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

OF powerful naton Continuing to allure the people Of
Canads by deceptive promises, in times OF pressing
cessiiy and when the emergency had passed. resorng
to every unwanantable expedien to defer avoid the
iulflment Of their solemn engagements.
Alter seventy-seyen years OF British rule, we be-
hold country miserable compared with the pros
porous republics who wisely threw off the yoke Of
monarchy. We feel that our population Is equal
In capacity 10 theirs. We see emigrants from be-
yond seas, OF the same class wretched they remain
here happy If they join the great democratic family
and we have daily evidence that our i'll fortunes
attributable 10 the desolating action OF colonial
government. A pretended protection has withered
our energies. II has preserved all that was bad in
our ancient institutions, or untitled TO the present
state Of society, thwaIted the free operation OF all
that was good and trammeed ty restraints every
means of reform or amelioralion.
Whilst every township throughout the immense
territory OF our neighbors is happily governed by
Its own democracy, which Is thereby trained from
It's youth upwards, TO political knowledge, self re-
ance and energetic action, we are cramped and con-
trolled by government in which the people have
no voice. whose influence tends 10 the corruption Of
public virtue, the depression Of enterprise, and the
annihilaton Of every generous impulse or inspira-
tion for the countrys greatness.
Hosts Of officers, appointed without consent of the
people, TO whom they are too frequently obnoxious
and never responsible, and holding commissions
during the pleasure Of an irresponsible Executive,
are placed In authority us, with salaries enor
mously disproporioned both to our means and TO
family or personal aggrandzement, instead Of being
suited to the resources and wants ofthe people.
The trial by jury, which we have been taught to
look upon as the palladium Of our liberties is made
vain illusion, or instrument Of depotism, inasmuch
as sheriffs, creatures of the Executive, upon which
they depend daily for continuance in an Office TO
which vast emoluments are attached, can select and
summon such jurors as they please, and thereby be-
come themselves the arbers in state prosecutions
instituted against the people by their oppressors
Immense funds, bestowed by proyident govern
ment, or by generous individuals, or the late order
Of the Jesuits for purposes Of education have been
diverted from this commendable object and made an
instrument of corruption for the reward of useless
reprehensble officials, while the children Of the.
Province deprived of the funds provided for their
instruction, have grown up without the benefit OF
school education, to be now tainted with the want
oflearning. >.
Our public lands, defended during two wars by
the bravery of the inhabitants of the country, and
rendered valuable by the toll that has opened roads,
and extended settlements back TO the wilderness
have been sold or bestowed in contempt OF our re-
monstrances, to company of spectators living be-
yond the seas or paritioned out among official para
sites, who have, from motives OF interest, combined
as faction, to support corrupt Government, in
imica to the rights and opposed TO the wishes of the
people, whilst our fathers, our relations and our
brother colonists are refused or unable to procure
wild land on which to settle
Laws, affecting the tenure Of lands, napplicabe to
the condition Of the country and injurious to their
ment which in order TO favor private and sinister inte-
rests 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 Parliament enforced without consent
We thus confined to certain market, and are de-
prived Of the power Of extending commerce to all
parts Of the world when the markets Of Britain
favorable to produce, whereby commercial enter
prise is crippled and paralysed.
The representation of the country has been made
n clam ckaru "A runfE xac ufi We
stantly sought 10 render our house OF assembly an
instrument to decide unaterably the slavery OF its
constituents and failing in this wicked design, has
rendered its action nugatory by frequent proroga-
tons and dissouons, and by refusing an assent to
laws useful to the people, and passed unanimously
by their representatives.
A legislative council, the numbers Of which are
nominated by authorities ignorant of the country,
residing 5000 miles off, composed mostly of persons
who do not sympahze with the country still exists
as an impotent screen between the goveror and the
governed, and nullites all attempts at useful egisla-
ton. An executive council nominated in the same
manner whose influence has poisoned the mind Of
each succeeding governor, remains unchanged, to
protect the cumu!aon of Office and abuses that are
connected with every public department.
A governor, alike ignorant with his predecessors
and Who has become, like each of them, an official
partizan conducts the government for the benefit OF
the few, either unmindful OF, or determinedy OPP
posed to- the prosperity of the many.
Our grievances have been faithfully and repeat
united kingdom, BY the resolutions OF primary as
sembes BY our representatives in Parliament as
sembled, and by the humble petitions OF the whole
people We have demonstrated, with all the power
Of argument, and all the moral force of truth. No
remedies have been extended and at last when the
tyranny ofthose intrusted with power in the province
has increased insufferaby from continued impunity
advantage is taken by an ungenerous European
State of general peace, to coerce us into con-
nivance or approval of our own debasement, by
threat TO seize upon our public revenues with hand
of force in defiance Of natural right, and of every
principle of law, policy or justice.
The present degraded position OF our country
being the result of three quarters of century Of
warm devotion to British connexon, of mistaken
reliance upon British honor it would be savish and
criminal to confne resistance hereafter to sim
pie circumstances. The wicked designs of British
authorities have severed all ties Of sympathy for
unfeeng mother country. A separation has COM
menced between parties, which will never be &C.
mened, but which will go on increasing, until one
of those sudden unforeseen events, that attend the
march oftme, affords fit opportunity of assum-
ing our rank among the independent Sovcreignties
of America. Two splendid opportunities have been
lost Let us not be unprepared for the third
glorious destiny awaits the young men OF
these colonies Our fathers have passed long
life of vexation, in daily struggle against every
degree of dcspotism. As they pass from the world,
they leave inheritance improved by their patriot
ic sacrifices. To us they commit the noble duty
of carrying onward their poud designs, which in
our day must disfranchise our beloved country from
all human authority except that of the bold demo-
cracy residing within its bosom.
With such an invigoraling prospect spreading
before us; with such high responsibility resting
upon us, il becomes our imperative duty, laying
aside the gay frivoics of YOUTH to bctake ourselves
to the serious consideration of our counrys poll.
tics, her wants and her resources to increase her
wealth by encouraging her manufactures and her
produce; and to preserve her strength by discon-
inung the consumption of articles brought from
beyond the sea-but, above ALL TO accustom ourselves
to constant sacrifices and so to curai our personal
expenses by avoiding excess or superiuity that we
may treasure means for supporting each other in the
struggle for life and liberty in which we must soon