Q AMoolallon lor InfonmHion and lina«« ll«n«»«iw M ilOOVyayneAveijue. Suite 1100 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 ~ 301/587-8202 & ^O . .* ^ t^ 'f^ 4^ ■:■*■ Centimeter ^ 7 3 10 11 li 13 14 15 mm 1 J 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ■'i' A: <> -.5: Inches 1.0 I.I li^s- ■^1 128 lU 136 140 1^ 1.4' 11 1.6 « « . « t ^ '^ . « .On %; • '^' ^ : (? '■>■♦■■ ^^^^-"^ ■■\.: V '.^ MRNUFJCTURED TO RUM' STRNDflRDS BY RPPLIED IMRGE, INC. '-] . 1*.-. % ^ffi^' '^ ^1,'' . -x> ^ ..^. CIHM Microfiche Series (H/lonographs) ■'f CMH Coilfiictibn de microf icKes (mohographies) ■>/4 f, ^■j^^l^^H [Ml HIHH^Hl v» v;-- 7 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductlont/lnstltut Canadian ^e micreraproductlons historiques d. V Ttdinical and Bibliographic Notts / Notts ttchniquM ^t biblioflraphiqiitt Tht InttitMta has atttrnptad to obtain tht bttt original copy availabit for filminfl.' Ffaturts of this copy which may bt bibliographically uniqut, which may altar any o/jlht imagas in ttit raproduction^ c^wliich may significantly changa tht usual mttfiod of filming, ara chtcktd btlow. □ Golourtd covtrs/ •.Couvtrturt da coultur D D n D D □ Covtrs dama^/ Couvtrturt tndortimaifit Covars rtstortd and/or laminatad/ Couvarturt rastaufit tt/pu ptiliculte Covtr titit missing/ Lt titrt dt couvtrturt mimqut Colourtd maps/ ' Cartas gtographiquts tn coultur Colourtd ink- U^». othtr than blua or black)/ Encre dt coultur (i.a. autrt qut bitut ou noirt) Colourtd platts and/or illustrations/ Planchts tt/ou illustrations an coultur H Bound with othtr mattriat/ fltlit 9vtc d'autrks documtnts D a n Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La rtliurt strrte ptut caustr dt I'ombrt ou de la distorsion It long dt la marge inttriturt Plank itavts addtd during rtstoration mayy appear within tht ttxt. Whtntvtr possibit, thtst hivt bttn omitttd from filming/ II St ptut qut ctrtaines pages blanches ajoutto tors (|'une restauration apparaissent dans le textt, mais. lorsque c'ela etait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ete filmees. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplementaires: L'Institut a microfilm* la mailleur exemplaire qu'il Iqi a M pouible de sa prteurar. Las details de cet exemplaire qui sont ptut-4trt uniqua»%u point dt vue bibliographique, qqi pauvMtt modifier una image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une'modif ication dans la m4thode normale de f ilmage sont indiqufe ci-dessoi^. □ Coloured pages/ '«» Pages da coulebr ' ^ ' ' -■• ■ ■ ■ ' 7'^^-': ■■ • ' ■ ' ■■ ' . □ Pages damaged/- Pages andommagMs . "^ □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restauries et/ou pelliculAes I ■V- I yj^agas discoloured, stained or foxed/ I -J Pjiges dicolor^, tachiet^es ou piquees □ Pagsf^detaifhed/ ■-■-.' l,--"': /..:/-.^ .;-/|r: Pajies ditachtes r~~l Showthrough/ I I Transparence ■■■i0,- S Quality of print varies/ Qua^ ih^je de I 'impression a n Continuous pagination/ Pagination continue Includes. index (es)/ Comprend un (des) index Title on header taken from: / Le titre de I'en-tCteprovient: ; ^ f • " ■ ■ ^ Title page of issue/ /Page de titre de la livraison I I Caption of issue/ n Titre de depart de la livraison. Masthead/ Generique (periodiques) de la livraison This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filme au taux de reduction indique ci-dessous. J«- ^»4X- ^»X- ^32^ -26*^ Ttnr y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X n 32X ■N, ue I r n Z2X tht copy filmed hi to tht gvhtroslty 4\\ has bttn rcproductd thankt Metropolitan /Toronto Reference Clbrary Baldwin Rodm. Tha Imagaa^api^aarlng hara a^a the best quality : poeslble conildering the con(^ltion->and legibility of the orlgineycopy and in keeping with the filming contract tpecificationi. ' >■■•::"■ ;■, •;,■■■■ ' -^ Original copiei in printed paper covert erf filmed beginning^wlth the front cover and ending on 'the lait pege with e,prlnted.or illustrated impres- sion, or the bet:k cover when appropriate. All 40ther original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 'sidn, end ending on the lest page with' a printed or illustrated impression. ..'■..■ Z-^' ■ ■; tl) -^- ■ . ■ ... ■ The last recorded frame on each microfiche ' shell contain the symbol —♦■ (meaning "'CON- " TINUED"),or4he symbol V (meaning "END"), whichavaf appll«ii. Maps, plates, charts, etc., mey be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too jarge to be entirely included rn one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left harKLtornerf left to right a^top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the' method: ■ .1. , 2 * 3 1 L'exempleire film* fut raprodult grica * la g«n4rosit« de: . • ■ ■ Metropolitan Toronto lUfaranca Library Baldwin Room Las Images suivantaa ont 4t4 raproduitaa avac la plus grand soln, compta tanu da la condition at de la nertet* de I'exemplaira film*, at mn cooformitd^ avec les conditlona du contcat da lilmage, Les exemplairee priginaux dont la couvartura en pBpier est imprirn^e sont flimAe an commenpant par le premier plat at mn Mrmlnant soil par la dernidre page qui comporta una amprainte d'impresSlQn ou d'illustretlon, aolt par la second plet, selon le ces. Tqus les autras axamplairat oiiginaux sent fllm^s an commanpant par la premiire pege qui comporta una antpratnta d'impression ou d'illuatratlon at an'tarminant par * la derniira page qui comporta una talla amprainte. L'o des symboles suivants apparattra aur la ., dernidre image de cheque microfiche, salon la cas; ie symbole — ^ signifia "A SUIVRE", la eymboie V signifia "FIN". Les cartes, planches', tablaatix, ato., pauvent 4tra film^s A des teux de riductiort diffirants. Lorsque le document est trop grend pour Atra . reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film* A partir de i'angle supir^eur gauche, da gauche A droite.' St de heut en bes„ en prenant la nombra ,^ 'imagqs n6cessaire. Las diagrammaa aulvants lliustrent la m«thoda. .J:|. * -^ «■•■ / ( .. ■I ■ f . -ft, . •¥:. ' / v: SS^-v ■±_ita«HM!Mi mm ^v ■I ■ f ' / ■*' .:.■ : ^ J- A SERIES OP mirui oTioNSff ' ON TII» MANAGEMENT OF IX Yjiirxi. .-, IM THE ■ f» .^ Sobin of kingittoif » UPPER CANADA. WRITTEN BV AN INHABITANT. pklNTED BY HUGH C.THOMSON. 1827. •■■III J ■If ft m ■ Vi ;i ' 'V: ■>?■ X S^ ■ ' ■; > - y. of rigli ■-^■^ • ■ i Ut€Utti^n»r^U MAN has by nature a susceptible power to Improve, and by improvement the necessary coiforts of life are produced. To hold secure to every individual in a social compact, the right to property honestly gained, laws are enacted, t;,nLssarily eufoiSed. Society is systemat- Ically linked, and every link has a duty to per- form, nor i^ it hy the legal power of office, that nny man in a free country, becomes an absolute tyrant For, in beholding mankind linked as one extended chain, we perceive a dependent and pressing AVant. But why should one link of the socSl Chain press a disproportionate weight upon other links ? Are oppressive mea- sures reconcilable to the rulea of good govern- ment? Placed upon the scales of reciprocal richt, will a dutiful government admit an oyer- Searine weight to press one end below the stan- lard point? Could the most widely extended powers of the human mind, by the most mastei- Iv strokes of the pen or pencil, ••?„ \ dtrably clear by the effect it produces. By the iraimsinj; craft of power, a comuiuiiity Rio oft deceived. Yea more ; the purposes fur which Ihe laws Ufa country are enacted, may be over, turned, and the rights f>f a people wrested, by men vested with the ofllcial power to rule. It is very commonly said, that officers cannot pass the bouiTds of official duty ; was a person to say that no m'an is capable to commit the apt of mur- der, such an- expression would be considered of random wildness a boundless stretch, by all who heard it. Nor is there more wild nessm saying, that a man cannot commit a murder, tKan in saying that an.officer cannot break thro the bounds ofduty. Men vested >vilh official power, are commonly/ound too firmly umteiUn their measures to snpP«vt ea;^*\»'^^'^r ^VS those of them, wha violate their duty, to tM punishment they justly deserve. But to g ard • Heir civil rights, is a iitessary part of dut^^, that a community neler ^hou d neglec , for if neglected, the ruling power, holding aulhoriy to execute tlie law. will be apt to become an^aU. solute tyrant ; and hy every *'^«T,'"S f j*^* the poiVerful advantage that official men bolH, over the rest of society, is clearly seen ; and to prevent; or stop, the measures of imposing poj> - er, every legal means, on the part ot a people, roust be eiilbrced. And of aU the necessary means, to restrain the overbearing practices or power, the press is the most ^heap, and most effectual. When superior officers turn a deal eartothecomplaint^ ofa poor man, made a- gainst inferio/officers (a leaning very common, th ough not meM to public goiHl, and public du- ■-^f' stri k ' ■ - 7 t •-.^ I' fy) fbr foul misdeeds committed against hin^ lie iindg the chance to gain redress, beyond Vis reach. He cannot purchase costly law, but through the press he can expose the wrongs, ahd the neglect of duty. And the rich man may,kt the game of law, spend a tenfold sum to gain redress, for the misdeeds of oflBcers, and be /the worse to the amount of cost. When men of power, wrongfully the duty use, in one contin- ued common breach of law, and right; the most clear (Statement that can be set forth, in the strongest form words can display, would come far short in the expression, of the distress, that sufferers cxpi^rience. And many are held down by the oppressive grasp ot power, who clearly! / see (hereof the base imposing wrongs; but to escape, or to amend those crommon ills, know all they could, individually enfoi'ce, would not avail (he evil. For while those persons who exercise (he power they hold by iron rule, with- out a due regftrd to common good, common righ(, or wri((en law ; and individuals who suf- fer by the wrongs they deal to them, have to struggle individually for redress : oppressive Wwer may continue to exercise an absolute im- position, as public right, and safely escape do- tation. But if strictly watched in their duty, and when found guilty of a breach, deservedly punished, few officers would dare to commit the unfeeling, and ruinous misdeeds, sorely pres- sed on many they distress, by an absolute over- stretch of power. Or, as ju«'\^ i a» much afraitl to commit an open brcadi of law, a» nightly robbers. If in a ctmntry where the gtiverument is constitutionally free,.^n I »»e written laws are equitable, m point of right, the exercise of power becomes overbearing, a watch^ ful observance will discover the cause to be, safe standing under those, whose higher offices demand, a strict regard to the rule* «f l^^^^^""*!"; all inferior officers, in the discharge of official duty. Neglect, or connivance, on the part ol lii'h newer; is an indulgence that tends, to over- i tu?n the rights of a people, and renders every V public officer.safely absolute, lu the exeniise of iter^tretchcd authority. WaV every officer m a government, honestly to regard the welfare of a people, burthensome impositions, and oppres- sive abuse, would iieyer be found to hold a place, in the links bf civil society. Or, as duty iemands, was the chief magistrate in a govern- ment, closely to enquire into the conduct of in- ferior magistrates, and treat them as he found them deserving, under magistrates would not bresuie, so often to infringe the bounds of right, fn brekking tbrough the bounda of dtity, and joundllplaying the tyrant's part. If »" POi« of legal Vi^t, the genuine rules of a social bond are mutiiaT'every individual fromr tlie King, to the poortSt pauper, liap, a duty to perform, and those perions, of any rknk or order, who, by iL- lecal mea\i8 impose on> a community, or any in- dividual heieon are unjustifiable violaters^of law ; and if official characters, are also guilty < of a breach of duty, in passing |)ver the legal Jioimd&_ A I' i rcct'mAnkind in social duly, And those persons that viulale, 0|* stretch them (iver the stat^cjl hounds, whether princes or people^ are ali^ guilty of a breach of tlie social hond, termed law. The laws of a free country are the high- est authority, and all persons appointed to exe- cute them, are hound by tho rules of duty, to make tiem their guide. Laws may he equita- ble in the letter, an^ absolutely tyrannical in the practice, iind a law purely mad«, to promote public good, may become practically oppres- sive ; by those persons vested with power to execute it, hatching under its wings, a devour- ing brood. And at the time diHtressing meas- ures are i^nforced, to enrich a few individuals, overbearing oppression w^.eolQsequeDtly bo inmost sorely felt by a siffl^ng people. And while a community are suffering, (^y sucli mea- sures^ a. country or place, by the declaration of the oppre8soi:;9, m&y ue declar^ to be, in a Hid- ing state of prosperity. False report is too of- ten spread, lor the purpose of proping up, base imposition. ^ When persistingly pursued, a vio- lation of official power is a preach ofduty, thafe destroys reciprocal right, and presses many of the poorest order of society, into unavoidably distress. For in those^ sections of a country^ where power treads the path of unlawful exad- tion, a suffering hardship is experienced, by the poorest class of the community ; and other clas* sesdonot escape, the pressure of. the burthen. \^nd when the legal rights of a people are in* fringed, by the measures of a violating power, that power is, by the equitable law of justice, as dese r ving of punishmenti ag the highwayman^ ( ' 1 m Ml 8 the house breaker, Ihe .hop "0"' °^*!'» f h'. nockot ¥e«j «i)niov And when laid down to hvVbe7^rofm^«'»0' the destroyer of the ™„r m.n'r noWeftO Vaholir f..r ft living; and poor man s power v ,,1,^,8 „f mind, reti"rf Cb^n B ttLfeeHns power of nnnrPMioii to iMs/forced to work, and by itlit- TS "ml to^»»t in sickness, make* the lo of tfe PO«rhonest man, distressingly hard 5 and "n belKngthat he. is held to abide .., «fte ^rni, him down to miserable despair. W ill not tie^Xove reflections, snfflce to draw every ?ons der«^W»" «»"» «'«''' "l*"* «"r"''".h that heavy t««s, imposed on those who noth- tressing burthens ? • TheCanadas are commonly he'f »"';»''. * i. a fact : but good government, and easy bur- henlraA necessary standards, to raise to easy prrpeJiTy, the cOnSition of P-y'^^f^-^i.^s iiBwlv settled country. And of all connines Xre avil order abounds, those into which im- p^Wnt isTiewly «t«f -'''. r„fteid?r' Snfit to admit burthens. Exclusive of we^gh^ bnrthefts, the first «n«»n»'^^«'^..f '^*J'' lev ness, have enough to struggle «'>'h' ""'^"'^^f stand in need of men, to live «^. '!«« »™".';"7' or to spend their time in fo"'"'' »§' ,1"^^,^ measures of taxation. And the labrnmng dass „t iuhabitants, ii. th e tnwnf. of W ^^'"^ countries, ate as unfit in tlieir circumstances, to t ■M--< - be burtheAed with heavy taxes, as those whose employ i« in the wilderness, or on newly im- . proved lands. A labouring man, in any town, or any country, who is a householder, and has a family of children, and no means but his la- hour to support them, has little l^ide to spare, and heavy taxes, arc, io liim/disti*essing bur- thens. Emigrants from the JUnit^d Kingdom, experience a very extraordinary change in the wilderness, and in this town, vei*y heavy, and unexpected taxes. The enormous amount of a police tax, exacted from the poorest inhabitants of the town, and the weighty road duty impo- sed on them, are very sore and oppressive evils. Io whatever manner we view these impositions, on a close investigation, we find much the grea- test part thereof, to be personal burthens; im- posed on householders who pay very high rents, for the houses they only occupy, by the month. Burthens ! to which 1 have nf)t found the like, in my experience as a householder, in different countries, and which I consider to bear much too hard/ on all persons, who have no interest in the premises they occupy. The person that oc- cupies a house as tenant, commonly pays for all the - conveniences within, and around it, in the rient agreed upon. And according to common usage, and the modes of policy generr- 'i r ^TG is- not 4 may 'aring eiiii- * decei- liKt of macla. iiles of in the lerecyf, nodes, ii'ity bf rs andf \i\ im* nt, arc power, lanage- ihat/is, •nment , ?aeh of a conn- p sepa-f I toim- it is to )f st[^te. I magis- isa over that af - well kpown, a magistrate of this town has re- ceived taxes as treasurer; as a police director, or manager, has held the influencing power to have them expended, as self desire led him to wish ; and, as chief • Waif isfrafe ,* overiuled all enquiry, hoW they were expended. Inasmuch as the authorized power of magistrates, hears muclM)f a sovereign cast, in so much the rights of a people, forhid the growth of that power. Place power under a proper division, as the on- ly means to check ahsolule rule. So placed, and duly watched, puhlic duty will consequent- ly he more fully eitecuted, as /puhlic right de- mands. 1 hold it as a necessary good, for magis- tratesji to l^ave the power, that puhlic duty re- quires them to hold^^s peace officers ; but in the possession of more, they are|foundvt>verheaijn^, to the extent of absolute imjiiry, to the puldic "weal. A full measure, mfore than enough, of absolute authmnty^ to the.4xtetit of public inju- ry, is demonstrably manifested;w the combined power, held by the magistrates of Kingston. Ho' ' far they regard public duty y right, acK'an- tage, or interest, a general) view of their conduct, and of public management placed under their direction, will poiiitto :|b,ow. In the year' one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, a law \y^s enacted by the rrovin- cial government of thj^^ Province, to regulate the assize, and fix the pnce of bread, in the several police towns, throughout the Province, The power to enforce iliis law, was vestefl in the magistrates, residing within the limits of any town, by law, placed und e r police regulation s . $$mi ■a /' irsy it ig To enforce it is highly necessary, and puMic •■■.■'l> "X-i 16 II .»i,i in nrii of iW powers in King»lon. «^^- tf asFrnUyotlcr parts of dutj, the But 1.1 t\M, "f" ,r";y^ ,^3,Vc un.lo.ie, that inagi^tratts of «' " J"^"' . ," ^ |,ecau»e tl.ey r''"' \'i^ceXi . pt "it of iul,.«t in d.,in| uT^tll nneEl «" not prepared to give U ? I o tills qutsu , „,^.,«„,.e„, to dra>y an ansuei ,,"' ' ™f l |,„ve not found them - "" r n ' S tl at is conlrary to a right dot,- r ^ w|:rmf ^ OSS ::?time, than all the ^:l^"ei.™l;norh.vclalw^^^^^^^^^^^ p„,si..letusetb>.k^n,y^^^^^^^^^^ !;r„f"[;;i T-, -S^^^^^^ (par,i.«larly the r. exirrn l those taxes \« Ihcir own way, rtieylTn^ withhold giving an ^ocoMnt S?e*Uv. at authorizes so many, and n,any ««!;■! bad\vays and means, in the conduct of lesallv estahjished power. „,, ,i,p i,-. %i,en the collector gpeft to demand the lax- r^- 0f the mag^ ' ^tr»*P8 '^ Kor'Su Ul^^^r^on «.com,,liimns,am. S„I that ills not inhi» power, for, fde- dcsiringy tU»t ■-.■- ■■■ "■ ■ . ■■■ ■'. i »- ■■ -■. ■ .,iV-. ■ ■ ^'' . u"- .._-J 17 ;8tou. f, the that they lining " ) give i\iaw them < ie,by lumin- al de- I'quiv- luty— 1 have all the und it mogis- uhabit- rl^^ the ni^ay, iccount i> ; ami l^iej; il- ein im- uirahly d many 1 duct of the tax- nverrat- I to for- decision ?al ; tlie ing, and fovifde^ inandcd by the magistrates, he cannot withhold the giving in to them, the names of those per- sons, whose time is expired to |)ay the taxes in, after they have been demanded by him. And if a magisirate is applied to, no more satisfac- tion is obtained, and if illegally taxed, or ovei-. -rated, the person disputing the legality of the » demand. is.iinced to pay or be distressed. The same with the man, who has the charge' of w>\tching the workmen on tlie streets, he is di- rected what to do, by the magistrates. The same with the fire conipany, they are directed , by the magistrates. In short, the civil govern- ment, and police of the town, are wholly under their authority, ami direction. And those per- I sons that on police aflfairs appear before the ma- gistrates to make complaints, Hqd the same per- sons seated to hear them, that ordered the mea- sures of police to be enforced against themj and seldom find it possible to press them, to notice, a statement of facts, evident of the illegality of the measures enforced, bt^yorid evasive objec-, tion. Bo passed oyer, those that apply for re- dress of wrongs, mctstly apply in vain, for so dilatory, and so unwillirii; arc the migistrates, to notirbitrary conduct of Tie maKistmte., a»ri.an«#» and ^irecfr" of thl town police, and Mermiifers of all com- iwnts^ndWpeii«.«si^'!'j|p"»'=^«;»,:r:: bv thent directed to be entoi^d. * or w hen a- nv nhrhitant of the to^MiKes for a redress Sf wroBKs, in the measurl»^^c.?a, under any poHcTrfg. lation Tor .ppeSl|lt&«inst .lleg«l y Fmposedlaxes, the same pei^ons are, as befon. stated, found determiners of all soth complaints, that rcered the meas..res to be enforced ami the t^es 1 be levied. To rouse the inhaMt- I'tsXhis town, to resolve on trying td.«b.am a legal redress, of 4bose wrongs, ""rf'], "" them bv the overruling aiuhonty, of thatabso- ^r power, vested in the magistrates by ti.e la V S aimade them police directors,.* a lead- KoSectTrf inducement, to place these reflec- ttons before the public. And to draw them more filly into the spirit of such measures,^ as rre ren fred to obtain a redress of existing w^i^ I^am necessarily led, into unavoidable i;et&, but "preempt «1«'» y*'*!"; «""": Jion liner shall be my apology ., And more ftSly to prove the truth of the foregoing r emarks, on general existing eviU -^l^^'';:^^}^'^^^;, habitante of this town, I will state a few facts, xisting Didable ndline d more 19 by me cxpevieDced; in tbe conduct of tbo magis- trates, ' Wben I bad resided in Kingston some time, I took a bouse, of wbkb tbe retit, Was more than 1 could well pay, and to ease tbat cimstant cbarge, 1 let tbe upper part to two families. Botb families were strangers to me, and 1 bad no source to draw iny conclusions from, fo re- fuse or a^mittbem, but a|)pearances ; and tbat directed be to tbe favourable sitle. To know mankind, we must pass over appearance, and b^told tbem beyond it, or we siiatl be apt to find ourselves decehed, a^'l was iii one of 'tbe fami- lies, for bytbetn-my babitation was made, *a bouse of confusion. And in defiance of all tbat 1 could do, to clear my bouse of tbem, tbey stop- ped many months, and jiaUj^not any rent. On my return from tbe cburcb oiie Sunday evening, I found tbe bouse in an uproar, raised by the disorderly mail, bin wife, and a companion lie ]iad broligbt in. land the other man, that re- sided in the bouse, remonstrated, to make tbem more quiet, to no purpo&e, except making tbem worse. Finding our endeavours to sfltle tbe disorderly storm, useless, we saw it necessary to fetch a peace officer, and applied to several constaMes, tbat refused to go with us, one of whom, told us to go to a magUhrate. We did as be told us, and when we j^ informed jfjjifd^ magistrate of ilour business, be said, *^ if you, have taken troublesome people in h your Iwnse^ 1 cannot help it, you nhould have been more earefuL'' And to all f sa id, he made similar / 11 il lit i. ■ k ■. III. the in- w factsj replies. As I had been informed, since leav- ing my dwelling, tbat tbe magistrates in this ^ town, lieliHIic px< manage, all police hikI pulicc manage 8(inH for me to apply if lie dill* not think ' peace officer, to 1ii.«.-t" ■■■;.,,,,•,.••„,,,;: Vo whicli lie peienii)t»Vy leplicO, "if uw>X. \ IZ\ l.im 1 dill not expect l.im to g,. persona ■ ivi hii't as 1 ronn.1 tLerewas not a rogHlar u. - ifA. , tl.eto«n, and all the conMabUH «e l.a.l been to, l.ad ol.jec.ed against go.ng « .U. .h, I gl.o.ild snppose it was in l.is P"We., >fH^''' >^ as a magislVale and police n.annger, to send a ^.i.ten connnand to a constable, to S» «.t 1. j. • He wainilv told me in leturn, tlia lie would - «/i„r« «»M,«irforf«>rW. oxrim/s; s«F»' mm so (said Ue) ««""'„•'"' "f.Z what lawful means, to.lear "J dwellms of H o disorderly\f-"i>.V- '^ "« ""' "^ ""n! ll Cilty of a bread.! of duly;^ in refusing me lawful f^ as he did ? if he wW not, for what purpose • Vas be^ade a mnsistrMe? Tl- ^''^'t^^rdic"! tW toV" «re, burlhened„wilh a heavy police S Li^<^^. and wh»t.> our Police pro- tecliflu? Nowhere, and nolhing » ""7-" ?"„ tie evil oCa weigbty police ta.^, ^U .o« PO '«» • •= - : i,i,t all, a« the se(piel of this case, )ro!ection, is will icTid lif prove. Our fniliiro in trying t') get b"a ai b to re eve us of the disorder y cmiduct, so'cftmm.n in M e bnu.e, hardened ll'« <»'«t";b- eys'of our peace. And in deOance they often 21 , and ' pel- X liiiii, . ) niid Inint. not:' ional- irp«- i had I IIS, I Lially, >pn(l a itii us. would- 80 IJOW cnn of all nut of con- niagis- low l)y 5oftho , ^istrato lawful lui'pose tants of r poVice ice jiro- — But t police lis ease, J 15 In pit couilurt, disturb- ed often » told me, they would stay as long as they wl«h- ( ed, would not bihave any better, nor pay for the conveniences they held, in my dwelling. \nd they did «tay, seveial montliM, aitijr T had anidied as lufore stated, and diil not pay (he a- • mount of one farthing. Hut !o stay, and nut / pay, was to me the smallest part, i he distur- bance rallied, to destroy us t)f our peace and rest, and the liad example that such conduct un- avoidably set t(» m.y familj^a"*! the che.'k it put to /my endeavours to obtain a living, I found • more hurtful than all they owed me, and never paid. 1 had never been accustomed to live in a house, whei'e disorderly conduct was practi- ced, and to he so ^i!»iRt«d at my advanced time of life, was a very sore trouble to my mind. Hut how to clear myself of the evil, without quitting the house, 1 could not perceive it possi- ble. The absolute refusal of the magistrate, to no what 1 aiu 1^'d to thl'^U ;vas l.ts duty, had destroyed me of every hope of effecting it, j»y any legal means. And wearied, and weaken- ed' in "my ciiciim^taiii es. I)y continual flistnr- -bance, 1 frecame determined Jiot to abide it any longer, and went to tlie ow ner of the house, and tobVhim I would move, to get clear of the dis- ' orilerly family, as 1 could not see any other pos- sible means to effect it. AVhen I told him I ' could not get the pay diie, for the ronvenienceg they had in the house, and that they stopped in defiance of all I could dd he a(!visc«l me to dis- 4«o;« ft»r flip rnnt due. as the best means to get iramed them aw a y . As he adi 'iy sot a warrant of distress reac%, and applied to se- veial constables to serve it but all excused as I ^1 lf disi ^regard, and contempt, in re'urn. He then said ^^KmiP^ ..^^^ y ^ k,.pach of tiitjy in a rnafihtrnfe to warrant, Bv the pressing desire the magij-traie*, to do their duty, led me into a train of conirmplative reflection; that worked , me into a sad feeling of miud. And by a bope- > -^ ^ n Bind frate to ; desire if pos- he has- ? a wo- ler the 1 lately, a war- . W hat I ihrn usali^ of e into a worked akope^ "r4 ■ V" ^■' as • . ■! ^.... prpumire, T felt nn thoiis;li I a»id my family Wei'« l^iititid, to lie ahiHed ami opprcMMi'd, and I wished, in the Hinceriiy of ieot paid the taxes of that year, and objected to ^ay them, because I was convinced the deirind Avas illegally founded. But mark the result that ensued : I was shortly served with a warrant of distress, to force payment. Placed under the power of the law, to pay, or have ray household utensils sidd, to raise tiie amiount and cost; 1 immediately drew up an appeal, and went to the magistrate that had issued the warrant, and asked him if I must pay before the expiration of the time limited by the warrant, or be distressed by the sale of what could be found, as belonging to me, to satisfy the demand. He said in re- ply, that the only means of saving my house- hold goods, was that of paying within the time limited. 1 then told him that I wished to hayr the rightful privilege to appeal, against the^ de- mand as illegal, before the forcible power of the - l\ arrant was executed. He then said they (the magistrates) Wtmld hold an adjourned sessions that day at twelve o'clock, at which time I might attend and present my appeal. I attended and waited till the last part of the day was far gone towards a close ; biit no magistrates appeared ; and supjM>sing none would appear, I went again to see the roa,<;istrate that told me to attend. He then told me he could not get another magistrate to sit will) him in sessicms. -Wonderful indeed ! multitude of ma gistrates That out of all t in thi towttof Kingston, two had not time to it J I .\; ■ ■■ ■ Jl'"- ^H . J •"*■ i| 1 «' 1 II ."^ i .;.,^-.:^;: ■•. II ■,., ^ ;# •pare, to hfitd an adjounietl scs/onft at the tirac .ppointed/ CouUl a weightyA.isinP89 in jm- Yttteaffaii^ keep them all sf closely enS'ige* , that no two had one hour of/time tospare to at- tend tc^ the public concerna/of the town? Are not th4 magistrates of Kinsf ton commonly found wan4g in a regard to i^.bUc bu.mesj? Are imM ^ «ft«» «^»""*' absolutely neglectful of the public concerns of the town. Atihe time to ivhich this relation points, there was mtwina. gUtratesiu Kingston, than 1 ever knew to be at one time, in towns in England, containing more ihan twenty limes the number of luhabilans thai Kingston contains. But with fewer magistrates, and a much larger population, tbe «nagistracy duty is more punctually and justly attended to in England, than in the little town of Kingston, Upper Canada. But what care the m^istrates of Kingston, about putting people to th^ trouble to waiUm them, and go away without! hating their business done./ And ray busmc^sswas not done that day, and I had no choice left, but to pay the tax, or have my househohl goods sold the next day but one. When I found that I could not possibly get the chance of an appeal, I asked the magis^te what was to be done, as touchine the exec^idon of the warrant. " I ay your taxes,'' said lie ^^ as the only means to save fuTtKer expence aiM troubled' Although I had repeatedly told the pursuing magistrate, that the prc»ceeding wasallegally ar^ bitrary; or the law that authorised distress by wnrrnnt, without allowing; the objecting person the chance to appeal, was an arbitrary law, he persisted in what appeared to be a resolute de- \ i the time 3s in pri- en2;ase >aie to at- rn? Are Illy fduncl ss? Are |;lectfaVof he time to more ina- IV to be at riing roore itants thai Agistrates, nagistracy ttended to Kingt^ton, ias;istrates :he trouble iut> hating ss was not left,J>utto goods soUt^ und that I an appeal, »e done, as [it. *'Paif dn$ to save le pursuing llegally ar- [listress by ling persoii r.y law, lie :csolute de- 29 termination on his part, that I should pay the taxes, itrary force of law, then ch'cidedly held out against me, by the ab- sr.lute refusHl, of ail in convinced of ray determination to appeal'ffc* a return of the money exacted from me so inipro-^ j/erly, and in a manner, s<» contrary to common, as have a directing: law, modes, in such cases, where laws aire regarded .as a directing guide. •■.#iii*»it tX ■) But in Kingston, such a guide is little reganled. As chance is held out by pi>iiiion; to hc-octa- sionally in the way of mankind ; so 1, on this occasion, found It in my way ; for 1 was acci- dentally inforrafed one day, that an adjourned sessions Would be held, at twelve o'clock; anil I attended, and appealed, and obtained a grant, to receive' back a p4rt of the money, illegally ex- acted from me, as before stated. But . I could rtot prevail on the magistVatea to allow me all that I considered as my just right; ahfd to-say— that 1 -was fully satisiied with the return, is more ' than I feel disposed to do. And what I did ob- tain was very hard to gain, and men that rule, are not of error A€e, and must be watched, to keep them right. Yea, more, when found to en- force wrong measures, must be opposed, and necessarily exposed. In a genuine exposure of imposed wrongs, enforced by men holding offi- cially, a partial pow er over a community, the va^ lue of .^he liberty of the press is fouhd. Of this/ the statements of all proceedings and transac tions that have a tendency to affect the public, published in newspapers and pamphlets in l^on- don, and other lai^e cities and towns in the United Kingdom, are a demonstrable proot. By the free exercise of those rights, which the cenuihe liberty of the press establishes, mea- sures imposed by an overstretch of power are excised, and the legal way to remove such ex- isting evils, pointed out."^ Situated as the ma- cistrates of Kingston ^e, in pdssession of all - — r tUo. offiiii.a^Mii» i nwn. no chancc i ? power over the affairs'Sf the town, no chance i; left to the pe<»ple to obtain a redress of wrongs by them enforced. Hundreds may suffer, mal individu 811 res of them, to c^, and law dire inliabita measure managei possess all c^mi themsel judge w it right order b gistrate tiv^. dis of any fairs, %^ they ar Kingst m agist) exerapl possess * more a in wh^ them n follow! Fro \ town I i^ for assess - avoid — rience liouse. to be f ■^ to 81 individiial point of view, by the imposing mea, sures of one indivitUial, Imlding the power over tliem, to force upon them individually, nioic tax- e^, and ot!>er overstretched burthens, than the law directs to be imposed. And so it is thai the inliabitants of this town suffer by the imposing measures of the magistrates, as directors and managers of police Affairs, and the power they possess in the magistracy capacity, to overrule all complaints against the wrong measures by themselves directed to be enforced. \\ ill a judge who breaks the law condemn himself? Is it right to place all power in the hands of one order of men? Magistrates, officially as ma- gistrates, possess much power in their respe©- livfe districts, and by putting them in possession of any more power over town or township af- fairs, within the respective districts in which they are empowered to act a? magistrates, as in Kingston, they are made absolute rulers. If the magistrates of Kingston had been exclusively exempt from holding any power except that tliey possess as magistrates, they would have been * more apt to do their duty in that capacity. For in wbAtI have had to do with them, I have found them neglectfully unmintlful of duty, which the following statement of facts will go to prove. Frbw a man who posscssefl a house in the \ town l)y lease, and lived in it, ll took room there- ^ for my family I and we lived there when the assessor came round to assess for the taxes. To . avoid similar trouble to that I had before expe- ri enced, I told him the man that possessed the '(,1(1 m lioiiee, as before stated, was the proper per,soii to be ftsi^esse^, and be did assess bim in my pre- ':<-.-.,_. tf^Kit* .w...,il l\' r ^ 82 pcnfce. I and my family moved from the lio.isr, in a few vvcck«« after tlie assessor came Ins round; hut to my Hurinise, the colleC^.^n his tiinncame and demanded of inc the taxes, lor the suid house. And my suij»rise increased, when I found, thar the possessor of the house and I were hnth cliar^cd with taxes on the as- sess lis(* for the said lenenient, and I Avas not over well plMised ; for I knew that another dif- finilty was olhc^ed hefore me, by so cxIrLordina. rv amodeof taxjtion, or I must suhinit to the wronss iiiposed l)y it Wishing to secure my- self au;ainst the liability, to have anoMvervdis- tress Warrant served on me, to force payment, I requested the cllector to e;ivc me Jiiiielo Mpp;^^lJ af>rr the fourteen days the law a;ive«, if 1 oad not t\w. cl ance hefore. He «aid he had n«it the pov,erto flolhat. for whiMi the ma.:?istrates de- inuiided a lis^ of those persons' names, that !..vd DO p'lidltheir taxes wiihin tiie s;rd time, he cooVfl not avoid fr;iviui;ir to liirm; nnd wi»en in tlu'ir hat:ds. his power to stay law pror<;e;»..t^s was at an end. Fin-ling it w as impossiolv lor - me to avoid tin* lial»ili»y to he s-iin placed un- dev the pf^wer of the law, if I :ihintlie ftnir^een days: 1 ihaught it h.-st ttf pnv Miem, and then try, hy ap.M'al. to get ih.'m rel'nriied. Do t'.M- reciprocal ri-hU^and inter- est*, of a people demand, tlrJ ail w*do not pay the' taxes char-ed against tht'in. vvhetlser right c>t> xviong; in (he charge, wlliiin nuivKM'M diys af- ter the Time if demam?ing them, shall become liable to f)rrible roea^usures Uy i.iw. t(^ satisfy the demand ? Anf magistracy duty, a go^ ' rise in a man's own choice ; but it is by his own voluntary act, that he becomes liable to pay an- o the r p er ^ m's debt. Bu t to turn to the narra- i r j I tive in hand. \\ hen 1 had paid the taxes, I felt secure a. '¥'v ■ ^ * •' i^ftinst the sweeping powers of the law* '^'»t I„ *., w^8 striK k h^' a nieaHiire, tliat made me deler-^ mjned to recoil Uy appeal. And, as l)efore, JfiJ'i fdnnd much to do helore 1 coulil get their wor-.' hips to determine my case. My first appeal was a written one, handed to he clerk of the peace, in the court of quarter sessions, on tiie ilr»t morning ^»f its sittinu;, and was addressed to ihat court. If laid!{j|')'ore the magistrates, tl>ey diti not choose to dwrfttupon it, for it was left undelermhied. . My second appeal was he fore an adjourned . sessions. When the magistrates had que^^thhr- ed me, I was told hy one of tliem, that tliey . could not settle my liusiuess, for want of the pvesence of the assessor. I told them tiiijit I would fetch him, and was then given to under- stand, that they would not determine my husi- ness that day. When 1 found they inten(|ed to turn me off in ftieir
' y " > \ W^% 8d find wi\«»tol that the persona that examined the aC' f 4 HjU ' 1' 1 m 5 'It —Sis i ...^ / ■ ' fe . » I V, 36 ^,frtf,., muHt have cnkmU'hil it ; nn< npun fiuift itm not aupear hi U\* hnnh'H.'-\V\M^ com- .mUiiMltlu.. ciMof/lUnow not,rM,taUI.. eviU llmt it miy appear to ni-t (i.illi, nic douo l.y I lie MMSiHtrulfs, lor TrcasurcM- «.m! coiumitUH., nic all or tlut kidney ; aiul ofil.e '1 •Ttisui-eiH c; mrsc against the rci.nmittcc, I h-ave ll.cm to publidy collt'ctof of tnxos in the yrar one l.cuiHa.H eid.t iHUHhTfl an.l Iwcftty-Hix, I paid t«» « "l- linSH aiiil nevoH ponr.s aH«e«secl rates. When the ma^iHtrates decidedon my appeal, I told them I had two covr., and that I considered mv^eirimlde to pay tlie taxes for tliem. One of the ma«^^tra^es si^d. tliut w onld he mne pence, I and when I observed that tiic tax on rows, was »1 ' ? only three pence per head, lie «aid, it oui^htto " L>ur pince halfpenny in the town On which I said, it your worshipH jhiiik, the tax on cows, on}:;ht to he fonr pence half penny |ier head in the town, I wiU not now contend a-unst , and they made it that, which for two cows is irme pence : and nine pence taken from ten «hiHii -s and seven pence leave? nine shil- S?nd ten pence.' and that was the a- monnt I once received back. N.it twice as atated in the published account cnrreiit of the Midland District, with the I'reasurer ; nor as ^Cr charged rates, as stated in the sa.d accou,1t; but as taxes, that had been illesally assessed against, and exacted from me. lUit ermr upon em» r , in chars*- "P»» ^ • *' ^ ''S<'' »^^'"^^ ^^"^ .''^' trict, in this one account, bear such a sweeping train, that my logical abilities an^ msufficMn , to reach the mysterioun darkness in which it is / agai 37 wrjippcd. WonfTerful to it]] ? Tlierc is more of cri'Oi'y tlinn u doubln charge of nine Mhiirni«;9 nnil ten pence af;ainftt the DiHtrict, in tlie errorN Hct fortli. in this inyHteridns publiHiied acconnt. Koi'of tlic nine Hliillin};s and ten pence, that I liad received hack, what 1 had paid a§ a police tax to the t from a correct statement, would probably lie found on examining the as- sess list, and misht then be exactly stated, by taking it from one nine shillings and te\i pence, and placing it to the other nine HhiUing»' and ten pence. And so much, over a dtnilde charge against the District, is set forth in the extraor- dinary published account, or mysterious error, so plausibly stated to have been by me received, as twice the amount of the police tax, and once the amount of the District tax. For when justly stated, how could any more than the a- mount of the District ta^, once paid to roe, be riglitly charged against the District. If a simi- lar error, raised on the same account, to that set forth in the District accounts, was to come be- fore the puldic, in the tpwn accounts, what a prodigitms swell, on one original joint sum, of nine shillings and ten pence, It would make.— And again, I say, that the statement of the a- monnt returned to me, as a return of over char ged r ates, was also e rroneous* as b e for e notir e d.* And also, when' I jipp^i^lcd the second time, and the magiatrAtes and clerk of tbe peace, en- •f ■•««; ■ :.: 'mi ^^ "kS .-■ . . ^^ : ■; -38 ■ '--Y^w^' " nuiretl of me about the liousfe, liow, aiid from whom I to..k the part I occupied ; and I stated to them, on what conditions, 1 and my family held a mivilege in the house, and from whom I obtained that privilege, the Treasurer ^ could ; scarcely be thought so ignorant, as not to know, , that 1 never held possession of the house, if^ it was leased frotti the Treasurer, by the pos- sesor, and knowing the man I niUned as posses-s or of the house, wa^ the man whc^ toiik it from • him, and lived io4| I was ^surpnsetT to hear , him propose, to sct^* appeal aside, on the pre- ^ text, tliat the assess<{r was m)t preseni, and | wh^ I offered to go fur him, his evasively say^,^ in«^, they could ai'ff/^ my business some othel- ' time. Not que ohjedion was started agamft • the appeal; and all the leading olgectums^, gainst settling it that day, were started by the Treasurer. Was he affraid to part with the money? Had I been before their wjorships, as an appealant against paying an dlegall^ de- manded tax, would the Treasurer h^-e been as ready to otvject against my paying >M« !^ was against my receiving back illegally cx- ■ ■. 4cted taxes ? ■■A ..^. A By what I have stated, it will be seen, th wrong measures of taxation, are imposed inthis townl and that much difficulty ^is^^id, m drawine the magistrates to act aright, ih deci- ding upon appeals, against tjiose w^^ng mea- sures And if not determined tcvknoW the end, appedants will get tired of watching, for a ses- fiions, and decline attending. Beside the mode, of taxing two or more persons for one- hunm, ^ «ach to the full amount, there is another, that js | nei - * -. ' . -^ ■ *:./ £-■ yx:». from stated hmWy \ium I could ' / S^ r'r against , ions a^ !)y the ith the lips, as Uy de- e been , as he lly cx- »n, thro^'%^ [I in* this Ijind, in ift deci- is; mea- t|ie end, ir a ses- ip mode, y house, ■^, ^ % i% r, that j8 most secmini; odd.- When more than one per- son, take (liffer.ent aplttments in one lionse^^rom the owner, all theifc names arc taken by the as- sessor, and each ohe is charged, with his pro- portionate share. 80 far the measure might be considered, id liflld a vi^ht bearing, if in itself Umm\ to qontaiiif an original right. .But to im- ;, pose tkx^es ori tenants, to make improvements to tlie property of landlords, is, in my opinion, an unfcLii' mode 6f taxation* 1 will «tate one case, thatJii^ome degree fell under, this most incom- ^nsible rule. When the assessor went his l^two ii^en that lived in two separate d^rtlw^s^ u^^r one robf^ and had each their ow#otf|^l<^^»d lio door or opening within, into ca:ftfelflii^!p^ *i«t were compleate- ly diVf^^llpiJ^eparately assessed. When the colll^l^i^t to demand the taxes, one of the men hal^ovcd away and hisiiext door neighbour, to lave his property fcom being sold,, was forced to pav the moved mans taxes. Not aatisfied with paVing another persons taxes, he appealed to get his money back, but the magis- trates decided against his having it returned 5 although he stated to them, that he and thfc per- son had moved away, lived in separate houses, and had ho connection in taking the houses, paying the tent, or any thing belonging to the houses. If the man that moved away, before be paid his taxes, owed any rent at the time he moved, would it have been more inconsistent with right, if the owner of the bouse, had forced bis neighbour to pay the rent, due to him from the pejsoft had left it, than it was, to force his neighbour to pay his taxes ? And would it^lot --^- '■/. Jbe ns ronsistent with right, to charge a man with, and force htm to pay the taxes, due from all absent persons, as it was to force him to pay the taxe& for a next door alisent person ? When the man by the magistrates appointed this year, 1827, to enquire who kept dog or dogs, in the town, to ascertain who was liable to pay the tax on dogs, he requested people to write, in a book he had, whether they had, or had not, a dog, or dogs. And to those persons that olrjccted against writing, he with a com- manding menace, said, yoM must write ', but lie fonnd several too stiff, to bend to his threats.-^ But the rough tool to power, had his means of revenge for their refuf-als, and h^ hJunediately went tp woi-k, to enfoi'c^Zitn>y summoning several of them beforfr^hemagistrates, on the charge of refusal. And behold the aid of the magiftratfes, to work up the revenge of the dog taTman, in whit one of the summoned inen told me ; which was, that their worships fined \imjive shillings with cost. If there is a clause in the dog tax law, to authorize the dog tax man, to take a book, and insist that persons shall write in it, as he dictates, and on refusal be liable to be fined by the magistrates, that partof thelaw ought to be scratched out, so as never again % become faceable. And if not in thelaw, my olsire is very strong to know, from wiiat document the measure was drawn, and whether produced by the magistrates, or the dog tax man. Was a cutting writer to set forth the partieolars, of the proceedings In this dog tax measure, in a Veen hudibraslic stile, the cut would come ont of the bag, a most mi- cijious monster, piiltobe more serious ; If the measure was ndt legally authorlz;etl, did the magistrates act a worthy and dutiful part, in fining persons for refuMiig to write ; for the man that was fined told toe, that he told the dog tax man, that he had a do^^ for which he paid the tax the last year, and would pay the tax for it this year. _ The jailor was ordered by the raagistratcs, to put another man ia confinement, that was iiummoned before them, for refusing to write in the dog tax book ; for whatj-heyionsidered in- solent behaviour. Whether he did, or did not, behave in^solently, is, more than f know beyond report, for I was not present. But if he has np council, the English law invariably allows a man, in all cases of appeal, or defence^ to speak for himself. And if a man is not unfairly dealt with by the court, ^en he speaks for himself^ he can go the length, commonly allowed to council, 1 was induced to notice the proceedings on the dog tax business, because they contain much of that absolnte taint, so often found in the con- duct of the magistrjAies ; for I do not consider the dog tax, as connected with the oppressive police measures of taxation, Nor do I think that the'statute road work, is connected with the police of the town. If not, whence had the magistrates a right to appoint a man with a sallary, to superintend that work ? Does the law that authorizes them to direct and manage all the police affairs, authorize them also in all affairs "of statute road^wbrk ? Have not the magistrates ia tbis; as in mapy other things, ■ ■. ■■< I: m m I. In & D3 # ■^?Er^ M a I •:"-/:- 1 •'' li 42 made an absolute seizure of poiver ? However that may be, the inhaliitanU are by the mea8^^e, deprived of the right to chuse, and appoint pass masters ; and also of having the work done to eeneral advantage, and to give general satisfac- tion. For it is now more partially done, than it was, before the magistrates possessed the com- manding power over it. But the inhabitants of those streets, in whicli the magistrates neglect to have a proportionate share of road^work done, are not neglected in their taxes and road duty, ^or they now experience a boundless stretcb, of * Imposing measures, ^w the hired road master of this year, has braved in an insulting oycr- bearina; manner, tbwards people that did their vown worlK JVluch statute road labour has been done the. last season, by the inhabitants of Kingston, to little purpose, and little^ to improve the roads, properly in the streets of the town. What an enormous amount of labour has been bestowed on thefront road through. Muraiey s estate, not properly fn the town. Doing, and undoing was a demonstrable proof of whim, or want of skill, or both. With much ado, a piece of ground that was tolerabhs level before it was touched, is now more level, but beyond that, a.11 the work displays evident proof ^f ignorance m the artnf roarf making. ... - . And then the side w^ks for foot passengers^, on which much of th? police tax is very impro* pcrly exnendcci, which is the cause of my no- ticing them. Have not they l^een made at ther public expenpe, more to satisfy private desire^ ihaii to serv e a public pupl^se? ^ What advan. tft^ cwlAt^j^ubUc be^thousht to derive (yrhett .,^ -li:. m^ ■•V. : ■,.■;:■. 48 /:.■-,■„ ^■^■i . taken under ilie view of important advantage) fi'Oin the making of a flagg;ed path through a )ong street, ^ so far as opposite the Treasurer's: son's house^ and then making a paved cause- way across the road, opposite a private door, in the Treasurer's son's garden fence. And was not this, and more of a similarcast done, and the churches, and other plaees of public resort, left -. destitute of ilagged^paths for the people. And so we behold money expended, i»ised by a weighty oppressive tax, laid on the inhabitants of Kings- ton. A tax named police, but little of which is expended for police purposes. And whclt4he magistrates of Kingston make of the word po^- licpyl am at a loss to know. And what is the advantage the inhabitants of Kingston derive froni; a heavy tax, nick named yo/ice .^ For we have not a police magistracy, nor watchmen,; nor lamps«^Aor police office. But we have a person i^amed a police' officer in the town, who Advertises notices by the name,, and I think I have seen the Vk'ords Police tffficef, in notic- es to contract for sweeping the chimnies. And what are the regulations for sweeping chimnies? A forced expence without a purpose ; for I con- - demn the mode, as of no use, for the purpose in- tended. Every measure that has a tendency to secure house's, and other property a^gainst des- t^uctton byiifire, ough to be approved, <>y every member of a coiAmunity • But measures of ex- pence that|Jii.ave not such a tendency, ought ip be relinqftfshed. And is the mode of sweeping ibfaimnies in this toiyn, a security against fire? I again condemn the mode, by saying ' not. ^ But /♦ J :}..• -*■ ap at9jerti(>n vithout : a reaipii^ woald be Ufee a V i ■■■■■ I ■ '"f CfSBSS^Eiia \. h ■ 4* ■■■•■■■■',• /: police tax, without police, except the burtlica the tax imposes. And now to support rav opin- ion, I will state « few facts, with necessary fo- inaiks. The.chiraney of my dwelling is often 6w^i)t, wh^n not sowuch as a quart wpuld con- tain, of aught that would burn is got out; but . plenty of that bituminous or tarry substance that collects in chimnies, ia left unremoved by the sweeping. The tarry substance jeft in a cliim- ne!vr,m«y, and often doe? take ftre, in a^short tiiSe after a Witnney is swept. And accoh nig to the present ri^gulations for sweeping, either • the person that occupies the house, or the per- son that superintends the sweeping is subjected to pay a fine of forty shillings, by a chimney ta^ kiiur firi. 'I'hus, by unavoidable accidents, that will often happen under the present mod<^ of sweeping chimnies, either the hmiseholder or roastersweep, is, in every case,sul»jected tojmy a fine. But by a chimney that is securely built taking lire, little danger of setting the house on fire arisf s. All that is necessary in such a case^ is, while the chimney is burning clear, to waich the roof. Was not the oia jail chimney often on fire, and the building not injured ? Nor db , I know'an instance, since I c^me to live m the tawn, of a house taking fire by a chimiiey burn- ing out. In many of thfstowns^of the United States, the inhabitants ^lear their cjiimnies by burnine, on a rainy or snowy day, when there is ndt muelh wind. But thfey have a hatchway or ficuttle, clo!?e to each chimney, with stairs or a ladder within the building, to ascend thereto. of the roof. through which they pass to the top toextingui^ the sparks that fall thereon, while t 4JJ thcii/ ipin- ' fo- -' »fteii con- ' but . that the him- ihoi't . (Ihig ithei* • per- icted y fa. entsy node-/ ler or y pay built se on case, vaich often or db , in the ' burn- ' nited Bs' by there ray or s or a erctot ; roof, while a rhimney is burning clear. ^ And I tliink it is ^a better and a safer mode, to have sciittles, an<\ ascend |o them within the housefi, than fo have* ladders, to make a thoroughfare iii(o houses for active robbers. > • With little consideration or regard, to that general good, that a police should, secure to tha inhabitants of a town, heavy burthens are im- posed on the inhabitants of this town, by the magistrates ; as thoagh they studied nothing but devising measures to raise money. Heavy tax* cs, heavy road woi'k, fire buckets, chimney sweeping, and fines, are the. 6i*der of the day with the magistrates of Kingsi^n. Orders to secure a common goo,d to society, are necessary in every coibmunity ; but, to draw the inhabit- ants of tlds town under the liability to pay a fine on neglect of furnishing fire buckets, besides loading them with a heavy police tax, 1 am apt to think is rather more than a good order. Poor a^ I ani, and poor as the rented house I live in is, the burtl>ens that have been imposeil on me this year, 1827, amount to two pounds six shillings and two pence, enough to pay as rent for such a house; and I have rented a bet- ter house in England at three pounds (English) ayeai", and had.not one fourth the amount iQ di- rect burthens imposeO^ on me there that I iiave here. But why are the inhabitants to be- com: pelled to purphase fire buckets? Is nothing to be done with police taxe^ but flaging? The flaging of the streets with monjBy, raised under the name of a police tax, as done in this town !.». ■i; :li ' and burthening the people with procuring what should be purchased out of (hat tax, is very ar-' n-. *. , .>: S|,Sk ■ :-7;^'^ ■i":- "<■■';' i!/;- ■ . ■ ^' -iff; I bUrary and h|i»to M* Wfiy wj*9 ncit^ !.e fladns of the strccw i^iMioflQil on pcrHons tlmt omi Ule fast property in the town? ^Ancl why wen* not fire bucket, purcha^n , ami W^^ ments maac, m(»re properly police than flas n tlie slreetft. with the money expended on flagii .^ them ? ^ But fiu- what purpose arc leather luick- Cts to be 4>rovitled? As appear.^ by the four- te^nth article of the general police r^^nlationM, ,1* the owner or occupant of each dwelliu}; house, shop, «tore, or office in the town, sha be at a times provided with leiither buckets.' And it fiirthe? appears by the said article, that "any person negleding to conform to" the said "le- Uation; ^hail, on conviction, forfeit and pay ttiesumof ten shiUi.ij;s, and a further sum of ^ #ire 8hiUin|;s fw each week tliereafter, un- tilVhc ghalf have provided the requisite nnm- bck of buckets.'? 1 cannot perceive, by whkt the said article conveys, that any purpose is intended by the produrinj; buckets, beyond forcirtg those to pay forfeit, jhat do not Picjvide them.V Was the purpose ftilly stated iii the afores^flartkle, I should no less condemn, what 1 conceive to bewotked up, to heap^an lover, bearing tneasure of (\»rfeits anjl bucket Mhens, on tbe^idiahitants of the town, m addit^dn to a beivy police tax. Every possible meji*re. to raiseiricney is rigorously enfi.rced '^y,!*'^ "»*' gislrates of ^in2;stxm. , , But is the MJP Wf ,f U to purposes for public good, as Jiitlef^glejit- ed by them ^s the raiding thereof ^ f ..v ' „. liiflictins fines f,»rthi? accidental bailing out of chimnieS^Vhilii the legalized mi)|e^^ clear them of substances «iat would buri| iS not a the that why rove-. mck- foiir- '.' OllSP, at all Liid it "any I pay um ui iiiim- irpose eyonil rovide in the iJwhat over- . rjhens, op to a sure, to; IP ma- ilionof egle^t- ' *• Ing out Eo clear S pota£ . .- t- ■*■(■;» 4r snve preventative to their catchipg iire^ places tiie sweeping snperintendant, and inhabii^iitH uf ' of the town unHer a rontinual liazard. i^q fine a person hecau.se a l)laze happens to appei^r at the top of a chimney, is jn my opinion, Very wronj;. And where is the reasonable man, tlV^t will not he of the sape opinion, after lookin^^ round, and perceiving tlmt there is more ikinger ■ withiti houses, of burning them down, in the .course of every twenty-four hours, than that of a hladzc coming out a^ the top of a chimney. All that wi^ hear, and all that we behold, of the pu|)lic concerns of tlie town, impresses on the mtnd, a view of wrong measures ; defect, neg- lect, w total want. The want of hay, scales, is to purchasers, a very sore evil; for hay pur^ chased by the load, makes the price *in weight, a dead letter. And a Vfhxi of convehiehce is daily found in the market, by sellers and by purchasers, J4)r it is very contracted, and very discommodious. Settlers, in^allsieasons ofth&^ year, and in all weathers, are obliged to stand with their articles exposed in the open air. Farmers, whd bring their produce to the, mar- ket in waggbns, often find this inconvenience not only disagreeable, but also hurtful in the loss they sustain, by the exposure of what they bring, to the^weather. And buyers often e j< pe- rience a diUgreeable inconvenience, by bei/ig I necessarily forced to go in mud ami wet, to look into the waggons, to find whfuEthll^ want.. And 1 understand that a part of' the market grouni is a pplied to other purposes than that fur whirh i W it was intended. And whence arose the fight to make use of ground set apart' for a public -7 7- -p \ H _ii- i__^v^:;-.: l4- f^' ■M >:._,,. ■- .:, .":. -tjk, - (4' \:;:'M:::i... m ■ #W^'._' , .■' '.'■"T'^f-f iw?- ■ 4f': niarket iii this town, for kny other purpose ? Ami why WU8 it act apart f0r any other put pj»se? U not«uchameaMneacllri.clhreachorpuhhcrfth^ Ana wa« the land let for other P»n»"«*^f \^J*'*r^ nionev into the trea/ury ? Ant ih "o /he m«- nev rained by lettiiiR that ground, puhlic money? And what i«d.uie>ith the money si* rained f Ifl U accounted for /r the puldic? And doe^^no public rishtd.m/nd, that it should he accounted for? What authority have the magi ntraies, offi- r.unv fts ma"'i/trate9, to excrcisc^bsolute rule >^J^irSof thJ the town? W power is given to thf magistrates by the P«l»c« ^^^J., ^ not a combii/ation of power found lini-lful to the 'SLbitants2f a country, district, county fnwnohiii drtown, when exclusively heUl uy . hemaM^^ ^i" not good policy exclude StrWs from holding any office within the rsfrict oier which they preside as magistrates, except that of magistrates ? ; . - • W/liPif power looks to public right, \ • It/harmonizes, brings delig^ it when it works up common Ills, . „ ith jjuithens up a measure ftUs, it theii pure harmony destroys, And robs mankind of social joys. /For how can men be happy made, AreJjv opprcssion.overlaid ? ( Live by the labour of the day. And nothing have to spare, to pay ? Jlre snch fit w-rsuns, liarit to tax, I And heap the burthens on their backs. That should on those more strong be laid That are to bear tliem ^^^^^ ™*"® ^ :/... \ /'x.- .. y 4ttt^ 40 ( Vfi legislators of the Innd Beject wliat come« of underhand Uy pra.ver lo olWain a Uww That will a weijijhtyJitirtli^n draw, On those for daily hread jvork hard, And for it have bat flinall feward. TO THE INHAdlTANT* OF KINGSTON, AWD ALL, WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN. Fellow Tciwns people^. Hnd others. As promised in my projiokalx, ! ^mleavourcd, in the commen(Traentof the foregoing reflections, to point out, in a concise manner, the relative connection 6f a social compact. Under this head, on the ground of general ofwervativn, U have pointed to thp duty of every meinher of community, and tc^.the evil cionseqiU'fices thf arise from an abuse af' power, in litiiwing t' common orders of society, under aiipression.« Of this evil, it is beyond the reach/of words, ^ draw a full statement. But to give the' impres- sion as deep a ^orm,. as it is possible to b'^stow on a true picture, of those proceedings, donf in' violation of the genuine lejtter, of tl.e good laws ^ of a country, I have drawn a.comparative view, of the forcible and cli^tressing measures, that ofllrial men too often pursue; an«l the modes of r^ robbing by thefi. The unavoyalde >jants of a jatate^ W g<>vernrtient, -requir/tiiat every tneni-^ ber of a cofbmunity,^ pos'^essiiig the means. shall contribute towards defraying the neres. sary publiefe^pences . — But to stret - rh out a lavy, •I I ^ m\ ioAhe extent «»f oveTbearirts measures of ex- action^ andJ^ycmd whiit tu|. express l etter of -.. '9 . i- /'X.-: £ II ■k "x h. IV- ./ dO the lawutatesto be enforced, ig to commit an absolute breacb of that Uw, wbicb oufibt to be !he directinE guide to every man, posHcgmng the lower to enforce it. A justiftalile excuse can- not be made, inUuppoH of the actions of a thief, because the most ignorant of mankind, m a land were civil order abounds, know what does not lawfully belong to them, Iwfore they become ▼ery capable to steal. A justifirble excuse cannot be made in favour of men, holding offlci* al power, overstretching the bounds of duty, because to plead ignorance for them, would be (o plead in favour of neglect. Both are alike determined, to do what is not lawful to be done, and both are guilty of a breach of law. Of the absolute conduct of the magistrates, as directors of the town affairs, and of their neglect and partial dicisions, as magistrates, 1 have ttated several facts, set forth frc»m self experi- ence, and to these facts, I have added several more. Not as necesary to convince y<>uf f *"« tmth, of what 1 have before stated, fbr I know that those of you, that have resided some time in the town, cannot be totally ignorant, of the absolute conduct of the magistratea. And 1 do- not think that many of you, can be totally igno- rant of the want of amendment, in the govern- ment of the town. And to procure the neoes- ■ary amendments to our town laws, every indi- vidual well i^nposed towards our constitutional righta and interests, must feel desirous. Con- atitutional rights I 8«y— f"r '^ Jj'^,!*^ "f ;""l ^?' tutioii, granted by the British Parliament to tbia Province, contains any semblance to the common ffigbta, secured td the people, by %» Britisli V *», ' Bi constitution, T CRnnot perceive liow ning;i«tratc«, cotnniiHHUjntMl l»y myal aiiihoiily (ksju this our town of Kiuu;Hton) canconstitutionrtlly lioUl the exchnivQ lijqlit, to g«»vfin a town. For the privilegea rights, of the inhabitants of a city or' town in En?;land, incorporated l»y a particular law, extend to the power of cliusing their own magistrates. And in those towns that arc not governed, hy a particular act of incorporation,- magistrates appointed l)y ilie king, are never found meddling, in the management of common affairs. Nor should they; for whercever that happens, magistrates 1>ec4»me absolate rulcra. — Of this evil my falluw townsmen, you and I ex- perience a growing iucreitse, every yeir. Fur- thermore, the laws ought to he the directing guide to all officers, and every officer dught b law, to be held to his own order, and not be al loweil, as the magistrates of this town are au* thorized by law, to be both magistrates and po. lice officerf . It is a necessary duty we owe td ourselves, to the town, and to posterity, to 'en- deavour by lawful means, to obtain a removal, or a division of this combiniid power, which we have proved by experience, to be an overbear- ing evil. T« this highly important duty 1 feel a iiincere desire to draw your attention, foir it is a duty we ought not to neglect. Whenconsideredi uiifier a comparative view, the government of the town in which we live, will be found the iiext /in the order of importance, to that of our famiHOs. Arid so found, why should we ngglcct to^ try , ■', ■ ^ meanS) to remedy the growiog^viL By negl ct- ing to declare AOr di§approtal, of the measuies enfoeced by the magistrates^ w^ may be/supi # •\ H: ^w ied wilUng to admit, what they enforce upon as. Ami by neglecting to exercise lawful means, to have the evil removed, we. should unheedfully guhmitto the e«tal»lishmentihereof. Hut such itiunheedful submission, would, on ourjiait, b^ a sore neglect d( duty, for it is a necessary duty, to watch and support our rights ; and to endea- vour lawfully to remove, existing evils. And to remove existing evils, it will be necessary, to petition the representative branch ot the Piovin- cial Parliament, to repeal the existing police laws of this town, and pass such a law, for the future management of police afifairsy as may be set forth in the prayer of the petition, And to make certain the preparing, and forwarding^ a petition, it will be necessary, publicly, to call a meeting of the inhabitants of the town, and to \his necessary, and indisputablerightful measure, I hope my fellow town«nHjn, you will unani- mously agree, it is a duty we owe to ourselves, and- the future inhabitantfii of the town, and of such importance, as not to admit neglect on our part. The inhabitants of a country, feel an interest in the affairs of the general govern- ment; but to feel interestJ^d, in the affairs of the particular government of the town, in which we , reside, is of more importance to us, as inhabi- tants, than the common concerns of the country. For what could more closely touch us, than the measures of the piagistratesf have done^sinc^tbe^ town became bylaw, exclusively^suhjected to their authority. By the undivided possession of the trown^ and peOjile's rights, the magis- trates are made absolute rulers ; and we, the t|ifi> People of the town,»reby their conduct, . 4 ■>■*"*•• V >*** 'SjU^^W' "''"'.'■*•' ^' ■ . I mg a call a nd to inani- elves, ' ml of m out* e\ an uvern- i)f the ich we nliabi- •untry. an the ice iher^^ led to iesnion magis- e, the induct, made to know it. Like all other absolute rulers, they exejcise the power, without regard, and are seldom directed by disinterested views. — But arbitrary views, are always directed to self interest, and self desire, and without a proper division of power, the people of a country or any particular part thereof, will invariaWy be fot>nd, by close investigation, subjected to ab- solute rule. Of this fact we have a demonstra- ble proof, in this our town of Kingston. For ever since the Provincial Legislature passed a law, by which the magistrates were authdrized to tax us, we have been heavily taxed by them. And if they had always applied the lax^s, to the purposes which the law directs them to be applied, lam led to think, they would have 'been differently applied. Nor do I suppose* that many pernons would be led, to lljink other- wise, on knowing that the laws, by which the magistrates are authorized to tax us, all express- ly state, that five Kngines, buckets, and ladders, are to be purchared fordhe use of the town, out of the money raised by the taxes imposed upon us. And furthermore, we are, by the laws cal- led town regulations, in addition to the said taxes, imposed upon us for the said purpi'ses, of purchasing fire Engines, buckets and ladders, foiled to' purchase leather fire buckets, or be- come 8ui)jected to heavy fines. And to enforce this law, made by the majsistrates, the police offirer has noticed us by ad vertisement, to pur- chase buckets before the first day of November, in /this present year, 1837, or he will enforce the laiv against us. tiid what will that be ? Ou clute authority of the magis- trates, and not petition for* rightful division of that power, which they wrongfully possess? For if you do neglect to petition, the measure of absolute appn^siotn, will continue to grow more larise / Not content with the power given to them by the polic7law8 ; which is a 4»ower that one jorder of/men, in a country declared free of ab- solute sovereignty should not possess, the magis- trates/have seized more. They have possessed iheniselves of the commanding authority over the^totute road labour, done by us, the inhabi- its of this town. For by the general statute laws of this Province, the inhabitant house holders of a pUrish, town, ortownshiprHre em- p^?Wf red to chuse the overseers of highways — But the magistrates have stripped us, the inha- bitants of iliis town, of that ri^ht, and appointed aman to that office, to whom they allow a salary. - • • j-x ^hiie doing our And on thatmau^s conducj; statute work, I need not to remark 5 but am led ■■'■'«• ■.'M.**«rr '•W'* i****" ■ '*-*'^ «« » ' ^'. k- 09 that he irash< by self experience to declare, overbearing, inconsidi rate, unfeeling man. bo much, is more than enough, to be im posed on the inhabitants of a town, by a man illegally appointed, to a public duty. But We .^ehold more, ift whdlms been done under his direc- tion, as oversJHfhighways, under the aprwint-^ ment, and ailWI%, of the magistrates. , I bar is, much work done in* place not properly m the town, and many parts of the town where it was wanted, left untouched. And owing to the want ofskilljindoing thew0rk,if the ampitit was taken, it would be found vei^ great, for the irtiprovement made. And^after all the labour lost, in doing and undoi from thevmagiRirati^s- anv*»y* ^'^ now experience the evil^fectsv The toore 1 viie^ ftie sUiyect, the mom 1 see. it nece«*saiy for -us, tVpetiiion.to have the magistrates laws re- pealed ; and o«)tain a grant of law> to drre^ "us in the managemji^nt of the coAimtm affaj|r^of the town, more meetly appHcaljle, to the sinrit of our con»»tiHi*iUo delay the calling a iipHins of the iidiabitants of the town, to re- . stAve on petitioning, as- befine stated That , . wliicb is the busine.- of every Ifody, I well kn«»w tooV>ften becomes tlu' business of no!»ody ; but if we iiTl heedlessly neglect this important duty, we wrong oui-sel ves, and the future Inhabitants . of the town^',-.^ ;■■"..•■ -y'^--. ' -f •>;-■. :.;■ ■: <-. . , . .; It is well known by many of you, that the -' magistrates of this town,« have sold and leased out^aWt of the market grouiid; but upon what . '.N i 4 ^' 4."5r»i n. e . '.N ^.lat weU founded aulbority, it is not in my power to tell, and I um kil to think, they wer« * not erano\v.eietl,hy any lawful light, to do it.-- -, And who knows, teide thetnselves, tii what^ pnrnose, they have appropiia ted the^ money -^^v r«i«ed by selling and leAsing a part of thfe land, .- belonging to the publie market. For in this, as in many other point^of diity, w;e find in tliem tL^- '^_ neglectVul* omission ^ one side, and^ an oyejp- stretch, im the othen F^qi^liy a Prtmnda} sta-^ - tute, 4>assed,the seyenteentH of JfljBUary^ 1822,,, ; the magistratea of every town, ^li^ced u|»^ ;^ police lawsi are required ^mwMiAi direct ,ihe . '; • clerh, ofjtie/pmi&Bi in every i?/»f net wlieteip-* , ^ police is established, £^make: up an accbunt 0/ y . Monies rmed and le^ed, miderfmd^ virtue . .. of any^ act now, or hereafter, to be made, rega- ^ lati'ng the pblice in any town, of towns 5 tiigfether with an account of the expenditHire thereof; which account, they, arerequired immediately 10 publish, liit as in many otlier things, which for our good oughtto iWve been d»ne,. what the . magistrates are required by tbia statute to do, > they have hitherto left umlone. . "^ - / ^ ' And from the time the magistrAt?s obtairied»a ; police Jaw, inth^ year 18j6, to this present yeai> , 1827, we, .the inhabitants of the town, have nAn been ikyoured with any account of the amou«toT money raised^ud expended ; and as appears by * their arbitrary conduct, they, Ipe regard any ^ law that is not meet to their arbitrary views. * • And, while, they possess the poWfcr over thf||f ^ fairs of the town given to tlipn^ by -the poUcte ^ TWws^ we cannot by any ^mpans.in onr power, r force them to do any duty Htiey wish not to be \ . . ' , . ^ >*' -i . ^- ■V '.. / V 58 .^-^•v done. ForWlielherby asfjumod op granted righl .absolute rulers presume* to act, they alifee^tisre- gard all laws that are not meetly ^made to cover their conduct in all aihitrary measures^ arbitrary neglect or breach of duty. By ttte police laws authorizing; the magistrates to make such rules and regulations for the go- vernment of tlu»- town as. they may think neces- sary and the power they posses* as magistrates, I again tell yo«i they hold absolute autboritjr over all the affairs of the town. Of the evil coasequenees^ of this overbearing power we have experienced too much for our common good.— Let the magistrates be magistra;tes li|ut nothing more and to confine them to their proper duty it will Ue necessary to petition our Provincial A.flsemblv • ■ ' The fbilowing amount in taxes |and other linrtbensi, as set forth, has been imposed on me, this present year, i8d7. District taXy - ^|0 PolioBtax, .--.--- 10 Koad work five days, at two shil- lings and six pence per di^, Leather fire 'bucket, - - - » - Sweeping chimney,, > - • - - \ 7 6 is 13 6 7 4 6 9 6 S Sweeping indeed] Iffiheswecpihgj conduct of the magistrates is coniiuued, and an increase of sweeping measures absolutely eufqrred by; them, in the seized and given power tl|ey pos- sesH over the affairs of the town, they >^ill very soon, sweep all from more of th« iiih»ibil»nls ;, for more than we l^ave to spare, they no^^^ee^ ./: H .^-^•v froin many of us, that are of the^pooiTst order* But you (my fellow townsmen) do not i stand ill need of behig. told, that manyi of you are, under' the pie«fting overbearing nieasnrea of the magiHtrates, distressingly bur- thened. For you know it by sad experience.— * But to clear tway the evil effects, you must have , the evil causes removed. ' And to get the evil '' pauses removed; 1 tell you agaii); yap must .; petition. ■;' ;. «.\,/ ■.\^'"-';. ■•■•■■ . -^ .;" . ' 1 In all ages of 4hc World, it 1ms bc|n den^on- ; /slrably proved by experience, that ine rules of civil society, ^are the best regulated for common good, when nlaced under a divided powt^r. — A nd (he genuine spirit of the British condtitu- "• ]|Lu|^oudly speaks, to command si^ch a djvisilDn ofpower, as will keep down absolute authority. - However viewed, we finil absolute effects^ 'prodiiped by absolute causes, whether under thtit br^ad of general or particular remarks, or by the' " demonstrable proofs given, by general maxims. - ' By experience mankind have found, that all jtf that has a tendency to promote genuine improve* Jf ment, produees common good ; a nd alt that has ' v, a tendency to produce public burthens, becomes '\ a common eVil. For- as the lever acts^ so yf'iW > its force preponderate, and when the ascendant ^end is elevated too bigh,'the low or falling end, becomes depressed, till sunk below its bearing. ^ Civil rule, established by a well regulated order, will draw every member of a community^ < either by choice or necessity, to a moderate de- , gree of industry'. And while the scales of reel- ^ jprm-al advantage, are held to the just balance, ' ^y^ right poizei every member of a society — 7~ :' I: u • \ '^ ' ^x holds secure, the fiuits of s4f industry; tlic rightful reward of laboiip. And the scales ma.v he turned, to raise a few to a moderate ele- vation, and not press on the muUitude an over- hearing hnrthen, for society cannot 6xist, with- out distinct ranks and brders. But when one end «if the scales is depressed, to its lowest point of hearing, and more weight is^ added, oppressive misery, will certainly h^ found to prevail, o^er the mnltitude. placed thereon. ^ While common advantage is held as a dirMj-< ting guide to po^ver, a prosperous result willlio found to arise, to a community, hut overhearing oppression^ 1 «ay again, and again, .produces , misery. v;',-^: ■,■• .r". .■:: •;;:■>■-. ■: ^■■;./jV' ■,.■;■;: ■'■ "■ V :' ' ' '"" '.' ' ' . " ■ V' ■■:•-.■ ^ ^ '^ ^ ^ ' ' ERRATA. ; . • ; vPageSB* eighteenth line, for pollfic read Po/ice. '* 40, last Kne, for cut read cat. y ■> 1 ■■'. (\ , ■ * . • ' ."■ ';. ■ ■.;_■■;.. 4 %■' t * • V. 1 ■: • ■ •■ ■ '■ / . » ■ "' ■ . '■■ * »* « » ., "' * '■ « ,.-. ■ f ' " * > . 4 . -t , ;..>....f;.„;^;.:.......„... 1 ..., ...:--.. . * V i ■■:. ■■- ■ ' -, ■■.; ■ // \ *~ ■'■■' ' ' w -■Ji^y ,■ j ' . . •■'■■''. . . ■; ■ ,-^'^- //. ''■::"' • ■- " ■ ' '^' , ■ ' \ ' - V • f R> JK. ..1 ':'» -^^■'' ." ■' ■^rtf li~ ' ^ ft # 1. -iT * '«<«, 1 * ^ r IF * ■; i' A* i a r / / \ • % 1 * — - — > % ■ 1" " ,* K ^ . ■ ^* ^ - 1 , -1 / ^. •*«* ' «.' '"■' . •' i K,;. / ~-^ . :