Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1814-12-12

| Without means Of subsistence, armies are
worse than useless; they become danger
Gus.
The military force of the country has
been no better employed than its pecuniary
means.
The gallant and good conduct Of the navy,
and in several instances also of the army,
have melted snd received the warmest ap
probation Of the nation OF this, however,
the executive government is entitled 10 no
share. In awarding the need OF praise for
the important victories in the naval battles
OH the Lakes Erie and Champlain, truth
compelled you to declare that they were, in
both instances, gained over a superior hos
tile force. The government merits censure
instead of praise, for exposing to such i'm
inent hazard the great interest staked on the
issue OF those battles. On lake OBtario, al.
SO, the enemy has been permitted TO gain a
decided superiority of force. The fleet
built and equipped there at great expense
| has become useless Instead of protecting
our own shores from the attacks of the enc
my, large land force is now employed in
defending the fleet from threatened destruc-
ton. The ships of war on the borders OF
the Atlantic are mostly laid up in the vari.
Gus harbors, and defended by bodies OF mi
litia ut enormous expense. Ample appro-
ptiations were last year made, not only for
all the vessels then In commission, but also
for putting into service two new seventy
four gun ships and three frigates. These
appropriations have been disregarded. he
naval service on the Atlantic, and also the
defence OF the seaboard, seems to be aban-
doned The enemy has occupied more
than an hund' cd miles of the eastern sea
coast of Massachusetts, including one of the
bsst harbors and naval stations in the United
States, all which was defended by less than
one hundred troops. OF SO little impor-
lance has this appeared TO the government
that the president, whose duty il is 10 lay
before the legislature information OF the
state ofths union, omitted even 10 mention
u IN his message, at the opening of the SEES
sion Not a movement had been made 10
regain that valuable territory; but the en-
envy is left to iorlify and secure it at leis-
ute.
The military force, instead Of defending
the county, has been employed in the idle
| and irullless attempt 10 conquer the PROV
inces of Canada. With their whole power
bent to that object, during three campaigns,
the government have lost their Two pfinci-
pal fortresses, Niagara and Michilimacki-
nae, and gained nothing Still this wild
project Is to be pursued. The Secretary
| OF War III his report, announces the inten
! lion ofthc administration, vita On hundi cd
thousand regular troops, +" 10 touch the
feelings and excite the appre hension of the
British government by pushing the wrr in.
10 Canada. These are bold counsels for
men who lately withou, drawing a sword,
He'd In dismay and disgrace from their own
capitol before handful ct the enemy.
hey now, IN pcnpous language promise
| forthwith to ovenun two provinces, and
| then ascend the plains of Abraham, and
! storm the srcngest fortress on our conf
| nent. Rashness In counsel and imbecility
III execution do not constitute strong claims
! to contdeGce. Can the nation longer re
pose confidence in such oounsels Is il
wise and safe 10 expend our ulm. st resour
ces, In weak and exlravagant Projects il.
which past experience destroys even the
| hope OF future success? The conquest OF
Canada should in my option never have
been undertaken and tue Idle attempt
ought mediatel to be abandoned Al
ready too much blood and treasure have
been wasted in the pursuit of an obiec,
which, were ii desirable, canno, b. ob,ained
Without naval force to command the
mouth OF the St Lawrence and prevent the
arrival OF troops aid supplies, as they may
be wanted, Canada Cannot be conquered.
By means Of such force, ,ne itish succeed
ed In wrestling those provinces from
| France and for want of il, We failed in our
attemp; in the war of the revolution, when
The regular troops there were few, and the
inhabitants almost universally inclined to
tavorus. For the prosecution ofthis fruit
less object will give no aid.
For the necessary and proper defence of
the country, neither men nor pecuniary
means are in my opinion, to be withheld
even to the p essen, administration go long
as they continue to b. clothed with cons,i-
tutional authority. and shall not have given
the most unequlvocal and decisive evidence,
OF having abandoned tina, defence, will, for
that DurDose and restricted m iha, .,hisc,