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Class 
 Book. 
 
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WAR WITH ENGLAND. 
 
 THE CASE FAIRLY STATED 
 
 AN ADDRESS 
 
 PEE SI DENT VAN BUR EN 
 
 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS; 
 
 WITH WHOM RESTS THE POWER OF PREYENTL\& .J> 
 
 THAT CALAMITY. 
 
 BY AN ADVOCATE FOR PEACE. 
 
 " Whatsoever ye would that men shonld do to you, do ye even so to them." 
 
 Alatthew. 
 
 _^ oo NEW-YORK. 
 ' 1838. 
 
 PRICE 12'i CKNTS. 
 

s 
 
 To THE President, Vice-President, and Members of the 
 Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress 
 assembled : 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 You cannot be ignorant of the events on our border, 
 adjoining the British possessions, which are now of a year's 
 continuance and upwards, during the greater part of which, a 
 degree of excitement, alarm, and actual attack has been kept 
 up, with an organized corps, supported by arms, artillery and 
 munitions of war, furnished by our citizens, regardless of the 
 law of nations. 
 
 With an earnest desire to preserve our relations of amity 
 with England, I have been led to take the following view of the 
 subject, to which I earnestly entreat your immediate attention, 
 and that such measures as your wisdom may approve may be 
 acted on so as to prevent war. 
 
 Spirit op John Jay. 
 New-Haven, Dec. 26, 1838. 
 
WAR WITH ENGLAND. 
 
 The advantages to be derived from a war with Englandi 
 have been put forth and pubhshed from one end of the union 
 to the other twelve months ago. The Express, one of 
 the leading journals of New- York city, published a whole 
 string of them, which has been extensively copied and circu- 
 lated. That paper, at the time, warmly espoused the cause of 
 the " patriots" as they are called ; it has since, however, very 
 prudently ceased to advocate their cause. It then spoke as 
 follows : 
 
 " Canadian Independence. — As Americans, we cannot shut 
 our eyes to what we are to gain by the independence of the 
 Canadas, even while we urge upon the government the duty of 
 strict neutrality. 
 
 *' 1. An eternal fence from European attack in the rear and 
 flank of Maine, New-Hampshire, Vermont, New- York, Penn- 
 sylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. 
 
 " 2. A settlement without trouble of the north-eastern boun- 
 dary question. 
 
 " 3. The free navigation of the St. Lawrence, (almost as 
 important to the''Northern States, as the Mississippi is to the 
 Southern and Western,) and then the free navigation of the 
 St. Johns, is of the highest importance to Maine. 
 
" 4. The Fisheries — free and equal privileges in them ; a 
 strengthening of our marine and the crippling of the British 
 marine. ^^ 
 
 " 5. The end of the British monopoly of the fur trade, and 
 the settlement of many disputes we must sooner or later have 
 about this trade, in the Missouri Territory, on the Columbia 
 river ; for with the loss of the Canadas, British empire is lost 
 in America. 
 
 '• 6. The addition of thousands of miles of a new interior to 
 the city of New- York ; the union by canal of New- York har- 
 bor with the St. Lawrence river; our own city, our own 
 wharves, our own ships, our own merchants, our own laborers, 
 made the channels and the agents of all the trade of the im- 
 mense British possessions in the interior of North America. 
 
 " These, it strikes us, are great questions which no American 
 can close his eyes to." — New-York Express. 
 
 Beside these advantages, others are set forth as follows : 
 
 The debt due, as well as the loans effected in England, for 
 the construction of rail-roads, canals, and other improve- 
 ments, exceeding one hundred and forty millions of dollars, 
 would be swept away, and the country relieved from the pay- 
 ment of a large annual amount of interest, by which we should 
 in a measure, be indemnified for the war. 
 
 " The excluding British manufactures and the building up of 
 our own. 
 
 " The fostering our rising industry in the culture of silk ; 
 of our vines ; of securing to ourselves vast commercial ad- 
 vantages, and in short, of becoming a truly independent peo- 
 ple." 
 
These are the advantages apparent from a war with Eng- 
 land, and it may be added, that it would give employment in 
 the army to those hot and turbulent spirits which pervade the 
 land ; and by the exclusion of foreign manufactures a vast 
 augmentation of hands would be required to supply those 
 articles which are now drawn from Europe. 
 
 This outline embraces the chief advantages to be derived 
 from a war with England. A war with any other power could 
 yield but a partial share of these advantages. 
 
 So much for one side of the question ; let us now view the 
 other, and calmly look at the evil consequences of a war, as 
 well as the good, those which are certain, as well as those that 
 are problematical ; those near as well as remote. We shall 
 then see whether the apparent advantages are real. It is only 
 by viewing both sides of the question we can come to any 
 thing like a just conclusion, and be roused to avert the ca- 
 lamity. 
 
 The first would be, the capture of our ships and seamen. It 
 is not extravagant to say that in three months from the com- 
 mencement of war, we should have few vessels afloat ; Eng- 
 land has lately not merely added largely to her naval force, 
 but she has spread her steam-ships over every ocean ; these 
 would be commissioned as Letters of Marque, and brought to 
 bear against us in such formidable array that the result would 
 consequently be, the prostration and ruin of our commerce. 
 
 Then all our internal improvements of rail-roads and 
 canals would be paralized if not suspended; their sources of 
 emolument dried up, and joint stock companies ruined. 
 
8 
 
 The entire foreign trade of the Southern States in cotton, 
 would be cut off. 
 
 But even more fearful consequences are involved. It is in 
 the power of the British to throw into the Southern States 
 thousands of free negroes, and thereby call forth all those 
 horrors so fearfully dreaded from the slave population, and thus 
 the atrocious acts of the border sympathizers inflicted on the 
 Canadians, would be visited on the Southern States, which 
 seem listless of the evils now being perpetrated on the frontier 
 from Maine to Wisconsin. 
 
 Again, the Indians on the Western border, would be up in 
 arms, and under present circumstances, they should be feared. 
 They have been but recently torn from their fires and hunting 
 grounds ; they have left the bones of their fathers behind. 
 Many of their leaders believe that it is determined to drive 
 them over the Rocky Mountains into the waters of the Pacific 
 Ocean. They feel their wrongs ; they can soon be concentrat- 
 ed, and would gladly seize an opportunity for revenge, while 
 the whole border possessions would be desolated by the toma- 
 hawk, and dyed with the blood of the inhabitants. 
 
 The destruction of Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Oswego, 
 Ogdensburgh, and all the border towns and villages would as- 
 suredly ensue. But would the British stop there ? Let us ex- 
 amine into the present position and power of England. The 
 ambition of Russia, united England, France and the Porte ; 
 Austria also, leans to England, of which we have evidence in 
 the late treaty. Therefore there is no near prospect of a con- 
 tinential war, so that she would put forth her whole undivided 
 strength, and according to the WeUington maxim, England can 
 never go into a little war. 
 
Let us not deceive ourselves ! we must not forget the vast 
 power of steam, so successfully used by England ; the im- 
 mense advantages she would derive from her steam ships at 
 such a crisis. She could transport an army to any contem- 
 plated point of attack, of which no information could be gained 
 before its arrival. We should be subject to continual surpri- 
 ses, which would inevitably result in ruinous consequences, as 
 is the case with the Canadians at this hour, by the acts of the 
 citizen " sympathizers." The creation of a debt of three or 
 four hundred millions might be fairly anticipated ; as also the 
 recalling from the states the surplus revenue, lately distributed 
 among them. The war would be one called forth by unjust 
 aggression against Canada, of great and unqualified wrong, 
 and we cannot be so mad as to suppose that the sword once 
 drawn by England, in defence of her injured subjects, would be 
 sheathed by protestations to cease invading her Canadian pos- 
 sessions. 
 
 Will the people of Canada be content upon entering into a 
 new treaty not to invade their territory, like thieves and rob- 
 bers, under the plea of forcing institutions upon them against 
 their inclination ? Is this sufficient ? Are there no wrongs to 
 be vindicated ? No insults to be avenged ? On the contrary, it 
 must be seen that not only will severe and just retribution fall 
 upon the border sympathizers, but indemnity would be claimed 
 for all the losses and all the devastation the citizens have 
 caused. 
 
 Did ever a people enjoying such prosperity as we do, un- 
 provoked as we have been, plunge their country into a war, to 
 further the views of men reckless of consequences and desti- 
 
10 
 
 tute of principle as some of our borderers are ? Are not the 
 Canadians valuable customers ? Are not great advantages de- 
 rived from trading with them ? What w^rongs have they inflict" 
 ed upon the citizens this side of the St. Lawrence, that for more 
 than a year should have exposed those hitherto confiding neigh- 
 bors, to all the horrors of a war? And can any person sup- 
 pose that England will longer endure these invasions, nor 
 stand forth in defence of her rights for the protection of her 
 subjects ? 
 
 Bring the case home to ourselves, it is the only way to argue. 
 Did any foreign power on earth permit its people to make ag- 
 gressions on our territory, to carry fire and sword into our 
 land for months, to scourge and devestate, and attempt to dic- 
 tate to us how we should be governed, as our citizens have been 
 and are still doing to the Canadians, would we remain idle, list- 
 less, enduring, passive ? Is it necessary to ask my fellow-citi- 
 zens what our conduct would be under such circumstances ? 
 All would march forth to avenge the insult, to redress the 
 wrong. Would those so attacked be satisfied with the apology 
 offered to England, viz : " Our laws do not reach the cause of 
 complaint," — " Our state laws we cannot control," — " The 
 citizens engaged in these affairs, are the idle, the profligate and 
 the worthless, and the army is not sufficiently numerous?" — No ! 
 Redress — punishment of the aggressors, would be our watch- 
 word, and we should teach that power that if it could not 
 punish the aggressions of its evil disposed subjects or citizens 
 we would do so ourselves. And can any one imagine England 
 will remain passive ? Does not the same blood run in her 
 veins, the same high sense of honor pervade the people ? And 
 
11 
 
 though towards us she has forborne long to put herself in an 
 hostile attitude, out of regard to the ties timt should, and I trust 
 may even yet continue to bind us in one common union of 
 heart and feeling, yet it cannot be expected she will longer 
 endure the sufferings of her subjects, as Canada demands 
 action. 
 
 What then is to be done ? But one thing remains. It is for 
 our citizens, for our own honor, sense of justice, and love of 
 peace, apart from any other feeling, to rise, en masse, to call 
 upon Congress to increase the army ; our merchants to lay 
 aside all party spirit, sustain the Executive in all measures to 
 uphold the laws, and not continue to treat with contempt those 
 efforts still in progress, notwithstanding the defeats sustained 
 by the brigands, so as to put down at once these border out- 
 rages, and murders committed by our citizens, whereby Canada 
 is in a state of siege at this hour. It is understood that a loud 
 call has gone forth from Canada, which will not be in vain ; so 
 that but a few weeks may pass over our heads before England 
 will demand that our treaty shall be observed. 
 
 The history of nations does not furnish an instance of a war 
 more unjustly provoked. Who can suppose that England is 
 dead to her former glories? She must be indeed fallen and de- 
 graded in the eyes of nations, and of her loyal subjects in 
 Canada, if our citizens are longer permitted to make war 
 upon Canada unavenged ; but we are not, as a people, lost to 
 justice and honor. It cannot be upheld for a moment that oui 
 laws do not reach the offence. If any one of our citizens is 
 ill-trealed, the general government will interpose, and he wil 
 obtain redress ; the nation will vindicate the wrongs of the 
 
12 
 
 humblest citizen ; and so, in like manner, are we bound to 
 punish every citizen for an act of aggression against the laws 
 and the general government. 
 
 This appeal is not made alone to point out the immorality, 
 the injustice of our citizens, who have for more than a year 
 carried on such acts of violence, against men whom we should 
 regard as " bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh," but to 
 point out, ere it is too late, the consequences that will assuredly 
 await those acts of aggression, rapine and murder, continued 
 against our neighbors, a people from whom we are ourselves 
 descended, a people who contribute more to our prosperity 
 than any other, a people who alone cherish the principles of 
 liberty in common with ourselves. 
 
 It is true, one or more of the nations of Europe would re- 
 joice in a war between ua and England, The Autocrat of all 
 the Russias, the sympathizer with Poland and Circassia, 
 would rejoice ; he would cheer us on, and gladly unite his 
 forces with ours. What ! could the sons of libertv leairue 
 with Russia against the only nation on earth, besides our own, 
 which holds with us the rights of man sacred ? Contemplate 
 so unholy an alHance ? 
 
 Let us then shake off our apathy ; rouse into action ! re- 
 press the criminal acts committed within our border, in viola- 
 lation of our treaties ; sustain our laws, and return to those 
 pursuits which have afforded us as a people unparalleled pros- 
 perity. 
 
 There is one more reason why a war with England would 
 be highly disadvantageous and disastrous. It is, that in the 
 event of driving her from this continent, our success would be 
 
13 
 
 more unfortunate than defeat. The possession of the Canadas, 
 or their independence, would be the signal for the separation of 
 the states : the British power acts as a hoop ; it keeps together 
 the union. Who does not see that Canada would, with the 
 Eastern States, form one great confederacy ? Who among us 
 has not fears that these free states will not continue united 
 with the slave- holding states ? Look at Washington at this 
 hour ; observe, the passions between the North and South are 
 in continual array ; and say, can there be any question as to 
 the result ? 
 
 But why should we imagine that England will give up her 
 possessions or desert her subjects, who, if we can believe their 
 statement, cherish British connexion ? The power of England 
 must he destroyed before she will suffer the Canadas to he 
 wrested from her hy force ; a different policy may one day or 
 other produce a separation, if desired. 
 
 One word to the borderers, on whom will fall the maledic- 
 tions of the citizens throughout the union, as the promoters of 
 all the misery, loss of property, and blood which will be shed — 
 apart from the burning of your towns and villages, the first 
 step of the evil you will have created, look not for indemnity, 
 as was the case in the last war ; that was a war avowedly to 
 vindicate the rights of the nation, and even then Congress was 
 unwilling to admit the principle, which is one of very ques- 
 tionable policy ; but this is a war of your own creation — a 
 war brought on by your own folly and wickedness — a war 
 that instead of redounding to your honor, as the promoters of 
 it, will redound to your loss and infamy. Not one cent will 
 
14 
 
 Congress pay in indemnification ; but, instead of indemnity for 
 your burned towns, villages, and property, your fellow-citizens 
 will load you with reproaches, and amid all the calamities you 
 will have entailed upon the citizens at large, still the hottest 
 vengeance will fall where it deserves to fall, on your devoted 
 heads; and that sympathy you affect to manifest to relieve the 
 oppressed, will be denied you by all good men and honest 
 
 citizens. «1 
 
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2 A.W 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 011 899 380 9