CHAPTER XLIV. MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION-CONTINUED. The Thirteenth Congress; its Members.-Daniel Webster.-Manifesto of the British Government.-Embarrassments.-Commissioners of Peace appointed.-Britain offers to negotiate.--Jacob Brown.-Winfield Scott.-E. W. Ripley.-Wilkinson unsuccessful; his Misfortunes.Capture of Fort Erie.-Battle of Lundy's Lane.-Its effect.-British repulsed at Fort Erie; their Batteries captured.-Battle on Lake Champlain.—British marauding Expeditions on the Shores of the Chesapeake.-Bladensburg.-Capture of Washington.-The Public Buildings burned.-Defence of Fort McHenry.-Death of General Ross.-Bombardment of Stonington.--Distress in New England.-Debates in Congress.-Embargo and Non-importation Act repealed.— Hartford Convention. XLIV 1813 May 24. THE thirteenth Congress, in obedience to the call of CHAP. the President, met in special session, some months before the usual time. The last census had increased the number of Representatives in the House to 182. Of the present members a greater proportion than in the last Congress were opposed to the war, and, indeed, its own advocates on that subject were by no means harmonious among themselves. In this Congress, as well as in the last, appeared many new men, whose influence was afterward greatly felt, not only in their respective States, but in moulding the future policy of the nation itself. Among these were John Forsyth of Georgia, William Gaston of North Carolina, John McLean of Ohio, and Daniel Webster of New Hampshire, who now commenced that career so marked in our XLIV. CHAP. national councils. Born on the frontiers of that State, his privileges were limited. The quiet, thoughtful boy, fond 1813. of books, read all within his reach. His father, a man of strong sense and sterling integrity; his mother, a woman of more than ordinary intellect and force of character; to their judicious guidance may be traced the best elements of his education. The father noticed his expanding intellect, the calm power of mind that intuitively grasped thoughts far beyond his years. His resolution was taken ; though very limited in means, he must educate his son. At length he informed Daniel of his determination to sen him to college. At this first intimation that the dreams which had been floating before his imagination were to be realized, the boy's emotions were too deep for utterance; he threw himself upon his father's neck and wept for joy. Jan. In Congress stirring debates ensued. Not only was the policy of the war severely criticized, but the manner in which it had been conducted. Its advocates were surrounded with difficulties; the means to carry it on were exhausted ; the revenue derived from commerce had dwindled to one million, with a prospect of still greate reduction; enormous bounties were offered to obtain recruits for the army, but very few enlisted. The clashing of opinions on the subject had arrayed the people definitely on one side or the other. The British government issued to the world a manifesto, in which certain charges industriously circulated in the United States were utterly denied-such as that they had instigated the Indians to hostilities, or that they had endeavored to seduce the people of the Eastern States from the Union ; but on the contrary, they protested that the English people were actuated by a spirit of for bearance, and were truly desirous to be at peace and amity with the people of the United States. As to the question of search, they were unwilling to give up the THE WAR UNPOPULAR IN NEW ENGLAND. 615 XLIV. right to recover their deserting seamen, unless the United CHAP. States would remove the necessity for impressments, by enacting laws forbidding British sailors to enlist in the 1813. American service. This document had a great effect in influencing the minds of the people in England, as well as upon those in the United States. The disasters of the last campaign, and the want of money, a sufficiency of which could not be obtained by loans, were not as embarrassing to the government, as the opposition to the war which prevailed in the New England States. The Legislature of Massachusetts sent a remonstrance to Congress. They denounced the war as unreasonable, for Great Britain had repealed the obnoxious Orders in Council, and also offered to negotiate in relation to impressments. Undue influences in the councils of the nation had led to measures opposed to their interests, and had brought ruin upon them by war. It was a duty to their constituents to make this remonstrance. They appealed to the Searcher of hearts for the purity of their motives, and their devotion to their country. The people of New England complained that for the last twelve years, their influence in the national government had not been in proportion to their population, intelligence and wealth,-that their best and ablest men had been designedly excluded from positions of influence in the councils of the nation. In less than a year after the declaration of war, President Madison, influenced by an offer of mediation on the part of Russia, appointed Albert Gallatin, his Secretary of the Treasury, and James A. Bayard, commissioners to negotiate a peace. They were to act in concert with John Quincy Adams, then minister at the court of St. Petersburg. The offered mediation by Russia was declined by England; and nothing was accomplished by the commissioners. Nearly a year afterward, the British government made a direct overture to treat of peace, either at Mar. XLIV. Jan. 14. CHAP. London or at Gottenburg in Sweden. This offer was made in the face of the ultimate downfall of Bonaparte, 1814. who had just been defeated at the battle of Leipsic. The President gladly accepted the offer, though he complained that the English government had rejected the mediation of Russia, which had been offered three several times. Accordingly, Henry Clay and Jonathan Russell, recently minister to England, were appointed additional commissioners of peace. In a month's time, they had received their instructions, and were on their way to Europe. These instructions took decided ground on the impressment question. "That degrading practice must cease," said they. "Our flag must protect the crew, or the United States cannot consider themselves an independent nation." Yet the promise was quietly made to enact a law forbidding the enlistment of British sailors, either in the United States navy or in the mercantile service. Still more, the commissioners were privately authorized "to go further, to prevent a possibility of failure." It will be remembered that this was the very law or assurance in effect, that Britain asked of Congress, at the commencement of the war. Engrossed with the affairs of Europe, England as yet could spare but few men or ships for the American war. Bonaparte having abdicated and retired to Elba, she had on her hands a large veteran army unemployed. Of this army, fourteen thousand soldiers were sent to Canada, while other portions were sent to different places in the United States. This acquisition changed the face of affairs on the northern frontier. The failures in that quarter, had thrown the administration at Washington into despair. The soldiers had but little confidence in officers, who were continually quarrelling with each other, and never acting in concert, and this favorite measure was about to be given up, from sheer want of proper persons to lead the enterprise. New NEW MEN ON THE STAGE. 617 XLIV. men were coming on the stage. The most promising of CHAP these was Colonel Jacob Brown, a Pennsylvanian by birth, a Quaker by descent, who, when a school teacher in the 1814. city of New York, attracted the attention of Hamilton, who made him his military secretary in the army of 1798. Brown subsequently removed to the northern part of New York State, and there, in his defence of Ogdensburg, as well as on other occasions, exhibited military talents of a high order. There was another youthful hero, destined to fill an honorable space in the military annals of his country. Winfield Scott, a native of Virginia, originally bred for the bar; he also belonged to the army of '98. At the commencement of the war he raised and commanded a company of volunteers. To these may be added Eleazar W. Ripley, of Maine, who possessed talents of a high order. These young and enthusiastic officers believed that if the Americans were drilled, and led by commanders in whom they had confidence, they would meet the British regulars without fear for the result. Owing to their solicitations, another invasion of Canada was planned. Nothing, however, was gained by the effort, except the verification of their theory. Early in the spring, Wilkinson, who had been ill for months, moved with four thousand men, from winter quarters, to repel a British detachment. His progress was arrested near La Colle, at a stone mill, held as an outpost. The single heavy cannon brought to batter down the mill, sunk in the mire. An unusual thaw commencing, flooded the whole country, and opened Lake Champlain, of which the British had control. The Americans were fain to retire from the danger as soon as possible. Wilkinson was so much abused and ridiculed on account of this failure, that he indignantly resigned, and demanded an inquiry nto his conduct by a court-martial. One year from that time, he was honorably acquitted by the court. But the government, which he had faith Mar |