Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-01-13

uiotdfCC tTOul ttlc PldCe VI flOiuiiiS thS
election, that the expense and loss OF time
in travelling 40 or SO miles, would be
so great that their means would not per-
nit them to go SO far, besides running
the risk Of getting their heads broken
by mobs Of Orangemcn.
{ So much for the elections of Upper
Canada. The people have borne all this
peaceably and patiently, for a long time,
from their attachment TO the Crown, at
the same time hoping they would have
better times. They thought change
ofiheir Chief Magistrate, might perhaps
have good effect, and alter things for
the better.
Gov. Gore, therefore, was removed.
after having lived a few years in Upper
Canada sufficiently long, however, TO
sanction few of The enactments of the
Tory Parliament, such as the Gag Bill,
Alien Bill, Silver Plate Bill, &c. The
Gag Bill was law prohibiting every
man from speaking his sentiments pub
licly in any way dlsrespectlul of the gov.
ernment.
The treatment which Robert Gourlay
received for attempting to address
meeting on this subject, may perhaps
be familiar to many at the present time.
Sir Peregrine Maitland, another Brit
ish officer, was now sent across The At
lantic as successor TO Gore. A man Of
the same stamp as his late EXcellency
and with him came score or two OF
half pdy British oGcers, and Govern
ment hirelings. These were immedi
ately appointed Magistrates, and some
three of them were made Hon. Lcgisla-
tive Councillors. This course of con-
duct, adopted by the new Governor, did
not please the people But suppose
Sir Pcregrine thought that as he did moi
receive his Office from the people, he was
under no obligations to them, and acted
accordingly. Thus every thing went on
in its former wickedness, to the dlsap-
pointment, Inconvenience and suffering
of the people.
During the last year or Two of Sir
Peregrine's administration, the people
began TO petition TO the Home Govern
ment for aredress of their grievances, in
which w. L. Mckenzie. the late james
Durand, M. S. Bidwel, and many 9TH
ers took an active part.
A petition was got up and signed by
10000 freeholders in Upper Canada,
praying that His Majesty would permit
them to hold elections in the different
townships, that they might all have ac-
cess 10 the election polls, and that they
might vote for ballot, which would ena
bic them TO have more equal lepresen-
tation. They likewise prayed that their
representative might elect the legislative
council, and justices Of the Peace. They
also represented to his Majesty that the
Governor sent among them men TO act
as Justices OF the Peace who were over
bearing and naughty, whose manners
were perfectly odious TO them, and that
they could not get Justice at their hands.
Likewise, most of them were foreign
crs, and entirely unacquainted with their
wants and necessities. About three
fourths ofihc Magis,racy Of Upper Can
ada, is made up Of British half pay off
GERS, an arbitrary, aristocraiic set of be-
ings, who, in Great Britain had not the
means 10 live in such style as they wish
ed, emigratcd to Canada, there TO get
the appointment Of Justice Of the Peace
upon the promise Il suppose) that they
would support the little aristocracy. and
exercise absolute authority over the elcc-
tions, &c.
This petition was sent to the Home
Government, and at the same time re-
monstrance. signed by all The Eclesias-
tics, Judges, SheriGs, Magistrates, &c.
in Upper Canada, was carried home by |
some two or three Of the Tories.
What ever became Of these petitions
i never heard, bot probably they died
natural death on the other side OF the At
iantic.
Shordyalter this, Sir Peregrlnc Matt
land was removed, and Sir John Col
borne was palmed upon the people for
their Governor. The little aristocracyl
probably thought that by changing Gov
ernors every seven or eight years, the
people could be kept in ignorance Of
their evil doings, and all would go on
smoothly.
Sir John, il istrue, was entitled to a
little more credit than any Of his pre-
deccssors, as lie is said to have been.
in several engagements in the Peninsu-
lar war, and after his arrival, he really
appeared TO take an interestin Canadian