Rhode Island Republican

From the Massachusetts Spy
(Concluded from our last.)

THE heaviest of all charges, the most atrocious of all crimes, has been the dismantling and laying up a part of the navy, for the direct purpose of having it destroyed and rotted by worms. This is the motive assigned for the fact. "It is unnecessary that the dismantling and the laying up of ships was in pursuance of an act provision of the last Congress--the place there, by the result of Executive discretion conforming circumstances, left but little room for deliberation. Two docks or navy yards only, were authorized by law. They were located by the President, and fifty thousand dollars were appropriated towards erecting them. One and the only one in which any thing had been done, was, by the old administration, with propriety established at Washington. Instead of fifty thousand dollars, near three times that sum, had been expended when the new administration commenced its labors. The Ships were then ordered to the very place which had been a long time preparing for them; where no worms had previously been considered as existing; but which had been considered as a proper receptacle for the laying up of dismantled ships.

It is still persisted in, that there is no navy-yard at Washington. With such obstinacy no man ought to reason. Let it ask those horses, which for years, have been carrying cart-loads into the sea, if there is no navy yard established at the Federal City? Let it ask those stone walls which, travelling from the mountains, have waded far into the deep? Let the prepared timber for a 74, purchased and submerged by the old government, in the wall soft the Potomac, as if it to a victim to worm? Let the vouchers for the expenditure of public money say, if there do navy yard there. The business of a navy-yard at Philadelphia and elsewhere is well understood by the writer, and may be a subject of future explanations. The President's disposing of the Ships at the seat of government, has discovered a respectful attention to the measures of Congress, to the doings of the old administration, and the interests of the people. Materials for repairs are in the neighborhood. The officers and men will be kept together and be kept to duty. The national defence, will be under national inspection. Great savings will be made, our annual Congress will better determine on the annual expences necessary for the support of a navy, and will see the ravages which time, the most destroying worms it has to fear, will be constantly making on it.

The above are the charges which have been urged against the Executive of the general government. He defends himself by no presumptions, drawn from a long train of conspicuous past services, by which he has commanded the esteem and gratitude of his fellow-citizens; these are passed over in silence. He has claims of merit in the very matters selected by his enemies as the foundations of censure. You will determine if these things are groundless. 'The very altars consecrated to acts of piety and devotion, have in some instances been prostituted to this ungracious employment. Of their ministers, who ought to know and to practice the doctrines of Jesus Christ, and him crucified, have been found some, capable of the foul work of studied detraction, who, instead of studying those things which make for peace, have attached themselves to the virulence of a party, and have been the fomenters of political feuds, sharpening their tongues with more cruelty than the dagger of the assassin. They have stabbed characters in the dark, and like common scolds, called their opponents by hard names.

The press have been more than fatigued with their past labors. Every topic of abuse has been exhausted and spent itself on the heads of Republicans. The principal has had a double portion measured out for him, the cup has been drained to its lowest dregs; and left shielded by a thousand excellencies and a consciousness of rectitude of thought and action, he has been unhurt. Being reviled he reviles not again. His study is to do to friends and enemies all the good in his power. His course is steady firm and independent. His time and his talents, commanding as they are, are early and late devoted to the service of your country. His endeavors are to economize, lessen the expences of government, the burdens of the people, and to preserve