That result is not yet known. If, on the one
hand, the repeal of the orders in council and the general pacification
in Europe, which withdrew the occasion on which impressments from
American vessels were practiced, suggest expectations that peace
and amity may be reestablished, we are compelled, on the other
hand, by the refusal of the British Government to accept the offered
mediation of the Emperor of Russia, by the delays in giving effect
to its own proposal of a direct negotiation, and, above all, by
the principles and manner in which the war is now avowedly carried
on to infer that a spirit of hostility is indulged more violent
than ever against the rights and prosperity of this country.
This increased violence is best explained by
the two important circumstances that the great contest in Europe
for an equilibrium guaranteeing all its States against the ambition
of any has been closed without any check on the overbearing power
of Great Britain on the ocean, and it has left in her hands disposable
armaments, with which, forgetting the difficulties of a remote
war with a free people, and yielding to the intoxication of success,
with the example of a great victim to it before her eyes, she
cherishes hopes of still further aggrandizing a power already
formidable in its abuses to the tranquillity of the civilized
and commercial world.
But whatever may have inspired the enemy with
these more violent purposes, the public councils of a nation more
able to maintain than it was to acquire its independence, and
with a devotion to it rendered more ardent by the experience of
its blessings, can never deliberate but on the means most effectual
for defeating the extravagant views or unwarrantable passions
with which alone the war can now be pursued against us.
In the events of the present campaign the enemy,
with all his augmented means and wanton use of them, has little
ground for exultation, unless he can feel it in the success of
his recent enterprises against this metropolis and the neighboring
town of Alexandria, from both of which his retreats were as precipitate
as his attempts were bold and fortunate. In his other incursions
on our Atlantic frontier his progress, often checked and chastised
by the martial spirit of the neighboring citizens, has had more
effect in distressing individuals and in dishonoring his arms
than in promoting any object of legitimate warfare; and in the
two instances mentioned, however deeply to be regretted on our
part, he will find in his transient success, which interrupted
for a moment only the ordinary public business at the seat of
Government, no compensation for the loss of character with the
world by his violations of private property and by his destruction
of public edifices protected as monuments of the arts by the laws
of civilized warfare.
On our side we can appeal to a series of achievements
which have given new luster to the American arms. Besides the
brilliant incidents in the minor operations of the campaign, the
splendid victories gained on the Canadian side of the Niagara
by the American forces under Major-General Brown and Brigadiers
Scott and Gaines have gained for these heroes and their emulating
companions the most unfading laurels, and, having triumphantly
tested the progressive discipline of the American soldiery, have
taught the enemy that the longer he protracts his hostile efforts
the more certain and decisive will be his final discomfiture.
On our southern border victory has continued
also to follow the American standard. The bold and skillful operations
of Major-General Jackson, conducting troops drawn from the militia
of the States least distant, particularly of Tennessee, have subdued
the principal tribes of hostile savages, and, by establishing
a peace with them, preceded by recent and exemplary chastisement,
has best guarded against the mischief of their cooperations with
the British enterprises which may be planned against that quarter
of our country. Important tribes of Indians on our northwestern
frontier have also acceded to stipulations which bind them to
the interests of the United States and to consider our enemy as
theirs also.
In the recent attempt of the enemy on the city
of Baltimore, defended by militia and volunteers, aided by a small
body of regulars and sea men, he was received with a spirit which
produced a rapid retreat to his ships, whilst concurrent attack
by a large fleet was successfully resisted by the steady and well-directed
fire of the fort and batteries opposed to it.
In another recent attack by a powerful force
on our troops at Plattsburg, of which regulars made a part only,
the enemy, after a perseverance for many hours, was finally compelled
to seek safety in a hasty retreat, with our gallant bands pressing
upon them.
On the Lakes, so much contested throughout the
war, the great exertions for the command made on our part have
been well repaid. On Lake Ontario our squadron is now and has
been for some time in a condition to confine that of the enemy
to his own port, and to favor the operations of our land forces
on that frontier.
A part of the squadron on Lake Erie has been
extended into Lake Huron, and has produced the advantage of displaying
our command on that lake also. One object of the expedition was
the reduction of Mackinaw, which followed with the loss of a few
brave men, among whom was an officer justly distinguished for
his gallant exploits. The expedition, ably conducted by both the
land and the naval commanders, was otherwise highly valuable in
its effects.
On Lake Champlain, where our superiority had
for some time been undisputed, the British squadron lately came
into action with the American, commanded by Captain Macdonough
(sic). It issued in the capture of the whole of the enemy's ships.
The best praise for this officer and his intrepid comrades is
in the likeness of his triumph to the illustrious victory which
immortalized another officer and established at a critical moment
our command of another lake.
On the ocean the pride of our naval arms had
been amply supported. A second frigate has indeed fallen into
the hands of the enemy, but the loss is hidden in the blaze of
heroism with which she was defended. Captain Porter, who commanded
her, and whose previous career had been distinguished by daring
enterprise and by fertility of genius, maintained a sanguinary
contest against two ships, one of them superior to his own, and
under other severe disadvantages, 'til humanity tore down the
colors which valor had nailed to the mast. This officer and his
brave comrades have added much to the rising glory of the American
flag, and have merited all the effusions of gratitude which their
country is ever ready to bestow on the champions of its rights
and of its safety.
Two smaller vessels of war have also become prizes
to the enemy, but by a superiority of force which sufficiently
vindicates the reputation of their commanders, whilst two others,
one commanded by Captain Warrington, the other by Captain Blakely,
have captured British ships of the same class with a gallantry
and good conduct which entitle them and their companions to a
just share in the praise of their country.
In spite of the naval force of the enemy accumulated
on our coasts, our private cruisers also have not ceased to annoy
his commerce and to bring their rich prizes into our ports, contributing
thus, with other proofs, to demonstrate the incompetency and illegality
of a blockade the proclamation of which is made the pretext for
vexing and discouraging the commerce of neutral powers with the
United States.
To meet the extended and diversified warfare
adopted by the enemy, great bodies of militia have been taken
into service for the public defense, and great expenses incurred.
That the defense everywhere may be both more convenient and more
economical, Congress will see the necessity of immediate measures
for filling the ranks of the Regular Army and of enlarging the
provision for special corps, mounted and unmounted, to be engaged
for longer periods of service than are due from the militia. I
earnestly renew, at the same time, a recommendation of such changes
in the system of the militia as, by classing and disciplining
for the most prompt and active service the portions most capable
of it, will give to that great resource for the public safety
all the requisite energy and efficiency.
The moneys received into the Treasury during
the nine months ending on the 30th day of June last amounted to
$32,000,000, of which near eleven millions were the proceeds of
the public revenue and the remainder derived from loans. The disbursements
for public expenditures during the same period exceeded $34,000,000,
and left in the Treasury on the first day of July near $5,000,000.
The demands during the remainder of the present year already authorized
by Congress and the expenses incident to an extension of the operations
of the war will render it necessary that large sums should be
provided to meet them.
From this view of the national affairs Congress
will be urged to take up without delay as well the subject of
pecuniary supplies as that of military force, and on a scale commensurate
with the extent and the character which the war has assumed. It
is not to be disguised that the situation of our country calls
for its greatest efforts. Our enemy is powerful in men and in
money, on the land and on the water. Availing himself of fortuitous
advantages, he is aiming with his undivided force a deadly blow
at our growing prosperity, perhaps at our national existence.
He has avowed his purpose of trampling on the usages of civilized
warfare, and given earnests of it in the plunder and wanton destruction
of private property. In his pride of maritime dominion and in
his thirst of commercial monopoly he strikes with peculiar animosity
at the progress of our navigation and of our manufactures. His
barbarous policy has not even spared those monuments of the arts
and models of taste with which our country had enriched and embellished
its infant metropolis. From such an adversary hostility in its
greatest force and in its worst forms may be looked for. The American
people will face it with the undaunted spirit which in their revolutionary
struggle defeated his unrighteous projects. His threats and his
barbarities, instead of dismay, will kindle in every bosom an
indignation not be extinguished but in the disaster and expulsion
of such cruel invaders. In providing the means necessary the National
Legislature will not distrust the heroic and enlightened patriotism
of its constituents. They will cheerfully and proudly bear every
burden of every kind which the safety and honor of the nation
demand. We have seen them everywhere paying their taxes, direct
and indirect, with the greatest promptness and alacrity. We see
them rushing with enthusiasm to the scenes where danger and duty
call. In offering their blood they give the surest pledge that
no other tribute will be withheld.
Having forborne to declare war until to other
aggressions had been added the capture of near a thousand American
vessels and the impressment of thousands of American seafaring
citizens, and until a final declaration had been made by the Government
of Great Britain that her hostile orders against our commerce
would not be revoked but on conditions as impossible as unjust,
whilst it was known that these orders would not otherwise cease
but with a war which had lasted nearly twenty years, and which,
according to appearances at that time, might last as many more;
having manifested on every occasion and in every proper mode a
sincere desire to arrest the effusion of blood and meet our enemy
on the ground of justice and reconciliation, our beloved country,
in still opposing to his persevering hostility all its energies,
with an undiminished disposition toward peace and friendship on
honorable terms, must carry with it the good wishes of the impartial
world and the best hopes of support from an omnipotent and kind
Providence.
