 10
leid up in situations where they csuld 10
most easily united, and their services nnost
| readily commanded, in defensive opesA
lions against an elemy coming suddeni '
upon our coast, and bringing with hirb -
!, might happen, the first intelligence OF
his having declared war against us. I'm
this view of the subject, the two positisS no
referred to, again present themselves AZ
being more desirable than any other, q ,r
the rendezvous Of our Navy between q na
Chesapeake and Newport, each hsinu 10
accessible, 30 easy Of cgrsss and inSw .ss.
that junction of forces stationed nj tiser.
might generally If not al all timss, ba eE.
iected in less han 40 hours. Tbic i~ an
advantage Of vast importance, NOT puspes.
sed by any ether two porte. ft for the rem.
devious Of eur ships OF War, on our whoIo
maratime frontier. Between Rpstcn ana
the Chesapeake, 10 form such a luucture.
under ordinary circumstances, il might
take ten days, or even a longer time; bus
with adverse winds, and other causes pot
unlikely to occur, the detention would BE-
lncalculable; for, so long ss they should
continne ship Of war might not DO able 20
get out Of the harbor OF Boston.
Buiwe have incurred great expense in
establishing other Yards, aud what shall
be done with them?
Al Boston the buildings and improve.
rncnts are highly valuable, and the dock
now in progress at that Yard, makes is
desirable that il should DO retained an an
auxilisry establishment. Tts dense and
active popuiation--its numerous artl6cera
and mechanics, and other resources Il af.
fords, give itfacilities in the building ana
repairing of ships. II 10 understood, mat
canal IS in contemplation, between MHa-
sachusetts Bay and the waters Of Rhode
Island; and should the work be- completed
upon scale sufficiently extensive TO admit
the passages Of steam batteries and sloope
OF war, II would become highly importael.
as presenting the means Of ofaffording addi,.
lonal protection to our line Of coast east Of
Cape Cod ~ Nantucket South Shoal, BY q
direct, safe and speedy communication be.
tween Boston and Newport, while mer-
chant vessels bound to Boston, would of.
ten particularly in timo or war, avail tbem-
selves Of this channel, TO reach their des.
tined port Fer our ships ndezvousipc
at our near Newport, Boston might thus b
relied on as furnishing the necessary sup.
glics that may be required during either
peace or war.
mouth, New Hampshire, is liable TO partic-
ulsr objections; and tts remote position,
and Boston intervening, deprive j, of any
advantages It might otherwise posses, ss
an auxiliary establishment. New York,
Of them sasily aceessibls--the two latter
dranght Of water at arr sims.
Upon the whole with respect 10 the num-
ber Of yards, viewing the question in sii -
aspects;< <he Commissioners OF the Navy.
with great Difference, submit the opinisn.-- {
than, with the exception Of the yards as
Bcstou, Washington and Norfolk, aud e.
aother near the Gulf Of Mexico (prineipallS
as place for the deposite Of stores all u
our other yards might in the course ofa
few years, (slloving timo to remove the
ships, &c. be dispensed with, without in
jury to the naval service provided an Cd
tsblshmsnt be made near Newport, Rhode
Island. That the places Of general rem.
dezvous, IN peace and in war, should he tho
Chesapeake Bay and the waters AZ or near
Newport--thst the yard at Washington
should be retained ~ an auxiliary % thu
ono and that nt Boston a. an auxiliary te
the other. And tho opinion 10 confdsntly
entertained, that economy and efieisncy
would be greatly promoted BY such an sf.
rangement. a4.f
As to the most sdyissbls position near
Newport, a satisfsetory judgment cspnos
be formed until . thorough and minute sx-
animation shall havs besn made. II Y
known that there are several suitable pls-
ess--but IL 10 not known which 10 entitled
TO . preference.
From the report Of the Secretary ofths NsvY
Of 1880.
The commune alton. made by the Con, n
missioners Of the Navy. dated 18th Ocss-
Der, 1929, and addressed 70 you, with the
report On naval sfvsirs, ~ the comnsnss- 4