, 1854-11-11
XancOuYer,s Island.

community by the profound wisdom, or
prodigious ignorance, (eXtremes meeting), |
of our worthy Governor and his satellites,
displayed in late act of Coucil, forward
you, for the benefit of your readers, an
outline Of the proceedings
You must first be informed that GER
tain Mr.. David Cameron, who has not long
since arrived from Demorara and who is,
fortunately it is TO be supposed for him,
married to the sister of the sapient head
of our local government, has lately been
clothed, by his brother-in-law, with the
ermine The colonists objected to this ap-
pointment, and presented remonstrance
to Mr. Douglas on the subject; he, howev-
er, treated this manifestation of public
opinion with contempt, and so ignorant is
he of the power of the peoples voice, that
he-this servant to q company of fur ira
ders this man over whom the sun of civili-
zation has not dawned these thirty years
and more, who does not, perhaps, know
Windmill from spinning jenny, and who
is bound by the ties Of sympathy and affec-
ton more closely to the savage than to
the white man-had the assumption to
treat with scorn, and the folly to answer
with falsehood, a deputation of respectable
colonists who waited on him with the writ
ten expression of great portion of the
inhabitants disapproving of the measure.
The consequence has been public meet
ing, of which the following is the program
me; and as it is the first attempt on the
part of the people of Vancouver's Island
to assert their rights, it may be viewed as
the birth day of the colony:
The meeting, after due notification, was
held on the 4th inst, at Mr.. Yates new
building. Capt. james Cooper, NJ. c.,
was called to the chair, who, after stating
that he had been present at Council on the
day when the act constituting Mr.. Gamer
on Judge of the Supreme Court had been
passed-that he had voted for it, but that
upon farther consideration, he had become
so satisfied that he had given his vote too
hastily to an unadvised proceeding-that
he had written to the Governor to request
that he would call special Council and
have the matter reconsided-that Mr..
Douglass had not thought fit even to ac-
knowledge the receipt Of this letter, and
that viewing the injurious results likely to
accrue from the appointment unless speedy
measures were taken to annul it, he thought
that it was his duty, failing all other means,
thus publicly to acknowledge his error, and
his entire disapproval Of the measure which
had, he was now of opinion, been so hurri-
edly, and without that consideration which
so important a subject deserved, passed
through the Council. The chairman then
read a letter from Thos. Blinkhorne, Esq,
expressing his regret that sickness pre-
vented him from attending the meeting,
but expressing his entire approval of its
object. A note from Mr.. Andrew Muir
was also read, the purport of which was
the same. R. Mckenzie, Esq, and Mr.
Weir had also intended being present, but
were unsvOidsbly kept away.
Mr.. Swanston was called upon to read
the remonstrance that had been presented
10 the Governor some short time previous,
and the replies that his Excellency had
made to the deputation who had waited
on him.
Upon Mr.. Swanston concluding, the
chairman read the following, hardly
know more fitting appellation than pro
logue:
W1ereas, it is an undeniable fact, thai
Of all the institutions created for the pres
ervation of human society, the most vitally
important are those which are the mean:
of dispensing justice; It rigidly follows thai
they ought to be most closely scrutinized
both as to their nature, constitution and
proceedings, and therefore community
which fails to exercise the most jealous
vigilance over its courts, is most culpably
wanting to its own most essential interests
the cause of public order, and the progress
nay, the very existence Of civilization; and
Whereas, if such vigilance over these
institutions is at all times grave duty in
cumbent on community, it is of still more
momentous consequence at the outset Of q
country's existence; and -...
Whereas, the local government of Van.
couveris Island have recently erected q
court Of justice In our midst, invested with
most serious powers; and r
Whereas, the respectful remonstrances
Of numerous body Of the inhabitants pre-
sented in an address to bis Excellency, the
Governor, in reference to this court, has
been peremptorily repulsed and refused
consideration. @15sl.3 8s.l
This meeting resolves, $50
LIST, That whilst this meeting most EN-.
phatically and distinctly repudiates all ille-
gal opposition to lawfully constituted au-
thority, 1t expresses its firm determination
to take all lawful and constitutional meas
ures for repelling attacks upon the rights
and liberties Of the people, and Of obtain.
ing redress for their grievances, this being
the birth right of Englishmen which they
will never surrender.
End, That it is the imperative duty Of
the colonists of Vancouver's Island, at this
commencement Of its political life, to take
into most serious consideration the subject
Of the constitution Of the Supreme Court
Of civil justice lately created, as well as all