The National Register.
London, England, 1813-04-11 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL RF,47I,ST

AMERICAN PAPERS.

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THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH.

WASHINGTON, MARCH 4.-- At twelve o'clock this day, the Pre.
silent of the United States elect, having attended at the Capitol
far the purpose of taking the oath of office, delivered to the vast
concourse of people assembled on the occasion the following
specch :
66 AbOr t to add the solemnity of an oath to the obligations
imposed by a second call to the station in winch my country
has here before placed me, I find in the presence of this re-
spectable assembly, an opportunity of publicly repeating my
prulmind sense of so distinguished a confidence, and of the re
sponsibility united with it. The impressious On me are strength-
ened by such an evidence, that my faithful endeavours to dis-
chaNe my arduous duties have been favourably estimated ; and
by a cansideration on the momentous period at which the trust
has been renewed. From the weight and magnitude now belonginz
to it, I •;linultl be compelled to shrink, if I had less reliance on tin•
support of an enlightened and generous people, and feel less deeply
a conviction, that the war with a powerlul nation, which forms so
prominent a feature in our situation, is stamped with that justice
which invites the smiles of HEAVEN on the means uf conducting it
to a snccessful termination.

44 May we not cherish this sentiment without presumption, when
we reflect on the characters by which this wor is distingui,lted ?
" It was not declared on the part of the United States until it had
been long made on them in reality, though nut in name--enntil argit-
inents and expostulations had been exhausted—until a positive de-
claration had been received, that the wrongs provoking it would
not be discontinucd—nor until this appeal could no longer be de-
layed without breaking, down the spirit of the nation, destroying
all confidence in itself and in its political institutions; mid either
perpetuating a state of disgraceful sintfering, or regaining, by more
costly 6atriiiep,s, and more seVere struggles, our lost 1..:A and re-
spect :meting the independent Powers.
4 " On the issue of the war are sta:,ed our national sovereignty on
the high seas, and sertirity of an impotaant class of citizen,, whose
oeenpations give the proper value to those of every other clans.-
Not to contend for such a stake is to surrender our equality with
whey Powers, on the element common to 0, and to violate the sa-
cred title vvhich every 'Heather of the 4,ocit-ty has to its protection.
" I need not call into view the milawfuloess of the practice, by
which our mariners are thrill!, at the will of every cruising Offi-
cer, from own vessels into foreign ones, nor paint thee out-
rages inseparable from it. The proofs ate in the iceords of each
successive Administration of our esovernnieet—and the genet sin •
feting: of that portion of the American people have foand their
way to every bosom not dead to toe sympathies of human nature.
ig As 1;:f. scar was jut in its might, and necessary and noble in
its ol,jects, we can reflect with a proud sati:faction, that in may-.
ing it on, no principle of justice or houour, no usage of civilized
nations, no precept of courtesy or iim»anity, have Waal infrioged.
The war has been waged on our pint With scrupulous regard to all
these obligations, and in a spirit of liberality which was never star-
passed.
" How little has been the effect of this example on the conduct
of the enemy? They have retained, us prisoners •
v:ar,
of the United states, net liable to be so considered noder the usages I!
of war.

" Thoy have refused to.cons'Aler as prismicrs of war. and titivat-
ed to punish as traitors and deserters, pei sons einigrarhig witiamt
restraint to the United States ; incoisporated by naturalization into
our political handy, and ti3Oiting under the authority of their
adopted cuttutry, ill open and liouourable tt ar, thr the maintenance of.
its rights Anil satety. Saida is the avowed principles of a Govern.
meta, which is in the practice of naturalizing, by tt.olisands, vita- I
of (WWI' COUlltries, and not only of pcnnittilig but coniptilin4
them to tistilt its battles against their waive coulliQi.
" They have not, it is trite, baleen it hito their own hands the hatchet
and thelcuiti., devoted to iiidisthitainate massacre ; but they hive let
loose the Sava es armed with the-e erne' instruments; have ailitriAl
them aid° their service, and c.:rried them to b,ittie try their sides.,
clger to ultit their savake thirst w..:11 the. hlooti of the
and :0 tiutsh tire work of torture and death on maimed arid de-
Senceless captives. And, what tva.: utver before scut). Briti.l Com-
manders have extorted. triciory over the iincongoi rable valour of
our troops, by pi e,enting to the synipailiy of tio:ir chief awaiting
massacre, froto their savage ci.ztcs.

" And auw v-e Cid Non, in further contempt of the mode, Of;
honourable wartine, supplying the place ut a conqueiing furce, by I
Attempts to 4lisorganize our political society, to diNutember our

:R.

easfederated flepnblic. Happily, tike others, those will recoil on
the authors; but they mark the degenerate councils from which
they emanate : and if they did tint belong to a series of unexampled
inconsistencies, might excite the greater wonder, as proceediug
from a Government which founded the very war in which it has
been so long togazed, on a enarge against the disorganizing and
insurrectional polity of its adversary.
"4 To resider the justieatn• war on our part more conspicuona,
the reluctance to commence it was followed lsy the earliest and
strongest unolifestations of a disposition to arrest its progress. Toe
sword was scarcely out of the scabbard before the puemy wa.• ap-
prised or the reasonable terms on which it would be reikiheathed.
Still more lorecise advances were repeated, and have been rceei'.cd
in a spirit forbidding eery reliame nut placed in the milital re-
sources of the nation.
These resources ..re amply sufficient to bring the war to au ho-
nourable issue Our nation is, in number, more than half thai of
the British Isles. It is composed of a brave, a tree, a virtuous,
and an ostelligent people. Our conntry abounds in tile neeessarns,
the arts, and vomiting of life. A L,en eraf prospirity is visible iu
, comitenauce. The means employed by the Britisls Croniet
to undermine it, have recoiled on themselves; have give,' it. Air
national faculties 4 more rapid development ; and, dtait.ing or di-
verting die pillions metals from British eircula.i• a anel 3ritish
have pouted them into those of the United St.tres It is a
propitious consideration that an sinavoid,ble war Ai nid has- I:aind
its seasonable facility fer the contribution- t(-wired tit -rapport it.
When the public voice called for war, all knew,rnd stilt kt.ca, that
without them it could not be carried on through the peti:.d vkincti it
might la-t ; mid the pato toti-m, the good sense, and the ::.sae
~pit-
it of our fellow-citizens, are pledges for the eheerfn:-.ess with
which they will bear eacis his share of the tonsillitis ;millet*. To
render tne war short, mai its stteces. sure, aoimated and sv-te,otatic
exertions alone are neeesary ; and the success of our arms now
long preserve our country from themecessity of another resort to)
them. Already have the gallant exploits of our naval heroes proved
to the world our inherent capacity •to maintain nor rights ois one
element. If the' reputation cf ism arms ha:. her:. tarown under
clouds on the other, prezagiog Bashes of heroic enterprte assort
that nothing is wanting to rorte-pontlent triumphs there also, but
the discipline and habits which are in daily progress."

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

NON V. API; IL 5.

Lord Visconnt Atrixti,LE, umveu the production of an Ac-
count of the Blitisli Ship% of %I ;ir oil the North Anieriraii Station
distinguishing the v:trisiti, deseriotion, of force, on the tiro LI/koitlav
°revery month, from April, 1611, to Ft2Ortiat.y hi t, itielusive, widen
Was CI ilert'd accot (tingly.
Lord GitEN VI LIU 100 Vt'll—" That tiletC he Lid hcfore the House
a copy of the interrogatories put tt. the Jud;..4.s, in
rclitet of the tlteet of the Ilt'W .V' lea! t.t tht Reveinte. and its
provairial sy-telit auJ ationoi,tration iu NIA coinitty, mina the an-
sA% of Jtutges, or of aii=.• other official pc ..00s to %%slum the.
said interrogatoi i. , were midi ' se.l."--Ot d i cd.