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

o. Montreal, TO the Young
Men of the North american
Colonies.
"wAs woald be fss, ,hemselrss must strike
(ths blow"
BRorHEss -
When urgent circumstances 10 the affairs
OF a country make il necessary for men 10
form themselves into Parties or Associa-
lions, proper respect for the opinions 81
society, demands from them an explicit
Declaration of the causes which have in
duced them TO combine, and Of The prinei-
nlrs which they intend to advance, by the
power Of their organization.
We consider that, next 10 the privilege
of acting for himself, man possesses, from
the very foundation Of society, that Of
uniting his energies with those OF his fell
low citizens for all purposes OF mutual in
terest or defence and that, therefore, the
right OF association is as sacred and mali
enable, as the RICH, Of personal liberty.
We hold that governments are instituted
for the benefit. and can only exist Justly by
the consent Oft governed, and whatever
map be the artificial changes in human ar.
fairs, that a government Of choice IL an in
herent right Of the people. II cannot be
aienated, and consequently may always
he asserted and exercised. All govern
mcnis being instituted for the benefit Of a
whole people, and not for the honor or
profit OF any individual all pretensons of
Divine or absolute authority to rule, claim
sd by, or FOR, any men or act OF men, are
basahemous and absurd, alike monstrous
when nculcated, and degrading when ad-
mitIed. The authority of parent state
over colony can exist only during the
pleasure OF the Colonis,s forSihe country
being established and settled hy them be-
longs to them Of right, and may be sepa-
rated from all foreign connection, whenev-
9. the inconvenienccs resulting from an
Executive power residing abroad, ceasing
70 harmonize with local Legislature,
makes such step necessary TO the inhabi-
tants Tor the protection OF life, liberty, or
the pursuit Of happiness.
s The Young Mems Association Of Mon
ifeal, adopting the title Of " The Sons Of
Liberty" is not intended to be private
cabal. Or secret junto, but an active Dem
ocrattc body comprising all young men in
the city periodically alive to the interests
OF their country, whatever may be their
creed, Country, or the nation Of their an
cestors.
The causes which demand, at the pres
ent Iunc,ure, from all, bnt more especially
from Young Men, coming forward into
active life, heroic devotion In their coun-
try's canse, are manifold and imposing.
Al the cession Of this Province in 1853,
with view 10 consolidate British power
on the banks Of the ST. Lawrence, certain
rights of property, religion and govern
menu, were guaranteed To the Canadians.
and afterward more fully confirmed in 1774,
when the approaching noble revolt Of the
American States rendered concessions to
The new subjects OF the empire extremely
polite. The brilliant success OF those
States, and the overwhelming movement
oi revolution in France, having made
England trembIe for the safety Of her re-
naming American possessionssshe passed,
in 1871, the Act called the " Constitution
al Act" which divided Upper from Lower
Canada, and established Representative
Assembly in each. In 1912, conciliation
was again rendered necessary by the decla-
ration of war with the United States.
These times of danger have been the sea-
sons Of seeming justice TO Canada, while
the intervening and succeeding periods
furnish but one long history Of repeated
injuries, atrocities, usnrpations and wrongs.
Tins we have seen British rulers, with a
and perfdy unworthy Of the
Of powerful nation, con-
;inuing TO allure the people NJ Canada, by
deceptive promises, in times OF pressing |
necessity, and, when the emergency had
passed. resnr,ing To every unwarraniable
rxpedicnt 10 defer, or avoid the iulfllment
Of their solemn engagements.
After seventy-seven years Of British mis-
rule, we behold our country miserable,
compared with the prosperous Republics
WIN wisely threw of the yoke Of Monar-
Thy. We feel that our population is equal
IA canaciiy TO theirs. We see Emigranfs
rom beyond seas, OF the same class, wretch.
"a IL they remain here, happy II they
DIN the great Democratic family, and we
have daily evidence that our i'll fortunes
ire attributable to the desolaiing action of
/ Colonial government. A pretended pro-
ection has withered our energies. IL has
preserved all that was bad in our ancient
or unified to the present state
n h. f.. 1..sns;or orll