The Sun.
London, England, 1837-10-03 00:00:00

3-4)R 141a+

LONDON:
TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 3, 1837.

We have received a file of Quebec and Montreal
journals to the Ist ult., with a copy of the actual ad-
dress of the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, in
answer to the speech of his Excellency the Governor-
in-Chief on opening the new session of the Provincial
Parliament. The address published in the London
papers of last week was moved in the House, but after
a long debate it was negatived in favour of one of a
still more democratical complexion, subsequently pre-
sented to Lord GOSFORU. There is, however, no ma-
terial difference between the published address, and the
one actually presented, except that the language of the
latter is stronger and less conciliatory than that em-
ployed in the former. The real sentiments of both,
and the resolution to which they pledge the House,
are the same. There are, however, some important
topics touched upon in the actual address to which
no reference is made in the document already pub-
lished ; and to these it becomes our duty to direct
public attention. After some preliminary observa-
tions of no importance, the House of Assembly thus
addresses his Excellency on the conduct of the Co.
lonial authorities here :

" We are bound by our duty frankly to declare to your
Excellency, under the solemn circumstances in which we
are placed, and after full and calm deliberation, that since
the time when we were last called to meet in provincial
Parliament, we have seen in the conduct and proceedings
of the metropolitan government and of the colonial admi-
nistration towards this country, nothing which could re-
establish in the people the confidence and affection which
the long and fatal experience of the past has almost de-
stroyed ; but that, on the contrary, every recent event has
tended to efface what remained of these feelings, ar►d_ to
consolidate, in opposition to the liberties, interests, and
wishes of the people, the colonial oligarchy factiously com-
bined against them, and the hitherto unbridled and uncon-
trolled sway of the Colonial Ministers in Downing-street."
To language such as this it is needless to call the
attention of her MAJESTY'S Government. Ministers
must see the imperative necessity of adopting deci-
sive measures for the removal of whatever abuses en-
gender such sentiments as are here expressed in the
minds of the inhabitants of Lower Canada. The
following attack on the Royal Commissioners is tinc-
tured with much bitterness of feeling :
The avowal which it has pleased your Excellency to
make to us, that the disposition of the authorities and of
Parliament with regard to us, and the oppressive and un-
constitutional measures which have been the result, arc the.
consequences of the recommendations made by certain pr e-
tended authorities, known by the name of the Royal Com-
missioners, has convinced us of the correctness of the opi-
nions we have heretofore expressed with regard to this com-
mission, which, constituted and acting under no law and
without regard to law, and bound beforehand by its in-
structions to the partial views and narrow policy of the 13ri-
tish Ministry in the Government of the colonies, could not
possibly co-operate in doing justice to the inhabitants of this
province, and in establishing their institutions, their liberties
and their prospects for the future, on the solid basis of
their wishes and their wants, as well as on the principles
of the Constitution. We were, therefore, in nowise as-
tonished at discovering in the productions of this pretended
Commission nothing but preconceived opinions, prejudices
at variance with its mission and its duty, ideas of govern-
ment founded on data utterly foreign to the country, or at
finding it fomenting divisions and national distinctions, for-
getful of constitutional principles, calumniating the provin-
cial representation, and practising deception towards this
House and the people. We are bound especially to no-
tice in the reports i❑ question, as far as they have come to
our knowledge, one essential and paramount contradic-
tion which pervades every part of them, and forms their
essence. It is, that while they admit the reality of the
greater portion of the abuses and grievances of which we
have complained, the Commissioners do not recommend their
removal and the destruction of the causes which had pro-
duced them, but an act of aggression against this House,
which has denounced them, and the absolute destruction of
the Representative Government in this province by the
illegal and 'violent spoliation of the public moneys of the
people, by the Ministers or by the Parliament ; whereas
it was the duty of the Commission and of the Mother
Country to assist this House in the entire removal of these
evils, and in rendering their recurrence impossible, by re-
constituting the second branch of the Legislature by means
of the elective principle, by repealing all laws and privi-
leges unjustly obtained, and by ensuring the exercise of
the powers and legitimate controul of this House over the
internal affairs of the province, and over all matters rela-
tive to its territory, and the wants of its inhabitants, and
more especially over the public revenue raised in it.
In studiously throwing the whole of the blame of
Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S resolutions upon the Com-
missioners, the House of Assembly affords the Impe-
rial Legislature a handsome pretext for rescinding
them ; while, in solemnly averring the Report of the
Commissioners to be at variance with truth, it justifies
the Government in retracing its conduct. England
is too confessedly great and powerful to be deterred by
a false shame from correcting any error to which mis-
information may have led. An obstinate persistance
in wrong, on the part of any Government, indicates
weakness, not strength ; and is especially to be depre-
cated in the case of such Governments as pretend
to exercise sovereignty through the influence of rea-
son, and the operation of the principles of popular
representation. Moreover, it is but right that regard
should be had to the feelings and opinions of the
Canadians, however erroneous, on questions which
relate solely to their own individual and social welfare ;
and to prevent anything like a hostile collision bc-

tween the colony and the mothei country, En;:lani
ought to make sacrifices even greater than any yet -
prayed for by the House of Assembly. When the
majority of a Legislative Assembly concur in such It
declaration as the annexed on the subject of Lord
RUSSELL'S Canadian Resolutions—such As'
sembly 11CPq composed of Canadian subjects—wo
!nay justly condemn !,he policy that would not concur
in a vote for rescinding them :
" We perceive in this measure, on the one hand, a formai
and total refusal of the reforms and improvements dee
manded by this House and by the people, and on th
other an abuse of the powers of Parliament for the purpose
of destroying by force the law.; and constitution of the pro:
vi)ce, of violating with regard to us the most sacred and
etli-
olemn engagements, amt of thereby establishing imrn
ately on the ruin of our liberties, and in the place of tl s
ie
ietirnate, efficient, and constitutional controul which th ,
itouse, and the people through it, have a right to exercise
ovee all the branches of the Executive Gsveroment,
corruption and intrigue, the pillage of the revenue'
the seizure of the best resources of the country by a°
Colonial functionaries and their dependants ; the dominre.
tion and ascendancy of the few, and the oppression and sehr-
-
vitude of the mass of the inhabitants of this province, wit
out distinction of class or of origin.
" It is our duty, therefore, to tell the mother co
untrY'
''ct
that if she carries the spirit of these resolutions into eff
c.e
in the Government of British America, and of this pro vin,
in particular, her supremacy therein will no longer`cPe"il
upon the feelings of affection, of duty, and of mal in"
tereA which would hest secure it, but on physical and we'
terial force, an element dangerous to the governing Party
at the same time that it subjects the governed to a dept h
of uncertainty as to their future existence and their d
interests, which is scarcely to be found under the most e*
solute Governments of civilised Europe."
We entertain too lively a confidence in the wisdom
the Imperial Government, to doubt the effect wiall
this remonstrance will have upon the minds of the
most influential members of the Cabinet. A
minority
•
we already know are prepared to recommend strait:,
measures, but we trust no regard will be had to such
recommendation. On the all-absorbing question of
°
the supplies, the House of Assembly is equally ex'
plicit
" Your Excellency acknowledges that the chief object f°l*
which we are now convened is to afford us an opportunity,
by granting thossupplies, of preventing their being violent°li
taken by an Act of the Imperial Parliament, founded II
the resolutions already adopted. In the absence:of anY
other motive for thus recurring to our authority, than the
tardy consideration of the character of those resolutions, as
well as of the Act of which they might for the basis, her
Majesty's Government might, we humbly conceive, havet
recollected that those resolutions are not our work ; the
we had already fully deliberated on the demand made to
the
by your Excellency ; and that while we have not before 00
any act, or even any hope, which can promise a mitigatio;
of the evils under which the people are suffering, we sh°6
not be justifiable in placing in the hands of hostile poweto
the means of aggravating and perpetuating those evils.
" There could exist, then, no considerations but such
might be dictated by a servile fear, foreign to our tor"
date and derogatory to the character of the people, to I°'
duce us to be wanting to our duty in the present instance,
by ratifying the violation ef the rights of our constituents
and of this house by the British authorities, and by tak
icil
on ourselves the responsibility of the consequence: use
might result from it. We leave this responsibility to these
who have assumed it, and strong in the justice of our ca"se
we rely, as we heretofore have done, on Providence, o°
the public and private virtues of all classes of the peoPleo
on their constancy, their perseverance, and their attach"
ment to the principles of order and liberty which, folio',"
ins their example, we have unceasingly endeavoured t°
maintain."
With this extract we shall close our remarks on $
document of which our readers are now in possession
of the substance. The answer of his Excellency the
Lieutenant-Governor has already appeared in our
columns. The Address was presented on the 26th Of
August, and on the following day the Session was pro"
rogued by Royal proclamation to the sth inst.

The Constitutionalists have triumphed in
Portugal,
in spite of the treachery of the QUEEN, of her Royal
husband, and of the principal personages at the
Court of Lisbon. This news is as gratifying as it Wag
unexpected. From the first outbreak of SALDANNAS
rebellion, we feared the worst from the weakness of the
Cabinet, the imbecility of the Cortes, and the
talents of the chiefs at the head of the insurgents'
We were aware that if SALDANITA could once enta
Lisbon, the QUEEN would declare for the Chartists
and we 'likewise knew that the Duke of TERCEIRA
only obeyed the injunctions of the PRINCE ROYAL,
in appointing a rebel regency during the pretended
compulsory imprisonment of her Most Faithful lqA"
JESTY. It is therefore with no less surprise thaw
pleasure that we have learned the total overthrow of
the rebels, and the banishment of their pri"ciPe
leaders from the soil of Portugal. Such a termination
of a conspiracy, first plotted and matured in the
Palace of the Sovereign, may teach an useful 'cow!
to Queen DONNA MARIA, and her despotical 0114
intriguing husband. The following are copies of the
official documents announcing the termination of the
rebellion, as given in the Supplement to the Mow
of the 25th ult. They will be read with lively
terest :

" NORTHERN DIVISION OF OPERATIONS.
ic Most Illustrious and Excellent Senhor—The re
°f
being desirous of covering and protecting the rearch
columns,ttilrttoue oisiae,
were who
bt lys, with ti
isetsimioevoci
enilglew oy,frptodoraocidsskp:
uiutntipgii
en
gat
oh positiontetihmlce,r
moving
laosysaiainngrignenl ripoin:cfnr; out
path. It was half-past seven when our advancel P red
in front of the bridge of Ruivacs. Having reeonn
the enemy's position and the distribution of his force,
perceived the difficulty of carrying it by a forward In've..
ment. At nine a.m. my columns were formed, and I directed
Brigadier-General Mendez, with his brigade of infantiraYi
consistingL.sb of the 9th, 10th, 13th, and Municipal Guar",.
Lisbon, to make a long detour, by which flank movemeo"-
obtained a height which completely commanded those °acad.'
pied by the enemy, virtually' turned their left flank, ii//ci
took them in the rear. During this movement the se""
brigade of infantry, tinder Colonel Musquita,
ing of the 6th anti Null, and Municipal Guard of °porta'
• occupied the centre with eouadrons of the 6th cavall
in reserve ; and Colonel VoniGere, with the 4th an
sth Cacadores and 19th Regiment of Infantry ands eta,
Lancers, was stationed so as to observe the bridge of
Ruivaes. We remained stationary until 11 :Lin, whento
calculated Brigadier-General Mendez would be c1°56,-0
the position he was directed to occupy. I thou tLe
orders to attack the enemy's left, and which movement
most gallant Viscount Sc de Bandeira volunteered t or.
rect, and assisted me much with his personal exertioin,B
and able counsel. The 6th Infantry and part of t
consist..
18th in the centre, the 4th and sth battalions of Cacty
dures, followed by the Lancers and 19th Infantry, pr.ce,e;
pitated themselves in the most gallant style upon the I.:gnu
of the enemy's positions, and notwithstanding they werr
most determinedly defended, the ardour of our troops ea;
rigid them in a.. moment, cut through their centre, 07
swept all away that opposed them. At this moment
Brigadier Mendez appeared, and the action became g!'
nerd!, our advance consisting of Colonel Musquita's Bra
gade and the 6th Cavalry. When the rebels percetve
d.
that their flank was turned, and their rear threatecii
they instently abandoned their positions, and • disperse_
ail directions ; the fugitives were constantly harasare sed ur.Y.
te
our Cacadores. Three stand of colours,
12
soners, amongst them Colonel Govea. More than ,P0u.1„3.0
returned to our ranks, quantities of arms and ammo"- ef
have fallen into our hands, and five officers have come 0./0
to us ; such has been the result of this brilliants ffair% be
our troops conducted themselves with a valour ever v;:i
exceeded, and notwithstanding that all performed prcif4
of bravery, I cannot avoid remarking the gallant Cava%
of the Viscount Sada Bandcira,Colonel Costa, _Colonel r°11),
touro commanding the advance, Beigadier Mendez, 6'4
mantling the Ist Brigade, Colonel Musquita, the
Acers
Major Albina Pimente, of the Cavalry, and other Co'
menders of corps, as well as other individuals name ea,
the enclosed list, which I also. beg leave to recolvoleiri,
Our loss in killed and wounded does not exceed
s°Llo'res
eluding in the number the Adjutant of the 2d Casa -
of
and four other commissioned officers. From the naturee
Perms
the ground, the duty devolved open the officeds or
ate f my Po
an st
sonal staff was most severe end hazardous, , I
raise,
happy to state, is deserving of tho highest
c pca,
have to request your Excellency to place this
lion before her Majesty. God preserve your Excelleacl.
" Viscount DAS ANTAS.
" Head quarters, Campos, Sept. 18.
" To his Excellency Viscount Bobeda."

s
" The rebels arc marching in the direction of Chavel."
a state of the greatest consternation and disorder.