The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-19

provemen,s, and resources Of the British American
colonies British bottoms. British subjects, British
British colonial staples the trans
atlantic outworks of that great European fortress in
trenched by insular defences in front of the Old
World, exercising immense power over the
New. Fully approaching the military advantages
of her position, Great Britain is ever on the alert
TO increase and strengthen them; sezing upon ev-
cry spot which may be rendered available.
"When we come 70 the naval operations Of the
war Of 1912, we shall see that, even without an
army, our little squadron, if well advised and d.
rected, might have struck severe, il not fatal
blow, at English-American power by concentrating
Its force upon Halifax as soon war was declared
before England was prepared for il. Cooperating
with land expedition moving from Maine on that
place, II could hardly have failed. The short-sght-
ed schemes of government, lukewamness in the
Executive, timidity in Congress, the unwarlike
spirit of free institutions, the unnerving influences
of protracted peace, the fears of old commanders
the force of circumstances, ordered It otherwise
Canada was not only not conquered but not even
injured. The English government OF II, civil and
military, noby defended its provinces. Our efforts
at first miserable failures, were at last only marital
exercises, elementary schools in the art of war"
| The unfortunate result Of the Canadian exped
ton, ending with Hull's surrender, trial. and con.
vction, is well known. 'The effect Of Hull's sur.
render,n says Mr.. lngersoll, "was terrible. He
who, as a subordinate officer, had established char
acter for courage and fortitude, when young by
deplorable infrmity, when promoted to command
afflicted his country with encouragement, which
might have been fatal, but for relief where no one
looked for il. They who expect election returns
| or foreign news, with anxious anticipation, may
form some faint idea Of the ncreduous alienation
Of fear and hope, which awaits new tdings in .
country unusued to war" The chapter con
cludes:
"The campaign of 1912 ended in total eclipse
without CLEAN of onsolation--Dearborn's, the las
and most nexplicable Of all its mscarriages Hul's
incomprehensble surrender was alarming and ter
rible the battle of Queenstown discontinue moi
entirely without solace; Smythe's ridiculous balk
at least provoking; but the commanderin-chef's
miscarriage, without even heroism Of disaster, af
icted the friends of war with conviction that they
were doomed to defeat. With all indulgence to the
commanders Of 1912 and 1913, it was not only
right TO supersede, but them us their faults
were made known. The English generals had
much greater difficulties to contend with for defend
ing Canada, than ours to conquer it. Bonapare's
splendid career of Italian triunlphs, Wellington's in
Spain, began with and overcame much greater sim.
liar disadvantages. Such was the case with Wash
ington in the North, and Greene in the South 1t Ii
nearly always 80. Generals must overcome
hindrances privations, and prejudices inflicted by
their own constituents, harder of management
than TO subdue enemies in arms against them
A man of talents leading our armies to Mont
| real, as might have been done in 1879, would
probably have brought the war 10 an end
that year. England was completely surprised
by and unprepared for it Such general at De
troit, Niagara, or Champlain, as would have driver
the English beyond Montreal might have produced
immediate peace. As soon the orders in council
were recalled, England rendered il, in full conf
dence thatwe would agree; for the question of i'm
pressment was not incapable of accommodation
even while Great Britain remained bclligerent ma
ton. The Prince Regents speech to Parliament thu
7th January, 1919, was pacific: he expressed regre
at unadjusted difficulties with the United States o
America, assuring both houses that all means o
cancellation would be employed consistent with thu
honor and dignity of the Crown, and the maritime
and commercial rights of the British empire. Hui
and Dearborn, and executive ineficiency, were an
swerable for proloDging the war, the vigorous ant
successful commencement of which might have
credtably closed it, soon after it began. The feel
ing Of naughty power did not then stimulate Grea
Britain, which followed the downfall of Napoleon
next year. The time for war was fortunate for US
our chance Of success good, had either the govern
ment or its military agents in command made thu
most of the opportunity. But the soldiery wer
demoraized by incapable commanders, in mortify
ing apprenticeship to the art Of war for two years
4 of transcendent successes by sea, which, If accom-
panied by something like them by land, might hav
prevented that novitate. A free country paid il
war for the liberty enjoyed in long peace. Free
| people will not bear the restraints and expense o
military organization in peace. Since the declara
ton of American independence, however, all expe
rience in the Old World, as well the New, proves
that disciplined freedom is eventually an overmatcl
for despotic discipline. The most absolute govern
ments have found it so. The problem TO be SOLVED
is, how much liberty is consistent with nationa
safety. The progress of the United States in mill
tary science and equipment since the war Of 1917
has been much greater than from the peace of 178
till then. Oppression provoked that war, ant
tribuation was its lesson. But il war by mar
tial people, disorganized at first is to succeed q
last is not excessive liberty preferable to extrem
discipline The end crowns the work Mel
must be disciplined to obedience and harmony
TO unity of action, in order to succeed. How
much liberty they will bear, how much disci
pline they need are the great questions. The navy
by perfect discipline, never failed. The army
without discipline, never triumphed. Voiuntar,
government, voluntary religion, voluntary hostili
ties, are American experiments, which, according
Jeffersons argument of relative good have thus ia
withstood foreign aggression, maintained domesti
peace, escaped civil war, and advanced the arts
civilization. BY happy mixture of constraint wit
Independence, law, and liberty, the United State
stand now among the primary powers of the world
minary reverses and postliminous successes, large
y contributed. II may long remain matter Of cor
troversy and disputed political science, whether re
publican government is strong as others. Ths
war established, beyond dispute, its capacity 70
war under difficult and trying circumstances; whic
seem to have been ordained to prove and vndicate
by early misfortune, the unconquerable spirit, apt
tude, versatility, and resource of free people"
4 Chapter III of this remarkably interesting book
is devoted to description Of the special session
1919, its men and measures. We extract the fol
lowing passages:
"The session of Congress began the Oath Of May
i 1873. On the 10th Of June, the chairman of tn
Committee Of Ways and Means, Mr.. Eppes, witt
permission Of the House, reported relative to wei
digested system Of public revenue, and on motto
and leave, presented the tax bills viz: for the
sessment and collection of direct tax on lands an
slaves, salt tax, on licenses to retailers carriag
tax, still tax, on auctions on refined sugar, O.
stamps, on foreign tonnege, further provision 70
the collections, and bill to establish the Office O
commissioner Of the revenue. All these bills were
as usual, read the first and second time, by thei
titles, that day, and committed to committee Q