Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-01-05
Public Meeting at Essex.

Public Meeting ut Essex.
AT public meeting of the citizens of Essex,
on the 18th of December, A. ID. 1897, a com.
mttco was appointed to draft resolutions, express
sive Of the sentiments of the people of this vcin
ity upon the subject OF the Canada Disturbances
The committee were directed to make their
report before public meeting of the citizens to
be held at the Academy in Essex, on the 26th of
December, A. ID. 1887.
REPORT OF COMMITTEES.
In pursuance OF the above arrangements your
committee have conferred together, and have
now the honor of presenting the following pre-
amble and resolutions for your consideration:
In the year 1863, the extensive provinces of
Canada became subject to the English Govern.
ment.
AT that time almost the whole Of North Amer
lea was embraced in the extensive dominion of
the British empire. AT that time also, thu colo.
mics were nearly on footing of equality in point
o f enterprise, intelligence and future prospects,
And throughout the whole including the Cana
das, the elements Of national greatness were very
equally diiIusod, Onward they journeyed
together for about twenty-five years longer, sub
ject to the same dominion, and submissive to the
SEINE oppression.
| A part of the colonies then became indepcnd-
ant. Then occurred the America Revolution,
which wrested from the whitening grasp of Eng
land, the territory which afterwards composed
the American States. But the extensive pro.
vinces Of Canada were unfortunately left behind
a prey to British rapaclty "hewers ofwood and
drawers of water" for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
Great Britain, And from that period to the
present hour, she has ruled the Canadas with
rod OF iron, employed them in her wars, devour-
ed their resources, excluded them from the ave.
nues OF intelligence and enterprise and endcav-
ored by system of moral and political darkness
to train them for perpetual bondage. The light
and advantages OF liberty are however too near,
aud obvious to our Canadian friends TO be forev-
or Suppressed by British tyranny. With a soil as
f rich IN all the resouiuoe of nature, and as capa
BILE of supporting an cnterprising, wealthy and
free population the American States, why is
Canada so far behind them in every thing which
renders nation great and glorious Who can
= answer the enquiry? England might if she
y would, but she will not, only from the mouth of
her cannon. The Canadian patriot has contem-
| plated the question in all its bearings, and his
d breast swels with honest ndignation, as he be-
holds the humiliating picture of his country's
q wrongs. But then he must suppress SIS his emotions
or at once, British bayonet is at his breast, Brit
!, sh baliiis at his door and British chains upon
!, his limbs. When he contrasts the advantages
of republicanism, exhibited in the prosperity Of
;, the people of the United States, with colonial
y vassalage, as exhibited in the serve condition
u of Canada, and when he reflects that this wide
difference in national prosperity, has been effect
% ed in little more than halt century, by the op
', Grafton of free institutions the part, and
y of British misrule on the other, is it strange that
= the ardor of his devotion 10 liberty, and the in
q tensty of his Indignation against his country's
:, oppressors, should become irresistlble-the rul
ing passion of his soul, stronger than the fear o
: death.
:, Such we believe, We're the noble and exalted
- impulses which prompted and presided over the
, patriotic exerons OF Papineau, and nerved the
u arm of Nelson, Mackenzie, Brown and other
e 10 strike for liberty. But the blow give
IS in am untimely hour. The British becoming tn,
y aggressors compelled them to resort to arms il
selt.defence The issue of executive warrants
the destruction of the radical press and the un
n provoked attack upon peaceable citizens return
l. ing from a public meeting in Montreal kindel
d. the flame of civil England applied thu
10 match that she might extingulsh the fire in thu
10 richest blood that flows IN Canadian veins
!, Compelled without preparation or concert to tigh
: in selfdetencc, the present result has PROVED
- disastrous tothe patriots. They nave been hunteC
like wild beasts from thei! native country rewards
10 have been offered for their apprehension, anc
t. many of them have fled to the United States TO
80 protection.
1t, Therefore Resolced, That wW proec
r them, and standing near the line OF 45o as W.
ed please, we will cheer them onward IN the glorl
he Gus cause If freedom, regardless OF the threat
en- and insults ofthe pampered mlnlons OF the Brit
of sh crownnt home abroad.
cd ResoirM, That as the citizens upon the iron
th tier of this state have been charged of improper
Ia, ly assisting and aiding the PATRIOTS and havln
~ been deried, by the declaration of martial lay
in Canada, the rights guaranteed by treaty bt
- tween tie u. States and Great Britain "a mea:
on ure we sincerely deprecate) we deemt eXped
n" ent for Ill to take the subject into consid
=. and maze it known to the loyalsts of Canad
em that will maintain our rights, "peaceably
al we car, forciby il we must
s., ReSdred That the frontier towns in this Stat
may pst assured, that hold ourselves
Of readiness, to rally for their defence, on the fir
to intelligence of an invasion on the part of En-!
ay. land,
IRIS. Received, That we disclaim all selfshness
, in our smpathies for Canada. We wish Cann'
a. to be rec not COR tho aggrundlzenent OF Il
"" United States, but that she may have the BILE
sing of a free republican government,
RS0lred, That as General Marion deI
~, destruction among the tories OF Caolma, so W
ne we Destroy all British tories who nolest or d
al turbine citizens of the United Staes.
wa, hssOlred, When any foreign governme
mp attempts by force to put nO0Se upon any OF Il
mp free citizens of the United States, we will g
cry deayor to be present on the occasion, or so