The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-10

which pTesaged ana secured victory iiouuI lhuSSu'
was then the position Of the people OF Louisiana
What was their mission To defend their homes
their daughters, wives and their sisers-al that was
most dear-from insult, from violation to ehastse
an insolent and too often ruthless enemy and oclose
a war in halo Of glory, which, had louisiana sub
mitted TO conquest, must have terminated in gloom
of shame and humiliation from the Passamaquoddy
TO the Sabine
recent writer, III. NJ. Breckenridge, commences
an essay derogatory TO General jackson thus
"The day has not yet arrived when one may ven
ture to say that the political importance of the vlcto
ry Of New Orleans of the 9Th of January, has been
greatly overrated There is already great falling
of in the enthusiasm with which is celebrated as
national event"
And why that falling Off Simply because time
lessons The Importance in human feeling Of any
whatever and because Me day vet has not arrped
when due appreciation has been made of the politl-
cal importance of the repulse of the British from
louisiana and their signal defeat the 9Th Of Janu-
airy, 1915. To depict some of that importance, let
hear Mr.. ii. M. b. himself.
AT the very time Of that victory the treaty OF
peace had been actually signed providing for the
soraton of conquered territory either side IL is
true, 1t served 10 heighen the feeling of national
glory, and TO raise military reputation with TO
reign nations. To the war il a glorious close
and, if no circumstance of painful nature had at
tended the defence OF Louisiana, the American pa
trot might dwell upon il Of the brightest
pages IN the history OF his country"
Let me ask Mr.. Breckenridge who excited these
painful circumstances Let tell him and all
concerned, that arrived from Ope!ousas, in the city
OF New Orleans on the evening of the 9th of De-
cenabor, and went TO tie house OF my nephew, viii
liam Flower, in the Fauburg st. Mary and spent the
evening with Judge Dominic A. Hall and my brother
in-law, Judge George Mathews These two honora-
BILE Judges left the city next day and placed them
selves at the house of another broth, r-n-aw of mne
at Bayou Sara, DR.. Samuel Flower, at the safe dis
lance of upwards of one hundred and % miles from
either their own or the enemys camps. To do JUS
tice to Judge Mathews, he kept himself out of either
the glorious painful circumstances of the contest
and did not return to the until all danger was
But we'll turn to Mr.. Breckenridge again pre-
senuy
Were it relevant to the purpose, would not 60 in
to detail the campaign, suffice it to say that the
British reached the bank of the Mississippi on the
morning of the Odd of December, at General Vile
res farm. Major Villcre, the son, escaped, as did
his brotherinaw, Colonel de la Bonde, and the for
crossing the river and the latter by the left bank
gave General Jackson information of the fact. Now
shone forth the General in fact Without consulting
other counsel, than his spirit, every dsposable
corps were ordered to march, and though it was i'm
possible 10 reach the enemy before evening, severe
though desultory action followed In the common
use of the term no victory could be claimed by either
army, but the moral effects of victory remained with
army. The British were parayzed as they very
naturally supposed that the army under Jackson
greatly superior in numbers what IT was in rea y to
dare attack. In the ensuing summer in converse
ton with Gen. Wilkinson that oicer-any thing else
than friend TO General Jackson-observed that the
real military merit of the battle of the Odd of De-
cember, 1914 far above that Of the 9Th Of Janu-
airy, 1915, and added, that Hannibal Julius Cesar
or Napoleon, could not have done better under the
circumstances. The further operations of the war;
and its issue, you are too well acquainted with TO
need any these heads from me. We now
approach your second query on the necessity of con-
tinung martial law.
Here might premise some observations the at
tending circumstances of the British invasion of Loui-
siana. 1t must be known to, and acknowledged by
every person acquainted with the circumstances of
the province of Louisiana being ceded TO the United
States that the Government of Great Britain always
felt and very often expressed; dissent and chagrin
the subject. When the war became open between
the two countries the British found occupation on
the side OF Canada for most of the time il endured
but, towards the beginning Of the thrd year, their
views changed, and their attention turned TO the
South, and deep was the game they now play ed
Negota'ors called together at Client in Elan
ders, to arrange terms of peace In the mean time
active operations Of hostility were increased on the
side of enemy. In August they made coup d
plain took the National Metropolis, and burnt its
Capitol The objects on the part Of the British in
making this inroad, were gained. One object was
gained, to produce depression of mind amongst the
people Of the United Stat :, and who can DENY the
fact that such was, to great degree the effect -
Another object was to divert attention from the main
part of the plan, conquest of louisiana with a
view Of keeping its possession As negotiations adj
yancej so did the British operations proceed and,
finally at the very time, by calculation that Peace
was TO be signed wi fleet and army at an expense
beyond any other armament fitted out during the ar
the British invaded Louisiana. They had oyerween-
ing confidence Of success, but were defeated as we
have seem by the talents, energy and judicous mea-
sures Of its General, and by the gsllantry Of an army
formed under circumstances unequalled
1t would seem, from Mr. H. VI. BIS expressions,
that General Jackson when he attacked the British
on the 23d of December, ought, il he did not, know
that peace would be signed next day at Client
General Jackson, not possessing supernatural put in
action physical power, and in all human probability
sealed that peace and prevented a continuance Of the
war or a ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the Union. Mr. II NJ.
u. supposes II "rery questionable wIciher the nation
w0ud mol hare been ultimately gainer bya different re-
suit y l. e. conquest Of Louisiana in place Of its
successful defence. As respects contingent results,
Mr.. ". VI. b. aud myself can know about as much
as Gen. Jackson did Of what was taking place at the