The National Register.
London, England, 1814-01-30 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

69

far short of the example of the enemy, who ewe the advimtagen
they have occasionally gained in battle prineiplily to the number of
Vieir savage associates, and who has not controuled them either

from their nsual practices of indi,criminare masacres on defence.
!CAS inhabitants, or from oceans of carnage, without a parallel, on
prisoners to the British. arms) guarded by all the laws of humanity
and honourable war.
For these enormities, the enemy are ecinally responsible, whether,
with the flower to prevent them, titer want the will, or, with a
knowled.ze of the want of power, they still avail themselves of such
instrtnnert•t. In other resp( ts, the enemy are pursuing a course
which ');Tentens ronsagnev.es most afflicting to humanity. A
stamlin„; :aw of Great ii itaiu naturalises, as is well known, all
eroplo)e(; with con.litions limited to a shorter period thin
1;y the United States, and nalura!ised subjects. In a con-
400as British Province, regulations promulgated since the com-
mencement of the ,lar, compel citizens of the United States, being,
then under eertain circumstances, to bear arms, whilst, of the na-
tive emit:rants from the United States, who compose much of the
population of the province, a nomber have actually borne arind
against the United States within their limits, some of whom, after
having done so, have become pri,oners of war, and are now in our
possession.

nevertheless, with the
The British Commander in that Province,
sanction, as appears, of his Government, thought proper to select
from among the prisoners of war, 'and to send to Great Britain for
trial as criminals, a number of individuals who had emigrated frem
the British dominions, long prior to the state of war between the
two nations, who had incorporated themselves into our political
society, in the modes recoonized by the law and practice of Great
Britain, and who were made prisoners of war, under the banners
of their adopted country, fighting for its rights an I safety. Tho
protection due to these citizens requiring an effectual interposition
in their behalf; a like number of British prisoners of war' were put
into confinement, 'with a notification that they wool .1 rxperstnca .
ivhAtevre violence Might be committed on II e Art erican prisoners
of war sent to Great Britain. It was hoped that this necessary
consequence of the-step unadvisedly taken on the part of• (heat
Britain, should Lave led her Government to reflect on the inconsist-
envies.ot its conduct, and that a sympathy with the British, if not
with the American sufferers. would have arrested the creel • career •
opened by its example. This was unhappily not the case.: In Vio-
lation both of consistency and humanity, American officers and.noo-
coMmissioned officers, in double the umber of the Britit II soldiery .
Confined here, were ordered into close coutisiement, with formal no.
tire. that in the event of a -retaliation far the desalt which might he
iniaieteil on the prisoners of war sent to Great Britain for trial, the
officers so confined would be put to death also. It was notified ;it
the same time, that the Commanders of the British fleets and minks
on our coasts are instructed in the same event, to proceed with a •
destructive severity against our towns and the inhabitants. That
no doubt might be left with the enemy of our adherence to the IT -
taliating resort imposed upon us, a corresponding number of British
officers of war in our hands were immediately put into close tom-
finement, to abide the fate of those confined by the enemy, and the
British Government has been apprised of the determination of this
Government to retaliate any proceedings against us contrary to the
legitimate modes of warfare. It is as fortunate for the United
States that they have it in their power to meet the enemy in this de- ,
plorable contest, as it is honourable to them that they do not join
in it, but under the most imperious obligations, and with the I.n.
mane purpose of effectuating a return to the established usages of •
war.
The views of the French Government on the subjects which have
town so long committed to negociation, have received no elucidation
since the close of your late Session. The Minister Plenipotentiary
of the United States at Pat is has mint been enabled, by propel op, .
'umilities, to press the objects of his mission, as prescrioed be hi
instructions.
The Militia, always to be regarded as the great bulwark of de- ,
' fence and security- for free states, and the Constitution haVing •
wisely committed to the National Authority-a use of that force, as
the best provision against the unsafe military establishment, as writ
as a source peculiarly adapted to a country having the extent ea:
the exposure of the United States, 1 recommend to Congress, are-
! vision of the Military Laws, for the purpose of securing mole er%
fectuallY the services of all detachments called to toe employmeut,
and placed under the Government of the United States.
It will deserve the consideration of Congress al o, wuether, among
other improvements in the militia law, justice does not require
the expeue
regulation, under the due precautions) foudeffayin;

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