North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-09-02
Original.
HISTORY OF LOWER CANADA.
(eoxTISuEp.)

In the month Of July 1895, the most
Honorable Guy Lord Dorchester the Gov
efnor General, having sailed for England
oader leave OF absence, was replaced by
General Robert Prescott, who acted as
Lieutenant Governor OF the Province
The general elections for the second Pro-
yincial Parliament took place that same
summer. In the returns for this Parlia-
ment we find bu, eight Of the members Of
the former House Of Assembly and about
fourteen OF British origin, among whom
were the lawyers Of the Crown and some
81 the officers of The Civil government.
The Legislature was assembled on the
es,h January 1897. The House Of AS
tembIy having proceeded 10 the election oil
Speaker, re-apponted J. A. Panel ESQ.,,
who had already been their Speaker dur
INC the first and part of the second ses-
sion Of the first Parliament. This gentle
man encountered some opposition in his
nomination which was carried by Ma
lodiy Of II votes. The Governor hav-
ing approved Of the choice Of the House OF
Assembly on the 9Th day OF January,
proceeded 10 deliver his speech, n which
he wished the Legislature to continue the
Alien Bill" In comparing this speech
af n II 4
Dorchester, we do not find so many com
plimenls and so many professions OF conf
dence in the loyalty and good sense OF the
people as Lord Dorchester was in the
habit Of using in bis addresses TO the Pro-
vincial Legislature.
On the 9Ist The House of Assembly an
sweted His ExceIlency's speech. In this re-
ply We find them,in accordance with the es-
tablished custom, re-echoing what had fall
len from the lips of the Governor, and an
nexed thereto, as a matter Of course, was a
complimentary notice Of the Lieutenant
Governors appointment TO that response
be station.
The nefarious object OF a certain class
Of the inhabitants of Lower Canada, who
eoad no; well succeed in their dark de-
Signs against the great majority of the ,,eo-
PIE, could be accomplished only by creating
an alarm in the minds Of the Province
81 Executive. Hence the ridiculous cry
Eas raised that secret emissaries were
constantly employed by the French minis
ie', Mr.. Adei, who was in the United
States, to spy out the doings of the Can
adam government and TO report the exact
s'sie Of the defence of that Province, as
also the real disposition Of the people. No
Governor was ever better disposed 10 lis
tea 10 such unfounded stories than General
Prescott, who on the S0ih Of October pre-
Foos had issued Proclamation calling
upon all Magistrates. Captains of Militia
add other Officers of His Majesty in the
province TO detect and apprehend all con-
Haitoie oHu tOtctgu cuiiSSafSs
nai might be found in the Colony. The
hoa'e OF Assembly in its over-zeal TO pre-
%f'e tkeir dependency on the Crown oil
Lsgland, & in their deep hatred Of French
'a''sinism, which principles they dread
= terribly, renewed again the Alien
0'a, which as we have said, invested the
governor Of the Province with exiraordin-
ty and despnIic powers. But the most
saanelul and tyrsnnicsl act which tina,
hoase passed, was a Bill intiluled " In
. l'T the better prsssrrsiiOn Of His Ma
T,yi Government. as by ia,r happily es-
'''''iA'd "a tbs, prOriaes." Nothing bu,