The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-17
THE DECLARATION OF THE CANADIANS

THE DECLARATIONS OF THE CANADIANS
A manifesto has been issued by the insurgents in
Lower Canada, declaratory of their objects, OF which
the following is copy =
DECLARATION.
WHEREAS the solemn covenant made with the peo-
pie OF Lower and Upper Canada, and recorded in
the Statute Book Of the United Kingdom Of Great
Britain and Ireland the 3lst Chapter of the act
passed in the 3ls year Of the Reign OF King George
III, hath been continually violated by the British
Government, and our rights usurped and whereas
humble petitions addresses, protests and remon
straRces against this injurious and unconstitutional
interference, have been made in vain, and the Bri
fish Government hath disposed Of our revenue with
out the constitutional consent OF the Local Leglsia-
ture piilaged our Treasury, arrested great numbers
of our citizens and committed them to prison, dis
tributed through the country mercenary army,
whose presence is accompanied by CONSERVATION and
alarm, whose track is red with the blood of our peo
pie, who have laid our villages in ashes profaned
our Temples and spread terror and waste through.
out the land. And whereas we no longer suffer
tbs EspeAIea FAHsAi"Ss Tower Canada, We in the
name Of the PEOPLE OF LOWER CANADA,
acknowledge the decree of divine providence
which permits us to put down a Government which
hath abused the object and intention for which it
created and to make choice Of that form of Govern
nent which shall reestablish the empire of Justice
assure domestic tranquility provide for common
defence, promote general good, and secure to us
and our postery the advantage Of civil and religious
liberty, ".-
-. soLEMNLY DECLARE;
l. That from this day forward the PEOPLE OF
LOWER CANADA are absolved from all allegi-
ance to Great Britain and that the political
ion between that power and Lower Canada is now
dissolved. m.
3 That REPUBLICAN, form of Government
is best suited to Lower Canada which is this day de-
clared to be REPUBLIC.
g. That under the Free Government of Lower
Canada, all persons shall enjoy the same rights the
Indians shall no longer be under any civil disquali-
fca,ion, but shall enjoy the rights as all other
citizens of Lower Canada
4. That all union between Church and State is
hereby declared to be DISSOLVED, and every per-
shall be at liberty freely exercise such reli
gion or belief as shall be dictated to him by his con-
science.
5. That the Feuda or Seigniorial tenure of land
is hereby abolished completely as if such tenure
had never existed in Canada.
6. That each and every person who shall bear
arms, or otherwise furnish assistance the people of
Canada in this contest for emancipation shall be- and
is, discharged from all debts due obligations real
or supposed for arrrearages in virtue of Seigniorial
rights heretofore existing
T. That the Donare Coutumier is for the future
abolished and prohibited
g. That Imprisonment for debt shall no longer ex-
ls excepting in such cases of fraud as shall be spe
Gifted in an act to be passed hereafter by the LegSla-
tnre OF Lower Canada for this purpose
g. That the sentence of death shall no longer be
10. That mortgages on landed estate shall be spe-
cia and to be valid, shall be unregistered in Offices
70 De created Tor this purpose by act of the Legis
lature of Lower Canada
H. That the liberty and freedom of the press shall
exist in all public matters and affairs
IL. That TRIAL BY JURY is guaranteed 10 the
People Of Lower Canada in its most extended and
hoetai sense IN all criminal suits and in civil suits
aooVe sum to be fixed by the Legislature of the
sta;e OF LOWER CANADA
ID That as General and public Education is ne
ceSSary, and due by the Government and the people
an act to provide for the same shall be passed as
soon as the circumstances of the country will per-
IA. That to secure the elective franchise, all cleo
Hons shall be had BY BALLOT
10 That with the least possible DELAY the people
Stai choose Delegates according to the present dv-
'on Oh me country, into Counties, Towns, and Boz
iousaS VINO shall constitute Convention or Legis-
a., Awe bedy, to establish Constitution according to
wants oil the Country, and in conformity with the
disposition of this Declaration subject to be modified
according to the will of the people
10 That every male person of the age Of 81 years
a upwards shall have The right of voting as herein
gates 'o e'e"' VI ''e 'o'esaiu ueie
-. That all Crown Lands also such as are called
80 sy reserves, and such as are nominallv in pos
SESSION = OF a certain COMPANY of L,andholders in
cn nSahu called the " British North American Land
Ioapany, are OF right the property of the State Of
IonS canada, except such portions Of the aforesaid
the sara may De IN possession of persons who hold
sncnsn Iie IN good faith, and to whom titles shall be
h. uIca and granted by virtue of a law which shall
fr "aC'ed to lcgalize the possession Of and title
uch untitled lots Of land in the townships ne arc
Is cultivation or improvement Wv
ho 10 ,. mat the French and English ANNOUNCES shall,
pe USED IN all public affairs e'"se' onah
the snnn". .ne iulhment of this Declaration and for
~ aP o' The Patriotic cause in which we arc
WIN firm reliance on the protection