Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-07-16
The Crisis in Canada!

British Dominion almost at an End!
|, is evident, says the Pittsburgh Post
that conflict is approaching III Canada
which will terminate in the complete over
throw of British dominion in The New
World. The British party in Canada mus
give way to the advancing column Of Dem
ocratic Liberty. We copy below from
the Montreal Gazette of the 4,h of July, an
article which clearly indicates that the day
of Canada's freedom is near at hand:
The most important news that has yet
arrived in Canada from England, since the
conquest, reached Montreal last night.
They comprise the debate and division
in the House Of Commons, on the Canadi-
al Rebellion losses bill, and we venture to
say that never was there debate nor divis.
ion in that House, that involved greater
consequences to US.
The downfall of British power in Amer
ica will as assuredly flow from the decis-
ion The British Parliament has come upon
this question, as that British power now
exists in Canada. 1t may be soon, or it
may be late. From The temper Of the
people i; cannot be very late, although
Lord EIgin and his present ministry un-
doubtedly have in it their power to raise a
storm which may precipitate it.
We have received copy Of the letter
written by the under Secretary of State for
the Colonies, TO Sir Allan McNab, in re-
nlv IN the netitiops which Sir Allan had
then presented.
It is the coolest piece of overweening Of
fetal insolence which it has been our lot
to read considering The immese interests in
volved.
Mr.. Hawes takes it upon him to stale
that the petioners are under an entire mis-
apprehension rs to the Rebellion losses bill;
that, in fact, they know nothing about it,
and that they are pack of insensate fools
to have entertained any indignation on the
subject. He also tells them, that although
The ministry introduced the bill to compel
the people of Canada 10 pay 100000 to
indemnify rebels, (all the loynlists having
been paid up to within f5,OOo,) and altho'
the supporters of ministers uniformly de.
clared from beginning to end, that the
money was to go to rebels, yet, as Lord
Elgin chose to tell an unmiliga'ed false-
hood, in the lace of those facts, to the peo.
pie of Hastings, and the British Govern
ment echo it, the petitioners must not pay
any attention TO the ministerial declara'
tions, nor to the provisions of the Rebellion
Losses act, which the courts Of law are
bound to enforce, but that seeing they are
good loyal people according to Lord Grey's
belief, they will very du,ifully give every
credence to the lie they are told, about the
intentions of the majority in Parliament,
instead of the truth recorded in the statute.
Mr.. Halves takes US only for COL
onists. We are nothing more than mere
colonists. The petitioner can be laughed
at, sneered at, taun,ed with their slupio
loyalty, told they possess not the conpre'
henson of Lord Elgin, nor of his uncie'ln'
law, Lord Grey. and that they are incom'
pe,ent to understand the Rebellion Losses
bill.
iii. is no. an insult to men of education
and intelligence to be treated as Mr. Hawes1
has dared TO treat the whole British popu-
lation of Canada, then we know not what
an insult is.
We trust, with Mr.. Hawes, that now
thev are assured that Lord Elgln has been
acting entirely for their interests, and in
accordance with what ought to oe their
feelings. they will submit entirely to the d.
rec,ion of Lord Elgin and Lord Grey, and
believe only what they tell them, and do