davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14
REpORI,

THE Committees to whom was referred the
letter of the Secretary fNVsr of the Uni.
ted States, to his Excellency the Govern
or. bearing date at Washington. March
15.h 1913, in answer to IN application,
made oy his Excellency in compliance
with = resolve of the honourable the Cen
ersi Court OF the Commonwealth of Mas
sachusetts, TO the Executive of the Uni
ted States, requesting such supply oi
muskets MS nigh, be considered the pro
portion TO which the Common wealth was
entitled under a law Of the United States
passed IN April 1898 BY whictl,w the an.
nusl sum Of two hundred Thousand dollars
was appropriated Tor the purpose Of provi
ding arms for the militia of the United
States, to be transmitted to the several
States IN proportion TO The effective mill.
tia in each S.ate,--
RespEcTFuLLY REPORT,
TIA L The laws of the United States
referred 10 by ms Exceiienov the Governor,
and en- tiled ian act making provisions for
arming and equrpping he whole body of the
militia OF ,he ". 5. and to appropriate snnu'
ally S2o0.o00 for that purpose, provides that
tie MS procured IN virtue Of that act, shall
be rars0iiaed TO the several states compo.
sing zoe Uaion, aud the territories thereof,
to each State and territory respectively. IN
proportion 10 the number of effective militia
therein, under such rules and equations AS
sbsl. be by law prescribed by The Legs.
lature OF esca state or territory.
In the apprehension ot your Committee,
The tesu;s oil the law are SIMPLE, precise,
and definite. aJmitting neither of perver-
s,on of pu pose nor latitude of construction
D ,he iavourtism of psfti,hty, or All indul.
gence Ut caprice.
lie people of the Uaited States for tire
better defence thereof, by an act of their
constituted authorities, set aside from their
revenue ibe annual sum Of two hundred
'housand dollars, for srming and equiping
the W ole body oi the mius OF the United
States, and xressly directed that the arms
paoVided IN virtue of that act should be
transm'ted 70 The several states compUs'
rsg the Union and territories thereof; to
each Stale and Territory respectively IN
p oportion 10 the number of its effective
militia. Hence II became the duty of the
government not % wait for the application
ot the several States, but on the receipt Of
surh supply OF arms, as would ADM, OF u
eessonsble div,alou, promptly to transmit
the same 10 The respective states and Serri-
tories
Whether this has been done, conforina.
bly, with the provisions Of the law, or con.
sis'en'iy with those principles of respect,
equality aud impartially, which ought 10
regulate tie conduct Of the General Gov.
eminent towards each me ember ofibe con.
iederacy-'he history of The amount of This
iand--the distribution of the arms--and the
ieuer of the Secretary OF War will deter
mine.
The act having passed in April, 1908, It
Is evident that at this time one million OF
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14
lrqislaturf Of Massarbusetts.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
TuEsD Az, JUNE 3.


Ordered, That Messrs. Hovey,
Thatcher and Mills be committee,
with such as the Senate may Join, 10
take into consideration the expedlency
of proposing TO the several towns in this
Commonwealth TO choose delegates TO
meet in convention, at such time and
place as shall hereafter be appointed by
the Legislature thereof, for the purpose
of making an alteration in the Cd art.
of the Sd sec. oil the lst chap. of the
Constitution OF this commonwealth, in
such manner as to lessen the number
of Representative in the General Court
A bill "to repeal the Cd section OF
an act to regulate the choice Of town
officers, sc. referred TO the next session.
Ordered, That Messrs Mills, w.
Sullivan, Goodwin and Dwight be a
committee, with such as the Senate may
Join, to consider what measures it is ex-
pedient ior this Legislature to adopt, in
relation to the unhappy war in which we
are engaged-the means to induce a
speedy restoration Of peace, and to re-.
store this Commonwealth to the bless
ings OF free & unmolested commerce,
and to that influence IN the councils of
the nation, to which she is SO Justly in
titled.
The Senate joined Hon. Messrs. Per-
kins, Blake and Holmes.
Ordered, That Messrs. Mitchell,
Thatcher and Whitman, with such as
the Senate may join, be committee to
make suitable inquiries respecting all
lands belonging 10 this Commonwealth
in the District of Maine, with view to
ascertain the expediency of adopting
measures for the sale OF those lands, or
such parts OF them, as can be prof,ably
disposed OF, and, Cor the purpose OF rais-
ing fund, the interest of which shall
be solely appropriated to the support OF
schools in this Commonwealth.
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14
LOSS OF THE GRowLER AND EAGLE
Ey1m LAKE Cbau,bkrir.

lYoW LQhf 1OuVipfdH.
r.ATrsBuRon. JUNE 4 In confequenee Of
the Briuih gun boats having been over the
lines and fired upon fome Ct our imali water
craft, two of our armed naop., he Crowier
aud Eagle flarted from thi. place on the I'd
inn. under the comma and of Lieut.. Smith, for
the purpofe of attacking them, GhouId they
again make their appearance. They arrived
vithin mile OF the lines about dark the fame
day. aud call auchcr Yeaerday morning
about day break they difeovered three Bntifh
gun boats and gave hem chAie; but the wind
being s they unfor unaiev ran 10 far into the
narrow channel that ,hey found it d'fhcut 20
return, and the Eagle not being tufiieiendy
firong for the weight of metal, became unmsn
ageable and at 'ait went down; the GfowIer
unwilling to abandon her continued fighting
by her 6de. until after fhe went down and
then wa, compelled to yield 10 iuPeriof force.
The action lated itversi hours without inter-
milton The enemy had by fine means got
information of our 0oops aud brought their
forces up from the IIle aux Non; and placed
them on both 6des IT the channel, which was
20 narrow thar mulket fhot could reach our
lloops from the ihore We had us uien on
board, including Capt. HerrIck and SO voiun.
teer, from his company laioned Al Champ ain.
We suderifand the enemy had Eve gun boats
in the action--they carried "a FOUNDERS. the
largeit of our guns were eigh,eens.
Since the above was IA ,ype an expref, has
arrived from Champain, which itsses on ,he
authority of iutor nation derived from the en-
smy, that only ore of our men was killed but
a con6deraSe number wounded-the enemy
had two kri'ed-,he Eapie funk in nIoal wafer,
and chs crew were f.vea.
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14
From Hyhfa..


Accounts from Halifax by a gen
tleman from that place are TO the 1T
infant. - hey itate the following IN
formation -
Z" a feet of tranfports, from Eng.
land with troops, had gone up TO Que
bee, without touching ar Halifax 1t
was fuppofed that about 10000
troops, had gone to Quebec within
the lalt fifteen days previous to his
leaving Halifax. A fleet Of tranf-
ports was entering the harbor when
he came away. The Nymph and
no,her frigate had failed to convoy a
number of tranfports to Quebec.--A
convoy from the Welt Indies, with
from 100 to 1000 troops had arrived.
GA cartel barque for Bottom, with
prifoners, was to fail the hrit wind.
A74 and z frigates were in port.
The Plantagent IA, difguifed as a
frigate had failed to crui(e off New
York. A "A and frigate were go
ing in the day he left, with prize
brig and fchooner, both pierced for
about IA guns. and fuppoied to be
from or bound to France A brig OF
war failed fame day. Ship Sally, Ba-
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14

to the Distrc, of Columbia. 22OO.--
What has become Of nearly 10000 stands of
arms I'm addition, which are acknowledged
TO have zen received. < Of 81. 500 stands OF
| arms which were contracted 20 be deliver
ed on or be6,re the 7lh October, 1872, and
! remain unsccounted for or what nember
has been received since October, or under
what authority the Department, OF war has
assumed a discretion neither given, nor
| warranted by the law, Of loaning an excess
beyond the proportion to which 1t was emit
| tied by the provisions of the law, to any
State or Terri ory. or OF making any loan
| whatever, your Committee have not tDe
means of sscertaining and the short du-
ration of the pre- ssnt session OF the Legisis
ture will not admit of timely reference to
tie only source, from which perhaps inior
! nation might be obtained.
Ofthe causes, or pretences vhien have
induced the government of The United STATES
| to furnish eleven States Of the Union, The
District Of Columbia, and the Territory OF
Illinois, with a proportion OF arms. which 1t
has seen proper to withhold from The popu.
lous, respectable, and exposed State of
! Massachusetts,. and which had been deliver.
ed from its own manufsctories the letter
of the Honorable JOHN Armstrong, Secre.
tsry at war OF the United States, OF March
18Th, communicated by hls Exce'lency,
! furnishes the evidence.
BY tha, seltcr, his Excellency is informed,
that" The President has deemed 1t most
conducive to the general iaerestto supply
in the first place the frontier States, and tue
militia who have come forward in the dc.
fence of the country, and that when tue
state Of the public arserais VIII Jusli'y .he
measure, Mass scbusetts will receive her
proportion Of arms sgreeably to the pro'is'
ions of the law."
In commenting on these reasons OF the
Secretary at war, for the omission TO trans
NIT, or TO deliver TO The State OF nfsssachu'
setts. the proportion of arms to which IT
was entitled, your committee beg leave TO
remark, that the state of the public arse
nails in December last. rs II respects the
suepiy OF arms, provided tor the respective
States and Territories, will he MANIFESTED
by the preceding statement, from Which 1t
appears that of the IS 200 stands of arms,
which were due to The General Govern.
ment from the Contractors IN Oci"ner, sno
of which 1t is acknowledged i,o40 had al
that time been delivered. short of 10, 100 had
been distributed as lale as Dec. last bot
they confess they are wholly unable TO com.
prehend, or perceive even on the aiedged
principles of distribution, how the with.
holding from the State OF Massschusets,
rsshly and unprepsredly plunged, IN com
mon with the rest of the Union, INTO dis-
astrous war Wt,h the most powerful mari
time nation the world ever Witnessed -
possessing a defencelsss, more extended,
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14

ker Of wifcanet. fcnt ii by La Hosue,
has been cleared. A hip with yel-
low fldes from New Y ork, with -four,
had arrived, fent in for breach of
blockade The Britilh chip Duck,
captured by tie Amerlcan privateer
Gov PIumsr, had been re'aken and
had arrived"
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14
lMPOR RrANT..

The following able Report was presented
to the two branches of our Legislature on
Tuesday last, and taken up for consideration
IN the Senate. yesterday The Debate con.
tlnued. until the hour of adjournment. with
out descision. I, is a manly and indepsn-
dent appeal to the patriotism and good sense
of the people oil Massachusetts,.
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14
FRANCE, PARIS, APRIL 90, 1873

FRANCE, PARIS, APRIL 90, 1873
News has been received from the
borders of the Rhine, tina. every part
between that river and the Elbe, and
from the fea to the frontiers of Sax
ony and Bohemia, was in movement.
The Generals had effected a junction,
and we're advancing with terrible
and impoGug force. The troops dii-
play an uncommon degree of ardor.
and the fupplies of the army were
better than it had yet been
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14

dollars nust have accrued under It, and
ought to have been appropriate d towards ar.
ming the whole body Of the militia of tho
United States. Ofthis sum or the proceeds
of it. on the ratio of her contributions to the
revenue of the United States, Massscnu'
sets would be entitled to sbout.one fifth
part, having paid upwards OF forty millions
towards the two hundred and hfieen mile
ions Of dollars received by the United States
under the opera ion OF the Fedora, Govern
ment but pred Gated upon the more unfavor-
able ratio of the law, which IN th's case
must govern, Massachusetts, although ca
psble of bringing into the held sn effective
force of one hundred and twenty thousand
free white citizens, for the purpose OF sus-
tanning her rights, Of checking usurpauon,
or of frepelling invasion, would be ent'tiea
only to the number of arms procured under
the act Of April. 1908. in the ratio that w. $50
the number OF militia agreeably to the 'ast
return to the General Government from
Massachusetts, bears to 709, ,449, the whole
return of The militia Of the United states as
communicated to Congress by the presi-
dem, on the 18Th of February OF the present
year-,bus giving TO Massachusetts, sn ln'
dispensibie claim, ves'ed right, w'ihoal
the power of alienstion or diversion, III any
densrtment of the General Government, TO
about one tenth Of the said sum OF one null
ion Of dollars already accumulated, or OF d.
bout one tenth ofthe number OF srms that
nave been procured thereir
And ypur committee further report, that,
from the returns made 10 Congress by The
war department in December last, 1t ap-
pears, that conirscts under the law OF the
United States of April %, 1908, have been
made for 100, 200 stands OF arms, S4ooo
sands were Contracted for in Msssachu
sets, and 1875 stands we're actually deiiv
cred by the manufacturers within the State,
prior 10 October last, and that, IRON these
contracts, there had been received by me
genersl government, six months since,
81, $40 stands of arms, at which time so,ooo
stands of arms in addition were due, ana
ought 10 have been delivered In.o the puo-
nc arsenzis, os which about one tenth part
from the moment Of lheir receipt by the
General Government, became, IN the opin'
non Cf your Conmiuee, the actual properly
of the State of Massachusetts,, and by ne
terms Of the same law, it also became the
duty of the administration Vt the General
Government, to have caused proportion oil
hem in H. al ratio TO be transmitted OF de-
li,ered to this Siste that not single nus-
ket e this number has been rect wed, or his
been in,t nded 10 be transmitted. or deiiye =
ed, is TOO apparent, from the reply ofthe se-
cretsry Of war ,othe application II his Excel.
lency.
OF The distribution Of the stands of arms
which had been sctusl,y received y ne
government of the United States, under he
law OF April, 1903. 1t sppesrs from ,re'u :
made to Congress by the Department o'
wsr to the month Of DECEMBER last, ;hat
1000 stsnds had been delivered 10 New
Hampshire.
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14

was waving over the Fort on the 3oth
inf.
The following notice in hand bill
form, was alto received by the Buff
faloe mail, from which it appears
that FORT ERIE is in podehon
of our troops.
Having heard, 6nce | had the CON-
mand of Fort Erie, that fome unprin-
cipled and lawlefs perfons have crofs-
ed into Canada, with view to plum
der and maraud, contrary to exprefs
orders deem it my duty to fore
warn them from practices 70 difhon-
orable and degrading, and folemnly
to allure them, that every vigilence
will be exerted to detect and bring
them to rigorous punifhment under
martial law for fuch outrages.
JAMES P. PRESTON, 1t.
Col. l2th Regt. Inf. Command
ing at Fort Erie, Black Rock
and Buffaloc.
May goth 1873.
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14
Capkure of Fort Eric.

Capfure y F0rf E''e.
We learn, fays. the Editor of the
Canandaigua Medenger, from Judge
BAREsR of Niagara county. that a
party OF our troops under the COM
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14

We underftand that letters were
received in town yeitsr day from Sack
cts Harbour itatipg that body of
Dragons under Lit. Wheelock, while
fording river on their way to that
place, were becaimel and all taken by
the enemy.
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14
BOSTON, JUNE 10.

boohO SNI 49,
A letter is received in this town
from Sacket's Harbor, of goth May,
which in addition to the principal
details of the late affair at Sacket's
Harbor, adds the following While
the enemy's fleet was approaching
this place, they, unfortunately for US,
difcovered part of major Aspinwalrs
detachment coming down in boats,
about IL miles from this place and
Immediately defpatched large num-
Der of regulars and indiars on ihore;
our troops having alto landed, an &C.
ton took place, in which the Englifh
were victorious Its. Drew and
Cranlton and fifteen privates, are fup-
pofed to be killed and capt. Brad
ford and 1t. Wheelock, of the Drag
oons, with about 100 privates, taken
prisoners.
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14
THURSDAY, JUNE 10.


A committee was Instructed to IN
quire INTO the situation of the lands IN
the District of Maine, which are mort
gagged to the Commonwealth by L. Jar.
Wis, Esq. and whether it is not expedl.
ent that the state should tase actual
possession of those lands.
N;essrs. Otis, Webb, w. Sullivan
Makepeaoe and Willard, were appoint
ed committee OH the subject OF an ln'
solvent Law, to sill during the recess,
and report al the next session.
1t was not determined to be expedient
to pass any law the present session ON
the sublec, OF debtors limits.
We have long turned our eyes, (says the
Vernon, washiagtouian,) with anxious ex-
pec,stion to this session Of the Legislature
of Massachusetts,. 1t is composed OF =
HOST OF woRrHIEs, who remind US OF tne
band Of patriots, who FIST rose, in g'sht
strengtn from " the cradle of our Nabona'
Independence.
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14

9TH
our ne'
before \
9 Tl
ministe
commit
Goldsb
an und
upon Il
istert to
Russell
" wl1e
Duke \
&c.
~ On
bassy,
ate for
IS /.
ments
sian g
positio
Gallat
Treas
not, h
Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-06-14

masd Of Col. prelfon, croaed from
Blackjack, on the 28th ult. and
took pofleiIion of FOR L ERIE with
out oppofition.-The American Flag
was waving over the Fort on the goth
The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-08-05

proceedings are, in our opinion, farsical and
deceptious we do not believe the authors G.
yer wished to obtain an accurate account OF
our unfortunate enslaved brethren We know
not why they should, as il is abe province OF
the national government 10 take coenizance
OF national wrongs; indeed, men who deny
the truth of the government statement OF i'm
pressed seamen--who oppose war Tor Sail
ors' Rights and Free Trade--who laugh with
scorn a, the idea Of sailors having any rights
at all--who appear TO think them race
which the government are not bound 10 pro-
tcct, class of people which may be stolen
and transferred and beaten and mangled with
out pity and without remorse--such men can
not be actuatcd by the best motives in an en-
quiry Of this nature. We are, however, will
ing it should proceed; the facts already pro-
duced, and others which may be brought
forth, will at least have tendency to open the
eyes of those dcluded persons who have been
told that England never impressed any Amc-
rican eamen, * who did rclieiously believe it
The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-08-05
$40: - 20:
From the Providence Phcnix.

I" The General Committee appointed by
the Legislature of Rhodc-Island, to collect C.
vdence on the subject of impressed seamen,
have made their report, by which II appears
that only l9 seamcn belonging to that State
haze oeen impressed" 4uass. Shy.
While the farcical and decep,ious proceed
ings Of the majority of our Assembly were
only noticed i'm our own State, where they are
duly appreciated, we thought 1t best to let
them pass without observation. But the a.
bove paragraph, so emnatcly calculated to
deceive, has induced us to change our deter
m,nation. 1t is true that the committee re-
ported ~ cases of Aggravated impressmcnt,
for the subjects are sfW detained in slavery
but it does nor appear by their report, that
these arc all that have been impressed
However disposed to paliate or conceal the
wrong and injury which even this little State
has suffered from the horrible practice Of
man stealing, the committee did not say that
only 10 Of our brethren had been impressed
for they as we'll as we know, that twenty
Zines that number have been stolcn--many
of whom have had the good fortune to escape
flom their cruel taskmasters. We say these
The committee "dsscrve we'll Of the Bulwark"
for their pecular asiscacy in refraning from all cen
sure or even mention OF the power which enslaved
our h,pless countrymen even in recording the
names of the ships which are their prisons, they,
RENE nbcr to forget" to statcs that they aic has
Britannia Msjcsy's.
The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-08-05

FrivgtreTynS OF fhe 81. LGsvrenee
A few days since, two private srmed boats,
each carrying or FOUNDER and so men,
sailed from Sackei's Iiarbor 10 eruize in fte
So. Lalorenee On Monday the 18th, they
fell in with gun-boat, carrying a 6 pound
csrronade, conveying 5 Of the enemy's bat
teaux, captured them without the loss of
man, and brought them into Cranberry creek,
about 40 miles above Ogdensburgh. The
batteaux had on board $50 bbls. pork, 500
bags pilot bread, ammunition, sc. bound from
Montreal TO Kingston. On Tuesday morn
ing Of the cnemy's gun-boats, with $50 SOL
diers from Prescott, arrived off the creek,
and landed their men. The privateersmen
had hardly time to construct brest-work of
their bags IF h,iof bread, before they were AZ
tackled by 200 of The enemy I; and, strange to
tell, after an obstinate engagement, in which
from 40 10 so OF the enemy were killed, his
force retreated precipitately to their boats, ex-
cept Is, who took 70 the woods and were pur-
sued. Our loss was trifling, though it is not
specified 67 British prisoners, captured in
the batteaux and gun-boat, arrived at Water.
town on Tuesday evening.
On Com. Chaoncey being advised of the
danger of our party at The creek, on Tuesday
molning, he dispatched two schooners to their
relief, and followed in the course Of the day
with the squadron--3oo dragons were dis
patched by Gen. Lewis at the same time by
land. On Wednesday earronading was
heard, supposed between the schooners and
gun.boats. We have derived our informa.
ZION principally from gentleman who came
from Watertown on Wednesday, who saw the
prisoners and heard the firing.
General Dearborn has taken leave Of the
army, between whom and him much harmony
prevailed and the moment preceding his de-
parture, is represented as having exhibited an
affecting scene. The chickering's which have
been represented as existing among the Off
GERS have almost entirely subsidized; ; and mu-
tual efforts at Cancellation have restored to
.he camp that good humour and harmony
which private feuds had in some degree dis
turbed.
The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-08-05

trading TO tie Peninsula. For these YOU were also
instructed TO demand redress.
1t is hoped that the government OF France, regard
ing with prudent foresight the probable course of
events will have sensibity 10 IT'S interest, IT II
has none to the claims OF justice the part OF this
country.
On the French decree Of the % Of April, 1911,
shall fozbear to make any observations which have
already occurred, until all the circumstances con-
nected with are better understood The President
approves your effort TO obtain copy OF that decree,
as he does the communication OF 1t aerN ards 20 MIR
Russell. have the honor, etc.
(signed) JAMES MONROE.
JoEL BARLOW, Esq. etc.