North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-04-26

many YcAfb labof ard dcep 8NAerngs Iot
your MaleBiy's setyscc."
The misef8es VIC have since endured
are scarcely susceptible Of cx pfcssson, be-
ng reduced fof livelihood 10 toll and hard
labor 10 a sauihcrH cline, 50 dissgFeesble
10 oBT constitutions, that most Of Us have
been prevented by sickness, from procuring
the necessary subsistence Tor our families
the greatest aggtavstion Of al our suffer
ngs, even II having our children forced
from 0s and bound out to strangers, and
exposed 90 contagious dIstempers unknown
M our native county"
This compared with the aillucnce aud
ease we enjoyed, shows our condition to
be extremely wfetched. We have already
seen in the Province Of Pennsylvania. Two
hundred and fifty Of our people, which is
MOTE than half The number that were land
ed here, perish through misery and various
diseases. In this great distress and misery,
We have under God, none bat your Males
~ 10 look to with hopes of relief and re-
dress. We therefore hereby mplofe your
gracious protection and request you may
be pleased TO let the justice OF our com
plants, be truly and impartiay enquired
into, and that yonr Majesty would please
10 grant US such relief, as 10 your Justice |
and clemency you will think our case re-
quTes."
This petition as well as many Others of
a similar nature were disregarded and the
unhappy Acadians were obliged TO submit
10 their mislortunes. In the southern eli
mates Of North America, they persisted in
great numbers, on account of the excessive
heat 10 which they had not been accustom-
ID in their native country. Being reduced
10 extreme poverty, they were forced To
oil and TO labour for their livelihood which
again decreased their numbers in a fearful
manner. AT the present time we find them
n great numbers on the ST. Johns River, I
n the counties Of Bonaventure and Gaspe. :
the district of Gaspe, and as we have /
eiore SAID in the parishes Of St. Gregoire, {
It. Jacques & L'Acadie in Lower Canada. D
Among the English speaking population
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape
reton, Prince Edwards Island and New a
we can distinctly trace good b
lumber OF people by their names to Acad-
origin, and who were forced by their :,
sIdence among a population speaking to
'other language than the French, TO aban-
IN their native tongue and adopt the o.
nglish idiom.
Such is the history Of most virtuous, la
ID once most happy people. Every i'm
rtlal reader who shall become acquaint- s "o
with the harsh and inhuman treatment
the English crown towards them, will try
doubt feel compassion for the poor, op- .. g
essed Acadians, whilst his blood will th'
Il with Indignation at the cruelies prac-
ed upon them by the British Govern sta
mt. II there be stain upon the honor ,ha
the Crown of Great Britain for their dec
amous conduct towards the people of , u,
ada, how much more dishonorabe was wo
or France to allow the Acadians once pie Ee
subjects, to be SO oppressed and so in 9th
nanty treated by the new masters to for
ON she had coded them. The English wor
badly gave as justification for their wot
orous measures, that they were too h.; ~
ch attached to the crown Of France, & por,
sequentiy the source to them of much not no.
asiness and trouble. The Acadians of v
lllested their attachment TO their first be-,
tiers, when they refused to take an oath said
IIegiance, which should obIige them to Der
arms against the French flag, which fu.el
so dear to them. Yet knowing all know
e circumstances, France ungenerously ,;e va
nitted her former subjects to be treat trate
nth such inhumanity. May we not mem mem
with justice, that if the Acadans were Engl
'rtunate when they fell into the hands irlen
re Englisa-the loss Of the protection nous
ded by the French flag, was no dsad- ia,
age The cowardIy conduct of the The,
lch King in this instance confirms thu Derb
Ttlon, that the European powers care Ean $
little about American Colonies. when of the
no longer their interest 10 retain them stand stand
rest and that OF the most sordid kind wich,
only bond which unites the mother ham,
try 10 It's colonies. No natural feel. state
" duty attaches European powers to Tory
w they