Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-06-05

indiscriminate scene Of dssoiation. No
white man found fighting by the side OF
an Indian will be taken prisoner; n
slant death will be his lot. If the dio'
tates Of reason, duty, justice. and hu-
manity cannot prevent the employment
| of Q force which respects no rights, and
knows no wrong, ii will be prevented
BY . severe and relentless system of re-
tali,aion. I doubt not your courage
and fruuess, l will not doubt your Ate
,achmsnt to liberty. If you tender
your services Voluntarily they will be
accepted readily. The United States
offer you peace, liberty and security
Your choice lies between these and war,
slavery or destruction. Choose then;
choose wisely, and may He who knows
the Justice of our cause, and who holds
in his hand the fate Of nations, guide
you to the result the most compatible
with your rights and interests, your
peace and happiness.
WILLIAM HULL.
Before I proceed to any particular
explanations, l ask you to bear in
mind the situation in which | was
placed by the orders of the govern.
mcnt. was in an enemy's country,
with the command of a small body of
militia, and a few regulars, (the mum.
bers will hereafter be described,)
nearly 500 miles distant from any
magazines of provisions, munitions
of war, or reinforccments The E.
nemy with which | had to contend,
was all the British troops in Upper
Canada. all the militia of that pro-
vince, and all the northern and west.
ern Iulians, both in the territory OF
Canada and the United States, to-
gether with all the strength and re-
sources of the wealthy and powerful
North West Company.
Placed in this insulated situation,
by the orders of the government; and
surrounded by all the veteran Bril-
fish troops in Upper Canada; a pow
erful militia, subject to the command
of the British governor of the pro-
! vince, who was the general of the ar.
my; with but a small stock of provi-
| sions on hand, and no possibility of
obtaining a further supply, as the
| lake was commanded by a British
naval squadron, and the only comma
nication by land a wilderness of more
| than 200 miles, filled with hostile sa>
wages; l saw no possibility of even
sustaining my situation, unless the
militia could be prevented from taxi
| ing a part in the war, and joining
the British standard.
A large portion of the population
of that province had emigrated from
the United States. They had been
educated with the principles of free
dom and independence: and some Of
them, and many of their fathers, had
fought and bled in u revolutionary
contest. They were situated more
than 5000 miles from the country to
which they we're subjected. and had
no participation or interest in the
measures it adopted. Havirs for a
number of years lived in the,r neigh.
borhood. / had often heard them ex-
press the injustice and oppression
they suffered. and their natural right,
aud strong wishes to participate in
the same freedom and independence
which their brethren of tho United
States enjoyed. and under which
they were so prosperous and happy.
They we're informed that the force !
had was but the vanguard Of a much
greater. considered that ! had so.
lid grounds to make this declaration.
In the first place, it will be seen.
that / vas authorised to pledge the
faith of the government, that they
should be protected in their persons,
property, and rights. Could I have
believed that the government would
have authorised ne to have made
this pledge, without furnishing the
means of redeeming it? l beg you,
my fellow citizens, to look back, and
consider What took place, before |
left Washington, on this subject. In
my official communications to the GO
vernment, I stated. that in the event
of war with Great Britain, it would
b. necessary TO command the waters
of lake Erie by a naval force snperi.
or to that of the enemy; to provide
reiDforcements to secure the commu.
nication through the wilderness 1