The Sun. — 1839-08-03 (London, England)

CANADA.  Mr. HUME inquired if it were true that 80 or 90 political offenders in Upper Canada had recently been sentenced to transportation to New South Wales. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that he could not, with due respect to what he owed to the interests ofthe public serice, give a distinct reply to that question, without prefacing his answer by a short statement, and reminding the House of the position in which Sir J. Colborne had been placed. In November last, when Sir J. Colborne had arrived at Montreal, he found the whole town in such a state, that information was received that there were 3,000 men ready to rise on a certain day, being bound by secret oaths. The surrounding districts were in a state of rebellion ; murder and outrage were prevalent every where.—(Hear, hear.) The loyal subjects of the British Crown were flocking into the town from all quarters in a state of panic ; so that it was requisite that he shitiuld instantly adopt rigorous measures for restoring the authority of Government. Consequently, numerous arrests took place. In Montreal alone 800 persons had been confined.—(Hear, hear.) The next question was, bow these persons should be dealt with. The object of Sir J. Colborne was, to shed as little human blood as possible, consistently with the preservation of peace in the colony.—(Hear, hear.) He issued a commission composed of four barristers, to make a previous examination into the charges, to see if any circumstances could justify their liberation. The result was, that the greater number were immediately liberated—(Hear, hear)—the rest were tried by Court-martial, and about 100 of them were capitally convicted of high treason, but only twelve underwent the extreme sentence of the law, and of these only six were charged with political offences merely ; the other six were guilty of murder also. The question then became, what measure of punishment should be allotted to the remainder. This was the course pursued, and he believed the conduct of Sir John Colborne in this transaction was not more distinguished by justice than sagacity and firmness. It was his intention to lay on the table of the House all the despatches he had received from that Gallant Officer, because he was satisfied the reading of these dispatches would make the same impression on the minds of Hon. Members that it had done upon the Government ; this conduct had been approved of and supported by the Government, because they felt convinced that Sir J. Colborne had done his duty properly. Mr. HUME said the opinion that had just been expressed was contrary to that entertained by nine-tenths of the inhabitants of Lower Canada, who were of opinion that his conduct had been cruel in the extreme. He wished to know whether it was true that Mr. Viger, a distinguished member of the House of Assembly, and upwards of sixty years of age, had been kept a prisoner upwards of a year. Mr. LABOUCHERE was sorry that so distinguished an individual should have suffered so long an imprisonment, but he believed, under the circumstances, Sir J. Colborne had no other course to pursue. Mr. Vigor had been arrested upon suspicion, but he was repeatedly offered to be allowed to leave the prison provided he would give security for his good behaviour. He (Mr. L.) felt bound to say that Sir J. Colborne could not, consistently with his public duty, have followed any other course. Sir R. PEEL hoped that the House would not be allowed to rise without the Government proposing to give the thanks of the House to Sir J. Colborne, for the manner in which he consented to accept the government of Canada, for the energy be had displayed, and especially for the manner in which be bad discharged the duties of Civil Government. Mr. LEADER begged to say one word with respect to the case of Mr. Vigor ; he bad been imprisoned for one twelve months, and he was then offered his liberty on condition that he gave security for his good behaviour for twelve months. He declined, and demanded his trial, which was refused, he conceiving himself to be innocent. He begged to ask the Hon. Under-Secretary one question. Did he not think that the promise of pardon contained in the proclamation of Lord Durham had been broken by the transportation of these men to New South Wales. It was at once unjust and harsh that they should be transported to New South Wales at once without being sent to this country where they might have appealed to the Superior Courts, and have probably obtained their discharge, as others had done. Mr.