Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-01

The FRENCH CANADIAN MovENEST.-ln th
early part of week, beforelast a meeting 0
FrenchCanadians was held in n. Y. tor pur
poses which the accounts given of the as
sembly did not very clearly define but I
description Of similar meeting, held il
Elmira, n. Y, throws some light on the de
signs of the liborty-loying Frcnchmen. DR.
Cadieux, in an address to his compatriots
said
"For many years the French Canadians have
been compelled-by persecution from the Eng
li.h government, and, shame TO say, from the
hands of those from whom they naturally eX-
pected love and protection-to leave their native
soil and emigrate to the United States. where
they sought the bread, space and liberty that
were refused them under British rulers The
tory press and false patriots Of Canada, fearing
that the large emigration Of Canadians toward
the United States would continue, and, jealous
Of the prosperity and the blessing Of liberty We
epioy in this country, have poured upon us tor
the mast ten years continued insults and gross
calumnies worthy OF their authors. But during
the late war forty thousand French canadians
have taken arms and fought bravely for the de-
fence Of the government which had gwen them
protection, and this, especially, has eIasperated
the Canadian tories 90 much that their presses
and pulpits thunder not only falsehoods, but the
most ridiculous and false assertions. Our COM
n,,r;ots are suffering in Canada, piniug away
under hard labor, which. under despots. never
rewards Let US seize the first opportunity not
oplv 10 refute the black calumnies Of the Cana
dian tories, but let us watch the progressive
events which are passing before us, and, at the
first rallying cry, let us give our support TO our
compatriois in the neighboring provinces and
helm them 10 break their shsckles Let us not
he deceived. The hour Of delversnce for Cana
da. ike that OF ireland, will soon strike
The French Canadians, at the same meet
ing. resolved to deny in the name oil the
fourteen thousand of their people who with
their lives paid homage to holy liberty for
which they fought during the American war,
that mercenary ideas were their only motive
they say they are proud tthey have shown
the American people that they were worthy
the liberty they enjoy; that they will
ever be ready to rally to the defense Of the
American Republic, and that they tender
their sympathy with their compatriots SUI
fering in Canada desire them to remember
THAT the tens Of Thousands of French Cana
dams who are breathing the free air OF the
American Republic, will ever be ready to
give them support-monev, hands and hearts
when they wish 1t : to remember that the
days of darkness are fast disappearing that
the principles of liberty, equality and fra
ternity-the fundamental doctrines Of true
democrscy-are marching around the world.
aud that the derpots and monarchicnl nations
will be compelled to kncel down at its
passage"
1t would seem from the proceedings on
Wednesday OF last week, Of the convention Of
French Canadians IN New York, that
they have the idea Of constituting
Upper Canada an independent State, TO be
governed BY men in sympathy with their
views. and IN harmony with their republi-
can feelings.