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Las diagrammes suivants lliustrant la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ' ., ■ 4 ■# •'; %■: *- i ^ :.}jr«*^*fJ COUNTER MANIFESTO TO THE ANNEXATIONISTS OF MONTREAL. 0m0^0*^^^*^*a0^0^^m ANNEXATIONISTS OF MONTREAL : Your long threatened manifesto is at last issued to tlio people of Canada ; and following your example (in this onlyj I tako the liberty of addressing you with boldness equal to your own ; and with God's help and a better cause, I trust to arraign you be'bre my judging countrymen, to prove your falsehood, malignancy and treachery, and convict you before heaven and oartli, as the most reckless, causeless, unreasoning and selfish batch of revolutionists, that ever disgraced the calendar of politi- cal crime. You ask me who I am, that presumes to question the equity of your designs or the justness of your statements ; 1 answer, an humble Canadian, emphatically one of the people — with no higher wish than to labor peaceably and honestly for my bread ; and no greater delight than to love my country, and rejoice over her prosperity. As for you, we know to our shame and disgrace among all civilized people who you are ; a wretched faction, who would sink the Canadian name into tho abyss of infamy anl damnation were you permitted to work out your designs. Not since the rebellion of Korah, Abiram and their two hnndred and fifty adherents fthe antitypes of you both in nnm- ber and wickedness,) has the world beheld a peaceable an 1 happy community threatened with civil war, for redress of giie- vances so purely imaginary, or for the acquisition of benefits, s^o clearly inferior to thoso already in possession. You have ?et auide the commands of God, and inUheir place in'^.raDcd tho gra- ( 2 ) veil image of Annexation — and with incontations and lyin^ ror- ceries like tlie priests of Baal, you dance round your idol in ail the ecslacy of political madness, ond call on us to fall down and worship your pseudo God ► But like the faithful men of Israel wo laugh at you witii scorn and derision, — we will hew your idol in pieces, and burn its priests in the fire that consumes it. As the traveller beholds the mirage of the desert, and fancies he sees at a distance, green fields and bright waters, which as he approaches, change into the dreary realities of rock and sand — so shall we discover the equally false and delusive pictures of your Calif ornian manifesto. In a document of such ambitious pretences, nothing amazes onu more than the low peddling and mercenary principle thalf pervades it throughout ; not a single allusion to the moral char- acter, the time-honored institutions and God-directed destiny of our country and empire, is to be found in it ; but a mean party summing up of a one sided shop keepers account, where all the entries are false, lies the most palpable, assertions the most foolish, and conclusions the most inconsequential, hmn and im* potent, make up the tissue of as bedlam a production, as the world ever laughed at. Well may your association offer pre- miums for treatises to explain your designs, and invent your grievances ; when your combined wits can produce nothing belter than the superannuated drivelling, which you venturv<) to foist upon the world as the sentiments of Canada. An honor* able mind is really ashamed to descend from the high moral and political principles on which it would defend its sovereign and country, to meet antagonists, who understand no reason save those based on mere matters of pelf. But lam thankful that it is in my power to lay aside the nobler weapons of moral argu- ment, and belabor you, to your content, with the coranion cudgel that best befits your deserts and understanding. And first I would observe that vour manifesto is built on such obviously false Ibundations that argument is most ridiculous on the subject; the very key-stone ot your whole fabric consists of one huge» falpable ond unmitigated lie. You assert that the province is Mi a htate of " ruin and rapid decay," " our civil corporatiofe-s, banks &c, greatly depreciated — mercantileand agricultvaral busi- ness unprosperous — canals unused, and capital all dissipated," with more of " horrible and awful," than I have patience to wiumerate. What shall we sav in Western Canada at least, to such an tinblufehirjg falsehood ? — the very father of lies himself must have become incarnate in Montreal, and the very drivellings of ( 3 ) idiocy, have possesed her people, if they really circulate such bogus among themselves for sterling coin. Truly if ihose political shop miles of length according to our territory, to any on the con- tinent ; and find your way into the courts of Justice and examine our system of Law and Jurisprudence, enquire into the charac- ter and ability of our Judges ; and I challenge comparison, not only with the United States, but with any country in the world. As regards tho Constitution and Government of Canada, its religious institutions,, and moral character, these are subjects not named in your address, as being far above your narrow minds and grovelling propensities. Enough for us to know that annexation far from improving us in these respects, would speedily sink us to the same low level of national and individual morality, which is making tho American name a reproach throughout the world. Were there nothing else to object to in the Republic, repudiation and slavery are an indellible infamy and disgrace. But what is a just conclusion I'rom all the facts just enumerated? plainly) that our Province is in a condition of real prosperity, [ 6 ] which leaves her nothing to envy in our boasting neighbors, and it is a base and malicious falsehood in any man to assert the con- trary. Your next complaint is of the reference of our affairs to England. As to myself, I rejoice that my Sovereign should exercise that wise and impartial superintendence over our aflfairs in which consists the virtue and excellence of monarchical gov- ernment. I^ut as to the ground of your complaint, no one knows better tlian you that our present difficulties have arisen among ourselves through the }eration of Responsible Government, and from England's desire that we should manage our own atlairs with ns little leferonce to her as possible, consistent with our duty, as good subjects. And this indulgent desire on her part, you make the ground of the most flagrant and wicked statement in your whole address. Thot is, that the government of Bri- tain, her statesmen and people, are resolved to force indepen- dence upon us, to get rid of the trouble and expense of keeping us. It is an insult to common sense to discuss lies so gross ond palpable. If the British Government by any word or deed, ever insinuated such a design, you might be excused ; if political his- tory since the beginning of the world, ever records such a thing, as a great country voluntarily stripping herself of a third of her richest possessions, and quietly descending from the foremost into the second rank among nations, you might find believers : bnt when all foresee, that the abdication of her authority, would be but to bestow it upon her most jealous rival, a rival, which regards her with the most unceasing malignant, and irreconcila- ble hatred — one who watches with diabolical eagerness, every moment of her difficulties, to press exaggerated claims, with all the insult that malice can invent and vituperation utter ; and whose chief desire in annexing our province, is to obtain the strength and courage through our aid, to begin that war of ex- termination against our kind old mother country, which is, the deep and pervading aspiration of a great portion of the American people ; I say when such are to be the results of England's giving up her provinces, can any one believe that she entertains such a thought for a moment ? no one can, or will. And in fact your whole assertion on this point, is based merely on the chance remarks of a few babbling newspapers ; but small foundation or no foundation at all, serve equally well for lies like yours. As to the su.mmary and flippant manner, in which you dispose of the questions of " protection," " union of the provinces," *' independence," " reciprocity " of course, since, you have embarked in the piratical galley of annexation ; they need not be discussed between us, only this I will remurk, for it is most characteristic of your whole proceedings, that ope cannot I 7 ] read yoar comment on the subject of protection in the Bi-itisli market without being convinced at once, of the weaicoess and sr^Ifishness of your proceedings. In spile of all your pretended griovnncos, and ambitious aspirations you more than intimate, that if Britain would but restore your old monopoly of protection, nnd secure it to you for a term of years, that your loyalty might be resuscitated, at }enst your obedience to her government might he relied on. Ah, no doubt ; if England would but bribe higher than the States, you would be as ready to turn your coats and repudiate annexation as yon are now to advocate it. The intense selfishness of your nature, peeps out of that pnra> graph, like a sneaking rat out of his hole. Gut know, neither the people of England, nor the people of Canada will trust you any longer ; your meanness will make them regard you with contempt as well as indignation, and if Britain should return to her good old policy, and restore us our former protection, it will not be out of regard to your threats nor your fawning. Do you, the dregs of the Empire, think to extort, from the fears of Eng- land, th™t which you render yourselves unworthy to receive from her justice ? But yours is no monomania, you are mad in all things alike. I will here allude to one remarkable feature of yonr manifesto ; that although the names of many ci-devant Tories are appen- ded to it, not a word is said regarding the Indemnity Bill, the pretended prime mover of all this sedition. Why is this omis- sion 1 is it because the Imperial Government, by its declarations, have extracted the sling that wounded your loyal feelings : and our own administration, by its instructiontj, to the commissioners, have given the conservatives a virtual triumph in the final result of that measure, thot you do not allude to it 1 or, is it, that you have been acting a simulated part from the beginning, and have really considered that the Reform interpretations of it were right, and yours false ; although you have put fire to the halls of legislation, and insulted your Queen in her Representative'? The latter supposition is most probable ; for what do we now be- hold 1 you are clasping hands with the very men, whose oppres- sion drives you to rebellion ; but 'lis no wonder ; ^tis in charac- ter with the rest of your proceedings — — — — •' Men disaprree But devils with devils damned, firm concord hold." And although you fight like dogs for your individual bones, yet when a grand rush is to be made, at the noblest game, when religion, gratitude, liberty and nationality, are to be hunted out I » [ 8 ] of our countr)'' — ns in the day, when the Saviour of the world was to be crucified ; " Pilate and Herod are made friends." But I proceed at once to your promises, false and delusive as those with which Salan tempts depraved man, your gilded bait, with which you flatter yourselves to hook the simplicity of poor Canadians. — We shall find your golden dreams of prosperity are but the California mania with a different object j but equally false and ruinous. What are the advantages you so ostentatious- ly parade before our eyes, to be obtained by annexation ! You say it will equalize -he value of real estate, — so it would, but do you lake us for fools ? real estate is now worth more on an average, in Canada, than in the States, and I aver and can prove it that farming property is held at higher rates with us, than land smiilarly eligible, in New York. As for town lots, the same may be truly asserted. To be sure, we have backward locali- ties, such as are found there, and all over ; but go to Toronto, Hamiitoa, or St. Catharines, and compare the price of property, with lil?o towns in the United States, and you will learn, that the "equalization, of the value of real estate" would turn out sadly lo our disadvantage. You aver, that annexfition would give us stability and raise our credit, — if acting the part of the most flagrant, moral and political dishonesty, would raise our credit, you may be right. — If joining partnership with repudiation, and corporate and state fraud, would give confidence to capitalists abroad, your case is proved. But what 'is the truth ? Canadian credit at this mo- ment, poor as it may be, is better than American credit ; a loan has just been concluded, on terms that neither Pennsylvania nor Ohio could have obtained. And if as you say, (rather simply by the by, as it is very inconsistent with your assertions about our ruinous condition,) " Canada can give better security," than the States can common sense believe that our credit is poor- er than theirs ? What do capitalists require but security ? and in proportion to their security is their confidence, and rates of in- terest. And you dare to prate about credit, you, the destroyers of all credit and of all security ! you who have struck the most dead- ly blow at the character of the Province and at the confidence of capitalists in our stability, which has ever been made ! You take the wheels off the chariot of the state, and then denounce it, because it does not win the race. You talk of American capi- tal, and enterprise ; America has not capital enough for her own works, but is compelled to beg round Europe, for funds, which in too many instances are never repaid. And what is American enterprize ? a fever fit of overtrading and specula- lion, with paroxysms of periodical ruin, every four or five [ 9 ] years ; infinitely inferior in every light to the steady, prudent and eoonomical character of Canadian business ; is this the en< terprizo '• ' long to imitate ! no doubt : the loose overreaching, and unsv ;>ulous principles of a yankee trader are wonderfully adapted :u your genius ; and the deep science of Yankee bank* ruptcy, will form an admirable finish to your shop-keeping edu' cation. You proclaim again, that we have no manufactures. Have you really ever been from behind the counter in your lives ? has your attention been so riveted to the measuring of tape, and the weighing of " tea and sugar," that you have never read an al- manac even : though to be sure the library destroyers could not have had any regard for literature of a higher grade? We have manufactures, numerous, varied, and thriving, which have sprung into existence, under the protection of judicious tariffs ; and yield comfortable livelihoods to thousands of families throughout the land. What will become of them under annexation ? and og'ainst whom is protection most necessary, to encourage and foster them ? It is not by a " high tariff" against England that they will be saved ; for England hardly competes at all with the plain domestic fabrics of our artizans ; but it is American coni' petition we have to fear; manufacturing precisely the same arti- cles as we do, in greater abundance, and at cheaper rates, by means of their larger establishments and low wages ; abolish our protection and they will overwhelm us, under the flood of their productions, and carry bankruptcy and ruin into every manu- facturing business in Canada. Why have not Ohio and Illinois, prosperous manufactures? Because they cannot compete with New England and N. York. Why are ilie Americans themselves so afraid of British compe- tition, and protect themselves against it with high tariffs ? clear- ly, for the same reasons, which ought to determine us, to protect our interests against the Americans. Miserable schemers of Montreal ! while you are dreaming of turning the French hahilans into a nation of cotton-spinners, American manufacturers will suck the very life out of your country, and leave you to ruminate at leisure, on the weeds ond garbage of republican fraternity. You think Annexation will bring manufacturing capitalists into the Province ; it will take them out of it. Under our present system, many do come in, and carry their business on here In order to avoid the duties. Take off the duties, and they will return home, where they Cui manufacture cheaper, and send us their p;oods, instead of their establishments. i- t 10 ] Touching oar agriculture, you tiso flatten us with the assur- «nce, that annexation will permanently benefit its interests, by raising the value of our products to a par with that of the States. Now without inquiring, what moral connection there in between allegiance and the price of wheat, I will sift your argument as it stands, and see whether it does not contain more chaff than grain. The fact is admitted, that prices of produce range at the present time, at higher rates in American markets than in ours. Let us ask^lwo questions ; from what does this discrepancy arise ? is it likely to be a permanent state of things t We can only judge of the future by the past; and taking the past for our criterion, we learn that until a couple of years ago, Canadian produce o\- ways commanded higher rates than American, so much so, that our farmers demanded and obtained a pretty heavy protection against the latter : and we find that the preponderance now into the other scale is quite a recent occurrence, and may be as tran- sitory as it is unusual. It has arisen, unquestionably from the sudden opening of the British ports to the free admission of for- eign grain, assisted greatly by the coincident famine in Ireland ; these were events, for which the United States were not prepar- ed with much extra supply. But like ourselves being needy of money, they laid hold of the unexpected privilege, with such greediness, that their exportations, totally drained their own mar- kets, and glutted the British, to such a degree, that their produce actually sold in Liverpool, at one time, for less than it was sel- ling in New York. The consequence was, they experienced a scarcity at home ; prices rose high in 1847-1848, and overtop- ped those ot Canada, whose exports, having long been admitted at nominal duties, received no impulse from free trade, her pro- duction had long been regulated on that basis ; and finding no increasing demand, at the moment when other countries look a sudden spring, she fell somewhat into the shade. But during the spring and summer of this year, things have been working back to their old standard and proportion ; and by this time Canadian farmers might have been happy in the thought, not, that they were getting remunerating prices (for that they have always donej; but that they were getting more than the American far- mers ; and Montreal loyalty might have been saved, were it not that excessive bad harvests in the Western states, and very good ones in Canada, happen still to keep up the disproportion, and cause us to say ; that the United States, with but half as good a crop as we have, a great deol richer, if it fetches a few pence more per bushel. But plenteous harvests in th» Stales will quite reverse this order of things ; the free-trade impulse is fast pas- sing away among them ; new supplies are being created to meet I [ 11 3 n«w demands ; and there is no reasonable doubt, that we shall soon see the two countries, much on an equality in this matter ; or if there be a difference, it will again return in our favour, as of old : when annexation wi!! have to dispense with its best crutch, and limp along its thorny path like some poor sneaking rogue, who is spurned and cuffed from door to door. But your address goes on to promise, that the Americans will make railways and similar improvements for us ; 'tis truly laugh- able — why don't they make them for their States which as yet they have not done ? I will tell you ; they do as we should do : follow the old adage that "charity begins at home," and they will leave us to make railways for ourselves, if we want them ; the same as they do to their own different states : or if they should take up a little stock in our works, it will be only to serve their own ends, not ours. And after all, if we build railroads, we shall have to go to England for the money ; but when we shall have broken up her empire, she might be neither in a condition nor temper to assist us : but as 1 said before, if we continue quiet and industrious, railroads will come in their good time, no fear. Then our shipping interests would flourish beyond all prece- dent under annexation — you aver: Strange infatuulloii ; The American shipping and steamboat business on the lakes is at this moment nearly in a state of bankruptcy from over competition. And where they have such a surplus of idle vessels, would their free admission into our trade benefit Canadian ship-owners ? let them answer the question. But O ! short sighted as the poor savages of the forest, you are bartering away mines of unopened gold, for a few paltrv trinkets ; and like a foolish spendthrift de- vouring the fruits oi past and the seed of all future harvests in one mad debauch. Reflect a moment, merchants of Montreal, the great line of communication between the lakes and the ocean, is just about perfected, and you are going to give it away ! its navigation is yet in your own hands, and you pray to be ruined by American competition \ when if you are only true to your best interests, and lean confidingly on the rock of Britisli con- nexion, the carrying trade of half America will be yours, un- shared and uncompeted. Is not this a vision of possible and probable greatness worth waiting for a few brief years ? Canada, 1 know will wait for it, though Montreal despise the boon of providence ; she, with the temper of him who would rather " Rule in hell than serve in Heaven," I /* [ 12 ] spits at our national covenant, and thwarts the most benign pur* poses of the Almighty. Your manifesto also recommends the ••simple and economi- cal" system ot American government to our adoption, os far su- perior to our " expensive and cumbersome" forms. Without entering far on this question, inasmuch as it is merely inciden- tally alluded to in your address, I will ask you however, in what consists the simplicity of American governmeut ? Mr. Web- ster, as good an authority as any in Montreal, describes it, as the most intricate and complicated system in the world. While with respect to its economy " least said would be soonest mended," for your argument. Of all governments in the world, I hesitate not to say, the American is most cosily, occording to the extent of its establishments ; its ofTicials the most speculating and job- bing ; and its whole policy the most intensely cold and selfish. The federal government absorbs yearly, from thirty to forty mil- lions of dollars, its separate state establishments a total amount far exceeding this. Look at their tarill'; look at their public lands, their state and county taxes ; get their statistics, and never more betray your ignorance in prating about American econo- my. But here is a fact worth remembering ; though of course you dare not allude to it in your address: Canada has ever been and is still the lightest taxed country in the world ; and yet, she can show results equal to the most expensive, her government is as elTective and her institutions as liberal and useful. The state and county taxes of New York, are treble the a- mount of ours. The federal tariff on an average is double what we impose ; these are boons, annexation will grant us; but fur- ther, with more to pay, we should h ive less to pay with, our rev- enue and public lands, would be se zed by the federal govern- ment ; it would burthen us with thr expense of armies, navies, diplomacies and wars, and we sh juld be compelled to resort to direct taxes, to support our government, and pay off our pro- vincial debt ; while yankee trickery and cozenage, would at the same time drain us as dry as hay, and as poor as Michigan. But to gild all, you tempt us with the ambitious hopes of shar- ing the ollices and emoluments of the republic, on terms of per- fect equality ; perhaps you mighty for there, 'tis the worst dema- gogues and not the best citizens that divide the spoils of govern- ment. Go amongst the greatWhig party in the Slates, and you will find ii)ousands of the most virtuous class of Americans, groan- ing under the invincible domination of a tyrannical and low breJ democracy, and who would be but too happy to find protec- tion, under a strong free government like that of England. But yourambitious longing after the emoluments of ofRce, makes one \ [ 13 ] laugh ; is there a solitary name attached to your manifesto, which could hope, by any chance, to be coupled with an ofHce at Washington 1 its absurdity is its own ansvver. Moreover so far f^'om our position being one of " simple obedience" to Brit- ain, it is quite llie contrary. Not any state in the confederation, posesses a tithe of the power of free action, which Canada en- joys ; illustration is needless on this point. And with regard to our dependence on the crown ; our happiness, safety and pr9S- perity have resulted from it. But while the nature of things, and the necessity of the case, have modelled so far the form of our connexion with the empire, to a secondary position, the time is perhaps now ripe, for consolidating and perfecting those relations. A thousandth part of the exertions necessary to ef- fect annexation, will open to our people, the free and equal en- tree to the very sanctuary of British power and authority. The signs of the times already prognosticate, that the voice of repre- sented Canada will ere long resound in the Imperial Parliament, and the most honorable offices, the richest emoluments, and the noblest dignities in the universe, be offered to the free competi- tion of our people. It is this subject which now deeply engrosses the thoughts of British Statesmen : the consolidation of the em- pire, not its dissolution. And when that period arrives, — and it approaches with iho step of a giant — it may truly be said of our country — " Now are they glad, because they are at rest ; and God bringeth them into the haven, where they would be." While the tmhappy States, cloven asunder by the hatchet ot slavery, and enduring all the agonies of civil dissention and an- archy, will crave annexation to us, to escape those awful calam- ities, which sooner or later, the retribution of God, brings upon nil nations whichjpersist in perpetuating the bondage of his crea- tures. And yet, you presume to talk of securing peace, by allying us to the elements of discord — annex us to-morrow — and the Uni- on will bo dissolved the day after ; and Canada instead of find- ing tranquility, will be dragged into centuries perhaps of frater- nal discord and war. Annexation ! its impossibility will arise as much from the Americans themselves as from us. Why did the Reciprocity-bill fail in congress ? Because of the interse jealousy of the South, that it was a preliminary to the admission of Canada into the Union. And think you, if they rejec;ed a simple measure like that — that they would stultify themselves by sanctioning the very objeci of their fear 1 so much for your prophecies on peace. As for your remarks about Canada's being made the scene of military*operations, they are too mean and cowardly for reply. h [ 14 ] I We glory in the gallant deeds of our fathers and dwell with delight on the tales of Detroit and Lundy's Lane ; it gives us a character among nations, and inspires us with courage and energy to fulfil all our duties vigourosly as men and ciiizens. What has been done before, we shall be proud to do again ; and never be guilty of the baseness of basking in the sunshine of the empire, and forsaking it in the storm. The cegis of England hoa always been ready to protect us ; and if her enemies assail her, (and her enemies are emphatically, those ot freedom and humanity,^ it would be our pride, as well as duly, to assist her; though thank God, her power is mighty enough to dispense with any aid, beyond that of her own invincible Isle. But in point of fact, to touch this " battle field" argument, according to your lo.v capacity. If we except the glorious and enviable death of many of our gallant militiamen, Canada was in every point of view a gainer by the last war — her population suddenly doubled ; the country was filled with money and busine&s; and most of the best fortunes in the province, trace their origin or chief growth to that period — a fact, which might be illustrated in the persons of some of the signers even of your address — and very likely the hope of another war, forms the moving cause with many of your base and cold-blooded traders, who would be will- ing to see a man slain, for every shilling that drops into their tills. And now, O, y« hypocrites ot peace ! and apostates from God and your country ! who recommend measures to allay party animosity and bring tranquility into our borders, the very men- tion of which, has caused more angry feelings, in the community, than all that party hatred ever inspired. How dare you utter the sacred name of peace, while you are wittingly laying a train the explosion of which, may bury our Province in ruins ? I tell you — and it is no mere flourish of rhetoric — that your manifesto has awakened feelings in the bosom of Canada, which have lain dormantsince the American revolution — the hereditary bitterness of U. E. loyalty is surging up like a volcano — and the old tomahawk of the refugees, which has been preserved in our families, along with the fire-side traditions of Oriskany and Wyoming, is taken from Its hiding place — and augurs too truly, the desperate character of the struggle you are provoking; and the unparaielled sacrifices that will be made to preserve ♦he unity of the empire ; but I turn with pain from the reflection. Do not deceive yourselves — there is no such thing, within the reach of possibility, as ^^ peaceable annexation." We, you and all men, know that the term is but a hypocritical synonym for civil war — and one which perhaps may involve the world in its \ [ 15 I ir jnflngration. But such a calamity would not remain unvisited upon the heads of its authors — when all was over — when thfr empire should have emerged from the struggle, like a phcenix from its ashes, purified and more glorious than ever ; you in your premature graves, spit and trampled upon, would sink'neath the overwhelming curses of wives, mothers and orphans. But what is the naked reality of your strength when the ques- tion comes to the ultima ratio'i For I tell you, you must either stay this agitation, or you will be compelled to put it to the issue of life and death ; I ask, what are the means at your command to finish your work 1 We know your weakness as well as your wickedness. Your very citadel — Montreal itself is divided against you — your party in the Eastern townships will be ham- strung at home by the faithful and true men along the borders — Western Canada is almost wholly opposed to you — and lastly the power of Kn gland is able to crush you to atoms, were every man in Lower Canada an annexationist. But you hope to win the sympathy of the French population — and are already intrigu- ing with the great coward of St. Denis, and boasting of your alli- ance with the excommunicated infidels of the Avenir ; and the red socialists of the school of Ledru RoUin, and Louis Blanc, — and who are they ? an infinitely small section of Canadians, loathed and execrated by their countrymen, as muoh as you are by your British compatriots. While the really brave and influential leaders of the habitans ; Nelson, Lafontaine, Tache and Mar- chesseau, are in the rnnks of your opponents. Do you, the ♦* old Scotch faction" of Montreal, expect to conciliate and dupe ta your purposes, thoso whom you have ever abused, with the most arrogant contempt, oppression and injustice ? your error on this point will soon be set right, and little to your satisfaction. But you will stir up the United Slates, reopen the hunter's lodges, and summon to your aid the brutal assassins of Hume, Usher, and Vosburg. No doubt your agents are already at work — but re- member, wo will hold you as hostages, to answer for th» blood- hounds you may summon to our frontiers — while with respect to them^ in the language of a brave though perhaps erring governor, we will say — " let them come if they dare" — and they shall be treated accordingly. Again, consider your position with regard to the Administra- tion. Hitherto, the influence of party connections, and the force of party feeling, has made your cause, and the cause of the Upper Canada conservatives, as one. They have palliated your seditious spirit, and excused your outrages. Those ties are now broken — and you stand alone, a miserable fraction, repudiated by all good men of whatever party — and instead of either supporting you> I [ 16 ] you wiil discover, that both Tories aud Reformers, will zealously assist the Government in your chastisement. The reflux of the tide, is already rolling on you, which will sweep you, and your conspiracies, into the abyss of destruction — but you see it not — you heed it not — blind, deaf and deluded — like all conspirators in all ages ; you imagine the people at large partake of your opinions, and approve your designs ; at the very moment, they are cursing you as the worst enemies of themselves and the country. But you will not suffer yourselves to be undeceived, till too late; your mania is incurable ; you are mostly Scotchmen, and will understand me, when I tell you, you are fey ; a change so violent and sudden, as you have undergone, cannot but prog- nosticate your speedy destruction, as you rush blind-mad upon the fate predestined for you. BRITANNICUS. Niagara, October 29, 1849. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JAS. A. DAVIDSON AT THE NIAGARA MAIL OFFICE.