Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1814-09-05
IMPORTANT y Gus !!

Since our last, intelligence of the mcst
important and interesting nature has been
recei7edftom various quarters. The City
OF Washington, the Capital Of the United
States, the principal Depot OF Military
Stores and Apparatus, together with the
Public Arsenals, have fallen into the hands
OF the Enemy and Public Property to an
immense amount, estimated 1T six or seven
millions of dollars, have been destroyed.
The proceedings previous and accompany
ing this event,are detailed in this day S paper
as fully as our limits would permit. II is
calamity attended with such peculiar * ex-
traordinary circumstances, as must excite
the strongest sensations in every part OF the
country. 1t appears, that Washington,
with all the Magazines and Public works,
situated under the very hose OF the Presi-
dent and Heads OF Departments, were to
tally destitute of defence, aud have fallen an
easy prey to force not exceeding or
5000! An awful responsibility rests some
where. The history of the world does not
afford parallel Of u government sending
its regular force TO invade distant province
OF the nation as ainst which 1t had declared
war & abandoning its own Capitol and Sea-
ports to the infoads Of the enemy at the
very time when their ships of war line the
coasts, and powerful naval and military
forces were within the very waters of the
country /; and when, for a long time, nu-
merous' accounts positively stated that
still more powerful expeditions were fitting
out for the very quarter where the attack
has been made. 10 call 1t folly and nesil-
gence Of the grossest kind, would be insult
ing and degrading to every national feeling:
On this subject, there ought not. there can
not, (unless the American People are re.
solved OH destruction J b. but one senu
ment. Many ot those who have heretofore
been among the warmest advocates OF the
present administration, do not hesitate to
proclaim their astonishment aud censure
of,hat system OF policy which has produ
esd the presenlawful and disastrous state
OF things. Did the People the y de-
msnd this war and unless it may be said
Of them like Priest, like Peoples" IL is
impossible that even those VINO may have
thought il just, can approve OF the man.
ner in which it has been conducted
The greatest enemies OF the country
not even the Rritirh Ministry, were they rs
wicked and hostile towards as Mr., Siadi'
son and his pariizans repressnted them 10
be previous To the declaratiGn OF war; 20
this, should domestic ireachery be added IN
those who fill high and responsible offices,
the situation Of the country could hardly be
rendered worse, than it's at the present
moment. How came our shores invaded
by hostile hsets and armies, our Capital IN
flames, Commerce driven from the ocean
and our sesports exposed to powerful and
exssperated foe Let those who recon-
mended and voted tor the war aud those
who plan and order the military force oil the
Country upon useless and worse than use
less expeditions TO the Canadas, answer IL
they Can Unless the American people are
welded to destruction, the day OF reckoning
cannot be very distant, when those who
have involved the country in destruction,
war and bloodshed, will be called upon to
show wherefore are these things FOR
years past, We have not ceased TO w4DA tbf
public otthe fa.sl consequences Which. the
system of measures pursued by Mr. Madi-
son and the leaders of his party, would
bring upon the country: sad experience
has verified these predictions. because we