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

Lament Of Lower Canada was not prero.
cosd until the 18th Of February neat, no
ouch documents had bren transmitted BY
Lord Dahousie To them. The mail gen-
orally took about s days at that period 10
travel between the seat Of the Government
OF Upper Canada to tina, n Lower Canada.
This determination OF the Legislature OF
Upper Canada which complained so bitter
ly against its sister Colony and lis pressing
requests for the immediate interference Of
the Imperial Parliament, originated the d.
abolicsl idea oil an union Of the two Pro-
vinces. The alarm soon spread among The
population of Lower Canada at the pros
pect OF its immediate snnihilaiion AMI pc
titions were icamedalely signed through.
out the Province against this shameful act
OF injustice. Sixty Thousand freemsn pro-
tested against this anomalous project and
Louis Joseph Papneau, Esq, the Speaker
Of the House OF Assembly together with
John Nelson, ESD, also member Of the
House, were named 10 proceed immediate
ly 10 England TO represent TO his Malesty's
ministers the almost unanimous opposition
of the people Of Lower Canada TO the
Union of the Provinces. The mission OF
these two gentlemen terminated in man
ner highly honorable 10 themselves and
qnite satisfactory To those who had enlrust-
ed TO them their most vital interests.
In the mean time the third session of the
eleventh Provincial Parliament was open
ed on the 10Th Of January, 1928, when the
clerk Of the House of Assembly read let
ter from the Honorable Louis Joseph Pa
pineau, who announced 10 that body that
having been depu,ed by his countrymen
on a mission 10 England for the purpose OF
opposing the Union Of the Provinces, he
was obliged 10 inform the House that it
would be impossible for him TO fulfil his
duties as Speaker during that session. In
consequence Of this official notice the
House proceeded 10 the election OF Spea-
ker pro tempore and Vallieres de ST. Real,
Esq. now residing Judge at Three Rivers,
was chosen 10 fill that honorable station.
His diligence and ability qualified him to
discharge, with much credit, the high and
important duties attached to that place.
In the Governors speech the Legislature
was informed that the project Of Union had
been postponed by the Imperial ParIia-
meat ill its next session. They were also
informed that the Canada trade act" an
Imperial bill had become law. This bill
was highly detrimental 10 the prosperity
OF both Provinces and was one Of those
measures which weighed heavily upon the
welfare Of those Colonies. Moreover il
was legslating on the internal affairs OF
both Provinces, although i, was apparent
" intended Tor the exclusive regulation Of
the external trade. The Governor said
not n word about the documents which
had been transmitted through the Lieuten-
ant Governor OF the Upper Province to be
communicated 10 the Lower Canada Lee
gis!alure.
The first matter al importance which
occupied the House OF Assembly was the
projected Union OF the Provinces and Pc
,i.on TO The King, the House Of Lords and
to the House OF Cammons, was voted by
the Houre Of Assembly OF Lower Canada
and almost unanimously adopted. The
Union Of the Provinces was also rejected
by the Legislative Council where only
seven members supported it and the rest
discountenanced 1T.
The members Of the House Of Assembly,
terrified at the bold and iniquitous project
of uniting the two provinces, made up their
minds 10 vote the arrears Of the civil list
due on the year 1918, bD; accompanied
with resolutions protesting that il should
not be used as precedent. The Legisla-
tive Council swallowed this bitter pill and
the bill was passed. The House also de-
elared its willingness 10 deffsy the civil
expenses OF the Colopisl administration by
az annual vote Of the request II the Gov
ernnr a. not otherwise. The lower branch