North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-02-03

80 IA&Atts IttN" = btftaA ~ ~
dapted TO the wishes. manners
and social state of the inhab-
itants of this continent = that
this system prevails equally "a
mong those of British and those
oI Spanish origin, although the latter, du-
ring The continuance et their Colonial state
had been under the casmitous yoke OF ig-
noranee and ahsolulsm; and that we do
not hesitate To ask from a Prince of the
House al Brunswick, and reformed Par
lament, aithe freedom aud political pow
ers which the Princes Of the House of
Stuart and their Parliamenis granted to
the most favored of the Plantations
formed al a period when such grants must
have been less lavorably regarded than
they would now be-
45 Resoired, Tha. il was not The hest
and most free systems oil Colonial Gov
eminent which tended most 10 hasten the
independence oi the old English Colonies;
since The Province of New York in which
the institutions were most moRarchical in
HE sehse which that word appears 10 bear
IN the Despatch of the Colonial Secretary,
was tue firSt to refuse obedience 10 an Act
or the Parliament Of Great Britain: and
that the Colonies OF Connecticut and
Rhode Island which though closely and
aHeciionateIy connected with the Mother
Country Tor long course Of years, enjoy
ed constitutions purely democratic, were
The last TO enter into a confedera-
ton rendered necessary by the conduct OF
bad servants OF the crown, who called in
the supreme authority of the Parliament,
and the British Constitution, 10 aid them
to govern arbitrarily, listening rather to
the Governors and their advisers than to
the people and their Representatives., and
sHleldtd with their protection those who
consumed the Taxes rather than those
who paid them.
46 Resotced, That with view to the
introduction Of whatever the institutions
OF the nelghbourng states offered that
was good, and applicable to the state OF
The Province, this House had among other
measures passed during many years a Bill
founded on the principle Of proportiening
automatically the number Of Representa-
uves 10 The population OF each place re-
presented ; and that if by The pressure of
circumstances and the urgent necessity
when existed thai the number of Repre-
sentalIves should be increased, il has been
compelled to assent 10 amendments which
violate that principle by giving TO several
counties containing a population of little
more than 900 souls the same number OF
representatives as to several Others Of
when The population is FIVE times as great.
thlS disproporton is in the opinion OF this
House an act of injustice for which it
ought 10 seek remedy: and that in new
countries where the population increases
rapidly and tends 10 create new settle
ments, it is wise and equitable tha, by
frequent and periodical census such in
crease and the manner in which it is dis
tTlbuied should be aScertained. princinaIlv
Tor the purpose Of settling the representa-
ton OF the Province on an equitable basis
AZ ResotUed, That the fidelity of the
people and the protection Of the Govern
ment, are correlative obligations, Of which
The one cannot long subsst without the
other; that by reason of the defects which
exist IN the laws and constitution aI this
province, and Of the manner in whieh
those laws and that constitution have been
administered, the people of this Province
are not sufficiently protected in their lives. |
Their property and their honor; and thai
the long series of acts Of injustice and on
preston, OF which they have to COMPLAIN,
have increased with alarming rapiditv in |
violence ant in number under the nresen,
Administration.
As Resotred, That in the midst 81 these
disorders and su1erings, this House and
the people whom il represents had always
cherished the hope and expressed their
latb that His Majesiy's Government in
Eng and did not knowingly and wilfuIy
participate in the political immortality off
us colonial agents and officers; and that j, |
Is with astonishment and grief that thew
have seen in the extract from the despateb- |
eS OF the Colonial Secretary, eommunica-
ted to this House by the Governor In Chief
during the present Session, that one at
least oil the members of His Maiesty's Gov
eniertaihs towards them FEELINGS |
Of preJadlce and luminosity and incIines
10 favor plans OF oppression and revenge.
u adapted tn change a system of abuses.
The continuance Of which would altogetheri
discourage the people, exinguish in them
he legitimate hope of happiness which.
rs British subjects, they entertained. and |
would leave them only the hard alternative /
NJ submitting 10 an igneminious BONDAGE
1r OF seeing those ties endap0sred u,b;oh