North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-06-24
Original.
HISTORY OF NADIA.
CONTINUED

We shall now undertake 10 prove that
The acquisition Of Canada, and lis
.an importance 10 the Union, rere
daily appreciated by The leading men
Of the United G. olonies. This is our
fifth proposition.
We shall begin as far back as the ear
lest proceedings on record Of the Cont
mental Congress, which sat in the fall of
TIA, in The city of Philadelphia. Three
of The most influential men OF that honor
able body were appointed as committee
IN prepare an address 10 the inhabitants Of
the Province Of Quebec, 10 enlist their
influence in behalf Of suffering America,
and apains, the tyranny Of the mother
country. This address we have already
published it may be found by our read
era in the LIST. Vol. OF the Journals OF Con-
oress. page SIS. Here is the first step made
nv the Representatives of the American
nropIe towards bringing the Canadian
provinces into open hostility 10 the unjust
and tyrannical pretensions OF England
When we see the names Of Messrs. Thos.
Henry Gushing, Richard Henry Lee, and
John Dickinson, az members Of this Com
mitlee, the first deputy from the colony
Of Massachusetts Bay, the second from
Virginia, and the latter from Pennsyl-
wanna, which, in tact, were the three lar
resi and most prominent colonies at that
perind, we have sufficient reason to Judge
that i, was the intention Of the Continent
raj Congress To give IN this address the
creates, importance and solemniiy pos
sibe.
Blu, the next year, when the tocsin OF
war had soundedon the continentof North
America, and the colonisis had witnessed
the massacre Of Lexington, what did the
same Congress do , On the Goth Of May,
amotion was carried, To the effect that Mr..
Samuel Adams, a deputy from-the colony
Of Massachussetts-B Bay, Mr.. Sias Deane,
from the colony Of Connecticut, and Mr..
John Jaw, from the colony OF New York,
three OF the principal colonies, were TO
form a committee TO prepare and convey
letter to the people OF Canada. On the
Goth Of the same month this committee re-
ported an address to the oppressed in
habitsuts Of Canada" in which we find the
following passage -
1--WE vet entertain hopes Of your uni
ting with us in The defence at our common
liberty, and there is vet reason 10 believe,
that should we join in impIoring the at
iention of our sovereign, TO the unmeriled,
unparalleled expressions of his American
subjects, he will at length be undeceived,
AMI forbid licentious ministry any longer
To riot in the ruins of the rights OF man.
kind"
This was the second appeal made TO the
Canadian people by the patriotic leaders
Of American opposition TO British despo-
tism. The Canadians listened with pleas
IRE to this invitation, but, situated as they
were, they conld not take open part against
English despotism. Their only hope was,
70 wait for the moment when Congress
should send an army into their province to
aid them.
Again, in their instruc,ions 10 Gen. Schuy-
Ter, the committee above named, say -
Congress desire you to exert your ut
mat endeavors TO accede 10 a union with
these colonies, and that they form from
their parishes provincial convention, aud
send delegates TO this Congress"
On this subject there was a singular
coincidence of opinion OF the par, of Gen.
s'sl Washington and the members OF Con-
sress. Tor while that body was giving these
distractions 30 General Schuyler, Wash.
'asioa wa. writing 10 Richard Henry
Lee. asking
" Would il No, BE- polite "a invite tbs
Canadians TO send meEnb hers to Congress: -