The limitation of the power to declare war is considered equally dangerous to the freedom and greatness of the country. The distinction, also, drawn between offensive and defensive war would be wholly fallacious in practice. Offensive hostilities are often the best means of defence; and that surely would be a most impolitic arrangement, which would curb the sprit and fetter the strength of the nation, which would condemn it to witness the grossest insults and injuries, which would render it the inactive spectator of hustilities against us on the ocean, and the total annihilation of foreign commerce, until the enemy would relieve us from the thraldom of a small minority by an actual invasion of our soil; for such an arrangement would actually leave the whole nation at the mercy of a small minority, representing perhaps the least popu. lous part of the union. Suppose, for instance, such a measure recommended by the president, and passed by twothirds of the house of representatives. On the floor of the senate, if the members from Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Delaware, Georgia, and Louisiana combined, the law would be defeated; that is, the representatives of a white population of 766,786 souls, a population less than that of New York alone, or Pennsylvania alone, would have the power of controlling the whole union; the representatives of 910,959 souls would govern the fate of 7,239,903; about one-seventh part of the union would thus be made complete masters of the whole.

The rendering naturalized foreigners ineligible to office is also considered impolitic. There is scarcely a nation in Eu. rope which does not habitually employ the talents of strangers, wherever they can be most useful. Eyen in England, the most fastidious of nations with regard to strangers, natura. lization is in many respects more easy-than in the United States. Within the present reign, several officers of high rank, both civil and inilitary, are employed in important and confidential stations by the government of that country. In the general government the number of foreigners in office is but small, and we enjoy a greater security on this head than other nations from the deliberation with which the choice must be made, the probationary term of residence, and the certainty that no foreigner can rise to power but by the voluntary suffrage of the community. It may be fairly questioned, whether the total exclusion proposed is generous to others, or wise to ourselves. The revolutions of Europe may hereafter drive, as they have already driven, many an honourable and distinguished exile to the shelter of our hospitality. The dis

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tance which separates him from his native country is some guarantee, that he has not chosen his new residence from any motive of levity, but from deliberate choice; and when he has abjured his allegiance to that country; when his fortunes and family are fixed among us; when he has closed all the avenues to his return; when a long probation has evinced his attachment to our institutions; why should his mind continue still in exile, and why should the natural and honourable ambition for political distinction, be extinguished for ever in his breast? why, too, should we deprive ourselves of the choice of such a man, whose European experience may be useful, if the deliberate voice of the community is in his favour?

The independence of character which it is supposed will be secured by the proposed amendment relative to the election of president would be highly desirable; but it is believed that the inconveniences which would result from it would greatly overbalance its advantages. The instability and vacillation, for instance, which such frequent changes give to the administration; the denial to the nation of the future services of a president, who has proved himself eminently qualified for his office, and the destruction of one great inducement to good conduct in an officer, the hope of being rewarded by future confidence for past services.

With regard to the second branch of the amendment, experience has not proved the utility of selecting officers of any kind, with reference merely to their places of residence; and all those arrangements which indicate that we are citi. zens of a state, rather than citizens of the United States, are not now to be encouraged. It is wiser to leave the choice of the nation perfectly unrestrained: and to suffer the discernmen of the country to select its best citizens, without regarding the section of the union where they may happen to reside.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.

& MERICAN AND BRITISH ACCOUNTS OF THE AFFAIR AT

LA COLE.

Copy of a letter from Major-General Wilkinson to the Secretary of War, dated Province of Lower Canada, Odell Town,

March 31, 1814. Sir

WE have had an affair with the enemy, in which our troops have given him another test of firmness and valour.

Pursuant to the designs communicated to you in my last, and to accomplish your views if in my power, I entered Canada yesterday morning, and was met by the enemy near this place about 11 o'clock, whom we forced at every point of attack on the route to La Cole, distant from hence one league, and from St. John's six, We reached the former post about three o'clock, and found there a strong corps in possession of a spacious lofty stone mill, of which I had received some information. An 18 pounder had been ordered forward to effect the destruction of this building; but it broke down, and after being repaired, the only road of approach through a deep forest was reported to be impracticable to a gun of such weight. An opinion prevailed at the same time with the chief engineer, major Totten, founded on intelligence previously received, and several of the best informed officers, that an iron twelve would suffice to make a breach; but after a fair and tedious experiment, at three hundred yards distance only, it was discovered our battery could make no impression.

Brigadier-generals Smith and Bissell covered our guns, and brigadier-general Macomb, with a select corps, formed the

The enemy had been reported, from a source considered strictly confidential, at two thousand five hundred strong, and his first attack of my right favored the report, from the use he made of congreve rockets and other indications of deliberate preparation; the corps, therefore, were held in high order to receive his combined attack. Yet be

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VOL. IV.

lieving in the efficacy of our battery, dispositions had been made to intercept the enemy should he evacuate the post, and to give it the utmost effect, we were obliged to take ground near the margin of the field which encompassed the mill. During the cannonade, which was returned with vivacity by the enemy's gallevs (I presime), several sorties and desperate charges were made from the mill upon our battery, which were repulsed with incredible coolness by the covering corps, at the expense of some blood and some lives on both sides; it is reported to me that in the last charge a captain of grenadiers and fifteen men fell together, but I cannot vouch for the fact. Finding all our attempts 10 make a breach unsuccessful, I withdrew the battery, called in my detachments, and having removed our dead and wounded and every thing else, fell back to this place about six o'clock.

Where a military corps appears to be universally animated by the same sensibilities, where the only competition is for danger and glory, individual distinctions seem improper, except in extra

traordinary cases, such as the conduct of the officers who commanded our battery yesterday. Capt. M'Pherson of the light artillery (my military secretary), impelled by the noble spirit which marks his whole character, asked permission to take part in the operations of the day with his proper arm; he was indulged, and being first for command, took charge of the pieces which followed the advance and formed our battery, in which he was seconded by lieutenants Larrabee and Sheldon. On opening his fire he seemed inclined to the opinion he could make an impression on the woik, but he soon received a wound under the chin, which he tied up with his handkerchief, and continued at his piece until a second shot, which broke his thigh, brought him to the earth. Larrabee had kept his sta ion until shot through the lungs, and Sheldon kept up the fire until ordered to retire.-The conduct of ihese gentlemen has, from the nature of their duties, been so conspicuously gallant as to attract the admiration of their brethren in arms, and should (I humbly conceive) be distinguished by the executive.

I have sent forward my wounded who can bear the move. ment to Plattsburgh or Burlington, and those who cannot will be provided for at Champlain.

I would hold this position until I receive further orders, were it not for the difficulty of transporting our provisions, and the impossibility to cover the troops; but I shall not retire further than Champlain, which will place us twenty five miles froin St. John's, and forty-two from Montreal.

I cannot close this letter without confessing my obligations to my general and field officers, and to my general staff of every grade, for the able and prompt support I received from them. So small an affair does not merit so tedious a detail, but it warrants the remark that it will produce a degree of self confidence, of reciprocal trust, of harmony and friendly attachments in this corps highly beneficial to the service. It is a lesson of command to the officers, and of obedience to the soldiers, worth a whole year's drill of empty parades.

The returns of killed and wounded have not yet been furnished, but they will not exceed 80 or 90, including a captain and 4 subalterns, and this shall be furnished to-morrow or next day. For the information of their friends, you have at: foot the names of the wounded officers.

With great respect, &c.

JA. WILKINSON. Names of officers wounded. Captain M'Pherson, Lieutenant Larrabee, light artilleTy.--Lieutenant Green, 11 infantry.--Lieutenant Parker, 14th infantry.--Lieutenant Kerr, rifle regiment.

The Honorable Secretary at War.

Head- Quarters L'Acadie, 31st March, 1814.

GENERAL ORDER. His excellency the commander of the forces has received from major-general De Rottenburg, through major-general Vincent, the report of lieutenant-colonel Williams, 13th re. giment, commanding St. John's and the posts in advance, on the Richelieu river-stating that the outposts on the communication leading from Odell Town, to Burtonville and La Cole Mill, were attacked at an early hour on the morning of the 30th instant by the enemy, in great force, collected from Burlington and Plattsburg, under the command of major-general Wilkinson. The piquets retreated in good order, before superior numbers of the enemy, disputing his advance. The advance on the Burtonville road was not persevered in; and the whole of the enemy's force was directed against the post of La Cole, entrusted to the command of major Handcock, of the 13th regiment, who reports that his piquets from a mile and a half in advance, being driven in, the enemy shortly after appeared in great force, and established a battery of three 12-pounders, which was opened on the mill block-house.

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