Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-01-13
i; For the Maumee Express.
UPPER CANADA, AND CANADIAN
~ GRIEVANCES.

arms against the British Government, in
defence Of their rights, and as tits mat
ter in which many on this side the wa
tiers feel an interest, though they appear
to know but little about the grievances
of the Canadians, ii may perhaps be sat-
isfactory for them to know on what
grounds the people have arrayed ihem-
selves against the little aristocracy OF
Upper Canada. ! will therefore attempt
to give an account OF few Of the many
difficulties under which the Canadians
have been struggling for many years
past. n
| am native of Upper Canada, was
born at the head of Lake Ontario, now
Hamilton, in the District Of Gore. 1
have lived there twenty-six years, and
for twelve years past have had good
opportunity of becoming familiar with
the operations of the Government party,
my father having been memberof Par
lament for sixteen years, and in public
life in Upper Canada some thirty years.
Shortly al;cr the war between Great
Britain and the United States was closed,
a proud, tyrannicaI, imperious British
officer by the name of Gore, was sent
over from Great Britain to govern the
people Of Upper Canada. He was Of
course, as every foreigner must necessa.
rily be. entirely ignorant of the wants of
the people and Of the country, having
never seen either, previous 10 his arri
val
The first thing he did was TO ask the
advice Of The little aristocracy at York,
(now Toronto) in what manner he
should proceed. This aristocracy was
principally made up of some Of the Bit
tcreSt Tories and their sons, who fled to
Canada for protection during the revolu.
lion. These wicked aspiring aristocrats
in order that they might fatten them.
selves upon the labors Of the poor, and
wallow in every kind of wealth and lux
ury, told His Excellency the People
wanted this, and the People wanted that
he. not knowing any thing about the
country or the peoples wants, took it for
granted that all was right when at the
same TIME, almost every law that was
made was in direct opposition to the
wishes and feelings of the people.
The majority Of the House of Par
Lament at tina, time being composed OF
Ministerial Sycophants and the Legisla-
tive Council being chosen by his Excel
cncy Governor Gore, must consequent
ly be made up of the right kind of mate.
rial 10 perpetuate the little Oligarchy.-
His Excel'ency has also the power and
exclusive right TO appoint Justices of
the Peace, Sherilis, Judges ofthe differ.
cnt courts, Grand Jurors, Constables, in
short, every officer in the land except
the members Of the lower House. These
are chosen eve y four years by the free
holders. The election occupies six days,
and is held only in one place in each
county, many of the counties being sew
enty miles in extent, so that in all proba-
billy more than one third of the electors
in the province are not represented, be-
ing unable TO travel so great distance
to give in their suffrages. But the Gov
ernment candidates have always had
their runners out with wagons and car
ages, in al. directions, 10 bring their
voters to the polls. free of all charges,
OF expenses, besides paying all their tav-
ern bills &c. have known the election
of many Of these supercilious monsters
of in:quity, to have cost them several
thousand dollars. This same money, |
am fully convinced, is indirectly paid by
the Government, and ultimately comes
out of the poor mans pocket.
AT these elections the votes are given
in by word Of mouth, at a place fitted
up for the purpose, something like Bar,
in which are seated the candidates and
the returning officer, whose duty it is TO
ask the voter as, he approaches the Bar,
for whom he wishes to vote. The voter
replies, For Mr.. Upon what
lot Of land do you vote l vote on Iot
No. in conccssion-andi inthe
township of This the voter
swears TO, If the returning officer re-
quiresit. His name is then registered
with the other items, by the clerk Of the
Polls. it is customary then for the can
didates for whom he voted tothank
him for his support, and if he is an or
dinary man, to give him shilling or
two to treat himself with.
1t is likewise a very common thing at
these elections, for the Tory candidates
to have Orange Mobs stationed at the
POLLS to insult, and frequently knock
down the independent voters, TO prevent