prohibition or obstacle to such neutral and friendly vessels as may choose to visit and trade with the United States; and Whereas it accords with the interest and the amicable views of the United States to favor and promote as far as may be the free and mutually beneficial commercial intercourse of all friendly nations disposed to engage therein, and with that view to afford to their vessels destined to the United States a more positive and satisfactory security against all interruptions, molestations, or vexations whatever from the cruisers of the United States: Now be it known that I, James Madison, President of the United States of America, do by this my proclamation strictly order and instruct all the public armed vessels of the United States and all private armed vessels commissioned as privateers or with letters of marque and reprisal not to interrupt, detain, or otherwise molest or vex any vessels whatever belonging to neutral powers or the subjects or citizens thereof, which vessels shall be actually bound and proceeding to any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, but, on the contrary, to render to all such vessels all the aid and kind offices which they may need or require. Given under my hand and the seal of the United States at the city of Washington, the 29th day of June, A. D. 1814, and of the Independence of the United States the thirty-eighth. [SEAL.] By the President: JAMES MADISON. JAMES MONROE, Secretary of State. [From Annals of Congress, Thirteenth Congress, vol. 3, 9.] BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas great and weighty matters claiming the consideration of the Congress of the United States form an extraordinary occasion for convening them, I do by these presents appoint Monday, the 19th day of September next, for their meeting at the city of Washington, hereby requiring the respective Senators and Representatives then and there to assemble in Congress, in order to receive such communications as may then be made to them and to consult and determine on such measures as in their wisdom may be deemed meet for the welfare of the United States. In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed, and signed the same with my hand. [SEAL.] Done at the city of Washington, the 8th day of August, A. D. 1814, and of the Independence of the United States the thirtyninth. JAMES MADISON. By the President: JAMES MONROE, Secretary of State. THE CHESAPEAKE CAPTURED BY THE SHANNON No event in the Chesapeake's career contradicts the verdict of the seamen that she was hoodooed. After lying blockaded in Boston long enough to take on an entirely new crew, she sallied out to give battle to her enemy, the Shannon. On June 1, 1813, at 5:50 p.m. the fight began. The ships were evenly matched in size and armament, but there was no comparison between the disciplined, efficient gallantry of the British and the unskilful but courageous tactics of the Americans. After seven minutes of broadside firing, the Chesapeake's sails were crippled. She drifted with her bows to the Shannon and her decks were raked from end to end. As soon as the vessels were grappled together the British captain boarded, at the head of his men. Almost simultaneously, Lawrence fell and was borne below, crying: "Don't give up the ship! Fight her till she sinks!" But the fight was already lost. The British buried Lawrence with all the honors due to a brave but unfortunate commander and gentleman. The previous ill-fortune of the Chesapeake is told in the Encyclopedic Index, in the article entitled "Chesapeake, The." [From Niles's Weekly Register, vol. 7, p. 2.] BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas the enemy by a sudden incursion have succeeded in invadIng the capital of the nation, defended at the moment by troops less numerous than their own and almost entirely of the militia, during their possession of which, though for a single day only, they wantonly destroyed the public edifices, having no relation in their structure to operations of war nor used at the time for military annoyance, some of these edifices being also costly monuments of taste and of the arts, and others depositories of the public archives, not only precious to the nation as the memorials of its origin and its early transactions, but interesting to all nations as contributions to the general stock of historical instruction and political science; and Whereas advantage has been taken of the loss of a fort more immediately guarding the neighboring town of Alexandria to place the town within the range of a naval force too long and too much in the habit of abusing its superiority wherever it can be applied to require as the alternative of a general conflagration an undisturbed plunder of private property, which has been executed in a manner peculiarly distressing to the inhabitants, who had inconsiderately cast themselves upon the justice and generosity of the victor; and Whereas it now appears by a direct communication from the British commander on the American station to be his avowed purpose to employ the force under his direction "in destroying and laying waste such towns and districts upon the coast as may be found assailable," adding to this declaration the insulting pretext that it is in retaliation for a wanton destruction committed by the army of the United States in Upper Canada, when it is notorious that no destruction has been committed, which, notwithstanding the multiplied outrages previously committed by the enemy was not unauthorized, and promptly shown to be so, and that the United States have been as constant in their endeavors to reclaim the enemy from such outrages by the contrast of their own example as they have been ready to terminate on reasonable conditions the war itself; and Whereas these proceedings and declared purposes, which exhibit a deliberate disregard of the principles of humanity and the rules of civ ilized warfare, and which must give to the existing war a character of extended devastation and barbarism at the very moment of negotiations for peace, invited by the enemy himself, leave no prospect of safety to anything within the reach of his predatory and incendiary operations but in manful and universal determination to chastise and expel the invader: Now, therefore, I, James Madison, President of the United States, do issue this my proclamation, exhorting all the good people thereof to unite their hearts and hands in giving effect to the ample means possessed for that purpose. I enjoin it on all officers, civil and military, to exert themselves in executing the duties with which they are respectively charged; and more especially I require the officers commanding the respective military districts to be vigilant and alert in providing for the defense thereof, for the more effectual accomplishment of which they are authorized to call to the defense of exposed and threatened places portions of the militia most convenient thereto, whether they be or be not parts of the quotas detached for the service of the United States under requisitions of the General Government. On an occasion which appeals so forcibly to the proud feelings and patriotic devotion of the American people none will forget what they owe to themselves, what they owe to their country and the high destinies which await it, what to the glory acquired by their fathers in establishing the independence which is now to be maintained by their sons with the augmented strength and resources with which time and Heaven had blessed them. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed to these presents. [SEAR.] Done at the city of Washington, the 1st day of September, A. D. 1814, and of the Independence of the United States the thirty-ninth. By the President: JAMES MADISON. JAMES MONROE, Secretary of State. SPECIAL MESSAGE. WASHINGTON, September 17, 1814. The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. SIR: The destruction of the Capitol by the enemy having made it necessary that other accommodations should be provided for the meeting of Congress, chambers for the Senate and for the House of Representatives, with other requisite apartments, have been fitted up, under the direction of the superintendent of the city, in the public building heretofore allotted for the post and other public offices. With this information, be pleased, sir, to accept assurances of my great respect and consideration. JAMES MADISON. |