Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-08-25
GEN. HULL'S DEFENCE.
II the CjtiSens of the United States
TeYOw Citizens

SttCh
IN submitting my defence to your considera-
Uon, and in making my appeal to your judg-
pent, | have only to ask you, to examine with
candor, and decide with impartiallty. l am SEN
s.ble the fate Of one man is OF little consequence,
compared to the fate of a nation.
If the sacrifice of me, however innocent, could
make atonement for the sins of others, redeem
our misfortunes, and restore the national charac-
ter, it might be justified by prccedents in other
countries, and perhaps, as a patriot, l ought to
be satisfied. 1t is unfortunate for the administra-
ton, and for the other Generals who have con-
Quoted our armies, that it cannot have the effect.
In countries where the people are hardly permit
ted to think, and their only prerogative is ODE
dience, innocence is no shield and because there
can be no inquiry, the most elevated merit is
often Brought to the scaffold for meritorious
conduct, But in a country where justice is the
basis Of its government, where the people are
enlightened by science, and understand both their
rights and duties, such outrages on justice can
not with IMMUNITY be committed.
Under a government thus constituted, when
~public misforsunes occur, those to whom the
administration is entrusted are in the first instance
responsible. They we'll know tire public VEN
geance will fall on them, unless they avert if,
and too often have no othe- means of ~justiica.
ton, but in the condemnation of others. The
power they possess, * the patronage they can give,
afford great facilities in etecting the object. 1t
Is however our happy lot, that, when this power
and patronage are unjustly exercised, a remedy
exists-and that remedy is an appeal 70 Your JUS
tice. To that Justice | now appeal, in the conf
dent expectation that you will be satisfied of the
purity and rectitude of my conduct, that you will
reverse the unjust sentence which has been pro-
nouHced against me, and restore me to that hon.
orable standing in society, which had been acquir-
ed by the services of nearly half a century.
I regret that it is not in my power, in this COM
munication, to present to you all the testimonies
and documents on which my defence is grounded,
and which had any relation to the trial The
proceedings of the court martial are deposited in
the office of the Secretary of the Department of
Wan, and by law l am entitled TO a copy of them
AS soon as they are obtained, they will be pub
lshed in a separate number.
believe we are all conscious of the crimes OF
which we are guilty. When / might have shell.
tered myself in the enemy's territory, as a prison
er OF war, / ask you to account on any other
principle than a consciousness of my innocence,
and that / had faithfully done my duty Wha,
other principle could have induced me to have
requested an investigation OF my conduct! When
a court martial was ordered to assemble at Phi.
~ladelphia for my trial, why did l promptly repair
thither, without any restraint, and without even
having been Invested of my sword After
the trial had been postponed by the government,
and without any request on my part, and having
before that time received notice of my exchange
from the government, why did l remain more
than a year in the country, without any restraint
or confinement :
When the new court was ordered fer my trial