North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-10-16


should be taken from The pubic chest Of
the Province aud paid at the discre-
ton s. will Of the Governor!l! The Amer
leans had asserted that " taxation uith-
out representation ,ras unconstitutional
and could not be submitted 10 by FREE
MEN; and this assertion they had maintain
ed with the sword, and the best blood of
their country had been shed in defence az
it. Could England expect that the Cana,
dams would lamely submit 10 the new in
suit offered To theniS aainly not. And
Lord John Russell declared afterwards, that
he had all along expected that The Cana
dians would resent the injury and resort TO
arms. As soon as the news Of this viola
ton of their constitution reached the
Lower Canadians, meetings, were again
called all over the Country. The patriotic
County of RicheIieu set the glorious exam
pie, which was followed by the County of
Lacadie. A requisitlon numerously signed
bad been published in the newspapers, in
wiling people Of all political denominations
to be present, TO discuss the matters in dis,
pute between the government and the peo-
pie. Mr.. Nicolas was one Of The signers
of this requistlon and was also present at
the meeting, and evinced uncommon zeal
for the advancement Of the cause Of liber~
ty.
Alter these public meetings Of the differ
ent counties, it was agreed TO have gen.
eral meeting Of the confederate counties
Of the Chamby river. This meeting took
place, as our readers have heretofore been
informed, at St. Charles, on the 22nd and
2Sl October following. Lord Goslord saw
that there was no way for him TO retrace
the false and foolish steps he had taken,
unless he confessed his folly and imbecIity
and adopted a more concIiatory and con-
sttutionaI plan. But the mans heart was
too corrupt, too wicked and too decetful TO
do justice. He adopted therefore the most
rigorous measures, land had recourse to issu-
ing warrants for High Treason, against
those men who had constitutionaly advo-
Gated the rights of their country, and who
had exp osed the duplicity and malice OF
their hypocritica! Govr. Warrants were
issued against The principal leaders Of those
Counties which had evinced a greater
love for freedom than for the hand that
oppressed them. The freehoders of the
County of Lacadie were apprised of the
intention Of the government TO send troops
among them to make arrests. But the
faithful habitans were determined not to
see their leaders dragged like feIons, hand
cufed and bound, TO Montreal to undergo
a mock trial for High Treason, when in
fact the crime was not with them, but
with the Governor ard the English gov
eminent, who had themselves brought the
country into these new difficulties by
their oppressive acts. The consequence
was that the people had resourses ito arms,
rather than see their leaders dragged a.
way to prison by a ruthless foe. On the
morning Of the lI7ih Nov at about
O'Clock, Messrs. DesmaraiS and Davignon
were forcibly taken away from their happy
homes. This gave the alarm to the adj
joining neighborhood, and the radicals
were in arms. Mr.. Nicolas was not found
in the back ground. The peculiar circum-
stances in which he was placed, caused
him TO suffer more than many others OF
his brethren, and finally brought upon him
the melancholy fate which ended his DAYS
upon the scafIoid. We have already said
that he was looked up to as man of no
common ability. In The day Of trouble he
was still leader; and for this capacity he
had all the requisite qualitjes-frmness
boIdness, courage and decision of charac-
| ter.
The patriots in the meanwhile had re-
pulsed the British troops at ST. Denis
and this agreeable news had increased the
courage OF the patriots OF Lscsdie, who
were preparing to join their breth.
rem who were then forming camp at St