The message referred to the employment of the Indians by the British, and the cruelties which had been perpetrated by them, on several occasions; and it was observed, "that it became necessary to send a military force against the Indian tribes, both in the West and South. A force had been called into the service of the United States from Georgia and Tennessee, to check and keep in awe the savages on the southwestern borders. General Andrew Jackson was appointed to command in that part of the country, and was successful in opposing the inroads and depredations of the Indians."

The subject of impressment was introduced in the message, and the injustice of the British, in their practice relating to those claimed as their natural-born citizens, was again brought to view, in strong terms. It was stated, that in Canada, great abuses, under their own doctrine, were committed; for all born in the British provinces, and who had early settled in and become citizens of the United States, were considered as traitors, if found in the American army, and yet they employed in their ranks, natives of the United States, who had become inhabitants of the British territory.

In presenting the state of the public treasury, the message states, "that the receipts exceeded thirty-seven and a half millions dollars; twenty-four millions of which were the product of loans; and that, after meeting the demands on the treasury, there were nearly seven millions remaining. Further sums, to a considerable amount, will be necessary to be obtained by loans, during the ensuing year; but from the increased capital of the country, and from other causes, it may be justly expected, that the necessary pecuniary supplies will not be wanting."

The general tone and spirit of the message was calculated to awaken or to maintain a disposition for war among the people; and therefore, the reverses which had occurred were passed over as comparatively trifling, and the few successes achieved as far greater, or more beneficial to the nation, than facts would justify. The people were told that they were a brave and powerful nation, and their resources infinite; so that the war might be long prosecuted almost invariably unsuccessful; when defeat had followed the invasion of Canada; when there had been a great loss of lives, and two seasons passed in attempts to conquer the British provinces, attended with utter failure, except in the dispersion of the British troops and Indians, at Malden, by the American troops, under General Harrison. "That expedition," the President said, “was signally honorable to Major General Harrison, by whom it was planned and prepared."

without greatly impoverishing the country; and that the reasons for continuing it were cogent and numerous. And yet it will be seen, that before another year had elapsed, peace was earnestly sought for by the federal administration, even with yielding some points at first declared to render a war just and necessary.' *

The first act of importance, and of a general character, passed at this session of Congress, was an embargo act, to continue till the first of January, 1815; "unless a cessation. of hostilities between Great Britain and the United States should previously take place." The provisions of this act were very restrictive and severe. It forbid boats, having provisions or any military stores on board, passing from one port or harbor to another, at small distances; and was construed as extending to small craft employed in fishing by the day, and within a few miles of the land. The reason given for such severity and strictness of prohibition, was that the small vessels and boats sometimes conveyed provisions to the British ships of war hovering on the coasts.

The act operated very grievously on the fishermen and coasters, who were generally an indigent and harmless class of people. An embargo act of a similar character was recommended by the President, in July, 1813, to be in force till the

* In December, 1813, and soon after the United States troops withdrew from Canada, and took up their winter quarters at Plattsburgh, and other places near the northwestern borders, a large British force crossed the Niagara river, captured Fort Niagara, burnt Lewistown, Buffalo, and some other small villages, and entrenched themselves on Niagara heights. The detachment consisted of about 1500 British regulars, militia, and Indians; and almost the whole of the American troops in the fort were killed or taken. General Wilkinson was at this time at Plattsburgh, with about five thousand troops.

†The legislature of Massachusetts passed resolves-"That the embargo act contained provisions not warranted by the Constitution of the United States, and violating the rights of the people of this Commonwealth—that they have always enjoyed the right of navigation from port to port within the State, and of fishing on its coasts-that they have a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of their persons, houses, &c.—that the law rendering the property of an individual liable to the discretion of every one, without warrant from a magistrate, is unjust and tyrannical—that the people have a right to be protected in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property, according to standing laws; and that all attempts to prohibit them in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property, by persons under executive directions, and power only, and armed with military force, are destructive of their freedom, and altogether repugnant to the Constitution."

An eminent political character, who took neutral ground in the war ; or was disposed to support it after it was declared by Congress, expressed the following opinion of the embargo and non-intercourse laws, "I believe the restrictive system overleaps the bounds of Constitutional power-that it is impossible to execute it—that the attempt to do so, corrupts the people, by destroying the correct habits of our merchants, and rendering perjury familiar-that it would

then next session of Congress. That bill received the assent of the majority of the House of Representatives; but it was lost in the Senate; the vote in that body being eighteen against the bill, and but sixteen in favor of it. The act of the present session gave great power to the President; and allowed him to employ numerous agents, who did not fail to exercise their power in many instances by needless severity, or unjust partiality. It was repealed, however, on the 14th of April, following; but the non-importation act, as to British goods and merchandise, was continued.

Acts of Congress were passed, in January, 1814, for making additions to the regular army; for raising several regiments of riflemen; for extending the term of enlistments from one year to five years, or during the continuance of the war, and for giving higher bounties than had before been offered; viz. one hundred and twenty-four dollars to every individual, one hundred of which to be paid on his enlisting and being mustered. The President was also empowered to receive volunteer corps into the public service; provided they would engage to serve for five years, or during the war; and they were to receive the same bounty provided for those of the regular army. An additional act to provide for calling forth the militia was passed, at the same session, in which the militia, so detached or drafted, when called into the service of the United States, were made subject to courts martial, on a charge of misconduct, in the manner required by the articles of war, in cases of courts martial for the trial of delinquents in the regular army. This law caused much alarm and complaint in some parts of the country; especially in Peunsylvania, where are found great numbers of the society of Friends. In some places, members of that sect were pressed into military service, and treated with great severity. But the instances were very few.

Notwithstanding the boast of success in prosecuting the war, by the friends of the administration, and the public declarations of the President, that it must be continued so long as the causes which led to it were not removed, additional Envoys were appointed early in 1814 to join those previously commissioned, and new instructions given them, permitting

be ineffectual to coerce foreign nations, if executed—that it is unjust and oppressive to the commercial part of the community, as it destroys invaluable interests which the federal government is bound to protect-that it sacrifices our principal source of revenue, and reduces us to depend on meagre supply from internal taxation, or to accumulate an enormous public debt by loansthat it aims a fatal blow at our progress in wealth and general improvement.'

them to make peace, without insisting on all the terms before advanced, as indispensable. Messrs. Adams, Bayard, and Gallatin had been appointed in April, 1813; in January, 1814, Messrs. Clay and Russell were added to the embassy. The negotiators, both British and American, met at Ghent, in August, 1814; and concluded a treaty between England and the United States, in December following; and the ratification took place in February, 1815, to the great joy of the people of both nations. No new principle was recognized or admitted, and no new regulation made on the important subject of impressment of seamen, which was the principal, and at one time the only, reason given for the war; but the treaty was silent on that question. Besides the restoration of peace, it was little more than a treaty of limits and boundaries. A commercial treaty between the two countries was to be adjusted at a future day. The American Envoys were instructed to make peace on the most favorable conditions to be attained; but to make peace; and there can be no reason to doubt, that they were urged to do this, from the consideration of the increasing unpopularity of the war in the United States; and of the loss of political power in Europe by the French Emperor. If he had not been loved, he had been feared; and if it was not intended to aid him in his ambitious projects, it was evidently proposed so far to favor him, as to secure his influence in opposing Great Britain.

During the year 1814, however, the war was prosecuted with great exertions and zeal. The means for supporting it were augmented by the federal government in every possible way; and the British, particularly on the ocean, acted with more efficiency than in the early period of hostilities. Their ships of war hovered upon the coasts of the United States, in almost every part; and often entered harbors, and landed large bodies of men, who destroyed much property, and alarmed and distressed the inhabitants. They took possession of Eastport, and of Castine; and there were no troops of the United States prepared to prevent the capture, or to dispossess them afterwards; and the militia could do little without a suitable naval force.

The regular troops of the United States were again collected on the northwest frontiers, early in 1814. Some of

These appointments were made by the President, when the Senate was not in session. And afterwards, when the nominations were laid before the Senate, there were objections and much delay in the appointment of Mr. Gallatin.

them were assembled at Sacket's Harbor; some at a place about ten miles east of Lewistown; and some within a similar distance of Buffalo; while Plattsburg was considered the head-quarters. As soon as the lakes were navigable, the British appeared in considerable force on Ontario, and the naval armament of the United States there was not sufficiently powerful to meet them. There was great alarm at Sacket's Harbor, and other places in the vicinity, from the expectation of an attack from the enemy, who were in large force at Kingston, on the Canada shore. The place was much exposed; but for some reason, no part of the army, under Wilkinson, was sent there for its defence. His aim appeared to be another attempt to invade Canada, farther north. He soon after met the British on his march, and was obliged to return to Plattsburg, with the loss of some cannon and about eighty men. At Plattsburg and at Sacket's Harbor, there were heavy complaints heard against the American generals, for want of judgment and energy, in this military enterprise.

At a later period in the season, after the northern army was strengthened by new enlistments-for though there had been new proposals for peace, great preparations were deemed necessary on the opening of the year, 1814-Canada was again invaded; and a detachment from the United States troops, consisting of about two thousand, under General Jacob Brown, crossed the Niagara river, in July, and attacked the British at Chippewa, with great bravery and success. The enemy, with a larger force than General Brown commanded,* offered battle; and it was not declined. The action was very severe, and the loss great on both sides; but the British suffered most on this occasion. Their killed and wounded numbered 400; while those of the Americans were a little more than 200. Generals Ripley and Scott were the next in command to General Brown; and received high praise from him, in his official account of the action, for their bravery and activity.

It was the expectation of General Brown that the United States fleet, then at Sacket's Harbor, would have co-operated, and would assist his continuance and progress in Canada; but it was not in a condition to command the lake, and could not therefore afford the support and aid desired. General Brown, however, remained in Canada,

* The numbers were variously stated. But it appears that the British troops were about 3000, including Indians; and the United States forces, under General Brown, about 2000. Chippewa is ten miles from Queenstown.