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SO( ll/rV, ON ITS RK-OPtCiAMZATlON. ai)Dri:SkSi;i) / / TO TnlflU FELLOW SUBJECTS IN UPPER CANADA, TORONTO. 183C. DECLARATrON OP THE VIEWS AND OBJECTS, OF TUP. BUirrNH CONSTITUTIONAL SOCIETY, ON ITS RE-OROAMZATIOiN. A D D R E S S E D TO THEIR P^ELLOW SLTbjECTS IN UPPER CAN^VDA. TORONTO. 1836. I '■4 1 DECLARATION F T H K V I V. W S, &if. OF THE BRITISH CONSTITLTIONAL SOCILTY. i i Thk Members of tlie BitiTisn Co.nstititio.nai. SociE'j'Y, deem it a duty tliey owe their fellow Subjects throughout the Province, to delare the views and objects of the Akso- ciation, and the causes which have led to its re-organization. In doing this thyy are actuated by an anxious desire to be fully aud fairly understood — to prevent (if that be possible,) misrepre- sentation, and to disseminate throughout the Country those princij)lcs of attachment to the Constitution which they are proud to cherish. The fuiidamental [)rinciple and object of the Society is to Peucktiate tiii: Co.\xexio.\ BETWEEN IJPFEIl Can\1)A AM) Tlir: UmTED KlIVCJDOM OF (jRKAT BniTAI.X AND IliELAND. This is the END — all other objects of liie k^ociety are but means for securing that end. Convinced thfit this Provinc<^ principally owes its rapid advance- ment in population and wealth to that connexion, we look to its continuance witli liope and confi- dence fur a steady influx of valuable Settlers, and for an increased developniont of the resources of the Colouv — and satisfied that tho Constitution coiiltrrcd on us Uy tlit; Mollier Ccniiitry is well aJapted to secure our peace, weKUre, antl good ^M)vernmeiit, we desire to uphold that (constitution in its inrcorily, and are determined to resist all innovation upon it, whether proceeding iVoni open enemies, or from the mon? insidious attacks of pretended friends. A calm and dispassionate review of the events that have occurred for some time past has led us to the conclusion, that a crisis has arrived which renders it the bounden duty of every true lover of [lis country to stand forth and join heart and hand with his fellow-subjects in sustaining the Consti- tution, and resisting the attempts at its subversion uiiich have lately assumed a more tangible shape, and which 7nust he jJ^it down, unless we are dis- posed to submit tamely to be revohitionized with- out even a shew of resistance. The letter of Mr. Hume, addressed to a noto- rious political cliaracter of this community, ven- tured to chanictcrize the superintending power of (rreat Britain over this Province, as a "baneful domination ;" — and though the sentiments con- tained in that document were well \\\^\\ akin to treason, and were loudly and unecpiivocally con- demned by a large majority of the inhabitants oi' Upper Canada, there was and is a party vho echoed those sentiments then, and whose conduct since, leaves little room to doubt tliat they w^ould hail with satisfaction a course of eventf? which sJ well good itutioii sist idl 11 open cks of events t led iiH 1 which ' Dvcr of d hand Joiisti- versioii shape, \rc dis- d witli- a iioto- [ y, veii- .1 3wer of baneful < ts con- akin to \\ ]y con- 'to tants of i ty vho conduct 3 1 would % ; which sliould terminate in a complete mdepundeiice of, and separation from the Mother Country. Passing over intermediate events, a n-ftrence to which would occupy too much time, wu recur to the opening of the last Session of the Legisla- ture. In the Lieutenant Governor's Sjieech an allusion was made to the difficulties created hv the French party in Lower Canada, as producing an injurious eflect on the prosperity of this Province by discouraging Emigration, and retarding inter- nal improvement. The House of Asseniljly took occasion in their answer to express their ap[)roba- tion of that party in Lower Canada, eAi)ressing '* respect for their patriotic exertions," and accjuit- ting them of being " the cause of any of the dissentions and embarrassments existing in the Country." This language was used with a full knowledge that the French party had passed laws throwing great impediments in the way of Emi- grants — had imperiously demanded an elective Legislative Council — and had left the public ser- vice totally unprovided for, because their unrea- sonable demands were not complied with. Shortly after the arrival of Sir F. B. IJk ad, our present Lieutenant Governor, he communicated to the House of Assembly the Listructions he had received for the Administration of the Government of this Province — Instructions conceived in a spirit of liberality, and shewing a desire to correct all (( (( real grievances, aiitl to aUord a remedy lor every well (rronnded complaint ; and in His Excellency's address to the House he called n[)oii tln'in to af- lonl their assistance in carrying such remedial measures into eiiect. To this appeal not the slightest response has been given, nor has oin; singles measure been passed by the House in ac- cordance with the gracious spirit of these f nstruc- tions. — On the contrary, the moment a difl'erence upon a constitutional point arose between Ilia Excellency and his Executive Council, the House (abandoning former alleged grievances, and forget- ting that they had themselves only in the previous Session declared the Executive Council to be an irresponsible body,) at once laid hold of the new doctrine, of the right of the Executive Council to have all the allhirs of the Province submitted to their consideration — insisting that this was the intent of the Constitutional act, and attackini; the Lieutenant (Governor in languaoe as little consis- tent with the dignity of a Legislative body, as with the respect due to the Representative of their Sovereign. Not only did the House endea- vour to sustain the Executive Council in their attempt to assume the responsibility of adminis- tering the Government — but they also claimed to have the Council responsible to them, and subject to be removed if so desired by a majority of the Assembly — and in furtherance of the latter object passed a resolution, expressive of want of confi- dence in the new Council appointed by his Excel- loncv. r % every oiicy's to at- niecliiil ot tho IS ono ill Jic- iistruc- orcnco )11 111:4 for«:jt:l- nniuus ) bo an he now inicil to littod to as tliG ng the consis- [)(lv, as ivo of 'ndca- thoir iniinis- mcd to snhjcct of tho object confi- Excel- Disappointed by the fninness which the Lieu- tenant (iovornor dispUiyod, and nnalile to answer tlio Constitulionu -MuiUMits by which lie justi- fied his course, the i louse, as a hist endeavour to coerce Jfis Excellency into their views, resorted to the nnpreced(;ntcd measure of stopping tlu) Suf)phes. Even after this course was resolved on, they nevcrtlioless passed liilla for the expen- diture of lar^e sums of public money, under the controul of Commissioners named by ihemsijlves from tho ranks of their political friends, and pro- vidinnd,M- of thr French party in Lower Canada-a partv deei.K.Hv host,letoBritishprinciple-BritisI.,)op;datioM,and iintishGovernment— which,probal>lv,onconraoni by the tone of the Address to .^ir John Coibonie above adverted to, endeavoured to establish a sys- tem of co-operation between the Radical partiVs of both Provinces. T],e whole tnnor of thj, l^trr shews that the object desired by Yu: P.-.piiioau and his party is a change of the Constitutio,,— in other words, a Revolution; and he does not lu^si- tate in effect to assert, that any svsloni which may be adopted by the Imperial l^irliament to ivo-idaic the affairs of Lower Canadn, othor tlian tl.a't pro- pounded in the celebrated i\iuet.y-t^^() jiesohitions, " could not hut exilte Jhlings ndiNn,, to the intJ- '' rests of the Porn/t State ox this 'A--,'riM:.\T." In this letter, also, the Legislative Tonncils nnt denounced as the '^ cause and main-spring of all " the heart-burnings, distinctions, nnd sufferinn-s '' ly THESE PRovix Es." It is worlhv of remark, that in this h-tterMr. Papineau evidentlv nssimn^s that the party, - to whose organ'' the letter is B 10 direct(3d, agree in liis opinions, and are prepared to make common cause with him; — an assump- tion, the source of which will be at once found in the language of the above-mentioned Address, which, speaking of the Lower Province, says, " with which it is equally our duty and our interest " to cultivate a good understanding." And let it be further remembered, that up to this moment, neither in the House nor out of the House, has one man of that party come forward and publicly disavowed his participation in those opinions; but they have tacitly at least adopted the anti-British and revolutionary doctrines of the Ninety-two Resolutions, and of Mr. Papinoau. We are fully persuaded of the truth that tho great mass of our fellow -subjects in this Province are imbued with the deepest and most ardent loyalty and attachment to their King and the Con- stitution under which they live, and that if they were made sensible that the comparatively few and obscure men who clamour about grievances, and who claim to be the only persons who desire to preserve and maintain the riglits and liberties of the people, were, in fact, actuated by no such patriotic motives; but that their object was to cre- ate discord and animositv anion o- those who have every motive to live in peace and harmony with each other — in order to obtain influence from this division, and to get power to elfect their dnii- g\t;rous [>urposcs — such mock Patriots would be instamlv sinH'ned bv those xnIioiu thcv Uiwv deln :1 t -4 )repare(J assuiri])- found ill Address, c, says, interest rid let it nomeiit, ISO, has publicly •ns; but -British ety-two bat tho rovinco ardent le Con- it' tliev 3ly few nances, desire rties of ) such to cre- o liavc y with »m t'lin • daii- ihl be : dehl- ded, and returned to that obseuniy (Vom vJiich, but for accichMital cuns^es nnd iluj juactice of tlie' most unworthy means, th.^v ^vin^Ul never hav,. emerged. I'nder these cireiinislaucfr^ !he British Consii- tntional Society is re-oriranized. A;,t for aiiv party purpose— not for any h;cal or unnor consid- eration, but because we think tiie facts aboNc detailed prove, that there is daii-er at hand— danger to our ptace— danger to our » stablisluMl rights—danger to oin- Constitution. We, tiieiv- fore, call on all loyal men to join us. 'J'/u ral/f/- nfg word is t/w maintcmincv uf the Vninn iri//, the Mother Country— if need arise, it shall be the battle crn—\\n- in a cause like tins, lla re can bo no hesitation to .stake f(jrtnne and iifu if re(ininMl. But we have no fear that such an ultimate cour.se Nvill become necessary, it will be enon-h tiiat tbe j)eoph3 of the Proviiice rouse themselves and express their united determiiiation not to be made the tools of a Revolutionary party in this Province or in Lower Canadn^and that they embrace tin; lirst legitimate oi>portumly of sejjpking i!ie places of those who nnsrepresenl tliem now, bv men having better and more .volid claims lo the u[\v of JVttriots. On this (jueslion w(> may all unii' — on Ihe-eneral principir tin re is no room for diiVrrenrP ''f oiMiijon amono- h.xal siibjects~.in