, 668 [Assembly 



the fortress of St. Frederic. Diplomacy could not tlius retrieve, 

 after the occupation of a quarter of a century, territory lost by 

 imbecility or corruption. 



Accumulated acts of neglect and injustice of the mother country 

 such as these, prepared and matured the colonies for indepen- 

 dence. Had they been cherished by the guardian care of Eng- 

 land, they might have rested upon her arm in effeminacy and 

 dependence. Abandoned to the suggestions of their own policy, 

 they were taught by these exigencies high and practical lessons 

 of self-government. Compelled by a common danger, to mutual 

 consultation and concerted action, they were admonished of the 

 necessity and strength of a confederated union. Compelled to 

 rely alone f )r protection and safety, upon their own arms and 

 energies, they were prompt to resist aggressio;i and to avenge 

 injury. The deep fountains of their capacities were revealed to 

 themselves, by the parsimonious policy of England, that con- 

 strained the colonies to resort to their domestic resources in their 

 own protection and defence. » 



Had Canada been a British province, New England and New- 

 York might have been exempt from the appalling. scenes of car- 

 nage and suffering which are now impressed on their history ; 

 but tile very exposures and dangers of their position, and the 

 assaults and cruelties of a powerful and daring. enemy, endowed 

 them with lofty moral and physical courage ; with endurance in 

 suffering; with boldness and wisdom in council, and promptitude 

 and decision in action.^ These are the elements of freedom. 



Men, who literally tilled the earth with tlie musket at their 

 sides, w^re ripening for any emergency and prepared to defend 

 the heritage, endeared by their blood and sorrows, against every 

 foe and any wrong. The career of the colonies, neglected, con- 

 temned and suffering, was to them a baptism of blood and sorrow, 

 that consecrated a free and ennobled spirit equal to any sacrifice 

 or any conflict. The wars into which the colonies were forced by 

 this policy of England, and the proximity of the French provinces, 

 afforded the severe schools for their military education. The 

 shores of Lake Champlain formed the nursery of future heroes of 



