the British Government had actually re- Thus, the course which they themselves pealed the previous Orders, so that the osten- acknowledged would be just, and gave imsible ground of complaint against this plied promise of adopting, was not adopted country was removed." The war-the when the condition had been fulfilled. The grand provocation having been thus re- government of the United States stand, moved-was persisted in, for want of a then, self-convicted of wanton aggression on better excuse, on the ground of the Impress- the North American Colonies of Great ment question. But the Impressment mat- Britain, and of prosecuting the war on ter had actually been arranged in the Treaty grounds different from those which they of 1806,-a Treaty approved of to the fullest were accustomed to assign. If to our extent, and signed by the negotiators of the mother-land there attach the reproach of United States concerned in framing it, impolitic pertinacity in maintaining, so long, though Mr. Jefferson afterwards, for reasons a system prejudicial to her own commerce, best known to himself, refused to ratify it. and irritating to a neutral power, under an Nobody, therefore, could pretend but that. the question of Right of Search and Impressment, as it had once been settled, might be settled again, without recourse to arms, and was still open for amicable adjust-arrangements in respect to the impressment of ment.

The War of 1812, 13, and 14, a War of Ag

the United States.

Besides the moral obligression, on the part of gation manifestly resting on the government of the United States to abandon, in common honesty and fairness, a war, the alleged provocation to which had been removed; the American Congress were virtually pledged to such an abandonment, their own words witnessing against them. In the Report of the Committee (November 29th, 1811) urging preparation for war, it was stated that their intention was, 66 as soon as the forces contemplated to be raised should be in any tolerable state of preparation, to recommend the employment of them for the purpose for which they shall have been raised, unless Great Britain shall, in the meantime, have done us justice."*

The Committee, Mr. P. said, have not recommended this course of measures without a full sense of the high responsibility which they have taken upon themselves. They are aware that war, even in its best and fairest form, is an evil deeply to be deprecated: but it is sometimes, and on few occasions perhaps more than on this, a necessary eyil. For myself, I confess I have approached the subject not only with diffidence, but with awe: but I will never shrink from my duty because it is arduous or unpleasant, and I can most religiously declare that I never acted under stronger or clearer convictions of duty than I do now in recommending these preparatory measures; or than

I shall ultimately in recommending war, in case Great Britain shall not have rescinded her Orders in Council, and made some satisfactory

our seamen. If there should be any gentlemen in the house who were not satisfied that we

ought to go to war for our maritime rights, Mr. P. earnestly entreated that they would not vote for the resolutions. Do not, said he, let us raise armies, unless we intend to employ and honour of the country, let us not drain it If we do not mean to support the rights of its resources.

them.

Mr. P. said, he was aware that there were many gentlemen in the house who were dissatisfied that the committee had not gone fur tion of war, or the adoption of some measures ther, and recommended an immedlate declarawhich would have instantly precipitated us into it. But he confessed such was not his opinion; he had no idea of plunging ourselves headlong into a war with a powerful nation, or even a respectable province, when we had not three regiments of men to spare for that service. He hoped that we should not be influenced by the spirit of the 12th Congress would be questioned, howling of newspapers, nor by a fear that the to abandon the plainest dictates of common sense and common discretion. He was sensible that there were many good men out of Congress, as well as many of his best friends in it, whose appetites were prepared for a war feast. He was not surprised at it, for he knew the provocatives had been sufficiently great. But he hoped they would not insist on calling in the guests, at least until the table should have been spread. When this was done, he pledged himself, in behalf of the Committee of Foreign Relations, that the gentleman should not be disappointed of the entertainment for the want of bidding; and he believed he might also pledge himself for many of the members of the Committee, that they would not be among the last to partake personally, not only in the pleasures, if any there should be, but in all the dangers of the revelry.-American Weekly Register, vol. 1, p. 268.

impression of necessary self-defence, right brilliant armament which, in the purpose of in the first instance, but subsequently, by its imperial leader, was to bring down the angry legislation of the United States, Russia as low as the rest of the Continent; rendered delusive; there is, at least, no but was destined, in the designs of Provimoral turpitude in such a charge. The lust dence, to afford in modern history, a parallel of conquest, however, involving, as it does, to Pharoah and Sennacherib. Had the moral guilt, provokes a censure and fixes a United States awaited the issue of that expestain which the honour of a nation, and of dition it is possible that their war against a Christian nation especially, is deeply con- Great Britain would not have been declared. cerned in repelling, if it can. For this Even if the flames of Moscow had proved as offence against national integrity and good ineffectual as the woes of Spain to exaspefaith the government of the United States rate them against the scourge and the are answerable, in prosecuting the war from oppressor of Europe, still destruction, in one motives clearly distinct from those which campaign of half a million of his veterans, they avowed; motives not at all consistent was too evident and too serious a blow to his with the position in which they desired to military strength, not to impair the prestige place themselves before the world, that of of his alliance, and to shake that faith in an aggrieved people contending for rights his destiny which may have extended from which had been infringed; motives, in short, Europe to his Transatlantic allies; for in arising wholly from popular feelings at once that false position our Anglo-Saxon brethen covetous of the possessions of another had, on the 18th June, 1812, unhappily nation, and exasperated for the time by placed themselves. A little more patience passions beyond control. In a word, the on the part of the United States would have war of 1812 was a war of AGGRESSION; and set all right, without war, which remedied its fate was that with which it is the usual nothing, and produced no settlement but Providence of God to visit, sooner or later, what would have been made, had peace conall aggressive wars: it was a failure; and a tinued, two years before; and that on terms failure, though brightened by occasional more explicit and more advantageous to the triumph, involving, on the whole, a large Republic than the treaty of Ghent, which amount of retributive calamity. It is, too, closed the unprofitable contest. Their a remarkable; we might say, providential troubles were the troubles of the age; circumstance, that the failure was mainly caused by the convulsion and the disorgabrought about through the gallant and the nization of the civilized world, not by any unexpected resistance of the very colony ill will harboured by Great Britain against which was regarded by its invaders as likely them. Tyrants aiming at universal dominion to prove an easy conquest, in consequence, cannot send their whirlwinds of men and more particularly, of the disloyalty to the steel over the earth without causing general British Crown vainly imagined to lurk in suffering-and the United States suffered. its heart. That very colony which, to the With the breaking of the oppressor's rod, war-party in Congress, was the object of their sufferings would have ceased. The cupidity, and by a strong delusion" tide of French invasion once driven back, afforded them their highest hopes of success, the ancient landmarks would have rebecame largely instrumental to their discomfiture. This looks like a judicial disappointment of schemes not merely visionary and inconsiderate; but-what is far worseviolent and unjust.

The War Declared simultaneously with the Invasion of Russia.

appeared; the rights of nations, the renewal of intercourse, the revival of commerce; everything, in short, worth contending for would have followed the fall of Buonaparte, since it was by his conquests and decrees alone that the order and the happiness of the world had been interrupted. The United States, by throwing themselves into the contest, only delayed that happy consumma

Six days after the declaration of war by the United States, Buonaparte passed the Niemen, with the vast and tion.

The British North

American Provinces,

War.

There were many can supply the mighty void that would be the main object of the things which, in and occasioned by the loss of this country, as out of Congress, were well in his exports as imports. It would grievously misunderstood in the United operate upon him with a double force: it States. The loyalty of the British North would deprive him of a vast quantity of American Provinces was misunderstood when indispensable materials, as well as of food, the political seers of Congress asserted, with and close an extensive market for his manuthat vehement asseveration and implicit factures. Canada and Nova Scotia, if not faith which are often found to bear an in- fully conquered immediately, may be renderverse proportion to truth and information, ed useless to him in a few weeks. Without that those Colonies were ripe for defection. them, and particularly the latter, he cannot The power of Great Britain, hampered as maintain those terrible fleets on our coast she was by the mortal struggle with her that we are threatened with, or bridge our European foe, was greatly misunderstood, harbours with frigates, admitting he may when a member in Congress expressed appa- have no use for them to defend his own rently the expectations of the majority in shores; for he will not have a dockyard, the utterance of the appalling prediction, fitting the purposes of his navy, within 3,000 "We shall drive the British from our conti- miles of us." The great worth of these nent;" and the ability of the United States possessions was, at the time of which we are to cope with such an adversary was consi- writing, and is now, well known to poliderably overrated by wiser heads than ticians in the United States. Whilst the another Congress orator possessed who deli-war-spirit was raging, the democrats thought vered himself of this truly magnificent bom- it distressing, intolerable that the British bast," The Falls of Niagara could be re- flag should be proudly waying, on their very sisted with as much success as the American borders, over so choice a tract of territory ; people, when they should be called into the rescue from monarchical rule of such a action!" But amid all this deplorable mis- land, by nature so favoured, in position so apprehension, there was one point which conveniently situated for annexation, was to was not misunderstood,-THE VALUE OF THE be resolutely attempted,-it was like taking BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN PROVINCES TO the Holy City out of the hands of the infiTHE BRITISH CROWN. That point, both dels, and was eminently worthy of all the inside Congress and outside, was fully com- exuberant patriotism, and the blind sacriprehended; and what was said in regard to fice, and the furious effort of a republican it was no more than the truth. "These crusade. The British North American ProProvinces," said Mr. Porter, the Chairman vinces were coveted; coveted most ardently, of the Committee of Foreign Relations," for their own sake, and for the anticipated were not only immensely valuable in them- gratification of extirpating from the contiselves, but almost indispensable to the exist- nent every vestige of kingly government. ance of Great Britain, cut off as she now is, The ardour of the cupidity can scarcely in a great measure, from the North of Europe. excite surprise, where the object was so He had been credibly informed that the valuable, and the appropriation deemed so exports from Quebec, only, amounted during easy,-everything having been previously the last year (1810) to near six millions of settled by the democrats to their perfect dollars, and most of these, too, in articles satisfaction,-in a manner the most easy of the first necessity,-in ship timber and and comfortable that can be imagined,in provisions for the support of her fleets and armies." "The conquest of Canada," wrote the Weekly Register, about the same time, "will be of the highest importance to us in distressing our enemy; in cutting off his supplies of provisions and naval stores for his West India Colonies and home demand. There is no place from whence she

as to the political purpose which the British Colonies were to serve, when blessed with the privilege of incorporation with the United States. "I am willing," was the magnanimous declaration of Mr. Grundy, of Tennessee, "to receive the Canadians as adopted brethren; it will have beneficial political effects; it will preserve the equili

brium of the government. When Louisiana Great Britain on their frontier, the counsel shall be fully peopled, the Northern States may be fitly applied to their case which was will lose their power; they will be at the honestly and wisely given to Louis XIV., discretion of others; they can be depressed who, had he been guided by that sage at pleasure, and then this union might be advice, would have spared himself a disendangered. I therefore feel anxious not honourable peace and a dismembered empire: only to add the Floridas to the South, but" It is useless to allege," urged this honest the Canadas to the North of this empire." counsellor of an unscrupulous king, “that This is all very amusing; but, unhappily, these towns of Holland were necessary to it suggests the painful reflection, that should your state: the property of others is never the same dishonest cupidity continue, it may, necessary to us. That which is truly necesat a future period again embroil the two sary to us, is to observe strict justice. You nations. That the United States would be ought not even to pretend that you have a glad to annex the British Provinces; that right to retain in perpetuity certain places, the acquisition of these truly valuable, if not because they contribute to the security of fully valued Colonies, would be hailed and your frontier. It is your wisdom to seek celebrated by them as an event second in that security by good alliances, by your interest and importance only to their Decla- moderation, or by strongholds which you ration of Independence ;-this we believe to have it in your power to fortify in the rear. be undeniable. But the follies and the But, be this as it may, the necessity of losses, the sacrificed treasure and life of the watching over our own security can never last war have taught them, we trust, the give us the right of seizing our neighbour's salutary lesson that there is more of profit territory." By this advice, republics as well to be derived from commerce with Great as kings may be profited; and the United Britain in peace, than of glory or of terri-States in particular, if chargeable at all with tory to be wrested from her in war; and frontier-conquest; of which let themselves that to alehouse politicians alone ought to be judges. As to annexing the British North be left the madness of proposing the sacri- American Colonies by force of arms, the fice of that lucrative traffic which now em- time has not yet arrived when that would be ploys about one-half of all their shipping, an exploit easy of accomplishment, or likely with the hope of tarnishing the renown, dis- to prove remunerative, if we consider the gracing the flag, or subduing any of the sufferings and the disasters which must predependencies of that Empire which is still-cede. The alternative of " peaceful cession" and long may it so continue !-the most we will leave our posterity to discuss in the powerful on the face of the earth. As to last days of Britain's decrepitude. the jealousy they may feel in consequence of having a foreign power-so formidable as

CONTENTS.

WHICH MAY ALMIGHTY GOD LONG FOREFEND!

CHAPTER IV.

General Hull, and fate of Detroit.-Effects produced on Canadians by these unhoped for

successes.

Attempts to induce the belief that the war was only unpopular with the 1812, to July 12, 1812. minority-From June 18,

Attempts to induce the belief that the war was only unpopular with the minority; from June 18 to July 12, 1812.-Declaration of Hostili"War is declared,"ties.-Spirit which actuated Canadians, "Great Britain is the although from a knowledge of their weakness it might lead them to deprecate hostilities, enemy,"-"Our ancient yet not adverse to Great Britain.-Remarks and inveterate foe has on the Address of the Assembly of Upper at length been proclaimed, by the constituted Canada, on the Declaration of War.-State of authorities in the United States,"99 66 In the feeling in Lower Canada. -First hostile demonstration; 12th July, 1812.-Movements valley of humiliation; at the foot of the of Colonel St. George.-Conduct of our In- throne of her idiot monarch; at the threshold dian Allies.-General Brock, with a body of of the palaces of the knaves who administer Volunteers, leaves York for the scene of the government in his name, we sought jusaction, and arrives on the 13th August.

Offensive and Retaliatory Measures at once tice, and begged for peace; not because we adopted by General Brock.-Capitulation of feared war, but from that moderation which

New York, similar, though not quite so broadly manifested, demonstrations occurred. At a convention of delegates from the several counties of the State of New York, held at the capital, in Albany, on the 17th and 18th of September, 1812, the spirit of the resolutions passed was :--

distinguishes the people, as well as the absented himself. It must be added, that government of the United States." Such this atrocity was regarded with horror and was the chord which was ever and anon indignation in all the other parts of the struck by a very large body of the people United States. throughout the United States, as if, by At Boston, on the day of the declaration awakening discord, to drown the last faint of war, all the ships in the port displayed harmonious notes of moderation breathed by flags half mast high, the usual token of the reflecting portion of the community. mourning; and a town meeting was held in The effort, however, was a vain one-unless that city, at which a number of resolutions we record the outbreak at Baltimore as a were passed, stigmatizing the war as unne first successful result of the war feeling. cessary and ruinous, and leading to a Very different were the popular sentiments connexion with France, destructive to in the Southern States, where swarms of American liberty and independence. In privateers were preparing to reap the ex- several of the minor eastern cities, and in pected harvest of prizes among the West India islands. Of the towns in this interest, Baltimore stood foremost in violence and outrage. A newspaper published there, entitled The Federal Republican,' had rendered itself obnoxious, by its opposition to the measures of the war-party, and menaces had repeatedly been thrown out against the conductors. On the night of July 27th, a mob assembled before the house of the editor, for the purpose of destroying it. In expectation of this attack, he had collected a number of friends with fire-arms, to defend it from the inside, among whom were Generals Lee and Lingan. A furious affray arose, in which the mob were several times repulsed, with loss. At length a party of military were brought Secondly, that the declaration of war was to the spot, by the Mayor and General a most rash, unwise, and inexpedient Stricker, to whom those of the defenders measure; and, considering the time and who were left in the house, twenty-six in circumstances of its declaration, the condi number, surrendered themselves, upon tion of the country, and state of the public assurance of their safety, and were con-mind, one which ought forever to depríve ducted to prison. On the next day, at the its authors of the esteem and confidence of shameful instigation of a public journal, an enlightened people.

the mob re-assembled before the jail, with the intention of taking their revenge; and having broken open the door, after some of the prisoners had rushed through and made their escape, they fell upon the rest with clubs, and beat them till scarcely any signs of life remained. General Lingan, a man of seventy, and formerly a friend of Washington, was killed on the spot. General Lee, a distinguished partizan in the revolutionary war, had his skull fractured; and many others were severely injured. The militia refused to turn out while this massacre was perpetrating, and the Mayor is said to have

First, that the attempt, amongst a free people, to stifle enquiry, as to the arbitrary and despotic measures adopted by government, in plunging the country into an unjust war, is essentially hostile to republican institutions, and one of the worst specics of tyranny which the ingenuity of the foes of freedom has yet contrived.

66

With regard to the proposed descent on Canada, the convention decided, also, that the creation of New States, out of territories not within the ancient limits of the United States, is inconsistent with the spirit of the federal compact, and calculated to destroy the weight which the old, great, and populous States ought to have in the Union." A most emphatic protest against prosecuting the war, on the grounds officially noted, was also entered, with a declaration, that even the possibility of an alliance with France should be regarded with abhorrence. All