North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-04-18

swssss the Cathoisc eleGgy q Tie tsas-
Sss when ihepcopic ahal be crushed down
In the Uasicd States the people seem t.
think that the tamc undue iaasenee II the
clergy cxats in Lower Canada. We do
not deny THAI the Catholic clergy has great
influence boea In the Upper and Lover
Provinces bat as the people have become
enlightened, % thar influence has bccn de-
crossing for scversl years past. Witness,
fof example, the little attention The people
paid to the pastoral letter II the Bishop Of
Moausa. addressed them in June, 1887
disoounirnaneing and disappearing all POI
hlieal meetings.
The political corruption and venaliy OF
che Cathode and Episoopal clergy, IN the
Csaadas, arc SO well known that ere long,
nothing may be feared from the influence
OF either Although the clergy have
contributed much towards bringing de-
struetioa upon the unfortunate Acadians,
yet we hope, in spite Of their unhalowed
zeal, to see the day that shall give Upper
and Lower Canada place among the ma
lions Of the earth.
Let Us return from this depression to the
Acadans. There were, about the time
that they received the order 10 appear be-
fore Col. Winslow, from IL To 90 900 AGA
disns inhabiting the richest and most fer
tile lands Of the province they possessed
upwards OF 600, 900 head Of horned cattle
10000 sheep, $4,000 hogs besides great
number Of horses As their circumstan-
ces were cqui-distant between poverty and
wealth, and their habits and education in
that simple medium state between barbar-
ism and refinement, their condition proba-
bly, embraced as much happiness as man
can enjoy, or human nature is susceptible
Of, when the English set about destroying
and driving them from the Colonies. A
great number fed TO the woods and took
refuge with the Indians, and found among
barbarians what was denied them by a
eiritised nation. A good portion of those
who fled, escaped to Canada and the island
Of 81. John, in an unimaginable state of
suffering, leaving their families either in
the most wretched state, exposed to all the
incIemencies OF pitiless winter, in the
woods unsheltcred, where many died from
IBID and hunger, or exposed TO the brutal
treatment Of ferocious and licentious SOL
diery. Their villages were laid waste and
their houses burnt TO ashes. The whole
Of their establishments at Chignecto and
.minas were levelled to the ground by fire,
and the poor and miserable inhabitants de-
prived of home, were forced to submit,
or fly to the woods from whence they final
" escaped to Canada, Prince Ed,card's
i,iand and Cape Breton.
From 7 to 5000 in oil, submitted to the
unjust and cruel order OF Major Lawrence
and gave themselves up to COL Winslow,
10 be disposed Of according to the arbitra- ;,
" will OF the British commander, who in.
issued the order OF banishing
hem from their country Of their birth, to
Dc scattered over his Majesty's American
Colonies. Who can give true picture OF
he agonizing feelings Of those unfortunate
men, when they learned that they were to
'e brutally taken from their homes by o.
orcign and tyrannical enemy, who had q q
ONE with apparent friendship, to settle e,
'mong them. e'
b.
The aged father, whose hair was sill Liz
cred over by the frost ofiime, living solely III
y the industry Of an only son, saw him in " "
umanly dragged away without aiprospect II
ever again behosding, him under the be
orrowiuI conviction OF ending his few and ev
umbered days in the most deplorable N
Tretchedness the mother on the eve OF "
losing her eyes in death, and at an age sh
% advanced to supper, herself, beheld the ca
eioved children, who performed the du. l,
es they owed to parent, dragged from -
or forever by the ruthless hand of Eng oh
sh desponsm. The most sacred ties of GU
wal society were violated by these cit