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Show 266 LlFE OF GEN" JACKSON. CHAP. of the least ofthese,-who avows a war of vengeance VIII. and desolation, carried on and marked by cruelties, ~lusts, and horrors, unknown to civilized nations. 1814" "Natives of the United States! the enemy you are to contend with are the oppressors of your infant political existence-they are the men your fathers fought and conquered, whom you are now to oppose. Descend· ants of Frenchmen! natives of France! they are Eng· lish, the hereditary, the eternal enemies of your ancient counn-y, the invaders of that you have adopted, who are your foes. Spaniards ! remember the conduct of your allies at St. Sebastian, and recent!~ at Pensaco· Ia, and rejoice that you have an opportumty o_f aveng· ing the brutal injuries inflicted by men who dish?~our the human race. Louisianians ! your general reJOICes to witness the spirit that animates you, not only for your honour, but your safety ; for whatever had been your conduct or wishes, his duty w~u-ld have le~, and yet will lead him to confound the Citizen, unmmdful of his rights, with the enemy ~e ~eases to oppose. Commanding men who know the1r nghts, and are d:· termined to defend them, he salutes you as brethr~n m arms; and has now a new motive to exert all_lus fa· culties, which shall be strained to the utmost, m your defence. Continue with the energy you have begun, and he promises you not only safety' but victory over an insolent foe, who has insulted yo~ b~ an affect: d Jbt of vour attachment "to the constitutiOn of yo m ntl-v • your en em)' is near ; 11"1 s sat. ls al re a dY c over couJ. . "fhfind the lakes : but the bmve are umted ; and I e . us contending among ourselves, it will ~e,~or the pnze of valour,-and fame, its noblest rewar · LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 2G7 Resistance on the Ia k es b e·m g at a'n e n d ' no doubt CVHIYA.P. . was entertained, but that the moment for act~on would~ be, as early as the enemy could make h1~ prepa· 1814. rations to proceed. At what point, at what nme, and with a force how greatly superior to his own, were matters wholly resting in uncertainty, and could 'not ' be known, until they actually transpired. All the means for opposition were to be seized on, witho~t delay. That the hour of attack was not far distant, was confirmed by a circumstance which reflects no considerable honour on the officer in command of the fleet. The day after the contest on the lakes, MI-. Shields, purser in the navy, was despatched with a flag, to Cat island, accompanied by Dr. Murrell, for the purpose of alleviating the situation of our wounded, and to effect a negotiation, by which they should be liberated on parole. We are not aware that such an application militated against the usages and customs of war: if not, the flag of truce should have been respected ; nor ought its bearer to have been detained as a prisoner. Admiral Cochrane's fears, that it was a wile, designed to find out his strength and situation, are far from presenting a sufficient excuse for so wanton an outrage on propriety. If this were apprehended, could not the messengers have been met, at a distance from the fleet, and ordered back, without a nearer ap-proach ? Had this been done, no information could have been gained, and the object designed to be se-cured by their detention would have been answered, without infringing that amicable intercourse between contending armies, which, when violated or disregard-ed, opens a door to brutal and savage warfare. Find- |