Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-12-09

The Last war with ENGLAND. -.

From an address before the veterans Of the
war rof 1872, by Rcy. Henry Ward Bccchcr;
The declaration Of war against Great Brit
ain cannot be regarded in any other light
than an exceedingly bold and hazardous de-
termination OH tine part of this people to
maintain inviolatc the right Of the country
and the principles Of liberty. That conflict
could not have boon provoked in the belief
that We're equal to Great Britain in the
means OF war. or that we We're. by our inter-
nal affairs, in Il state fit for p"rilouS cncoun-
ter. The whole country was in Il suffering
cptditiou they were not united in the belief
..... ...r WI ne drGl or Wis. There was
scarcely the elements Of IL navy, and there
was among all CLASSES of landSmrn conyic-
ton that England was invincbla ON the
ocean, Against the victorious fleets Of Ira
ialgarand the Nile, the scores Of linc-of-hattlc
ships and irigatcs in swnrms, we had ten
lrgntes and ten Her fry of briggs. schoon-
crS, &c, mail; ; but Great Britain could show
almost as many ships of war as We had can
non i'll our whole navy, for when the war
began the gums Of all our sea going vessels Of
every sort numbered but about 30. The
disparity of naval force may he imagined by
the fact that. even as latc;o 1880 the lnitcd
States had only 81 vessels in its who!, navy
against j37 in the f,n@iish Under sucu cir
cumStanccs it was crFt,iuiy no small alvan-
tagr to US that Great Britain fought the last
war "t lol2 with her lett hand. her right one
being engaged III Spain and Southern Europe.
But This docs not diminish the moral courage
OF the national act, nor the hCroism of the
COMMANDERS who in single ships vcnturcd
out upon an ocean covered by fleets. With
perhaps single exception, in every encounter
wi lln ,n1 ~,
skill and courage prevailed. And some of
the most memorable conflicts between single
ships, ocean ducls, that were ever recorded.
took place in our naval encounters. With
such immense disparity of forces our navy
consisting Of single adventurous frigatcs
after being surrounded or chased by fleets
not the least successful exploits consisted in
moving away from the enemy But, nimhle-
footed and as soon as out Of danger, turuino
round to watch her chance, woe be to an,
lucklcss lrigate that had strayed out of tn,
fleet, or WAS playing solitary truamt upon tn,
seas, Without going now into details. that
used to fire our bDNish zeal. and had wei
nigh carried us off to sea and into the Navy
details that we would not now willingly SET
up, OF boaStngly parade for the augmcnta
tion Of national vanity. may yet be permit
ted to say, that the moral effects of this wal
marked. The various victories upon tn,
lakes, Of inland fleets, and upon the sea. o
single vessels, broke the charms of myinci
bility which had made the English flag am Oh
icct almost Of superstition. From that du,
the American Navy has had life OF its own
and the country has had no fear Of tie result
of any conflict i'll which she has Justice Oh
her side, And other nations have learned t,
respect American irccmcn. Let it not b
supposed that the spirit oi fore, IN respect an,
home courage cnGcd i'll mere sentiment -
Commerce must always be "A marked clcmcn
of our national wealth. The success of on
ships gives pride to our sailors and to ou
shipbuiders. And those ncblc fleets of elm
pcrs that in fair race round the globe a.
no odds of steam itself, but take from the al
what requires extract from water. are tin
lineal descendants Of ships created by TIN
eXigency Of the late war, The blockading O
our ports hy overwhelming fleets. set ON
Shipbuildero upon the plan Of surprising tin
enemies ships by superior sailing qualities.
Baltimore lcd off with clippers, neat AN,
small, but light of foot, that dantilv rui
through the slow-lcgged fleets Of saips-ot
war, and sought foreign ports, cluding pur
sucrs on TIE ocean, coming fuIi-ircightc,
back again at their own sweet leisure am,
pleasure, and trirpcd through the fleets acail
as neatly and easily as II village belle gidc
through the awkward hands OF ,low-mouldo,
swain,, and escapes their clumsy courtcsics
From these have sprung the exquisite model
of our renowned clippers. And when vo,
shall see MckHy's noblcst and most princrn
ship, the Republic, brooding ON our waters
and swinging, like sleeping duck, to tn,
wave and tide, forget not that the impulse
winch our marine navy received in the war o
lSl2 has reached to tnis degree of victorious
skill. But let us not fail to recognize. crate
fully, II divine providence, that out of such ;
war has deduced 50 long and 50 firm IA peace
The respect OF England for Transatlantic DIES
ccndants has steadily increased from the clos,
of the war until this time. 10 be sure JOIN
Bull is very conceited of his own merits, !
fact that is more noticeable on account of ou
own rare humility. 1t is not to be denic,
chat there are English prniudices and Britisl
''us .u2'. Bat 4n spite oi L~tIui,a. fault
and follies, Ill spite Of commercial rivalry, il