Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1813-12-11

Will. OF with the knowledge OF a want
| Of power they still avail themselves of
| such iustrzments.
In ether respects :he enemy arc
pursuing a course which threatens con-
sequences mcst af,,ictns 60 humanity.
A standing law osG. +. aaturalixes.
| as is we'll known, 81! aliens, comply
ing with conditions limited to shorter
period than ,hase require,. by the U. &.
aud nalnraiissd subject are, il war.
! employed by her government in cam
mon with native subjects. in n con.
! tisueus British province, regulations
promulgated siuce tho cammrnecrnent
Uf The war compel citizens of the U.
States. being there under certain Gu
cumstances TO hear arms whilst Of
the native emigraats frcm the u. s.
who compose n,uch ~ the population
# the province, numser have actual
!y borne arms against the u. s. within
their limits; some ct whom after hav-
ing dsne 50, have beesDe prisoners OF
war, and are now in our passession.--
The British commander In that pro-
vince, nevertheless, with the sane.
iion, rs appears Of his government
thought proper to select fram A
meriean prisoners Of war. and send
to &. B. for trial AS criminals. u
euDscr OF individuals, whs HAD emil
grated from the British diminieas long,
orior to the state of war between tho
NO nations, wts had Incorporated
,hemseIve. into cur Political saclety, iu
the modes recognised by the law aud
practice cfG Il. and whs were made
prisoners Of war. Bn3er the banners Of
,hsir adopted country, fighting for It's,
rights ami its safety.
The prateetiaa dus to these citizens
requiring al e1tctual interPOsitinn ia
:keir hshsls, & like nayahar VI British
prisosers Of war were put in,e eouGac-.
n-nt, vita notification that they
s,nsld experience whatever vieience
night be esmmitied 60 the Amarican
prisoners OF war sent 10 &. Britain.
1t WI, hoped that ,kis neeasssfv
consequences of the step undoubtedly
taken on tie part of G. B. would nave
sd her gsYcrnHeut t0 reject en- the in
:oasistencies ofits eoRdDet, and that nc
sympathy with the British, il mt with
The American sufferers, wosid have
arrested the cruel career opened by lis
example.
l'his Was anhappiiy not tbs case. In
violation soth Of cepsistensy aud OF
humanity, American officers aHd aon-
commissioned officers, in doabie the
humber OF the British soldiers confined
here were ordered iRte close coRaaemsne
With fsrreai aotiee, that in The event OF
q retaliation fer tho death which might
~ insisted en tao prisoners CT war
sent TO Il. Il. foi trial, tho officers so
confined wonld be put tc death also. It
was no,iEed at the same tinss that the
commanders Of tho British leat. aad
...Esies 81 err coasts are iastrneted, In
ths sane event, 10 proceed with des-
-ructive severity against cur tewns and
,heir inkAAitasts.
That ~ daxAt might be left with the
snery of SCR adberence to the retaliat-
ing resort imposed en- "a. csrrespOa-
oert nnmhsr VI British officers prisoners
" war IL COR he ads we're Immediately
pat irto close confinement, to abide tina
ate Il those confined nv the eRemy;
and the British government has been
-pFrized Of tina determination Of this
,orerunsnt, 10 retaiiate any otasr pro-
assdinS sgniHs. us, Contrary to the les
.,iiMats Eeses If warfare.
~ as fortunate for the U. States
iaai ,hey have i; in their power to ruees
the enemy in this d piorabla contest, 80
It j. honorable tn hem, that they do
mai jain in it hat nnher the aast ir,pe-
rioGs obligations, and w:ik the humane
purpose of calculating a return to ths
established nsases Of war.
Tho views Of The French covers.
MEET on the subjects which have
been so ]nnS committed to uegncia~
lion, have received no e!ucidatipa.
sinsc the close Ct your late session.
Tho Minister Pisnip tent;aEy of The u
statos at Paris had not been enabled
BY proper opportunities, TO press Tie
offsets Of MS mission, az prescribed s,.
his instructions.
The militia being always to be rs~
sarded as the great be!wsrk OF de-
fenss asd security for free siatas. &s
tia eous,itatioa having wisely COM
uiiitsd to the national authority use
or that force, as the best provision
sgsinEt an Unsafe military establish
| meat, "a veil IS Il resource peculiar
~ adapted 70 e country b&yipg tho
extent ard tj,e exposureo Of tho U. q.
recommend 70 Congress n royisisa
Of the militia laws fay the ruruota