North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-09-11

turning TO their homes to sow their farms,
the government delights in keeping them
in duress for the sake of red ucing them to
beggary! This coo' and premedtated bar
barity is worse than all the odious and
barbaFous acts committed till now by the
British government.
A prisoner, (Mr. Boucher BeIevilIe, J
DESTROYS of rendering service to the
cause of humanity, so much outraged by
Sir John Colborne, framed petition TO his
Excellency, in the name and in the be-
half of the farmers who were detained
in this Jail. | herewith give the tenor OF
| this petition.
To his Excellency Sir John Colborne,
&c. &c.
May ii please Your Ercellency,
We the undersigned farmers, detained in
the common Jail of this District. under
political accusations, take the liberty of re-
monstrating to Your Excelency:
That, of oil the political prisoners, the
farmers are those who suffered the most by
the unfortunate events by which this coun-
try has been afflicted, because, generally
speaking, they belonging to the poorer
class of society; therefore the burning and
plunderng of their property is an injury,
more to be felt by them than by any other
class of society.
That your petitioners, have mostly all
been in Jail for four months past, and some
OF them longer period; that besides the
pains to which their bodies have been sub.
iected, during such a long and rigorous
confinement, they have also suffered much
from pecnniary embarrassment, not being
able to attend to their business, and being
forced to pay with their ...~",y rot
their victuals and clothes.
That all the political troubles being end
ed, no fears could be entertained from the
return Of the prisoners to their homes.
That the time for sowing being near a
hand, great number of farms will yielt
no crops this year for want Of persons t.
work on them, unless we are allowed tC
return; which will inevitably ruin most o
your petitioners, and thereby injure thu
community at large.
That these considerations, however i'm
portant they may be, seem to be of mino
consequence when we reflect upon tn
duty we owe 10 our aged parents, on
wives, and our unprotected, helpless chil
dren. They need our protection and gu
support.
May it please Your Excellency TO ex
empt those to whom we owe life, as we
as those who stand in the same relation t
US, from punishment for the political often
ces or their sons or their fathers, for W
feel that they ought not to suffer for OH
political errors. II we are detained her
they will be the greatest sufferers, althoug
our sufferings are nearly insupportable.
That these considerations lead US, Gan
we believe il our imperative duty) TO be
from Your Excellency that he might
pleased to exercise, in our behalf the nc
blest attribute OF man Of power, namel
tina; of doing good to those over whom }
! is placed, and to send US back to our fam
lies; who, although guiltess, could not BIT
7 be exposed to the most extreme povert
7 and wretchedness if we do not return
season to sow enough & provide for theI
e for the coming year. Many families wi
: be thus indebted to you for the means
i subsistence, and will praise your name
and who in their gratitude, which sha
last as long as their lives, will not cease
r Join your petitioners in their ardent praye
!. for Your Excellency's welfare.
e Montreal Jail, 7th April, 1888.
= This petition was never answered. q
y the 18th April the following letter was al
i dressed TO the Civil Secretary By the gel
:. ! 49, - LII f..-1.A she Detiffnn n,