VOL. II. NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1814. No. 23 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED, EVERY SATURDAY, professional affairs, he will nevertheless BY BARENT GARDENIER, 34 CEDAR-STREET, AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM. PRINTING of every description, executed with neatness and despatch. REPUBLICANISM. vote for him again. Capacity, or inc pacity, is not the question with him in these matters. He is a patriot, a republican, you know. And with him it is a clear truth, that stupidity, if it be but republi can, is worth all the good sense in the' world, if that good sense is federal. It is this, that discourages appeals from much better heads than mine, to the public' judgment. Men of sense do not merely If it be indeed true, and it is not only despair of penetrating the public undera sound political, but a fundamental repub-standing through the mist of prejudice in lican maxim, that the fortunes of a nation which it floats, and which seems indeed depend upon the abilities of those who to be its atmosphere, but even then they conduct its affairs, the future prospects of despair of the conversion of those they the people of these states are as gloomy, convince; the consequence of all which as their past misfortunes have been great. is, that the people of this country are If it be fair to calculate upon what is to scarcely ever addressed in print, except happen, from what has happened, and ex-by those who, like myself nake a busiperience is said to be a most unerring ness of it. The day when Hamilton, teacher, two years more of war, under its Jay, and Ames enlightened our country, present miserable bungling conductors, are gone by. Party, party is the shield will probably leave us little to boast of that protects from conviction. Advance besides the infatuated and obstinate sup- the most conclusive arguments; arrange port which we have yielded to the infatua- your facts and press them with irresistable ted and obstinate author of our country's force upon the understanding-arly forruin. But such matters as a country's bids the convicted from confessing congood, or a nations prosperity, are not to viction. The reputation of the chief, is be judged of by the same rules of prudence and good sense which enter into the examination of other concerns. The enquiry, when public affairs are discussed, is not, have things been ill done, or well done? If a democrat should find that a democratic lawyer, after having given him At the present moment, if I understand all the encouragement in his law suit, has the matter right, the only question bebungled his business and lost the suit, he tween the federal and democratie party, will sooner employ a federalist than him. is his fitness. And, notwithstanding allBut let him vote which shall manage pub- his blunders, to deny his fitness is faction; * lic affairs for him, and he will not hesitate to maintain it, patriotism. To appeal to to prefer his own democratic bungler. the disastrous history of the present war, And let him bungle in public as he has in to establish his utter incapacity, is tory made the reputation of the party; and it is not strange, therefore, that Mr. Madison's fitness or unfitness, should have been made a party question; and being so, that it should have been decided by party feelings, rather than sober judgment. The poor, who at the best, are always uncomfortable, must rejoice, although they are reduced to beggary, because, forsooth, such a man, a good republican, manages the loan; or because, such a one is enrich ism; and to disregard all the evidence of, one and all, throw up our liats into the air facts, accumulated as they are, and to ad- and rejoice. here to the man who has done us all the mischief which the most utter incompetency could have produced, is republicanism. Now it is well known, that ninetynine hundreths of the people of the United States are republicans. Mr. Madisoning himself as a contractor, and he is u says he is a republican, those who support less of a republican, than all those who him and the war, because he and the war make a trade, and a profitable one they support them, proclaim him a most incon- all make, of their republicanism. Indeed testible and unrivalled republican, except, the republican party prospers, and prosindeed, that each one of these is as per-pers much, if while the mass of them are fect a republican as any human being can becoming every day poorer, the leaders be.. Accordingly when an election takes are becoming every day richer from the place, the questions are not, was this war very same cause. "The republican parjustly or unjustly, prudently or imprudent-ty is triumphant! Huzza for the republy commenced? Has it been wisely or lican party!" Shouts the poor infatuated foolishly continued? Has it been ably or maniac, who returns reeling home from the villainously conducted? Is it likely to democratic orgies at Martlings. "John be honourably or dishonourably continu- have you got money to buy us bread to◄ ed? happily or disastrously terminated? morrow morning," cries his sorrowful wife. Is the contriver and conductor of it fit to "How shall we get our winters wood, superintend its operations? These en John? And quarter day will be round quiries are scouted. Mr. Madison is a re- again soon, and how is our rent to be publican. The war was declared by the paid, John?""O daddy see my shoes," republican party, and disastrous or not, its cries poor Naney, my toes are sticking. direction in unskilful hands or not, it is a out, and in these cold mornings, they are war of the republican party, and every most frozen going about for things." And man that belongs to that party is bound in my coat (says Stephen) is almost worn honour to support the war, and with it out, it can't be patched any more; I wish Mr. Madison, who caused it to be com- you would get me a new coat. And dadmenced. In course, the good of the coun-dy, the madam says, she must be paid for try is a bagatelle about which republican-Nancy's schooling and mine, or she can't ism is not to trouble itself; and the good have us come any more." But John is a of the party, which, in plain English, republican; to him the republican party is means nothing but the good of those who all in all; John can let his children starve lead, and are to get offices from the party, and freeze, but he would not forego the is the only subject of anxiety; and what pleasure of spending his only shilling at is worse, the good of the party is made to Tammany Hall, and huzzaing for the mean the good of the country, as if the republican party, from any compassion to enriching of those who riot on what is his own offspring. The return of old wrung from us by taxes, is a national be- Washingtonian times, when peace and nefit. We, the people, become every plenty rendered every honest man's fireyear poorer and poorer; and they, the side a little paradise to him, are hateful to party leaders, the holders of offices, be- John, because the tories want such times come every year richer and richer; and, and are trying to bring them about again, therefore, it is demanded, that we should, and John hates the tories. In commending the republication of the numbers, of which the following is introductory, I do not yet yield my assent to the arguments it promises. But the writer is GREAT MAN! From the same pen proceeded the numbers in the first volume of this publication, under the head of "THE ROAD TO RUIN." This writer, hitherto, has never misstated a fact, nor endeavoured to impose a false argument upon the public. And although the prejudice of the moment is against the course he pursues, he shall be heard in the Examiner; and the rather, because the opportunity of making a peace, if it be indeed in our power, ought not to be abandoned in a moment of feeling and passion.-Ed. Ex.] From the Boston Daily Advertiser. passion and agitation to decide hastily on the conduct of an elaborate negotiation, and to declare at once that all hopes of peace are precluded by the demands of the enemy. nal enemies could wish. Never was Mr. MaIf we do this, we do every thing our interdison in such spirits, we are told; and why? Because he believes there is no hopes of peace, and because he hopes the people will act like fools and madmen, will forget the man who has brought these calamities upon us, and reserve their indignation wholly for the enemy, who, as in all negotiations, happens to demand much more than he means to take. My remarks on this topic will, I know, be, interesting, and will be generally read, not. To all who wish for a termination of this un-on account of their merit, but because every happy war on terms not dishonourable to our country, and calculated to produce a lasting and durable peace. thing on so vital a topic will be read with avidity. The discussion will however be long, and will require patience and candour. Those who are in too great a passion to reason, L A FREE BUT CANDID DISCUSSION OF THE LATE would counsel not to read these remarks. NEGOTIATION.-No. I. They will inflame them the more, because they will be temperate and difficult to answer. This country is divided into two great parties-the friends of peace, and the friends of war. The former it is believed, are much the The first remark I will make is, and it is most numerous. The latter are prepared and one which no man can deny, that never since determined, to avail themselves of every op- the British treaty, that most admirable portunity to inflame the passions and to in-guardian and preserver of our peace, did any erease the partizans of war. political question appear before the people in so unfair and prejudiced a light. The public, mind was inflamed and preoccupied before the despatches appeared. The friends of peace are composed of men of all classes and all characters. Many of them are young and ardent. They love their country, they justly value its honour. Others Many men confound the previous reports of them love popularity, and look forward to with the actual demands, and the passionate political power. That power they know de- and unfounded suggestion, that the terms were pends on public opinion. If a sudden clamour such as none but a conquering nation would is excited, they fear that the populur opinion [impose on a conquered people," will have will be against them; and determined to be sunk so deep in weak minds, that all the aron the strongest side, they often join with-guments in the world, and a full display of out due examination in the outcry which their facts, will not remove the impression. enemies purposely excite. The writer of the following remarks, has lived too long in the world to be governed by such first impressions, which his experience has shown to him are usually wrong. It has been his wish to wait till the ferment has subsided; to read attentively, weigh, and compare, before he decides. Hence, though in the minority at first, he often has found himself in the end supported by the public voice. Never was a question so deeply interesting as the present, and one would suppose, that, if we were as wise and intelligent as we profess to be, our candour and desire of investigation, would be in proportion to the interest we feel in the question. A second remark I would make is, that it is not my purpose to prove the British demands reasonable. There is seldom any reason in the outset of negotiations. In December Bonaparte insisted on Holland and Italy, but in February he might have been contented with France. It is my chief view to show, First, what the demands are not, that is, what Great-Britain does not demand. Secondly, to discriminate between what she proposes as ultimata, or as a sine qua non, and what she merely urged against extravagant demands on our side. And thirdly, to discuss the only article she insists upon, and to show, (which by the blessing of God I think I can do,) that the inter Borne down by the distresses experienced,est of all the commercial states, the real hoand the still greater calamities to be feared from this war, just on the eve of an important election which is to decide the character of a future congress, when our fate, for perhaps one hundred years is to be decided by our present conduct, it would be madness in a moment of nour and welfare of the country, may well consist with her only absolute demand, which is peace, permanent peace with the Indian tribes, secured by the mutual guarantee of both nations and a barrier of wild country inaliquable to either party, I have gone so far in explaining my objects, that I have only room in the compass of a m derate address to open myself as to the first point. culars communicated in his letter. I have learnt that the ship which was destroyed, was the Hermes, of from 24 to 28 guns, Capt. the Hon. W. H. Percy, senior officer in the Gulf of Mexico; and the brig so considerably damaged is the Sophie, 18 guns, Capt. William Lockyer. The other ship was the Charon, of from 21 to 28 guns, Capt. Spencer, son of Earl Spencer; the other brig's name not We are told that Britain meant to humble our nation by requiring, we should explicitly yield the question of impressment. This would have wounded our honour more than yiding, what appears to be so touching to some persons, a few barren, unsettled acres. known. On board of the Charon, 85 men I shall say something on this latter point hereafter. It is a strange idea, and rather a proud and lofty one above the temper of Louis XIV, or Great Britain, that our nation is the only one on earth which cannot treat upon boundaries, if the proposed change only tends to preserve peace, and not to enrich or aggrandize our enemy, or impoverish ourselves. were killed and wounded; among whom was Col. Nicholl, of the royal marines, who lost an eye by a splinter. The land force consisted of 110 marines, and 200 Creek Indians, under the command of Capt. Woodbine, of marines, and about 20 artillerists, with one four and a half inch howitzer, from which they discharged shells and nine pound shot. They re-embarked the piece, and retreated by land towards Pensacola, whence they came. But my object is now to show what Britain does not demand. All the stories about her humiliating us on the subject of impressment, By the morning report of the 16th, there are false. It would have been more degrading. were present in the fort fit for duty, officers after Mr. Madison's manifesto of war and that and men, 158. of our congress, to have renounced this point The result of this engagement has stamped expressly, than the cession of the Lake of the a character on the war in this quarter, highly Woods, where scarce a civilized foot ever trod. favourable to the American arms; it is an She says, however, she asks no such humilia-event from which may be drawn the most tion. She is not anxious to have that point favourable angury. even discussed. Hear me out before you condemn. PACIFICUS. An achievement so glorious in itself, and so important in its consequences, should be appreciated by the government; and those con Nen-Hampshire Election for Members of cerned are entitled to, and will doubtless re Congress. Jeduthun Wilcox, 18,126 ceive, the most gratifying evidence of the approbation of their countrymen. In the words of Major Lawrence, “where all behaved well, it is unnecessary to discriminate." But all being meritorious. I beg leave to annex the names of the officers who were en 17,984 gaged and present; and hope they will individually, be deemed worthy of distinction Major William Lawrence, 2d infantry, com 18,123 And are elected. The votes for the demo-manding; Capt. Walsh, of the artillery, Cap cratic candidates were, For John F. Parrot, Timothy Upham, D. L. Morrill, D. Huntley, tains Chamberlain, Brownlow and Bradley, of 16,438 the 2d infantry, Captains Sands, deputy com 16.604 missary of ordnance, Lieutenants Villard, 16,539 Sturges, Conway, H. Sanders, T. R. Sanders, Brooks, Davis and B. Sanders, all of the 24 infantry. 16,376 16,598 16,430 Copy of a letter from Major General Jackson, I am confident that your own feelings will lead you to participate in my wishes on this subject. Permit me to suggest the propriety and justice of allowing to this gallant band the value of the vessel destroyed by them. I remain with great respect, your obedient servant, ANDREW JACKSON, Major General Commandant. con municate that success has crowned the Hon. Secretary of War. gallant efforts of our brave soldiers, in resist ing and repulsing a combined British naval Copy of a letter from Major Lawrence to Ma and land force, which on the 15th instant at tacked Fort Bowyer, on the Point of Mobile. I enclose a copy of the official report of Major William Lawrence, of the 2d infantry, jor General Jackson, dated FORT BOWYER, Sept. 15, 1814. 12 o'clock at night. SIR-After writing the enclosed, I was pre who commanded. In addition to the parti-vented by the approach of the enemy from 397 informed you of the fortunate issue of the sor- sending it by express. At meridian they were under full sail, with an easy and favourable breeze, standing directly for the fort, and at 4 P. M. we opened our battery, which was returned from two ships and two brigs, as they approached. The action became general at about 20 minutes past 4, and was continued without intermission on either side until 7, when one ship and two brigs were compelled ated in a field, surrounded by woods, nearly The enemy's camp I ascertained to be situ to retire. The leading ship, supposed to be two miles distant from their batteries and ens the commodore, mounting twenty-two 32 trenchments, the object of which was to keep pond carronades, having anchored nearest our that part of their force which was not upon battery, was so much disabled, her cable be-duty, out of the range of our fire from Fort ing cut by our shot, that she drifted on shore, Erie and Black Rock. Their infantry was whithin 600 yards of the battery, and the formed into three brigades, estimated at other vessels having got out of our reach, we twelve or fifteen hundred men each. One of kept such a tremendous fire upon her that she these brigades, with a detail from their artilwas set on fire and abandoned by the few of lery, was tationed at their works, (these be the crew who survived. At 10 P. M we had ing but 500 yards distant from Old Fort Erie, the pleasure of witnessing the explosion of her and the right of our line.) We had already magazine. The loss of lives on board must suffered much from the fire of two of their bathave been immense, as we are certain no boats teries, and were aware that a third was about left her except three, which had previously to open upon us. Under these circumstances, gone to her assistance, and one of these I believe was sunk; in fact, one of her boats was burned along side of her. determined to storm the batteries, destroy the cannon, and roughly handle the brigade brought into action. upon duty, before those in reserve could be The brig that followed her I am certain was much damaged both in hull and rigging. The other two did not approach near enough to be and riflemen, regulars and militia, were orderOn the morning of the 16th, the infantry so much injured, but I am confident did noted to be paraded and put in readiness to march escape, as a well directed fire was kept on precisely at 12 o'clock. General Porter with them during the whole time. During the action a battery of a 12 poundermen, and Major Brooks with the 23d and 1st the volunteers, Colonel Gibson with the rifleand a howitzer was opened on our rear, with Infantry, and a few dragoons acting as infanout doing any execution, and was silenced by try, were ordered to move from the extreme a few shot. Our loss is four privates killed left of our position upon the enemy's right, by and five privates wounded. Towards the close of the action the flag-occasion. General Miller was directed to staa passage opened through the woods for the staff was shot away; but the flag was imme-tion his command in the ravine, which lies bediately hoisted on a sponge staff over the parapet. While the flag was down, the enemy kept up their most incessant and tremendous fire; the men were withdrawn from the curtins and N. E. bastion, as the enemy's own shot completely protected our rear, except | the position they had chosen for their battery. Where all behaved well it is unnecessary to discriminate. Suffice it to say, every officer the left columns under the command of GeneAbout 20 minutes before 3 P. M. I found and man did his duty; the whole behavedral Porter, which were destined to turn the with that coolness and intrepidity which is characteristic of the true American, and which could scarcely have been expected from men most of whom had never seen an enemy, and were now for the first time exposed for nearly three hours to a force of nearly or quite four guns to one. We fired during the action between 4 and 500 guns, most of them double shotted, and after the first half hour but few missed an ef fect. WM. LAWRENCE. Copy of a letter from Major General Brown to tween Fort Erie and the enemy's batteries, by passing them by detachments through the skirts of the wood-and the 21st infantry under General Ripley was posted as a corps of Erie; all under cover, and out of the view of reserve between the new bastions of Fort the enemy. enemy's right, within a few rods of the British Soon after battery No. 1 was abandoned by |