Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-02
Denth of william Lyon MackenzIe-His
Leadership In the Canadian II Rebellion.


The New York Evening Post has the fol-
lowing notice of the late William Lyon Mac
keDzie, which, at this juncture, will be read
with interest:
William Lyon Mackenzie is dead. The
leader of the Canadian Revolution of 1897
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. Eustaehe. 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
inent Canadian politician, led body of in
surgents to Toronto and called on Sir Fran
els Head, then Governor of Canada, to con-
sent to 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, small out-breakiug
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 a graduate from
West Point, brought them force of five
hundred men, and emboldened by this ad-
dition to his forces, Mackenzie established
Provisional Government. He may thus be
called the first (though unsuccessful) dictator
of Independent Canada.
He issued proclamation Offering, in the
name of the new Government, three hum
dred acres of land and 800 to all volunteers
to the army on Navy Island. In the same
document reward of $500 was offered for
~. - 80 Hl,n
ernor of Upper Canada; and as further in
ducement to volunteers, it was stated that
Item 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 men,
tion 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 war
with England.
1t is noticeable that at this juncture, Mr..
Rhett, of South Carolina, characterized Mr..
Mackenzie as ''rebel chiefH "traitor in
| the eyes of the law" and laid down as a
principle that when refugees of this kind
not surrendered, it was the right of the out
ragged Government to seize them with a
strong hand. "Suppose, said he, THAT
subjects of Great Britain should combine
| with discontented and factious citizens, with
| the avowed purpose of overturning our re.
| publican institutions, how would we bear
it, and how would we tolerate the idea that
munitions of war, provisions and fre-arm;
should be furnished these, our enemies, by
D.,s. Il =
consider ourselves greatly wronged, aud
would be very slow in recognizing any spirit
of friendship as debating such measures"
General Scott was sent to the border, with
orders to assemble as many soldiers as were
necessary to protect the rights of United
| States and English citizens. No mention
was made of the rights of the "rebels." So
far as our Government was concerned no
such class existed. They were not even bel
lgerents. 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 wal
should become necessary with England in
protection of the national honor. So long
as amieable relations continued, however
the Government was assisted by private
citizens in its efforts to preserve the invoila-
bllity of the neutrality. On the outbreak
of difficulties one hundred and fifty of the
prominent citizens of Buffalo, where the
'sympathizers" were in greatest force, bound
themselves to sustain the Federal officers in
carrying out the laws. Many important ar
rests were made. Among others William L.
Mackenzie was taken prisoner and held tC
bail for $4,000. A large force of royalists
assisted by several hundred Indians, were
assembled at Chippewa, between whom and
the rebels on Navy Island for several days 6
| constant canRonading was kept up. The
'rebels" at length, wearying of this style Of
warfare, and having nothing to hope from
the United States left the island and quietly
dispersed themselves along the two shore;
of the lake.
After long privateering against the Cana
dian lake trade and many hostilities on both
sides, American sympathizers were captured
and put to death under the English law. Al
the meeting of the Circuit at Albany more
than sixty "true bills" were found against
persons implicated in the Canadian Difficult
ties, including among others Mackenzie anC
Van Rensselaer,. On the lakes the mos
acuVe measures were taken on both sides u
called.
| The United States never went heartily
into the cause of the Canadian Revolution
though furnishing so many sympsthizers.
Mackenzie therefore ultimately failed, ThI
rebellion was broken up-he was discom
fitted, but he was not captured. He wa
outlawed by the Canadian Government anC
escaped into the United States, where h.
was received with open arms. In l849 b.
was pardoned by the British Government
In Canada the people took up subscription
for him and enabled him to live ecOnomi
cally, though with the loss OF all his property
until his death. With the exception of tn
| IA r..