The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-03-23
From Belts Londen tfeekfy Messenger.
MIR. MADISON'SS SPEECH.

MIR. MADISON'S SPEECH.
There is kind of habit OF SO underra
ting every thing that comes from America
that il is difficult To invite or keep the pub
lie attention to matters of the most evident
importance. With how much eagcrness
are the royal speeches of the British sove-
reigns sxaNined, canvassed and disputed
in the Nloniteur--And why SO F, Simply be-
cause the popular nature of cur government
renders it necessary for the executive to
explain, at least gene rally, its future views
and purpnses. The American government,
unfortunately for its own internal peace, is
still, more popular than our own-and
therefore these annual speeches of its exc
cutive are more full and expositive. One
would be led TO imagine, that such e1cf,o-
ses. might command some attention. But
the fact is, that they are as little regarded
here as if they were absolutely no concern
OF ours they fill a column of daily pa
per on the day Of their arrival, and then
are forgotten.
1t is rather discouraging 20 enter upon
an investigation of the topics of this speech
IN the face of this expected indifference
But as our readers will probably be indu-
ced to follow US through it dpon our assu-
rance that both its style and matter de-
serve it. we shall commence without fur
Their preface.
1t may be convenient, however, to clear
by the way an objection which some Of the
DAILY papers have made against it.
One OF them, in particular, ha, ceDsu-
red it as a heavy, tasteless, and pitiful
composition.--In The comparison of mat
ter, and of such matter as this speech
contains, 1t is perhaps of very little
consequence what is the style but so
much we may cursorily observe, that we
could wish that the columns of cur own
daily papers were written with any thing
like the nerve, the bold and natural elo-
quepce, and the unaffected and business
like sincerity of MIR. Madison's Speech
Our limits will not admit of examples, but
We beg leave to refer to the whole speech
The speech begins with an eloquent &C
acknowledgements to Providence for the uii-
usual degree of health dispensed to the in
habitants OF America, and for the rich "a
bupdance of the harvest of all kinds. This
unusual degree or health is IN the dimin-
ished prevalence and malignity of the Vel
low Fever and with respect to the alledg-
ed plenty, whilst in every country in Eu-
rope the price of corn weighs so heavily on
the laboring poor, the American knows no.
thing but owe rt1owing abundance.
The speech next passes to the mention of
the precautionary measures against the
war with England. 1t states that force
was placed in the backward settlements so
as to check the influence of Great Britain
over the Indians and to prepare an attack
upon Canada. It then relates the failure
Of this expedition under general Hull, the
cauec OF which il refers to the examinati-
on of court MARTA! but with an evident
insinuation OF bad conduct upon the part of
general Hall, implied in the marked dis
function between the gallant troohS," g.
their general. The speech then proceeds
OF, rs q DE- L..
awaited herself of the services of" the mer-
CHESS Savages." Here the two governments
are at issue. The English allow that they
admitted the assistance of the Indians but
contend that they neither brought them into
shis war (thc Americans and Indians being
previously in a state of warfare) and
secondly, that they (the English general &
officers) kept the Indians under their own
eyes, and prevented and controlled them
from these cruelties. Our own candid Opt
Mon is, that our defence is here not so clear
and good as the American charge. The A
mericans were not previously at war with
the Canadian Indians aud even granting
that the Indians on the Ohio and the Mis-
sissippi we're connected with those on the
back of Canada, still the former warfare
of the Americans and Indians was desulto-
ry, individual and therefore in a very
small degree mischicvous. is now
national. as far as a barbarous people
can be national The English gov
eminent, therefore, we feel ourselves
compelled to say, have not made out,
IN our humble opinion, their defence to this
accusation. And with respect to the alleg-
ed control, you may prevent the Applicant
on Of the tomahawk and the scalping knife
where your allies fight Immediately under
your own eye--but how are you to prevent
these horrid barbarities in night and day
surprise, when parties of Indians issue from
the woods upon the back towns, farms, and
settlements, and scalp and burn and tom
ahawk man, women, and child, sweeping
awayswhole families and townships at oncel
The speech is particularly eloquent upon
this head. Let those who call it pitiful,
miserable composition, read paragraph
beginning, whilst the benevolent policy"
&c. and terminating with the words" en-
ligitened age"
The speech next congratulates itself up
on the public spirit which came forward
to repair the disasters of general HULL
But here q manifest distinction must be
made. The yeomanry of the northern coun-
tries seem to Il man in favor Of the princi-
piles Of the war and the union, while some
of the midland and even maritime states. ]
iii their different views of politics, seem to,
forget the necessity Of patriotism, and OF
the duty OF common efforts in mainte nance
Of their common coun ~. This want of uni 4
on in the states will doubtless impair their
efficiency III war; but no one, we imagine,
can see with satisfaction the prevalence of
principles which, existing in higher de-
vree. overthrow the old establishmeuts nj