The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-08-19


RACES were perpetraied by Indians, is neither
pslliation nor excuse. Every civilized na,ior
IS answerabie for the conduc; OF the allies un-
der their command, and while they parraks
| of the advantages of their successes, they are
equally partakers Of the odium Of their crimes
| The British forces concerned in the affair o
the 22d January, at the River Raisin, are
more deeply implicated IN the infamy of these
transactions than by this mode of reasoning
however correct. The massacre Of the 23d
January, after the capitulation, was perpetrat.
ed without any cxertion on their part 10 pre-
vent IL +; indeed, IL is apparent, from all the
circumstances, that il the British officers did
no; conuive at their destruction, they were
criminalIy Indifferent about the fate OF the
wounded prisoners. But what marks more
strongly the degradation of the character ol
the British soldiers, is the refusal of the last
offices OF humanity to the bodies Of the dead.
The bodies Of our countrymen were exposed
TO every indignity and became food for bruies,
in the sight Of men who affect sacred re-
| gard to the dictates Of honor aud religion.
Low indeed Is the character OF that army
which is reduced TO the confession, that their
savage auxiliaries will not permit them to
perform the rites Of sepulture TO the slain
The committee have not been able 10 discov-
er even the expression Of detestation, which
such conduct must inspire, from the military
or civil authority on the Canadian frontier,
lnless such dctcstaiion is to be presumed
from the choice Of an Indian trophy an Or
nsment for the Legislative Hall OF Upper
Canada.
| The committee have considered il their
dtty 10 submit the evidence collected under
ninth head of the atrocities committed at
Hlmpton, although these enormities have
besn committed since their appointment.
Tiese barbarities may be nationally consider
edas the che consequence Of the example set
blythe officers of the naval force on our coast.
Haman ,urpiuude is always progressive, and
so4ers arc prepared for the pcrpetratIon OF
tho most dreadful crimesby the commission
OF minor Offences with impunity. That
trpps who had been instgated by the exam
pll of their officers, TO plumber the property
anl burn the houses of unarmed citizens,
sh,uld proceed TO rape and murder, need not
| exsite surprize, however it may inspire hor-
rot For every dclestabIe violation OF hu-
mmily an excuse is fabricated or found. The
wounded prisoners on the noriherD frunrier
were massacrcd by Indians the sick mur-
deed aud The women violated at Hampton by
the foreign troops in the pay Of Great Brit
ait. These pretexts, Simittipg them TO be
trte, are as di.gracetu as the conduct which
made resort TO them necessary. Honor and
magnanimiiy not only forbid the soldier to
pdrpetrate crimes, bat requi every exer-
uen on his part TO prevent them. II, in deh-
ance OF discipline, acts oi violence are COM
miued upon any individual entitled TO pro,ec-
lion, the exemplary punishment of the often
der can alone viDdicate the reputation of TIE
nation by whom he is employed. Whether
such exertlons were made by the British SOL
diers, OF the character ot the British nation
thus violated, the evidence will shew.
The shrieks of the innocent victims Of in
fernal lust at IL HimptoD, were heard by the
American prisoners, but were too weak to
reach the ears or disturb the repose of the
BrNish officers, whose duty, as men, reqnir-
ed them to protect every female whom the
fortune of war had thrown into their power.
The commi,tce will not dwell ON this hateful
subject. Human language affords no terms
strong enough to express the emotions which
the examination Of this evidence has awaken
cd they rejoice that these acts have appear.
ed SO incredible to the American people.
And for the honor of human nature they
deeply regret that the evidence so clearly es-
tablishes their truth. In the correspondence
between the commander of the American and
British forces will be found what is equiva-
lent TO an admission of the facts by the Brit
ish commander. The committee have yet to
learn that the punishment of the offenders
has followed the conviction of their guilt
The power Of retaliation being vested by law
in the Executive Magistrate, no measure is
considered necessary to be proposed, but the
resolution annexed to this report.
AS such cnormities, instead OF inspiring
terror as was probably intended, are, in the
opinion of the committee, calculated to pro.
duce contrary effect, they submitted for the
consideration Of the House the following res.
oMtion
RESOLVED, That the President Of the Unit
od States be requested to have collected and
IL. L.. ~