North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-12-02
Original.
HISTORY or LOWER CANADA.
(coaTIsuEp.)

CONTINUED.
The petition which had been presented
10 the House OF Assembly, complaining Of
the conduct oil the Attorney General, had
been caused By his vexatious and tyrsnni-
cal proceedings during the session Of the
Criminal Couu holden at Montreal in the
winter. To his grsa, modification, men
whom he had prosecuted in the name
the Crown for perjury, were proved 10
10 orthe highrst respsctability, and one
n them who had been invited to give
his vote in favor of the Attorney Gen
.fal. and had been advised by this latter
kn!ividual, To vote, pretending that he had
the RICH, to do it. Bot having cas-, his vote
against the Attorney General, this public
officer was so irriiated that he prosec u,ed
lor ucriury an old, honest and inohensve
man, who had merely acted in accordance
with the counsel of his prosecutor. The
Attorney General did moi succeed in his
usfarions designs, and those individuals
whom he thus wickediy determined to pun
i.h and dse race, were declared by their
Peers to he totally incapable of the high
crimes with which they were charged by
that spiielui officer alone.
These prosecutions having proved abor-
live, loaded this public functionary with
Disgrace, ridicule and the most bitter ha-
,fed of the people. Sir James Kemp,, who
ioresaw things more clearly than the
Attv. General, had ordered this officer Ia
submit to him a statement Of the facts ur.
On which The prosecutions for libel agans
the government, were founded And ate
having examined all the documents whIst
were submitted to him, he ordered the AT
turney General TO beat an honorable re
treat for tho Government from the dill
cult pa,h into which il had been led b,
him. Disposed to make rirtue OF ne
easily the Governor ordered the Attorney
General 10 postpone the trials, demanding
bail from the prosecuted but if they re
fused to give bail, they were on no accoun
to be further annoyed, il we except th'
prospect of distant trial, which was neve
10 take place. Thus thu Attorney Gene
raj was again baflsd in his plans OF heap
ing ceaseless prosecutions on those mel
with whom in former days be had been al
lied in political life, but towards whom h
was now acting the par, Of a vile traitor
Really no man was more 10 be pitied thai
this vain aad irascible character, who
after having seen his pride humbed by hi
defeat at Sorel, could not satiate his thirs
for vengeance by throwing into the dun
gsoas Of cold and unhealthy jail at leas
some Of those who had been the cause @
his iil-suocess, or those who had hes
instrumental in bringing into meried con
iemp, his beloved and worthy patron til
CORNER Governor General.
Lower Canada wa. once more deprive
re one OF lis mos, useful members, by tn
death OF FRANCOIS Blanchet, Esq, ply
stefan Of most worthy reputation, and VIII
had been a member Of the Provincial Pa
liamen, for long series Of years. Ou
readers will rscoIiect that this distinguish
ed individual had been thrown, tegeths
with the late Pierre Bedsrd, Esq, int
the Quebec jail, BY the iyrant Craig, Ut
der the false accusation of tressonah
practices, because he was the devote
friend OF his eosntry. No man worke
more than himseifto adorn the columns
lie Csnadien with useful matter, props
70 instruct his eoun;rymen IN regard