Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1815-04-06
Mr.. Gaston's Circular
Letter.
WASHINGTON, march, /, 1915.

The moment has almost arrived when
the trust, with which have been honored,
Is to be restored to my constituents. They
will probably expect from me, On this oc-
easion, some general view Of our political
condition, and some account of the part
which have taken, as their representative,
IN the questions that have lately agitated
the public mind Ii is my wish, as we'll
as daty, to CRAFTY their expectation, and
hope that short letter may be made 10 ac-
conplish this purpose.
cannot fores, this OCCASION, Of offering
to you aud to them, my hearty congratula,
lions on the return of Peace. The cheer.
ing intelligence has already reached you.
and diffused gladness through every family
of your neishborhood. Let me Join in the
general joy of my friends--for few have
more detested this war than myself, and
none more aaxioasly sighed for its termina.
ton. Peace is to Us, blessing of nesti-
mable value--andit has arrived at the mo.
ment when it was most needed The OBJ
lect for which our administration had pro-
fessed to continue the war, since The repeal
of the orders in council, had become evi.
IDENTIFY hopeless No rational man believed
that the enemy could now be coerced into
any acknowiedg cement on the subject Of
seamen, derogating from his uniform and
universal demand of a right to take his own
men found on the high seas in other than
public ships None Believed that lie could
now be compelled to admit the principle,
that his subjects, by going through the
forms of naturalization here, were freed
from their native obligations TO their sove-
reign and country. The character Of the
war had greatly changed.--Originally car
ried into the territories OF the enemy, it had
been brought home to our own soil. The
visionary hope of planting the g star spangl
ed banner" in triumph, on the ramparts
Of Quebec, had yielded to the necessity OF
self defence. The enemy, eSasperated By
our attacks, and disposed to return an
overlooking measure Of retaliation power |
iul in arms, rich in resources, and freed
from all other contests--prosecuted fe.
rocious warfare, and had the faculty, by |
his naval superiority, of rendering it doubt,
fol what part of our country was next to be |
assailed. The people, ready to protect |
their homes and their families, against the |
fury Of an invader, were indeed competent !
for defence, whenever their exertions were |
required in season, and directed by skill
Had this been doubted, their achieve
ments on the plains Of Louisiana, must |
have satisfied the most incredulous. But |
the undisciplined vaIor of men hastily col. |
lected, badly equipped, and under the |
guidance of weak and distracted councils, |
afforded no security against the incursions
of regular army. Ofthis truth no sron-
ger evidence can be aiven than the smoul
dering ruins now befte my eyes. Engag-
ed thus in a contest, from which nothing
was to be hoped beyond selfpreservations
--our militia dying with pestiiential dis
eases, or barely escaping with life, to in
troduce contagion into their families--an I
unsatisfied and dishonored debt for the last i
year, of thirteen millions, hanging over US !
without the means to discharge it--mil !
lions upon millions required for the service !
of the present year, beyond The ability of !
the country to furnish, or tie credit of the |
government to borrow--thc spring rapidly |
approaching, when fouth campaign was
to be commenced, and hostilities renewed
with increased fury--at such moment,
peace is permitted to revisit Our afflicted
1t is impossible not to hail the
welcome visitor! 1t is impossible not to
re oics at the return OF such friend, too
long banished from its cherished home
But free people, whose welfare depends
on their own intelligence, should never
surrender themselves So far to the impress
sion of present good or evil, as to forbear
from reflection on the policy of past mea-
sures. Experience, is the school of wis
dom and nations, as well as individuals,
who will not profit from the instructions
there received, must make up their ac-
counts to abide the fate Of folly. The war
has closed We can now, therefore, calm
ly review the objects for which we have
fought, and estimate the result of all our
sufferings and tolls. Our government
made the war, to secure as they said,
: Free Trade and Seamen's Rights "--thc
one suffering under the British orders in
council-the other violated by the British
claim to impress their seamen from our