the British Parliament are accused of oppressive treatment of the
" Since the end of the last session, several local acts have expired ; and I would Canadas. The resolutions, which are preceded by a long state- suggest for your consideration the expediency of renewing such of them as may meat of grievances, are these—
acts relating to the district of St. Francis the duration of which is limited to " 1. That the warmest thanks and admiration are due from the Reformers of
the end of the session of the Provincial Parliament next after the 1st of May last. Upper Canada to the Honourable Louis Joseph Papineau, Esq., Speaker of " The severe distress which, in consequence of the partial or total failure of the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, and his compatriots in and out of the
the last winter in several parts of the pro. Legislature, far their past uniform, manly, and noble independence, in favour of the crops, was experienced during time wince, induced me, upon the urgent representations I received on the subject, civil and religious liberty ; and for their present devoted, honourable, and nion to the atte and in der to avoid the approaches of famine, to grant out of the public funds patriotic oppo-mpt of the British Government to violate their
or , subvert the powers and privileges of their that succour which the means of the suffering inhabitants were inadequate to constitution without their consent
afford. Nor did I hesitate in the pressing emergency of the case to assume this local Parliament, and overawe them by coercive measures into a disgraceful sesponsibility, encouraged by the liberality you have displayed on similar occa- abandonment of their just and reasonable wishes.
*ions. In granting, however, such assistance, security was in each case taken "2. Ar.d that the Reformers of Upper Canada are called upon by every tie for the repayment granting, the money so advanced, in the event of your declining to of ficeling, interest, and duty, to make common cause with their fellow citizens sanction the transaction. These advances amount in the whole to about 5,6001.: so —awer Canada, whose successful coercion would doubtless he in time visited
the redress of our own.
establishment. I trust you will see no objection to grant an indemnity. Such of " To render this cooperation the more effectual, we earnestly recommend to
In conclusion, gentlemen, I shall repeat my determination to adhere to those delegates be elected, and assembled at Toronto, to take into consideration the principles which I laid down for my guidance when I first addressed you. political condition of Upper Canada, with authority to its members to appoint They are calculated, I conscientiously believe, to promote the real interests of commissioners to meet others to be retired on behalf of Lower Canada and any the country, and to secure to all class'a of her Majesty's Canadian subjects those of the other calouius, armed is Rh suitable powers as a Congress, to seek an effectual remedy for the grievances of the colonies."
Such meetings and resolutions as these were forerunners of the American War. Lord NORTE' laughed then,, as Lord Met- soultive and Lord GLENELG laugh now, at the indignation of the dependent peovinces ; bet it turned out to be uo taunting matter. There is no power in the United States that can prevent the influx of thousands of riflemen in aid of a Canadian revolt.
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