Alexandria Gazette

MR. VAN RENSSELAER, who has undertaken to command an army raised in the United States for the invasion of Canada, is in a most unenviable position, and we deeply commiserate it. We knew Mr. Van R and therefore, feel unwilling to speak harshly of him, because our intercourse has convinced us of the natural kindness of his character. We doubt not his bravery—and cannot speak otherwise than most respectfully of the high and honorable character of his gallant father Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer who has done his country good service. But with every disposition to do justice on this occasion, it is quite impossible not to feel that in his capacity of chief of a band of outlaws embodied for a hostile inroad into Canada where, nine tenths of the people are perfectly contented with their government—where all have reason to be so, and where not a single individual is in arms, he is hostis humani generis—an enemy to civilization that may by the laws of nations, be hung to the first tree. We hope no such fate awaits him; but if he has the intelligence which an education at West Point warrants us in presuming, he must be perfectly aware of his liability. If he goes into Canada—he has no chance to escape an ignominious death; if he flies to the United States and the laws of Congress are not a dead letter and every man called to administer them a perjured abettor of piracy, he goes to a long imprisonment and is subjected to a heavy fine. We advise him, by all means to avoid both countries and go to Texas—New York Gazette.