The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-24
UPPER CANADA.
PROCLAMATION.


BY His Excellency, Sir George Arthur, X c Fl
Lieutenant Governor Of the Province CT Upper
Canada, Major General Commanding Her Males
tvs Forces therein, &c. &c. &c.
Lopal Inhabitants Of Upper Canada,
Upon my arrival among you, early in the present
year, bearing with me Her Majesty's Commission to
administer this Government found you Just reco-
vering from the excitement that had naturally been
produced by the then recent attempts of some in
fatuated and desperate individuals, both within and
without the province to involve your country in The
horrors of Civil War; and to snbver those long
cherished institutions, which your conduct has
proved that you prize as the first bessings-and ever
ready TO maintain, at the hazard Of your lives.
The alacrity with which you came forward in de-
fence Of those institutions and The valor with which
-unaided by any military force-yon overcame the
united efforts Of treason, and of awless aggression,
have indeed, nobly won for you the appreciation OF
your Gracious Sovereign, and the admiration Of
yonr fellow subjects inevery part OF the wide extend
ed British Empire.
In that admiration, even when far distant from
you, participated most warmly and il was source
of high qualification 10 me TO be selected as Her Ma
jesty's Representative among the people who have
thus eminenty distinguished themselves
IL is not my purpose 10 enter here into review
Of the circumstances which, before my arrival, had
disturbed your peace, and compelled you 10 defend,
in arms your dearest rights. 1t is necessary, how
ever that should briefly advert TO subsequent oc-
currences; in order to show you how unceasing my
desire has been, whilst extending to the criminal au
hors of the past disturbances the utmost leny that
prudence would permit to tranquilize your feelings,
and TO provide for your security.
The insurrectionary movements in this province
having been completely quelled by your activity and
energy, the object Of first importance that presented
itself to my consideration, on assuming the charge
of the Government was the treatment TO be pursued
towards those who on either their own confession,
or after the most impartial trials had been convicted
of the highest cfence of which man, as member of
society, can be guilty, and in accordance both with
~ - Maioc tv'S
and with my own desire of tempering Justice with
Mercy, suffered the extreme penalty OF the law 10
be afflicted only on tro Of the most prominent and
guilty members of the late rebellion, trusting that
such awful example might be sufficient 10 impress
on the crime of Treason its proper stamp; and that
a graduated scale OF punishment, adapted as nearly
as possible TO the circumstances OF the several cases
might safely be resorted TO in other instances.
The petitions tor mercy; the assurance Of contri
ton the promises of amendment and the professions
Of revived feelings of loyalty which poured in upon
me, from or on behalf of those who had yielded 10
false representations and had thus incurred the for
feiure Of their lives warrant me in concluding that
hs Of mersy on the Part q , the s Eas
tary effects anticipated from it, had not the
justifabe interference by portion OF the inhabi-
tans of neighboring country, in your affairs, which
had so culpably contributed to the former disturb
ances, partially rekindled the fame that was about
TO expire, and engendered delusive expectation
that, by means of cooperation without, more
cessful effort might be made by the traitorious and
disloyal, to shake off their allegiance 10 their sove
reign ..
invasion of your soil was attempted by few worth
less refugees in conjunction with lawlesS bandiu
whose immediate object was the plumber and devas-
tation Of the province, while their Interior hope
TO rend forever that tie which binds it to the Pa
rent State.
Thus called on again to arm in defence Of every
thing dear to you, your success in repellng this
cond act of aggression was not less signal than it
LalI 4a.
Instructions nor were your gallantry, your loyalty
and your humanity less conspicuously displayed,
than they had already been on that memorable oc-
cason.
In the disposal of the prisoners taken at this pc
circumstances presented themselves which
rendered my duty in the lenient
which Her Majesty advisers had before prescribed;
and on an occasion calling as loudly for some exam
pie OF rigor any that has probably ever occurred
in the annals of mankind, capital punishment was
inflicted in one solitary instance only.
1t might reasonably have been expected after the
repeated failure Of the attempts Of the confederateS
praseworthy forbearance from acts of vengeance or
retaliation, that not only all thought OF further hos
iy against you would have been abandoned in
hopeless despair, but that better tone OF feeling
would have succeeded.
The comparative state Of tranquility which followe d
the last aborve attempt at invasion, did in fact
rage to hope that peace with general harmony and
good feeling, would be restored to the Province
To my deep disappointment, however, have learnt
from various sources, moro or less authentic, that, re-
CARELESS Of the friendly relations subsisng between
Her Majesty's Government and that Of the United
States, and stimulated by the worst passions and
tves, number Of American citizens along from
tier, have formed secret combination for another
sion Of these Provinces and that preparations on an
extensive SCALE for carrying this unprncped enterprise
into execution at this moment, in active progress
is further stated, that the members of this unholy
union communicate by certain mystic signs-that they
I.f. L. IL
amongst them some individuals of influence; and are
one and all bound by uniapfni oath to plumber you
OF your property-to destroy your Instutons-and to
sever your connection with the mother country.
Though large allowances are to be made for exaggc-
rated interested statements and though is known
that the traitors within and their partisans without
mutually decevng each other and are falsely using the
names OF individuals Of station and responsibility, in
order 10 give some colorng to their wicked conspiracy
yet deem it proper to promulgate that such nformas
ton has reached me- calls for the adoption OF pecau-
onary measures for averting, if possible, an impend
ing mischief, or for promptly defeating II, should 1t
actually occur.
Relying on tho amity and good faith OF the American
Government have made to it, through the medium of
Her Mscsty's Minister, at Washington, such repre-
sensations as will, trust ensure its immediate and
decisive interference, in suppressng these outrageous
proceedings Of its border citizens
have likewise written TO thesoffcers OF the United
States Army, commanding The frontier whose homo
rable profession, and personal characters claim
urging them vigorously second the efforts
Of their Government by the employment Of every means
that may be at their disposal.
II is but reasonable also, when the base design Of
unprovoked aggression shall become generally
known throughout the Union, that should look with
full confidence the great body Of its respectable c
zens TO their country from the lasting dscrcdn
that would be cn,ailed il by the actual commission
Of the hostile acts contemplated by centious portion
Of its population, and the proceedings incident TO which