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An address to the people
of the Eastern States
Editorial from the New York Evening Post on April 21, 1812
In a war with England we shall need numerous armies and ample
treasuries for their support. The war-hounds that are howling for war
through the continent are not to be the men who are to force
entrenchments, and scale ramparts against the bayonet and the
cannon's mouth; to perish in sickly camps, or in long marches through
sultry heats or wastes of snow. These gowned warriors, who are so
loudly seconded by a set of fiery spirits in the great towns, and by a set
of office hunters in the country, expect that their influence with the great
body of the people, the honest yeomanry of our country, is such that
every farmer, every mechanic, every laborer, will send off his sons, nay,
will even shoulder his firelock himself and march to the field of blood.
While these brave men who are "designing or exhorting glorious war,"
lodged safe at Monticello or some other secure retreat, will direct and
look on; and will receive such pay for their services as they shall see fit
to ask, and such as will answer their purposes.
Citizens, if pecuniary redress is your object in going to war with England,
the measure is perfect madness. You will lose millions when you will gain
a cent. The expense will be enormous. It will ruin our country. Direct
taxes must be resorted to. The people will have nothing to pay. We once
had a revenue; - that has been destroyed in the destruction of our
commerce. For several years past you have been deceived and abused
by the false pretenses of a full treasury. That phantom of hope will soon
vanish. You have lately seen fifteen millions of dollars wasted in the
purchase of a province we did not want, and never shall possess.
And will you spend thousands of millions in conquering a province which,
were it made a present to us, would not be worth accepting? Our
territories are already too large. The desire to annex Canada to the
United States is as base an ambition as ever burned in the bosom of
Alexander. What benefit will it ever be to the great body of the people,
after their wealth is exhausted, and their best blood is shed in its
reduction? - "We wish to clear our continent of foreign powers." So did
the Madman of Macedon wish to clear the world of his enemies, and
such as would not bow to his sceptre. So does Bonaparte wish to clear
Europe of all his enemies; yea, and Asia too. Canada, if annexed to the
United States, will furnish offices to a set of hungry villains, grown quite
too numerous for our present wide limits; and that is all the benefit we
ever shall derive from it.
These remarks will have little weight with men whose interest leads
them to advocate war. Thousands of lives, millions of money, the flames
of cities, the tears of widows and orphans, with them are light
expedients when they lead to wealth and power. But to the people who
must fight, if fighting must be done, - who must pay if money be wanted
- who must march when the trumpet sounds, and who must die when
the "battle bleeds," - to the people I appeal. To them the warning voice
is lifted. From a war they are to expect nothing but expenses and
sufferings; - expenses disproportionate to their means, and sufferings
lasting as life.
In our extensive shores and numerous seaports, we know not where
the enemy will strike; or more properly speaking, we know they will
strike when a station is defenceless. Their fleets will hover on our
coasts, and can trace our line from Maine to New Orleans in a few
weeks. Gunboats cannot repel them, nor is there a fort on all our shores
in which confidence can be placed. The ruin of our seaports and loss of
all vessels will form an item in the list of expenses. Fortifications and
garrisons numerous and strong must be added. As to the main points of
attack or defence, I shall only say that an efficient force will be
necessary. A handful of men cannot run up and take Canada, in a few
weeks, for mere diversion. The conflict will be long and severe:
resistance formidable, and the final result doubtful. A nation that can
debar the conqueror of Europe from the sea, and resist his armies in
Spain, will not surrender its provinces without a struggle. Those who
advocate a British war must be perfectly aware that the whole revenue
arising from all British America for the ensuing century would not repay
the expenses of that war.
of the Eastern States
Editorial from the New York Evening Post on April 21, 1812
In a war with England we shall need numerous armies and ample
treasuries for their support. The war-hounds that are howling for war
through the continent are not to be the men who are to force
entrenchments, and scale ramparts against the bayonet and the
cannon's mouth; to perish in sickly camps, or in long marches through
sultry heats or wastes of snow. These gowned warriors, who are so
loudly seconded by a set of fiery spirits in the great towns, and by a set
of office hunters in the country, expect that their influence with the great
body of the people, the honest yeomanry of our country, is such that
every farmer, every mechanic, every laborer, will send off his sons, nay,
will even shoulder his firelock himself and march to the field of blood.
While these brave men who are "designing or exhorting glorious war,"
lodged safe at Monticello or some other secure retreat, will direct and
look on; and will receive such pay for their services as they shall see fit
to ask, and such as will answer their purposes.
Citizens, if pecuniary redress is your object in going to war with England,
the measure is perfect madness. You will lose millions when you will gain
a cent. The expense will be enormous. It will ruin our country. Direct
taxes must be resorted to. The people will have nothing to pay. We once
had a revenue; - that has been destroyed in the destruction of our
commerce. For several years past you have been deceived and abused
by the false pretenses of a full treasury. That phantom of hope will soon
vanish. You have lately seen fifteen millions of dollars wasted in the
purchase of a province we did not want, and never shall possess.
And will you spend thousands of millions in conquering a province which,
were it made a present to us, would not be worth accepting? Our
territories are already too large. The desire to annex Canada to the
United States is as base an ambition as ever burned in the bosom of
Alexander. What benefit will it ever be to the great body of the people,
after their wealth is exhausted, and their best blood is shed in its
reduction? - "We wish to clear our continent of foreign powers." So did
the Madman of Macedon wish to clear the world of his enemies, and
such as would not bow to his sceptre. So does Bonaparte wish to clear
Europe of all his enemies; yea, and Asia too. Canada, if annexed to the
United States, will furnish offices to a set of hungry villains, grown quite
too numerous for our present wide limits; and that is all the benefit we
ever shall derive from it.
These remarks will have little weight with men whose interest leads
them to advocate war. Thousands of lives, millions of money, the flames
of cities, the tears of widows and orphans, with them are light
expedients when they lead to wealth and power. But to the people who
must fight, if fighting must be done, - who must pay if money be wanted
- who must march when the trumpet sounds, and who must die when
the "battle bleeds," - to the people I appeal. To them the warning voice
is lifted. From a war they are to expect nothing but expenses and
sufferings; - expenses disproportionate to their means, and sufferings
lasting as life.
In our extensive shores and numerous seaports, we know not where
the enemy will strike; or more properly speaking, we know they will
strike when a station is defenceless. Their fleets will hover on our
coasts, and can trace our line from Maine to New Orleans in a few
weeks. Gunboats cannot repel them, nor is there a fort on all our shores
in which confidence can be placed. The ruin of our seaports and loss of
all vessels will form an item in the list of expenses. Fortifications and
garrisons numerous and strong must be added. As to the main points of
attack or defence, I shall only say that an efficient force will be
necessary. A handful of men cannot run up and take Canada, in a few
weeks, for mere diversion. The conflict will be long and severe:
resistance formidable, and the final result doubtful. A nation that can
debar the conqueror of Europe from the sea, and resist his armies in
Spain, will not surrender its provinces without a struggle. Those who
advocate a British war must be perfectly aware that the whole revenue
arising from all British America for the ensuing century would not repay
the expenses of that war.