Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1814-06-27

rises a few minutes after nine.
FOR THE GAZETTE.
If the democrats are not yet convinced that
the men who lave the direction and manage.
men, of our military sffaits, are destitute of
courage and abilities and that they have degrad-
ed our military character, l would beg their st.
tention few moments while some Of The most
important circumstances and transactions Of the
revolutionary war and those that have taken place
in the present contest, are brought into view and
few observations mace.
When perusing the history of the former pc
Rod. we see what men can do, who are contend
ing for iiberty--animated by patriotism and the
reflection that they are performing duty they
owe TO themselves and posterlty. In the ae-
count Of the existing war, we see the effects of
folly, obstinscy and unwarrantabie ambition.
II will be recollected at the time hostlli,es
commenced between the English forces anc the
colonists, the latter were tbinly scattered over
an extensive country. the whole number of in.
habi,an,s not exceeding three millions They
had no regular troops, no revenue and no credi,
to enable them to borrow money. The militia
were undisc pned and only . part had arms.
They possessed none Of, the munitions Of war and
were without national government.
AT this critical moment the whole disposable
force Of Great Britain. accompanied by . large
body OF mercensry foreigners, were sent over 10
reduce the Americans to an unconditional sub.
mtssion. The result is we'll known. The latter
fought for their rights with such bravery and res
oiution ii COMPOUNDED their esem,es aud excited
the wonder and admiration of the world.
Scarcely can an instance be found III which our
a-mies disgraced themselves or their county.
Every year added ius,re 10 our national fame.
Bunkerhili, Saratoga, Princeton, Monmouth and
Yorktown are monuments of the proves Of the
American Arms.
One general officer deserted to the enemy and
another was accused of misconduct, tried by .
cour,m.rlisl, found guilty and suspended With
these two exceptions The officers covered them.
selves with glory. In short, The reputation which
our ysnkee soldiers acquired by their exploits 10
the field OF Mars, was unrIvaied by that Ut the
mos warlike nation on ear,h.-We will now
review the remarkable occurrences Of the pres.
cnt day.
Previous to the declaration Of war sg,inss G..
Britain, in 1872, the state of the country VS.
entirely changed. The number Of inhabitants
~ere more than double. An excellent form Of
government had been adopted. We possessed
an extensive revenue, large regular force and
n well organized and numerous Militia. Corps
ofvoiun,eers in every direction were offe ing
their service o the President, and thousands Of
our fellow citizens had pledged "lheir fortunes,
their lives and sacred honor TO support gov.
St'fhSue Us oCtCuohi6 Out f'kWsb WHICH ali tuc
democrats SAID they never would give up. War
was proclaimed.
The certainty of success on the part of the
Americans from these favorable pressges and
the great inequality Of strength between the
parties. seeu6ed to admit no doubt Csnsds,
against which our mighty efforts were directed.
containing probably no more than one fifteenth
part OF the populations resources, &c, Of her I'D.
versasy. Blu, the battle is not always TO the
E.,r 4 c<,g
the sacrifice Of immense treasures and great
many lives, without gaining any considerable ad.
vantage. 1t would be useless to reileeate trans
actions Of SO recent date. they are fresh IN
the minds Of all. Il 10 sufficient TO remark
that though our troops in . very few actions,
behaved with heir accustomed gsliantTy, the
events u The war thus tar ION the lsnd) have
sunk The military honors II the Americans into
irretrievabie disgrace and infsmy
What has been the cause Of ali this Have We
degsnersted and become weak, timid and COW.
araiy II cannot be. The body OF the pc ople
YET retain The virtues which so eminently dis.
,inguished their fathers; though these have
been abused. The cause is evident, whether il
Is acknowledged or not. ] repeat il, those who
are al the heao Of the war department and the
generals thst direct The operations in the field
are answersble for our misfortunes. The war
was commenced and carried on in such foolish
Wanhc's Wiz vCry &c ~ PeIsOhS ot courage sOiii-
Ties and Independence would have any thing TO
do with It. Consequently alaree number Of
men were promoted. among whom were persons
ofslt description. The administralio ion mus have
known that majority ofth-se were no, qualified
to discharge the imfort duties winch devols
ed upon them. Durlng the short space Of two
years, ahost Of officers Of oil ranks shave passed
before our eyes and then descended 10 the tomb
OF all The capuiess; jus fixing our attention long
enough to discover their mcspscs,y, and then
vanished from their high sphere" In this cat
slogue might be included Dearborn, Hull.
Smyth, Porter. Winchester, Chandler, Winder.
Williams, Hampton, &c. These have been in
strumentsl in besping The present calsmites upon
our once respectable country. With regard 10
themselves and their employers, they have res
son 10 cry out. {" my honor to what infamy thou
art fallen" Z" Their foliies may be .forgiv.n, bu'
never will be forgotten"
llhas been constant asserted tina: the oppc.
sition OF federssts 10 the me of the gener
al government has rendered Aboruve all the
undertakings that have been agitated. TLis Is
not true. The cause of our disasters is the
wsns Of ability in those who manage our publiek