The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-12-16

no exerlions TO effect il have been spared -.
On our soutn western border, the Creek
tribes, who, yielding 10 our petseyering en-
deavors, were gradually acquiring more civil,
lied habits, became the unfortunate victims
of seduction. A war in that quarter has beea
the consequence, inforated by bloody lana.
ticism recently propsgs,ed among them
1t was necessary 20 crush such a war be-
fore il could spread among the contiguous
tribes, and before il ccuid favor enter prizes
of the enemy into tha; vicinity. With ibis
view force was called into the service Of The
United States fromthe States Of Georgia and
Tennessee, which, WITH The nearest regular
troops, and other corps from the Mississippi
Territory, might not only chasiise the ssvsges
inro present peace, but make lasting i'm
preston on their fears
The progress of the expedition, as far as
j. yet known, corresponds with the martial
zeal with which it was espoused, and ne best
hopes of a satisfactory issue arc autho' !zed by
the complete success with which a well pian-
ned cnter prize was executed against a body OF
hostile savages, by detachment oil the vol
unteer militia oi Tennessee, under the gallant
command of Gen. Coffee [; aud by s,iii more
important victory over large body OF them
gained under the immsd dia,e commend OF MAJ.
Gen. Jackson all officer equally distinguish
cd for his patriotism and his Hilitary talents.
The sysleta,ic perseverance OF the enemy
in courtlng The aid of the savsges in all quar-
ters, had the natural effect OF kndling their
ordinary propensity to war into passion,
which even among those best disposed towards
the United States, was ready, If not employ
ed ON our side, to be turned against us. A
departure from our protracted forbearance TO
accept the services rendered by them, has thus
been forced upon us. But In yielding To il,
the retaliation has been mirigated as much as
possible, both in its extent and in It's charac-
ter, stopping Ear short OF the example of the
enemy, wno owe The advantages trey have
occasionally gained in battle, chiefly 10 the
number OF their savage associates and who
have NOT controlled them either from their
usual practice of indiscrimnatc massacres on
defenc eess inhabitants, or from scenes OF
carnage without parallel, or prisoners TO
the British arms, guarded by all the laws OF
humanity and of honorable war.
For these emo. nities the enemy are equal
ly responsible, whether with the power to
prevent them they want the will, or With the
knowledge of wan, of power they still avail
themselves Of such instruments.
In other respects the enemy are pursuing
a course which threatens consequences most
affecting to humanity.
A standing law Of Great Britain naturalizcs,
as is we'll known, all aliens, complying with
conditions limited 10 a shorter period than
those required by the United States /; and nat
uraIized subjects are, in War, employed by
her government in common with native SUBJ
iccts Ioa contiguous British province, reg
uiatiops promulgated siuce the commence
menl of the war compel citizens Of the y. 5.
being there under certain circumstances,
TO bear arms whilst of tho native emigrapts
from the United States, who compose much
of the population oE the province, number
have actually borne arms against the United
Slate. within their limits, some of whom, at
ter having done so, have become prisoners OF
war, and are now in our possession. The
British Comma in that province never
lheiess, with the sanction, as appears, OF his
government, thought propes to select from
American prisoners of war and send 10 Great
Britain, for trial as criminals, number OF ia-
dividuals, who had emigrated from the Brit
!sh dominions long prior to- the state OF war
between the two nations, who had iocorpofat-
ed themselves into our political society, N the
modes recognized oy the law and the practice
of Great Britain, and who were made prison.
ers of war, under the banners OF their adopt
ed country, ghting for its rights and lis safety
The protection due to these ci,izcns requir-
ing an eifcc,ual in,erposilion in their behalf a
like number Of British prisoners OF war we're
put into conhne ment, with notification that
they would experience whstcvcr violence
might be committed on the American prison
oners of war sent 10 Great Britain.
1t was hoped that this necessary conse-
qucncc of the step unadvisedy taken or the
part of Great Britain W ould have led her gov
eminent to reflect on the consistencics of its
conduct, and that sympathy with the Brit.
ish, if not with tire American suHerers,would
have arrested the cruel career opened by its
example.
This was unhappiy not the case. In vio-
ls,m both Of consistency and of humanity,