Alida Part 23

Jealousies, however, arose between the contending powers with respect to the conduct of America, and events occurred calculated to injure her commerce and disturb her peace.

[_Interesting Events_: Second War:

The remote causes of the second War with Great Britain appear to have arisen from the war existing between that power and France.

America endeavored to maintain a strict neutrality, and peaceably to continue a commerce with them. Jealousies, however, arose between the contending powers, with respect to the conduct of America, and events occurred, calculated to injure her commerce, and to disturb her peace.]

"Decrees were first issued by the French government preventing the American flag from trading with the enemy; these were followed by the British orders in council, no less extensive than the former in design, and equally repugnant to the laws of nations. In addition to these circ.u.mstances, a cause of irritation existed sometime between the United States and Great Britain. This was the right of search claimed by Great Britain as one of her prerogatives. To take her native subjects, wherever found, for her navy, and to search American vessels for that purpose. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of the American government, the officers of the British navy were not unfrequently seen seizing native British subjects who had voluntarily enlisted on board our vessels, and had also impressed into the British service some thousands of American seamen.

[_Interesting Events_: Second War:

The Berlin Decree of 1806, and that of Milan, in the succeeding year, (both issued by the French government, to prevent the American flag from trading with their enemy,) were followed by the British Orders in Council; no less extensive than the former, in the design, and equally repugnant to, the law of nations. In addition to these circ.u.mstances, a cause of irritation existed some time between the United States and Great Britain. This was the right of search, claimed by Great Britain, as one of her prerogatives. This was to take her native born subjects, wherever found, for her navy, and to search American vessels for that purpose. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of the American government, the officers of the British navy, were not unfrequently seizing native born British subjects, who had voluntarily enlisted on board of our vessels, and had also impressed into the British service some thousands of American seamen.]

"In consequence of the British and French decrees, a general capture of all American property on the seas seemed almost inevitable. Congress, therefore, on the recommendation of the president, laid an embargo on all vessels within the jurisdiction of the United States.

[_Interesting Events_: Second War:

In consequence of the British and French decrees, a general capture of all American property on the seas seemed almost inevitable.

Congress, therefore, on the recommendation of the President, on the 22d of December, 1807, laid an embargo on all vessels within the jurisdiction of the United States.]

"In a moment, the commerce of the American republic, from being, in point of extent, the second in the world, was reduced to a coasting trade between the individual states. The opposition to the act in several of the states was so great that they unanimously declared against it, and individuals throughout the whole seized every opportunity of infringement; therefore Congress thought proper to repeal the embargo law, and subst.i.tuted a non-intercourse with France and England."

[_Interesting Events_: Second War (quoting "Grimshaw's Hist.

U. States"):

"In a moment, the commerce of the American Republic, from being, in point of extent, the second in the world, was reduced to a coasting trade between the individual States." The opposition to the act in several States was so great, that they declared against it, and individuals throughout the whole, seized every opportunity of infringement. In 1809 Congress repealed the embargo law, and subst.i.tuted a non-intercourse with France and England.]

It was now generally expected that the session in Congress, with the decision of the president, would eventually terminate in actual hostilities. The difficulties the chief executive had to encounter were many and perplexing, being fully convinced, under existing circ.u.mstances, that the Americans must engage in combat after all. He therefore knew it to be necessary to rouse the feelings of the American people, to realize, more clearly than they did, the true situation of their country, that they might be prepared for the approaching crisis that he believed unavoidable.

[_A&M_:

The troubles which gave rise to the disseveration of England from America had already commenced, which broke out the ensuing spring into actual hostilities.]

[_Lives of Signers_: Hanc.o.c.k of Ma.s.sachusetts:

The difficulties which he had to encounter were many and perplexing.]

[_Lives of Signers_: John Adams of Ma.s.sachusetts:

Being fully convinced ... that "they must fight after all," he felt it to be necessary to rouse the feelings of the delegates from other colonies, to realize, more clearly and more correctly than they did, the true situation of their country. This he saw was indispensable, that they might be prepared for that distressing crisis of their political affairs, which it was obvious was approaching; and which he even then, with a few others, believed was unavoidable.]

This period was full of anxiety and danger. A war was deprecated by all the leading patriots of the day; they were fully persuaded that it must take place; they therefore unitedly determined to prepare for the storm in the best manner they were able. All material business was in a manner suspended in New-York; the face of things wore a dismal aspect, and the greater part of the community were in dismay. A heavy gloom hung over the inhabitants generally, while all their affairs appeared in a declining state, discouraging to the industry and best prospects of the people.

[_Lives of Signers_: John Adams of Ma.s.sachusetts:

The period was full of anxiety and danger.]

[_Lives of Signers_: Gerry of Ma.s.sachusetts:

A civil war was deprecated by all the leading patriots of that day.

But the measures which the British government had long pursued towards the colonies, had fully persuaded them that it must take place.... and they unitedly determined to prepare for the storm in the best manner they were able.]

[_Alida_ page 143 (chapter XVIII):

All business of importance, at this time, was in a manner suspended in New-York; the face of things wore a dismal aspect, and the greater part of the community were in dismay; occasioned by the continuance of hostilities with Great Britain. All appeared in a declining state, discouraging to the industry and best prospects of the inhabitants.]

Alida's father was no friend to political controversy, yet he pa.s.sed much of his time in conversing with his friends on the present affairs of America. He knew that party spirit and animosity existed more or less at this time, and that he must consequently often meet with those of opposite opinions; yet his honest and patriotic zeal for the good of his country still remained the same. He was attached to liberty from principle; he had talents to discriminate and see into the justice of the measures of government; his retirement gave him full opportunity to reflect on them seriously, and solve them in his own mind, and see their absolute necessity, in order to maintain the honour, freedom, and independence of the American nation. Would the same wisdom in the government continue that had so n.o.bly preserved us since our independence? But he had no reason at present to suppose otherwise, and that he who now guided the helm of affairs, was one of steady and uncorrupt principles, of stable character, altogether uninfluenced by any sinister views, and was willing to sacrifice his individual repose for the n.o.ble purpose, and with the hope of settling it again on the nation, with a firmer basis, at some future period, when the expected contest should be decided.

[_NY Weekly_: "Champagneaux" in "Anecdotes and Remains of Persons Connected with the French Revolution":

He ... was attached to liberty from principle, at a time, and in a country, when it was not unusual to be so, from mere speculation!]

What feelings of commotion and deep anxiety must agitate the bosom of the magnanimous hero who is labouring truly for the interest of his country, and is actuated alternately by the claims of justice and humanity, and on whom a whole community must depend for council in cases of severe emergency, when his chief satisfaction consists in promoting the interest and welfare of that community. When the hour of exigency arrives, his mind, endued with the light of piety, feels its own littleness, his weighty thoughts are big with the impending danger that no human arm may be able to arrest. Impressed with religious awe, and feeling conscious of his dependence for aid on the all-wise Disposer of events, he bends in humble supplication to implore the favour of that great and beneficent Being whose power alone can save, and in whose mighty arm alone is victory.

[["(All-wise) Disposer of events" was a stock phrase.]]

The father of Alida received regular intelligence by the daily papers respecting the political excitement in New-York; besides, he made frequent visits to the city to see his several children, as one of his daughters had resided there since her marriage. There was every kind of conveyance at the neighbouring village suited to the accommodation of travellers, both summer and winter, and the rapid improvement of the town had long been a current topic of the inhabitants as well as visiters, while they praised the proprietor of the new pavilion, in his manner of conducting it, and his excellent accommodations; and it was the general opinion that in the course of a few years this would become a place of no small consideration.

CHAPTER V.

O, who that sighs to join the scenes of war?

If heaven-born pity in thy bosom glow, Reject the impurpled wreath; the laurel crown Can flourish only in the scenes of wo.

[_NY Weekly_: Military Fame, stz. 1, 2:

O Thou that sigh'st to join the scenes of war, And gain the glories of the martial train; Reflect what woes surround the trophied car, What crimson tints the wish'd-for circlet stain.

If tender sympathy be not unknown, If heaven-born mercy in thy bosom glow, Reject the impurpl'd wreath, the laurel crown Can flourish only in the scenes of woe.]

At length it became the unhappy fate of America to be a second time involved in a war with Great Britain. "In a manifesto of the president, the reasons of the war were stated to be the impressment of American seamen, by the British; the blockade of the enemy's ports, supported by no adequate force; in consequence of which the American commerce had been plundered in every sea; and the British orders in council."

[_Interesting Events_: Second War (quoting "Grimshaw's Hist.

U. States"):

In the Manifesto of the President, the reasons of the war were stated to be "the impressment of American seamen by the British; the blockade of her enemies, supported by no adequate force, in consequence of which the American commerce had been plundered in every sea; and the British orders in council."]

The declaration of war was a source of unavoidable regret to the good and wise president,* which affected his mind with feelings approaching to melancholy. No one possessed qualities more inclined to peace, and a wish to settle all affairs of state in a pacific manner, more than he did, if it were possible, and it could have been done without sacrificing all the dearest rights and interests of the people; and nothing but these repeated persuasions in his mind, founded on the principles of justice and honour, caused him at length to be willing to yield to the stern necessity of deciding the existing differences by combat.

[* James Madison.]

[_Lives of Signers_: Morris of New York:

The object sought and desired from the deliberations of that a.s.sembly, was a settlement in a pacific manner, of all the existing difficulties....]

He possessed the qualities of a statesman in an eminent degree; he had well reflected on what he considered as inevitable. He was well versed in political science, and now only saw the realization of antic.i.p.ated events, of which there had been sufficient warning. Although he had to contend with innumerable difficulties, having once formed his opinion of what was to be done, his patriotism was undeviating, and his integrity inflexible.

[_Lives of Signers_: Floyd of New York: