Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-10-19

pointed out in numerous acts of The impe-
rial and provincial legislatures, as | shall
have occasion hereafter mos, fully TO prove.
also DID believe. that even if had not
the precedcnts Of these acts Of parliament,
government and legislature anxious Tor
the peace of this unhappy country, and Tor
the integrity of the British Empire, would
not sacrifice 10 petty technlcalIty the vast
benefits which my entire policy promised,
and had already in great measure secur'
ed. trusted they would take care that
great and benecent purpose should not be
frustrated by any error, if error there was.
which they could reclify, or the want OF
any power which they could supply; finally,
that if they found the ordinance Inopera-
tive, they would give it effect-if illegal,
that they would make it law.
This small aid has no; been extended 10
me, even for this great object; and the
usefulness Of my delegated powers expires
with the loss Of that support from the SUI
preme authority which could alone sustain
it. The measure now annulled was but
part Of large system Of measures, which
promised when proclaimed the amnesty.
When sought to obterate the traces Of
recent dlscord, pledged myself to remove
its causes to prevent the revival Of con.
test between hostile races--to raise the
defective institutions Of Lower Canada, 10
the level OF British civilization and freedom,
Ito remove all impedlmenls to the course
Of British enterprise in this province, and
promote colonization ana Improvement in
| the others and to consolidate these gene
raj benefits on the strong and permanent
basis Of a free, responsible and comprehen-
| sive government.
Such large promises could not have been
ventured without perfect reliance on the
unhcsaling aid of the supreme authorities.
! Of what avail are the purposes and PROM.
ses Of delegated power, whose acts are
not respected by the authority from which
it proceeds, With what confidence can
invite cooperation, or impose forbearancc,
while touch ancient laws and habits, as
well as deep rooted abuses, with the weak
ened hands that have Intellectually essayed
but little more than the ordinary vlgor
of the police of troubled times?
How am to provide against the imme-
date effects Of the ordinance? That ordi-
nance was intimately connected with other
measures which remain in unrestricted OPP
GRAFTON. II was coupled with her ma esty's
proclamation of amnesty; and as judged
it becoming that the extraordinary egisa.
tur3 Of Lower Canada should take upon
itself all measures Of rigorous precaution,
and leave to her majesty The congenal of
fee of using her royal prerogative, for the
sole purpose Of pardon and mercy. the
proclamal ion contained an entire amnesty.
qualified only by the exceptions specified
| 10 ho H..
disallowed, and the proclamation is con.
firmed. Her majesty having been advised
to refuse her assent 10 the exceptions, the
amnesty exists without qualification. No
impeachment therefore exists 10 the return
of the persons who had made the most dis.
tnct admission Of guilt, or who had been
excluded by me from the province on &C.
count of the danger to which its tranquility
would be exposed by their presence and
none can now be enacted, without adoption
of measures alike repugnant to my sense
of justice and policy. | cannot recall the
irrevocabIe pledge Of her majestys mercy.
cannot attempt to cvade the dsalowance
of the ordinance, by re.enacting it under
the disguise of an alteration of the scene
of Punishment, or Of the penalties of unau.
thorized return. cannot by needless
suspension of the habeus corpus. put tho
personal liberty Of every man at the mercy
of the government, and declare n whole
province in immediate danger of rebellion.
merely in order TO exercise the influence of
a vague terror over a few individuals
10 these conflicting and painful circum.
stances It is far better hat should at once
distinctly announce my intention of desist.
ing from the vain attempt TO carry my pol.
| icy and system Of administration into effect
with such inadequate and restricted means.
If the peace of Lower Canada is TO be
again menaced, it is necessary that lis gov
eminent should reckon on more cordial
and vigorous support at home than has
been accorded to me. No good that may
not be expected from any other government
10 Lower Canada can be Obtained by nv
continuing to WELD extraordinary legal
powers OF which the moral force and con-
slderatlon are gone.
You will easily believe that, after all the
exerlons which | have made, it is with
feelings of deep disappointment tina, find
myself thus suddenly deprived of The power
of comforting great benefits on that Pro-
vince to which have referred, of reform.
ing the administrative system there and
Graduating the manifold abuses which had
been engcndered by the negligence and
corruption OF former times, and so lament.
ably toslercd by civil dlssensions. lcannot
but regret being obliged to renounce he
still more glorious hope of employing unu.
suai Legislative powers in the endowment
OF that Province with those free Municipal
institutions, which are the only sure basis
OF local Improvement and representative
Iberly,-ol establishing a system of gen.
eraI Education.-of revising the defective
Laws which regulate real property and
commerce. and of introducing pure and
competent administration of Justice
Above all, | UrlpVe tn no Tins forood A.,