Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-06

ding on its destination. towards the M;cbi-
gan territory, having succeeded in relieving
an important frontier post, and in several
Incidental operations against hostile tribes
OF savages, rendered indispensable bv the
suoser vlency into which they had been sedu-
ced by the enemy, seduction the more cruel
as II Could not tail to impose necessity Of
precautionary seventies, against those who
yielded to it.
AT recent date, an attack was made on
n post OF the enemy near Niagara, by a de-
tachment of the regular and other forces I'M
der the command ofma gen. Van Rensselaer,
OF the militia OF the state of n. Y. The at
tack, 1t appears, was ordered i'm compliance
with the ardor Of the troops, who executed
1t with distinguished gallantry, and were for
time victorious but not receiving the ex-
pected support, they were compelled TO
yield to reiuforcements of British regular.
and savages. Our loss has been considera
bic and is deeply to be lamented. That of
the enemy, less ascertained, will be the more
feit, as 1t includes among the killed. the
commanding general, who was also the CO.
vernon of the province; and was sustained
ny veteran troops. from inexperienced l.
dIers, who must daily improve i'll the duties
OF the field
Our expectation of gaining the command
OF the iakeS, by tine invasion Of Canada from,
Detroit, having been disappointed, measures
were instantly taken to provide on them
naval force superior to that of the enemv-
from the talents and activity OF the officer.
charged with this object, every Thing that
can De done, may he expected. Should the
present seasonnot al, nit of complete success
the progress made will ensure for the next
naval ascendancy, where it is essential to
our permanent peace with, and control over
the savages
Among the incidents 20 the measures of
the war, am constrained to advert to the
reiuSal OF the Governors of Massac husetts
and Connecticut, TO furnish the required de-
tachments of militia towards the defence of
the maritime frontier. The refusal was fam
ded on novel and unfortunate exposition of
the provisions of the constitution relating 70
the militia. The correspondence which
VIII b. before you. contain the requisite in
formation on the subject Ii is obvious. that
y the authority Of the United States to call
INTO service and command the milifia for the
nhohc defence, can be thus frustrated, even
IN state or declared war, and Of course nm
de- apprehcnsions of Invasion preceding war
-~they are not one nation for the purpose
most OF all requiring it and that the pub
nc safety may have other resource. than
III nose large and permanent military esta
bhSnents With are forbidden by the Drin-
cipies OF our free government, and against
the necessity of which the militia were. me.ut
to be constitutional buwark.
On the coast, and on The ncean, the war
has been as successful as circumstances i'm.
separable from its early stages could pro
mise Our public ships and private cruisers
by their activity, and, where there was oc-
CASTOR, by their intrepidity, have made the
enemy sensible of the difference between a
reciprocity OF captures, and the long Con-
finement OF them to their side. Our trade.
with little exception, has safely reached ON,
ports having been much favored in If bv
the Course pursued by squadron of our fri
gates, under the command Of commodore
Rodgers. And in the instance in which skin
and bravery were more particularly tried
wldi those OF the enemy, the American hae.
had an suspicious triumph. The frieatt
constitution, commanded by capt. Hull, aE-
ter close and short engagement, complefe
ly disabled and captured British f-lpate
gaining for that officer and all OH board a
praise which cannot be ton literally bestow
ed; not merely for the victory actuallV ~
cileved, but for that prompt and cool eye,,-
ton OF commanding talents, which, giving TO
courage its highest character, and to the
force applied its full effect, proved that more
SOuiu h1'S Dten uOne III a contest recurring
more.
Anxious to abridge the evils from which
r st &c of war cannot be exempt, | lost no
time, after 1t was declared, in conveying to
the British government the terms on which
It's progress might be arrested, without avail
ting the delays of a formal and final paci6-
cation. And our charge d'affairs at London.
vas, at the same time, authorised TO agree
q an arIDistlce founded upon them. These
erms required that the orders i'm council
hould be repealed as they affected the Uni
ed States, without revival of blockades
violating acknowledged rules chat there
houid be an immediate discharge of Ame-
lean seaDen from British ships, and stop {
o lInpressmehts from American ships, with
m understanding that AN exclusion of the .
eamen OF each nation from Che ships of the I
ther' should be stipulated aud that the ar E
iisuce should be improved into a definitive d
nd comprehensive adjustment of depending 7
Although repeal of the or I
ers susceptible Of explanations meeting The n