North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-10-02
From the La ncdster Inteligencer.

WILLIAM LYON MACKENZIE.--The
charge of his Honor Judge Thompson, in
his liberal construction Of the Neutrality
Law, has consigned an individual 10 pri-
son who committed the heinous outrage
of thinking and speaking in favor of the
opprest and down trodden Canadians. The
palpabe injustice, not to say Inconsistency,
OF the thing, is 50 clear that we do not
marvel at the indignant surprise it has
every where created. 1t is not William
Lyon Mackenzie alone who is affected by
this judgment; the whole country is reach
ed by its influence The law under which
il was given is foul and crying disgrace
to the American naton-a living curse on
our statute books. 1t is in vain 10 denv
to mince the matter-it is literally calling
our Declaration OF independence a tissue
OF lles-a downright piece Of unqualified
nonsense. For what is Mackenzie's crime !?
The same for which Haynes died feIon's
death-ior which Marion suffered and bled
for which Lafayette covered himself with
scars--ior which Washington received the
bitter curses and threats Of an impotent
king--the crime of battling against oppres
son! Nay: it does not go so far. Mac.
kenzie only sympathised with, he did not
strike for the victim OF British misgovern.
ment.
For our common credit-for our coun-
try's sake-we hope this law will be re-
pealed. Much as we admired and sup
ported the spirit in which President Van
Buren, advised our citizens TO refrain from
any violations of our national faith with
England-much as we condemned the des-
perallon (lor 1t was nothing less) which |
led 10 the Prescott massacre and the muir
der of the gallant but misguided Won
Shou'tz-as much as we depored the |
transportation of arms into the British ter |
rtory by American citizens we cannot. at
this time, but denounce policy so tame
and dlsgraceful as the imprisonment of |
man who merely sympathised with the
Canadians. Why, at that rate, the whole
American people are liable to arrest
Contrast this ertreme neutrality with the
conduct of England, in case in which the
Royal troops committed fragrant depreda
lions upon American property and life
he cutting out and destruction Of the Caro-
Inc aud The attempt to murder its crew.
md the firing into the Telegraph. No
steps have been taken by the Govern
nent as yet, ii we except the reluctant adj
missions ertorted from it by Mr.. Steven
on, onr minister at ST. James, whilst
captain Drew since his "gallantn feat.
las been the toast at the British table. and
IGNORED by Miss Victoria with the span-
les OF baronetcy And we, who have
umbed this naughty power on land and
ca, who have lashed her minions twice
rom our borders, are now fain TO condemn
very man that thinks agains, her late OBJ
ressions Shame Shame Wipe but
he living disgrace from the statute book.
nd set the victim TO its partial and dishon,
rable niceness free The edict and the
Dlut which dictated it, are worthy Of Rus
a, OF Turkey, Of China, but i; shows too q
'uch OF slavish time-serving policy to 3
elong TO America In the language of
Re Quaker poet, who writes on different 4
ibteei, we may be permitted to say in |
farming:
"The surf shall wear the strand away.
Our granite hills in dust shall ymoud.r. C
Ire slavery's hateful yoke shall Law. Y
Unbsoken on Yankee shoulder! Id