Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-12-22

ADVICE and most interesting information
which they desired our Governor to beslou
upon us. So pressing are these obligation.
mat iecl bound TO give those gentlemen
tins public expression Of thanks for their
dislnteres,ed kindness, and watchful car.
| tor the honor and welfare of the good
people Of this state" | believe j, to b,
true that previous TO the publication of The
above named petition and ;he consceuel,
proclamation, there Fad existed among tie
"Grecn Mountain boys" a very pcner,l
aud deep sympathy for that abused pcopc
who have recently commenced ,ha, slrua
gle Tor liberty which will never cease. until
Their OBJECT Is accomplished. A very large
majority OF our people had wished them
success, and many a sincere PRAYER had
been offered in their behalf I believe also
that previous to this time some newspapers
were guilty Of daring to give ven, to
public sympathy; but presume that both
newspapers aud people will now unite with
The writer in thanking those gentlemen
who have taught US better. We have
now learned ,ha, i, is acrong 10 indulge in
TINS sympathy-'it is aorong to think, and
above al to speak or write in favor of the
80 called Patriots" or if we do any ,Linc,
1t must be for the government. Now. Mr..
Editor strange as II may appear, we aeopie
had believed that abou, 60 years ago our
fathers had thrown off this allegiance to
Great Britain, had released ,lemselvcs
from her control. and that we are now
enjoying the fruits of this self DENYING
patriotism. We had supposed that we had
the liberty Of freely expressing our :cnti
nents IN relation to any subject, being
responsible for the abuse of that liberty :;
that we had right not only to discuss the
/ principles and measures Of our owr gov
eminent, bu, also those Of any o,hei-,hat
whenever any people were taking m,asu res
to break away from oppression, we had
right to sympaihize with them and 10 wish
them God speed. Now have we been
dreaming, or what has been the natter
with US? Do tel US. 1t is important that
we should have right views in reIa ion to
this subject. Ignorance may lead US to
indulge an "iIl-judged sympathy" and then
may follow "acts neither just nor polite"
We have been enlightened as to the fact,
by the Governor petitioners, and 70, that
we ought to be thankful /; now we wish to
know The causes of our ignorance, or ra,h.
or the ground of ouv former mistakes, so
that we may be less exposed to error 10
lniure. We are forgelful creatures, and
unless our old deeply fixed principles and
PreJnd'ces are Thoroughly eradlcated,
another story from Canada NAV &c, Us !!
on fire, and before another petition can be
got up and answered, we may shoulder
our muskeis, and crazed and bewildered
may bolt into the theatre OF war by thou
sands and tens of thousands. Blu, po,wi,h
standing all the tight which bazes out of
The aforementioned petition, there is little
darkness LETT, there is one thing hat is still
'oeXplIcable to the ,o,iier q can. say
whether the rest Of the people understand
u or no) viz. that we have n right to
sympaihlze with the Government of Canada
we nave light TO think and speak in
oehaIf OF the Royaiists, and publish in.
MANDATORY articles against the $50 called
PATRIOTS but those who are in their favor
must be StenL Icannot understand this.
The petition is little less than an appeal in
oeha'f OF The royalIsts or tory party in
Lower Canada, and virtually brands the
other party with the crime of ,reoson,-
x x
There are mary topics connected with this
subject which it would be- INTERESTING IN
discuss; but lorbear for the present, and
will close by acknowledging that we are
well aware that we have no right to take
up arms on either side, but that we canno,
express our opinions in favor, or indulge in
sympathy for, only one party, is something
new and strange, 10 at least
ONE OF THE People.
Mr. RUSSELL, has done himself Justice,
and the bubble some service, in the follow