Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-11-17

pressure, ana the greater the danger, the
more firm and vigorous will be the resis-
lance, and the more successful and glori-
Gus the result
1t is the avowed purpose Of the enemy to
lay waste and destroy our cities and villa
ges, and to desolate our coast, of which eA
amples aave already been afforded. IL IS
evidently his intention to press the war q
long he whole en- ent of our seaboard, in
the hope OF exhausting equally the spirits
of the people, and the national resources
There is also reason to presume. that il is
the intention to press the war from CsHada
on the adjoining Sfatgs, Wide attempts are
made on the city of New York, and other
important points, with view to the vain
project of ACKNOWLEDGMENT or subjugation
II may be inferred likewise to be part of
the scheme, to continue to invade this part
of the union, while separate force attacks
the state of Louisiana, In the hope OF TAX
ing possession of the city of New Orleans,
and Of the mouth of the Mississippi, that
great inlet and key to the commerce of all
that portion of the United States, lying
westward of the Allegheny mountains
The peace in Europe having given to the
OHCmy VIC p0oooiC tVkSN, IoS CSECu-
TALLY favored these objects.
The advantage which great naval su-
periority gives to the enemy by enabling
him to move troops from one quarter to
another, from Maine to the Mississippi, a
coast of two thousand miles extent is very
considerable Even small force moved
in this manner for the purpose avowed by
the British commanders cannot fail to be
sensibly felt, more especially by those who
are most exposed to it. 1t is obvious, if the
militia are to be relied Oh principally for
the defence ofour cities and coast against
their predatory and desolating incursions.
wherever they may be made, that by in
terfering with their ordinary pursuits of
industry, it mist be attended with serious
interruption and loss to them, and injury
to the public, while it greatly increases the
expense II is an object, therefore, of The
highest importance, to provide a regular
force with the means of transporting it
from ere quarter to another along our coast.
thereby following the movements Of the O.
nemy with tho greatest possible rapidity,
and repeling the attack wherever it may
DO made. These remarks are equally true
as to the militia service generally unde.
the present organization of the militia, and
the short terms of service prescribed bv
law. 1t may be stated with confidence
that at least three times the force in militia
has been employed at our principal cities
along the coast, and on the frontier, in
marching to and returning thence, that
would have been necessary in regular troops
and that the expense attending it has been
more than proportionabIy augmented from
the difficulty, if not the impossibiiity, of
preserving the same degree of system in
the militia as in the regular service.
But it will not be sufficient to repel these
predatory and desolating incursions. To
bring the war to an honorable termination,
we must not be contented with defending
ourselves. Different feelings must be touch.
ed, and apprehensions excited in the Brit
ish government By pushing the war into
Canada, we secure the friendship of the
Indian tribes, and command their services,
otherwise to be turned by the enemy a
gainst US; we relieve the coast from the
desoation which is intended for it, and we
keep in our hands safe pledge for an
honorable peace
Ii follows, from this view of the subject,
that it will be necessary to bring into the
field, next campaign, not less than 100000
regular troops Such force, aided In
extraor binary emergencies, by volunteers
and militia, will place US above all inquie-
tude as TO The final result Of this contest
1t will fix, on solid and imperishable
foundation, our union and independence !;
on which the liberties and happiness of our
fellow citizens SO essentially depend. 1t
will secure to the United States an early
and advantageous peace It will arrest, in
the further prosecution of the war, the
desolation of our cities and our coast, by
enabling us to retort on the enemy those
calamities which our citizens have been
already doomed to suffer; resort which
selfdefence alone, and sacred regard for
the rights and honor of the nation, could
induce the United States to adopt.
The return of the regular force now in
service, laid before you will shew how