Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-03-09
VOL. XI--No. $50

tranquility, provide for common defence
promote gencral good and secure to us at
our postorty the advantage of civil all
religious liberty
SOLEMNLY DECLARES:
|. That from this day forward, tho
PEOPLE OF LOWER CANADA az,
absolved from all allegiance to Great B.;
tain, and that the political connection b..
tween that power and Lower Canada j.
now dissolved.
9. That a REPUBLICAN, form O.
government is best suited to Lower Co.
NADIA which is this day declared to be .
REPUBLIC.
3. That under the free government
Lower Canada, all persons shall en-,
the same rights the Indians shall L.
longer be under any civil disqualifcatio
but shall enjoy the same rights as all 9th.
citizens OF Lower Canada.
4. That all union between Church az
State is hereby declared to be ID.
SOLVED, and every person shall be
liberty freely to exercise such religion
belief as shall! be dictated to him by l.
conscience.
3. That the Fcudal or Scigniorial tc
ure of land is hereby abolished as CO.
pletey as if such tenure had never exis;
in Canada.
6. That each and every person W,
shall bear arms, or otherwise furnish
sistance to the people of Canada in {,
contest for emancipation, shall, he and
discharged from all debts, due, or obi.
tons real or supposed, for arrearages
virtue OF Seignlorial rights heretofore I.
isting.
7. That the Douaire Contumicr is {
the future abolished and prohibited.
9. That imprisonment for debt shall
longer exist excepting in such cases
fraud as shall be specified in an act to
passed hereafter by the Legislature
Lower Canada for this purpose.
8. That sentence of Death shall nolo
ger be passed nor executed, except
case of murder.
10. That mortgages on landed est
shall be special, and to be valid, shall
unregistered in offices to be created
this purpose by an act of the Legslatu
of Lower Canada.
II. That the liberty and freedom Of =
Press shall exist in all public matters
affairs.
To- That TRIAL BY JURY is ~
anteed to the People Of Lower Canad
its most extended and liberal sense, il
criminal suits and in civil suits above "a
to be fixed by the legislature of the s.
of LOWER CANADA.
Is. That as General and public Ed.
ton Is necessary, and due by the Gov,
ment to the people, an act to provide
the same shall be passed as soon as
circumstances Of the country will per
IA. That to secure the elective f.
chise, all elections Shall be had bv 3
LOT.
70. That with the least possible q
the people shall choose Delegates acc
ing to present division of the country,
Counties, Towns and Boroughs, who 5
constitute a Convention. or Legisla
Body, to establish Constitution acc
ing to the wants of the country. an
tormlty with the disposition Of this
claratIon, subject to be modified accorl
to the will of the People.
Is. That every male person Of the 4"
of 81 years and upwards, shall have
right of voting as herein provided, and
the election of the aforesaid delegates
II, That all Cromn Laads, also ST
as are called Clergy Reserves, and S.
Us are nomnally in possession of Ger
Company of Land holders in Engl
called the " British Moth American l..
= Company, are of right the property
, the state OF Lower Canada, except 81;
portions of the aforesaid Lands as may
4. III possession of persons who hold the sat
in good faith, and to whom titles shall
,, secured and granted by virtue of q
which shall be enacted to legalze the p
session Of, and afford a title for, such O.
titled lots of land in the townships as "a.
under cultivation or improvement.
; Is, That the French and English !
guages shall be used III all public aiia
. And for the fulliment of this Decla
, ton, and for the support of the PalrI,
cause in which we are now engaged"
/ 4 firm reliance on the protection of
Almighty, and the Justice of our condr
WE by these presents solcmnly pledge
, each other our lives, our fortunes, and a.
most sacred honor.
By Order Of tie Provisional Gorl
} mcM,
ROBERT NELSON. President