Southern marksman., 1839-01-08
CANADIAN DECLARATION OF IN
DFpFNDENCE.

INDEPENDENCE put forth by the Patriots of
Lower Canada. 1t is impossible for
freeman not to wish success to the deien-
ders of the principles embraced IN IT but
II would be extremely wrong for any oil our
citizens 10 ieopardize the peaceful rela-
tions Of the United States so far as TO aid
the rebel subjects of Great Britain in their
attempt TO throw off their allegiance:
DECLARATION.
WurREAs. the solemn covenant made
with the people of Lower and Upper Can
ada. and recorded in the Statute Book OF
the United Kingdoms of Great Britain
and Ireland, as the 3lst Chapter OF the
act passed in the 3lst year Of the Reign
Of King George III, hath been continual
lv Violated by the British Government,
md our RIGHTS usurped; and whereas our
humble petitions, addresses, protests and
remonstrances against this injurious and
unconstitutional interference have been
made in vain. and the British Government
hath disposed of our revenue without the
constitutional consent of the Local Legs
lature, pilaged our Treasury, arrested
| great numbers of our citizens, and CONS
mitted them to prison, distributed through
| the country a mercenary army, whose
presence is accompanied by CONSERVATION
! and alarm, whose tracks are red with the
tblood of our people, who have lad our VII
ilsues in ashes, proclaimed our Temples,
and spread terror and waste through the
| land. And, whereas, we can no longer
suffer the repeated violation OF our dear
est rights. and patiently support the multi
nlied ontraces and cruelties Of the GoV5
ernment Of Lower Canada,-WE. in the
| name of the PEOPLE OF LOVER
| CANADA, acknowledging the decrees of
4 divine Providence which permits Us TO
nut down a Government which hath abus-
ed the object and intention for which It was
created. and TO make choice OF that form
/ of Government which shall re-ess.
tablish the empire of Justice, assure do
mestic tranquility, provide for common de-
fence. promote general good, and secure
to us and our posterity the advantage of
civil and religious liberty.
SOLEMNLY DECLARE.
/. That from this day forward, the
PEOPLE OF LOWER CANADA are
absolved from all allegiance to Great Bri-
tian, and that the political connection bex
tween the power and lower Canada is
now dissolved.
! 2. That REPUBLICAN form OF Gov
ernnlent is best suited TO Lower Canada,
which is this day declared to be A RE-
| PUBLIC.
3. That under the Free Government of
| Lower Canada, all persons shall enjoy the
same rights, the Indians shall no longer
be under any civil disqualification, bur
shall enjoy the same rights as all other
citizens of Lower Canada.
g. That all union between Church and
State is hereby declared to be DiSSOLV-
ED, and every person shall be at liberty
freely to exercise such religion or belief as
shall be dictated to him By conscience.
5. That the Feudalor Seignorial tenure
of land is hereby abolished as completely
as if such tenure had never existed IN
Canada.
6. That each and every person who
shall bear arms, or otherwise furnish as
sstance to the people Of Canada in this
contest for emancipation, shall be and !:
discharged from all debts due, or obllga
tions real or supposed, for arrearages II
virtue of Seignorial rights heretofore ex'
| isting.
7. That the Doudire Coutumier is TO-
the future abolished and prohibited.
, s. That Imprisonment for debt shall NJ
E longer exist, excepting in such cases o
t fraud as shall be specified in an act to b
: passed hereafter by the Legislature
: Lower Canada for this purpose.
4 8. That sentence of Death shall no lon
a ger be passed or executed, except in cas-,
. of murder.
E TO- That NOR. gage on landed -estat
5 i'shall be special, and TO be valid. shall b
e unregistered in Office to be created TO