North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-07-03
Original.
HISTORY OF LOWER CANADA.
(coHTINuED.)

The imperial Parliament OF Great Britain
which had so imprudently assen'ed to
Lord John Russer's Cosreiue resolutions
of March 1887 finding tina, The Canadians
were unwilling TO submit passively TO this
bold enctoachmcnt upon their constitution
al rights, was still bent on pursuing its
,yfsnnical and unjust policy towards the
oppressed Canadians, who had unfortunate
~ failed in their FIRST attempt TO Tree their
country from the baneful domination Of
ENGLAND. from which neither justice nor
mercy could he expected by her rebeIlIous
subjects. Consequently, in the month oil
February, the Ministers carried through
the Parliament, bill TO suspend, or IN
other words, to take away, the constltu-
ton Of Lower Canada and to govern thai
iu.fated Province by a Governor and
Special Council, or more properly the
pfeyious aock- constitutional government
was to cease and the people submit to The
nod Of an imported Dictator. How very
fatlering this state Of things must have
been 10 Englishmen, who boast so much
Of constitutional iberty!! Notwithstand-
ing they were so proud OF their represen'
ta,iue government, they Too had TO yield
obedience TO the illegal enaciments OF this
chosen band of slaves, selected by the
Dictator. Durham, without even consult
ing the wishes OF those who were To teei
the effects OF their legislation. But to
pra,,iy their feelings OF hatred and revenge
agains, the radical party, the British lac
,onists could willingly submit to any IN
convene nee and degradation, il thereby
the radicals were harrassed and oppressed.
A people that would iamely submit TO
such a state of affairs, must have fallen
very low in the scale ofpolitical existence.
As an Offset for the insult and injury
inflicted upon the Lower Canadians by
wrestling from them their constitution, the
English Government thought proper TO
temoye Sir. John Colborne from the head
of the Provincial administration, and on
the sis, Of March, Lord Durham, one OF
the most prominent politicians OF Great
Britain, was appointed Gov. General and
High Commissioner Of British North
America. The destroyer OF ST. Eustache,
was however, continued as commander IN
chief OF Her Majesty's Forces.
On the asth OF May, Lord Durham,
with great pomp and splendor, landed at
Quebec, and on the Goth, issued his proc
iamation of instalment, which our readers
will find in the appendix, marked (qq) also
the Commission which his Lordship held
under the private Seal of her Majesty,
marked (rr).
The next day after his Lordship assum-
ed The reins of Government, the Sir
Robert Peel'', British Steam Boat, was
boarded, at Wells Island in the st. Law
renee River, in American territory, by
party OF men in disguise, supposed TO be
sebels, and after all the passengers and
baggage was landed, the Boat was cut
loose, towed out into the river, and set on
Ere and burnt 10 the waters edge. This
Circumstance was rather annoying to
Lord Durham who had supposed. that all
British North America, would immediate
~ submit to his gosernment- HIS Exc'y.
upon hearing OF this bold and daring act,
forthw with issued a proclamation, offering
large rewards for the discovery add aPpre-
hensioa OF the perpetrators Of this outrage.
Bot his proelamslions and rewards awaited
bin nothing, lor 10 this as veil as IN his