The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-05 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.—CANADA.
The following letter from our Montreal correspon-
dent will be perused with interest :
MAL, FEB 16.
The chief topic of discussionO in this province, for
some days past, has been the publication at two
despatches by our government, from Etrl Grey : one
on the subject of annexation, and the (Alt, ron the
removal of the seat of government from thi, city.
That on tor exaticn expresses, in no courteous termer,
the disapprobation of the E.,glish ministry, of the
proposition; and the other, Earl Grey's approval of
the removal of the seat of government. Vito regard
to the popular feeling on the furtntr, I had, perhaps,
better, in the first place, give you a manifesto which
rite " Annexation Association of Montreal" has issued
on the subject.

TO TH■ PIMPLE OP CANADA.
The A a ties Association of Montreal feel it incumbent
oo them to address you ;n reference to the foilowing despatch
of Earl Grey, purporting to contain the views of her Mast
Gemini's Majesty .41 the question of the peaceable separation
of Canada from Great &Mitt and its annexation to the
United States:

I/melee-street, Jan. 9, 18.50.
My Lord,—l have to acknowledge your despatch of the
dives and numbers quoted in the margin No. 114. Nov. 19,
1849; 127, Dee. 3, 1849; 129, Dee. 3, 1849; 134. Doc. 4,
1849. I have laid these despatches before her Majesty, mid
also the address of the w.rien and councillors of the Muni-
cipal Council of the Gore District, the lieutenant colenel aid
officers militia a the Regiment of Dorchester, of the Ai.
ems of the 4th battalion of the Regiment of Yamasks, and
of the inhabitants of the parish of St. Anne de la 'rocs-
tire, end of the efficen of militia and lieuienin•-cotonal
commanding battalion of the Regiment of Quebec, in-
closed in the two first of these despatches which her Majesty
has been pleased to receive very graciously, and have if irded
her Majesty great satisfaction to receive these expressions of
that loyalty and attachment to the British crown, which atm
trusts is generally Alt by her Canadian cut junta. With re-
gard to the address to the people of Canada in favour of
severing the provioee (rota the British dominions for the
purpose of annexing it to the United States, which forms the
subject of the third of these despatches, I have to inform you
Nat her Majesty approves of your having dismissed from her
service that who have slatted the document, which is
mainly short of treasonable Ls its character. !ler Majesty
confidently relies on the loyally of the great majority or her
Canadian subjects, and she is therefore determined to exert
all the authority which belongs to her, for the purpose of
maintaining the connexion of Canada with this country ;
being persuaded that the permanence of the connexim
is highly advantageous to both. Your !Gremlin
will therefore understand that you are commanded
by her Majesty to resist to the utmost of your power any
attempt which may he made, to bring about the separation
of Canada from the British dominions, and to m.rk in the
strongest
who may directly or indirectly encourage each a design. If
any attempt of this kind should take such a form that those
whit are guilty of it may, according to such advice as you
may receive from your taw adviser', be made responsible tor
their conduct in a court of justice, you will rot fail to take
the necessary measures for bringing them to account.
I am, my lord, your most obedient servant,
rse Right lion. Esrl of Elgin. Gnat.
The association have carefully reconeldered their two
addresses, and they do not find in them the language of
menace or sedition ; but a calm dispassionate statement of
social evils under which Canada suffers', and a remedy, by
constitutional means, suggested for consideration. I' is to
the people of Canada that these statements have been
made, and it is for you to decide whether the remedy
proposed, is one that is advantageous or worthy of being
rsfmred to tuts British nation fen their assent. It is impoa-
sib'', for this aesociatlen to reaard toe expression 01 Earl
Grey's opinion as conveying the & eisim of the British
nation. Even should the British parliament support his
lendable,, we conceive that their action will be premature
until the question has been constitutionally brought b ;ore
them, as approved by a majority of the representatives of the
Canadian people. The association deny the right of the
Colonial Secretary to offer, by anticipation, the decision of
the British government on a question that is not constitu-
tionally before them; and they further desire to point out
the danger that may hereafter arise, if the principle be
once admitted that the Queen's name and authority
can be introduced to suppress the lawful discussion
of any nalitical question in the colony. The British
people have a proper and constitutional opportunity of
sxpreasing their assent or dissent to any colonial measures,
and it is a subject of painful surprise to this associa-
tion, that Earl Grey should have encroached on the rights of
her Majesty's Canadian subjects in vet.turing to decide that
Roy question was unfit to be brought by them before their
representatives. The association are necessarily ignorant of
the terms in which the GovernAoGeneral brought their ad-
dress under the notice of the Colonial Secretary, and how lac
those terms justify his lordship in giving a character to their
proceedings which they have distinctly denied from the out-
set. The association now reiterate that they seek the at-
tainment of their object only with the free and willing con-
sent of Great Britain; that they never will urge the subject
by other than calm appeals to the reason and intelligence of
their fellow-subjects, first in Canada, afterwards in England ;
and that they have no sympathy with any who bold other
sentiments than these.

While re-asserting the position the usociation have u-
turned, they feel that the language of the C tloniel Secretary
requires from' them the discharge of a further and a higher
duty, in denying all right, en his part, to attempt to punish
men for the assertion of opinion.
The free discussion of all subjects is a right inherent in
every man under a free form of government, and the power
to advocate, by constitutional means ad moderate counsels,
changes of any deacriptian, is the great safeguard against
violence and rettellitoa. The moment an attempt is made
to coerce the free expression of ttublic opinion, the most
sacred right of the people is attacked, and the ground-work
lei.] for any and every stretch of despotic power. The asso-
ciation ask their fellow•ettizens whether, in all they have
suggested or done, they have not mom carefully avoided
advocating aught that could in the slightest degree infringe
the laws or warrant the interference of ex-cutive authority?
And, feeling that their course has been temperate and legal,
they deny the right of Earl Grey to use towards them the
language of his derpstch, or to interfere in their discussion
of any subject affecting the interests of Canada. Tile associ-
ation, therefore, entreat their fellow-flu ...jean not to allow
any feeling of hostility to the policy of those who now ad-
dress them to blind them to the cossequencis of admitting
the position assumed by Lord Grey, but to look only at the
great principle involved.
Let the people of Canada, to whom this association ad-
dressed themselves, decide whether the course of Earl Grey
is in accordance with the epostitution granted to them, and
whether his approval or disapproval ought to affect the legal
discussion of any subject intended to be brought before the
legislature of this country.
Lot them say whether responsible government is only a
name, or is intend, d to enure that freedom of (pinion. dear
to every British subject. To you, then, the people of Canada,
we appeal: and we ask whether we shall be compel ed to
brood in silence over the evils this country lablure under, or
whether we have the right temperately to discuss those evils
and their cure, free from the threat of punishment,
and independent alike of the interference and con-
trol of any other than those who are consti-
tutionally responeible to you. In conclusion, the As-
sociation would remark, that the subject of discussion hu
been obscured by the mode adopted for checking the ex-
pression of the public opinion, and this association, in the
broad assertion of an undeniable right, maintain that they
will not be diverted from the legal and constitutional course
which they have adopted, in lull reliance, that whenever
the question is brought before Great Britain by our responsi-
ble ministers, their application will be treated with that
respect and consideration which its magnitude and import.
anco demand. In the deliberate adoption of this amuse, the
association conceive that they are defending one of the
greatest bulwarks of this country's liberties, and they claim
the support of all true friends of Canada, whatever be their
views of the policy the emaciation 'Pelt to promote.
JOHN ReDPATH, President.
R. IdAelt•T, ) Secretaries.
11. A. DOIIIOK.
I miy observe. with reference to this document
that it has called down upon the association much
severe attack from the coon. ctionist organs, both
ministerial and tory. The principal ground of this
attack is, that the association has given but a treache-
rous interpretation of its first promi.e, thit annexa-
tion was " neither practicable nor desirable," without
the e nteeet of England ; end that it is a rather hard
stretch to say that England has no right to express
her dissent until the whole country be revolutionised
before her assent be asked. The next grout(' of at-
tack is, that the document cannot be said to contain
the opinions of the signer, of the first manifesto, be-
cause no meeting was called to concoct it. Although
this seems somewhat puerile, it is made with consi-
derable bitteiness. These signers form the aseocia-
tion and have expressed no dissent from the action
token by their executive council, which they have
duly elected to conduct their affairs.
The effect of Earl Grey's despatch has been to give
a palpable check to the annexationist movement. All
have paused, and the more timid have entirely re-
treated. The tone of the annexationist organs has
also much changed.
Those in favour of British connexion are well
pleas d that the English goverment has spoken ;
but I have seen but one opinion from both ref ,rm and
tory journals of the tone of Earl Grey's despatch, ex-
cept from the two or three journals under the name-
diate c tntrol of the government. It is well th'tt the
c im Englisho government n
that
This made many annexationiets. But there. was no
use in writing so uncourteous a despatch as Earl
gl an dhas was spoken,
desiroei fsor ofthgeivtg e
aref wasu p.
Grey's; and which besides showed sufficiently crude
information on the part of his lordship on Canadian
affairs; it is nut the kit dof thing to inspire affationi.,
it only inspires resentment. -4t.76:0.'APP...ii

Baron de 13,)ldavaid, Mr. B tiley, and Mr, ltiada—
had an intrraiew with ftue poomissioaers of her i'Mafeltra

Woods and Vona; on India.

%~t;

figRUdX76

4.. •