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

ADDRESS of tie "SONS OF LIBERTY" of
Montreal, to the Young Men Of the North An,eri-
can Coiorics.
BRoTHERs-When urgent circumstances in the af-
fairs of country make it necessary for men to form
themselves into pates associations proper respect
for the opinions Of society demands from them an ex-
plicit declaration of the causes which have induced
them to combine, and Of the principles which they in
tend to 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
cety that of uniting his energies with those OF his fell
lowcitzens 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, 1t be alienated, and consequent
" will always be asserted and exercised. All govern
ments 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, are basphemous and
absurd alike monstrous when inculcated and degrading
when admitted. The authority of parent state over
COLONY can exist only during tho pleasure of the colo
nists for the country being established and settled by
them belongs to them Of right, and may be separated
from all foreign connection, whenever the Inconvenience
resulting from executive power residing abroad, ceas
ing to harmonize with local legislature, makes such
step TO the inhabitants Tor the proecuon Oh
life, liberty, or the pursuit Of happiness.
The young mems. association Of Montreal adopting
the title OF .hc Sons Of Liberty is not intended to
be private caba secret unto, but active demo-
cratic body comprising all young in the city pa
triocay alive the interests Of their country, what
ever may be their creed country, the nation Of their
ancestors.
The causes which demand, at the present juncture,
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 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 revolution in France, hav-
ING made England rembe for the safety Of her remain
ing American possessions, she passed. 1891, the act
called the Unconstitutional Act" which divided Upper
and Lower Canada and established representative as
sembly in each In 1872 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
vennp and succeeding periods furnished bot one long
history Of repeated injuries, atrocities usupatons and
wrongs Thus we have British rulers, with a
cowardce and perdy unworthy Of the representatives