Daily National Intelligencer

From the National Advocate.

DESERTERS FROM THE ENEMY.

It appears that Congress is at fault on the question of encouraging desertion from the enemy. It is really astonishing that some gentlemen so pertinaciously persist in opposing every suggestion made on the floor of Congress, touching; in any way, the vulnerable points of our implacable and cruel foe.

Did not those gentlemen attempt to impress the mind of the thinking people, that the use of torpedoes was an unwarrantable mode of warfare ? although their use is confined to our waters, and for the mere purpose of preventing the unrelenting enemy from laying waste our cities and towns ? Until they were told and convinced that the British government was the first to encourage and adopt the invention, and that more money had been expended by that government in invention and experiments of torpedoes than would now be required to render New-York harbor perfectly safe by their use from any attack that their powerful navy could make.

For what purpose was this enormous sum of money, expended by the British government? Was it for defensive operations! No--It was to be carried abroad into the enemy's country, and there work his destruction, whither it was carried and applied by no less dignified characters than Sir Home Popham and Sidney Smith. On the other hand, America has adopted the invention as the only and last possible means in her possession to prevent her cities and towns being destroyed, and families violated ; and it is not intended to carry them beyond her territorial jurisdiction. These incontrovertible facts admit of no comparison, as to moral turpitude, in the objects of the two governments--therefore, those gentlemen are now silent on that subject; what would those gentlemen have said, if Fulton, instead of Congreve, had invented rockets, and the American government had adopted them --a thing used only for destroying cities, towns, and the widow's insulated mansion?

They would have been heard in every corner of the streets, exclaiming, how disgraceful to the American nation to use such infernal engines of war not hitherto known in warfare.

But as it is an exclusive instrument of the British government. being the only power in the world which has yet invented and adopted them, those gentlemen say they are very innocent things.

No sooner had the war been declared than the British government adopted the use of the tomahawk and scalping knife. The American government (to its honor be it recorded) looked on with silent indignation and horror. Nor did the government consent to adopt the old adage (of fighting the enemy with his own weapons) until the American people cried aloud for vengeance.

Thousands of innocent women and children had already perished by these savage foes, paid and instigated by their ally, Great Britain (alias) the Bulwark of our holy religion, the protector of Norway, supporter and author of the renewal of that holy institution, the Inquisition of Spain, &c. Is not the British government at this moment furnishing the Indians in the south with tomahawks and scalping knives and paying and instigating them to murder, indiscriminately throughout the frontier? What are the proclamations of general Brisbane, but a bribe or lure, to the American people ? What has been the conduct of that vile government in Eastport? They have obliged the poor inhabitants to either take the oath of allegiance or abandon their homes forever, (forever!) because they have declared that part of the province severed from the Union.

Do we not see that government carrying on the slave trade, a traffic which she pompously abolished, and to a much greater advantage than she ever did before, which is by stealing them from their houses in the U. States, separating families, &c.

Indeed it is pitiful, in the highest degree, to seek for causes in justification of any mode of warfare the American government may choose and think expedient to adopt.

The British government never did, nor ever will, stick at any thing to answer their purpose. Bonaparte lost his crown by a great part of his army deserting him. Britain afforded means to cause that desertion.

Shall we, then, hesitate, for a moment to invite the unfortunate German, and the other continental soldiers, who have been deceived by that perfidious government, to come among us, and become peaceable farmers ? They will find, among us yet, many hoary headed Hessian soldiers that joined us in the revolutionary war and are now living in opulence.

It is found by comparison, that all the deserters concur in one story, which is, that they have been deceived ; that they were told and made to believe, previous to their embarking, that they were going to England to be paid off. That when they found they were destined for America, they expressed their dissatisfaction. They were then told that they were to be paid in lands, in Canada, &c.

Knowing these facts, as we do, would it not be wise to invite these deluded people to come under our banners? Does not humanity urge the measure ?

Would it not be better than fighting and destroying them, and sacrificing the lives of many thousands of our valuable citizens? Will it not put a speedy end to the war ? and, is not that the greatest desideratum?

For Heaven's sake, don't 'pause,' says the thinking people, but promptly adopt any measure best calculated to frustrate and defeat the cruel and perfidious enemy, as barbarous as he is powerful; thereby restore peace to your happy and beloved country.

Procrastination and false economy had almost ruined the nation. The destruction and disgrace which happened at Washington, was owing to incredulity GUESSING the enemy would not come there.