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


/" I-gcd .hc strength NJ fhr country IN ia
q" femoieeess ifom EnRlsns and us rruK.
- unity to the Unted States, might seccl
- the object in view :"
We leave tie candid and unprecedented
reader 10 consider attcntivcly ard seriously
the effects likriy to be produced by snch
, words falling from the lips 81 mar, vi.s
for years had been the acknow Iedgcd chief
and lesder Of the radical party. To say
the leas,, il gave the asseHlblct muliluGe
10 understand, that the question now pend
ing between the mother county and the
colony, might at future time be deei1ed
by 81 appeal 10 arms, and that he would aot
lear The consequences Of such decision,
by physical force. In speaking Of ;he ilie-
gal aud unconstitutional conduct Of the
oppressaf' Of the country, The distinsu ish.
ed Speaker said -" | they progress ia the
career of llleg atty and injustice, Isl as
"more at an equal or more rapid pace in
that Of Resistance. They have advanced
oae step 10 thrirs, we will make two in
ours 10 day. This will suffice for the
:" moment; IL nH facilitate other means
/ =" for future ereHts, if hey sksuia prope
necessary" This language TO us plainly
/ intilnates that il was advisable TO be pre-
pared for the worst. Ia speaking OF the
preparatory and final means by which the
Americans omancipaied themselves from
British tyranny, Mr.. PapiHeau spoke as
follows :-"As 10 US, we are only thinking
. about the beginning. We know not
where England viii stop. aud IRE cannot
yet say ,rhere Canada ,r,H stop"
five have quoted from the speech Of
Mr.. Papineau, a, the meeting Of the com
~ OF Montreal, it is to show to our readers
that even at that early period, physical re-
aistance was talked Of, and tbat TOD, by the
very man, who was boldly declared 10 be
the hberaior Of his eounirymen, and who
had consented, first by his silence aud then
! By his actions, TO become The responsible
Leader Of the people, in the critical and ex.
cited state, in which they were placed, bv
! the unconstitutional conduct of the English
/ Ministers who, through the Imperial Par
Lament, were expressing Lower Canada
( IN the same manner, that Lord North had
oppressed the old English Colonies. We do
not blame MIR. Papneau, Cor having taken
the lead, in this peculiar junctnre, il he sup
posed that he possessed sufficient courage
to face all the dangers, TO which, he must
/ hax I, L.. &.
the Colonial authorities in the Province.
who undoubtedly, would do all they could
10 avert the storm, which was gathering
over their guilty heads. Let facts speak
for themselves. Time viii show wheihef
MIR. Papineau has answered the expecta-
lions of bis followers; and whether it would
not have been more prudent and discreet in
him, possessing as lie did, the unlimited
confidence OF his eountrymen, TO have, al
the beginning OF the troubles, associated
with himself, colleague, who waud have
been prepared to meet the enemy in the
field OF battle, If the emergency OF affairs,
should force the Canadians to physical re-
sis,ance. To have done this, it would not
have been necessary TO leave The Province,
for on the banks OF The RicheIieu, he could
have found man. who feared not to face
the British troops at any moment, as he
subsequently did, at ST. Dennis.
County meetings soon became the order
Of the day. The patriotic and chivaiTic in
habilants Of the county OF Two Moutains,
would not allow the infamous Resolutions
Of Lord John Russel, TO pass. without re-
ceiviBg their censure and rebske. Again
at this great meeting, the Canadian Agita-
tor was present, and delivered one OF those
eloquent speeches, loT which he is so just
~ celebrated. The Citizens Of Quebec,
did not long delay, openly to express their
disapprobai.on ofthe designs Of the Eng
lish Ministers, agaiDs, Lower Canada, yet
their proceedings, seem 10 US, 10 have been
marked with unnecessary caution, az were
those, adopted at meeting, 10 the county
r OF Terre bonne. The county Of Berlher
followed, and the Electors, Of that flourish
ing part ofthe county, were honored with