The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-09-08

honour OF tue American name.
The probability Of its taking place ccukl not but
have been anticipated; the resources il would re-
qure should have been matureiy considered and the
| means of providing them digested and arranged;
the preparations to- wage il with elect ought 10
have been reasonably made: Have these things
been done !! We do not wisi, 10 enter into minute
detail, that might present disheartening picture to
our country; but compelled 10 ask, where
are the marks or system or preparation Our ar
mics have entered upon military services which at
them is properly provided Tor the present. or when
and where have arrangements been made for secur-
Ing to 1t the necessary supplies tor the future We
fear 1t will not be found tn be the army under gene
raj Hull sure it is not tue force collected to
defend the harbour oil n. York that organizing
on our western border. Supplies for the FIRST should
have been furnished through The Lakes, and collect
ed before the British had notice of the war; 1t is
now impossibe and that the last iseyen yet pro-
vided with tents to the men, is entirely owing
to the uncommon and unremitted exertions OF the
governor OF this state. Indeed, the very impossih
lily OF furnishing armies with supplies by the
Lakes, is in itself striking proof of iucompstehcy
| or nattention. We think administration pusscE-
sing either foresight vigous. would have omitted
strengthening our naval force upon those extensive
inland waters, to ensure to the superiority in
them Ths'faciiity of doing this is nearly equal to
| its Importance; and in time of war, that superiority
is oil the last Importance to the United States, part
cuarly il All attack upon the Cana,las be contemplate
ed besides, the augmentation of our naval force
there, is subject the objection frequently made
against similar measure in Atlantic ports, that
1t would tend to involve us in the maritime contests
| of Europe
heads of departments. The just and salutary rule
OF our constitution. compels to place them to the
account OF our present executive. The secretaries
of the navy and of war, hound execute the
ders given to them by the president, all naval and
military afairs-either he directed the necessary
preparations to be made, or he did not. If he die
rected them, he is responsible for continuing incapable
men u Office If he did not, the blame attaches per-
socially on himself
But wherefore this lingering preparation, and final
inadequacy OF the means employed in the contest
our government has undertaken Appropriations
were made in preceding sessions of congress- for the
timely provisions OF munitions of war, in the appre-
hension that hostties would grow out of the in
| irinsement of our neutral rights Why has the ap-
p''catlon OF them been neglected till the conflict
at hand ! DO not recruits and vulnerable
points, in the valuable and important quarters
declare that recourse has been had hostlites with
out dgested system, either of defensive offensive
operations
Neither advice of the declaration of war, nor in
str'ctons or orders, received by the command
ing officer OF our squadron at New-York till general
publicity afforded sufficient time for the enemy,
most exposed to his operations, to avoid attack and
elude pursuit. An opulent feet of merchantmen
sailed from Jamaica, exactly in time to have been
easily intercepted, it the orders of government had
been prompt and decisive but they escaped cap
ture by some negligent delay at Washington-And
we should even wish to know, commodore Rod
| gers informed of that feet by our government or
did he accidentally hear of it at sea p
Ii tins country be competent to carry the war,
and we are sure it is-if executive sufficiently
| foresaw the approach of hostiHties, and informed
themselves as to the best means Of conducting them
with effect, and shortening their duration by vigo
rous commencement, we should have expected to
see, not ten or twelve hundred collecting i'm the
vicinity of Albany; butforces formed, organized and
disciplined army, invading Nova Scotia, to wrest
from England her best naval station in seas a.
| mother acting against the Canadas, and third al
QekI m he Inc M flac tsvxxa.
How shall we characterize the uninterrupted per-
mission to carry on trade with Spain and Portugal
is tia measure Of eiectioneering policy, further
proof ct the absolute ineiciency that pervades
councils! 1t undoubtedly affords England the am
piest means of supplying her armies with provisions
OF every Kind Of which they would otherwise be des
ttutei and therefore gives the most eectual aid &
comfort to our enemy 1t is a trade which cannot
be carried under the merican flag; for that will
necessarily be excluded by the superiority of the
British power in the that wash those coasts II
may easily be carried on by British vessels covered
by subjects of Spain and Portugal 1t affords then,
to the foe, the means of prolongng the against
us, and promotes the prosperity of British and for
egn tonnage, to the ruin of ships and merchants
Had the parliament of England legisated for U.S. on
tins subject from its policy, its WISDOM and its hat
red to our shipping and trade, this arrangement
might perhaps, have been expected proceeding
from our own rulers, it seems almost incomprehensi.
bie
But money has been aptly called the snews of war;
and what system OF procuring it has been furnished
by present administration? Where is the repnb.
lean that not astonshed and COMPOUNDED at the
scheme oftaxation, proposed through the department
OF the treasury 1t almost seemed intended to damp
the public spirit of the country objects of revenue
were presented, odous to the feelings OF the citizen
and which under similar circumstances, formerly
oceasioned the apprehension ofthe very person who
now revives them 1t not found eKpedent to a.
dept this plan perhaps it Judged cunning to
postpone it, till after the presidential ,ection The
credit Of the nation is therefore put to the test by
call for very large iSan without specification of
security andimpaired, by placing at the disposal of
the administration, for instant expenditure in order
to avoid theimmediate resort to direct taxes monies
appropriated to the sinking fund.- for the purpose of
buying unredeemed debt price under par. This
injndcious of that fuhd heretofore held sacred
by az! administrations, cannot fail most nurously to
affect the credit of the other loans at market.
The expenses Incident to our situation must, we
must know, be incurred, and we think that the adj.
minstrston have insulted the patriotism of the peo-
pie, by declining TO take the necessary steps or
meeting them but, indeed considering the conduct
hitherto pursued, seriously apprehensive lest
an immense public debt should be accumulated, with
ont the attainment OF any equivalent advantage. The
servlee OF the next year, may be expected to call
for twenty millions without having made any serious
| impressions on the enemy, or any advance towards
| the favorable adjustment of our disputes.
| The nomination of DE Witt CLIFTON for the presi-
dency, by the state Of New-York proposes to the u
Mon, we firmly believe, relief from the evils of
an inefficient administration, and of inadequatey
conducted His patriotic and inf1exible princ.
pies, guarantee firm and unyielding maintenance
OF the sovereign rights of the u. S.-Nevertheles
he is not engaged, through any effect of foreign d.
plomaey, as to the contrOverted claims of the Bei
gerents OF Europe, upon each other in the new aud
outrageous species of hostility introduced into the
| war.