It happened more than once that when our vessels refused to be searched the English fired into them and killed and wounded some of the American crews.

If any nation acted that way toward England to-day she would declare war at once, and so would any other nation.
Finding there was no peaceable way of stopping the unbearable conduct of Great Britain, our country, in the month of June, 1812, declared war against her, and it lasted until the early part of 1815.
There was one feature of that war which it is not pleasant for Americans to recall.

It opened with a cowardly surrender by General William Hull of Detroit to the English army, and for two years our land forces did very little to their credit.

They set out to invade Canada several times, but in every instance were beaten.

The leading generals were "poor sticks," quarreled among themselves, and for a time failed to gain any advantage.