North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-02-18

HoU~, which was continued in the next
Session, was to endsavoar TO elicit The facts
10 such foreib!e manner as not 20 be mis-.
taken al whose door laid the guilt OF spiliiRg
human blood. After q patient and weari-
some invesiia the only result was 10
embody The wanton mnrJer in The 90 re-
solutions which were afterwards passed by
the Hsuse Of Assembyin February, 1884,
as just cause of complaint and grievan-
ees on the part Of the Colony agans, the
local authorities.
Ia consequence Of the unlawful and I'M
constitutional interference oil His Majesty's
troops in the election Of the " est Ward
of Montreal which, as we have seen, had
resulted IN the tragical death Of three in
nocent victims, the House passed a bill to
meve the troops from the Cities during the
Elections but The Legislative Council re-
fused 20 sanction this measure and il was
consequently lost.
daring outrage upon the rights and
privileges of the Assembly was committed
by one Of the subordinate officers Of The
government, who held the place Of Asss-
iant Clerk of the Executive Council.
Having IN private manner called upon
the Clerk of the House OF Assembly, Mr..
G. II. Ryland begged of that gentleman
to let him look at certain book which
was then in the hands of the clerk of the
House. His request was incautously
granted. As soon as Mr.. Ryand got pos
session OF the book, he opened it and turn
ing to page on the margin Of which were
some words written with lead pencil and
which were the cause Of a litigation be-
tween his father & another individual, he
endeavoured eliace the offensive words
which had given rise to the pending suit.
The clerk OF the Assembly as1unded at
this bold and unmanly action, wrested the
book from the hands OF the offender and
made an Immediate report OF the affair to
the House. After having heard two wit
nesses on this audacious infringement OF
its privileges, the Assembly framed an ad-
dress TO the Governor, exposing the enor-
nous misconduct Of the accused, and pray
ing that he nigh, be discharged from all
places Of honor or profit that he held under
rhe government. Lord Aylmer contented
himself with suspendiug Mr.. Ryland for
me space of six months from his place of
assistant Clerk to the Executive and /,
the expiration Of this short punishment he
was fully reinstated into his office. Thus
one OF the most daring outrages upon
the rights and privileges Of the House Of
Assembly, was nearly overlooked by the
Governor, who thought more OF protect
ing these supporters and officers Of his adj
nlnlstration than of furnishing a man who
IN the eyes OF the law, had rendered him
self guilty Of an offence abhorred by all
honest men.
No previous session Of the Legislature
Of Lower Canada, was ever fraught with
such fragrant violation OF the established
rights and usages of the House of Assem-
bly,. From the irritated state of the public
mind and from the unavoidable strife and
which actually existed between
the two eontending parties, and which was
rendered still worse by the undue interior
ence of the Governor in behalf Of one, con-
fusion was to be expected, and as a nat
ural consequence, disobedience to the laws
and usages of the country was to be wit
messed to an alarming extent. Could il be
otherwise when the Governor in Chief in
person had so far forgotten his duty and
station as officially to justify the spilling OF
human blood' We ought not to be sur
D.ised when we see the followers Of the
present administration, trying 10 cast the
most irrelevant reflections on those who
we're considered as the champions OF the
peoples cause so much trampled upon by
Lord Aylmer. Thus we see an obscure q
member OF the House of Assembly, who I
the political views of the present S
Governor. making throuh the publc press T