North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-07-17
HISTORY OF CANADA.
(coNTINUED.)

one cf The Legislative Councillors was ma
uirJ Commander in Chief Of the Province
IN place Of Gen. Murray who had been re-
called; as soon as he had taken the reins
Of the administration, he issued Procla-
nation to continue in Office the different
pubic iunclionaries.
The political horizon Of the English
colonies looked at that period rather dark
il was evident that from the hanghty and
unioslfabIe conduct Of the metropolitan
authorities together with the just and
manly circumstances of the coloniSts, there
would very soon arise great difficulties
If one or the other did not give way. This
contest between the mother country and
It's English colonies was matter Of in
difference with the Canadians who knew
not vet the advantages Of a constitutional
government. 1t is not then very strange
taat people accustomed to military rule &
despotism could not appreciate the blessings
Of representative government, more par
tjcnarIy when that people had been kept
in total ignorance by the French govern
ment
The English colonies on their part no.
hly contested the right Of Great Britain to
tex them without their consent, and began
thar honorable discussion of freemen's
rights which brought them 10 their glori-
Gus revolution. The English government
alarmed al the discussion of such principles,
and loreseeing that before long they should
need the assistance Of all their friends in
America to crush the growing Republican
spirit, began to relax the chains with
which they had til then loaded their new
subjects, the Canadians. In virtue OF in
structons received from the Home Gov
eminent, Mr.. Irving caused his council to
pass, on the first day Of July, l766, an
ordinance which declared that " all His
Maiesty's subjects 10 the Province of Que
bee without any distinction, had right to
be chosen as jurors, 10 sit and act as jurors,
in all the civil and criminal cases within
the jurisdiction Of all the Courts ofiustce
in the said Province"
And for the more equal and impartial
distribution Of Justice, it was declared and
ordained that in all causes or suits be-
tween English born subjects, the Jurors
shall he exclusively Englishmen; and that
IN the cases or suits between French Can
adams, the juries shall be exclusively Can
adams, and that in the cases or suits be-
tween English born subjects and French
Canadians, the juries shall be composed of
an equal number of each nation; if one of
the parties wishes it,"
1t was also declared " that the Cana |
adams could practice in the Courts as law
yers and Aitornies by conforming them
selves 4 the rules which the said Courts
may prescribe on that subject"
So we see that it was not Till 6 wears af-
Ter The English had taken possession of
Canada that the Canadians were allowed /
10 aci as jurors, and upon what laws were
they called TO give their opinions, On
laws entirely unknown TO them and in
many parts (the civil law inferior TO those
laws which had been taken away from
them in So arbitrary manner. The Can
adams also BY this ordinance had a right
to practice as Lawyers and Attornies,
which right had been denied TO them since
the conquest. TIE object Of the English
government in not allowing the French
LAWYERS To practice in Canada, was to force
them even 10 leave the country and to EN-
igfate To France. The policy of the gov.
eminent was 10 get rid Of the ehuoatpl
men, certain that il could rule tie peopl,
great deal easier If the educated leaders
were absent from the country. Had not
The English government foreseen the dit.