North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-07-10

sW0fe That capt. Disney was the one VINO
had said " damned rascal, let me approach
him and shall soon put an end TO him
with my sword" although this same ac-
compIice had sworn to the fact that he hal
been enticed TO Join this murderous crew
by Capt. Disney, Lieutenant Toitenham
and Simon Evans, and that it was at the
solicitation of Sergeant Meas that he had
gone 10 see these gentlemen, and that they
had forced him to take an oath never 10
disclose any thing about this Transaction;
although il was clearly proved that it was
SERGEANT Meas who with Ratchet gave
to Mr. Walker a blow on the head, and
that the one who inflicted the wound on
Mr.. Walkers back as said before, was a
man named Donelley who had boastcd oft
in Mr.. Walkers own presence and that II
was Sergeant Rogers who had cnt the ear,
all these testimonies were of no conse-
quence in the eyes Of the petty jury who
valued so highly the honor of English Off
GERS. The PRISONERS were honoraby &C
quilted of all accusations against them
The soldier named MacGovock who had
turned Kings evidence had also said on
his oath that after he had taken the oath
administered to him by Capt. Disney, he
had been introduced into a room where
were the Captains Campbell and Frazer,
Lieutenant Colonel Christie, Monsieur
St. Luc Lacorne, and Mr.. Joseph Howard.
Mr.. Du Calvet informs US in the
preface Of his excellent memoir that all in
quest and discussion about this uniortu-
nate business was stopt in the public prints
of Quebec by order Of the government so
as TO protect the honor of the military
body.
Thus as early as 1867, partial jnries
could be found in Canada to protect the
military in their despo,lc and murderous
design. This sad example OF corruption
in iuries has never since been forgotten in
the Colony, and we shall have occasion ii
the course Of this history to show thai
more than once they had recourse to MOCK
trials or to total denial OF justice, TO screer
the military from punishment Tor their un
Just inirngcments OF civil law.
We must now return TO the introduction
Of English laws into the Province. The
first session of the Court Of Common Plea
; was held on the 21st January 1865, il
the Council room. On the 23rd day oil
, same month an order from the Court wa
sent to the BaiIiis and under-Baifls Il
prepare themselves for the discharge o
their duties, by taking the oath Of ollic
5 before one Of the Justices Of the Peace il
? their neighborhood. The Canadians 500
! opened their eyes to the real state of things
f and it was not long before great numbe
( Of the English themselves saw the evj
resulting from the introduction of tn
2 new laws which were superior to th
f French laws in no respect save in crimnd
5 aud commercial cases. A good number c
d the English population, even as early q
G 1865, joined the French people to petitio
i the King to have House of Assembl
= which would consult the wants Of the pull
t lie and would enact laws less repugnan
!, and more cOngenial to the desire ana we
!, fare OF the Canadians, and would thu
e calm the anxiety OF the people. Such col
), duct on the part of the King according
i the petitioners would be but an act
Justice which would contribute to preser,
sc the Colony to the Mother Country. Til
e petition, like many others in alter-im
:, was disregarded, and Canada continue
l, to be governed by laws of which the PEI
n pie Understood nothing.
r, On the lst March Of the same yea
n Governor Murray issued ProclamatiC
ID to make known the terms and condition
IS under which land could be obtained in Il
" Province. We shall here give the conc
5, tons which were then announced, becau
III we shall have occasion to speak OF the e
IN cessive waste and robberies which to-
n place in the distribution Of public land
m Those conditions were that man with