Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-01-08
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY. MORNING. JAN. 5, 1870.
General Jackson and New Orleans.


We to-day commemorate the annivcrsa-
ry Of the battle of New Orleans, the clos
ing engagement of the second war with
Great Britain. In this conflict the enemy
lost not only their commander, Packing
ham, and other high officers, but left more
than two thousand men on the field Of the
slain, while our loss was but seven killed
and six wounded. This remarkable dis
parity is still more surprising when We con-
slider that the American army was composed
almost exclusively Of raw militia number
Ing about six thousand, while the British
force was from the veterans which had
recently driven the French from Spain,
and comprised fifteen thousand men.
The war, it will be remembered, origin
ated from the assumed right of British
cruisers to search the vessels of other ma
tions, and take their native.born subjects
from them, on the ground that no man
could change his allegiance to the govern
under which lie was born. Our Govern
ment held the reverse Of this doctrine, aud
when not only naturalizcd American citi-
zens, but native-born as well, were seized
and impressed, it became an outrage and
indignity grieyous to be borne. Still, so
slow arc people to appeal to.the arbitra.
ment of the sword, these and other wrongs,
were long and patiently borne. This sys-
ten Of espionage commenced during the
war between Great Britain and France, in
1906, and it was not until the 18th of June,
1872, that war was officially declared.
One Of the most glariug Of these outra-
ges was the firing into the Chesapeake, in
1907, by British ship ofwar, the Leopard,
and certain men, claimed to be British
subjects, were taken from her. This out
rage produced the widest excitement, the
President issued proclamation command
ing all British armed vessels to depart
from our waters, and commercial relations
between the countries were entirely sus-
pended. twas not until 1911 that repair
alton was made for the attack upon the
CAesapeuke, and the principle involved re-
maiued as far from settlement as ever.
On the Sd of April, 1872, a law was
passed laying an embargo for ninety days
this measure being in expectation of a
war with Great Britain. On tho LIST of
June following. war message was sent to
Congress by President Madison, in which
he submitted the question "whether the
United States shall continue passive under
these progressive usurpations, and these
accumulated wrongs, or, opposing force to
force in defence of their national rights,
shall commit just cause into the hands
Of the Almighty Disposer of Events" On
the 18th Of June the bill for declaring war
with Great Britain passed the House by a
vote Of 70 to 40, and on the 18th it passed
the Senate by 10 to 49,. Congress then
authorized the enlistment of $4,000 men,
yet from the want of competent officers, few
entered the service. AS consequence
our land forces suffered several severe de-
feats, among which were the surrender of
the fort of Detroit, and other forts and gar
risons, in the district of Michigan, without
a battle, the battle of Frenchtown, where
the prisoners taken were inhumanly mas
sacred by the Indian allies of the British,
and the capture of Washington and the
burning of the Capitol and public build
ings. These disasters were, however, more
than counterbalanced by subsequent yicto.
ries, and the brilliant achievements at sea,
the remembrance of which sti II sheds
halo of imperishable glory over our naval
history.
Here the action Of Massachusetts,, Con-
necticut and RHODE Island, is worthy Of
note. They resisted the demand fortroops