The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-01-14


the general governments. To remedy ihc a.
vii IN future, addressed letter 10 the Sc>.
cretary for the War Department on the sub4 i
iect and at the same timc suggested snca-
surcs which believed 10 be most cifectual u
to annoy and distress our snvagc enemy: Co.
PIES OF my letter and the Srcretary's answcr.,&
are herewith submitted.
Ea,ly in the month Of September last,cuv.
e,nor Harrison made rcquisi,ion Of mount "a
el volunteers from this state, in aid of tk6 \
inIantry ordered by him for the protection a.
the two territories bordering on the N. Wes1
of the Ohio. Upon notice beipg published
OF Gov. Harrison's rcquisilion, tic volunteers
turned out beyond all calculation. The ccnl-
manl Of these troops, with three segimcnls
OF this states quota Of tho detached militia.
and the United States troops already in thai
quarter, under Col. Russcl, were conficed 20
Major General Hopkins, with power 10 carry
the views Of the general government into ci>
feet, in The manner thst the situation Of the
frontiers, and the movements Of the Indians,
should appear TO him necessary. NJ
The General on his arrival at Vinccnncss
deemed il proper 10 carry an expsdiuon al
gainst the Indian villages ON the Illinois river
He marched with the mounted voluntcerss
Great expectations were entertained Of the
good effects that would result from the mca-
sure but from some untoward cause.-the ex.',
pcdilion tailed. That the legislature meyt
have correct view Of the objects ofthc COM
manding officer, and the reasons assigned for
the failure of the enterprise, lay before ycx
a copy Of his Official communication to me on
that subject. Although the main object Iof
the expedition proved aborsivc, an event of
great importance resulted from il, by Tho
bravery OF detachment under Tie commsA,d
of Gov. Edwards, ordered from the Illinois
territory To cooperate with the main army.gT
lay before the legislature the copy OF a letter
from Col. Russell To the acting governor az
Vincennes, and transmitted 10 me, which doe
tails the particulars Of that gallant exploit. It
is TO be lamented that the main cntcrprizc 50
we'll planned, tcrmioatci so unforIunatc y.---,
had it been otherwise, its importance would
have been great TO the nation, and partic ulars
y SO to the adjacent tcrritolics--not only 10
punish those savsges, who Tor many years
have infested the frontiers with impuni,y, re-
lying on the remoteness OF their situation for
security |; Tut IL might have detached Ulp&;r
neighboring hordes from British iniluts(o
during the war This influence is greater
than has been apprchcnded. The conhden-s
tisl communications obtained by Gov. ed
wards, (coDes Of which he has transmitted
to the executive of this ssats) contain full
and vncquivocal testimony Of the extent of
the combination formed by the Bri,ish aud
Savages, against the United States.
The citizens Of ken,uckey, whosc fore faith.
crs suffered SO much by ss.agc lcrocity, have
manifested their abhorrence Of the conduct Of
the allies Of the British iyrant, by their aiacriy
in marching forth TO check and scourge those
barbarians forthe ruthIcss fare practisedby
the indiscriminaicly, without regarding uge
or sex. Ifweare inccnscd against the aIliesof
the British much greater ought our dispIcas-
urc 10 be s:nst that nation, the principal in
the war--a nation Of all others in the world the
least entitled 10 respect from the American
people. There is no mac hinaticn which tho
human mind is capable Of dcyising, to injure
or opprcss, which shc has not tried. Not con.
tented with violating the rights Of nations re-.
Iating TO commerce, the rights of persons, by
numbering and imprcssing our seamens by at
,cmpts the most insidious to subycrt our gov
eminent, by sending amongst us her secret
cmissarics, rnising discord or disafection
among the American citizens towards thcir I
own government and last Of all, secretly to
excite the Indian tomahawk and scaIping knife,
to be raised against the unoAending and de-
fenccless frontiers before the declaration Of
war. No man who styles himself IN Ameri-
can, after rejecting on these things, can say
that the present war is unjust, unprovoked and
unnecessary.
Believing that am addressing fellow -cids
zcns breathing the spirit of patriotism, and
hoIdns similar sentiments with my own on the
subject Of the present war, no doubt exists but q
that the general assembly will willingly
adopt every possible measure TO support and
aid the national government in avcnging the
injuries committed on our rights az a nation,
until complete justice be done. The cup Of
Reconciliation has been exhausted, by frui,lcss
attempts 10 convince The British government
of her crsor:--lnstead u rcdrcssing injuries,
her pride and arrogance induced her TO accu-