The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-23 00:00:00

• -

heard that night, that a large portion ofit4r Majesty's stitteasit-i4
in Canada would, if thus abandoned, be sithieet to tile`
their property and their lives ?—( Cheersl4 lisid• tEt4'nVIL
heard that night, not from a Canadian or a foreigner, but
from a Member of that House, satisfaction ex2ressed at tke
defeat of the British troops—(Cheers)--and a gloating eve:
the prospect of the destruction of all public and private pro-
perty—( Cheers )—property which was given and astigned to
settlers in Canada—under the sanction and gua antce of
British laws ?—( Cheers.) Did they not hear delight ex-
pressed et the prospect of lands granted in this manner becent- .
mg sacrificed and confiscated by a new republic ? It had bees
said that the present question was the same as that which
caused the American war. He fully agreed, however, with the
Hon. Member for Newark, that the questions were totally dis-
similar in character, as he hoped they would be in the result.
America did net desire to avoid contributing to the ex-
penses of the Government, but they denied the right of the
British Parliament to tax them by the Stamp Act without
their own consent; and this was the reason that Lord Chat-
ham had called that Act oppressive, because the consent of
the American people had nut been asked. But was this the
case with Canada? No, the store of Canada was widely dif-
ferent. In the year 1791 the C.institution of Cannda was
settled, and an As:embly was established, to be elected by
the people. This country did not attempt to tax tile Ca-
nadians, but left that power to their oun Legislative Assem-
by, and also the disposal of the revenue wising from those
taxes. This country never pretended to tax them,- or dis-
pose of their taxes. What the Canadians demanded was,
that the Legislative Council should be elective as well as
the Assembly, and that persons holding public offices
should be removeable at pleasure. Because, then, their
demands .were not granted, they refused the supplies and
stopped the machinery of Government. The act of his
Majesty's Ministers eas therefore a defensive act, to pre-
vent the machinery of the Canadian Government from
being entirely put an end to. Even if they were to grant
the demands made upon them, he did not think it would se-
cure the peace and harmony of the colony. Suppose the Le-
gislative Council to be elective, and a Bill was introduced into
the Legislative Assembly for preventing troops from entering
Quebec or Montreal, and it was agreed to by a Council so
constituted. what remedy would remain ? The Governor, it
was true, might refuse his assent to such a Bill; but might
not the two Assemblies refuse the supplies, as had been done
before, and what remedy would then remain? The machinery
of Government must necessarily be stepped until the demands
were complied with. They would refuse the supplies, on the
ground that no troops ought to be sent to those places. Their
position, as regarded Canada now, and as regarded the United
States at a former period, was, therefore, as opposi-e as any two
things could be. When the resolution passed that House last ses-
sion, he did not indulge in decided predictions. It was not his habit
to do so. He ventured, however, to express a hope that t7tese
resolutions would be productive of good, though there mivht
arise, perhaps, some slight and temporary struggle in con-
sequence. Now that this struggle seemed to have com-
menced, he must say ho felt no fears as to the result. The
impression on his mind was not one of apprehension, though he
would not, at the same time, speak with confidence. It may
be true, as stated in the course of the debate, that there were
no means of securing Canada against the wishes of the people.
Everything had been done to show them that it was the de-
sire of the Government here to conciliate them as much as
possible. They were lightly taxed, and in every respect in-
dulgently treated—they had no grievances to complain of
therefore, he saw no reason why they should not remain
contented under the British Government. He did not, far his
part, look forward to an early separation of the two coun-
rries. He knew not how far the principle of separation laid
down by his Honourable Friend (Mr. Warburton) might
be pushed, if temporary difficulties: were to arise of a simi-
lar nature in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and in their
other North American colonies ; but certain he was
that. if they wore to yield now to aggression, it
would not tend to lessen their difficulties if similar
circumstances should arise as regarded the lest of their
colonies in that quarter. It was said that a struggle with
Canada might involve them with other powers. He did not
see much in this argument ; but if they were to assume a timid
and pusillanimous tone—if they were to refuse to listen to
those who looked to them for protection—if they relinquished
her Majesty's loyal subjects in these colonies, and withdrew
the troops—if they acted a part so weak and cowardly—they
must, in that case, expect not peace, but aggressive force, and
even the scorn and contempt of other powers.—( Cheers.)
What would otlu r nations naturally say ? Here is that nation,
once so powerful, so great in war, so flourishing in peace, sub.
witting to one of her own colonies. This would be the lan-
guage if they were to look to submission and timid defence,
rather than to victory. He must say that he deeply re-
gretted the language be heard that night from some Hon.
Members, titan which, if acted upon, nothing could be
more fatal to the best interests of this country. The dis-
content existing in Canada might be overcharged, or it
might not • but let it be treated in such a way as to be
accompanied with the degradation and humiliation of the
mother country—then indeed they might be assured that no
foreign possession of the Crown would long remain under the
control of this nation.

Mr, D. W. HARVEY said it had been understood that the

House was to adjourn to the Ist of February. Now, however,
they were informed by the Noble Lord th it they would be as-
sembled again on the 16th of January. Were it not for what
fell from the Noble Lord towards the close of his speech it would
be difficult to see a reason for this. The Noble Lmd did not at-
tempt to go into any explanation of the causes which induced him
to propose a course so likely to excite alarm throughout the
country. The impression abroad must necessarily be that the
motive forcalling Parliament together again so soon was to call
for men and money. The Noble Lord told them that,
for weeks back, news was received from Canada calcu-
lated to excite alarm. The Government, in that case, acted
very wrongly in pursuing so long a course of irresponsible
danger. It was clear now that war with Canada they were
to have, and that for a mere philosophical abstraction—a war
solely for opinion, solely because the people of Canada, or of
any other colony, ventured to think that they would be better
governed in one mode than in another. For this, and this
alone, they were to enter upon a war, unlimited as to time
and measureless as to expense. The Noble Lord said the
people of Canada had no grievances to complain of, except
one merely of an abstract nature. He denied it. There
no instance of a whole people having ever continued long to
struggle for a merely abstract point. The natural indolence
of human nature was such as soon to become tired of so pro-
fitless a contest. - They were too sluggish for it. When
people were long engaged in hostility to a Government
it was always on account of some practical grievance. Would
any one, having read the papers upon the table relative to the
affairs of Canada, pretend to say that they had no grievance
to complain of ? Why; had not Committees been sitting for
the last ten years on the affairs of Canada, and were they now
to be told that there were only a few Canadians struggling for
a mere faction, a mere theoretical grievance? Was it not
long 'a matter of loud complaint there that the Judges ap-
pointed were utterly unfit for the duties of their office ? The
Noble Lord said there was no analogy between the case of
the United States and of Canada. The United States re-
sisted the imposition of taxes upon them in that House, but
in the case of Canada the Legislature did not, indeed, impose
taxes on them, but they stepped in and seized the money
which the Assembly of Canada had voted for the use of that
colony. An Act of more determined plunder was never per-
petrated. They were told the contest now commenced was
but a slight one. If so, it would soon tell its own tale. But
was this likely ? Was it not more probable that it would be
alarming, that it would be extended, that it was impossi-
ble to say how or when it would end? The people of this
country would not remain indifferent to this struggle, when
they came to uuderstand that the object of it was to prevent a
w hlof lseu
eh peoplean i m
frioirm e s
saidoonpltvi
an
sg
ptrhoadtucfeodrme n oft
the
oivieorunsme,eilti t
wwa. which
they they considered most conducive to their own interests. It
was the natural-born right of men to govern themselves in
society as they considered most conducive to their interests and
well-being. The Noble Lord refused this right to the Ca-
nadians, and he rested the fame of this great and free nation
on the defeat of this great principle of right and justice.
He did not think that they would impair the honour of the
country or tarnish the splendour of the Crown, if they were to
permit the Canadians to govern themselves as they judged
most expedient. The more ready and willing they were to
extend the same political bles%ings they enjoyed themselves,
the more would the glory and the greatness of the country be
extended.—(H a-, hear.)
Mr. WAKL EY said the House had been now engaged in
discussion for five hours, and what communications had been
made to them on the subject of Canada ? They were to be
called together again on the 16th of January. For what pur-
pose ? Was it to tell them something of which Ministers
were ignorant now ? Was the Noble Lord prepare 1 to say
that the Government of Canada should not be altered ? If
the tranquillity to be given to Canada eat only the tranquil-
lity of cannon acid the bayonet it would not last long; it
would be only the tranquillity of suppressed vengeance. This
would not do. The time was passed—for ever, he hoped—
for the employment of brute force to coetrol opinion. Ile
would intreat the Government to hold out to the people of
Canada the olive branch of peace. Let them not from false
pride, be ashamed to confess they were in error. Let them
rattier glory in acknowledging it, and aneounee to the Cana-
dians that their grievances should be i cdressed. There was
an inquiry into this subject by a Committee in 1823. Were
the grievances then found to exist redress-d? No. If they
were wrong, endeavour to undeceive them ; reason with them
in the soothing accents of peace, conciliate them, but do not
address them in the language of cannon and musketry. The
Hen. Member opposite (Mr. Young) expressed himself fa-
vourable to the course which Minister; s: cm disposed to pur-
sue. There might be occasions when Medsteriat mendicancy
would willingly accept the smallest trifle of support. The
support of the Hn. Member wp•s of that eheraett r. He had
only a mejority of six on his election, and he terieved he would
not 'be able to retain his scat—that he was only keepin,...e it
warn for the right owner. He would entreat every friend of
the democratic principle 'to undeceive the people of England
with respect to the nature of this contest. Lie would implore
the people to meet ; for if they did not he feared they were
on the eve of a dreadful war. Let it only commence, and it
would be impossible to say what the end mieht be. Reports
had alrealy arrived of tillages having been burned, and men
slaughtered on both sides. Let Ministers retrace tin it steps,
or the consequences might be frightful. It was impassible to
say what the consequences might be.
Mr. LEADER rose to reply. Ile had been attacked by
Hon. Members, and particularly by the Men.ber for Asliber-
toe, and represented as having expressed exultation at the
defeat of the British troops in Canada, and at the confiscation
of British preperty. Nothing was further from his intention.
on his mind. Ho rejoiced that the Canadians resisted oppres-
sNi eon ,Mbemutbehre 0 couldn
the
oppositei i ote xul
st i
dine the s
mdefeatore of
deeplyßritish i
11 t
, troop.r(
segd
• than himself in the welfare of the country.