North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-05-12
sWANToN, VT. MAY Io 1871.

uien by DIR. fiReF We ate not fuzzy
prepared Ia answrr this aaraion. WI
cannoi believe Dir. p.geF sieerte, wten hs
Isaesehcd 10 his cnanuymen, submission Il
English lyfsnay. From the Intimacy
which esistea between shia gentleman ans
the Honorable Mr.. pspincaa till TIE last
moaent rtev'ous TO Lis departure from
Montreal, we are Ied % suppose thai j
was impossible for Mr.. Vigcf not 20 know
that physical resistance was contemplated.
We are not prepared 10 say whether he a,l.
pfoved OF disapproyed oil H.; we know mol
But we have right 10 express CDR sur
Prise Of the extreme nsEiciausneSs NJ the
honorable gentleman 10 coming forward
and dcnouncing his t,.ilaw- patriot leaders
as traitors and entrcaiing his countrymea
10 reInro 10 their former allegiance 10 tile
British Grown. Did this condoc, on his
part, exenpify a proper reiurn TO the
Canadian people, who, through their rep.
resenatiyes, had rewarded him literally
with several Thousand dollars from the
public funds, during his agency in Eng.
land Faithful to his British policy, Sir
john Colborne made use OF this cars.pn "
as long as he found il useful, and Denis
benjamin Iieer, although ridiculcd, dcs-
pissed and hated by the British faction, es-
capped unhun during the rebellion Of 1887.
The next year howevet,'he services Of
d. b. Viger were not required, as Sir
John thought he had snficient number
Of soldiers in the Province 10 preserve il
from the revolutionary designs Of the pa
lriois. Torewsfd him for lis zeal ia The
preceding year he was, in November, 1883,
thrown into jail under charge Of high
treason. This was certainly paying him
for his Loyalty al an underpricr. II we are
cpfrectly informed, 10 his Ayalicc, which
seems to have been his ruling passion, is
attributable, the existence Of ihat infamous
and bloody Court-MartaI. The services
Of the most talented lawyers Of the Pro
vince, could have been secured against the
legal existence Of such body as the Court
Martial, and the political prisoners arraan.
ed before Civil Court, wonlI have had
chunce 81 being acquitted. Two thousand
dollars were asked as a remuneration for
he services Of those legal advisers who no
doubt from their well known talents and
high standing at the bar, would have com.
pIetely overturned Sir Johns butchers
Coort. But when such man as d. b.
Figer who, because he well kne W that he
could not be convicted of any overt.act and
although he possessed very large yearly
income, would only subscribe a few dollars
for SO important an object, it is no wonder
that the attempt did not succeed. IF Mr..
Viger had been plunlered or if bis property
had been plaged or burnt, he might have
had an excuse, but he had moi, as we know,
lost single shilling in both rebellions, nor
could he plead the paternal solicitude Of
father for his children, as he never had any
ofIsprings for whom he might wish TO save
his property We cannot find any thing
TO offer in exienuation of his conduct both
in 1887 and 1888. Had Mr. Viger, in the
rebellion, acted like the immortal heroes OF
the American revolution, and nobly come
forward and given his purse ond his name
10 the patriots whom he had goaded into
he would now be respected and
loved by his countrynlen; but instead OF
doing this. he pushed the Canadians 10
The very verge Of physical resistance, and
then abandoned them TO the tender mercies
Of The British bayonets and the halter.
We now beg tie attention Of our rea-
iers to The fate Of the gallant Hero Of St.
Denis. 1t will he remembered that Or
Wolfred Nelson had abandoned the place
where he bad won such laurels Of military
glory, Just before the British entered it.
CowardIy deserted By Mr.. Papineau, who,
by his counsel aud advice, had led him 10
resist The British troops on the ESD Of No
having any iidings from the
fugitive Leader who had fed for bis life
by his own people who were