Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-08-09


Time cannot efface, nor can the tongue
of detraction and SANDER sully the fair
fame, or rob our revolutionary heroes OF
the laurels they have won, or the ho-
nor they achieved during this long and
sanguinary war. Go, view with me,
this land of liberty writing under the
wounds inflicted by domestic traitors,
and bleeding from every pore by the
scourges OF foreign and implacable
enemy And to complete the picture
OF distress; the savages lei loose upon
our frontier hamlets and inhabitants,
who spare neither age, sex nor condition.
Their war is war of determination,
their enmily is death. During this event
tul period, Ii required all the skill and
perseverance OF our Washington, to ST.
lence the clamors, and suppress the mu-
tlnous spirit that had began to show it.
self in the American army. An army
that was wretchedly supplied with al.
most every thing requisite Tor a military
campaign. Necessity compelled them
10 march over frozen ground without
shoes, and their footsteps could be lite
rally traced by blood. Do you wonder
they complad ? Do you aot rather
wonder they bore these depri,ations with
SO much patience and tortitude? Their
cause was just; and they had svitled to
triumph over the enemies Of heir coun-
try and the hereditary enemies OF tree
dom. The names OF Washington, Put
nam, Green, Montgomery, and Mercer
with list OF others, have long since
been enrolled in the pages OF history.
Their names are immortal; and their
deeds will be recounted with republican
enthusiasm, gratitude and praise, among
the latest acts of this republic
For when they died, they left lofty name,
light, landmark on the cliffs OF fame.
The peace concluded in '83, acknow-
LEGGED our independence, and gave free
dom to millions. 1t remains for the de-
scendants of those departed heroes TO
keep this precious legacy from the da-
ring attacks OF domestic traitors, or
The open and violent assaults of foreign
enemies. Should the independence o.
these states be jeorpardized in third
as 1t has been in second struggle with
he mother country; trust the same
| alacriIy, and patriotic spirit which beck
oned you to the field of battle in 1878,
and IA, would again show itself, should
| a foreign enemy dare interrnpt tho peac c
and harmony of these states. During
the interval of the peace concluded be-
tween England aud the Unltee States,
| from 1888, until June 1912, the people
OF these states, by the pacific Policy OF
our government during the violent strug-
giles OF the beliigerent powers ofElrope,
amassed more wealth than at any former
or subsequent period.
The temporary check upon otr com
| merce during the non-intercourse, prior
| 10 the late war, grew out of the Necessity
OF the case: and the indignities offered
tNs government, by Great Britain, finally
eventuated in compelling the people OF
| these states to ololhe themselves in
military armor, and prepare for the
deadly combat. The scenes Of barba-
rism which grew out ofthis second strug
gle for independence are too recent, and
fresh in the recollections of all, TO re.
qulre more than general abstract o.
It's commencement, continuance, ano
completion. For more than six years
our government resisted the temptation:
OF war, and resorted to every honorable
method of settling the differences be
tween this government and Great Bri
tain; but all to no effect. Negotiation.
were frequently entered into, and a,
frequently interrupted, and broken off
without etfecting or obtaining adequate
naturalization for injuries and depre-
dations committed by that government
upon our commerce. Our seamer
we're not unfrequently dragged from
American ships, contrary to the laws O
nations, and compelled to do duty or
board Of British ships of war. Neither
the "protection" from constituted au
thority, nor the flag under which they
sailed afforded that ample security whict
every American seamen had right to
expect. American ships and cargoes
were condemned as lawful prizes ir
British ports for noncompliance o.
the British "orders in council" Our
ships and cargoes were alike condemn
cd in French ports for an infraction Of
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES of Ma.
poleon." These negotiations and the
nen-intercourse resorted to by our go.
vernment did not effect the objects in.
tended, indemnify for the past, and Sc
curi'y for the future" These were some
OF the immediate causes which CON-
lied this republic to assume a hostile