"Sam": or The history of mystery./ By C. W. Webber.

CHAPTER XLII.
Causes of the War- Debates in Congress- Extracts from Mr. Clay's
Speeches on the different phases of the War Question.
THE causes of this war of 1812, which was now brought
to an almost immediate conclusion, by the treaty of Ghent,
and which have been much debated, are best illustrated by
the speeches of IMr. Clay, its great champion, as well as the
universal champion of human rights and freedom everywhere. Mr. Clay, in his urgency for this war, won for himself
the most enduring basis of that singular personal popularity,
which has since marked his reputation, as the noblest of
the sons of "Sam" since his first representative, Wash
ington.
It is remarkable, that the two great nations of western
Europe, Great Britain and France, while at war with each
other, should have presumed, that they could do any amount
of injury to the rights and commercial interests of the United
States with impunity. The British blockade of 1806 was
followed by the Berlin edicts, and the British orders in council
by the edicts of Milan, and these belligerent powers made
war on the commerce of a friend, the better to carry on war
between themselves. The United States were made the
victim of their rapacity. From February 28, to May 20,
1811, less than three months, twenty-seven American merchant-vessels were sent into British ports, prizes to British
cruisers, for violation of the orders in council, and the British
admiralty courts were constantly occupied in adjudicating on
American property, thus brought under their jurisdiction,
little of which escaped forfeiture for the crime of a neutral
commerce, and for attempting to enter ports which had no
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