North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-10-14

fhem nghilng against Republican ins'hu
tons We hope to see them under The ban
ner Of /" Free and Equal Rights. Let u
hear Sir George Provost how he eommend'
Canadian bravery aud devo,edness.
"Let me, with pride aud satisfaction, ten
der 10 the brave and loyal millia-men oI
Lower Canada, my Acknowledgement oil
the zeal and promptness with which they
few 10 their posts, and the patience and
fortitude, with which they have endured,
in this Indictment season, the latignes and
privations TO which they were exposed ;
their 6rmness and discipline have been
conspicuous, and the bravery and fear
lessness shown by six companies, COM
posed, with the exception ola few men
merely, OF Feneibles and Canadian Mill
tia men, under the immediate command oil
Lieutenant Colonel De SalIaberry, in de-
leating an American army OF twenty times
their number, cover the Canadian name,
with an honor that time will not oblite-
rate"
We shall now call the attention Of our
readers 10 the proceedings Of the Colonial
Legislature which met on the 18th Janu-
airy 1914. Sir George Provost paid high
compliment TO the Canadian population for
their bravery and more particularly for
the extraordinary courage evnced by the
Poitigeurs at the battle Of Chaieaugay.
He then informed the Legislature that he
had issued army bills to the amount of
two millions CT dollars, but that these bills
were Of a different description than those
prescribed by the law passed during the
asst session, and he wished the Legislature
to justify the responsibility he had then
taken, and wished moreover to be intrust-
ed with the power Of issuing such army
bills to any amount that circumstances
might render necessary. 3 aee
The House Of Assembly began its ar
duous duties with great vIgor and present.
ed several important and useful bills for
the concurrence Of its sisrer-branch, the
Legislative Council. Among these was
bill granting the means for the ednca-
ton OF the people from the public funds.
But the members OF The Legislative Coun-
Gil were too selfish to allow the general
diffusion Of light among the Canadian
people, who would be thus better enabled
to Judge oil their misdeeds. The Bill was
smothered by that aristocratc body COM
posed OF men who valued as nothing, the
ignorance and suferings OF the people over
whom they were appointed to legslate
Another bill Of great utility was also pas
sed by the House but finally rejected by
the Legislative Council; this was to de-
clare that the Chief Justice of the Pro-
vince and the other Judges Of the Court
Of Kings bench, ought not to NEEDLE in
the nulactures of those laws which they
were bound to administer, and to enter in
10 the disputes and heat of political
life, which is generally distinguished by
strife, contention, partnership and fire.
quently by deadly luminosity. This mea-
sure which was so much needed by the
peculiar circumstances in which the
country was then placed, was called un-
constitutional and high encroachment
on the Royal prerogatire, and was reject
ed. The constitutonality Of this bill of
the House was afterwards admitted by the
Colonial ministers in England, who author
ised Lord Aylmer, if we remember right
to signify 10 the different Judges, except
the Chief Justice, to discontinue their sit
ting in the upper branch Of the Canadian
Legislature. The Legislative Council, in its
destructive ire, rejected also the bill passed
by the House granting 10 His Majesty a
certain tax on the perquisites and revenues
of the oficehoIders and public pensioners.
They wished the people. to support the
whole expenses Of the war, but the arisio-
cratic and idle portion of the community
who were spending their life in luxuries
and abundance, whilst the bone and snew
of the country were forced TO leave their
wives and children, and adopt the camp
life, were not 10 contribute mite towards |
deiraying such expenses. -,.... III
n