Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-12-05

nJ- The Message will be delivered today. III re-
ceiyed in time, we shall publish it tomorrow morning
II not in the evening. Very little interest IS iell
about it. We doubt II people will read 1t at all.
n Congress opened yesterday. 1t will be Feb
ruary before they begin work seriously
ivu War Ira Canada Its Causes-Disposi-
ton of the People-Characters Of LORD
DaIhoasie and Mr.. Papineau, sc.
When the Provincial Parliament dissolved, I'M
der the circumstances mentioned in Saturdays
Herala meetings were held in all parts of the coun-
n.y. and resolutions passed approving of the conduct
of the representatives of the people, and censunng
Lord Dahousies tyrannical and unconstitutional
measure in the strongest language The Governor
Immediately dismissed all who appeared at these
meetings, from whatever employments they held un-
der the crown, whether civil or military; ana some
scores of justices of the peace and militia omcers
were gazetted removed from the KING service.
The popular newspapers canvassed these proceedings
in indignant terms; lille prosecutions for sedtious
language and libel were instituted against the editors
by the Attorney General, and the measure of Lord
Dalhosse's unpopularty was completed.
On the other hand the adherents Of Government
were not idle. Public meetings were called by the
English and Scotch inhabitants, in which counter
resolutions were passed. approving his Lordshp's
administration, applaudHg his vigorous conduct and
recommending further demonstrations against tho
factious, Ignorant and preudlced Canadians, as they
were termed They asserted that the dispute was one
OF nationality and orign-that the contest was one
between British principles and the spirit of the old
fe ldal institutions they prevailed in Canada The
Canadians were called a conquered people, and the
Government was recommended to treat them as SUCH
At this period great complaints were made by the
British emprants of the insecurity Of their purchases
of land in Lower Canada, owing 10 the want OF re-
pistration of mortgages that It frequently hap
pened that when settler had acquired land of Ca
madam proprietor built upon II, and improved 1t, a
creditor of the original owner would come upon the
purchaser with mortgage, and dlsPossess him. Inc
Canadians also were welded to their old customs
and laws, which were the same as those existing IN
France previous to the Revolution, and which that
moral tempest swept away, thereby purifying the po-
ltieal and social atmosphere and lettering the con-
den of mankind. But these relics OF barbarous
system yet fingered in this corner of the American
continent being guaranteed to the Canadians by the
treaty of Paris of 1868, by which Canada was coded
in perpetuity to Great Britain
The Canadian peasantry, or hdbifGns, are the most
Ignorant and simple minded persons on the face Of
the EARTH and il very easy to persuade them 10 any
thing Once obtain their confidence, and can never
be shaken. Their priests and seigneurs are &C
customed to reverence instinctvely; what the one
teaches they look upon gospel and abide by the
opinions OF the other law During the discussions
alluded to- a number Of young notaries and lawyers
travelled through the villages, procaimng the grew
ances of the people and holding Mr.. Papneau ND TO
them as the friend Of the country and the enemy OF
oppression The seigneurs at the church doors on
Sundays corroborated all that the emissares Of the
discontinued had disseminated, and although the
ha5itans paid not dollar in the way of taxes to the
government; and their only exactisns were in The
shape OF tithes to the priest and feuda taxes to the
segneurs or propretors yet they were al length per-
suadea that they were wronged and oppressed PoPu-
lation and that Lord Dalhousc wished 10 deprive
them of their farms, and distribute them among the
emigrants who had recently arrived from tho British
Isles in vast numbers.
The Governor, who very amable man in dis
position, bat obstinate and self wied in purpose, was
unfortunately besct by set Of selfish ofhceholders,
10 whom in truth, oil the troubles Of the country are
10 be attributed. The Scwells, the Cochranes, the
Lindssys and others had monopolzcd almost all the
lucrative situations among them, and they dreaded
any alteration in the routine of executive business,
admitting a bad precedent, and lifting the veil by
which the sancity and mystery of office had hitherto
been shrswded. Lord Dalhousie was in their tolls,
and by them he was guided as a puppet-being
military cheftan, and Infatuated like the centurion te
have has behess sabmissively obeysd lnstanter and
without questioning, he looked upon parliamentary
privilege as personal disrespec and the canvassng
of his measures in a deberativc assembly as mis-
prision of treason. Mr. Papneaa was then first de-
nounced as a rebel, and then began the system of
abuse and Misrepresentation, by which he has been
ever since pursued.
Louis Joseph Papineau, who for some years past
has occupied the most CONSPICUOUS position in Cana
dian affairs is still in the prime Of life being about AZ
wears OF age He is notary by profession, and pos
sesses handsome fortune there is country in
the world where litigation is vrulent and lucrative
10 lis ministers as in Lower Canada. Mr. Papineau
Is well informed for Canadian; is fair crater, being
more decaimer than reasoner; passionate invec-
tive conveyed in fluent torrent of words - his rca-
son and his facts and being intensely convinced Of
the Justice and holiness Of his cause and that Great
Britain is determined TO Cypress its colony, all the
energies Of his mind have been devoted since 1925 10
m indscrmnate and incorporating hostility TO
every measure OF the Provincial administration. He
- a r,ac Of uncomfortable nm saious in every thinS