Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-05-13
exposed them to many and great dan

exposed them to many and great dam
gers.
After a few weeks Of incessant toll,
the spring tillage being as well and
| faithfully done as If the hapless peo-
| pie hoped to reap the harvest another
| deputation came to Halifax, to renew
their petition, and CORVALLIS again
returned gracious refusal.
There is unquestionable insincerity
in Cornwallis's relations with these
poor people; when his threats did not
intimidate, he cajoied; he spoke like
a father, that he might more securely
betray; and while praising their vir-
tues and setting forth their rights in
Halifax, he was eliminating them ia
London, and praying for further in
structions." Il am sure they viii not
leave their habitations this season."
he wrote to the Lords of Trade. My
view is to make them as useful as pos
sibles to his Majesty while they do stag.
If they are still obstinate, l shall re-
ceive in the spring his Majesty's fur
Their instructions from your Lordship."
On the strength of these false acct
sations, begotten of suspicion and re-
ligious rancor, the poor peasants were
treated with great harshness. They
were made to feel, at every turn, not
only that .hey were subjugated peo-
pie, but that they were a despised an
hated race. The vexations of petty
despotism visited on them would have
exasperated the feelings of any other
people; yet they bore every CALLING
exaction, in the vain hope that inno-
d,tro -nI1lG
disarm the enmity of their persecu-
tors.
The only excuse which can be al
legged, in eXtenuation of this unmerited
severity, is that a small number of the
Acadians, on few occasions, were
taken in arms against the government
Admitting this, history still sustains
the assertion that they were, as a col
lective body of people," loyal to the
crown, SO far as the obligations OF
their oath required.
For, was there ever a community
as large as this without some faith
less members to any given principle,
however sacred? Yet who would think
OF forming his opinion OF a body by
the character of the worthless few? 1t
was, then, demanding greater virtue
than human nature has ever attained,
to expect that 20 "weak-minded or
corruptible inviduals" would be found
amongst the Neutrals on a point, the
morality of which is certainly very
debatable They consisted Of a series
OF villages, some of which were sepa-
rated from the nearest district by six
ty miles OF forest land Moreover, the
settlements were subjected to the con-
tinental solicitations" OF the French,
to whom they were allied by every
sacred tie, but whom the exigeDcies
of war compelled to call enemies. The
wonder is, not that a few proved rec
reant, but that, considering old racial
and religious animosities, the Neu-
trails did not throw aside English dom
nation during the long period CT the
PROVINCES defenceless condition. If
they did So when the mother countries
were at war, would it have been high
treason?
For ten Years subsequently guer-
rllla warfare was carried on between
the English and the Canadians aided
by the Indians. Nova Scotia was the
scene of their skirmishes, and the
Meutrals, in consequence, suffered
from both sides. illuminated and OPP
pressed by their governors, they were
kept in continual apprehension for
their lives by the savages, yet they
never swerved from their fidelity to
the government.
Whatever shadow of doubt malicious
misrepresentation may have thrown
over the political rectitude Of the Aca-
dams, even their enemies are unani-
nous in saying they were most
moral, religious and simple people.
The historic descriptions of their guile
less character and domestic virtues,
impel the reader to the opinion that
the beautiful imagery OF 'Evangeline"
is not a fattering mirror of the limo
cence and simplicity Of their lives.
Religion was the handspring of all
their actions. The sacred emblem of
the cross, the image of the Madonna
or of some favorite saint, met the eye
everywhere. The church bell called
them to prayer preparatory to the la
bors of the day. and its welcome
sound at evening was again the signal
to cease from toll and thank God for
the bounties he gave. In this smiling
land all were contented and happy; for
the richest were poor, and the poor
est lived in abundance" Justly, then,
has it been named the Northern Para
quay 1T was" says Halliburton, "a
society of brethren, every one OF whom
was as ready to give as to receive what
he considered the common right OF
mankind" Poverty and illegitimacy
were unknown in those settlements.
They formed" writes Bancroft, but
one great family Their morals
were OF unaffected purity" Thus
dwelt together in love-" penned Long
fellow, these simple Acadian farmers
-dwelt in the love of God and OF
man." Are such the material in which
dark conspiracy, hypocrisy and trea-
son are nurtured. as was advanced by
their enemies.
AS He did Jacob Of old, God blessed
their labors and progeny In less than
fifty years they had increased seven
fold, Their goods and effects had
grown proportiOnately. They COM
puted," says Halliburton. "as many as
go 600 head of horned cattle; most fam
lilies had several horses, though the
| tillage was carried on by oxen. Their
dwellings. which were of wood were
as comfortable as substantial farmers
houses in Europe.
The district of Minas alone, with
| population of 1000, possessed 1859
oxen, 1857 cows, 5000 young cattle,
500 horses, 5000 sheep and 1000 hogs.
Il had 250 dwelling houses, PIG barns,
II mills and one church. And these