The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-09-21
cory OF LETTER FROM Ma MONROE TO SIR AL


ExAsuER cocHRANE
Department Of State, September 6, 1914
SIR-l nave nad tDe nonor 10 receive YOU
letter Of the 1871 of August, stating, that hav-
ing been called on by the Governor General
of The Canadas, to sid him IN carrying into
efrcct measures of retaliation against the IN
habilants of the United States, for the wanton
desola,ion Com pnitted by their army In Upper
Canada, it has become you' duty, contorpabiy
with the nature OF the Governor Generals APP
piication, to issue 10 the naval force under
your command, an order 10 destroy and lay
waste such towns and districts upon the coast
as may tie founc assailable.
1t is seen with the greatest surprise, that
this ststem OF desaststion which has been
practised by the British forces, SO manitestly
contrary 10 the usage OF civilized warfare, Is
placed by you on The ground OF re!aistion.
No soouer were the United States compelled
10 resort to war against G,eat Britain than
they resolves 10 wage il IN manner most
consonan, TO the principles OF humanity, and
40 taose friendly relation which II was deslra-
Die to preserve between the two nations, aiseI
Itae restoration oi peace. Ihey perceived
fhowevcr wr,a the deepest regret that sp'ru
alike Just and humane was relthcr cherisheo
nor acted on by yoer Government. Such an
supported ty facts the r'ooi VI which mas pe'-
hans already carried the same conviction to
other nations tha, il has to the people OF the Sc
states. Without dwelling ON the deplofable
+ cruelties committed by the Savages in the
4 BRITISH ranks, and in BRUSH pay, on Amen'
gan nrisoners al the River Raisn, which to
this day have never been disavowed OF aioned'
i refer, as more Immediately connected WIN
the subject of your letter, TO the "anton deso-
v.tion ,hat was coumitted at Havre dc Grace.
and a. George Town, early In the spring 1878
These villages were burnt and ravAged by th.
naval forces oi Great Briiainst To tue RUN oi
their unarmeG inhabitants, who saw with as
tonishment that they derived no protection 10
5 their property from the laws oi war. Du'ins
tho same season, scenes OF invasion aud pi''
lagc carried on Under the same autno'iy
were Witnessed all along the waters OF the
Chesapeake, to an extent infictins the mosl
serious private distress, and under Gircum-
S,anccs tha, justified the suspicion, that re-
y venpe and cupidity, rather than the manly
motives that should dictate the hostility OF a
hiph minded foe, led 10 their perpetratiop.
The late destruction OF the Houses OF the
Governmeot in this City is sno,he! act whiel
come. necessarily into view. In The wars oi
modern Europe, no examples OF the kind
even among nations the mos hostile to each
49, can be traced IL the course OF ten
s..r. mast. the Cs,aals OF the principal pow.
of The Con,i,ent of Europe have been con.
N s...s.d and oCupied alternately by he victor
M. .r,r;e,d each ether, and no instance Of
.ous . '.a~op and unjussifable destruction has
sus" En We must 60 back to distan, snd
vo.foss ages, to find parallel for the acts
OsSsbich complain.
pAlthough those acts Of desolation invited,
3fthey did not impose on the Government the.
necessity Of re,siiation, yet in no instance I's
{ Il been authorized. The snrning of tts v'''
| lace Of Newark ia Upper Canada, roster'of
20 the early ou,rages above enursrated, was
~, .xecu,ed on that principle. The village
.sNerarb adjoined For George and Its de.
s..nc,:Sn was justified by the officer who or
ssred il, on the ground that IL became neees-
sary in the military operations there. The
= act however was disavowed by the Govern
msDt. The burning which took place at Long
y Point was unauthorized by the Government.
end the conduct of the officer subjected to the
s.yecsigstion Of military tribunal. For th'
ng q ST. David's, committed by strsg
~ we omcer who commanded IN that qua
1c.ss. e'smisscd without trial, for no, pre-
w = 49, .s.ommacded BY the presiden, dis,inc,
SS.s- -; sh:s Il as little comoor,s With an,
\ - Ss..ss ssn have been issue q 70 ,bs o,;l;,.r,
'''~odsrs Of the United States,