Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-02

From the Boston Repertory.
GENERAL HULL's DISPATCHES.
We have seen for some time past,
that nothing could save this demo-
cratic General, because it had been
deterpined at Washington that he &
net Mr.. Madison should bear all tho
opprobrium and disgrace of the ex-
petition to Canada.
This intention was manifested in
the i" Court Gazette" almost as
soon as the rumor cfdisgraee instead
of :. Glory" reached Washington !;
fcourse the democratic papers ge-
nerally knew their " cue," ard con-
tinue to follow it, in the very teeth
of Huli's despatch.
The way was prepared by the pub
LEGATION of the most ridiculous and
preposterous tales; such as that the
Fort was surrendered without firing
a gun, that there was abundance of
provision and ammunition for seige
that one officer got down on his
knees and begged permission to fight
another Indignantly broke his sword,
that the men shed tears. &c. &c.
These were followed up in the ''Court
Gazette" by Dobbin's affidavit and
Col. Cass's letter.--Had Hull been
as brave as Julius Cesar. and as
prudent as Fabius, it would have a
vailed him nothing: so long as dis
grace was to be borae by Mr.. Madi-
son. ifit was not by him. This al
tentative decided Hull's fate; and
although he could prove, that. his
enterprise failed, solely from the
want of means adequate to his object.
that in every instance he had made
a iudicious use of all his resources.
that his conduct was neither def
cient in skill. prudence or courage
it would rot save him from being
branded as traitor. a fool, and a
coward. His despatch therefore,
thought gives very natural account
ofhis disaster. is of little Importance
to his justification. His sentence
had been passed. registered and APP
proved before his letter arrived at
Washington.
1t is true, that a disinterested per-
sonson reading this despatch might
fall into great mistakes: he might
suppose that when council! OF war
had decided not to attack Maiden by
storm, he was not a traitor or cow
ard for being governed by such OPT
Mon; that if he had no carriages for
his guns. it could not be his fault,
that they must be bniit; that if he
had not the command of the lake,
his provisions ammunition &c. must
come on pack horses by land /; ifhis
men were sick and without medi-
cine, they were liable to die; if he
had powder for one day only. he
could not fight but one day; if he
had eight hundred men and the Bri-
tish ten or twelve, the odds were a
gainst him; if /" Split log" and
{" Wuls-in-the-zcGter," had violated
their engagements with Mr.. Ma
disoo. their tomaha"ks were not the
less sharp on that acc unit: if fort Mi
chilimacinak had fallen because lieut..
Hanks had no notice Of the war, till
he was summoned to surrender, in
consequence Of which. reinforce
ments came into the British camp
from all quarters. cut oil MS com
munieati0n and destroyed or took bis
supplies; starvation was still the
same thing in fine, he might think
that an i'll provided. unsupported AZ
NV. composed of volunteers who did
rot love fighting, commanded by Of
ficers who were plotting mutiny. was
not the best qualified to conquer pro-
vinces, defended by superior force.
We might swell the list of such
mistakes ad ininitam. bat we leave
the account to be adjusted by the con
Germ. We feel no other interest in
the quarrel between Hull and his
old friends, than that OF a Spectator
who likes to see fair play. Dear
borne. il he goes into Canada will
next enter the circle, and we shall
witness. another scene Of the same
sort, with the same Indifference.