Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1838-01-09


0usly cultivated the most friendly conncc.
ton. Our Government has-leekcd upon
them as ITS allios--our people have init.
mately connected themselves with their
commerce--our capital has irrigated their
land--unlimilcd credit has been lratttnally
extended 20 them, with that unsuspcctn.,
confidence which ia the civilized world is
rcposed in men of charac ter and ,ru,h--wc
have rcloiccd in the success, and we have
done all that generous Nation could do,
to save them from the expense and misery
oi was 1t Is true,wc were once opponents.
but the Ratchet of war has long been burr
cd, and must own had hoped that the
spirits Of our mutual ancestors were sacred.
" guarding It's tomb
Such are the feelings of the British pco.
pie towards the Americans, and vet regret
10 inform youthat IN moment of profound
peace and of protested friendship, consid-
cradle number of Americans, regardless of
the crimes committed as well as Of the de
graded character of the man, have sympa-
thlzod With the principal rebel, who has
lately abscondcd ms Il criminal from our
land. ! regret TO inform YOU, that Amor-
can citizens ofinflucncc aud great wealth
have come forward to cocrc the brave and
independent people of Upper Canada. TO
change laws and institutions which they
have lately, by open and almost universal
suffrage, publicly declared that they pre-
fer.
The American press has, TO my astonish-
mcnt, IN many instances advocated this fla
grant act OF injustice and such has been
the popular excitement, that not only has n
body OF Americans, headed by American
leaders, within a few days, taken possession
of Navy Island, (Which belongs TO the Brit
lsh Emplrc,) but proclamation has just
been issued from this spot, declaring that
the standard Of liberty is planted in Canada
that Provincial Government is cstab-
llshed there that a reward Of five hundred
pounds is offered for my apprehension
that three hundred acres Of her Mniesty's
lands will be freely bestowed by this Pro-
yInclal Government upon any volunteer
who shall personally assist in invading our
freedom; and il is added, that ten millions
'ot these lands, fair and fertile, will speed
'ly he at their disposal, with the other vast
resources OF country more extensive and
rich III natural treasures than the United
Kingdom. or old France
! am informed that Americans from yar-
Gus quarters are fastening from the intcr-
or to Join this standard of ayowed plumber
and revolt-that cannon and arms are pub
licly proceeding there and under these
circumstances, II becomes my painful duty
to inform you, that without having offered
to the United States the smallest provoca-
lon--wthout having entertained the slight
est previous doubt OF the sincerity of Amer
lean alliance, the inhabitants Of this pro.
vince may in a few days be called upon by
me TO defend their lives, their properties,
and their liberties, from an attack by Amer
lean citizens, which with no desire to Of
iend, must pronounce to be unparalleled
in the history of the world
Upon the courage and resolution Of the
Canadian people, place the frmcst reli-
ancc and If this unwarrantable Invasion
should proceed, know | shall not in vain
require every British subject coolly TO per-
form that duty to his country which his own
pride, spirit, and feelings, will spontanc-
ously suggest.
The interference Of foreigners in the do
nestle policy OF free country, is an ag-
erosion which no nation of character can
ever submit to endure, ESPECIALLY where a
band OF people, violating their own laws, as
well as the sacred obligations of national
amIty, lntrude themselves upon peaceable
Inhabuant, lawlcssy to advocate by force
Of arms the practical blessings and advan-
tagcs OF republican institutions, which, by
their own showing, have at least ended
with them in anarchy and plundcr) and as
every country is a natural fortress TO its in
habItants--as every village is strong mill
tary posltion-and as every bridge and ra-
vine can be advantageousIy defended
must own that deeply as should lament
conflict Of this nature. ! entertain no feel
ing Of anxiety for the result The peace.
iul inhabitants Of Upper Canada will not be
left TO defend their country alone, for they
belong to an Empire which docs not suffer
ITS subjects TO be injured with mpunity:
and if national war which il rests with
the American Government 10 avert. should
be the unhappy consequence of an intoler.
aut INVASION of our freedom. the civilized
world, while it sympathizes with our Just
cause, will view with feelings Of astonish-
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