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BB 
 
 PROVINCE OF LOWER CANADA. 
 
 Petition of the Counties in the District of Quebec, and of the 
 M2!otinty ^^^^^ District of Montreal : 
 
 
 TO THE KINO'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 
 
 MAY IT PLEASE VOIR MAJESTT, 
 
 , We your^ Majesty's faithful and loyal SubJecU, inhabitants of your Province of Lower Canada, most humbly 
 supplicate your M^sty to receive graciously this our humble Petition, which we now lay at the foot of your Imperial Throne, 
 with hearts full oCgratitude and inviolable attachment to your august person and your Mi^esty's patenibl Government 
 
 Amongst the bumereut benefits for which the inhabitants of Lower Canada are indebted to your M^esty't Government 
 there is nonrthat they mora highly prize than the Invalnable Constitution granted to this Province by the Act of the Parliament 
 of Great Britain, passed in 'the' thirty-first year of the reign of our beloved Sovereign, your august father, of ever-revered 
 memory. . . • 
 
 Called by that Act to the full enjoyment of British constitutional liberty, and bec<&me the depositaries of bur own rights, under 
 the protection of the Mother Country, we contracted the solemn obligation '<of preserving inviolate this sacred deposit, and of 
 transmitting it to our descendants, such as it was confided to us, by the great men who then presided over the destinies of your 
 powerful and gloriouK empire. 
 
 Deeply impressed with a sense of this obligation, alarmed by the abuses which have crept into the administration of the 
 government of this Province, and suffering under the evils which weigh on its inhabitants, we entertained an anxious hope that 
 the House of Assembly, in the session of the Provincial Parliament, called for the despatch of business on the 20th November last, 
 would take into consideration the state of the Province, and adopt efficacious measures to obtain the remedy and "^moval of these 
 abuses and evils. We had a sure reliance on the well-tried lo>-alty and disinterested zeal of oar representatives; but we hate had 
 the mortification of seeing our hopes frustrated by the refusal on the part of His Excellency tiie Governor-in-Chief to approve 
 the Speaker elected by the Assembly, and by the proclamation of the a2d of the same month of November, proroguing the Provincial 
 Parliament. In these circumstances, deprived of the services of our representatives, suffering under great evils, and threatened 
 with others still greatpr,<we huifibly implore tiie protection of your Majesty, the source of all grace and of all Justice. 
 
 The enlightened bnd patriotic statesmen who devised our Constitutional Act, and the British Parliament by which it was 
 granted, intended to bestow on lis a mixed government, modelled on tiie constitution of the Parent State; the opinions publicly 
 expressed at the time in Parliament, and the Act iUelf, record the beneficent views of tiie Imperial Legislature ; a Governor, a 
 Legislative Council, and an 'Assembly were to form three distinct and independent branches, representing the King, the Lords, and 
 the Commons; but the true spirit of that fundamental law has not been observed in the composition of the Legislative Council ; for 
 the majority of its members, consiiting of persons whose principal resources for the support of themselves and their families are 
 the salaries, emoluments, and fees derived from offices which they hold daring pleasure, they are interested in maintaining and 
 increasing the salaries, emoluments, and fees of public officers paid by tiie people, and also in supporting divers abuses favouraUe 
 to persons holding offices. The Legislative Council, by these means, is in effect the Executive Power, under a different name and 
 the Provincial Legislature is, in truth, reduced to two branches, a Governor and an Assembly; leaving the Province without the 
 benefit of the int irdiediate braneh, as intended by the aforesaid Act ; and from this first and capital abuse have resulted, and still 
 continue to result, a multitude of abuses, and the impossibility of procuring a remedy. 
 
 We acknowledge that the Legislative Council ought to be independent, and, if it were, we should not be entitied to complain 
 to Your M^esty of the repeated refusals of that Branch to proceed upon various Bills sent up by tiie Assembly, howsoever useful and 
 evM indiapMisable th^y might be ; but conslderlng.Uiese refOMOs as tbe natural result of the composition of that body, and of the state 
 of dependence in which tbe majority of its Members are placed, Ve fere compelled to Consider its Acts as'the Acta of the Executive 
 OoTtrameiU; aud we most humbly represent to Your M^esty, that the Legislative Council of this Province, tiie mi^jority of which is 
 composed of BxMvtivc Councillors, Judges, and other persons dependent on Uie Executive, have, year after year, rejected "several > 
 BUls, refused and neglected to proceed on several other Bills sent up by the Assembly, for the remedy of abuses, for encouragiag 
 Education, promotiag the general convenience of the Subject, the improvement of the Country, for increasing tiie security of Persons 
 and Property, and furthering the common welfare and prosperity of the Province : particularly- 
 Various annual Bills granting the necessary sums for all tiie expenses of the Civil Government of the Province, 
 
 but regulating and setting limits to the eipehdlture. 
 For affording a legal recourse to the subjifct having claims against the Provincial Government. 
 For regulating certain fees and offices. 
 
 For eaabling the inhabitanU of the towns to have a voice in the management of their local concerns, ud • check on 
 „ IfeflespsadUure of monies lsv!sa-jpoBtb«!r^.bjsss«8S35ent ' ' 
 
.Vi .loO 
 
 For faciliUtiiig the •<lmini*(ralion of Justice throuulimit the Protioce, for itaalirjrioK and regulating the fornttioo 
 
 ofjuriei, and introducing Jury trials in the country partt, and dimiaiihing the expeiues ocowioned by the 
 
 distance of suitors from the present scats of justice. 
 I-'or providing a new and sufficient goal fur the District of Montreal. 
 For qualifying persons to serve in the ollicit of Justice of the Peace. 
 For continuing the Acts regulating the Militia of the Province. 
 For cncreasing anil apportioning the reiire.ientation in the House of Assembly equally, among the qualified Elector* 
 
 throughout the Province, particularly in the new Settlement* andTownithips. 
 For the security of the public monies in the hands of His Majesty's Receiver-General, in this Province. 
 For the independence of the Judges, by securing to them their present salaries, upon then being commissioned 
 
 during good behaviour, and for pnividing a tribunal for the trial of impeachments by the Assembly, so as to 
 
 cns'irc a jiisi rcsiion.ilbllily in high public uflici-rs within the Province. 
 t'!,'Fnr'«l'i»i*tltiR Hhd providing for -in authorized Agent for the Province, to reside in England, and attend to its 
 
 interests there. 
 
 It is with the most pnfound grief that we find ourselves compelled to represent to Your Majesty, that during several years 
 past the incomes derived fnjni real Kstatc in this Province, the profits of Trade and Industry, and the Wages of Labour therein, have 
 greatly diminished, and still continue to diminish; that under these circumstances it would not be equitable to impose Taxes or new 
 Duties on its inhabitants. for ti.e public uses ; and that there exists no other resource which can reasonably be depended upon, to aid 
 in the difTusion of knowledge and facilitate the exertions of individual industry, than the proceeds of the existing Itevenues levied 
 within the Province. 
 
 Nevertheless, more than one-half of the gross amount of all its Pub.ic Kevenues has been applied, for several years past, in 
 payment of Salaries, Emoluments, and Expenses of the Officers of the Civil Government, exclusive of the usual and indispensable 
 special Appropriations; and our anxiety is the ("ea> r, as these Salaries and Emoluments and Expenses have been greatly increased 
 witliout the consent of the Legislature, and have in some instances been paid to persons who do not reside in the Province, or have 
 rendered no service therefore ; and in other cases the said Salaries and Emoluments and Expenses are excessive, when compared with 
 the incomes derived from real Estate in this Province, and the usual recompense obtained therein by individuals of talent, character, 
 and industry, equal to those possessed by the persons to whom the said Salaries and Emoluments are paid out of the Public Revenue 
 of this Province ; and lastly, in addition to those unnecessary and excessive Salaries and Expenses, your Mi^'esty's Subjects of this 
 Province are also butdened with various and increasing Fees paid to the Officers of the Civil Oove.ument, which are grievous to the 
 Subject, diminishing the protection of the Laws, the benefits of Government, und the resources of tlie Country for its necessary 
 wants. 
 
 AVc are convinced that besides. the most perfect security of perfon and property, one of the most efficacious means of promoting 
 the public prosperity, and preventing its drrline, is to aid in the dilTusion of useful knowledge, and the free exercise of individual 
 industry and enterprise ; and wc have witnessed with gatisfuctiun and gratitude that our Provincial Legislature haa appropriated 
 very large sums of money, for these objects since the close of the last war with the United States of America ; but we have to perform 
 the painful' duty nf humbly representing to Your Majesty, that the Monies thus appropriated and npplied under the direction of the 
 I'rovlnciul r.xceutivp, have not produccil the beneficial results that were to be expected from a legal and judicious application of 
 them, nnd have been tardily or insuffir' ntly accounted for. 
 
 It is with the utmost pain that we are compelled to represent to Your Migesty^ that in this FVovince of the British Empire 
 large Sums of Public Money of the Uevenue lt•^•led within this Province, have bfen applied, year after year, by warrant of the 
 Executive Govoinnient, without any appropriation by the Legislature of the Province, (at a time when the necessary appropr:t:tioni, 
 were rejected in the said Legislative Council,) in payment of alleged Expenses of the Civil Government and other Expenses for 
 which no services were rendered to the Province, or for new und increased Sala'ries and Allowances never recognis by the 
 Legislature. M'ere wc to refrain from complaining of such an enormous abuse, we should co-operate in consolidating ui ..laverj 
 and we humbly i-nplore Your Majesty's justice. 
 
 Alike negligent in the preservation of the public Monies and prodigal in their expenditure, the Executive Government of this 
 Province has not only sutrered the dissipatiim of lai[rp sums of money in the hnnils of tlio Receiver-General, and other Depositaries 
 thereof, then and still under its superintendence and control, but has appointed other Officers in die stead of these faulty Deposi- 
 taries, without taking any sufficient security for the future; and having advanced to difl'erent persons, large sums of money appro- 
 priated by the Legislature, the neglect of the E\ecullvp Governniont in this respect has been such, that several of those persons 
 have not accounted at the time when they ought to have accounted ; some have Insufficiently accounted, or not rendered any account ; 
 and notwithstanding tbeiriiiegllgence and default, some of these persons have been appointed by the Executive Governmciit to offires 
 of trust, honour, and profit ; and we most humbly r,'](fesent to Your Majesty that the Executive Government of the Province, by its 
 negligent conduct in tliese xespects, has exposed Your Maj'-sty's subjects in this Province to heavy and grievous losses, dissipated 
 and endanttered the resources of the Province, and subjected it3 inhabitants to unnecessary burthens. 
 
 Your Majesty's faithful subjects in this Pruvincahave already forwarded humble representations to your Majesty's Govern- 
 ment on the subject of the College and Estates heretofore in the possession of the late Order of Jesuits in this Province, and while 
 we deplore the unfavourable result of our past endeavours, we nevertheless continue to entertain the most perfect confidence, that so 
 soon as the truth shall be fully known to your Majesty, justice will be rendered unto us ; and we humbly represent, that as the said 
 Order was never the proprietor of the said College and Estates, but merely the depositary thereof, for the education of the youth of 
 Canada, the extinction of that Order cuuld not confer on the Sovereign any other rights on that property than were possessed by the 
 said Order ; and that Your Majestv .succeeded to the possession of those estates, subject to their being applied to the edacation nl 
 the youth of this Province, conformably to their primitive destination ; and it is with the most profound grief that we find ourselves 
 still deprived of the benefits which were formerly derived from the actual application of that property to these objects under the 
 direction of the Jesuits, while education is languishing amongst us for want of those resources. 
 
 The sc:ttlement of the Waste Lands in this Province, the importance of which hag already, at various times, occupied the 
 BtttJlion of your Majesty's Imperial Government, has been neglected in the most unaccountable manmr by the Executive 
 C!overnment of the Province, so that l.irge portions of the said iands, granted or reserved by the CiOwn, xiare beeii long held, 
 and continue to be held in the midst of, or in the immediate vicinity of actual settlements, without the owners or poBseBSors thereof 
 
htTiag bMB compelled to perform the daty of (ettlement upon which laid lands were granted by the Crown, or anj other duty in 
 relation to the aaid Unda, to the gricToua burden of the actual inhabitant*, the diicouragement of new aettlera , and the obf tructiom 
 of the general increase and proapcrily of the Prorince. 
 
 But of all the abuses of which the inhabitant* of thi* Province have to complain, the most afflicting to your Petitioner* i*, 
 that during the prevalence of the aforementioned and variuu* other abuse* and grievances, falie repre*entations and repeated 
 attempt* have been made by divers OiUcers of the Provincial Executive, posseiiing the confidence of Your Majesty'* Oovem* 
 menl, to obtain from Your Majesty's Govt.nment in England, and the Parliament if the United Kingdom, various alteration* 
 in the Cunstitutution of the Government of this Province as established by Law, without the knowledge of Your Mi^esty'* faithful 
 ' ^ct* in this Province, in contempt of their most sacred right* and dearest interests ; and this at a time when a minority of 
 .^ecutive (Councillors, Judges, aiiU other OHlcera in the legislative Council prevented the Inhabitant* of the Province from 
 having an authorized Agent in Kngland to watch over and support thei. interests, and enable them to bo heard by the Government 
 of the Mother Country ; and it is under these elrcumitance* that the Act of the Parliament of th« HJoitcd &iiigdoai, 4th Geo. IV. 
 Cap. 6, reviving or conlinuiog certain lemprirary Acts of Hie Provincial Legislature levying duties within this Province, and the 
 Acts alTccting the Tenure of Lands therein, were passed, without the knowledge of its inhabitant*, to the *ubver8ion of 
 their rights and dearest interests, nr.d particularly without the knowledge or consent of the Proprietors more immediately intereated 
 in the la*t mentioned Acts, It is with the most afflicting lenialion* that wo have witnessed the intrigue* which have been in 
 operation to despoil Your Majesty'* faithful lubject* in thi* Province of the right* and benefit* which were granted and guaranteed 
 tc «• by the supreme authority of a powerful and gcncrohs nation, under the auspices of its roost illustrious Citizen*. 
 
 We most humbly implore Your Majesty to take thi* our petition into your most gracious consideration, to exercise your Royal 
 Prerogative, so that Your Majesty's faitliful subjects in this Province be relieved from the aforesaid abuses, and grievances, and 
 justice be done in the premises, that your Petitioners may be maintained and secured in the full enjoyment of the Constitution of 
 Government, a* established by the Act passed in the Thirty-first Year of the Reign of our late Sovereign, your Royal Father, 
 without any alteration thereof whatsoever. 
 
 And Your Petitioner*, a* in duty bound, will ever pray. 
 Dectmbtr, 1827. 
 
 Recapitulation or Signatures : 
 
 Coun.y of Cornwalli* M8I 
 
 Devon ailO 
 
 Hertford 9S04 
 
 Dorcheiter 4167 
 
 Part of Buckinghamshire ISIS 
 
 Ditto Hampshire 1346 
 
 Quebec 6870 
 
 Orleans 1018 
 
 Northumberland 344.'! 
 
 Total, District of Quebec. 24,484 
 
 County of Warwick i,go4 
 
 id I'ebmarij, 1828. 
 
 20,388 
 
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