North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-07-03

too % duty warrant them 10 putting them
Nclvfs 10 correspondence or src1et cufnmu-
n~lcsiiou NTH the authorities oI Canada
upon the subject 81 The PsiHoi movements:
Does the defence or the prot elion Of Can
ia dcyolse on them II not. then why
should they thus soiHaiariiy assume the
! character % spiest
The report 70 currently circulated, and
very g%ensTsl crcsence attaches tn II, thai
+ The officers II the United States are 10 the
habit # communicating II the Canadian
authorities. and 70 the officers Of the Brit
ssh army, whs,eyef rumof or intelligence
they can obtain (by fair means or foul
N relation 10 the organization, plans OF
movements Of The Patriots in every or any
quarter.
Moreover. il is said that the chivalric,
/ |undsunted Knights, who captured the
schooner Victory, with the tsarltke crew
Of four men, and piundered her of a lew
guns and a small quantity Of AMMUNITION,
so far forgot their duties and dignity, as TO
go To Maiden, and there indulge their pro-
pensiiie. in the d" good Sherry and cheer
of the British camr-of course 1--WE sup
+ thtef J iNIJftlfHE Vi 0tt tiN Haih HNSi"'S NV
plans Of the Patriot campaign-at least
such important ones OF them as the IA
friofs themselves, had taken pains to COM
municaie 10 Gen. BradyH
We assert that the United States Off
GERS had no more right 10 90 TO Maiden,
on board a steamboat in the employ and
service Of the British authorities, and plum
der an unprotected schooner, OF private
property, than a private citizen bad to
remove the guns belonging to the United
States, TOR they are not, as some may
suppose, individual! pfoperty,) from the
arlnory Of the Brady Guards.
The truth is, the sword OF military pow
er is waved over our heads-and the
| bavonels OF " military %despolism are pre-
sent at our " doors. The authority Of
The civil law, Tor the protection OF indlvldu-
al property and the security OF personal
rights is annu!Ied-and substituted in its
stead are measures unworthy the standing
of those who are entrusted with the exc
cution Of the law.
Such is a power which we reject. We
deny that such authority exists among US
and we assert that nc one is clothed
with power of erecting, contrary 10 the
spirit OF our laws, over our heads, a Judi
clal or military aristocracy.
The opprobrious epitlets heaped by the
! ~hireIing minions of British tyranny, and
vuIaarly mouthed by their sympaihizing
friends among ourselves, upon the fugitive
exile and the prosecuted patriot, who is
hazarding his all in desperate effort TO re-
store his eountry's freedom, and to avenge
the ruthless dissertations of his altar and
fireside, will avail them little among those
who are true 10 the principles Of their
birthright-who revere the " green graves
of their sires"-and in whose bosoms the
last spark Of the FIRE Of liberty has not been
exiting uIshed.
The annals Of history shall perpetuate
their memory, and record their deeds Of
chivalric daring, & posterity shall consum-
mate with their names that glorious con-
slellation of human greatness formed by
the ilUstrious names o! ashington,
Lafayette, Jefferson and their compatriots.
Why, in the records of history is the name
of Thrasvbulas mentioned with honor?
Why, rather, was not the memory of the
Athenian hero branded with iniamy? Be-
cause, when an erile and afugitire-con-
6ding in the assistance Of no state or gov
ernment-with no commission, but what
he derived from liberty, patriotism, and
eternal justice, he marched with a band Of
bold ddpenturers to the overthrow of
Spartan tyranny-expelled the Thirty
Tyrants and relieved his countrymen from
degrading bondage.
Nor are the cities Of Argos and Thebes
censured for extending to him protection.
Nor is lsinonias the Governor, reproved as
u~nfaithluI to the duties Of his station, be-
cause he ind ulgec in the generous impui-
SEES of benevolence and compassion towards
an oppressed people, and gave privately
that assistance and ~countenance which his
official station forbade him publicly to
avow.
The cloud which is gathering in the
hemisphere Of Canada, predicts a storm
which will roll over the Provinces, till the
thunder Of Heaven bursts upon British
dominion and mrsrule. And may the Al
God Of Hosts strengthen the arms
Of those who fight for the freedom of their
land. May he guide them to dis
Greet counsels-assist them in their diff
culties-relieve their distress-and give
them victory in their battles.
A vital objection to Sir John Colborne's