The National Register. — London, England, 1812-06-07 00:00:00

~+~---•~ "nr 1 1 ,4 k7IIPml!igr 4'?r" TILE NATIONAL REGISTER. .- 4Dtir Iting, Conotitution, anb 7La134. PRINT D AND PUBLISHED AT NO. 5, PICRETT-STREET, STRAND ) NEAR TEMPLE BAR• SU vDAY, JUNE 7, 1812. N° 232. AMERICA.. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Sta,—l believe there is no act of the American Govern ment, provided it be extravagantly rash, intemperate, and imbecile, that will excite astonishment on this side of the Atlantic. The genius of folly has presided so long over the councils of that country, and impelled the con duct of its government, that a wise or temperate measure is never expected among the exports of the Republic.— The motley, grotesque Power with the cap and bells— the inspiring deity of Mr. MADDIsON's politics, seemed determined to shew the influences he has over the Presi dent's head, by impelling him to the violent and wrong headed measures he has recently adopted against this coun try. Wretched politician ! What object can he have in contemplation, in thus ligh!ing the torch of war and dis cord. The enjoyment of freedom always gives an exalta tion and expansion to the feelings and intellects. But the Americans are an exception ; and the v.-esent of liberty vthich the founders of their revolution gave them, has only pre; aced the insolence of runaway slaves, or the feroci ous demeanour of maroons. I have tortured myself Whit ruminaCng t)n the object the American Executive can have in view, in plunging their country into a war with this. It has been the cus tom of all states, even those the least civilized, to shew v,rne cogent, specious reasons—extension •f terri tory, or punishing insults or\ injuries, when they exposed themselves to the chances and risks of war. They calcu lated their means and probability of annoying their ere tnies. They made adequate preparations. They used in the interval, the language of conciliation and the cour tesies of civilized life. But America, determined to kneel; her head against all prudent precedents and ex amples,. bep,ins hostilities without any prospect of injuring her opponelit ; without having made adequate prepara tion,, without army, or navy, and without even a scheme of acquisition in view, that would justify the loss of a singieAmerican's life. The only kind of hostilities they can wago, or co: , .template, is a •predatory, or piratical wir—ore, I must acknowledge, perfectly suitable to the clnracter of that selfish and dastardly people. This they wii! carry on with a ferocious spirit ; and I should lament to he a passenger in a British merchant ship, that should fall into the hands of an American buccanier. I do not know, Sir, if the Americans be justified, ac cordirg to the strict pl inciple cf the law of nations, in gol'z to NN•ar from such motives. I do not know, Sir, as they have no other than a predatory object in view, whe:!ler they ouAlit not to be treated and Eunislied as VeLsi• AO. CEXXXIL PIMP 9d. pirates. Their hostility, and their political tenets, all the civilised nations of the Old World most heartily de spise; and the French, more than any other people upon earth, look down upon them with derision. What will they have? War! just God! where are their armies, their qe. neral, stores and magazines ? Surely they cannot call au un disciplined rabble, which they dignify with the name of Mi litia, an armed force ? Will they have the madness, with an irregular mass of that description, to nteet the first soldiers in the universe ; at whose aspect, the French, undoubtedly excellent soldiers, tremble ? Yet an Ame rican rabble, without a single leader of talent, reputation, or experience, will dare to encounter them ! Sir, I most warmly deprecate an idea of the kind. If we have 5000 regular troops in Canada, such is the high state of disci pline, the bravery and intrepidity of our troops, that they would surely be an overmatch for 20,000 men of the spe_ cies of force which the Americans can muster. I have no doubt those men have great courage in their clubs and meeting', and think nothing easier than to be-labrur heartily an English regiment. They may be serious at present in all this. But when they enter upon actual ser vice ; when they are engaged in a tedious march ; when they encounter the privations and dangers of war ; when they have a little skirmishing with our troops, and re ceived a specimen of their mettle, I am certain there will be few of those doughty who will not curse the ill-fated moment, when they became warriors. From the texture of the American Government and Confederacy, there is nothing so difficult as to raise an effective military force in that country. The great duty of a soldier is obedience : It is the body and soul of dis cipline. 'Whitt means has an American Officer of en fo:-jng a rigid system of discipline ? The Americans would not submit to it ; and would desert their standard or murder the Officer who attempted to enforce it. Such are the people who threaten to invade and conquer Canada, and to become future masters of cur West India islands ! It is difficult to comprehend and describe the American character. It has the violence, obstinacy, and wrong headedness of a people recently emerged fr(..rn the savaLe state. They wrangle and dispute about an alleged grie vance for years ; adopt every day a new remedy, a new resource, which they reject the next. The more they reflect n the subject, the more they misunderstand it ; and with all the low, selli,h cunning, and tlartiality sa vages, they consider only that side of the (Jipute which- intei-ests themselves, without_ atiy attention to the interests of their rival. The , / :hen get heated, and rail at their opponent, and at last blindly and impetuously adapt some extreme detet mination, without calculating the co. fs. seer,iences, or their means of execution._ 9 1 . 1 • f . . r 4 I •