The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1837-12-16
GRIEVANCES OF THE CANADIANS.

GRIEVANCES OF THE CANADIANS.
The following are extracts from the Address of
the Sons of Liberty of Montreal, Lower Canada,
setting forth the grievances which have led to the
revolution now in progress in that Province.
After sevcnty-seven wears Of British rule, we
behold our country miserable compared with the
prosperous republics who wisely threw off the
yoke Of Monarchy. We feel that our popula-
ton is equal in capacity to theirs. we see
emigrants from beyond the seas, of the same
class, wretched if they remain here, happy if
they join the great Democratic family, and we
have daily evidence that our i'll fortunes are at
tributable to the desolating action Of Colonial
government. A pretended protection has with
cred our energies. 1t has preserved all that was
bad in our ancient Institutions, or unified to the
present state Of society; thwared the free opera
ton Of all that was good; and trammelled BY re-
straints every measure of reform or melioration.
Whilst every township throughout the i'm
mense territory Of our neighboring republic is
happily governed by its own free Democracy,
which is thereby trained, from it's youth upwards,
to political knowledge, sclfreliance and energet-
c action, we are cramped and controlled BY
Government in which the people have no voice,
whose influence tends to the corruption Of public
virtues the depression of enterprise, and the ami
hation of every generous impulse or exalted
aspiration for the advancement Of the country,s
greatness.
Hosts Of officers, appointed without the con-
sent of the People, to whom they are too fire.
quently obnoxious and never responsible, and
holding commissions during the pleasure Of an
Irresponsible Executive, are placed in authority
over us, with salaries enormously disproportioned
both to our means and their services whereby
Offices are made means Of family or personal
aggrandizement instead of being suited to the
resources and wants Of the people. ".
The trial by Jury, which we have been taught
to look upon as the palladium Of our liberties. ~
made vain illusion. or instrument of flespot-
ism, inasmuch as Sheriffs, creatures of the
Executive, upon which they depend daily for
cOuntenance in an Office to which vast emolu-
ments are attached, can select and summon such
Jurors as they please, and thereby become the
arbiters in state prosecutions instituted against
the people by their oppressors. **
Our public lands, defended during two wars
by the bravery Of the inhabitants of the country.
and rendered valuable BY the toll that has open-
ed roads and extended settlements back into the
wilderness, have been sold or bestowed, in con-
tempt Of our circumstances, to company of
spectators living beyond the sea, or partitioned
out among official parasites, who have from mo-
tives OF interest, combined as faction, to sup
port corrupt government, inimical to the rights
and opposed to the wishes Of the people, whilst
our fathers, relations and our brother colonsts
are refused, or unable to procure wild land on
which to settle. -
Laws, affecting the tenure Of lands. inapplicable
to the condition Of the country; and injurious in
their operations, have been forced upon us by
a foreign Parliament, which in order to favor pr-
vate and sinister interests, has usurped power
Of internal Legislation that appertains alone to
the Legislature Of this Province. Regulations for
the trade of the country, adopted by foreign Par
Lament, are enforced without our consent. We
are thus confined to certain markets, and are de-
prived of the power Of extending our commerce
to all parts of the world when the markets of
Britain are unfavorable to our produce, whereby
our commercial enterprise is crippled and pa
ralyzed.' .sI-s 3s ss'-
A letter from Canada, dated goth Nov, saws
speaking Of the Canadians: rn7s,sa
Il would not believe that they would rise up in
rebellion against her Majesty's Government
4 is indeed extraordinary that a nation should
dare to throw off the yoke Of a woman---a Young
girl Of eighteen. Truly preposterous and out &C
place in these days Of darkness. The Canadians
have not only dared to make the attempt, but have
succeeded. And we are glad, if for no other
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