The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-06-17

, ly protect onr fellow citizens In that quarter
from all danger from that source.
, From the peculiar circumstances growing
, out of the insurrection in Canada, the diffic ut
and delicate task was imposed on the War De-
partnient Of preserving the peace and maisiain-
ing the good faith Of the couniry amidst all the
excitement which existed on the Northern
frontier, Fortunately for the country, the ex.
ertions OF Government were successful, and our
neutral obligations were maintained inviolate; !;
at a time. ton, when the exigeDcies Of the ser
vice required the presence Of the greater por-
ton Of our little army ia the south, and on the
! Western frontier
I The expenditures Of this Department during
the first year OF Mr.. Van Buren's sdministra-
lion, were beyond his control. Measures had
been projected. aud were partly executed /; and
the obligations incurred by The Department.
involving heavy expenditures, had TO be com
piled with. OF The faith Of the Government vio-
lated. Each succeeding year has, however,
brought with it a considerable reduction Of ex-
penditure. Notwithstanding the increase of the
military establishment, and the heavy expense
attending the execution Of tho Cherokee and
other Indian treaties, the expenses Of 63S were
reduced one million Of dollars; those Of 1889
nearly four millions. and further reduction in
1S40 of Al least three millions is confidently an
ticipaed.
Nor have the interests Of the navy been neg
lecied or forgotten. Sensible that il is equally
indispensable to the protection Of commerce.
aud the honor Of the country; that il consti.
,utes the right arm Of the nation in all offensive
operations; thar il is one Of the main instru-
msnts for cxaeling satisfaction for insults and
retrbuiion for wrongs; and that under no cir
cumstancss is il likely TO be perverted TO the
establishment Of despoiie power, Mr.. Van
Ruren has equally given it his fostering care
and sedulous attentioD.
Under his administration constant gradual
increase Of the materials for the construction
aud armament Of ships and the improvement Oi
navy yards. To the amount Of several millions
in value. has occurred the number Of shirs
has been increased some Of those The
stocks have been brought nearer to complston
the most persevering efforts are making 10 re.
vive and invigorats the discipline of the navy
and TO remedy. rs far as possible, that scarcity
of seainen, which has become SO apparent, by |
carrying into effect system OF apprenticeship
which it is expected. will by degrees supply |
every deficiency. All this has been dsps with
out increasing the appropriation forth support
Of the naval service, notwithstanding the addit-
ion Of the Exploring Expedition. whose officers
and crews arc paid and subsisted from the fu uds
Of the navy. On The contrary, gradual reduc-
ton has taken place since the year 1887, n
a
The accumulation of materials has increased.
and the number ofvessels in commission, either
as receiving ships or on foreign service, is NOT
diminished. So c6esiually is the commerce OF
the country protected in every quarter where
protection is required. that We have lately seen i
the British admiralty, with its five hundred '
ships, publicly reproached with the example Of {
the United States in this particular. :
Let us now contrast the picture Just present :
ed, with the opposition which the Administra- [
lion so conducted has encountered. |
The identity Of the modern Wings aud au-
cient Federalis,s is evident and undenlabe. 1t +
may be distinctly traced through all their
changes Of name, and seen through all their
DISCUSSES The same want Of confidence in the
honesty and intelligence Of the people. aud in
those institutions which guaranty their equa' v
rights. and the same disregard ~ their feelings
and their interests, are always apparent. except
at those periods when, desparlng OF success
by open hostility, they attempt deception by an
affected devotion 10 the Democracy as sudden
as il is short lived. The moment the crisis is ,
past, whether it terminate in success o in dis
appointment. the mask so unwillDsly assumed,
and SO mpatieDtly worn, is thrown oil.
Ii there be any essential difference between
the ancient Federssts and modern Wings, il
is to be found in the absence Of some of those r.
neut of the division of parties, contributed in u
ome degree to give character to the former. C
II the time those divisions originated, and dur ,,
ng the whole psriod in which the Fsdsralsts
maintained their ascendancy, their course was
marked by degree Of dccorum which gave a Il
ertain respecrabiIiiy TO the principles they a :,
owed. So long as u majority Of the people
Imported their pretensions, they treated them "
With apparent respect while undermining their l.
ichts by insidious legislation in conformity TO
heir avowej principles. But the moment the "
endeney of their measures was discovered and %
jenouncsd by Mr.. Jefferson. and they felt them
selves sinking from their power, their depor-
nent underwent so sudden and thorough a
change as TO bring out, in strong relief. their Z
doubts Of the capacity Of the people for self I,
government.
The r'ederal Administration began its war a. +.
,ainst popuisr rights by exactiug laws calcu- ~
lated and intends to repress and punish the \
rec exercise Of the r-ivilege Of speech, and the
ust complaints of the pcs ,'ls-measures which
we're followed up by standing srmie', 10 overawe
hem in the exercise Of their suffrcSees. hee' 4
md other manifestations Of their designs :
-pused the people to defense; they rose in their
irresistible might, aud the edihee Of Fedora u
bower felT PROSTATE before them. /;
From this period. systematic political con
ests have been carried on between the two \
great parties Of the country. the marked u
in each aud all having been,
confidence in the honesty and intelligence Of
he people. and their capacity for self govern c
nent, on the one side, and dis,rust on the 9TH o
er; desire for an extension Of the elective
franchise TO every free citizen Of the country.
On the enc side. asd fer its abridsmcn,. by q
property qualifications, and other restrictions,
On the other; q struggle for popular equality,
N the one side, and for peculiar and monOpo-
izing rights. corporate and private, on the 9TH q
pr, in short. a contention for popular sover- ,
signify. on the one side. and for Government
by favored interests and privileged