Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-09-12


PgLrcroUs REFEEcqIoES ON TIE cAPTUa6
OF cExER4Lf HULL md THE NORTH
WESTERN ARMr.
Every believer in the doctrine OF Divine
Providence viii agree that the capture OF our
army is not an accident, or chance thas i
happened under the inspection, and with the
permission of the Supreme Ruler OF the uni
verse But though all christians VIII agree
that there is some providential design IN the
event. great diversity Of opinion will, no doubt,
he entertained respecting that design, ahd the
ends 20 be accomplished by it. We may rea-
sonably conclude, that persons equally pious,
will view the subject in different points Of
laht. and draw different ipterences according
TO the difference of their situations, interests
and places of residence. The Canadian, the
citizen of The Uniled States, the promoter
and the onposer OF the war, will each have his
peculiar opinion. The facts appear to be
thus 3: Gen. Hull, one of the officers OF the
revelation, had been appointed Governor OF
the Michigan Territory by President Jensf-
son--he had been continued in that station,
until he was advanced to the Chief command
of the army Of the north west, by the present
administration 1t may then be presumed
the goyernmenthad opportunity to obtain evil
denee Of his capacity and integrity, on whlch
to ground their confidence, and to exculpatc
them from blame in making the appointments;
much less can blame attach to any man, or set
OF men, not in the confidence OF the govern
ment.
OF the enemy, we can only say, " There is
policy in war" The capture, effected with
little or no bloodshed, appears 70 have been
eoaaily unforeseen and unexpected oy the ad-
rninistration of course unavoidable. Whe-
Their it shall be demonstrated by subsequent
evidence to have been the effect OF treachery,
or ofcowarJlce, orof misnanagement, on tie
part of the commanders chief; or OF supe-
rior skill on the part ofthe enemy, It Is still to
the mind ola christian, an act OF Providence ;
the only difficulty with him Is to reconcile mat
Providence with the wisdom and goodness OF
the Deity.
Letus assume this position.--We have no
business in Canada, unless 1t IS TO scoerge,
be scourged to punish, and be punisheel-
the Canadian is judicial dispensatlon. On
this position, the bleodless capture OF the nrsts
regular, professed invading army, acting under
n declaration Of ofensive war by the y. States,
is In perfect unison with provldentiai Fdlspen-
sations of a similar nature. The same causes,
and means, in the hands of Providence, pro-
duce effects almost as diverse as the human
dispositions upon which they act, Tbs op-
posite differences which good men draw iron.
the same facts, result from partial views; did
they contemplate the whole subject, they
would probably Judge nearly alike IS not
the capture Of this arniy, which had FIRST
passed the bounds of our country, another IN
stance of the long suffering and forbearance
OF God TO us-ward? Is not solemn warn
ing to this nation, Of the danger and calamity
which may befaH il in wars Of foreign con-
Quest Does not the mercifuI Fa.her'ot the
spirits Of all flesh say in tais event Amell-
cans, arn choice of your biosd--view The SUR
render of your ars.y, which you sent too has
lilly into peigslboring country, as q new
proof fmy kind regard aad good will. but
if you are obstinatcly bSnt on war OF foreign
conquest, this very circumstance, calculated
to operate as a warning on considerate minds
this circumstance which, TO the eye OF pie
~, EXHIBITS 50 clear proof of my goodness,
will rouse your pride, your resentment, your
revenge, and all the rage of the warlike pas
sions, to tenfolasfury. liver you will have,
/ thus blow the Han,e--it can only be extin-
guishcd in blood
REFLECTIONS on, THE