New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-27

settlement of Halifax III 1919 to the outDre'h vi
the French war in 1888, the Acadians had been re-
ptatcdly summoned by the authorities to take tne
oath IF allcgiance without reserve. But they al
WAYS hung back under some ingenious pretehee'
The belief became general that these simple paopp
were only the tools Of French emssares, eSpec'-
ally the priests. When every other argument laiieu
the Acadians would declare their resolution I" f"Nc
the country. Bnt tins the English did not want,
although they began to consider II as me OILY
method of solving the problem. The crisis was
reached in the Summer of 1853. Memorials were
presented from some Of the Acadians for the restor
alton of tbe arms which had been taken from thcin
and for exemption from the required oath' IL
was rumored at the time that frchch hecV
was in the Bay of Fundy, upon which the temper
Of the Acadian people was changed from submission
to insolence. The deputies who presented the me-
MORALS. after conference with the Council, refused
TO take the Olth and were ordered INTO confinement.
The Governor then issued orders that the french
inhabitants should send deputies TO Halifax, with
the final resolve of the people in regard to the OATH
providing that no one should be permitted to swear
after having once refused; and that ctectnal
measures should be taken 70 remove such recusants
from the Province Deputies were sent from GIL
feIcnt parts OF Acadia. with instructions either 10
contract no new oath, only on certain CONDITIONS
The Deputies who presented the memorials, refuse"
10 take the oath, and were sent to prison. IL was
then entered mon the records of the Council that
nothing remained 20 H. considered but what methods
shou!d be taken TO remove the French inhabitants
from the Province. and where they should be sent
10. The force requisite for thiS purpose was al
hand. Besides the small body of troops III tho
Province. Il regiment of two thousand men, under
the command Of Leutcuant-Colonel John Wins
low. had recently arrived from MasSacm-
ia foot of frrfK
sells. had taken station in the waters
near the distric now known Cumberland. The
French mad here occupied thrccS fortified places,
with p view TO command tho passage to the
Acadian territory. WmSow's force was enlarged
bv the addition of three hundred resu-
lars. with small tram of artillery, and the
whole expedition was under the commant Of Lieu
tcnaut-C colonel Monclt0n. The result OF the move
meat could not be mistaken. The French ioItlica-
tons were taken the garris0ns were sem to Louis
burg and the Acadans and Indians were dis
armed. 1t was on this force that the Governor t.
lied for the removal of tha AcaGiaus. The whole
number to be provided for was about
three Thousand. 1.-Two thousand, qui See
reference in foot notes to Muot, PIP. 27G
2SOI The Governor recommended the use
Of stratagcm. Ii was ordered by the military com
manGer to whom the execution OF the plan was IN
trusted that all the inhabitants, both cid men and
Young men. together with the lads of ten years Of
age, should assemble at the church of Grand Pre-
in order to receive . COMMUNICATION from the au-
thoritie- The purpose Of the meeting was moi sus-
pected. About four hundred and thirteen
able-bodiei men made their appearance III
the church at the appointed time. They
were at once pat under guard of soldiers, and were
not kept long in suspense - the meaning of the
reception. Colonel Wiuslow surrounded by his
officers took his stand in the centre of the assem-
bly, and announced to the listening Acadians
that their property was forfeited 10 the crown and
their persons banshcd from the province -
They we're surrounded by the troops and escape was
impossible Butthey begged mat certain Of their num-
to attend their families and make the necessary pro
vision removal Colonel Wln~iow Woud not gldni
III bnt he pcnniitcd Ten To be absent al q time aud.
the ten returned, Others took their places Bat even
this privilege he soon compelled [" deny them lie
saw. or fancied be saw. some suspicious movement
aud ii was determined that other vessels n the harbor
should be used instead OF he church "a telnorary
place Of detention Orders were given ioI the removal
To these vessels tFsi OF AL ihe young umfed men
aud then OF the young married men, icdNht on snoIc
only the old and feeble The scene O the separation was
one Of great amentatiOD. At lIst the young men re
fused to march, but the prick Of the baJ onet ana Colonel
Winslows personal handling or tue foremost, brought
theu INTO line. and hey filed down 10 the boats, weep
OF women and children Knet hy the way and added
vet the transports arrived which were 10 remove
the families, and meanwhile the cares o. colonel "m-
.iv severe in the pelfornancc OF the task imposed
upon hun; but he was man oi deeT"h ana ho aeiay-
frcttcd him. II hurt, me- hc Wrtcs september 20,
/" to hear their weeping, waing, ana gnasmnG ~
teeth :" and the date be- expresses an ardent
wish of the worst piece Of service mat ever
The iransnorts did not arrive until the 10Th Of Oco-
SLOW ON thcGih ordered the iniic- to he readiness
ol 6em wa. IN eaTnest Mcanwhe f%,uiy
four OF the young men deserted IRON ne vc@el- hnt
twenty-five vt these returned On the ZI 81 octopeI'
The transports filled with their unhappy passen-
Gers, ana ready to sail Orders Were gyen ~ GGt1lu
be separated but IN the confusion of cmberkation and
from t"r ynDc Gf me @arb Tor safekccping the
ruiz was sometimes diSrcgardce though not by design
The exes scattered thIhu4 the several colonies
and their names are found iauy places to this day,
| though often sadly corrupted Many were merged III
time IN the English population Two separate Y'Scs'
however near bordeaux, In France, are hlrd with dc
! scendants OF Acadian exles who found Their way
ththcr. some families vent to Guiana ten years later
enough them retained their social and religious rca
iions plant colony ia the western parishes OF Alta,
name OF CajeGns. ana the primitive hnblts ana SIN
| from the Acadians of Nova ScOua.
The larger portion OF these exes sent TO MasSa-
ehusetts where distributed among the several
towns The two volumes Of records in the state House
at Boston contain varied testimony respecting the IN
fortunate exlles Incy were 0ten SUBJECTED 10 harsl
Treatment Their children were forciDly taken from
the,n The provision Tor their support was denied and
they shifted impaucnty from Town 10 Town. me
tenacIty with w!ch they chung to Their iath seems 10
have annoyed their prosecutors. One town sends III ltS
! bill. for Keeping three French pagans' There were
instances however OF uiendy protection shown ~ liz
! X,
pressIou IN report though II was not accepted, by
committee appointed TO consider certain complaints "i
an usage wherein the scCctmcn Of the town complained
AGAINST arc expected to snow common acts oi human
| ity" IN Pennsy vaEa, somewhat similar disposition
| the made in distribution among the
conDry towns and provision was made Tor them from
/ ,i1nr 10 TING amounting in all 10 about &1JoO.
Tn tLey ceased 10 continue as distinct body IN the
eeVcrl colonies there Is almost unyarJlng witness to
! thr,r 1ubmission and gcutlcness The whole body or
tr.imouy regarding them deepens the sense Oi tbcir
burncesntA when the poet sang OF their wrongs
he At once touched latent feeling regarding them
hrn TWO or three generations had removed their his
| tory from the arena OF war 9nd politics.
| The commencement of the American Revolution
! on the 18th Of April, 1775, is of course made a
nro,niuent theme in the account Of the fighting on
| H.. I ,,oton ond Concord. which a q an