Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-10-19

dubious authority that the present danger can be aver
ted the foundation laid Of better order Vi h'"s'
had reason 10 believe that was armed WIN an 't'e
power which thought requisite, by the commissions
and instructions under the Royal sign msnua,' T,,
which | was charged as Governor oeneIa' aHu - |
Commissoner-by The authority vested ~ e 4',u H." ~
council by the Act of the Imperial Legislature ana ny
the general appreciation Of my appointment WING" "
parties pleased to express also .fusuu wa. 1
should enjoy, throughout the course Oh MY aor'ia
ton all the strength which The cordial aud sleadias sup
port of the authorities home can alone give TO thef
distant officers; and that even party feeling would re.
fiain from molesng whilst occupied III maintaining
the integrity Of The British Empire. .
In these Just expectations have been painiuiy as
appointed From the cOmUlencemcnt OF my task, The |
minulcsl details oil my ADMINISTRATION have been expos
ed TO iDcessan criticism, IN sptl winch has eVihceu
an entire ignorance OF the state OF this county, ana OF
the only mode in which the Supremacy OF The Bri'ish
Crown can here be upheld and exercised. nose VINO
have in the British Legislature Systematically dePreci'
aed my powers and the ministers OF The Crown ny the
tact acquescence therein have produced The ehecl OF
making i, too clear that my authority is inadequate Tor
the emergency which called it into existence AT length
an act of my Government, tine first and most important
which was brought under the notice Of the authorities at
home has been annuled and the entire policy {" when
that act small though essential part, has mus
been defeated
The disposal of the political prisoners was from the
frs, matter foreign TO my mission. Win we" 10
the more easy attainment Of the great objects contem
plated that question ought 10 have been settled before
my arrival But it essential 10 my plans Tor the
| should commence by aayrg actual irritation, had
in the frs. place 10 determine the fate Of those who were
under prosecution and 10 provide Tor The present secu
rly Of the Province by removing The most dangerous
ds,urbers Of lis peace For these ends the ordinary
tribunals, trial has Clearly shown, afford
ed means. Judicial proceedings would only
have agitated The public mind aresh-wou'd have
put in evidence the sympathy OF large portion OF
the people with rebeliion-and would have given 10
the disaiected generally fresh assurance OF impu'
nifty for political guilt, An acqual in the face Of The
ceaest evidence, which am justified in having auiicl.
plted inevitable, would have set the immediate lead:
ers Of the instruction liberty absolved from and
exalted in The eyes OF their dended counynen, as Tie
innocent victims of unjust Imprisonment and vim.
diclive charge. looked on these as mschleis which
was bound avert by the utmost exercise OF The powers
entrusted 10 could not, without tria and cunvic.
ton take any Of purely penal caracter but
thought myself justified in avalling myself o! an acknow
ledgment Of guilt and adopting measures OF precaut!on
against small! number of the cupah!e most dan.
gerous Of the accused. To all The resi- | extended
complete amnesty.
Whether better mode OF acting could have been de-
vised for The emergency now mmaterai THIS IS Tie
one that has been adop,ed-'hc discussion which it at
first excited had passed awayand those who were once
most inclined 10 condemn lis enlency, had acquiesced
in or submitted 10 it, The good effects which must ne
cessary have resulted from any settlement Of this diff
cult question, had already begun 10 show themselves
OF these the principal the general approval of my
policy by the people 1.-THE United States, and The conse
ouent cessation of American sympathy with any attempt
to disturb tie Canadas This result, has been most gra
rying to me, naslnuch it has gone far towards CEN
plte restoration Of that good w;l between you and
great and kindred nation, which | have taken every
means in my power To cultivate and which earnestly
enlreat you TO cherish essential TO your peace and
prosperity.
/, is asu very satisfactory to 10 find that Tie rec
ude of my policy has hardly been disputed home, and
that the dsallowance Of the Ordinance proceeds from
doubt Of its substantial merits but from the mpoI lance
which has been attached TO supposed technical in
the assumption Of power which, fl had II not ought
10 have had
The particular defect in The Ordinance which has been
made the ground OF lis dsalowance occasoned not
BY my mstaking the extent Of my powers but by my re-
lance the readiness of Parliament to supply their IN
sucency in Of need For the purpose OF relieving
the prisoners from all appe!ersions OF being treated az
ordinary convics, and The loyal inhabitants Of the Pro-
vince from the dread Of their immediate return, words
were inserted in the Ordinance respecting the disposal Of
them in Bermuda which were known TO be imperative
was perfectly aware that my powers extended TO land
inn the prisoners the shores Of Bermuda but no fur
Their knew that they could not be Orciby detained IN
that island without ir co'"ea alton Of the Imperial o
gsa,ure Thst cooperation had right 10 expect, be-
cause the course was pursuing was pointed out IN nu
merous Acts Of the Imperial and Provincin Legislatures
as shall have occasion hereafter most fully to prove
also did belle We that even il had not the preccdents
of these Acts Of Parliament Government and l-cgis
la,ure anxious for the peace al this unhappy country
und for The integrity Of The British Empire would not
sacrifice to petty lechrcalty the vast benefits which
my entire policy promised, and had already IN great
measure secured trusted they would take care that
great aud benecent purpose should no, be frustrated oy
any error if error there was, which they could recuy
or The want of any power which they could supply
finally that if they found Tie Ordinance imperative
they would give it eicc,-if Illegal that they would
make it law.
This small mid has not been extended to me- even FOR
this great object; and the usefulness uf my delegated
power expes with the loss OF that support from the su
ptene authority which cord alone sustain il The inca
annulled was hut part OF large system OF
measures, which promised when proclaimed The an
nesty When sought to cb!iterate the traces OF recent
dscord pledged myself 10 remove lis calscs-io pre-
vent the revival of contest between hostile raccs-to
raise the defective institutions Of Lower Canada TO the
level of British civilization and reedon-to remove all
impedinens to the Of British enterprise in this
PROVINCE and promote cn!oniztl!on and improvement III
the ohers-ard consolidate these general benefits on
the strong aud permanent basis o. Tree, eSPohso!e
and comprehensive govetninrht
Such large promises could not have been ycntured,
without perfect reliance the unhcsitnng aid OF the
surteme authorities OF what avail are the purposes
and promises Of delegated power whose acts are M"
respected by The authority from which ut procceds:-
With what confidence can invite cooperation or I'M
pose forbeaance, whilst touch ancient laws and habits
as well deep rooted abuses, with The weakened hanus
that have Intellectually ycd hui little more than the
ordinary vigour Of the police OF troubled times:
How mn 10 provide against the immediate effects OF
Tie dsallowence Of the Ordinance? That Ordinance
was intimately connected with other which re-
main in unrestricted operation 1t coupled with Her
Majesty S proclamation Of amnesty; and rs judged 1t
becoming that the extraordinary Legislature OF Lower
Canada should take upon itself all measures OF rigorous
prccaution aud leave TO ei Majesty the congenal Office
of using her Royal Prerogave, for tie sole purpose o!
pardon and mercy the Proclamation contained an entire
amnesty qualified only by the exceptions speciiedin The
Ordinance. The Ordinance has been diss Having been
Proclamation confirmed: 90 HE exceptions, the amnes.
advised ,9 GGFq Qualification No mpedimen, therefore
exists the of persons who had made the most
distinct admission Of guilt, or who had been excluded by
ME from the Province Of the danger TO which
its tranquility would be exposed by their presence; and
mono N enacted, adoption
sures alike repugnant my Of uslics and Of policy