Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-04-26
THE PATRIOT, PRISONERS.


On Monday las, the Governor transmit.
ted to the Assembly q message relating to
the condition OF our northern and north.
western frontier, accompanied by a mum.
Der Of documents having reference to the
same subject. From among them we have
selected the annexed correspondence be-
tween The Provincial Secretary, R. D.
Tucker, and the Secretary Of State, con-
corning the disposition Of the prisoners,
now under sentence of death and in con
6nement at Kingston and London. 1t will
be seen that Sir George Arthur, is disposed
TO grant on unconditional pardon TO FIFTY.
TWO Of the convict "patriots." This elem.
ency 10 men who, no matter what their
motives, had forfeited their lives by every
rule Of modern warfare, cannot fail TO be
attended with the best effects; and as their
liberation is made contingent upon the
condition Of affairs along the frontier, it is
10 be hoped that not a single one Of their
fellow citizens will be found, so callous to
every feeling Of humanity as 10 peril their
lives by any act Of rashness or imprudence,
or 10 prevent the renewal Of those bonds
of peace and amity, which are SO essential
to the welfare and prosperity Of Great
Britain and the United States.--.4lbany
Daily Advertiser.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,,
Toronto. 28th March, 1889.
SrR,-In a former communication to
your predecessor | had the satisfaction of
assuring him. that whilst the 1t. Cover.
nor of this Province was most strongly i'm
pressed with a sense Of the sacred obllga.
lion imposed on him Of endeavoring to
pro,ec, The deeply injured inhabitants of
Upper Canada from a repetition OF those
Mwless and cruel attacks, 10 which they
have go repeatedly been exposed, by the
inaiction of capital punishment on the prin.
cipal authors Of the injuries they have suf.
fered f; His ExceIIency Sir George Arthur,
was equally anxious to c0ntine such punish
ment within the narrowest Limits consistent
with the discharge ofthIs necessary. though
painful duty: aud TO discover some reasons
which might justify him, both 10 his own
conscience and to The public, 10 extending
pardon to tho least criminal among q body
Of men who had ell incurred the guilt Of
cogaging in an enterprise repugnant TO,
every rule Of morality, and forbidden alike
by the general principles Of the law OF
Nations, and the municipal institutions Of
their own country.
Still animated by these sentiments; and
sincerely DESTROYS of testifying to the peo.
pie Of the United States of America. that
so provocalion, however great, no injuries,
however severe, can induce. on the part Of
this Government The smallest departure
from it's long established practice of tenn
pering Justice with Mercy. the Lieutenant
Governor has very lately directed the re.
lease of tw~enty-seven of the convicted
Brigands. two of whom were sentenced by
the Court Martial to confinement for a
long term Of yeors in the Penitentiary at
Kingston, and the remaining twenty five,
having been sentenced to capital punish.
ment, were yet recommended by the Court
Tor a mitigation Of the penalty Of death.
There 10 eDolher end numerous class o
che Prisoners concerned in the late lnva