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 ^-i»^.j.^A»ftiMig Bit'' ' 
 
 TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 
 
 THE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED INHABITANTS OF LOWER CANADA, 
 
 Humbly Shewetli, 
 
 Jl HAT Your Petitioners, deeply sensible of tlieir obligations as Subjects of Your Majesty, 
 and of tl>e msiny and important advantages which they enjoy in common with their fellow 
 Subjects .11 this I'rovincc, are devoted to the maintenance of its connexion with Great Britain 
 and Irelind, and the Empire of which it is their pride and happiness to form apart. 
 
 That among the advantages to be derived from this connexit .., there is none which 
 they more hiirjily prize, than that settled Government, Consututional freedom and security 
 of person an^l jirdperty, which the experience of ages has proved jire-eminently todistiiiguisli 
 the liritish Constitution of Oovornnient, firmly supported as it Li's ' 'en, by the intelligence 
 and wisdom of a public spirited and patriotic People. 
 
 That the gratitude of Your Petitioners is justly due to the British Parliament for the 
 Act passed in the I hirty first year of the Heign of His late Majesty George the Third, for 
 making further provision for the government of this Province. 
 
 That it was manifestly intended by the said Act, to secure to all Your Majesty's Sub- 
 jects therein, the lieiK'titsof tiie British Constitution of Government, in so far as the circum- 
 stances of the Colony would |icrmit, and as was consistent with its dependance on the Parent 
 Suite, and a just subordination to its authority. 
 
 That it is with the deepest regret Your Petitioners have perceived, by the experience of 
 the f(pr(y-two yours during which the said Act has been in force, that various causes have eomo 
 into ojieration, which have materially diminished, and now threaten to destroy, the benefits 
 intended. 
 
 When Canada was coded to the British Crown by the Treaty oi Paris in 17fi.% it contained 
 a population of about sixty thousand souls wlio had been Subjects of His Most Christian 
 Majesty. 
 
 In virtue of the Capitulation of Canada in one thousand seven hund-cd and sixty, this 
 popuhilioTi liecamo British Suiijects, and were maintained in their property, and by the Act of 
 the British I'lrlianient of the foiirteeiith George tho Third, * hupter eighty -three, the Laws 
 usages and customs of Canada were continued to them ; and, in other respects they '.lave 
 become cniiiled to tiie enjoyment of all rights, liberties and franchises which belong to or have 
 been granted to the Inhabitants of this I'rovincc. 
 
 That the said Inhabitants, formerly Subjects of His Mo4 Christian Majesty, and tlielr 
 descemlants, under the jnotection of the said Laws and privileges, have since increased to tho 
 number of Four iiinulred tlumsand Souls, and retained every characteristic of a distinct people; 
 while those of Your Majesty's Subjects who have come into ami settled in this Province from 
 other parts of Your Majesty's Doniinii. t, as well as their descendants, now ainouiiting to 
 about One hiinilred and lit ty thousand Souls, have retained a churaeter e<iually distinct. 
 
 In such circumstances, Your Petitioners humbly conceive, that under whatever form of 
 Goverinnent the Colony might have been placed, the utmost discretion, liberality and mutual 
 forbearance, were neei'sv;iry to previ nt the ordinary competitions of life from disturbing the 
 iiarmony of society, endangering tho public peace, and injuriously atlectiiig tho general 
 welfare. 
 
 Ynnr Petitioners cheerfidly bear testimony to the cxeellrnt character of the great body of 
 their fellow Subjects of I'Vciieli origin ; to (heir tried fidelity to the British (lovernmtnt, and 
 their j;i»t claims to Your Majesty's gracious favor and protection: But when to the unavoid- 
 nbie sources <d' collision aforemenlioiic d, were added those inse|iarable from the contentions of 
 popular Assemblies, and the andiilion of their leading Members, depending for theii political 
 existence, personal importance, and the etVeeting of their \\rwn, on the sutfrages of the nnijority 
 cf the people, the danger of excitummts and collisions between tho two population! before 
 mentioned became imminent. 
 
 r"^ 
 

 
 It had besides unforti.natelv Imrpened that the French Colonists of Canada had no siiare 
 or inlue^e M its I.eifisk.tion and Covcm n.ncnt while it h.lon.ed to l ranee. 1 her dc-.eendants 
 we eS Therefore trained bv experience, education an.l habits tor a Oovern„,ent of a mere 
 DO.ud fom^^^ They were, without a sufficient nun,ber of men ol enh>rjred and d.eral vews 
 Sr d "Tl inlereL in the Colony ana its relations with the Parent State, to d..charfre (he 
 S a ri'M'ortattt f.incth.ns of Legislators; a.ul the events o war had lelt an.on,<r the people 
 feel nt and'preiudices, apprehensions and jealousies, not eastly to be erad.cated under the 
 Government of a people with whom they had so frequently bee.t ...volved m hostdu.cs. 
 
 .n consequence of these circumstances, and the liberal provisions of tl,e aforemerttioned 
 Acts of the 15ritish I'arlia.nent, the Constitution of the Representative Branch o the Govern- 
 ment of the Province entir.dy .lepende.l u,.on the majortty ot the populatu.n of renclj or.g.n 
 17 he wh.de powers of that liranch inevitably fell into thetr hands or rather into the hands of 
 thele-..linLr n.en amongst them, who, in many instat.ces, partiopate.l m the popular prejudices, 
 jealousies and suspicion.s against the population not of their origin. 
 
 The evils arising from this state of things, hav^e been greatly increased and aggravated by 
 the Ac of the JmpeVial Parliament ph.cing at the disposal of the Assembly, abxdnelyaud 
 unemiditionally, as it is understood by that Body, the important 1 evenne by means of which the 
 Civf K 3^^^^ the Province was previously defraye.l. By tins increase o the power 
 
 derive fm great numerical superiority in the Assembly, have bee,, superadds the irresistible 
 wX and b.fluence necessarily conjoined with the exc nsive power of appropnattng the 
 Kcvenue n.lispeusablv requisite to^ .lefraying the Civi Expeiuhtnre of the Province, by 
 means of which' the ExecutiVe Government has been re.idered entirely dependen on the w 1 
 .W plea ure of the leaders in the Assembly for its very existence and public authority, both 
 adm n stra ive and ju.lieial. frora the Governor in Chief and the Chiel .Instice of the Pn.vince 
 ?oThem<!lt humble individual in the scale of office, has been subjected to ti.eir interested, 
 partial, vindictive, or capricious control. 
 
 Your Petitioners have seen with sincere regret and alarm, that the powers of the Assembly 
 have been exercised by the leaders in that B,.dy, with a spnit of decide.l hestibty .o "^ our 
 S Jesty's Government of disregard for the peace ami wellare of the Province and with ,1 
 disi.is..d projects of exclusion and proscription against \our Majesty's Subjects not ot thei 
 national origin, a.id even against those of their own origin, who were not disposed to support 
 them in their unjust and pernicious views. 
 
 Your Petitioners humbly represent, that at the late General Election this spi>;it of ex- 
 clusion and proscription has' been carried to the extent, that tdthongh the ,,opnlat,on not of 
 I're c 1 origin, amounts to more than one fourth of the population, it has not beeti able to 
 return more than fouiteen Members .d" the choice ot the Electors, or representing then- news 
 mid interesis. out of a House composed of eighty-eight Members and that the whole ot the 
 p p£ ... no .,f iM-ench origin in the Cities an.l Counties ot Quebec and Montreal, although 
 tl.ey nearly equal the !■ ren.li population in number, have not been able to return one Member 
 of their choice, out of twelve. 
 
 This result, «hich in fact leaves a population havi.ig great ami permanent interests 
 inth(.-Provine.-,and contributing a very large proportmn .;f the Public Heveiiue wi.liont 
 e"r. the powe of being hcar.l in the Legislature of the Country by anv p.MSon ot heir 
 Clio CO or 'Responsible to them, has been facilimte.l by an unjust and faulty distnbuti.m ,d the 
 Elective franchise; by inclu.ling the new and gr.iwing Settlements ot persons ..ot ot hench 
 oriS in Con..ties wiLe that origin pre.lominates, a.nl where their votes are los ; and ,y ho 
 bees a.,t an.l systematic elVortsof the lea.ling characte,;s ,n the House of Asst-.n dy of Irench 
 oiiiin, to depress and vilify the population n.it of the.r or.g.n, w.tl. a ma.i.iesl ten. lency to 
 m. fie t their' pers.u.s a.id pr..,.e.'ty, a.ul the wh.de Country, to the ..rb.trary i.de ami c.u.trol 
 ol' tllese characters, through the instrumentality of u majority acting und held together under 
 the impulses of national prejudices and feelings. 
 
 Uli with the deepest regret und alarm that Your Petitioners have wit.iessed the progress 
 of ,le arious attempls made in t':e Ho..se of Assembly, ten.ling to the ttfo.emont.o..ed pur- 
 no,' . s recor.lc.1 in the .lo,.r..als of that House : They have ret.ise.l ..r ..cgleeted t.. c.-.-pe- 
 fate n the irrucions and benelieeiit intentiotis of Y.mr Majesty's (..,vcrnme.,t, for the re. .ess 
 of J e uees, the reme.ly of ab..ses, a.ul for the a.lva.>cem..nt ..t the publ..- prosper.ty ; they 
 havovii ed u.d endeavcired to destroy ....ether a..d co-or. i.iate Branch .,f he Legislature, 
 e,^bl hi under and it. virtue of the a.ith.irity of the «f...e.ne..t.o.,.., Act .,f the British 
 dia ent; promoted and e.mnte.iance.l t..mullu..us a.ul rH.tous assen.bl.es a...l i.r..cec.l...gs 
 Seared to brb.g the Admb.istralion of .lusti..- i..t.. nu.ten.pt ; .l.verte.l the pr.v.legeH .,f 
 Z As otn My entruste.l to them for the protection of p..pul«r rights, t.. the d..strnet.o,. of these 
 IhVs ley have, avowe.lly. i.l their Legislative capacity, acte.l up.m .l.st...cl.onH ot national 
 • n',.m nir Your Maiestv'H Subjects i have sancti.me.l these dist...ct.ons by the.r lesol.i- 
 origin among ^"f' /_[''i^''r.^^J^^ ^ t''ou«a"d m-bt hundred und thirty four ; invited tho 
 (ioiii or HlB twenty uial vt rSi^ruaf;-, one s-.i-usa-a — o 
 
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formation of Committees ami Conventions; autliori/ecl tliem to contract Loans on the 
 eve of atreiieral Eloeti.m : pled-cl the lionor of t e K..i.rc..cntativ..s ot the 1 eoph- to pay 
 the expem'.itures of these Commitlecs aiul ConventioMs out ot ihe |u.hhe moMies; a.ul |.ub. 
 lielv threiteiu'd to appiv elsewhere, than to the constituted aulhonlies in the I'roviuee, and to 
 thesupreme authority uf the liriti,U Parliament, for a remedy ot alledgid grievances. 
 
 Your TVtitinuers furtlier represent that these proceedings have already entailed heavy 
 losses on Your IVtitiouers aiul the Country hy tlie dimunilion of eoufidenee in the security 
 of property and its conseiineiit <lepreeiatioM in value: l.y the luterrupti.m ot usetal undertak- 
 iuffs- thc'ispeuMonof pnhlic improvements ; the decrease ot cmidoymeut; the cuntimiauce 
 of various ahuses, and the spreading of i atred and id will, threateum- Ion- and faial < is- 
 Bentions, dauserous to the peace, freedom and prosperity ot the I'rovmcc, and prtjadaial to 
 the interests and character of the British Naiion ami Government. 
 
 Sufferinn- under and exposed to so many evils, Yoi.r rctitioncrs cannot even look for con- 
 solation mid protection to an independent and well orfranized a.lmiuistrati.ni ot justice, which 
 is so essential to the well-hein- of every society. ■ he .lud-es are held in a state .d depen- 
 dence on the House of Assemldy for their subsistence, notwilhstamliuir \ our Majesty s ({ra- 
 ciou. concession that their Commissl.uis should be held during; ,;ood l>ehavioiir, on their 
 Salaries hem- permaiientlv provided for. 'Jhe sys.em of .ludieature e tablished by .Act of 
 the . rovineiaT Lcnslature in one llumsand seven hundred and ninety lour, is still maintained, 
 although it has become manifestly unsnited to the present stale and condition ot the l'rovince_^ 
 From "he extension of the Sett'Umenis and the increase ot the population, t e Courts of 
 orh/inal .Furisdiclioii have become inaccessible to the Inhabitants at a distance from them, 
 othl-rwise than at a ruinous eNpeiisc, iuv(dvin„' in many eases, a denial or failure ot justice; 
 while the Court of .\rpeals, from its peculiar constitution, is unfit tor the exercise ot the 
 powers with which it is entrusted. 
 
 Your Petitioners ol)ser^ e with rcjrrct, in the present State of the Province, that the Exe- 
 cutive Council, both as respects the number of its Members and its cnmnosltion, is l.io defec- 
 tive to av.swer the purposes of its institution. In every well reiriilated (JoverMmeiit, N oar 
 Petitioiicis most humbly conceive, that the i:xeeutive 'ut ority sliouhl be aided by the advice 
 of able and well iiU'ormed indivhliials aetinu: to^reihcr in a body, by which sound discrelimi, 
 uniformitv, consistency and system are iinparte.l to its measures; and that ainonij; C(donial 
 Governnrents, which are (,n-nerally administered by persons laboriufr idider the disadvantaj-e oj 
 a deficiency of local iiif,.rmation, assistance of this nature is uulispensuble to the ends ot good 
 Governineat. 
 
 Whil t the prentest importance oiiijht to be attaelied to the selection of fit persons for 
 Seats in the Lei>ishitive Ciuiiieil, it is ilulispensablv necessary for the stability of the Govern- 
 mcnl and the se'^'uritv of His Majesty's Hnbjeels within the Province, that t e power of ap- 
 pointin.r Members to that liranch of the Legislature, sliould continue to reside, exclusively, 
 111 the Crown, but subject to such regulations as may bo deemed proper, for ensuring the ap- 
 pointment of fully qualified persons. 
 
 Your Petitioners, confiding in Your Majesty's wisdom and pateroal regard for all Your 
 Majesty's Subjects, 
 
 Humbly pray : 
 
 That Your Majesty would be graciously pleased to take tlie 
 p'emises into consideration, that justice be done therein; and, 
 particularly, that they be secured in their just right of a fair 
 anil eipiitable llepresentation in to Provincial Assembly, and 
 otherwise iirolected in their rights as liritisli Sniijects, uud in 
 the full enjoyment of Constitutionul Goverumeiit. 
 
 And Your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. 
 
 Province of Loweii Canaoa, 
 itwa.