Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-01

! ject their dwellings, to the flames ans
their women and children to the tonla
hawk and scalping knife. Gen. Bloom
field and suite arrived this morning il
the steam boat; but whether to take
command OF the expeditions, or only u
superintend the preparations for 1t, l:
not knawn-I have not seen hits, and
am too little acquainted with his cha.
racter to speak Of him with any degree
orcertaio,y. The time of moving the
army into Canada i. left to conjecture.
Probably the month of October will be
fixed upon, if by that time the state Of
ore para,ion will admit Oft 1t certain
" would be the height of imprudence to
put it of 10 later period, as the incie-
mency Of the weather would, in tina, case
very much impede the operations OF the
army, and ultimately endangsr Its sue
cess. conclude, thc!rlore, that the
attempt viii be made If at all) as soon
as the month Of October at farthest. |
must, however, acknowledge myself at
a loss to know from whence the men
arc to be obtained to make the attack
! cannot learn that more than i've thou
sand regular troops are expected from
the southwsrd, and very much suspect
that even this number is greatly exag-
Scratcd. This force alone consider az
wholly incompetent to the task. The
militia cannot be relied on. They viii
60 provided the army is sufficiently
powerful TO afford a rational prospecl OF
success, and not without. Their officers
speak of 10000 men as necessary for
the work. Such language needs no
comment; it shows plainly that unless
the invading army shall amount TO some
thing like that force, they Will avaii
themselves ofthsir constitutional Prirl-
legcs, and remain at home. Our pre-
sent forces may be thus enumerated :
7o, detached militia, stationed IN dit
ferent parts Of the counties OF Clinton
and Franklin-3oO at the outsids, resn-
lar troops stationed in this Place-looo
do. on their way from the sou:Awsrd
and daily expected in-where the rest
of the 5000 are coming from is more
than ] am able to determine. Govern
Uen, have purchased FIVE sloops which
are to be fitted op for the SERVICES these
with one gun boat will constitute the
naval force of The United States on Lake
Caamplain. The British are fortifying
the Isle of Aux Noix, and rendering it,
a. am informed, very formidable. 1t
is situated in the narrow lake, and per-
fcctly commands the channel, which
thew have obstructed by sinking pickets
across it. It will be necessary to dis
possess them of this post before the ar
my can move in.
The election Of Vermont took place
on the lst instant from what informa-
ton can obtain, am inclined to be-
lieve, that Galu.ha, the democratic can
didate for governor, vii! be elected by
an Increasing majority. Such an event
would BE- truly serious evil to our coun-
try, and cannot but be lamen,sd by eve
~ vtrtuous man in the community
For my own part regard it as ominous,
pointing to the FINAL downfall Of our Ii
berty and independence. If under ex-
is,iag circumstances the partizans OF
the administration increase in numbers,
~e may give up all for lost. & sit dcvnln
Jispair under the weight of our political
1t WAS q maxim among
The beatheDs, that those WHOM the Gods
10 destroy were first attacked
with madness. Is not this max;m We
riGed in our case 1t is acknowledged
by every man of common sense, that our
country has for several years back, been
the downhi!l road with the
NEST rapid and portentou; pace and 1t
Is equally obvious that we have been
driven into this path by the folly and
of the present admtn'stra-
ton. This is acknowledged by many
Df It's supporters; and yet, strange TO
tell, with these facts staring them in the
face, ,h>y sill come forward on the day
nf election, and give their votes to the
very men, whom they affect TO consider
rs the authors of our troubles, Such
conduct is enough to give an honest
man the horrcrs-l am sick of mankind
II am ready to exclaim with Brutus,
I" virtue thou art but snare" and po-
litical integrity nothing but a name