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As one who formerly occu- pied, during a third of a century, a prominent position in the social, politi- cal and religious community of the province, we have felt that something more than a mere announcement of his departure from the scene of action would be acceptable as well as in- structive to our readers. It is with regret we must premise that W3 find that he has left on record so little out of which to compile a sketch of his public life. At the time Mr. Willson entered upon his political career, and for many succeeding years, the coun- try was essentially deficient in ably conducted newspapers, and accurate reporters of speeches, which so often exercise an important influence at the hustings and in parliament. Al- though the subject of our notice had resided at his farm in Saltfleet, in the \ a strictest retirement, for about twenty years, there are still living many of his younger colleagues and contem- poraries in parliament, who recollect his eloquence and earnestness in de- bate, and the almost electric effect of his impassioned language. But there was then no daily press, and no ready reporter to catch the sense and langu- age of the orator, and give them a permanent record in the annals of the province — now grown from a mere handful of settlers when the subject of our memoir first entered it as a poor lad, to national proportions. Mr. Willson, like his venerable and elder brother, Hugh, whose decease we had occasion to record something less than two years ago, was born in the province of New Jersey, on the 5th of August, 1776, where he remained until 1790, when he removed to this coun- try w^ith his guardian, and settled first at Niagara. A few years later, about 1797, he settled upon a farm in Salt- fleet, on the pleasant shore of Lake Ontario, where he has ever since re- sided, devoting his time to agricul- tural pursuits. X In 1799 he married Elizabeth Bowlsby, a native of Long Island, by whom he had a large fam- r V I t V ily of children. This admirable wo- man was a fitting companion for one who had determined to work his way to independence in a situation then so remote from civilization and all the re- finements and comforts of life. At the commencement of the present cen- tury, there was not even a grist mill nearer than Chippawa, and those of the new settlers in Saltfleet and the surrounding country, who felt *». relish for bread made of wheaten flour, were obliged to carry their grist, on the backs of horses, a distance of over 30 miles to have it ground. But time and perseverance overcome great obstacles, and Mr. Willson and his sturdy neigh- bors and friends soon made a visible Impression on the wilderness. This whole region of country has now long been regarded as one of the very finest agricultural districts in the province. Like most of the pioneers in this province, Mr. Willson possessed but few of the elements of education. In all things he was a self-made man. He was likewise deprived of the full means of gratifying his thirst for knowledge by the great rarity 'and dearness of books. The few that he was fortunate enough to obtain from time to time were, however, well read, and being- possessed of a vigorous mind and re- tentive memory, nothing was lost upon him. He soon became the leading man of the little community in which he lived, and very naturally his ambition expanded with the growth and devel- opment of the country. Like hi» brother, he v/as by nature gifted with a vigorous intellect, a nice sense of justice, and a natural refinement of character which stamped him em- phatically as one of "nature's noble- men." Such a man, though he might follow the plow for the means of live- lihood, was well calculated to become the champion of civil and religious lib- erty, the principles of which were not quite so well defined, or respected in those early provincial times as at present. The first imperial act, giving what was then imperfectly understood — a constitutional government to Canada, was passed in 1701. It was, however, an improvement on the old system of governing by means of a Governor and a council appointed by himself. The legislature of Upper Canada in its in- fancy possessed but little weight in the governmental machinery, and for a s*> 5 i V! dozen years could scarcely be consid- ered as anything more than a passive body, recording most complacently the behests of the executive. One of the first subjects that afford- ed scope for enlarging the influence and bringing out the powers of our orator was the religious disabilities under which the dissenters from the church were held to labor by the biased construction given by the executive to the laws relating to the solemnisation of marriage, and the holding in their corporate capacities of church prop- erty. Mr. Willson took up the liberal view of the then vexed questions, and contended that the old English statutes could not be held to apply to the col- ony, after the granting of a system of free government. Whether rigl ,. or wrong in the assumption, he soon made himself heard in the country, ^ and in 1808 he was waited upon by a deputation from Flamboro West and Nelson, inviting him to stand for par- liament in the opposition Interest, for the then west riding of York (now Hal ton). He accepted the offer with great diffidence, and not without con- siderable persuasion, for he always felt keenly the defects of his early educa- tion. The party to which he had al- lied himself triumphed pretty gener- ally in the province, and Mr. Willson was returned by a fair majority. This was the fifth parliament of Upper Canada, and the ideas of par- liamentary grovernment were beginning slowly to develop. We do not propose to follow up with any degree of par- ticularity the rising career of Mr. Willson. A man of his genius and originality, possessed of so large a bhare of natural eloquence, could not remain long in obscurity. His nice sense of justice, his indefatigable per- severence, contributed mainly to the enactment of laws for the removal of all religious distinctions. When these inestimable rights were firmly estab- lished, and after having materially aided in securing the independence of parliament, he judiciously considered that moderation was the best policy to pursue in order to consolidate the rising political structure. At this point of his political career commenced a divergence between him and many of his coadjutors, whose extreme views he conceived were calculated to weaken the connection between the colony and the mother country. 4 i. 1 t I I t 1 One of his measures, to which the country is largely Indebted, requires a more particular notice. This was the common school act of Upper Canada, which was drafted by him and passed into law in 1816, mainly through his influence. He afterwards, when it was about to expire in 1824, introduced and carried an act to make it perpetual. Thus was laid the foundation of that admirable system of education which has, since the union of the provinces, placed the inestimable blessing of a generous share of education within the power of every person brought up in the province. His own early deficien- cies no doubt made him the more earn- est in his efforts to secure to all future generations that which circumstances had denied to himself. So much was this measure his hobby, that a few years ago, when the government sent an artist to paint his picture as an ex- speaker, he had himself painted with the parchment scroll in his hand, in- scribed with the words "Common Schools." If he had never accomplish- ed any other great object, this was one which he might well look back upon with pride at the close of life. It may not be out of place to mention 8 here, that one of those who aided and encouraged Mr. Wlllson in his efforts to perfect his favorite measure, was the Hon. John Strachan, the now ven- erable the Right Reverend Bishop of Toronto, then a member of the legis- lative council. In the early part of the year 1825, A he was elected speaker of thp house, a position which he filled with dignity and ability. At this time faction be- came rampajit. There were many men in the house, who in point of ability have not since been surpassed, if equalled in the province. These were ranged in nearly equal numbers, on each side the floor. In a parliament comprising such men as the present Chief Justice Robinson, Mr. Justice McLean, the late Messrs. Morris, Hagerman, J. Jones and others of scarcely less ability and distinction, on the one hand, and Marshall S. Bidwell, John Rolph, Peter Perry, Dr. Baldwin and their numerous allies on the other, it was no easy task to preserve de- corum and order. He had been elect- ed by the opposition party headed by the last mentioned gentlemen, who, it is to be feared, in the heat and strife of party, counted upon more favor -< than comported with the strict princi- ples of justice. Such at least was the conclusion to which Mr. Speaker Will- son felt himself forced before he had long filled the chair. Upon this point he has left some interesting: records. When he saw that his political friends expected undue favors at his hands, lie only the more strongly fortified himself with the determination to dis- charge his duty to the house with strict impartiality. The result was that he incurred the displeasure of a portion of hii3 old associates, some of whom long afterwards, when the ani- mosities of the times had become toned down, or forgotten, paid him the toTdy compliment of having always acted justly and impartially. On the other hand, his opponents were compelled to admit his tact, judgment and urbanity on all occasions. The circumstances to which we have adverted, contributed materially to widen the breach be- tween him and his former party, and from this period to the end of his political life, we find him pretty gener- ally allied with the moderate section of the Conservative party, whilst his old allies went Into the opposite ex- treme, which terminated in rebellion, 10 I ! -/- a result that he predicted with almost prophetic certainty two years previ- ously. In 1S22 he opposed an attempt to ef- fect a union of Upper and Lower Can- ada, on the grounds of difference in laws, language, institutions and re- ligion, with great energy, and receiv- ed very generally the credit oC defeat- ing the powerful effort then made to effect that object. Upon this point he ne\-er changed his opinion, and in 1839» when called to the Legislative Council of Upper Canada, he took his seat that or the following year mainly for the purpose of opposing that measure, when all the influence of that able and crafty man. Lord Sydenham, was brought to bear in order to consum- mate it. He could not, however, al- low the measure to pass without re- cording in the Journals of that body hia strong protest against it. Whether he was right or wrong in this matter cannot yet be determined. In regard to commercial legislation, he has left some record of his views and the course he pursued whenever such questions came up, as may be seen by reference to the Journals of the house. He never swerved from I ■^^ ' II the opinion that, in an agricultural country especially, free trade, or the nearest practical approach to it, was the true policy. Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations" is one of the best worn books in his small but well se- lected library. He also warmly supported the great public improvements, commenced in his time, with spirit and energy, and contributed largely to the success of many that have since served so much to develop the resources of the coun- try. The most important of these were the Welland and Burlington Bay canals; of the former of which he was for several years a government di- rector. On all occasions he supported those important ameliorations which have been effected in our criminal code dur- ing the last 40 years. Many of them are due to the humane and enlight- ened policy of the now remarkable Chief Justice Robinson, who became much interested in the subject of our memoir, and remained ever after a fast friend. Mr. Willson was opposed to the spoliation of the church property; upon this point he differed from many of WittN'S UNiVhKStfY L!B!fAK' 12 liis coadjutors. In a published docu- ment, which appeared in 1840, he thus expresses himself on this subject: "I regret, however, to be obliged to say that these light afflictions (referring to the former disabilities of the dis- senters) were not long borne with that spirit which the high professions of those who suffered them, so much in- dicated. Some, indeed, have striven, reckless of all consequences, to stir up a hostile feeling against the church, until it may be truly said of the ad- herents of that venerable system of Christian rule and faith — for the main- tenance of which so many great and good men of the sixteenth century underwent the most severe trials, that they have for the last few years been the persecuted.** There was, likewise, another branch of public duty to which, for twenty years, he devoted a large share of time and interest. This was his regu- lar attendance upon the Quarter Ses- Y^ sions of his county, of which he was chairman for most of that period. Here he had many opportunities, whilst acting in the capacity of judge, of displaying his moderation and high sense of justice. Few criminals ever *»I* > ■ 13 received his reprimand and advice without long carrying a recollection of the tone and language of the chief presiding magistrate at their courts. During the period when his influ- ence was greatest in parliament, it was more than once attempted to se- cure his thick-and-thin support of the government, by the common practice resorted to in those days, of dispensing offices of emolument and grants of land. On those occasions he gave those who made the overtures (in one case the Governor himself) to understand that, although possessed of very mod- erate means, he was beyond the reach, of such appliances. He was never a grievance monger for the sake of mak- ing capital out of things often trump- ed up only for that purpose, and he lost no opportunity of endeavoring to redress real grievances. One of the striking characteristics of Mr. Willson's life was, never to for- get, though he might forgive, a slight^ or an injury, whether coming from friend or foe. In this respect he per- haps did not differ materially from most men of strong natural genius and extreme sensitiveness; but he was* never the first to inflict a wound upon 14 the reelings or the pride of others. In this respect he was a true disciple of old Polonius, who advised his son: "Beware Of entering into a quarrel; but be- ing in Bear it, that the opposer may beware of thee/* In his domestic and social relations, no man commanded greater love and respect from all capable of understand- ing and appreciating his depth of character and principle. His sudden removal from the scene of action will, therefore, be deeply felt by his num- erous friends and relatives. The ex- tinction of such a life, even at four score and five years, cannot fail to leave a vacuum not easily filled up. His intellect remained unimpair- ed, except a slight failing of memory of recent events and acquaintances, up to the last. A few minutes before he expired he walked on his veranda, as if to take a last view of the scenes which more than 60 years had made more dear and familiar to him than ''household words." He exclaimed: **How beautiful everything looks in the garden and on the farm!" and shortly returned to his room. With ^ 15 ! t him entered the unseen messenger: for he had scarcely reached his chair when the shaft of death suddenly struck his heart. He had suffered somewhat se- verely at intervals for four or five days, of rheumatic gout in his arms and chest, but no immediate danger was apprehended, either by himself or family, until the night of the 25th and 26th. The disease, however, was near the seat of life, which it at last sud- denly attacked, and he expired in- stantly in the arms of a member of his family. What scope does the term of such a life as that we have inadequately at- tempted to sketch, ere the funeral ob- sequies have been performed, afford for the reflections of the moralist and the philosopher! What events have occurred since the year of its entry into existence! What changes and revolu- tions in human affairs, from the con- summation of the American revolu- tion, at the outset of which Mr. Speaker Willson was born, to the late partial regeneration of Italy! What a history is embraced in the 85 years, ending with his decease! How many empires and dynasties have arisen and fallen, some to blaze forth again with i6 I! greater splendor than ever, during this momentous period in the annals of the world! What progress has been made in the arts, sciences and general in- telligence of a large portion of the human race! The period embraced in the life just extinguished, may truly be said to have contained more intensity of action, if not greater and more important events than had previously occurred from the advent of Christianity into the world. What a storehouse of contem.porary history must have been the keenly ob- servant mind of him who has just left us! How interesting must have been his conversations on the mighty events which were continually passing before his eyes, and which were ever treas- ured up in a retentive memory, to be brought forth as occasion required! We have omitted to remark upon one great and interesting feature in Mr. Willson's character. It was his un- swerving belief in the religion of Christ, which he was not ashamed to profess publicly, and always endeav- ored to apply as the rule of his life, even amidst the storms and tempests of a long political career. g this of the made al in- )f the !e just o have ion, if events )m the world, porary ily ob- ist left e been, events before treas- , to be -ed! )on one in Mr. Is un- ion of med to mdeav- lis life, jmpests