The National Register. — London, England, 1812-12-20 00:00:00

756 this to say to Rus , ia—" You are making a noble effort against tyranny, riot only for yourselves but for us, for Europe, for the world ; you are not, however, to expect that we can afford you the most trifling assistance, because we ourselves are obliged to submit to some privations !" Such language would degrade us in the eyes of every people on the face of the earth. We did not expect that Mr. \V HITBREAD'S Drury-lane ceconomy would have misled his reason so far as to make him the advocate for such conduct. Having done thus 'math, he would not have lowered hinvelf in our esti mation, if he bad proposed, that instead of assisting the Russians, a sum should be voted for the relief of the claimants on the late Drury-lane theatre, who have been persuaded to dispose of their claims, at great loss, to the pro prietors of the new one. Sir F. BURDETT, when the grant was first mentioned, disapproved of it altogether. To him it appeared not only extraordinary but insults, g to the people of this country. Insulting indeed ! What sort of idt.a can the Ilon. Baronet have of English feelings, if lie thinks the petrel?. of this country can consider themselves insulted, when an effort is made to sooth the affliction of a brave ally, who with un exampled valour has employed the whole of his vast re sources, to oppose, and to chastise the bitterest foe this coun try ever knew ? However generosity and gratitude may shock Sir F. BuRDETT, they will not outrage the feelings of . English:nee ? Fortunately, thank Heaven, we arc not yet so fallen ! The people, we rejoice to know, arc not so in oculated with the sentiments of the Hon. Baronet, nor so far corrupted by the dissemination of such principles, as to feel that as an insult which humanity and policy combine to dictate. They may consider themselves insulted, when they are described as being too poor to feel sympathy, and too much reduced to be grateful. In candour we will suppose that Messrs. WHITEREAD and BURDETT, really fancy that we are too poor to be generous. We will give them credit for this, and believe •. that at heart they would wish assistance to be given to Rus sia, but are of opinion we cannot afford it. Admitting this to be the fact, we would ask, what claim have those men to respect as politicians, who because we are in disttcss, would deny such trilling aid to Russia, as it is now propos ed to give. Has England no interest in the miOity struggle ? Do not many of her hopes of future prosperity rest On the basis of an alliance and open trade with Russia ? Can any thing more effectually relieve England from time difficulties under which she now labours, than a t-ttecesful termination of the present contest ! Can any thing more completely blast her hopes than a new peace between France qnd Russia? Few, we believe, will be disposed to answer these questions but by a negative. Away then with hutria iiity, generosity, and gratitude ; let it be admitted we can not afford to feel these, and be our conduct .rego!ated by the most sordid policy, by meanness and cupidity. What is the result ? Why Russia will be assisted in the manner proposed. It is the interest of England to encourage her to continue the war. For our own sake, for the sake of the suffering manufacturers in this country, assist Russia. In pity to those who are out of work, and who want bread in England, assist Russia; and how can we more successfully add new energy to her exertions than by thus soothing the ? li you give the poor 200,0001. prop9scd to be , c benefited to the amount • it to Russia, and the pro to a hundred times that with that country. Such our countrymen alto are sorrows of her atßicd children inanufa .._ ''‘ , .. tuntry.... tire forwa,_,_/ - :,ln -f, , z , - .. _., ~.,..'\.o .: . bf tl •:'.l\ 1 1( 1144 tr. ISA .. be b a t it : , ay 1 1 , ,- 3 ,1:4 : : .c stlio' `. l !k:Artctiii" , i/ c )4 .,... , •.' I _ d Must(' - •• '..•)i: i 4 144, e ) f . ar- • 10 THE NATIONAL REGISTER. DF,C. To. capable of thinking ; nor will they listen with patience to men who talk of aiding Russia in a contest with France while fighting against the exclusion of England from the Continent, with as much indifference and contempt a s if they were speaking of a grant proposed to enable the Kin , ' of Wall( it(' to make war on the Monarch of Owlndice. Since writing the above, the grant Las been moved in the House of Commons, and but feebly opposed by Mr. ERE AD and Sir BURDETT. A:UTERI - CAN CONGRESS. THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Fellow Citizens of the Senate and Himself i?eprescntatirci, On our present meeting, it is my first duty to invite your attention to the providential favours which our country has experienced iu tic unusual degree of health dispensed to its inhabitants , and in the rich abundance with which the earth has rewarded the labours bowed on it. In the successful cultivation of other branches of industry, and in the pi ogress of general improvement favourable to the tritisial prosperity, there is just occasion also for our mutual congratulitl i s and thankfulness. With these blessings are naturally mingled the pressures and vicioi. tudes incidental to the state of war into which the United States have been forced by the perseverance of a foreign Power in its system of injustice and aggression. Previous to its declaration, it was asem o t proper, as a measure of precaution and forecast, that a Considerable force should be placed in the. Michigan territory, with a general view to its security ; and, in the event of war, to such operations in the uppermost Canada, as would intercept the hostile influences!' G rea t Britain over the savages; obtain the command of the lake 0 whali that part of Canada borders ; and maintain co-operating oloioss with such forces as might be most conveniently employed a l ;saist other parts. Brigadier-General Hull was charged with this provisional sersice. having under his command a body of troops, composed of ogioss and of volunteers from the state of the Ohio ; having reached h s des tination, after his knowledge of the war, and possessing discroianatv authority to act offensively, lie passed into the neighbouriog territory of the enemy with a prospect of an easy and victorious progress. 'f he expedition, nevertheless, terminated unfortunately, not oil) in a retreat to the town and fort of Detroit, but in the surrender of both, and of the gallant corps commanded by that Officer. The eauos of this painful reverse will be investigated by a Military Tribunal. A distinguishing feature in the operations which preceded and too lowed this adverse event, is the use nude by the enemy of the mer ciless savages under their influence. Whilst the benevolent policy of the United States invariably recommended peace, and promoted civi lization amongst that wretched portion of the human race, sad was making exertions to dissuade them from taking either side in the war, the enemy has not scrupled to call to his aid their ruthless imeity, ' armed with the horrors of those instruments of carnage add ;wale which are known to spare nait her age nor sex. In this'outrage :lona the laws of honourable war, and against the feelings sacred to Immo I,o', the British Conontioders cannot resort to a plan of retalioioo for it is committed in the face of our example. They cannot mined,: it by calling it a self-del:awe against men in arms, for it embraces the mast shocking butcheries of defenceless families : nor can it be pi tended that they are not answerable for the atrocities perpetrato, since the savages are employed with the knowledge, and ev-.n wiO menaces that their fury could not be controlled. Such is the specia de which the deputed authorities of a nation boasting its relation noarality, have hot been rvoorained from presenting to an enlightenol age. The misfortune at Detroit was not, however, without a consan.: effect. It WAS followed by signal pr. of, that the national spis: rises according to the pressure on it. The loss of an important pa and the brave men surrendered with it, inFplred every where Lew Ot dour and determination. In the states and districts least remote, it was no sooner known, than every citizen was eager to Ply with 113 arms at once to protect his brethren against the blood-thirsty sassoo let loose by the enemy on an t xtensive frontier ; and to convert a tial calamity into a source of invigorated elfots. This patriotic zeal, which it was necessary rather to limit than excite, has entho l a nple torte om the States of Kentoeky and Ohio, and from pa yal rts enn,ylvaitia and Virginia. It is placed, with th e addition 01 a few 1 . 0.01 as, under the command of Brigadier-General Harrison,ison %silo pos s esses the entire confidence of his fellow so ldiers ; among wlvgi are citizens,—soine of them volunteers in the ranks, —not less dint ingui,hed by their politicol stations, than by their personal nvo,10:. The greater portion of this force is proceed* on its destination.,. wards the Michigan territory, haviog soceeeded in relievin; an ti:; portant frontier post, and in several incidental operatiens age hostile tribes of savages, rendered indispensnble by the subservico,; into :ouch they had liven 4i:ductal by the enemy ; 4 seduction DF , ..0,0 moil SCYC Lon) N i.ti Vt Of I ShtN 1113 k to 3