Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-12-06

u time, but in the end he must fail aud
the page of history will record the fact.
AND OUR BRITISH RELATIONS.
We have shown in our preceding num-
Der that MackenZie Is imprisoned end
punished by our government, not because
orr government is able to punish friend
less moneylcss unprotected foreigner, who
sought all asylum in this country from The
tyranny and despolism Of his own: bu,
are not able, and dare not make the at
tempt to punish their own citizens, who
have been guilty # the same offence. The
qnes'io n then arises whether it is right
and proper and COMFORTS with our national
honor. TO continue his punishment under
these circumstances. We put out Of view
the validity of his trial. or the policy of
the law under which he was convicted :
and shall only consider the matter so far
it may be said to affect the character OF
our government, and our national honor.
1t has always appeared to us that the
foreign relations Of this country have
been too multinrous. ever since our gov
eminent was established 1t seem to be the
character OF our people TO over legIso'c
in every 'hlag. Unnecessary provisions
are introduced into our trca les with Tor.
einn powers. and laws passed by coDgres.
20 carry them into effect and especially
those with Great Britain uniformly bind
us to conditions, for which the Drilisl
government can give no equivalent. We
seem to be so very happy to get out of &
war. that we are willing to impose volun
tary letters upon ourselves to prevent III
from engaging in another. OF this char
actor are all,reatics, and laws made in re-
laton to them, between the two countries
And il is under the operation Of such law
that Mackenzie is imprisoned, and on
. country is placed in such an undign fee
position, in relation 10 the affair IN Cana
da. What can possibly be more degrad
iur to our national honor or our characte
as O nation, ihHn The motives assigned b.
our government and congress for passin!
5 the "neu,ralny law" The President. al
. though he atcS tho case and ls difficult
ties very fairly, seems almost ready to g
: into fits, with approximations Of the terribl
consequences ofa war with Great Britain
, And grave senators and members Of Con
! gress Of all parties, rise excessively il
their places, and pronounce deprrcator
monologues against such a dreadful ca
: am!ty. The law passes almost unan
mously: and it is under the operation c
the same recrean. spirit that we are pei
j mlttcd to enjoy the grand and mugnifccu
+ spectacle of seeing our army chase b.
{ Johnson in his canoe about the Thousan
8 Islands, or nobly repe the French retu
I gees OF Lower Canada from seeking o
g asylum from the bood.,hrsly Cobuu
n And the whole power Of moglstIucy Ia p,
C in requls,lon, to hunt up some strageiu
d refugee aud punish him by way of eXampI
d While IN the meantime the Caroline ou
= rage is allowed TO sleep und'sturbed b
: a murmur or complaint ; the Maine boul
G Diary question is 'nstatu quo ante belIum
G and Is TO to remain "ad lninltum;" OF
i fisherman very recently are plundercd, al
y driven by violence from the fishing gr0uu
3. guaranteed 10 them by the mos, form
u treaties, without either complaint or 7,
C monstrance ls far u.s. we are permitted
II know.
= Are tho people Of this country actuat'
" by the same teelinsa on rtlr b'ancb
" aur to'sign relations, 0s ,..6a sA4gCs.,