North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-03-17


which he had taken agsins, the oppremors
Of hls ne'iyc eouuirY. His talents were ~
tts drsi order; bis eioquefce was not
squsl'cd BY any fits influence over the
masses Of the people, waa beyond all com.
puiatIon, and 81 the mention ~ his name,
It was pcfecpiible, that no man ever pcs
srgsed greater power over bis country
men, than this distinguished Individual. In
the present extraordinary crisis, into which
he country was plunged, il required q
man 81 great rental energy TO take the
esd il could he even thea fsfeseen, that
the time was not far distant, when physi-
cal courage would have to be demonsrra-
ted. To the writer Of this History, il ~
well known, that as early as April, even
before the meeting Of the County Of Rich
elieu, at private meeting Of some Of the
influential members Of the House Of As
sembly, physical resistance wEs spoken Of,
and It was argued that public meetings
would only tend 10 keep the government
on The q1H rire, whilst the people would
be no better prepared FOR The contest. II
was proposed to send discreet men to The
) ates 10 procure arg's and munitions Of
war, bot this proposition unfortunately
was not approved, and County meetings
were resoued to-, When we take upon
ourselves TO make these ayowas, it is be-
cause we are confident thai we speak the
truth, although eventually il may become
unpalatablr 10 some, who, afterwards have
taken upon themselves to deprrcate open
resistance, as not being anticipated or fore
seen.
The County OF Montreal soon followed
the example of Richelitu. Mr.. Papineau
was then present and recommended to his
countrymeB to encourage domestic man
ufaclures, ard to make but little use Of
those articles, on which they were paying
duties, also 10 encourage smuggling. He
was greeted BY The large concouIse Of peo-
pie who was then assembled, as their great
leader and champion, and the greatest en-
thusiasm was manifested when he address
ed them in long speech in which he told
them that--Ht the time Of trial had come =;
$ such times are Of great utility TO the pco.
pie. They teach them how 10 dis
"tluguish those who are patriots IN pros
. perty, and those whom adversely scat
Z" ters those who are patriots when no
sacrifices are TO be made, and those who
L" continue patriots when sacrifices are ne
" cessary those, whose sole merit consists
A" in CRYING out :--HuzZa, we are with the
+" majority, bat II Tie latter does not
+" promptly succeed. we will keep ourselves
/" quiet and aloof aud those, who say, IN
" good and bad fortune we abide with and
" cling unto the people il they are ILL
" treated, we will rot stand alooi we will
50 not be quiet, we will defend them at al
" hazards we contend for principles, and
" il these are violated, we will maintain
"ihem against whatever authority that
" may be, as long as our hearts shall beat
4" as long as our tongues can proclaim truth
" or utter complaint and reproach."
In speaking Of the American Confedera.
CIV the Canadian agitator made use OF The
following language -" This conlederaey
" is attractive and our present condition IL
g humiliating. But must we say, that we
81 must repudiate the one to espo0se The
q other If this be truly the only means e
" re-estahlish domestic peace, We ought ~
90 deed to have recourse 10 i. II il be very
50 clear and well established that Lord John
50 Russe's determination is a settled ana
" defiaite plan, which he viii put in force
unless we submit to his demands, tha
" the Csl0nes are kept. not for the recip
" rocaI interests of the people, bot for min
" isteriat patronage and corruption, the his
" tory OF the old plantations, will be renew.
Sc ed with the same inevilshs result"
10 abiding to what had fallen from the
ips Of SIR William Molesworlh, distin
guished member Of The House Of Commons
who had said, that If the ten co-ercive res
slutions were carried into rTect sgains
Lower Canada, il was O moral obligation
for the Canadians 10 resist The EngiisI
government, aud that If the same blood
which flowed in the veins o. Washington
Franklin and Jefferson, was 10 the veins o.
the Canadians9 they would drive the En-.
i:sh FAM tie couufrv rs lie American,