Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-09-07
A PROCLAIM Alto N,

WHEREAS the enc by a sudden incursion
have succeeded in invading the capital of the
nation. defended at the moment by troops less
numerous than their own, ard almost entirely
OF the militia during their possession of which,
though Tor single dsv only, tney wantonly de,
stroy: d-the public editices having no relation
IN their structure to operations OF war, nor US.
cd al the time for military annoyance some of
these edifces being also costly monuments of
taste and OF the arts, and others repositories o.
the public archives. not only precious to the
nation as the memorials OF its origin and its
early transactions, but interesting TO all nations
az contributions to the general stock ofhistori
cal instruction. and political science
And wheress, advantage has been taken of
he iossni tor, more Immediately guarding,
he ne'Shhouring town of Alexandria, to place
he town within the range of n naval force. too
long and too much IN the habit of abustat. it's
superiority wherever it can be applied, to re-
quire, as the alternative Of a general coi,aarra
ton, an undisturbsd piunder OF private proper
~, which has been sxecus ed in a mu,n,r pecu.
harry distressing tothe inhabitants Who had.
...consloeratsiy, cast themselves upon he JUS
tice and generosity OF The victor ,ig
And whetera,. It now app ars, BY 4 direct
communication from the British cosn,nander
on the American station, to be his as,,wed nur.
pose to employ the force under hit dir,ct;on
IN destroying and laying waste such towns
and districts upon the coast an NAV BE- found
assa!labie ;" adding to this declaration tbe in.
suiting pretext that it is in retaliation. for
s,a destruction committed by the army ofthe
onsu states IN Upper Canada, when II is no-
torious, that no destruction has been comm;,,ed
which, Notwithstanding the multiplied ostra
ges previously committed, by the enemy. was
NOE unauthorized, and promptly shown To br
Sd and that the United States have beer, = .
consant in their endeavours TO reclaim ,hs
enemy from such outrages, by the corstra,nt
OF thelr own example, as they have been ready
TO terminate, on reasonable conditions the war
itself: ~ I = = - > - 40 '"e Wal Wal
And whereas, these proceedings and declared
purposes, which exhibn a deliber..te fi;srec.r,l
OF the principles of humanity, and the rules of
clvihzed warfare, and which must give to the
existing war a character Of extended deyasta.
tion and barbarism, at the very moment of nr.
scclations Tor peaces invited by the enemy him.
sen, leave no prospect of safety TO any thino
within the reach of his predatory and lincend;'
airy operations, but in manly and universal ,le-
termination to chistise and. expei the invader !:
VOW, therefore, J, James Madison, President
OF the y. States, do issue this nv Proc lamat;on
exhorting all the good people thereof. TO mite
tneir hearts and hands,in giving effect to tn
ample means possessed for that prrnose 7
ehJoIn II on all officers, civil and military. 70
e4er. tneseives in executing the duties win
whicn tney ar rcsrectivcy charged. And NOR
esPeciaiiy' require the officers cominandinp
the respective military districts, to be yieilan,
ana alert IN providing for the defence thereof !.
ZOE 'he more eiiectual accomplished of wkicnp
they are authorised to call to the defence of ex-
posed and threatened places portions of the
niititia most Convenient thereto, whether they
De or be not parts of the quotas detaci ment for
the service of the U. States under r, ouis;t,ons
oil the general government 800
On an occasion which appeals SO forcibly TO
the proud feelings and /, |. rotic devotion of ,bs.
Ameriosn people, none viii forget what thew
owe 10 themselves; "hat they owe to their coun
tsy q ths high destinies which avn II n what IN
the glory acquired by their fathers. IN estah
iishlng me Independence which is now to he
maintained by their sons, with the augmented
Strength and resources with which time and
Heaven have blessed them =
In testimony whereof, l have berenn,o
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed to these preseets.,
zone at the City of Washington, the first dav
OF September. in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and fourteen. and
OF the independence OF the United States the
thirty-ninth. osA''" INC
n, -. JAMES MADISON.
JAMES MONROE,
Secretary Of State.