The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-04-17

pie have nothing to dread from 500, 0Uo.-I
From tile moment that war is declared, the
British colonies viii Cc put On the defensive,
and soon after we get III motion mist sink
iuntler the pressure. Little predatory in
cursions on our frontier will not he ere ours-
ged b. these who know that we can retort
them ten-fo!;. and pursue and punish the
authors, retire where they may. If they re-
main in this hemisphere. Nor is any scri
Gus danger to be apprehended from their
savage allies. Our frontiers may be easily |
protected against them. The colonial 60
vernmchts, aware Of our superiority, and of
the certainty Of their subjugation in case of |
wal, will feel their responsibility for the con- |
duct of the Indian tribes,& keep them III or
der. But should the war lately terminated be
renewed, the Struggle will be short. Num-
bcrless expeditions from different quarters
may be led forth against them. ~ single
campaign would drive these unfortunate
people into the most distant and desart
wilds.
But our coast and seaport towns are ex-
/ posed and may be annoyed. Even this dam
| ger, which exists In certain degree, has
been much exaggerated. No land force can
be brought to bear against them, because
| G. Britain has mere to spare for such SER
vice; and without a land force, no great
impression can be made. Ships of war can
not approach near the coast, except at the
entrance of our great bays and rivers.-
They cannot annoy the seacoast generally
by their cannon; and if detachments of
| marines should be sent on shore, they may
be repealed by the militia where they land
It's, however, unusual for incursions to be
made on land from ships of war by sailors
| or marines. The law OF nations forbids, &
| humanity revolts at the idea of mere wan
ton desolation I; and in that light only can
such incursions be viewed In the present
war between Great Britain and France,
which has been prosecuted with SO much
| violence and luminosity, no example of this
kind, on either side. is recollccted. In our
revolutionary war, in which the object OF
| q. Britain was conquest, no great injury
was sustained in this mode. Some of our
towns, it is admitted, may be exposed to
danger from ships of war, but with suitable
-lprecautions it will soon vanish. No ship
of war can stand long before good bate
| ry well manned and we'll supplied with hea :
Wy artillery. An attack by ships of war
only. on any of our towns, could have no
. object but that Of distressing the inhabitants
t and it those towns are put in such state
OF defence as to enable them to repei tire
attack, as all of them are, Or soon May be,
it is not probable that the experiment would
be made, or, if once made, that it would be
repeated The Importance of the pretectil
on'of our seaport towns is sensibly felt. 1t
attention of the Government, and that at
tention has doubtless been already bestow
ed on it. .se -.
| The great question on which the United
| States have 60 decide, is, whether they will
elinquish the ground which they now hold,
o. mai1Sau; it with the hrinness and vigo,
becoming frcemen. That tile sense of the ma
ton favors the latter course, is proved by a
series Of important and solemn facts, which
I l. Il
FIR IN me -.rs, attack by Great ,srtain ON
or neutral rights in 1906 to the esent day,
:nese faGts have been multiplied, yearly, b.
the a; IS &C Congress, by the proceedings OF
ti'e 81 q re lA~iSlat" and NJ tha-U.aire a
me people Lei no, the Representatives OF
the people. therefore, in either branch oi
the government, disappoint their reasonable
wishes and j,sst expectations. 80
| lhe pretensions of Great Britain, so un-
Justly set up, & pertiuaciously maintained by
| icr ordcrs III COUNCIL, not to enumerate otner
wrongs, particularly the impressmert of our
seameI. arrogate TO her the complete do
minion OF the sea. and the exclusion of every
II g from it, which does net sail under her
1 ccnse, and on the conditions which size I'M
poses. These pretensions involve no local
interest, nor are they. of transient nature.
In their operation they violate the rights,
and wound deeply the best interests, of the
whole American people. If we yield to
them, at this time, the cause may be consi-
dered as abandoned. There will be no rail-
lying point hereafter. Future attempts to
retaliate the wrongs of foreign powers &c to
indicate our most sacred rights, will be in
vain. The subject must be dismissed from
the debates OF Congress, and from our d-
p!en2 s;s discussions. An aiiusion TO II will
excite contempt abroad, and modification
and shame at home. Should any vessels be
hereafter seized and condemned, however
unjustly, and all will be seized and con-
dernned, shat may be confidently expected,
we must be silent. or be heard by foreign
powers i'll the humble language Of petition
Only. -
| The Philadelphia papers announce that a
Mr.. kAUTz has been appointed by the
Court of Sweden Minister to the United
States, and was to have Sailed for this coun-
try about the middle of March.
| IMPORTANT INDIAN NEWS.
Extract Of a letter from gentleman dated
| Fort D1adi.on, March 8,1S12.
! We receive assurances every day by
friendly Indians, that we are to be attacked
at this post, by several nations, as soon as
the river opens. / am convinced that an at
tack will be made here some time in the
spring, and it is my opinion that the Indians
will take this post, ard murder every white
person at it, unless We are reinforced in n
very short time.