The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-07
THE MADISON IAN.
THE CANADAS.

We have no desire 10 interfere Win the aA"ns
of Canada, nor to increase the 'Patriot" fever
upon our Northern borders. But as the atten-
ton Of the public mind is very much attracted
TO our relations with England in reference TO the
British provinces northeast Of the Union, il can
not be uninterestng to readers to be apprised
Of the steps taken by the first American Con-
gress to secure the cooperation of those colonies
in the attempt to throw off the oppressive autho
rity of the mother country.
We insert below the letter which was address
ed to the inhabitants Of Canada by the Ameri-
can Congress on the 29,h Of May, ITS, and the
instructions given to Benjamin Franklin, Charles
Carroll, and Samuel Chase who were appointed
a commission 10 proceed to Canada and invite
that province TO join the Confederacy.
II is possible that all parties might have been
benefited if the Canadas had then made com
mon cause with the revolving colonies, as there
can be no doubt they would have been 'ncorpo-
rated into the union at the peace. The French
inhabitants would have had the advantage OF
making their own laws, and of preserving intact
snch of the institutions and usages Of France as
thew might have thought best Each OF the
ether provinces, now grown into importance,
,yond have enjoyed all the benefits Of self onv
eminent in conformity with the peculiar lnte-
rests Of each The world would not have wit
messed that bold and tyrannical attempt to en-
slave whole community, which we see now
in progress in the Canadas. We allude to the
recent act of union, the avowed object of which
is to crush the rights, If not the liberties, Of the
entire French population in Lower Canada, by
super imposing another province, inhabited by
different race, whose interests, feelings, and
religion, are utterly hostile. Instead of being
miserably poor, drained of the last shilling 10
support their foreign task masters, those pro-
vinces would now be rich, prosperous, and indie
pendent. Great Britain would have derived
from legitimate commerce with them greater
advantages than she has hitherto enjoyed, or
can probably ever receive, while existing, as
well as future dangers of war with this country,
would have been avoided. Even now it is
probably the true policy of England, either to
abandon these provinces, or to bring about their
peaceful union with the States, Ga union not
sought by u.s. rather than to seek her own down
fall, by engaging in war which, once begun,
can never end but by her expulsion from our
North American Continent.
Tohe oppressed inhabitants Of Florida.
FRIENDS coUNTRYMEN,
Alarmed by the designs Of arbitrary ministry, to
extirpae the rights and liberties Of all America sense
of common danger conspred with the dictates of hu
mainly in urging us to call 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 fellow subjects, and from
the Of the present plan for subjugating
the continent we have viewed you fellow sufferers
with as A. we were both entitled BY the bounty Of
an indugent Creator TO freedom and being both de-
voted by the cruel edicts of dsspotc administration,
to common ruin, perceived the fate Of the Protes
tant and Catholic colonies to be strongly linked toge
ther and therefore invited you to join with in
solving to be Free and in rejecting with disdain the
letters Of slavery however arttuliy polished
We most sincerely condole with you the arrival
lay I'm single freeman in al Your extensive dom
MONS Be assured, that your unmerted degradation
has engaged the most unfegned pity ofyour sister
lonies and we fatter ourselves you will not, by
y bearing the yoke, suffer that pity to be supplanted
by contempt.
When hardy attempts made TO deprive men of
rights, bestowed by the Almighty, when avenues are
cut Though the most solemn compacts for the admis-
sion OF despotism, when the pighted faith Of govern
ment ceases TO give security to dutfu Subjects and
when the insidous stratagems and manGuwes of
peace become terrible than the culinary ope-
ratons Of war; it is high time for them to assert those
rights, and, with honest Indignation oppose the tor
rent Of oppression rushing in upon them.
by the introduction Of your present form of govern
ment or rather present form oftyranny you and your
wives and your children are made slaves You have
nothing that you can call your and all the fruits
OF your labor and industry may be taken from you,
whenever an avaricious governor and a rapacious
council may incline TO demand them. You are liable
by their edcts to be transported foreign countries
to hight battles in which you have interest and 10
spill your blood in conflicts from which neither honor
nor emoument can be derived; Nay, the enjoyment
OF your very religion the present system depends
on Legislature in which you have no share and over
which you have CONTROL and your priests expos
ed to expulsion Punishment and ruin, whenever their
wealth and possessions furnish sufficient temptation.
They cannot be that virtuous prince will al
ways I'LL the throne, and should wicked careless
king concur with wicked ministry in extracting the
treasure and strength of your country is Impossible
TO conceive TO what variety and to what extremes of
wretchedness you may, under the present establish
ment, be reduced.
We are informed you have already been called upon
10 waste your lives in contest with Should you,
uy complying in this instance, assent to your new cs
Enlistment, and break out with France, your
wealth and your may be perish in ex pcdi
tons against their islands in the West Indies
II cannot be presumed that these considerations will
nave no weight with you, that you lost TO all
sense Of honor. We never believe that the pre-
sent race of Canadians degenerated as to DOS
sess neither the spirit the gaantry the courage Of
their ancestors. You certainly will not permit the in
fanny and disgrace of such pusanimly to rest on your
own heads, and the consequences of it your chill
dren forever
We, foi our parts determined to live free or not
at and are resolved that poserity shall never re-
proech US with having brought slaves the world
Permit us again TO repeat that your friends
not your enemies, and be not imposed upon by those
whom may endcavor to create anmosites. The taking
OF the fort and military stores at Tconderopa and
Crown Point, and the armed vessels on the lake was
dictated by the great law of self preservatio They
intended to annoy and of that friendly
intercourse and communication, which has hitherto
subssted between you and us. We hope il has given
you uneasincss, and you may rely on our assur- |
snces, that these colonies will pursue no measures