Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-01
Death of william Lyon Nackenzie-His
IendnrshIn In the Cnnn din N HeheIIInn


Leadership in the Canadian Rebellion.
The New York EUening Post has the fol-
lowing notice of the late William Lyon Mac
kenzie, which, at this juncture, will be read
with interest:
William Lyon Mackenzie is dead. The
leader of the Canadian Revolution of 1887
is worthy of far more notice than many a
man who has been more successful.
In December of the rebellious year above
mentioned Sir John Colborne captured the
Canadian village of St. Eustache. This vic
tory on the part of the English Government
broke the revolutionary spirit of Lower
Canada, but only infamed that of the Upper
Province.
William Lyon Mackenzie, then prom
ineut Canadian politician, led body of in
surgents to Toronto and called on Sir Fran
els Head, then Governor of Canada, to con-
sent to a settlement of the provincial diff
culties by a convention.
This proposal was refused. The insurgents
then prepared to commence hostilities, but
from that failure in their re-enforcements
which characterized the whole movement
of the campaign, they were compelled to re-
treat to Mary Island, a small out-breaking
shelf of land in the Niagara, about two
miles above the Falls. Mr.. Van Rensselaer,,
an American sympathizer, who had espoused
the revolutionists side, and q graduate from
West Point, brought them force of five
hundred men, and, emboldened by this ad-
dition to his forces, Mackenzie established a
Provisional Government. He may thus be
called the first (though unsuccessfui) dictator
of Independent Canada.
He issued proclamation Offering, in the
name of the new Government, three hun
dred acres of land and 800 to all volunteers
to the army on Navy Island. In the same
document reward of f500 was offered for
the apprehension of Sir T. Head, the Gov
ernor of Upper Canada; and as further in
ducement to volunteers, it was stated that
ten million acres of land, fair and fertile,
would soon be at the disposal of the pa
triotic." But, with a want of forethought
we are not now able to understand, no mem
ton was made of letters of marque.
Lord John Russell, then at the actual
head of the British Cabinet, now interfered
with Mackenzie by the Introduction of salu-
| tary reforms. Clay, Calhoun and Benton, in
| our own Senate, spoke strongly of defend.
| ing the national honor, toward the Cana
| dians and their refugees to this country, even
| if it were necessary to embroil us in wal
with England.
| 1t is noticeable that at this juncture, Mr
Rhett, of South Carolina, characterized Mr.
Mackenzie as "rebel chief" "traitor il
the eyes of the law" and laid down as 6
| DIl0ClDl6
| took shelter in another country and were
not surrendered, it was the right of the out
ragged Government to seize them with {
strong hand. "Suppose, said he, tha
subjects of Great Britain should combine
with discontented and factious citizens, will
the avowed purpose OF overturning our re
publican institutions, how would we bea
IL, and how would we tolerate the idea tina
munitions of war, provisions and tire-arm
should be furnished these, our enemies, b,
British subjects? Unquestionably we woulC
consider ourselves greatly wronged, au'
would be very slow in recogDizn ng any spiri
of friendship as debating such measures"
General Scott was sent to the border, witt
orders to assemble as many soldiers as wer
necessary to protect the rights of Unitet
States and English citizens. No mention
was made of the rights of the "rebels." s.
far as our Government was concerned, NJ
such class existed. They were not even bel
ligerents. Still there was no spirit of pu
silanimity. Before the close of Congress
large supplies and extraordinary power
were voted to the President, in case a wa
should become necessary with< lngland i
protection of the national honor. So Ion
as amicable relations continued however
the Government was assisted by privat
citizens in its efforts to preserve the iuvoils
bility of the neutrality. On the outbrea
of difficulties one hundred and fifty of tn
prominent citizens of Buffalo, where th
'sympathizers" were in greatest force, bOun
themselves to sustain the Federal officers i
carrying out the laws. Many important al
rests were made. Among others William
Mackenzie was taken prisoner and held t
bail for $4,000. A large force of royalist
assisted by several hundred indians, weT
assembled at Chippewa, between whom an
the rebels on Navy Island for several days
constant canRonading was kept up. Th
''rebels" at length, wearying of this style {
warfare, and having nothing to hope froI
the United States, left the island and quietl
dispersed themselves along the two shore
of the lake.
After long privateering against the Cans
dian lake trade and many hostilities on bot
sides, American sympathizers were capture
and put to death under the English law. A
the meeting of the Circuit at Albany mol
than sixty "true bills were found again'
persons Implicated in the Canadian ditficu
ties, including among others Mackenzie an
Van Rensselaer,. On the lakes the mo
active measures were taken on both sides
exterpinRte the pirates as they wei
The United Statep never went hearth
into the cause of the Canadian Revolutio
though furnishing so many sympathizers.
Mackenzie therefore ultimately failed. III
rebellion was broken up-he was discon
> fitted, but he was not captured. He vi
outlawed by the Canadian Government al
escaped into the United States, where
was received with open arms, In le49
. was pardoned by the British GovernmeI
In Canada the people took up subscriptit
for him and enabled him to live econon
Z cally, though with the loss OF all his propert
!. until his death. With the exception of 4
: homestead and annuity thus provided I
u | h,,,. he Ala nonr