North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-08-07
HISTORY OF CANADA.
(CoNTISUED.)

pn the IUiH may loilOWing, Cong rsS
met at the city of Philadelphia, according
to their adjournment. Mr.. Hancock lad
before the Congress a narrative Of the al
fair Of Lexington, which had taken plae,
on the l9ih April previous. In conse
guence OF this unwarranted attack upor
The people, Congress resolved TO repe
force by iorce. On the Goth May, Messrs
Jay, Deane and S. Adams, were appointed
committee TO prepare and draft letter
tn the people Of Canada, inviting them tc
Join the American people in their struggle
against oppression. The next day the
address to the Canadian people was read to
Congress and was recommtted, but on the
g9lll il was read anew and approved Of
|, was framed in the following words -
TO THE OPPRESSED IYHABITANTs OF
CANADA.
Friends and Counirymen,
Alarmed by the designs of an arbitrary
ministry, To eXtlrpate the rights and Iiber-
ties ol all America, sense Of common
danger conspired with the dictates Of hu-
manly, in urging US TO cali your attention,
by our late address, to this very important
object.
Since the conclusion Of the late war, we
have been happy in considering you as fel-
owsnhiects, and from the commencement t
Of the present plan for snblug ating the con-
tlnrut, we have viewed you as fellow sul-
hiers with us. As we were both entitled
hY the bounty Of an induIgent Creator to
freedom. and being both devoted by the
cruel edcts Of deSpotic administration, to
common ruin, we perceived the fate Of the
Protestant and Catholic colonies to be
strongly linked together, and therefore in
vted you To join with us in resolving to be
ifre, and in rejecting, with dsdain, the
letters OF slavery, however arilully pol
shed.
We most sincerely condole with you on
the arrival of that day, in the course Of
which, the sun conld not shine on single
'reeman in all Your extensive dominiOns. Be
assured, that your unmerited degradation
has engaged the most unieigned pity of onr
SISTER colonies and we flatter ourselves
Won will not, by tsmely bearing the yoke,
suffer that pity to be supplanted by con-
tempt.
When hardy attempts are made to de-
prlve men of rights bestowed by the AL
mighty, when avenues are cut through the
most solemn compacts for the admission of
dHSpoism, when the plighted faith Of gov
trlent ceases to give security 10 dutiful
subjects, and when the insidious stratagems
ard manoeuvres Of peace become more
terrible than he sanguinary operations Of
war, It is high time for them to assert those
'ghis, ard, with honest Indignation, OPP
pose the torrent OF oppression rushing in
upon them.
BY the introduction your present form
oi government, or rather present form OF
'franny, you and your wives and your
children are made slaves. You have moth
ing that you can call your own, and all
'he fruits OF your labor and industry NAV
Ne taken from you, whenever an avarisious
governor and a rapacious council NAV in
cline 10 demand them. Iou are liable by
Their edicts To- be transported into foreign
Countries To fight battles in which you
nave no interest, and To spill your blood in
conflicts from which neither honor nor
ena'ument can be derived Nay, the en-
\ {ment OF your very religion, on the |
. fe'eni eys,en, depends on legislature in
winch you have no share, and over which |
t'i have no control, and Your priests are
Fhnsed II expulsion, Punishment, and !
pam, whenever their wealth and posses
''ns furnish sufficient temptation. They /
Ahnot be sure that virtuouS prince will |
/ ways iiil the throne, and should a wicked /
careless king concur with wicked min
,''F IN extracting the treasure and strength /
I your country, ii is impossible to con-
eve 10 what variety and 10 what ex>
emes Of wretchedness you may, under
nc nreseni establishment, be reduced.
We are informed you have already been
sied upon 10 waste your lives in contest
n Us. Should you, by complying in
Us Instance, assent 10 your new establish
Vai, and a war break out with France.
U wealth and your SIMS may be spent
pensh Ia expeditions against their ISL
JOS 10 the West Indies.
II cannot be presumed iha; these con-