North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-10-07
Original.
HISTORY OF LOWER CANADA.
(coKTiAuEp.)

(coHTiHuED.)
The violent measure adopted by Sir James
Heary Craig, in dissolying the House OF
Assembly, because It's members would not
submit TO Executive cabal and intrigue,
vas only the lorcrunnsr Of proceedings Of
more violent and syrannical character.
Fearful that this sudden dissolution would
Turn the mind Of the people against the
administration OF their omnipotent," the
officials Immediately set their tools at work,
and the Castle of St. Lewis was beset
from morning TO night by sycophants who
were the bearers of loyal addresses to His
Excellency, promising to the Royal Re-
preventative their undivided support al the
approaching elections, and bitterly ceHsur-
Jog the House for it's proceedings against
Judge DeBonne. There is no doubt but
Sir Janea Henry Craig sincerely
thought that he had obtained complete
victory over The bold leaders Of the House,
aud that his conduct in dissolying the As
semby was approved by the great majori-
~ OF the constituency Of Lower Canada.
Bat he soon found out his error.
Rsfora an,ar,n;n;n ~ our RI a darc xyith sha r.s-
suit f,he general elections for the seventh
Provincial Parliament, we must make them
acquainted with those acts Of tyranny COM
miiled by the Governor who acted upon
the special advice OF His Executive Coun-
eilIors In the afternoon OF the 18th OF
March an escort OF soldiers entered into
the office Of the Canadien'' and seized
the types and press of that paper which
were taken to the Court House whilst the
Printer, Mr.. Charles LIE FRANCOIS, was
thrown into jail under the charge of trea-
sonabIe practices. Two days afterwards,
Doctor Banchet and Mr.. Pierre Bedard
two influential members of the House OF
Assembly, who had honorably and con-
scienlioasly discharged their duties in their
constitutional opposition TO the Executive
government, and who for that opposition
had already encountered the displsasure Of
Governor Craig who had dismissed them
from their RESPECTIVE ranks in the Provin
cial Militia, were also seized by an escort
Of soldiers, dragged tHrough The streets
like ielons & thrown into jail, where, in
few days afterwards they were followed
by Dir. J.T. Taschereau, another member
Of the House, who had his share also Of
The pretended disgrace of being dismissed
from his rank 10 the Militia.
On the eIst of March, the Governor
who intended to terrify the people SO that
they might not return another House of
Assembly similar TO the two last ones, is
sued the following proclamation with the
view of convincing the public that really
the most influential and conspicuous menu
bers OF The late House, had imbibed sedi-
iioas and reasonable principles, and that
the government was actually endangered
by their designating doctrines. We
copy al full length this proclamation as we
shal, have occasion to demonstrate TO our
readers that the poor, weak minded Lord
Gosford had precedent for his arbitrary
and anti-constitutionsl conduct in 1881.
A careful reader, who will take the trouble
10 contrast and compare the events which
took place under these two detesiable al
illustrations, viii readily perceive tina,
the one was the exact prototype or the
Other.