Star.
London, England, 1814-12-23 00:00:00

' , . . •
lei-Wed of, anal she arrived at Newport on Tuesday,
when the heroic tar .dersfeered over his prisoners to
the gun-boats. , t,tit, ri..,,it
This information is:ctinsttl • bps gentlensam
from Newport. . ..
.:
..,•,.. - ,-,, ,Af '
EXPLANATORY oBSERVATIONS4COOPPANYINOTHE LET-
TER FROM THE SECRETARY OF IFAIS TO IME CHAIR.
MAN OF THE MILITARY COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE
OF THE REPRESiNTATIVES. * 1
In providing a force necessary to hrittg this war to
a happy termination, the nature of-the crisis in which 1
we are involved, and the extent of its dangers, claien:l
particular attention. If the means ate not fully ade-J1
quate to the end, discomfiture rout inevitably ensue
It is confidently presumed, that it is the intention of
the British Government, by striking at the principal'
sources of our prosperity, to diminish the importance,l
if net to destroy, the political existence of the United-,
States. . .
If any doubt remained on this subject, it has been
completely removed by the dispatches from our Mi.
nisters at Ghent, which were lately laid before Con-
gress. A nation contending for its existence against,
an enemy powerful by land and sea,- favoured in a
peculiar manner by extraordinary events, mum make
great exertions and suffer great sacrifices. Forced to,
contend again foe our liberties and independence, we
arecalled on for a display of all the patriotism which.t
distinguished our fellow cititaens in. the first great
struggle. It may be fairly'concluded,, that if the
United States sacrifice any right, or make any
dishonourable concession to the demands of the Bri-
tish Government, the *spirit-Of' the nation will be
broken, and the foundations of their union and inde-
pendence shaken. The United States must. refits?
quish no right or perish in the struggle—there is no
intermediate ground to rest on . A concession on one
point leads directly to the into-alder of every other.
The result of the contest cannot be doubtful--the
highest confidence is entertained that the stronger the
pressure, and the greater the d anger,. the more firm
and vigorous will be theyesistance, and the more suc-
: cessful and glorious the result. -
• -It is the avowed purpose of the enemy to lay waste
and destroy our cities and villages, -and to desolate
our coasts, of which examples have already been af-
forded. It is evidently his intention to press the war
along the whole extent of our seaboard, in the hope
of cxnausting equally the spirits of the people, and
the national resources. -
There is also reason to pi esente, that it is his inten-
tion to press the war from Canada on, the adjoining,
States, while attempts are made on the City of New
York, and other important points, with a view to the
vain project of dismembertnent or subjugation. It
-may be inferred likewise to be a part of the scheme
to continue to invade this part of the unitm,• while n
separate force attacks the State of Louisiana, in the
lupe of taking pzCssession of the City of New Or-
leans, and of the mouth of the Mississipii, that
great inlet and key to the commerce of all that por-
tion of the United States lying westward of the Alle-
gliany mountains. The peace in Europe having givenj
so the. eiemy a large disposable force, has essentally
tavoured these objects.
The advantge .which a great navel superiority
gives to the Airily, by enabling-him to move tritoM
from one quarter to:another.. from Maine ve the bibs;
sissippi, a coast of two thousand miles extern,, is very,
considerable. Even a, small, force. moved, in this man;
net- fOr the purposes.awawed,by.the Wislsh Cow/wan-
ders. cannot fail to be sensibly felt,!more especially
by those who are exposed- to it. 4 4.00:10ps, if am.
militia are to be relied. on principally; c 4 the defence
of our cities and coasts against their piedasory and
desolating incursions, wherever they. maybe made,
tl:at by interfering with their ordinary pursuits* of
industry, it must be. attended with serious iaterrup-
lion and loss to th,m, and: injury Ao the public, while
it increases the expence. • . -
It is an object ul this highest importance to provide
a regular force, wiili the means of transporting ,it
from one quarter to Another along our coast, thereby.
1.-oisowiliry the movements of the enemy with the
6.eatest possible rapidity, and •repeing the attaik
whelevet ,;t may he made. These remarks are equally
p tie As to the niisitia service generally under the pre-
sent organization of the Giilltia,an4 the short term of
service prescribed by taw. It.. 'is .„ be stated with
confidence that at. least three. kt ~thefolce in mi-
litia has lie-n empli.y:Al at *our:: neitairiities along'
the coast, and on the frontier, * iisarilicni to and
returning therice, that •woul4)4vibtign'fiecestary in
regular trotr —and tha the ketkpeite attending is
has been more than proportionably. 4iniented, trom
the difficulty, it not the impossilelity, of preserving
the same degree of system in the militii as in the re-
gufsr service,, , . . ..
1
But it will not be able 'tti.i4el theliekOitery' and
desolating incursions. To bring the Wind itylsonour,
able termination, we mutt not be cOnteif *itli. de-
fending ourselves. Different feelings must be, todthed
and apprehensions excited in the Britiall Government,
By pushing the war into Canada, we secure ilinitiesOli
ship of the Indian tribes, and commana &A' *
,viees, otherwise to be turned by the enemy against ne,
~we relieve the coast from the desolation which h
intended for it; and we keep in our hand* a safe pledg
for an honourable peace. . •
a ..- l
c,
It follows, from this view of the snoneet, that
will be necessary to bring into the field, next Cal*
paign, not less than 100,0(X) regular troops. Such 4
force, aided in extraordinary emergencies by voluri
teers and militia, will place us' above all inquietude
as to the final result of this contest. It will fix on a
solid and imperishable foundation, our union and ini-
dependence—on whicb the liberties and happitiets ; .
our fellow•citizens so essenti,:ily der, od, It MU'
cure to the United States an e.i:lyaiel advantagfo. '
peace—it will arrest, in the f u:thetprose'•e:Mitin oft' 1
war, the desolation of our cities fis)mf 'Oar Oasis, .
enabling us to retort on the enemy. i/i`nii kalitit
which our citizens have been alrea4;l44iliii, , ' l'!` '
a retort which selt-defence alone, 'Ad if :-. - • •,,„k?, '
' for the rights and tionour of oiroetift t • .. 1 .... ;
the United States to adopt, „
~. '"u i •
ill
~.,
The return of the regular fertle-diik. ' " —*aid
before you, will shew btoW Asks,' 'helll . . isa ii.
sary to fill the present corps' .d'z .. ..-itkiiiirs lf it*
numerical force of the 'pr:esen ilk
'will shew how many are rectia -.% 41.4 irollglel lc! to'
the number proposed. The riezi:agthi4t, itnp4rtatit
inquiry is, how shall ' thee tOttliin,rarte'S t., uthrt
..
.existing circumstances, itii: ociat:ytit 'Aitiii-c?it
prompt and efficient mode that ensi,4o4. ;14eck coo.
ustent with the eqbal right of every. ciiizeii, bught.to