The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-21

Provineisl Government never gave permiss;or
to them to emigrate, either to New Brunswick
or to France, but from time to time mapy die
60 to both countries. About the close of thc
year 1853, many of the Neatrals had gathered
IN Boston, in hopes of obtaining the permits
SION to ueigrate which they desired, and fail
ing in their expectations, as the winter was SO
yere and what was still worse, as the small
pox was prevalent were reduced to extreme
want and misery. In January, 1864 they ad
dressed petition to the Governor praying for
rehef This petition Governor Bernard laid
before the General Court sending with it a
message to the House of Representatives, in
which he speaks thus of the condition of the
petitioners:
"The case of these people is truly deplora.
ale. They have none of them had the small
eox, and they depend upon their daily labor
for their bread. IL they don't go about the
town to work, they must starve if they do "a
about, they must contract the distemper; and
as they are crowded in small apartments, and
wanting the necessaries of life, they won'i
have q common chance to escare perishing
have in Council advised with the selectmen,
and they have consulted the overseers of the
poor; and they are of opinion that they have
not power to relieve them. [ am therefore
obliged to apply to you, to help to save these
people if you will furnish them with proyi-
sions, will order them into the barracks OF
the Castle; and as soon as they have been
shere long enough to appear to be free from
the dissernper, they will get admission into
some other towns and find work which, at
present, it is apprehended, would be imprac-
ticable"
The General Court complied with the Gov
ernor's recommendation, and passed an order
providing for their support for a month, until
the rigor of the season should be past and
they should have an opportunity to escape
from danger of contagion of the disease.
Whsteyer may be said of the money-get
ting and money-saving disposition of New
England people, the kindliest and warmest
spirit is shown here, as in many other instau-
ces, of tho treatment of the Neutrals by the
Massachusetts, Government In the glow OF
fierce political dispute, when the Legislature
and the Governor were at swords point as re-
garded most exciting questions of the day,
both found time to attend to a call Of human
ity, and to turn aside from the contests of po-
litical luminosity, to perform deed Of pure be-
nevolence.
During this sams year, 1864, another pro-
posal fer emigration was made to the Neutrals
in New England, the following proclamation
being issued by the Count d EstaiDg, after wards
famous in our Revolutionary history, and, at
the time Of which we speak, Governor of the
French West Indian Islands:
"GouueYnmeat deS isles sous k cent
"Charles Theodat Comte d'Estairg, 60,
nomme ct admis Chevalier des ordres du Roi,
Lieutenant General do ses armees ct dss ar
mees nsvales, Gouverneur General represent
ont la personne de So Maj este aux lies sous lie
veht de PAmerique ct mers adj acentes.
"Faisons SAVIOR tous les Acadiens rcsidens
q la Nouvelle Angleterre, que tous ceux d'entre
eux, hommes, femmes, ct enfans, qui voudront
passer Colonies franchises de st. Dominique,
pOuvront s'addresser Sienr Jean Hanson,
negotians la Nouvelle York, qui leur forr-
Mira tous les wires necessaires ct les moyens
de passer aux dittes Colonies, GU lis seront bien
reous. II leur sera concede du terrairs, ct lis
sssont entretener par lie Roy pendant les pre-
miers mois de ieur ssjour, ct jusqu'a ce qu'ils
puiSsent gagner de quot Nivre par eux meme.
cav Cap. Francois, Isle st. Dominique, lie 26
JUN, 1864 EsTAIHe.
"Psr ordre: MARTINS
But the Government Of Massachusetts was
ayerse to giving countenance to any such pro-
posal as this. AS was said in the letter to
Andrew Oliver, from which we have quoted,
many of the Ncutrals had now become useful
and valuable members of society, and besides,
jealousy and dread of the French Colonies
which even the conquest of Canada had not
been able wholly to allay, was strong motive
to New England never to consent to aid in
strengthening the French power, even in dis
tant Saint Domingo. Although the people
were just beginning to cry out against parlia-
mentaty oppression, they were far from seeing
that within less than quarter Of a century they
would be frmese friends with their then dead
Hest foes.
AS the year before, so now many of the Neu-
trails flocked FROM the country into the seaport
towns, seeking for opportunities to escape to
passage thither, and, as the only effeotual
means of preventing such emigration, the Coy
ernor, on November 2Sth, issued proclama-
ton:
"Whereas have been informed that divers
masters or commanders of vessels, trading
from here to the West Indies have, for the
sake of certain privileges allowed them in
their trade, or for other considerations, agreed
to transport numbers of Acadians there"
which practice appears to me to be in its ma
ture criminal, of very i'll tendency to the Brit
ism interest in general, and altogether unjusti-
fable" therefore people are warned against
entering into, or carrying into execution, any
such agreement, as having so great ten
dency to prejudice his Majesty's interest and
to strengthen the domipions of foreign
prince" The penalties of the law are de-
nounced against all persons disregarding this
warning, and all ship-masters are ordered to
prepare, and deliver to the naval officer a list
of any Acadians on board, and no vessel was
to receive a clearance before the naval officer
had transmitted the list to the Governor, to
obtain his orders. Ga December 1st only q
day or two after the issue of this proclama-
ton, Paul Landry and the heads of twenty
five families petitioned the Governor to recon
slider his action, and to grant permission to
leave the Province, to ell who should wish to
emigrate to ST. Domingo. No answer having
been given to this petition, a number of Neu-
trails on January LIST, 1865, sent in another
awe Aoadians have great desire to go to
the French Colonies. We take the liberty to
present a second petition to your Exoelency,
the Governor and Commander in- Chief of Mas
sachusetts, to you and your Council, wishing
you good year and great prosperity, fiatter-
ing ourselves, Sir, that your honorable person
will do US perfect justice in respect to what
we pray for. You are well acquainted sir,
with the offer which has been made us from
the French Colonies. For nine years past we
have lived in hopes of joining our country
men and it seems to US that you have caused
door, which was open, to be shut upon US. We
have always understood, that in time of peace,
and in ell countries the prison doors are open
TO prisoners. It is therefore astonishing to Us,
sir, to be detained here We are told that we
are allowed the liberty of our religion, which
is contrary to what we think to be the case
for it seems to Us thst, if you detain us here,
you take from us the free exercise of our reli-
gion. This is very hard upon us.
!" Ii is as hard to reflect upon our present
situation ; to see ourselves, by one sudden
blow, rendered incapable of aAording ourselves
relief Sir, if you do not take compassion on