The National Register.
London, England, 1814-11-06 00:00:00

720

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Or xi., I- Council, aad the general pacitieation of Europe, which
ith'lren, the ecea.ion on which impiessments from the American
*e4ssis e practised, Ntotgest expectatioi . that peace 'and amity
)11:1‘ h ese•hiished, we ars compelled on the other band, by tne
t tot' ilitish GOVetatiletit to accept of the. mediation of
Re-sin by tee delays in giving effect to its own proposals of a di-
rect negeciation, and, above all, by the principles and manlier in
whirl, the e: a!• is now avowedly carried on, to infer that a strict
hostility is inthil.q7d more violent than ever against the rights and
erespei:tv of this youctry. This increased violence is best explained
v two important (-ileum-Luxes, that the great contest in Europe
for an equilibrium, gearaateeing all its States against the ambitioi,
of al.e. has been clo-eli without trey (,heck on the overbearing power
oft, the oreae, aid that it has left in her bands dis-
posable .irmoury, with whirls, forgetting the difficulties' of a remote
war v.ith a e^ people, and yielliog to the intoxication of success,
With the exa:;:ple great victim to it before her (''CA, she ehe
rishes 110:,es of still tat !lux agelsandizing a power already formidable
iii its abuses te the ti inquility of the cbilized and commercial
werld ilea: whatever may have inspired the enemy with these
'woe violent purposes. the public councils of a nation, more aide to
nceiMain than it was to acquire its iiidtpcmdence, anti with de-
vote-re to it rendered more ardent by-the experience of its blessings,
ca:: atltur deliberate but on the means most cflectnal for defy:ann.,.
ii!' extra‘agaet measures e of unwarrantable passim, with NVllidi
alone the war can now he pursued against us. In the events of the
pt•!1!.(111 ,•atapaitzii, with 'all its augmented means and wanton ie-e of I
them. he nag little grimed for exultation, unless he can feel it in the
ineeems rf his recent eeterprize against this metropolis and the
ite lemming, town of Alexandria. from both of which his retreats
precipitate as his attempts were bold and fortemoe. In Isis
w her ince *ions on our Atlantic frontier, Isis progress, ofien
4. kcd and chastised by the martial spirit of the neiehbouring citi-
7. /Is, haft had more of 'et in distressing individuals and in dishonour-
in!' :,is arms, than in promoting any object of legitimate warfare. •
A •,(1 in r.e two histances mentioned, however deeply to he regretted
on our part, in his transient success, which interrupted for a mo-
mto only the orditiary public business at the scat of govermret;
e,, compensation can accrue for the loss of character with the was ld,
by his violation of private property, and his destruction of public
protected as monuments of the arts-by the laws of civilised
watfarr. On our side we can appeal to a series of achievements
which have 'given new lustre to the American arms. Besides the
incidents in the minor operation,: of the campaien, the
plend Id victories gained on the Canadian sieW of the Niagara by the
Amer: an forces under Major-General Brown, and Brigadins Scott
mad Games, have gaincal for iliese heroes and their emulated com-
panions the most nntading laurels, and having triumphantly proved
the progressive discipline of the American soldiery, have taught
the enemy that the longer he protracts his hostile efforts, the snore
certain and decisive will be his final discomfiture. On the Southern
border victory has continued alVo to follow. the Amei-ican standard.
The bold and skilful operations of Major-General Jackson, COD..
decline troops drawn from the Militia of: the Slates least distant,
partienlarly of Tenesseei having subdued the principal tribes of
hostile savages, and by establishing a peace with them, preceded be
recent and' exemplary chastisement, we have guarded against the
mischief of their co-operations with the British enterprises which
rutty be planned against this quarter of our country. • Important ,
tribes of Indians on oust North-western Frontier have also acceded
to stipulations %%Weil them to the interest of our United States,-
sod to consider our enemy as their's also. •
In the recent attempts of the enemy on Baltimore, defended by
tni:itia and volunteers, aided by a small body of regulars and seamen,
he was received with a spirit which produced a rapid retreat to the
ships, sadist a concurrent attack by a large fleet was successfully
resisted by the steady and well directed tire of the fort and batteries
opposed to it. In another recent attack by a powerful force on our
tramps at i'lattstinrg, of which- regulars made a part only, the ene-
my, after a perseveranee.for many !Ms's, %Vas finally compelled to
neck safety in a hasty retreat, our gallant bands pressiug upon him.
Oe the bikes, so cinch contested throughout the war, the great ex-
mimic for 411 e coiumand madb on our part have been well repaid ,on
Lake Ontario. Oar squadron is now, and bas been for some time,
in a owelition to confine that of the enemy to his own port. and to
fastair the operation. ..of our land forces on that frontier. On Lake
Champlain, wh, re our superiority had for sonic time been undii‘,
puted,•The.British squadron lately came into action with-the Ameri...
can, Commanded by Captain M'llonneugh; it issued in- the capture'
of the whole of the enemy's: ships. The best pt'aise this officer
and his intrepid comrades, is he the liketeess of his triumph to the
immortalized another officer, and esta—

, .

NOV. 6.

Wished, at a critical moment, our command of another lake. On
the ocean, the pride of our naval arms has been amply snpnorted :
a second frigate has indeed fallea into the hands of the cilium), hat
the lose is hidden in the blaze of heroism with which she was de-
fended. Captain Porter, who commanded her,-and whose pi evious-
career had been distingaished by daring enterprises and by fertility
of genius, maintained a sanguinary contest against two :Oars, one
of them superior to his own, and other severe disadvautaaes, till
humanity tote down the col ors which valour had nailed to the mast.
This officer and his comrades have added much to the glory of the
American flag, and have flterited all the olusions of gratitude w theft
their country is ever ready to bestow on the champions of its lights
and of its safety.
Two smaller vessels of war have also become prizes to the enemy,
hat by superiority of fairy, which Sufficiently vindicates the
Lilian if their Commanders ; whilst two °there, awe commaneed by
Capt. IVarriogton, the other by Capt. Blakely, have capttned
British ships of the same class with a gallantry and good conduct,
which catitled them and their Commanders to a just share in the
praise of their country.
In spite el the naval forces of the enemy accumulated on our
coasts, our erivate cruisers also have not.teased to annoy his coin.
move, and to bring their rich prizes into our ports : contributita;
thus, with other proots, to demonstrate the incompetency and the
I illegality of a blockade, the proclamation of vahi has been made
the pretext for vexing and discouraging the commerce of newt al
I ravers with the United States.
'To meet the extended and diversified ivarfare adopted by the
enemy, ereat bodies of militia have been taken into the service of
the public defeum, and great expences incurred. That the 44ence
every where may be both more convenient aad more economical,
Con,:ress wilt see the necessity of immediate measures for filling the
rauks of the regular at my, and enlarging the provisions for special.
corps, mounted and dismounted, to be engaged for a longer pet iod
of service than are due from the militia. I earnestly renew at
the same time a recommeettation of such changes in the system of
the militia, as by classing and disciplittitn on the most prompt and
active service the portion most capable of it, aril, give to that re-.
source for the public safety all the requisite energy and efficiency:
A pat t of the squadron on Lake Erie has been extended to Lake
Huron, and has produced the advantage of displaying our command
of that Lake also. One object of the expedition was the redaction
of Mackinac, which failed, with the loss ola few brave men, among
wham was an officer distingaislied for his gallant exploits ; ale'. the
expedition. ably conducted by both land and naval Commanders,
was otherwise valuable in its effect?.
The monies received into the Treasury, during the nine months
ending the lith of June last, amounted to Sa millions of dollars, of
which 11 millions were the proceeds of the public revenue, and the
remainder derived from loans. The disbursements for Piddle F.x-
peaditures during the same period exceed 31 millions of dollars,
and left, in the Treasury on the Ist of July near five millions of
dollars.
The demands during the remaindet of the present year already
authorised by Congress, and the expences incident to an extensions
of the operations of the war, will render it necessary that large sums'
should be provided to meet.them. From this view of the national
affairs, Congress will be urged to take up without delay, as well
the subject of pecuniary supplies, as that of military force, and 011
• a scale commemorate with the extent and character which the war
hat assumed.
It is not to be disguised that the situation of our country calls for
ill greatest efforts : our enemy is powerful in men and motley, on
the laud and on the water ; availing himself of fortunate circum-
stancess he is aiming, with an undivided force, a deadly blow at our
wowing prosperity, perhaps at our national existence. He has
avowed his parpose of trampling on the usages of civilized warfare,
and given earnest of it in plunder. and wanton destruction of private
property.
In the pride of maritime dominion, and in his thirst of com-
mercial monopoly, he strikes with peculiar animosity at the progress
of our navigation and manufactures :Nils barbarous policy has not
even spared those monuments of ta'te with which our country had
enriched and embellished oar infant metropolis. From such an att.
Versary, hostility in its greatest force and worst forms may be look-
ed for.. The American people will face it with the malauuted spirit
which, in their revolutionary war, defeated hiAhinighteous projects:
his threats and his barbarities, instead at dismay, will kindle in
every bcsom an ftnligtiation not to be extinguished, but in the slisas-
terand expulsion of such cruel invaders. In providing: the means
necessary, -the national legislator' will not distrust the enlightened,
patriotism of its constituents.- They will cheerfully and proudly

Must:ions victory whirl►
,146"