North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-10-21
Original.
HISTORY or LOWER CANADA.
(coNTINUED.)


The most important measure which agit.
sted the Legislature during this session
was the series Of accusations brought u,
IN the House by James Stuart, now The
ChieI Justice Of Lower Canada, agsins,
the late Chirf Justice Of the Province Mr..
Sewell, and The Chief Justice of Montreal,
for divers crimes and misdeameanors dur.
ing the administration oil The tyrant Craig.
Dor readers will recall 10 their memory
that 10 No. 10 or this volume, we have al
iuded to bill introduced in the House by
Mr.. Beflheloi, 10 amend certain forms Of
proceeding m The Courts Of Justice, of
Civil Jurisdiction in The Province, and 10
facilitate the .ddministrafion of Justice.
II will be remembered tina. by the 10th
and the l7th section Of this act, extraor-
binary powers were conferred or the civil
ssd criminal courts of the Province, where
the Judges were allowed, and authorised
10 make rules and regulations according
10 the best Of their judgement, respecting
the manner of proceeding OF the Court and
the fees oithe officers thereof. Numerous
complaints Of the arbitrary and caprcious
conduct Of the Chief Justice of the Pro
vince and OF the Chiel Justice OF Montreal.
had been made TO the House. Besides
thls, it was well ascertained fact that
Governor Craig in his unconstitutional
proceeding in Selling the press and types
OF the newspaper " lie Canadien" and in
throwing Messrs. lie FRANCOIS, Bedard,
Blanchet and Taschereas into jail, had
been advised and Influenced by these two
partisan Judges to NEEDLE so impruden,ly |
with the liberty Of the press, and in incar-
ceraling the above named gentlemen. The |
House Of Assembly anxious that condign
punishment should await these high Of
lenders OF the laws OF the land, passed
resolution whereby an Agent was TO be |
sen, TO England to support and prove the
accusations brought against them. This |
resolve of The House was sent 20 the Up
per branch for its concurrence. But the
very men against whom these accusations
were made, were in high repule in that
body. The Chief Justice OF the Province
was the Speaker OF the Legislative Couu-
cal and the Chief Justice OF Montreal had
spower(ul influence over his brother mem
bers. The demands OF the House OF As
ssmbly were consequently rejected, and
when the popular branch called upon the
Governor TO transmit TO the ministers in
Ensland its accusations against the two
Judges, and requested the suspension of
these two officials until final Judgment
should be made known Sir George Pre-
vost acceded TO the FIRST request and re.
fused the latter part of the demand of the
house, and gave as a reason for his re-
fusal that the Legislative Council had not
been consulted on the charges 10 be brought
asainst Judges Sewell & Monk. Moth {
ing could be more dishonest and more q
disrepuiable 10 the memory OF Governor
Provost than this answer. But Sir George Q
was the mere servant of the Roya! Dicia- $
tore ia Downing street and j, had been
there decided that no such crimination oil Y
The Administration of Sir James Henry e
Craig or OF any Of the Advisers OF the late A
Governor. should be eountenaneed by the c
oeal administration. Our readers will C
earn how shamefolly this transaction was a
managed by the Colonial authorities ia u
England, and how the officials who had Il
i'es'ed 50 much mischief, were screened =
Id protected by the Prince Regent himself