The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-14
For the National Era.
THE NEUTRAL FRENCH IN MAssACHUsE rs
PART III.


In many instances, the Neutrals were tre tied
with great inhumanity by the town m gis-
trstes. They were often disposed of lely
with view to obtaining the greatest toft
from their labor with little regard to heir
comfort, and, in many instances, to ever the
ordinary dictates Of humanity. Their only
means of obtaining relief was by petite hing
the General Court and in every instance hese
petitions appear to have received proper ten
ton, committee of the Council being usl ally
appointed to inquire into the facts stated. One
example will serve as an illustration Of heir
general character Two Neutrals who had
been sent to Marshfeld, who were suppo ring
themselves and their family, and giving no
trouble to the magistrates, complained that
their son was torn away from them by force,
by order of the overseers of the poor, and car.
ried on shipboard; that they did not know,
and were unable to obtain information, to what
port the vessel sailed, or on how long voyage
and they requested that an investigation might
be had, and their child restored to them if
possible The only reason assigned for the nc
ton Of the overseers of. the poor, and it rroba-
bly, was sufficient reason to them, was that
they were offered by the sea captain pty for
the services of the boy.
One popularity which all the Neutrs.1 ex-
hibited, was desire to return to Acadie AL
though they knew that the whole country had
been laid waste, that their houses, barns, mills,
| churches, had all been burned, that they would
almost inevitably be discovered by the Fritish
troops, and in that case certainly be ifopris-
oned at Halifax, still they wished to rsturn.
Many who had been sent to country towns,
wandered to towns on the sea shore, ifi hope
of finding opportunity for escape. others,
kwho had been separated from their families,
left those places to which they had been as
signed and sought in other villages to find
some relation or friend. In this manner great
confusion was soon produced. Many towns
complained that they were obliged to support
more than their share in proportion to their
population. Others, if any of these wander
ers became dependent upon their charity, re-
fused to support them OF all. This ate of
things led to the passage of an order, o June
10, 1856, directing the town ofi,ers TO be
very careful to keep the French peopli from
people shall be permitted to travel from town
to town without leave first obtained from two
of the seleetmen, or oyerseers Of tho poor,
where they respectively belong Of which such
people shall produce certificate, or otherwise
they shall be stopped and turned back by any
two English householders, who are hertby en-
powered to examine, and stop or return them,
il they have not excuse in writing, as above
Very coon after, this order was strengthened
bv an act authorizing magistrates to punish
any of these wandering French people who
have not excuse in writing" by the inflction
of five days imprisonment or ten lashes at the
whipping post, or both, at their discretion.
We have already mentioned the reluctance
with which those NeutraIs who were sent to
the Southern Colonies were received. They
did not arrive until January or February; and
after few months, an occasion which offered
itself was readily seized, for sending them
away. They were all affected with that same
desire to return to Acadie, whatever might be
the dangers or the toll to which they would
be exposed on their way, or, if they should
ever reach there, after their arrival. Near
the close of the spring, q portion of those in
Georgia and South Carolina, having provided
themselves with few small boats, set sail,
intending to reach Nova Scotia by eoasting
along the shores Others we're to follow, il
this expedition should prove successful. The
Southern Colonial Governments, far from check
ing their undertaking, encouraged them, and
even furnished them with passports. Governor
Lawrence, however, obtained information of
all their movements; and on the 1ss of July
he addressed letter concerning them to Shir-
lev. who was then in New York. The letter
was directed to Boston, but did not retsch there
until August Lawrence wrote:
81 am well informed that many of III French
inhabitants transported last year t'om this
Province, and distributed among the different
Colonies upon the continent have procured
small vessels, and embarked on boar them in
order to return by coasting from Colo ,y TO Col
ony; and that several of them are nc v actual
ly on their way. AS their success is this en-
terprise would not only Illustrate heHdesign Of
this Government in sending them way at 90
prodigious an expense, but would ali greatly
endaneer the security of the Prov ace, espe.
cially at this juncture think it my il dispense
BILE duty to entreat your Excellency t /, use your
utmost endesvors to prevent the az complish-
ment of 80 pernicious an undertaking by de-
stroyine such vessels as those in yoIf Colony
may have prepared for that purpose. and all
that may pass through any part of ysur Gov.
ernment, either by land or water, in fSeir way
hither. would BY no means have A YEN your
Excellsncy this trouble, were NOS perfectly
we'll assured how fatal the return of iese peo-
plo Is likely to prove to his Majesty } interest
Il this part Of the world.D
Durinc the month of June, ShTfy, being
them as we have mentioned in New York, re-
ce;yed dispatches from England, reca ding him