The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-19
CANADIAN GRIEVANCES.

ADDRESS Of the "SONS OF LIBERTY" of
Montreal, 10 the Young Men Of the North An,eri-
can Colorics.
BRoTHERs-When urgent circumstances in the af-
fairs Of country make it necessary for men to form
themselves into partes associations proper respect
for the opinions Of society demands from them an ex
plicit declaration Of the which have induced
them to combine, and Of the principles which they in
tend advance by the power Of their organization
We consider that next to the privilege Of acting for
himself man possesses, from the very foundation Of
ciety, that Of uniting his energies with those Of his el-
owcitizens for all purposes Of mutual interest or de-
fence and that therefore the right of association is
sacred and naenable the right Of personal liberty
We hold that governments instituted for the benefit,
and can only Justly by the consent Of the govern
cd and whatever may be the artificial changes IN human
affairs that government OF choice is an inherent right
of the people II cannot be alenated, and consequent
" will always be asserted and exercised All govern
mens being instituted for the benefit Of the people,
and not for the honor profit of any individual all pre-
tensions of Divine absolute authority to rule, claimed
by or for any set Of men, blasphemous and
absurd alike monstrous when nculcated and degrading
when admitted. The authority Of parent state over a
COLONY can exist only during tho pleasure OF the colo
nsts for the country being established and settled by
hem belongs to them Of right, and may be separated
from all foreign connection, whenever the Inconvenience
resulting from executive power residing abroad ceas-
np TO harmonize with local legislature, makes such
step necessary TO the nnaDtants lot the proecuoh VI
life, liberty, OF the pursuit Of happiness
The young mems association of Montreal adopting
the title OF ihe Sons Of Liberty is not intended to
be private caba secret junto, but active demo-
cratic body, comprising all young in the city pa
triocay alive to the interests Of their country what
ever may be their creed country the nation Of their
ancestors,
The causes which demand, at the present junctnre,
from ALL but more especially from young men, coming
forward into active life heroic devotion to their coun-
try's cause, are manifold and imposing
At the cession Of this province in l763 with view
to consolidate British power on the banks Of the st.
Lawrence certain rights Of property, religion and go
vernment were guaranteed to the Canadians, and after
wards more fully confirmed in l774 when the approach
ng noble revolt of the American states rendered con-
cessons to the new subjects Of the empire extremely
polite The brilliant Of those states. and the
overwhelming movement Of revelation in France, hav-
inc made England rembe for the safety Of her remain
ing American possessions, she passed. in 1891 the act
called the Unconstitutional Act" which divided Upper
and Lower Canada and established representative as
sembly in each In 1912, Cancellation was again rem
dered necessary, by the declaration Of with the
United States. These times Of danger have been the
seasons Of seeming justice to Canada, while the inter-
vennc and succeeding periods furnished bot one long
history Of repeated injuries, atrocities usupatlons and
wrongs Thus we have British rulers, with a
cowardcc and perfdy unworthy Of the representatives