Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-01-09
The Minssrelsy of the Niagara Border.

our notice. What read in newspapers, Posterlty
will convert into the groundwork of exciting poems
and thrilling novels; Imagination will invest the stern
reality with its glowing colors; and new border
minstresy will be created, which in every ingredient
of interest," animation, and romantic gallantry, may
well vie with that which has exercised the antiquarian
research and enthusiasm of Sir Walter Scott.
All the accessories of the scenery Of the present
conflict between Mackenzie, Van Rensselaer,, and
their comrades, and Head, McNab, and their part-
zans are infinitely superior in natural grandeur 10 the
debateabls land between England and Scotland, for
SO many hundred years the scene of such desperate
and memorable conflicts. The names of these men
will be as renowned in our border annals as were ever
those Of the Gordons Armstrong; ElIious, Homes,
and Douglasses of Scottish tradition, and as much
poetcal splendor will be attached to them An ad-
yentitous nteres. will be added 10 them by the arm
val of Oceola; who, we presume will fad means to
escape from his captors and harry 10 join his congo
NAL spirits al Navy Island.
Although General Scott has been sent to the spot
to suppress disturbances we doubt whether his pre-
sence will have much effect in allayng the moral
tempest. An a,temp. on his part to enforce his mill
tary jurisdiction will bring him into collision with
the fierce spirits and hot blood Of our people, who
fiery ardor which blazes through the lines Of the IN
spring ballads which the antiquarian poe, has rescued
from oblivion. Mems hearts are the same in all
countries; and degrees of latitude or longitude in
efiectua in influencing degrees of feeling. As in
cent times, again in the present, the border has
become the theatre of conflicts between two gallant
nations-between the Anglo Saxon party under Van
Rensselaer,, and the Scotch of Upper Canada under
Head. Imagination can create nothing more exciting
than the present state of the contest the clrcum
stances of place by which it is surrounded The
mighty river rushing in the subllmi,y of its might
down the roaring and foaming Nagara-the perlls of
the navigation 10 Navy Island-lhe stout hearts and
strong arms by which thar rocky fasness is held
the night attack on the Caroline, and its headlong
descent over the maddening cataractthe phrenzy OF
the Borderers and the progress Of the Fiery Cross In
the neighborng districts, bringing the inhabitants in
to the scene-a these things elements
fer poeticalnspraton in its deepest enthusiastic and
will, doub,essly, inspire the rapt minds OF poets and
uoveIists in tunes when Navy Island will be adesert
ed spot; and nothing bu, the memery of the past and
the eternal thunders Of Niagara remain there to hal
low the spot.
IL Is singular how events recnr IN regular success
the same effects spring from the same
repe,ton of the same deeds sprnglng from the same
passions with bat thenecessary alteration OF time and
placs. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries we
read that "the English tyrannzed over the borders in
most barbarous manner; and that rapne, flame and
marked their progress" Now, in the
century, we are eye and witnesses of
the same mode of action-aggresslon Is likely 10 be
followed by retalia,lon-and the Scotch and Engsh
- nF ho,p ted
Lord Home threatened 10 spoil the English Eastern
Msreh-whereupon the Duke of Norfolk said, /" we
have provided such sauce for him that think he will
no, deal in such matters but if he 40 but fire 10
but one hay stack, he shall not 90 TO Home again
wi,hou, ,orchEsht and, peradventure may find
lan,horn al his own house." And all this a time
Of peace between the two countries but the borderers
were but comparatively civilized, making their pas
uious their motives, answering wrong by wrong, and
knowing no measure OF national law but the length
Of their swords" Really one would think, that the
frontier inhabitants Of the Western District Of New
erk had sat for the last feature Of this portrait
We have had already, and are likely 10 be furnish
I'd with more, experience, that
Near border frontier, in time Of war
There's man but he's a freebooter,
and we are spprehensive that
To all mes IL will appear,
which Sir Walter Scott tells US was the case with
he moss troopers and gentlemen bandtn whose deeds
,f daring he has mmortal!zed in his glorious tales
and legends.
We learn fom the same authority that the fR-
tai habit Of pursuing marauders into their own coun-
Try, led 10 continual skrmishes, which were after
wards exaggerated into causes of long, bloody, and
destructive wars between the rival nations. All law
and order become thus COMPOUNDED, and the rule of
action speedily degenerates into what IS called Jed
dart iustice,n or trial after execution"
But tn main and all.engrossing theme for the fu-
ture poet and collector Of uaditonary border le
xends viii be Navy Island, and the sanguinary and
splendid contests Of which il must necessarily be
the scene The invaders will find an indomtable
Osesls in every opposer; and every gnared oak and
broad girthed beach will become natural fortress
every disabled boat will be hurried over the inevitable
cataraet-a magnificent death, which must necessa-
rily inspire magnificent poetry and description in
those native to the spot, and Immediately interested
in its glories The stirring events Of the day will be
talked over by the FIRE sde and personal details will
be handed down from sire TO son-those who were
present (f they escape the gaows, rather prosaic
ASSOCIATION y will recount the progress OF the heady
sght-rude rhymes and rustic imagery will be the
Il