North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-11-18
To our Constituents.

Unsxe OF Assembly, residing ~ the Guy
add Dlslfiet oi Montreal, having taken IN
10 consideration the Speech pronounced by
HIS Exerllenry the Governor IA Chiei, on
ptotoguiug the Provincial Parliament, IN
which his Excelency refers Us TO our Con
stitueais, conceive Il our duty To- evince ~
q public and solemn manner, both the res
prci which We bear 10 our Electors. and
the noble pride which we feel Tor having,
in difficult times, discharged our duties to-
wards them with fidelity and IN a manner
worthy ol those who have chosen Us for
their delegates. Representatives ol sub
ects abedient, honest and devoted TO the
BRUSH Government, our line ol conduct
seemed perfectly traced out for Us Rep
sesentatives Of lfee-born English subjects
nur duiics were clear and evident and we
appeal with confidence 10 our constituents F;
il belongs 10 them to Judge oi our conduct.
In other times and under other ciFcnm-
stances, we should not consider ii necessary
10 enter into any discussion, well assured
as we are OF not having done any thing
which could lose US the esteem and the con-
fdence OF our Constituents, the recompence
of our lebors but accused in body, in a
grave manner by public document, which
1T the same time. that il accuses all OF US,
takes from US the power Of answering as
o body, we consider i, TO be our duty, moi
10 exculpa,e ourselves (for this we are SEN
sible is not requisite) but 10 put it in the
power of our Constituents TO Judge with
greater certainty OF the accusations urged
against their Representatives.
His Excellency declares to the whole
Province that the difficulties existing on a
single point have occasioned the rejection
of all other measures which His MaJesty's
Government has submitted 10 our consider
alton.
The House of Assembly set about thr-
~ days during which seventy nine Bills
were introduced, sixty of which were
passed 1t ~ not possible that among so
many Bills, there should no, have been
one relating 10 some measures fecommen-
drd by Government, unless we suppose
that the House and the Council were oc-
copied with a multitude of measures of
public or private minority, none Of which
the Government thought proper 10 sup
port by lis recommends alton. Might il
not he said with more accuracy that it is
painful TO see that, upon the trial of the
House TO vote for supplies in the form re-
Qured, His ExcelIency should have con-
sidered himself obliged 10 exercise he
Royal Prerng alive, and 10 prorogue the
Parliament, without giving il time 10 dis
cuss the measures recommended by His
Excellency, or which interested the whole
Province, though not recommended by
His Excellancy, and the delay or loss
of which His ExcelIeney has with so much
sensibity lsmen,ed?
His Exccllency reproaches US for not
having given suitable attention To the
public Accounts Of the last year, for not
having approved, or dsapproved them by
such report as would enable the public
10 Judge OF the result.
We have given 10 those Accounts a
suitable attention. We have been delay
ed in our investigation by multiplied diff.
cultes which different public Iunctionaries
made to answer the questions OF the spe-
cial Committee without the permission Of
His ExcelIency. The special committee
having proposed some questions to Messrs
Percival and Gore, the principal Officers
Of the Customs, received as the only an
swer, that the Gentlemen had submitted
the question OF The Committee TO His Elk
cellency the Governor in Chief The
Committee by that alone, was prevented
c ;hose ol lieutenant Colonel Louis nite
lrdages and Major r. Valeres de ST.. re-
i, both independent members Of the i've
use of Assembly and who were dismis- i'm.
from their ranks in the Provincial mil car
in November 1927, immediately after ms
eias
: had given their unpre Indeed votes I hs
nsi the arbitrary rejection OF The
aker of the Assembly by the Governor. Fry
re could BE- no mistake in imputing ,nts
cause Of their punishment to their ST.
ng voted in opposition to the wishes c,ed
lis Excellency. And yet there was ELY
ain faction in the country, which cal sssl-
Lord Dalhousie lover and faithful as
river of constitutional rights. KIM
ord Dahousie by his vexatious and ~
rsry proceedings, had rendered him kt.""ll
10 odlons in the Province, that the u Dir
le mass of the population entertained rSch
Irds him deeply settled hatred which tide
been hitherto unprecedented .ve, 10 Pier
ow