measure, had lessened the danger which occasioned a resort to it, that the present feeling guardians of our rights discovered that the commanding-general ought to have suffered his posts to be abandoned through the interference of a foreign agent-his ranks to be thinned by desertion, and his whole army to be broken to pieces by mutiny; while yet a powerful force of the enemy remained on your coast, and within a few hours sail of your city.

I thought and acted differently. It was not until I discovered that the civil power stood no longer in need of the military for its support, that I restored to it its usual functions; and the restoration was not delayed a moment after that period had arrived.

Under these circumstances, fellow-soldiers, your resolution to let others declaim about privileges and constitutional rights, will never draw upon you the charge of being indifferent to those inestimable blessings; your attachment to them has been proved by a stronger title that of having nobly fought to preserve them.You who have thus supported them against the open pretensions of a powerful enemy, will never, I trust, surrender them to the underhand machinations of men who stand aloof in the hour of peril, and who, when the danger is gone, claim to be the “defenders of your constitution."

An honourable peace has dissolved our military connexion; and, in a few days, I shall quit a country endeared to me by the most pleasing recollections. Among the most prominent of these, gentlemen, are those I shall ever entertain of the distinguished bravery, the exact discipline, the ardent zeal, and the important services of your corps. The offered friendship of each individual composing it, I receive with pleasure, and with sincerity reciproI shall always pride myself on a fraternity with such men, created in such a cause.

ANDREW JACKSON.

NO. LIV.

Letter from general Jackson to the secretary of war.

Head-quarters, 7th military district,

New Orleans, March 16, 1815.

SIR-I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your

letter of the 16th ult. advising me of the ratification of the treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States.

In conformity with your directions, I have forwarded to the officer commanding his Britannic majesty's forces, in this quarter, information of that event.

The Tennessee and Kentucky militia will be immediately marched to their respective states, and discharged without receiving any pay beforehand. The Louisiana and Mississippi militia will be discharged and paid here. It is hoped that funds will be provided for the payment of the former in suitable time.

Difficulties are experienced from the want of means to procure forage, and transportation on the return march, colonel Knight having not yet arrived. On this account I have offered my bills on the governor of Tennessee, payable in treasury notes at Nashville.

I have received no intelligence of colonel Knight, except by your letter of the 7th ult.

The greater portion of the regulars in this quarter having en listed to serve during the war, expect to be immediately discharged. As you have not mentioned them in your instructions, I shall be glad to hear from you on the subject as soon as possible. It is my intention, so soon as I get the troops mustered out of service here, to remove my head-quarters to Nashville, where I shall expect to receive the orders of the government.

Major-general Gaines is placed in the immediate command of this section of the district, and I am happy to commit it to one in whom the government has such high and deserved confidence. I have the honour to be, &c.

A. JACKSON.

NO. LV.

Letter from major Woodruff to general Jackson.

New Orleans, March 23d, 1815.

SIR-In compliance with your orders of the 14th inst. I left the bayou St. Johns at twelve o'clock of the same day, and arrived at Dauphine island on the night of the 16th, the head-quarters of the British army.

I immediately informed major-general Lambert of your having received official notice of a treaty of peace having been signed and exchanged at the city of Washington, on the 17th of Fe

bruary, 1815, between the United States of America and the government of Great Britain; (a copy of which I handed him)-and that I was ordered by you to receive all forts, places, artillery, munitions of war, or other public or private property captured during the war, embraced by the first article of said treaty; and that I was particularly instructed to receive all slaves, belonging to any inhabitant or citizen of the United States, captured or protected by the British army.

General Lambert informed me that he could not give up fort Bowyer until he received official information, from an authorized agent of his government, that the treaty had been confirmed by ours;-that then he would be prepared to execute, on the part of his government, every article of said treaty, except that part relating to slaves, as it was totally incompatible with the spirit and constitution of his government to recognize slavery at all-that he would use his influence, in persuading them to return to their masters, by every argument in his power; but that he would not use force in compelling their obedience, or permit it to be used within the British lines. That I might stand acquitted of having discharged my duty, I addressed a note to the British commander on the 16th instant, marked No. 1. His note in return; No. 2, you will perceive is evasive, and by no means a satisfactory answer to mine. I again requested a categorical answer, particularly to that part of my note relating to slaves. His answer you will find marked No. 3.

I flatter myself, sir, I have done all in my power to effect your wishes, and regret my exertions were not attended with more

success.

I have the honour to be, &c.

J. WOODRUFF.

NO. LVI.

Letter from general Lambert to general Jackson.

Head-Quarters, Isle Dauphine, March 18, 1815.

SIR-I received with great pleasure, by the hands of major Woodruff, on the evening of the 16th, about nine o'clock, yours of the 13th instant. I communicated the contents immediately to

rear admiral Malcolm, and orders were issued for the cessation of hostilities, and to all detached posts and ships to be withdrawn in our respective commands. I daily expect an official communication (similar to what you have received) from Mr. Baker. In the meantime every preparation is making for the embarkation of this force, and ships are now sent away, when we are able to put sufficient provisions on board to take them to Bermuda. Victuallers from Jamaica must be here in a very few days, when every thing will be put on board as quickly as possible; and should I by that time not have received any intelligence, the admiral and myself will have no hesitation in putting to sea directly. I have requested major Woodruff, who went up to Mobile yesterday, to acquaint the commanding officer that I would let him know the moment we were prepared to give up the fort, which would be when the transports could get out of the bay. The fort would be restored in every respect as when it fell into our possession, with the exception only of a brass mortar, cast in George the Second's reign, which had been sent away the day after.

war.

In the fulfilling the first article of the treaty, I cannot consider the meaning of " not causing any destruction, or carrying away any artillery, or other public property, originally captured in the said forts or places, and which shall remain therein upon the exchange of the ratification of this treaty, or any slave, or other property," having reference to any antecedent period to the 18th of February, the day of the exchange of ratifications; because it is only from that time that the article could be fulfilled in a long If those negroes (the matter now in question) belonged to the territory or city we were actually in occupation of, I should conceive we had no right to take them away; but by their coming away, they are virtually the same as deserters or property taken away at any time of the war. I am obliged to say so much in justification of the right; but I have from the first done all I could to prevent, and subsequently, together with admiral Malcolm, have given every facility, and used every persuasion that they should return to their masters, and many have done so; but I could not reconcile it to myself to abandon any, who, from false reasoning perhaps, joined us during the period of hostilities,

and have thus acted in violation of the laws of their country, and besides become obnoxious to their masters.

Had it been an object to take the negroes away, they could have been embarked in the first instance; but they have been permitted to remain in the hopes that they might return.

I am much obliged to you for your offer of supplies, and comforts for the sick and wounded. I send a commissary, to make a few purchases, and have directed him to call on Mr. Livingston with this letter.

I have the honour to be, &c.

JOHN LAMBERT, Maj. Gen. Com'g.

NO. LVII.

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE following resolutions, expressive of the high sense entertained by congress of the patriotism and good conduct of the people of Louisiana and of New Orleans, were unanimously adopt d:

Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, That congress entertain a high sense of the patriotism, fidelity, zeal and courage with which the people of the state of Louisiana promptly and unanimously stepped forth, under circumstances of imminent danger from a powerful invading army, in defence of all the individual, social, and political rights held dear by man. Congress declare and proclaim, that the brave Louisianians deserve well of the whole people of the United States.

Resolved, That congress entertain a high sense of the generosity, benevolence, and humanity, displayed by the people of New Orleans, in voluntarily offering the best accommodations in their power, and giving the kindest attention to the wounded, not only of our own army, but also to the wounded prisoners of a vanquished foc.

Resolved, That the president of the United States be requested to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to his excellency the governor of Louisiana, accompanied with a request that he cause the greatest possible publicity to be given to them, for the information of the whole people of Louisi

ana.