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Show 382 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. enemy being, as we hav.e heretofore shown, constantly XI. advised of every thing transacted in the American ~camp, plaiQly evinced, ,that safety and success were to 1815' be attained in no other way, than by pursuing a course at once firm and determined. The militia had already grown tired of the field, and sighed to be discharged from their toils. To impress on their minds a conviction, that, peace being restored, they were unnecessarily detained in service, when it rested on rumour alone ; or to attempt, by any course of conduct, to render tl1em more disaffected, carried with it such a degree of criminality and guilt, as could not be permitted, without endangering the safety of the country. This spirit of discontent had become exten· sively diffused. The different posts, which had been established, could be with difficulty maintained. The Kentucky troops, and two hundred of tl1e Loui;;iana militia, s~ioned in defence of Villery's canal, had abandoned their post. Chef Menteur, too, no less important, had been forsaken by one hundred and fifty of the Louisianians, in despite of the remonstnmces and exertions of tl1eir officers to detain them. Governor Claiborne had been heard to declare, in words of mysterious import, that serious difficulties would be shortly witnessed in New Orleans. For the co.m· manding general, at a time like this, when disaffectiOn wa's spreading like contagion through his camp, patiently to have stood, and witnessed mutiny fomented and encouraged by persons who, from their standi~g iri society, were calculated to possess a dangerous Ill· fluence, would have been a crime he never could have sufficiently atoned, had inju'fy resulted. ·_He thought LIFtJ OF GEN. JACKSON. sss i: time enough to relax in hiS' operations, and ground Ci~AP. his arms, when the conclusion of pea~e should be an- XI. nounced, through the proper authorities. 'Until then ~ believing his duty required it, he resolved to maintai~ 1815· his advantages, and check opposition, at every hazard. To have obeyed the writ. would h;lve been idle. He had declared the existence of military authority, and thereby intended to supersede all judicial pow~. If he had obeyed the. mandate, it would have been an acknowledgment of civil supremacy, and a virtual abandonment of the course he had adopted. It was not an improbable event, that ·the• p~titi~ner would be discharged, on a hearing, because guilty of no offence cognizable by the civil courts. He lmd not levied war against the country, llor directly aided the enemy ; but had done that which was paralyzing e?<ertion, scatter-ing dissension, introducing mutiny, and thinning the ranks of tlie_'army: Either, then, jutlicial interference should have been disregarded," lor the !arrest w.as wholly unnecessary. l But:Jwhethev .the course purstletl·were right or wron~, the -effect was -itn'portant : good order was restored, .and disorg:mizers hushed to silence. On the 13th of the month, two tlavs after'thi< de-parture of judge H illjfrOm the city, 31~ express reach- Peace an- 1 ed heat\ quarterS, 1Wiili despatches from the war de- uounce<L partment, tannouncing the conclusion of a peace bei :ween <ffreat1BI'itain and the United States, aJld..direct• mg a· cessation of hostilities. A similar communica-tion from his goverrment was received by general Lamb~rt, shortly afterwards, and, on the 19th, military operatwns, l;>y the two armies, entirely ceased. The aspect of affairs was now chRnging : the militia were |
