Quebec 1837-1839
The Patriotes Rebellion
Source: Au Pied-du-Courant, edited by Georges Aubin. Comeau & Nadeau, Montreal, 2000.
Translated: for marxists.org by Mitch Abidor;
Charles Hindenlang, who had been soldier in France, appealed his sentence to a court martial. In the appeal he didn’t spare his hatred of Robert Nelson for the latter’s abandonment of his troops.
In political matters, there is unfortunately a case too frequently proved by the facts. It’s that the healthy reason of governments and parties find themselves dominated by the unjust sentiment of supposed errors and by the lack of success. Happy is the accused when a spirit of animosity and vengeance doesn’t come to render his position worse! I hope and I firmly believe that the decisions of this court will not be influenced by any of these sentiments. The latter two especially are incompatible with the dignity of the impartial judges of an enlightened government. And so it’s full of confidence in its justice that I hope that a sincere, and yet respectful, exposition of my sentiments and conduct will be considered by the court, not as a means of avoiding the responsibility that I assumed through my actions, but rather as a frank defense, free of any ulterior motives.
The history of all ages and all peoples teaches us that those who took part in any political movement acquired with glory the approbation of nations when it was crowned with success; but when, on the contrary, fortune has betrayed their efforts, they were given the names of traitors and rebels, but were never the infamous ones of thieves, brigands and pirates by civilized nations. And so it was with a lively feeling of chagrin that I heard myself called these names. I am even more surprised because I was far from believing that a civilized people, like that of Great Britain, would blacken the name of a man, a foreigner, whose actions (who we call criminal) are in every way the same as those that have made glorious many of their great men.
By its acts will the British government declare that the immortal Byron was a brigand? That Sir John Hobhouse, intimate counselor of the Queen, is a thief? That Count Dundonald, Lord Cochrane, Captains Napier and Elliott deserved to be hung? Didn’t her Majesty the Queen decorate Sir de Lacy Evans with the Order of the Bath for his services in Spain? Far from me the vain thought of comparing myself to these illustrious personalities, but the position and the rank in the world don’t change the acts of each. Like them I am a foreigner and a soldier; like them I thought the cause that I embraced the noblest and most just. If like so many others I was fooled by a traitor, the traitor towards both parties, by a R. Nelson, must I participate in the shame and opprobrium, which are only the share of cowardice and vandalism?
No! It is to English hearts, to officers that I address myself. I appeal to the justice and consciences of judges, and I feel myself strong! I would only add that I defy anyone to cite me one revolution , one insurrection, one political commotion where English officers did not find themselves engaged; and in the eyes of the world this is the glory of an entire people. Their attempts, it is true, were almost always successful, but strange would be the reasoning that judges the attempt more severely than the action itself.
Two years ago, what did the autocrat of Russia do when he seized a vessel flying a British flag, loaded with arms and officers that, through their talents, were to cooperate in the success of a revolt? He knew full well that everything was destined for the Circassians. But he contented himself with taking to Sebastopol, and holding a few days, the officers and the cargo, and then sent them all to England. This prudent conduct did not satisfy the English, who wanted reparations, and this affair was still the subject of long debates during the last session of parliament.
Messieurs, it was at only several arpents from Champlain that, of my own free will, I left ten people, all of whom immediately entered the United States, and I came, without arms, to surrender to a child, demanding to be immediately taken to an English officer. I had faith in the justice of an enlightened government. I remembered that I am French and as such would be treated with impartiality. I was wrong, and now I must bear the consequences of my error. What I wanted was to reveal the miserable R. Nelson. It was not to share the shame of his acts, if one could have thought me capable of sharing his escape and his cowardice.
It is as a soldier that I appear before a council of officers under the weight of an accusation that brings with it death. Let it be so if they decide it. It was with joy that I saw come the day of my trial. I have always been frank and sincere: I have the conviction of having acted as a man of honor. I thus don’t fear any sentence, whatever it might be. I will bear it without fear and without regret. My pure and stainless conscience will suffice to support me, if I didn’t feel I had a heart strong enough to fulfill up to the end the role of a man and of a soldier.
Chs. Hindenlang