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;.r i i .1; Jr i trust which lias been confided to hia bands "kj his fellow' citizens, and in which they are as ikeply interested as he is. Avirtuous man will pursue the path of hononand probijy, rather -than that of interest : and a jeat man will study his country's good more than his own popularity, . I am forced to think there must be some mistake in your representation of the republican- party in your section of the state; Its opinion there has been unequivocally expressed, concerningMr. Clin ton, by the unexampled unanimity with which he wis put in nomination , for the presidency, and I jo not understand, in virtne of what arrangement, he should frustrate that choice, His friends db.not act for his benefit in this question ; nay they would be tfcnd;dat the supposUion.t However well they wish him; they feci a dearer regard for their coun t ry and, the re for e , they are desirous of rescu Ing it,, in a season of so much peril, out of the Feeble handa in which it is now placed. . In this case they consider Mr. Oioton no more than the instrument of the public safety, and they prefer him for his superior fitness. If a' portion of our citizen are systematizing rre; sures, calculated, as you say, to deaden the e nergics rf the nation, is this not a most pressing reason for placing at the head of the iroverriroent a man ot energetic eiiaracieiy wno is ac iu n; .. legislature of pe ?Ute of Jy,'-York, to promote the election of the honorable Dq Vitt Clinton to the presi dency of the U. States at the en kuinV election, held at the city of New-York, the 13thtlay of October, 1812; Whereas, It has been represented toJvthis committee, that an open letter, has been ad dressed to a republican of ' this city, friendly to jhe presidential nomination of the honora ble De Witt Clinton; and written by two gen . ' - , .'it ' . tiemen oi tne ciiyvoi Aioany, containing a pry position to the friends of Mr. Clinton, that States' furcts, requesting an interview' with him, tnaj. gen .' Hall, and the commandants of the Unit ed SLates regiments, for the purpose of conferring uport the subject of :future operations. I , wrote major general Hill to the same purport. On the .1 Ith, I had received no answer from Gen. S, nytii ; but in a-,noe.-tQ';nelCthe,l(nh, general Hall mentioned that general Smyth had not fet then agreed upon any day for the consult atiojr:-:' lln. theMnean lime, jhe partial success jof fieut. Elliott, at Black Rock; (of which, however, I have hm .Knnlrl roKhmueW hi nrtpnaiftni" to the i received tio official information) began to excite a presidency of the union in favour of Mr.JVla-1 s' reng disposition in the troops to act. ThU. was diaorr and it having been ascertained by this I pressed to me. through varies channels m the committee, not only that the said letter wmF 01 an au X . . . - ,1. . . - - I , dera te vet i or, at all hazards, they wouia g o wme exhibited, and its contents communicated, af 'commctfli upon (nc oovious con. its bearer to other gent cmenTnendly to the 8tqien8 to me personaHy, of longer withholding rwuiuu wi-iutriuwuu cii undersuch-circumstanccsi-7 pies of it have probably been forwarded to j i had a conference with -t as to the possibil Pennsylvania, and other states, which this Uy of getting some person to pass over to Canada committee apprehend would only be done for and obtain correct information. On the morning electioneering purposes: and this committee 0f the 4ih, he wrote tn rne that be had procured are therefore desirous to know the truth of the man who bore his letter to go over. Instruc this alledged extraordinary interposition on -tions were given him ; he passed overobtained tho nan- of thrM crpntlemen : 1 ' K:: such information as warranted an immediate at'. . O. . . ...j. - C .1 . 1 .. ..nmiinSnlii'il tr lacK. x nis wits luiiiiuciiur (,mniuuivw, v wt.r..--; ."3'" live fir: , - " IIIC 111 I no , i i ' " Tiirr. tun, . mn.iinof two members, be desired to call i ral of m Erst officers and produced great zeal f.,u a mtrj n,p iisaffi.tefl.? If Mr.! . ; :j i.. .i ; to act ; more especially as it mignt nave a con prcs wvuuii wr..w. ... ' - - , . " upon me person lowuum ui? aaiu icucr isau-i . .. t rv,.,,. J( ni,r;t mIi-tp Madison could not stop the crowth ot these eril . . 'n. ,n u:m tn rrn;cu fu:a : troling effect upon the moreroen.s at . Detioit.where doings in the trancpul season of prosperity, jt is committce with the original letter, and his not to be ejtpectea mai n canjtuuuuc ihcih . n . . j fu .,nt. rouoDeeXpec eaina, .5 c and that they report accor rendered more intractible by the hardships ol the . . ' -rJ r v times, and-wheti his own authority is weakened lay disasters, which are obviously the result nf filly. Would to God that, the supporters friends of the constitution would stand forth.e should then see a prompt reprobation of those disgraceful intrigues which prostituted the re presentatives of the nation in Electioneering Instruments, and exhibit them at tHe seat of government, under the eye and influence of the executive, in the officious and unhallowed act of naming a president for the people. Would to God the supporters and-friends of the Constitution did seriously reflect on the whole of that scene, they would then re probate as I believe, that act more crminal than ever the caucus intrgue itsclft which staked the honour and fortune of America against an office, which brought on war with out preparation, and if we may judge by the manner in which it is conducted, leaves us no hopes that in the present hands it will enable us to avenge our violated rights or retrieve the tarniseel .glory of .our country k If the -ele'vation ot-Mr. Clinton was a matter of bar mXand sale, his pretentions might be sur- jt- jeered for any present or future advantage, r'lliut While the friends of .the constitution throughout the Union look to him for his country's sake, be cannot in duty decline the seVvice they assign him. What honour, what principle would there be in abandoning a great contest, vitally effecting the representatives of the people and the purity of the govern ment? i1 A contest solemnly entered into by the state of New-York, supported with an animated and gent rou3 zeal by the state of Pennsylvania, and sanctioned by the approv ing voice of many of the wisest patriots in the whole republic. To make such a contest the subject of an arrangement- would' be, as it strikes me no Jess cowardly than unprincipled. Nur can I see why the more manly and pa triotic course, whatever be its issue, should destroy the-prospects of Mr. Clinton, and de- pr.ve this nation, at a future periodof his ser . - . . ... vices. Uii tne contrary, ii must always re dound to his credit, that in his person the first stand was made against the highly dangerous and unconstitutional practice of making a de signation of president, under executive influ ence ; that' with him the usurped authority of th states wa3 resumed in this essential arti cle ; that the principlei of rotation amongst them was recovered the' dangerous monoply in an ambitious state endeavored to be defeat ed, and the interest and dignity of those that are more particularly agricultural and com mercial maintained in practice. ., There is one more consideration which I shall submit to your 'judgment ; that is, that -the. republican -party..will beraUib!y broken down if a stop be not speedily put to the undue mrsos employed by the present cabinet to ex tet;d its influence. Recollect the downfall of the federalist-? Can we stand by the same, or eyen vvorse meanSjthlin thosej which caused their overthrow. . In a word, I am clear, that the re-election f Mr. Madison will be the it was supposed general Brock had gone with all the force he dared spare from the Niagara fron : tier. The best preparations in my power were, I therefore, made t& dislxlge the enemy from the Heights pf Q leenstown, and possess ourselves of the villace, where the troops might be sheltered to the gentlemen to whom the letter was au- from the distressing inclemency ot tne vf atner. dressed, he consented to furnish them with ' Lieut. Col. Fenwick's flying artillery, and a de the said letter, and his answer thereto, which tachment of regular, troops undci his command, tlinfrlv 'i'he saii suh committee report, that having communicated the request ot this committee are herewith submitted; wert ordered to be up in season from Fort Sba ra. Orders wre also sent to pen. Smyth to send down from Buffalo such detachment of hi j brigade tack; hut were promptly met and rcuhd by the as existing circumstances in that vicinity might rifle and.bayonet. s V"- warrant. The attack was to have been mads at By this time, I perceived my tro-i vrt fm 4 o clock in the -morning ot tne inn, ny crossing .over in boa' trom me uta rerry opposite uiv Heiehts. 'i? avoid any embarrassment in cros- I sing the river (which is here a sheet of violented ' ' , ! i it- t . Fnm 'tht Jv. Y. Scatetfnan to The electors of the union. We recommend the following circumstance to the careful perusal of our fellow citizens -and it may not be amiss for them to read it before they have settled the pending election. If they can spare time to peruse ana resect upon it, mey may experiww.d boatmen wePe procuted totaUe here see with what readiness theif representatives lhe boat'4 from the lan(Un bfelow to , hc place of can overlook them in the pursuit of office. 4 e-mbarkatl0n Lieut. Sjm ws considered the man When the house of representatives were last of est gkiu foJ. (h gervicCt He Went ahead: spring m secret conclave on a subject which s non inhe extreme darkness, passed thinlcrided yet made public, Jamks r isk, member, from Ver- . f f the river and there in Z most ' , started irom hi seal, ana inaignanuy at- ; ;raordinar v manner . fastened his boat the shore, mont, cured, that He would no longer g.ve 111s support . abandonet lhe, tielachment. UUis front boat ta-the executive m these hall way measures ot hadcaWed nearly every oar whih was prepar war ; for that he was now convinced thitthe whole j , . ,, f. ... In .u:, afr:,;n! diumma. til IV'l till lllW trJva. - f5 ' system was.noih.nDut apian oi ticcuoneenng 10 ; stoo( and met whose ardour had not been secure the re-election 01 a presiaenc ro o.nce 00 , , d . eXposure tnrmigh saying, he took Ins hat and departed from the ca- j . - ' ' endau3 north J j cooled by exposure through tile night to one of ! Uo . nomanitniKi nnrth Past !nriT18. which pitol. A member who heard these . wonts, and - ,. . rt.,wCj r'r f.icrht hrturs. and saw this scenes said. Mr. Fik will hear from the i ,.. wh . cam Xhe annroach of dav ! 1 1 .: ;,;,, nk. (? t- r- . president soon, unu "'"'""..,- "''""""Ilioht tTctiiwuished evtrv nrospect ot succrss, and - r- r " , . son informed the president that Fisk had deter mined to oppose the war measure. In the space of four day afterwards, the president did nomi nate the said James Fisk to the nflke of "4udge in the Indiana Territory ". The S:nate confirmed the nominaticr, and Mr Fisk was all at once a warm, fixed, and boisterous advocate for war. We Kiye this to the public on the authority oT a mem ber of congress, xwho heard the declaration ol Fisk, arid knows the other circumstances above related to he fact. That Fisk, an obscure man from the state of Vermont, is now to camp. Colonel Van commanded the detach. iw a judge in the Indiana Territory, , , is a fact! and we advise the VerJ the. detachment returns Rensselaer was to hay ment. Af!-r this'' result, I, had hoped the patience of the troops would have continued until 1 could sub mit the plari suggested in my letter of the '8th, that I might actunder, and in conformity to the opinion which riight then be expressed. But my hope was idleythe previously excited ardour Seem ed to have pained new heat from the late m'Scar riape the brave were mortified to stop short of th-eifcobjecjf, and the timid thought laurels half won 1 1 ruin of the republican party, and that if it per tinaciously' support bm,' it Will deserve its flue, and lament it atTtisurc. , ' , 1 Your.mcst obet'ient servant, : . RICHARD HIKER. . Hon. Ambrose Spencer and John Tayler. i SJ Resolved .unanimously, that this committee approve the answer of Richard RikerjEsq to i the foregVtng letter addressed to him by Am broe Spencer and Jphn Tayler, Esqrs. ;R.f3o!ved, that the above proceedings of this 'committee be forwarded M confidential republican fx'finds in the difitnt states, to be us' Cl at their discretion. -' Signed, jVitiam W. Gilbert, Thomas Addis E'mmct, Samu -l A Lawrence, John H. Sick- els, "John.M. Kelson', Jacob dd la Montagnics Sa-'xueL Harris,. Elbert Herring Gurdson S, MnmfonK Matthias JS. Pamadge, . Benjamin EerriirrPe1erlftJortPreljer 11 . ' At a convention of the ropuhlican .committee, acting un ' . (LtUic authority of the genertvl commit tee oPoorrip. nnnr1 HP. minoiiitPfHiv inn rpnnliliran mpniKru nt'tlio - v. The ft'lebrated" Irish -Patriot, who died a mnvyr t his love of liberty,' was "'the brother cf this gentleman, - -, by commission monters, ani) all other citizens of America before they give implicit faith to their misreprcsenta. tives, to inquire what office they hold under Mr. Madison. 1 his 'may seive bctter-to account for lhe "btlnd end persecuting zeal of Doctor Sitaw, David Robinson and other rcen of" similar virtue" than 'all the logic in the world'. ' an attempt. On the morning of the 12th, $uh was. the pres sure-upoh me trurn all quarters, tuat l became satisfied that my refusal to act might involve me in suspicion, and the service in disgrace. Viewing afFurs at Buff-doe as yet unsettled, I had immediately countermanded the march to General Smyth's brigade, upon the failure of the first exnedition but having now determi'ied to attack bueenstown, I sent new orders to General 1. . .... r.- Smyth to march ; not witty tnc view 01 nis am in the attack, for I considered the force detached suf ficient, but to support the detachment should the conflict be obstinate, and long continued. LieiiN Co!. Christie, who had jnst arrived at the Four Mile Creek, had late in the night of the fu st conternplated attack, gallantly offered me his own and his-men's service ; but he got my permission too late. He now again came forward ; had a con. ference'with Col. Van Rensselaer, and begged that he min-ht have the honor of a command in the ex- Tiin -rr:in'rment was made, vaionei rnent of nit who ... ""-"- ic scene: .was a seripus minuites af.er v- i'jui nui nr a hi.! n ....j thigh entering just bclew ' is. u:lT?$y rh. P?d..rpug! the same ihieh iKmi l"?' the third through the elf of hivf ' I r-V" . This WaSQ-mVi " m the expedmon, .Un!er so severed difficult to form raw troops'. Bv s w 1- 1 ment of thf.-boVtnier, "KVuti.cS S arrive until some time after Vn' arirl ' V n,,t the hand in passing lb-- vZ!Ta y iv was .still able to stand ; and i'n 'li'ers-I.a mind ordered his oflicers to proceed and storm . the Fort, This service was V ."r peformed, and the enemy driven down tH every direction; Soon after .his yr COnsiderablv rein Torrid, nn.l -o: . ' e,-r n various nlaPea: ' Man. ,s - ,r,,ew ter - behind a strc guard house, where a ,wt ordnance was now briskly served. 1 ordV ! .if fire of our battery, directed imon iti . 'ke l5? wil!v l Uc enpmt .v. ' ouui. villi? ui ivu.c occamc crenera . inf u j i lie and it was so effectuallv done, ten shot the fre was s lenced. y. OVff .tnteJ pun ray's fire was sifenced, except from a one ., k tcry,so far doy n the river as to be ou &l thc raI of heavy ordnance, and our light-pie s cnul . unnoticed, except tiom the. one m- rnr snmp nme ttip i nan nnwii i.. .. ,i ry appealed complete; but "4he txpr-au' nof further attacks, I was taking measures f r fortify ing my7 camp iirirwdiat.-ly. The direction';! this service I' committed to licut, Touch,-"of 'the engineers. . But very soon theVn'fny were rein forced iv a detaenment ot several Iijr.rlrr n ;..,, from Chippewa.: Ihev commtnctfd.a fiii'm,, ., barking very shvvly. 1 passed imintdiotely nvy to accelerate their movements ; but to my utttr astonishment, I found that at the very moaieqt when complete victory was in our h:nds, ti ardar of the unengaged troops had entiw'.y suvsiile U rode m alj directions urged the nun by evtreon, sioerauon 10 puss uvcr om m vssn i.ieutrnsr col. isioom, wno nsa Deen wounotd in t-ction, ro. turned, mounted his horse and rode thvouh :th camp j as did also Judge Peck, who-hnppi(ledi be here, exhorting the compaaiestoprocted-tit all hi vain. - ' At this timea i;rge rcinforcein:rt fm ?.y George were discovered coming up tiie HVer. Aj the buttery on the hill was considered an imf , J tant check against their hscimvV;?-. uARh" measures were immeuiAteiy i.i v. t,: the.v.i fresh supply of anynunition, as 1 iud Ifartuthttt were left only 20 shot for the 18 pounders, ft reinforcement) however, obliqued to jt rjRhi'i Irom the road, arid formed a jiinciicn with lhe In. dians in the rear of the heights.' b im in;, to try infinite mortification, that no reinforcemnisHonlij - pass over ; seeing that another severe en i:t muil -soon commence i and knowing that the.fcrsw trim, on the heights were quite exhausted, iMwuVf out of ammunition, all T could d- was tost n'v(wn , a fresh supply of cartridges. . At this criiicnls : ment I dispatched a note to gen. Wadsv-orlh qoainting him with our situ iinleavin.tlit' course to be pursued much to his own yntsjmy with assurance Uiat it ne tnougtit best u mkk. I would endeavor to send as many br.ats 35 1'wli command, and cover his retreat by euiy fire I could safely make."' But the- boats were diaperd' many of the boarmcn'h id fled p -r.'t s'mrk, snd but fevv jot offi But my note could lnt !irk mors than have reachen g?n. W about a oci . t most sevsre and obstinate conflict cr,mir.d and continued about half an hour with a .vtrnt. dous fire of cannon, flying artilU ry ni d -nw-i't? The enemy succeeded in re pdsstsupg tl r.w ttry ; and gaining advantage 011 evry s'h'ltic brave men who had gained the victory, 'ex!w of strength and ammunition, and giivt-d at unpardonable neglect oflhcir ftllow soUittH 8a)8' up.the conflict. 1 can on4v adtLlhatJLli-evicTfry was rca..; hut Jds'f for the want of a" small rtinrorc.emet. One third mrt of lhe idle men might have KV.oi I have been so pressed'with the vav'Ctti dat'J of burying, the dead, providing for llie ww-r M. iUo nnMi,. nrnnpflv. IiV f in:'.' r? n C''1 change of prisoners, and. all -the cor.::' : of every sco inclrel, who would either give or take a bribe to svll his' country.- fVhom the capjft:s let hfm r.'enr in ' 1 . . ' ObWifAL sCCOUN r. From the National Intellicncet. ; Ccpies of letters from Iaj. Geb. Van Rensselaer of the New-York militia, to Maj-iitien Henry DcarbotTtrtrs'rnitted' by th'j latter to the De: - pa it nlcn t of War." 7ZT"TZI "T JZrotiithe JV w Yurk Statesman ? Judge Fiik We pledge our word and honor to pro ve the anecdote cf this man, r s rt la'ed in our paper 'of Friday lst, friuc Let Mr. Fisk deny it ifhe lare. We have observed the paragraph on that-subject jinrthe Public Advertiser, but as the editor of that paper has nonbusiness to interfere in an affair 'belonging to Mr. Fi.sk and espe cially as he is an object of universal contempt, we. cannot, by corifiecending t notice him, be diverted Irom concerns of much greater moment. The member oj KVrtfll HI IV HCUf U 9 Utl4fMlVfl U'U WK.l CC i J" witness -to thcjather fact, told us- the anecdote: T- IV 1 -omm-inrl one column nf onent- of such a battle that J hay And now, may eternal infamy settle, on aheJieadim . ' nr! Hstlti coi Christie acolunin of I to. .forward ihis 'dispatch at a searly an .rtur n Uw ........... , T . . . , . 1 Ka o.inn Wllfl VI f-'"' the same number of regular trocros. ccuia nave mu. 7 . ' , " - mi Every precaution was now adoptetf as to boats, ther dispatch in which I shall enoeavor and the' most confidential and expeiience.d memo out to you the conduct some mos, g j j manage them. At an early hour in the night, Jieut. deserving officers.,, But I cawiju m jtb, ; col. Christie marched his detachmen, by the mar this without expressing the '7 road, from Niagara to bamp. At Y in ( the even- m under to brigadier general yVady ing lieut. col Siranahan's regiment moved from Van Rensselaer col. Scott, he. c Niagnra Falls; at 8 o'clock Mead' and at 9 o' tie and Fen wick, ; and, captain Gibs. clock cofcrfilan's regiment marched Trom the same others have also behaved most galUo J- , place. All were in camp in good season. A- have reason to brieve that many of our greeably to my orders, issued upon this occasion, 1 to the woods with the hopeot crcsainj, i life two columns were to pass over together, and have Jiot been able to ltarn.il soon as the heights should be carried, lieut col. of killed, 'wounded, or prisoners. . nc. ' ot our troops must Dave Drcn vctj , - And the ensmy have suffered seventy. . General Brock is among their slamj and b.s ' de camp mortally wounded. I luve the honor to h?. sir With great respe'et and consi.k'i-'.jof!-- , '" Your most td.'t servant. - V . , , ....... Major general D 5 a r. c n n. ( - . '.ilF.AO'QUAKn'-., ; - V HEADQUARTERS, - , Lewistown, Oct 14, 18 1 2. Sir, As the movements of the army under my command, since I had last the honor .to ad dress you on the 8th inst. have been of a very-im-port ant character, producing consequences serious to many individuals ; establishing facts actually connected viih 'tlie interest of the service and the safety, of the at my u and as ,1 stand prominently responsible for sbm.e of these consequences, i beg leave to expl linito you, sir, and through you to my country, the'situation aiid circumstances in. which I have had to Vet, and the reasons and -motives which governed me ; and if the result is not all ihat rnight have been v ished, it is' such, that-when the w. hole ground sliaU.be viewed," I shall cheery fully submit myself to the judgment of my coun try..";: ' "' . ' ; y; .' .;'.' 'i-;.r-;;;: In my letter ol the 8th Inst." I apprized youthat a crisis in this campaign was rapidly advancing j andthat . (to repeat the same words) " the blow fiiust bcrsoon struck or all the toil and cxpence of the campaign go for nothing ; and worsetTSajTno- ' Under such impressions, I had on the 5th inst wnttsn brigadier general Smytb cf lhe United Fenwick'lflvinc; artillery was to pas3 over ; then major Mullany's detachrneat of regulars ; and the othr troops to fllw in order. . . At dawn of day the boats were in readiness, and the troops commenced embarking, under the cover of a 'commanding battery, mounting eighteen pounders. and 2 sixes. The movemqitTwas soon fHscoveredtand a bnsk fire of musketry was poured from the whole line of the Canada shore. Our battery then opened to sweep the shore ; but it was for some minutes too dark to direct much Gre'with safety, A brisk cannonade was now opened upon the boats from 3 different batteries ; our battery returned their fire,, and occasionally threw g'rapc upon the shore,- and was itself served with shells from a small mortar, of the enemy's. Col. Scott, of the artillery yby hat tening his march from Nia gara Talis In the night, arrived in season to re, turn the enemy's fire with 2 six pound.-rs. an ntMtn-onf'ffi.'ir. ' and fflUC 1f IIIUHItU lMI.-TI ... - I'he boau weomewhatmbnedithhe4 ' ," M I a - " I . I - 1 eddies, as well as with a shower Of shot s but coL Van Rensselaer, with about 100 men soon effect ed his landing amidst a tremendous fire directed ufoal'un froai-evry nohiV; but is. the. sstoaish ,3.1' .t . -Sih For any ftmher pcrt-ic.u-.---n-action j . the precnr situa-ion nd n" our trooper the-appearance.pf tle jjT jT j tton; and bur future prospects, iter- ,'' " ,y i ... i. .i.... iifin iil.Ui v U MM .ii'---- - - honor to dt,livt n y I "am. with ereat respect, si., -V.-i.vr obedrent sen-ar.t. n c VAN nESl.U;:" .Major 2cn6r.al,P.A"8:?1'.,,' .-. 1! - . ,. . . - - fi' --'-. ., j.
The Raleigh Minerva (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Nov. 6, 1812, edition 1
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