The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-09-14
Deharfment az Sac,

Ssht. 6, 1914
SIR have had the honor to receive your
letter of the 18th Of August, stating that ha-
wing been called on by the Govcrnor-GeneT'-
al of the Canadas TO aid him III carrying into
effect measures Of retaliation against the in
habitants Of the United States, for the wanton
-deseiation committed oy their army in Up
per Canada, it has become your duty, confcr-
mabIy with the nature of the Gcvernor-G Cen
erals application, to issue to the naval force
under Your command, an order to destroy &
lay waste such towns C districts upon the coast
as mSy be found assaiable.
It is seen with the greatest surprise, that
this system OF devastation which has been prac-
tised by the British forces, so manifcstiy con-
trary to the usage of civilized warfare, is pla-
ccd by YOU on the ground Of retaliation No
sooner were the United States compelled to
resort TO war against G. Britain, than they re-
solved TO wage in manner most consonant
to tic principles Of humanity, and 10 those
friea1,ly relations which it was desirable tc
preserve between the two nations, after the
restoration OF peace. They perceived, how
ever, with the deepest regret, that spirit a
Ike just and humane, was neither cherished
nor acted en- by your government Such an
assertion would not be hazarded, if il was
not supported by facts, the proof of which has
perhaps already carried the same conviction
to other nations that it has to the people of
these states Without dwelling on the deplo-
rabe cruelties committed by the savagss in
the British ranks, and in British pay, on Ame-
rican prisoners at the River Raisin, which to
this day have never been disavowed or atoned,
refer, as more immediately connected with
the subject of your letter, to the wantOn de
ISOLATION that was committed at Havre-de-
Grace, AMI at George Town, early in the
Spring 1915. These villages were burnt &
r lvaged by the naval forces of Great BIi-
tain, to the rnn of their unarmed inhabitants
who saw with astonishmcnt that they de-
rived no protection to their property from the
laws of war. During the same season, scenes
Of invasion and pillagc, carried on under the
S i;nc authority, were Witnessed all along the
waters of the Chesapeake, to all extent in
fictihg the most serious private distress, and
under circumstances that justified the susDici-
on, that Ycvenge and cupidity, rather than
the manly motives that should dc
tate the hostility Of a high-ininded foe,
led to their preparation. The late des-
triction ct the Houses Of the Government in
this CITY is another act which comes neces-
sarily into view. In the wars of modern Fu-
ripe, no examples Of the kind, even amcng
nations the most hostile to each other, can be
traced. In the Course Of ten years past, the
Capitals of the principal powers of the Cont
nelt Of Europe have been conquered, and oc-
cupicd alternately by the victorious armies of
each other, and no Instance Of such wanton
and uuiustihable destruction has been seen
We must go back to distant and barbarous
ages, to 6Rd parallel for the acts VI which
complain.
Although these acts Of desolation invited If
they did not impose on the Government the
Of retaliation, yet ii no instance has
Il been authorised. The burning Of die village
of Newark in Upper Canada, posterior to the
early cutrages ailGve enumerated, was not ex-
ecuted On that principle. The village of New
ark adloined Fort George, and It's destruction
was justified by the officer who ordered it, on
the ground that il became necessary IN the
military operations there. The act however
was disavowcd by Che Government. The
burning which took place AZ Long Point was
upauthofised by the 5ovcrn nent, and The con-
duct Of the officer su,iectc- to tie investg1-
ton Of military tribunal. For the burning al |
*. Davi5's committed by s,ragslers, the Off