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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

objecting to the "tenor" of the French decree, finally, on the 23d of June, 1812, conditionally withdrew the British orders in council of January, 1807, and April, 1809.

These proceedings on the part of France and Great Britain, however, were not in time to arrest the current of public feeling in the United States, which, since it was ascertained that Mr. Foster had no instructions to propose the slightest relaxation of the system pursued by his government, gradually rose to the last appeal of nations. Believing that it had become necessary to assume a new attitude in relation to the belligerents of Europe, the President, by proclamation, convened Congress on the 4th of November, 1811, and declared to them in his message, "That it was hoped that the successive confirmations of the extinction of the French decrees, so far as they violated our neutral commerce, would have induced the government of Great Britain to repeal its orders in council, and thereby authorize the removal of the existing obstructions to her commerce with the United States.

"Instead of this reasonable step towards satisfaction and friendship between the two nations, the orders were, at a moment when least to have been expected, put into more rigorous execution and it was communicated, through the British envoy just arrived, that, whilst the revocation of the edicts of France, as officially made known to the British government, was denied to have taken place; it was an indispensable condition of the repeal of the British orders, that commerce should be restored to a footing, that would admit the productions and manufactures of Great Britain, when owned by neutrals, into markets shut against them by her enemy; the United States being given to understand, that, in the meantime, a continuance of the non-importation act would lead to measures of retaliation.

"In the unfriendly spirit of these disclosures, indemnity and redress for other wrongs have continued to be withheld; and our coasts, and the mouths of our harbours, have again witnessed scenes, not less derogatory to the dearest of our national rights, than vexatious to the regular course of our trade.

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"Under the ominous indications which commanded attention, it became a duty to exert the means committed to the executive department, in providing for the general security. The works of defence on our maritime frontier, have accordingly been prosecuted, with an activity leaving little to be added for the completion of the most important ones; and, as particularly suited for co-operation in emergencies, a portion of the gun-boats has in particular harbours been ordered into The ships of war, before in commission, with the addition of a frigate, have been chiefly employed as a cruisingguard to the rights of our coast.

use.

"Such a disposition has been made of our land-forces as was thought to promise the services most appropriate and important. In this disposition is included a force consisting of regulars and militia, embodied in the Indiana territory, and marched towards our North-Western frontier. This measure was made requisite by several murders and depredations committed by the Indians; but, more especially, by the menacing preparations and aspect of a combination of them on the Wabash, under the influence and direction of a fanatic of the Shawanese tribe. With these exceptions, the Indian tribes retain their peaceable dispositions towards us, and their usual pursuits.

"With the evidence of hostile inflexibility shown by the belligerent nations, in trampling on rights which no independent nation can relinquish, Congress will feel the duty of putting the United States into an armour, and an attitude, demanded by the crisis, and corresponding with the national spirit and expectations.

"I recommend accordingly, that adequate provision be made for filling up the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops; for an auxiliary force, to be engaged for a more limited term; for the acceptance of volunteer corps, whose patriotic ardour may court a participation in urgent services; for detachments, as they may be wanted, of other portions of the militia; and for such a preparation of the great body, as will proportion its usefulness to its intrinsic

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ACTS OF CONGRESS.

capacities. Your attention will of course be drawn to such provisions, on the subject of our naval force, as may be required for the services to which it may be best adapted."

Congress, taking into consideration the subjects presented to their view in the message, raised the military establishment of the United States from six to thirty-one thousand men, and enacted laws to complete the military establishment previously existing. At the same time, they authorized the President to raise certain companies of rangers, for the protection of the frontiers of the United States; to authorize the purchase of ordnance and ordnance stores, camp-equipage, and other field supplies, and small-arms; to authorize the President to accept the services of volunteer military corps; to make provision for the defence of the maritime frontier; to authorize a detachment from the militia of the United States; to organize a corps of artificers; to make provision for the corps of engineers. An act was also passed, directing the frigates Chesapeake, Constellation, and Adams, to be immediately repaired, equipped, and fitted for sea; and making an appropriation of two hundred thousand dollars, annually, for three years, to purchase and supply timber for ship-building, and other naval purposes.

On the 14th of March, 1812, Congress, to provide for the expenses to be incurred by these various acts, authorized the President to borrow, on the credit of the United States, a sum not exceeding eleven millions of dollars; which was executed on the most favourable terms. The whole amount was advanced by individuals and corporate bodies, for an annual interest of six per centum.

In the meantime, the Indians of the Indiana territory, instigated, it is believed, by the British, began to show signs of hostility towards the settlers on the north-western frontiers of the United States. Tecumseh, their chief, with his brother, "the Prophet," a fanatic of the Shawanese tribe, had contrived, by means of the eloquence of one and the conjuring arts and tricks of the other, to unite several different tribes, and stir up their minds against their neighbours. At a

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council held in 1811, by General Harrison, then Governor of the Indiana territory, with the principal chiefs of the confederacy, Tecumseh declared with native eloquence that the white people had no right to the soil;, that the country belonged to the red men in common, and no portion could be sold by any without the consent of all; and that the Kickapoos, and some other tribes, had no more right to sell their land than they had to darken the bright rays of the sun. When Harrison replied to this speech, the chief becoming furious, grasped his tomahawk, and his followers, twenty or thirty in number, followed his example; and had it not been for the guard of soldiers which surrounded the council-house, it is probable that Harrison and his officers would have been murdered. As it was, the council was broken up, and open war was confidently predicted.

Towards the close of 1811, the frontier settlers began to be seriously alarmed. Every movement of Tecumseh indicated approaching hostilities, until finally the murders and other outrages committed by his followers, determined the government to adopt measures for the protection of the exposed citizens against further molestation. A small force of regulars and militia was assembled at Vincennes, and placed under the command of General Harrison, with instructions to march to the Prophet's town, and demand a restoration of the property carried off by his partisans; and in case of a refusal to give the required redress, to use coercive measures.

Harrison accordingly marched into the Indian country, and on the 6th of November, appeared before the Prophet's town. There he held a conference with some of the chiefs, and they agreed that neither party should commence hostilities before the next day, when another conference was to be held, and terms of peace agreed on. Distrusting, however, the protestations of the Indians, Harrison withdrew his troops to a bank of dry land, between two prairies, on the north-west of the village, and ordered them to rest on their arms; and, in case of a night-attack, each corps was ordered to maintain its ground at all hazards until relieved. The dragoons were dis

mounted, and were ordered to fight as infantry, only with their swords and pistols; while a strong guard was posted at every assailable point of the camp.

Just before reveillé, on the morning of the 7th of November, 1811, the Indians furiously attacked the left flank, and drove in the piquets, who fled without firing a musket or making the least resistance. Captain Barton's regulars, and Captain Geiger's mounted riflemen, on the extreme left, were first attacked. They, however, no sooner heard the savage yell, by which their foe announced his presence, than they formed their lines, and bravely maintained the unequal contest, until reinforced from the rear. The Indians opened a galling fire on the left of the front line, where the companies of Captain Baen, Snelling, and Prescott were stationed, and Major Daviess was ordered to charge them with his cavalry, and, if possible, to break their lines. The Major received a mortal wound, and his men were driven back by the vastly superior numbers of the enemy. Day now breaking, the