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

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

787

Notwithstanekg the authorised expectation of an early as well as
favourable issue of the discussions on foot, these have been procras-
tinated to the latest date. The only intervening occurrence mg
attention is, the promulgation of a French Decree, purpot tine footle a
repeal of the Berlin and Milan Decrees. This proceeding, although
mede the ground of the repeal of the British Orders in Council, is
rendered, by the time and manner of it, liable to many objections. •
The final communications from our Special Minister to Denmark.
affOrd further proofs of the good elti:cts of his mission, and of the
amicable disposition of the Danish Government. From RUst,iii
we
have the satisfaction to receive assurances of continued friendship, and
that it will not be affected by the rupture betfie en the United States
and Great Britain. Sweden also proie.sses sentiments levoulable "to
existing harmony.
ith the Barbary Powers, excepting that of Algiers, our affairs
remain e.n the ordinary footing. The Consul-Genera' reading- scith
that Regency, has suddenly, and without cause, been banished, toge-
ther with all the. American citizens found there. Wi.e'her this was
the transitory el Pct of capricious despotism, or Cie first act el we-
determined hostility, is not ascertained. Precautioes were taken by
the Consul on the latter supposition. •
The Indian tribes, not tinder foreign instigations, remain at pease,
and receive the civilising attentions which have proved so beneficial to
them.
With a view to that vigorous prosecution of the war to which our
national faculties are adequate, the attention of Congress oil he par-
ticularly drawn to the insufficiency of tee existing previsions fur
tilling
up the military establishment. Such is the happy condition clout
country arising from the facility ef subsistence, and the high wages
for every species of occupation, that, notwithstandiug the augmented
inducements provided at the last Session. a partial success only has
attended the r cruising service. The dcficieecy has been necessarily
supplied during the campaige by other than regular troops, with all
the incenvenieusies and expellees incident to them. The remedy lies
in establishing more: favourably for-the ptivate soldier, the proportion
between his reccmpence anti the term of his enlistment ; and it is a
subject which cannot too soon °moo seriously be Liken into considerae
tien.—The sane iesufficiency has been experienced in the provisions
for v luntccrs made by an act of last Session. The recompeece for
the service required in this case, is still less attraeti ve than in the other;
.and although patriotism alone has sent into the field some vain dile corps
of that description, those alone n ho can Ante the sacrifice, can reason-
ably be expected to yield to the impulse. It will inset consideration
also, whether as auxiliary to the security of onefrontier, corps may
not he advantog,cously organised, with a restriction of their sell/lees to
particular districts convenient to them ; and whether the locator oc-
cesional services of marine, or others in the sea port towns, under
singlet organization, would not be a pi opee edditien to the ine.eas of
their defence. I lecommend a provision for an i. crease of the Gene-
ral Officers.of the Army, the deli. iency of which leis been IL ustrated
he the number and distance of seperate commands, which the cause
of the war, and the advantage of the service, have required ; and I
cannot press too strongly on the earliest attention of the Legislature,
the importance of the re-organirition of the stallestablislintent, with
a view to render more distinct and definite the. relaticns and responsi-
bilities of its several departments; that there is room fur improvements
which will materially promote both economy and success, in what
appertains to the army and the war, is equally evident by the ex-
amples of other county es, and by the experience of our cwn.
A revision of the Militia Laws, for the purpose of renderitig them
mere systematic, and better adapting them to the emergencies of the
war, is at this time particularly desirable. Ot the additional ships '
authorised to be fitted for service, two will be shortly ready to sail,
a third is under repair, and delay will be avoided in the repair of the
residue. Of the appneeriations for the purchase of materials for ship.,
building, the greater part has been applied to that object, and the pure
chases will be continued with the balance. The enterpri sing spirit which
characterised our naval force, and its successes both in rest raining in-
sults and depredations on our coasts, and in reprisals on the enemy,
will not Ail to recommend an enlargement upon ir.
There being reason to believe, that the act prohibiting the ecceptaece
of British licencies is not a sufficient guard agrinst the use of diem,
for purposes favourable to the interests and-views the enemy :
further provisions on that subject are highly important. Nor is it
less so, that penal enactments should Be provided ter cases of corrupt
and perfidious intercourse with the enemy, not amountiog to treason,
nor yet embraced by any statutory provisions.
A considerable number of American vessels, which in England
when the revocation of the Orders in Council took place, were laden
with British manufactures, under an erroneous impression that the
Non importation Act ,would immediately cease to operate, have
arrived in the United StateS. It did not appear proper to exercise on
unforeseen cases of suck magnitude, the ordinary powers vested in
the Treastey Department, to mitigate forfeitures without presiees- y
affording Congress au opportunity ut making On the suh
ject such pro-
visions as they may think proper. In their decisiontney will, doubt-
ecteally consult what is due to equitable codiideretiseee,
and to
the public interest.
The receipts Leto the Treasury during the year en:!ing on the 30;11 of
Seprembet last, have exceeded 16 mihrens and a hint of dollars, which
born sufficient to ail the ex wands on the Treasury t that
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