North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-07-31

'ii 10 tsihboiti4 w ttNtl8I ctItlfltI1@ on
the administration OF government, its rca-
dv communication OF thoughts between
subjects, and It's consequential promotion
OF union among them, whereby oppressive
officers are shamed or inundated. into
more honorable and Just modes Of conduc-
ting affairs.
These are the invaluable rights, that
form a considerable part Of our mild sys
tenn OF government that, sending lis
equitable energy through all ranks and
classes Of men, defends the poor from the
rich, the weak from the powerful, the in
dnstrious from the rapacious, the peaceable
from the violent, the tenants from the
lords, and all from their superors.
These are the rights, without which a
people cannot be free and happy, and IN
der the protecting and encouraging influ-
ence Of which, these colonies have hitherto
50 amazingly ilourished and increased
These are The rights, prohigate ministry
are now striving, by force Of arms, TO raw
ish from us, and which we are, with one
mind, resolved never to resign but with our
lives.
These are the rights you are entitled to,
and ought, at this moment in perfection,
To exercise. And what is offered 10 Won
by the late act Of parliament in their place !?
Liberty Of conscience in your religion /?
No. God gave it to you and the tenn
poral powers with which you have been
and are connected, firmly stipulated for
your enjoyment of it. FLAWS, divine and
human, could secure it against the despo-
tic caprces of wicked men, i, was secured
before. Are the French laws in civil cases
restored : 1t seems so. But observe the
cautious kindness Of the ministers, who
pretend to be your benetactors. The
words Of the statute are-that those claws
" shall be the rule, until they shall be vari-
I" ed or altered by any ordinances Of the
governor and council" Is the " Ger
" tainty and lenity Of the criminal law OF
" England and its benefits and advanta-
ges," commended in the said statute,
"-nd said Ito have been sensiby felt by
8 ou," secured to you and your descen-
dants? No They TOO are subjected to
arbitrary alterations" by the governor
and council; and power is expressly re-
served OF appointing such courts of cri-
minal, civil, and ecclesiastical jurisdiction,
as shall be thought proper" Such is the
precarious tenure Of mere will, by which
you hold your lives and religion. The
crown and its ministers, are empowered as
far as they could be by parliament, to es -.
tabllsh even the inquisition itself among
you. Have you an assembly composed Of
worthy men, elected by yourselves, and in
whom you can confide, 10 make laws for
tn nt r. r..
drec! IN what quantity, and in what man
ner, your money shall be taken from YOU?
No. The power Of making laws for you
is lodged in the governor and council, all
of them dependant upon, and removable
at the pleasure of a minister. Besides,
another late statute, made without YOUR
consent, has subjected you to the imposi-
tons OF excise; the horror of all free states;
thus wrestling your property from you by
the most odlous OF taxes, and LAYING open
to insolent tax-gatherers, houses, the
scenes Of domestic peace and comfort, and
called the castles OF English subjects in the
books Of their law. And in the very act
for altering your government, and intend
ed to tiattcr you, you are not authorised 10
" assess, levy, or apply any rates and taxes,
but tor the inferior purposes OF making
roads, and erecting and repairing public
buildings, or for other local conveniences,
within your respective towns and districts"
Why this degrading Distinction Ought
not the property, honestly acquired by
Canadians, to be held as sacred as that of
Englshmen? Have not Canadians sense
enough to attend to any other public al,
fairs, than gathering stones from one place,
and piing them up in another I'm
happy people! who are not only in
jured, but insuIted. Nay more -
With such a superlative contempt
Of your understanding and spirit, has an
insolence ministry presumed TO think of
you, our respectable FELLOWSHIP ects, &C
cording to the information we have re-
ceived, as firmly to persuade themselves
that your gratitude, for the injuries and
insults they have recently offered to you,
will engage you 10 take up arms, and ren>
der yourselves the ridicuIe and detesta-
ton OF the world, by becoming tools, in
their hands, 10 assist them in taking that
freedom from US, which they have treacher-
ously denied TO you; the unavoidable con-
sequence Of which attempt, j! successful,
would be The extinction OF all hopes Of YOU
or your pOsterity being ever restored TO
freedom: For idiocy itself cannot believe,
that, when their drudgery is performed,
they will treat you with less cruelty than
Il l. S,fs -, r.