Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-02-23
VOL. XI--No. J57

10 hope for this ~ the history OF our own.
A: the commencement of onI tevoIu' lonary
war many our people had arms in their
hands, but these were mostly fowiing plec-
ca, and wholly unfit for the use Of a regular
army. Many Of them were very old and
almost useless end go destitute was our
army of nee seary equipments, that after
the battle ~ Btanlywne, the commanders
in.chiaf was obliged 10 abandon PhiIadcl
phia to the British. without any further o.
'ort to defend 1t. in consequences OF storm.
We were almost destitute of powder.
There wns some 1t ls true, in the country,
bu, il was 10 BIZ found only ~ small CnSuti
ties and cv:n the battle Of Bunkct's hNl
was lost for the wnut Of this necessary ar
'icIe, the Americans having fred away
their last charge before they abandoned the
works. Whcrn did We procure arms and
ammunition, wi bout which our war mus:
have cone to a speedy stand, and our csuse
have been os'' We procured them from
Holland and France bnt principally from
The hitter. Had the French government
covered before England as We did, had
they Iahotcd to prevent their cl'lzons from
ad,Ng our cause, we must have been crush
ed, aud Washington instead Of standing on
the pare of history as the founder Of
grrn, nation, would Ike the unfortunate
Nelson. have been branded as q traitor, and
ended his days on the scai1hld. The citi-
zana o. FranCG from the commencement OF
The revolution took a lively interest in the
struggle; they ooned us money they col.
Irclcd dOnatuns--lhcy furnished arms and
ammunl' ion, and these were openly shipped
10 this country, and in this wav our people
were enabled to obtain a scanty supply.
And what course did the French govern
mcnt take in this busness' They, sir, Sc
crelly encouraged their ci,izcns in their
eudeavors to aid Us. and in some cases, ac-
tnaly furnished them money to enable
them to do so. These facts are well known
to yourself, for during many years claims
were pending before Congress in favor of
ci'lzeas Of France ngains, US, and TO a very
large amount, for arms and ammunition
furnished Us during the revolution, and
upon what grounds were these claims re.
sis,ed' Not, siv, By denying The delivery
ofthe articles, but cur government conten>
ded hat the persons making the purchases
ct the arms and ammunition, were tbesecret
gents OF the French Government, and
were by that government furnished with
he raoney for that purpose. The Efforts
Of the French people to assist US was we'll
known in England. and did they consider it
a cause Of war; Sr, they did not, and the
amcabe relations Of the two nations were
not interrupted in the least. In the debates
! 10 parliament Of that period, it will be
readily So IN what view tho then ministry
took of the acts of the citizens OF Fral
The old Earl Of Chatham commended that
the government of France was secretly
aiding the rebels in America and called on
the ministry 90 strike OF France" Did
he ministry deny the fact that private citi-
zcus in Fiance were furnishing the Amer.
cans with arms and ammunition, No, sir.
for 1t was too notorious TO be disputed, but
they denied that the French Government
had sOy participation in these acts, aud no
ono con,endPd that the act Of the citizen
unauthorized by The government, furnished
any cause Of war, nor was war commenced
BY England against France until seventy
eight. France at tins time had by treaty
scknow ledged our independence, and this
beug an act Of tho Government. was treat.
on by Great Britain as a luSt cause OF war.
WoOid II be wrong for our cNZtns to aid
the French in Canada. in their resistance
to BRUSH dominion, ,aen was it equally
wrong for the French 10 aid us in the war
ofrhe Revolution. There can b. no dis.
tncrlon IN the cases. If we are ut peace
with England, so wns France. five have
treaties wl;h England, 81 had France. II
We are bound to preserve our neutrality, 81
was France. tell YOU again. there ia no
difference in the cases, and the man who
could condcmn cItIzcn of the U. States
for aiding the patriots in Canada, would
condemn those Frenchmen no lent US their
aid in the days Of darkness and trial. Such
man would have been pronounced a tory
By Franklin or Jeilarson-- Such pronounce
him. and saw, let no .nch man be- trusted