Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-02-24

fndt NfOleCUO0, not De restrained. ON any
consideration OF expence, from giving my support
needs defence, and l anxious that defence
should be provided for it, to the fullest extent,
and in the promptest manner. But what is the OIL
ect of this bill To what service is this army des-
tined when its ranks shall be filed We are told,
Sir, that the frontier is invaded, and that troops
are wanted to repel that INVASION Ii is too true
that the frontier is invaded; that the war, with all
its horrors, ordinary and extraordinary, is brought
within our territories and that the inhabi-
tants, near the country of the enemy. are compel
led to f1y, lighted BY the fires of their own houses,
to stay and meet the foe, unprotected by any
adequate aid OF government. But shew me, that
by any vote OF nine, any effort of mine, l can
contribute to the relief of such distress--Shew
me, that the purpose of government, in this
measure, is to provide defence for the frontiers
aver see evidence of any such intention l
have assurance that this army will be applied to
any such object. There are, was said by my
honorable friend from New York, Mr.. Grosveuor)
strong infer the contrary, from the fact
that the forces hitherto raised have not been SO
applied, in any suitable or sufficient proportion.
The defence of our territory seems hither-
to to have been regarded OBJ iect of secon-
Diary Importance duty of lower order than
the invasion OF the enemy The army raised last
year was competent TO defend the frontier. To
that purpose government did fit to apply it.
wade with success the provinces of the enemy.
To that purpose, however, it was applied. The
substantial benefit which might have been obtained
and ought to have been obtained, was sacrificed to
scheme OF conquest, in my spinion, wild one.
commenced without means, prosecuted without
plan or concert and ending III disgrace. Nor is it
the inland frontier only that has been left de-
fenceess. The sea coast has been, in many places,
wholly exposed. Give me leave to state one
instance The mouth of one of the largest rivers
in the eastern section of the union is defended by
fort mounting fourteen guns. This fort, for a
great part of the last season. was holden by one
man and one boy only. state the fact on the au-
thorty of an honorable gentleman of this house.
Other cases, almost equally fragrant, are known
to have existed in some of which interests OF a
peculiar character and great magnitude have been
at stake With this knowledge Of the past, l
must have evidence of some charge in the pur-
poses OF administration, before can vote for this
bill, under expectation that protection will
thereby be afforded to either frontier of the union
OF such change, there is no intIrnation. On the
contrary, gentlemen tell us, explicitly. that the
acquisition of Canada is still deemed TO be an
sentim object and the vote OF the House, with
in the last-ha!f hour, has put the nnstter beyond
doubt. An Hon gentleman from Virginia Mr.
Shefrey) has proposed an amendment TO this bill,
limiting the service OF the troops to be raised by
It's provisions. to objects of defence. To the bill
thus amended he offered his support, and would
have been cheerfuy followed by his friends
The amendment was rejecte4 1t is certain, there
fore, that the real object Of this proposition to
increase the military force to extraordinary
degree, by extraordinary means is to act over a.
gain the scenes of the two last campaigns. To
that object / cannot lend my support. am
already satisfied with the exhibition.
Give me leave to say, sir. that the tone on the
subject of The conquest of Canada seems to be
not little changed. Before the war the con-
quest was represented to be quite an easy affair.
The vaIian, spirits who medtated it were
glorious. They had no apprehension, except that
resistance would not be powerful rs to render
the victory splendid. These confident expecta-
tons were, however, accompanied with a CON-
mendabie spirit of moderation, the true mark of
great mnds, and it was gravey said, that we
GU rht not to make too large grasp for dominionj
but to stop IN our march of conquest northward,
somewhere about the line Of perpetual congela-
ton, and TO leave to enemies or others, the
residue of the continent to the pole. How hap
pens it, sir, that this country. easy Of acqui-
sition, and over which according to the prophe-
cies, we were to have been, by this time iegis-
latine, dividing 1t into states and territories, is
not yet ours Nay, sir, how happens it that
we not even tree of invasion ourselves /; that
gentlemen here call us, by all the motives of
patriotism, to assist in the defence of our ewn
soil, and pourtray before the sta of the from
tier, by frequent and animated illusions to all
those topics, which the modes Of Indian warfare
usually suggest
This, Sir, is not what we were promised--
This is not the entertainment to which we were
invited THIS is fulflment of those predic-
tons, which it deemed obstinacy, itself
not to believe. This is not that harvest of
greatness and glory, he seeds Of which were
supposed to be sown with the declaration of war
When we ask, Sir, for the causes of these dis
appointments, we are told that they are owing
to the opposition which the war encounters in
this house, and among the people. All the evils
which afflct the country are imputed to opposi.
ton. This is the fashionable doctrine, both here
and else where. II is said to be owing to opposi.
ton that the war became necessary; and owing
to opposition also, that it has been prosecuted
with better success. This, Sir, is no new
strain. 1t has been sung a thousand times. It
is the constant tune of every weak or wicked
administration. What minister ever yet acknowl-
edged, that the evils which fell on his country
were the necessary consequences OF his own
incapacty, his own folly, or his own corruption
What possessor of political power ever yet fail
ed to charge the mischiefs resulting from his