Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-06-30
RIOT AND MURDER.

We find in the franklin Messenger the
following account Of the late bloody riot
among The laborers on the Bnauharnois Ca
nal in Canada. 1t is fearful tale Of wrong,
resistance, and rcvengeiu homicide under
the garb of preservation of the public peace.
These British authorities are fast getting all
over the world, to imagine tia, any resistance
or even murmurs against them, amount to
crime which blood alone can cxpia.c. There
is an ihfcrnal ferocily in the English mode Of
qucllng riot which may some day, when
opportunity offers, bring after it a terrible re-
tlibution.
For week pas, nc have received various
accounts of most serious Disturbances among
the aborcrs principally lrish) on the Beau
harnois Canal in Canada. The Montreal
Messenger gives detailed account of the
causes aud progress Of the riot 1t is said
that the laborers who were receiving Is. cd.
per day, demanded s.. On Saturday, the
| 10Th, one of the contractors named McDon-
nell, was formerly ordered by the rioters to
raise the wages or give up his office, under
penalty Of death. The next night, another
contractor named Elliot, was cruelty beaten
/ in his bed. On the forenoon of Monday,
, body of four or five hundred men went to the
lodgings Of Mcdonnell, who had dsregarded
their threats. He came out at their call,
reasoned with them, and refused compliance
with their demands. The house was imme-
datcly assailed and all its contents destroyed.
Mr.. Mcdonnell escaped. but his store next
day, was attacked, and dcspoiled Of every
thing il contained. Tho mob soon came up-
on military detachment at a mill in the
neighborlIood, and attempted to dislodge
them, aud with that intent, they advanced
Mr.. Lavoe,,e, and warned of the con.e-
qncnces of their iII-iudged and illegal pro.
ceedings They would not however be re-
strained; the Riot Act was read, the troops
advancing almost simultaneously with the
ceremony, and orders given to fire, which
being obcyed, dispersion Instantly follow
ed. Notwithstanding this repulsc, there still
seems little chance of a permanent quiet
a few only of the rioters have gone to work,
but very great number are still embodied,
and on the 18th additional troops were sent
to the seat of war. But what is even worse,
the Messenger adds, it is said that some of
the most reckless have scattered over the
country in small bands or singly, with view
Of pursuing species of predatory warfare
upon all the Inhabitants who desire the SUI
premacy Of law and order.
The Montreal Times, with much truth we
think, ntimates that the measures to unpll
the Riot were unnecessarily severe and
bloody. 1t says, " |, would appear that the
military took mp position which they knew
the workmen would have to pass, and tina.
then, without giving them warning or time,
they with 6 lreacherous haste poured in a
murderous fire upon them, whilst the caval-
ry rushed on, forced them TO the waters
edge, and there either compelled them to
drown, or murde. cd them! AT this time
TOO, "A magistrate stood at the window of the
inn and de!ibera,el y marked down men who
were struggling for their lives in the water
Horrible conception, if not ,rue--mo.t muir.
: dcrous work if it can be proved, even in one
of its particulars.
1t appears that a number were driven in.
! to the woods and sho, down ike so man,
) wild beasts How many were killed it il
, not stated with certainty, though it is admit
ted that ten or dozen dead bodies were
found on land.
. From oar last adyccs, it seem, that Mr.
Larocque's Store at St. Timothy was sur.
, rounded on Tuesday of last week and goods
forced away and ,ha, the residents of III,
place were fearing that large body of work
men were ia the won'>, arm.lC tlicmselve
for mischief. 1t was feared that i, would b.
attempted to fire the houses of certain ind
; viduals.