North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-04-16


slsed aspiration for the advancement Of the
eountfy's greatness.
Hosts OF officers, appointed without con-
sent oI the People, 10 whom they are too
frequently obnoxious and never responsible
and holding commissions during the pleas
ure of an irresponsible Executive, are
placed in authority over Us, with salaries
enormously disproporlioned both TO our
means and 10 their services, whereby Of
fee is made means of family or personal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, instead OF being suited 10
the resources and wants of the people.
The trial by Jury, which we have been
taught 10 look upon as the palladium OF
our liberties, is made a vain iIlusina or in
stFument OF despotism, inasmuch as Shcf-
ifs, creatures OF the Executive, upon
which they depend daily for a ooninu-
ance IN an office 10 which vast emouments
are attached, can select and summon such
Jurors rs they please, and thereby become
themselves the arbiiers in state prosecn-
tons Instituted against the people by their
opnressors.
Immense funds, bestowed by a provident
government, or by generous individuals,
on the late order of the Jesuits, for purpos-
es OF education, have been diverted from
this c0mmendable object, ard made an in-
sIrument Of corruption for the reward of
useless or reprehensible officials, while the
children Of the Province, deprived of the
funds provided for their instruction, have
grown MP without the benefit Of school
education, TO be now tainted with want of
learning.
Our public lands, defended during two
wars by the bravery of the inhabitants oil
the country, and rendered valuable by the
toll that has opened roads, and extended
settlements back to the wilderness, have
been sold or bestowed, in contempt Of our
circumstances, to Company Of specua-
tors living beyond The sea. or paltitioncd
out among official parasites, who have,
from motives Of iniercsi, combined az a
faction. 10 support corrupt government,
|inimical TO the rights and opposed to the
wishes Of the people, whilst our fathers,
our relations and our brother colonists are
refused, or unable TO procure, wild land on
which to settle.
Laws affecting the tenure of lands in
applicable to the condition Of the country,
and injurious in their operation, have been
forced upon US by foreign Parliament,
which, in order 10 favor private and sinister
interests, has usurped power Of internal
legislation that appertains alone 10 the Lee
gisature Of this Province.
Regulations for the trade Of the country,
adopted by foreign Parliament, are en-
forced without our consent. We are thus
confined TO certain markets, and are de-
prlved of the power oil extending our COM
merce to all parts OF the world when the
markets Of Britain are uniavorable TO our
produce, whereby our commercial enter
prise is crippled and paralyzed.
The Representation Of the country has
been made solemn mockery. corrupt
Executive has constantly sought TO render
our House OF Assembly an instrument to
decide unalterably the slavery of its con-
stituents, and failing in this wicked de-
sign, has rendered its action migratory by |
frequsnt prorog atoms and dissolutions, and |
by refusing an assent to laws useful to the |
people, and passed unanimously by their
Representatives.
A Legislative Council, the members of
which are nominated by authorities gno-
rant of the country, residing 5000 miles
OIL, composed mostly OF persons who do
not sympathlze with the country, still ex-
lists as an impoten, screen between the
Governor and the governed, and nnifies
all attempts at useful legislation. An Ex-
ecutire Council nominated in the same
manner, whose influence has poisoned the
mind of each succeeding Governor, re-
mains unchanged, to protect The cumua-
ton of Office and abuses that are connect
ed with every public department. A Gov
ernor alike ignorant with his predecessors,
and who has become, like each of them,
an official partisan, conducts the govern
ment for the benefit Of the few. either un-
mindful Of, or de,erminedly opposed 10, the
the prosperity Of the MANY.
Our grievances have been faithfully and
repeatedly urged upon the King and Par
lament of-'he United Kingdom, by the
resolutions Of primary assemblies, by our
Representatives in Parliament assembled,
and by the humble petitions OF the whole
people. We have demonstrated, with all
the power OF argument, and all the moral
force OF trnih. No remedies have been
and al last, when the tyranny of
hose intrusted with power in the Prov
nee has increased insufferably from contin-
ned impunitv, advantage is taken by an I'M
generous European State, OF time oil
general peace, tn coerce us into CONN.,
,auce or annrnvai of our awn dshas.mant