North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-05-08
ing and did himself great credit.

ries for the corrupt officials who were rul-
ing Lower Canada, the people of the DIFF
ferent parts of the country held meetings
to consider the propriety of the conduct of
their Representatives. Sir Francis Bond
Head, Governor of Upper Canada the au-
thor OF bubbles" and several otherrone-
sensical romances, not then quite so well
versed in the art of deceiving the public mind
as the hypocritcalG osford had made public
a certain portion of the Royal instructions
to The Commissioners by which it was seen
that the whole ministerial plan was but
another humbng to delude tie Reformers
of Canada. These papers had been COM
municated to the House of Assembly of
Lower Canada by the kindness and polite
ness of the Speaker Of the House of As
sembIy of Upper Canada. The Lower
Canada representatives discovering the
false promises Lord Gosford had made
them in his opening speech on the 9th
October previous, voted enough supplies
10 give time to Lord Goslord to write TO
the Colonial Office and to have new power
10 accomplish those reforms which were so
much needed, but which according to the
instructions given him which had now
come to the knowledge of the House of As
sembly, he had no right TO grant. 1t was
under these circumstance that the House
of Assembly had deviated for once, both
from the usual practice and from the prin-
cipes contained in the 90 resolutions, not
to vote supplies until the reforms asked
for, should be granted. The county OF
Two Mountains set the example on the
18th April following, a general meeting OF
the county was held at St. Benoit to take
into consideration 6" the state of the Pro-
vince" DR.. Chenier acted as Secretary
Of that meeting and was one Of those who
boldly exposed Lord Gosford's treach-
cry. The House of Assembly was highly
approved for It's vote ofsx month supplies,
& the Legislative Council was censured for
having refused to pass the bill. The re-
forms asked for in the 80 resolutions were
insisted upon, and the freehoders of the
Patriot county Of Two Mountains told the
government that elective institutions must
be granted to the Colonists who according
to the report Of the committee of the House
Of Commons in 1928, ought to have
no cause to envy the people OF the Uni>
ted States. .H
| As soon as it was known in Lower Can
ada that the Parliament Of Great Britain,
instead Of remedying the grievances OF
which the Canadians were complaining
had passed the eight coercive resolutions
at the solicitation of Lord John Russell
the Canadian people feeling all the indig'
nifty and injustice of such treatment, re-
solved to take steps to counteract the evi
effects of those resolutions. DR.. Cheniel
was one of those honorable patriots who
seeing his conntry's rights trampled unde
foot and his country ruled with an iror
hand, made up his mind TO resist by al
constitutional means, these tyrannieal en-
croachments. In consequence of this reso
luton he signed notice to call togethe
the freeholders Of his county TO take int
consideration Lord John Russell's resolu
Iutions and to devise the best means o
multiplying them.
This meeting took place at Ste. Scholas
tique on the first Of June, 1887. 1t wa
undoubtedly the largest that ever was he'll
in that county. Resolutions were passed
censuring Lord Gosford's administration
r approving the conduct of the House
Assembly, and censuring in unmeasure'
terms the conduct of the metropolitan gov
eminent towards the Canadians. Tn
non-consump,ion Of duty paying article
was agreed upon, and domestic manufac
lures were recommended. The zeal an
patriotism Of DR.. Chenier were so we
known that he was named member c
the permanent committee Of the count
which vas organized to see that the reso
IIutious adopted at this meeting should b