Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-02-28

we have now advanced. Al the time o
Mr. iionioe'S entrance iato The depart.
ment ot state, we were at variance with
France and Great Britain. Both powers
had done us great injury but 4 hope Was
entertained that our ditiiculiis with each
might be Sctt Ell with ut an appeal 10 war
Mr.. Monro, > commune ,tons with each
OF these pow erS, and his reports on the
condu, 1t both, have been land before the
pubic. Ills correspondence y lin Mr.. Eos
te', was OK 4 conc liato'y cha, acter and
distinctly manifested anxiety Tor the pre-
servaIion OF peace. But this was imprac-
ticable. The British government had re-
solved to enforce its system of ,mpressmeut
and spofator. lh- alternative presented
70 the Amc rlcan goveruD ent aud people
was submission or WAY. I'hS Liter, hap
PLY Tor th!s country, was pr, ferred Con-
tinued acquie sccnce and submlssicn.w would
have suD. us TO the lowest pIint Of ra,ion-
al degradati IL. and have fix. d upon our
republican institutions, the charge of imbe-
eilitv, with which they have been so clam
orousy asset d. To ;his charge, the con-
duct OF Z Z American people during the
war, and the result Of tic contest, have
| afforded the most Satisfactory reply.
The Offer OF the Russian mediation, gave
TO our government IN opportunity, OF which
advant sc VS. imm ediately taken, TO c.
vince its disposition for peace. The IN
structicns TO cur III nisters appointed 10
| negotiate with the British government un-
der that mediation, and the subsequent III
structons authorizing them to negotiate
separately and directly with Great Britain
alter the mediation had been rejected,
have all been published, and, we believe,
| highly approved.
L
forwards pressed on our government. and
country. The overthrow Ui France ona-
bled the British government TO employ It's
whole force IN the prosrc ution of the war
against the u. States. The storm seemed
about TO break On every part of the Union
at the same moment. On the lakes an5
! the ST. Lawrence, on the 4 street Of Maine,
| and OF tbs whole Cos st from renubscot to
! New Orleans, 40 part was flee from tie
menace OF immediate nd !orni able in
v'Aion. The city of Washington was en-
tered, and its public buildings destroyed.-
1t Was at tins period that the President
requested Mr.. Mo. roe to take charge of
thS d' partm IT OF war. He did not Lcsl-
ta!e 10 con ply. Il mas a measure cf git At
hazard, but tue situation Of The country
| pointed out the pata If duty, and from the
performance u duty, no danger, 10 dfi
cnsty rel ting merely To himself, could in
duce him 70 &, part. II 5 conduit in the
WAT department, undertaken at the NEST
siSlr usperiod OF alfairs, has, We believe,
Z ven general. II not universal satisfaction.
II is well known that he devoted himself
u ITS du les with an Industry so uemi,ira-
e. and ndsfatlg able, that he had nearly
! fh!en victim to exertions. which sea: cc-
! ~ any str myth Of constitution could sup
p ri. The good effects of his adminis.ra-
TO" were soon fclt. in every section of TIT
! onion. lie niorcementS were promptly
| ordered to the men iced points, and mar n :
ed with Celebrity TO the places of their
destination. We state with confidence,
! that the aid which he sent to General
f. !2' kson assisted MIN in the protection of
New Orleans, and n saving from spolia-
ton the vast property which had been there
&c umulated. We state with equal con-
| tdcnce, that the force which had bcen
! previously stati"ncist any exposed point
Was IN no instance diminished, and I 1T it
was augmented 1t many points with the
utm st practicable dispatch, and with en-
neht advantage. i lying en- the good sense,
vir,ue and f mn.ss q. the nsli,n. Mr..
! Monroe decincl 10 responsibility which
the ciisis imposed upon hln. Un'er the
sup rlntendarce of the President, he
! termed plans cal ulatel 60 call into seton
the generous, arden, and patriotic spirit
or his tsllJw-citizcms ANA even 1T tue
moment OF most extraordinary perl, MS
arrangements were net merely Offensive
| we have good reason to be ieve tn I h
| h"d already d'Srsted plan, for the next
| Campaign, by which he contemplated an
! entire change i'll the character of the war
| lie nation, III truth, vas arising in TIC
! tn.iDess OF lis strength and we hive no
coud, if the war had cont ued, that we
Should have gained new triumpns as bril-
liant as thSr consequences would have
been important and us ful. lin horor
able heace feTmiHcEea this glorious ca