The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-10-25
From The Bangor Republican.

From The Bangor Republican.
MADAwAsCA.-Trouble in good earnest
has again fallen upon this devoted settle-
ment. The late rumors of disturbances
there were but the actual precursors Of
actual violence.
by an act of last winter, passed by the
Legislature of Maine, the tract called
Madawasca, lying on both sides Of st.
Johns river, west of the line of boundary
prolonged from Mars Hill, with its inhab-
itants, was Incorporated into town of
that name, annexed to PenObscot county
and authorised to choose a member of the
Legislature. The act of incorporation
was carried into effect under notice and
authority of a warrant issued by Hon.
WIN. d., Williamson, ofthis town. Most
Ofthe residents ofthe settlement, who had
emigrated from the States, with few ma
tive inhabitants met, chose their town Of
ficers in due form as is practised in other
towns in this State, and adjourned their
meeting until the day of our elections, on
the 18th ult. when they again assembled
aud gave their votes for Governor and
Senators, and chose Pierre Lisotte, men,
ber of the Legislature.
The meeting had been called at his
house, but was adjourned to an open field,
where the above transactions were had,
Lisotte speahs tolerable good English,
having been considerably employed by the
officers ofthat government, can read and
write little, better than any Frenchman
at Madawasca, possesses considerable
property, and has great influence in the
settlement But from prudential consid-
crations, or perhaps intimidated by the
threats Of the Warden of the disputed ter
ritory, as Lieut.. MLaughin styles him
self, Pierre refused TO entertain a town
meeting at his hospitabc house. We
have not learned whether he declined or
accepted his election as a member of our
Legislature.
These proceedingshaving transpiredto
the knowledge of the civil authorities of
N. Brunswick, Sir Archibald Campbell
the Governor, the Attorney General of
the Province, Mr.. Miller, High Sheriff of
the county of York, halfa dozen military
officers, and detachment of Militia, en-
tered Madawasca on the Odd of Sept. the
Governor sending his aid to pay his COM
plimen,s to the officers of our garrison ut
Houltou. On the 25th, His Maiesty's
forces succeeded in capturing without
bloodshed, B0rnebas HunneweH who was
Moderator of the town meeting, Dacid
iSarage, one of the newly elected Select
men, Jesse TVheeiock, the Town Clerk,
and one other yankee named Daniel
BeGa.-They then the countryto
the river st. Francois, tire terrified inhai,-
ltants flying before them to the woods
like hunted beasts They then returned
to Fredericton and committed their pris-
Oners to gaol. as we presume for sedition
against his Majesty's Government.
Yes!-And our feelings burn with in
dignation while we write, and rs those of
every genuine American must, while he
reads the account of this insulting ag-
gression upon the liberties of his fellow
citizens; these four individuals were torn
from their homes and fircsides, by an
armed force, and carried hundred and
fifty miles, where they are now shut un
in prison, without friendly voice to COM
fort, with no other hope to sustain them
and soften the harrassing bitterness of
long and uncertain separation from help
less families, who must perish from want
unless charity give them aid, with no arm
to rely upon but their Country's to liber-
ate them from the loathsome durance of
u British gaol.
| And will not their country extend her
powerful arm to unlock the prison gates
and set these prisoners freel Maine is
pledged and is irrevocably bound to do il,
cost what it may, for they are under her
implied protection and proffered sover-
eighty. If 10000 of our Militia, were
needed to visit Fredericton and liberate
their fellow citizens, the word need but
be spoken by our Executive, and with
alacrity, in one weeks time, they would
be on the march. The whole State. we
believe, would respond to such n call with
as much unanimity as she has manifested
in all her public proceedings relative 10
the disputed territory.
The government of the United Stn,er
too, cannot complacen,ly look on and see
her native born citizens rayished from
their fields, by ruthless invaders. and
borne off amidst the lame ntations of wo-
men and children, to be incarcerated in
foreign dungeon.