IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 7 ^ ^ < <;^ & f/, fc ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 ^m m 1^ 1^ ill 2.2 ^ t;s, 12.0 .8 u mil 1.6 v] 7: '^ > 7 /A ^'^^^ # CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductior.s historiques 1980 .,..u*.M>«»atb:v jf^'^;^:^ ;,v^, REPRINTED FR(3m THE ^ORIGINAL PAMPHLET,* ^^^'r:^';v;'>^^^^i■;•'■''^"'■;"■'- with the 'i<'::'i^:f^:u^■-':ul4■>^ X A>1E8 O F TILE SIGNERS. :*•*,-'!•: IPRICE TWENTY FIVE CENTSMv ■' , ■ ■ . ■ ....-,., .■ ^X'~ THE MONTREAL NEWS CO., MONTREAL, Que.; THE JORON'rO NEWS CO., TORONTO &- CLIFTON, Ont, '). en(;lish ^l>#VV*"''^-'''^'''- '-^.^^^^^^>. •'';-'^^;-^:'''^->.fef:?-'i.*LT-^l!:;:^j''. f • :. ■^:.' Y'- ■ •- ■ >• ■' ■,-'',-''c.'.<,';; V .' ■/;;'"• ■ -^. V ,,. !ii,;J? V , ■i*k^'/ ■"j « >; Vi ■ <- X;. '^^VA- ■;>;:;; -'^■■: ,■''.'. .- /-,, ':M-iM'^'^\ L:^m m^m vit. 1. i' / tif..v;.v tSl. ,y,„:i'' '■«- , '.■;-nA' UHMAriiiiiMiiiiMirilMHiiiiiiiiiiii* THE ANNEXATION MANIFESTO OF "'> tf k%^^M REPRINTED FROM THE ORIGINAL PAMPHLET, WITH THE NAMES OF THE SIGNERS. ♦ ♦■ « MONTREAL: D. ENGLISH d- CO., PRINTERS, 240 ST. JAMES STREET. 188 1. ♦ CIRCULAR OF THE OF ^^OISTJ^T^JlT^. j" Office of the Annexation Association. I Montreal, December 7, 1849. The Montreal Annexation Association desirous of urging upon the people of Canada the question of peaceable separ- ation from Great Britain, and of Annexation to the United States, have instructed us to forward to you a copy of the Address to the People of Canada already published, together with other documents showing the steps that have been taken by the Association in this City. They have done this in the hope that you are favourable to the cause for which this Association has been founded, and disposed to co-operate with them by exertion in vour own neighbourhood. This might be done by the organization of similar Associations for Counties, Townships or Parishes throughout Canada, or by other means, which may suggest themselves to you as most suitable for your own locality. We are directed, at the same time, to request from you any information which you may be disposed to communicate, and which may be of advantage to the cause, and to state that this Association will be happy to furnish you with similar information calculated to promote our mutual object, as it is important that regular communications should be kept up among the friends of the cause throughout the country. R. Mackay, ) o A A T-k • hSecretar A. A. Donon, ) les. HiiiiiiiiiiaiMMi TO THE PEOPLE OF CANADA. The number and magnitude of the evils that afflict our country, and the universal and increasing depression of its material interests, call upon all persons animated by a sincere desire for its welfare to combine for the purpose of inquiry and preparation, with a view to the adoption of such remedies as a mature and dispassionate investigation may suggest. Belonging to all parties, origins and creeds, but yet agreed upon the advantage of co-operation for the performance of a common duty to ourselves and our country, growing out of a common necessity, we have consented, in view of n brighter and happier future, to merge in oblivion all past differences of whatever character, or attributable to whatever source. In appealing to our Fellow-Colon '-^ts to unite with us in ] this our most needful duty, we solemnly conjure them, as they desire a successful issue and the welfare of their country, to enter upon the task at this momentous crisis in the same .fraternal spirit. h' The reversal of the ancient policy of Great Britain, whereby I she withdrew from the Colonies their wonted protection in her I ;markets has produced the most disastrous effects upon I I Canada. In surveying the actual condition of the country, i f what but ruin or rapid decay meets the eye ? Our Provincial ^ tGovernment and Civic Corporations, embarrassed; our ' banking and other securities greatly depreciated; our mercan- tile and agricultural interests alike unprosperous; real estate scarcely saleable upon any terms; our unrivalled rivers, lakes and canals almost unused; whilst commerce abandons our I shores, the circulating capital amassed under a more favourable I system is dissipated, with none from any quarter to replace f it. Thus without available capital, unable to effect a loan i with Foreign States, or with the mother country, although .offering security greatly superior to that which readily obtains money both for the United States and Great Britain, when other than Colonies are the applicants; — crippled therefore, and checked in the full career of private and public enterprise, this possession of the British Crown — our country — stands before the world in humiliating contrast with its immediate neighbours, exhibiting every symptom of a nation fast sinking to decay. X With superabundant water power and cheap labour, especially in Lower Canada, we have yet no domestic manufac 'ires; nor can the most sanguine, unless under altered circumstances, anticipate the home growth, or advent from foreign parts, of either capital or enterprise, to embark in this great source of national wealth. Our institutions, unhap- pily, have not that impress of permanence which can alone impart security and inspire confidence, and the Canadian market is too limited to tempt the foreign capitalist. Whilst the adjoining States are covered with a net-work of thriving railways, Canada possesses but three lines, which, together, scarcely exceed fifty miles in length, and the stock in two of which is held at a depreciation of from 50 to 80 per cent, — a fatal symptom of the torpor overspreading the land. Our present form of Provincial Government is cumbrous and so expensive, as to be ill suited to the circumstances of the country; and the necessary reference it demands to a distant Government, imperfectly acquainted with Canadian affairs, and somewhat indifferent to our interests, is anomalous and irksome. Yet in the event of a rupture between two of the ^ most powerful nations of the world, Canada would become the battle-field and the sufferer, how ever little her interests might be involved in the cause of quarrel or the issue of the contest. • The bitter animosities of politica' parties and factions in Canada, often leading to violence, and, upon one occasion, to civil war, seem not to have abated with time; nor is there at the present moment, any prospect of diminution or accommo- dation. The aspect of parties becomes daily more threatening towards each other, and under our existing institutions and relations, little hope is discernible of a peaceful and prosperous administration of our affairs, but difficulties will, to all appearances accumulate until government becomes impracti- cable. In this view of our position, any course that may propose to efface existing party distinctions and place entirely new issues before the people, must be fraught with undeniable advantages. ,'' '■"' > •■ Among the statesmen of the Mother Country — among the sagacious observers of the neighbouring Republic — in Canada and in all British North America — amongst all classes there is a strong pervading conviction that a political revolution 5 in this country is at hand. Such forebodings cannot readily be dispelled ; and they have moreover, a tendency tc realize the events to which they point. In the meantime, serious injury results to Canada from the effects of thiL anticipation upon the more desirable class of settlers, who naturally prefer a country under fixed and permanent forms of government to one in a state of transition. Having thus adverted to some of the causes of our present evils, we would consider how far the remedies ordinarily proposed possess sound and rational inducements to justify their adoption : — I. "The revival of protection in the markets of the United Kingdom." This if attainable in a sufficient degree, and guaranteed for a long period of years, would ameliorate the condition of many of our chief interests, but the policy of the empire forbids the anticipation. Besides, it would be but a partial remedy. The millions of the Mother Country demand cheap food ; and a second change from protection to free trade would complete that ruin which the first has done much to achieve. II. "The protection of home manufactures." ^^ Although this might encourage the growth of a manufac- turing interest in Canada, yet, without access to the United States market, there would not be a sufficient expansion of that interest, from the want of consumers, to work any result that could be admitted as a " remedy " for the numerous evils of which we complain. III. "A Federal Union of the British American Provin- ces." The advantages claimed for that arrangement are free trade between the different Provinces, and a diminished govern- mental expenditure. The attainment of the latter object would be problematical, and the benefits anticipated from the former might be secured by legislation under our existing system. The markets of the Sister Provinces would not benefit our trade in timber, for they have a surplus of that article in their own forests; and their demands for agricultu- ral products would be too limited to absorb our means of supply, nor could Canada expect any encouragement to her manufacturinjj^ industry from these quarters. A Federal Union, therefore, would be no remedy. IV. "The Independence of the British North American Colonies as a Federal Republic." The consolidation of its new institutions from elements hitherto so discordant — the formation of treaties with foreign powers — the requirement of a name and character among the nations — would, we fear, prove an overmatch for the strength of the new republic. And having regard to the powerful Confederacy of States conterminous with itself, the needful military defences would be too costly to render independence a boon, whilst it would not, any more than a federal union, remove ihose obstacles which retard our material prosperity. V. "Reciprocal free trade with the United States, as regards the products of the farm, the forest, and the mine." If obtained, this would yield but an instalment of the many advantages which might be otherwise secured. The free interchange of such pro(' 'Cts would not introduce manufactures to our country, it would not give us the North American Continent for our market. It would neither so amend our institutions as to confer stability, nor ensure confidence in their permanence, nor would it allay the violence of parties, or, in the slightest degree, remedy many of our prominent evils. VI. Of all the remedies that have been suggested for the acknowledged and insufferable ills with which our country is afflicted, there remains but one to be consid- ered. It propounds a sweeping and important change in oui' political and social condition involving consider- ations which demand our most serious examination. THIS REMEDY CONSISTS IN A FRIENDLY AND PEACEFUL SEPARATION FROM ' BRITISH CONNECTION AND A UNI^N UPON EQUITABLE TERMS WITH THE GREAT NORTH AMERICAN CONFEDERACY OF SOV- EREIGN STATES. We would premise that towards Great Britain we entertain' none other than sentiments of kindness and respect. With- out her consent we consider separation as neither practicable, / nor desirable, lint the Colonial policy of the Parent State, the avowals of her leading statesmen, the public sentiments ot the Empire, present unmistakeable and significant indications of the depreciation of Colonial connection. That it is the resolve of England to invest us with the attributes and compel us to assume the burdens of independence is no longer problematical. The threatened withdrawal of her troops from other colonies, the continuance of her military- protection to ourselves only on the condition that we shall defray the attendant expenditure, betoken intention towards our country, against which it is weakness in us not to pro- vide. An overruling conviction then, of its necessity, and a high sense of the duty we owe to our country, a duty we can neither disregard nor postpone, impels us to entertain the idea of separation ; and whatever negotiations may eventuate with Great Britain, a grateful liberality on the part of Canada should mark every proceeding. The proposed union would render Canada a field for American capital into which it would enter as freely for the prosecution of public works and private enterprise as into any of the present States. It would equalize the value of real estate upon both sides of the boundary, thereby probably doubling at once the entire present value of property in Canada. Whilst by giving stability to our institutions, and introducing prosperity, it would raise our public, corporate, and private credit. It would increase our commerce, both with the United States and foreign countries, and would not necessarily diminish to any great extent, our intercourse with Great Britain, into which our products would, for the most part, enter on the same terms as at present. It would render our rivers and canals the highway for the immigration to, and exports from, the West, to the incal- culable benefit of our country. It would also introduce manufactures into Canada as rapidly as they have been introduced into the Northern States ; and to Lower Canada especially wher^ water privileges anv^ labour are abundant and cheap, it would attract manufacturing capital, enhancing the value of property and agricultural produce, and giving remunerative employment to what is at present a compara- tively non-producing population. Nor would the Unfted States merely furnish the capital for our manufactures. They would also supply for them the most exclusive market in the world, without the intervention of a Custom House Officer. Railways would forthwith be constructed by American capital as feeders for the great lines now approaching our frontier : and railway enterprise would doubtless be as attractive and prosperous among us as among our neighbours. The value of our agricultural implements and many of the necessaries of life, such as tea, coffee and sugar, would be greatly reduced in price. The value of our timber would also be greatly enhanced by free access to the American market, where it bears a high price, but is subject to an onerous duty. At the same time there is every reason to believe that our shipbuilders, as well at Quebec as on the Great Lakes, would find an unlimited market in all the ports of the American continent. It can- not be doubted that the shipping trade of the United States must greatly increase. It is equally manifest that, with them, the principal material in the. construction of ships rapidly diminishing, while we possess vast territories, covered with timber of excellent quality, which would be equally available as it is now, since under the free trade system our vessels would sell as well in England after annexation as before. The simple and ecorromical State Government, in which direct responsibility to the people is a distinguishing feature, would be substituted for a system at once cumbrous and expensive. In place of war and the alarms of war with a neighbour, there would be peace and amity between this country and the United States, Disagreements between the United States and her chief, if not only rival among nations, would not make the soil of Canada the sanguinary arena of their disputes, as, under our existing relations, must necessarily be the case. That such is the unenviable condition of our state of dependence upon Great Britain , is known to the whole world, and how far it may conduce to keep prudent capitalists from making investments in the country, or wealthy settlers from selecting a foredoomed battle-field for the home of themselves and their children, it needs no reasoning on our part to elucidate. But other advantages than those having a bearing on our mm , material interests may be foretold. It would change the ground of political contest between races and parties, allay and obliterate those irritations and conflicts of rancour and recrimination which have hitherto disfigured our social fabric. Already in anticipation has its harmonious influence been felt — the harbinger, may it be hoped, of a lasting oblivion of dissension among all classes, creeds and parties in the country. Changing a subordinate for an independent condition, we would take our station among the nations of the earth. We have now no voice in the aff"airs of the Empire, nor do we share in its honours or emoluments. England is our Parent State, with whom we have no equal- ity, but towards whom we stand in the simple relation of obedience. But as citizens of the United States the public service of the nation would be open to us — a field for high and honourable distinction upon which we and our posterity might enter on terms of perfect equality. Nor would the amicable separation of Canada from Great Britain be fraught with advantages to us alone. The relief to the Parent State from the large expenditure now incurred in the military occupation of the country — the removal of the many causes of collision with the United States, which result from the contiguity of mutual territories so extensive — the benefit of the larger market which the increasing prosperity of Canada would create, are considerations which, in the minds of many of her ablest statesmen, render our incorporation with the United States a desirable consummat- ion. To the United States also, the annexation of Canada presents many important inducements. The withdrawal from her borders of so powerful a nation, by whom in time of war the immense and growing commerce of the lakes would be jeopardized — the ability to dispense with the costly but inefiectual revenue establishment over a frontier of many hundred miles — the large accession to their income from our Customs — the unrestricted use of the St. Lawrence, the natural highway from the Western States to the ocean, are objects for the attainment of which the most substantial equivalents would undoubtedly be conceded. , FELLOW— COLONISTS, We have thus laid before you our views and convictions lO on a momentous question — involving a change, which, though contemplated by many of us with varied feelings and emo- ' tions, we all believe to be mevitable; one which it is our duty to provide for, and lawfully to promote. We address you without prejudice or partiality — in the spirit of sincerity and truth — in the interest solely of our common country — and our single aim is its safety and welfare. If in your judgment and reason our object and aim be at this time deemed laudable and right, we ask an oblivion of past dissensions; and from all, without distinction of origin, party, or creed, that earnest and cordial co-operation in such lawful, prudent, and judicious means as may best conduct us to our common destiny. Here follmv the signatures; — Abbott, J.J.C. Anderson T ]J Atwater Edwin A.W. Anderson Robt. Alexander Chas '• Geo Archbold Henry Asselin J B Aumond Joseph Allan Robert Ashley Geo Auger E Archambault Alex Aspinall Robt Airde Geo Allan Wilson B " John " Wilson Anderson Peter " John Adams Robt " Geo •' J Atchison Jas Arconet E Abill C C Atkinson Jno Austin W S Bonacina J M Bethune John Brazean Y Y Beaudry Edouard Barsalou Joseph Bernard F R Bisaillon N Betonrnay N Bell Thos Browne P D Bills Arch Boan M Bridges John Boon Wm Booth Richd Bain William Beattie Wm Bonner John Bowerhank Thos Bourdon Chas (( (I Bracken Jas BibaudJB MD Bertrand Chas Blanchet P B^rube LJ '( A Brown Jas Bulmer H Badeanx ? B Buck Marshall A Barrett J T Bryson Tlios Jno Berry Wm Blackwood R Barry John Bergin Wm Burns Michl Bockus Chas Brewster Benj'ni Bagg Stanley " Abner Bryson Alex T.M Pell John Beers Jas.C Brooks Wm Baraard Jas Boyd John Browne Geo BirssJ.H Bent Geo Bohl H.S Brown Jolm Burroughs A Barley Wm Bryson Edmond Brodie Fras Bude Jas " Nicholas Butler Jas Bernard J Baylis Jas Busseau H Boyer Louis Eruneau Jean Blanchard Louis Brush Geo Buck M Benny James Brewster Henry Babcock M Butters J Benjamin Saml " Goodman " Wm Beliveau L.J Bourne A Benson Henry. E Baird E Borbridge Thos " Wm Blanchard Jermh Brennan Patrick Boyle John Blair Jas Bertram Alex Binmore G " John Broflie John Corse R •' Norton. B Chapman Henry Carter John Crayk Jas Clark James. P Campbell Robt Craig Hugh Chalmers Roljt " Chas Carter Edward CoUette Michel Coalette Thos Cassidy John (< <( Cusson Alexis Carleton Henry It Cook A Cooper Wm Desmarai A.N.P Flynn F Gushing J Clark James Dufresne A Jas "• L Carey Danl Dore F Edward Cooper P Chester John Dubord Antoine Fellers Geo Cruikshank A Cole Thos " J Francis Benj Chagnon-dit-LaroseChapple Alf Daniel P.S Ferguson David Cinq-Mars C.N Cousens Wm W.F " Archibald P.M.M Crawford W.N Dow Wm Frost Norman S Coursolles Joseph Caithes Jno Duncan John Fleck Alex Collin D Childs Geo Dobson Wm Farrell D Couillard J.B.A Chisholm H Donovan Danl Foley Michl Cowell J.F Cullen wm Dunlop Wm Fortier L Cross Root Cauthers Saml John Footner W Clark Z,H ♦« John Drake Robt Fournier M.A Campbell Chas Camen John Dunn Jas J.M Clancey John Cunan James Donahue Martin S Charles James Carroll Jas Davies Moses Finny Michl " John «' John Dednam Thos Feron John " Walter Cutter Geo Doherty Jas Fairon Arthur Simon McTDewitt M. P.P.J Donnelly John Faron Martin Clare W.H DeBleury Sabrevo isDeery Henry Glass John Converse Jno.A Dease Peter W Donegani John Gemmill Wm Castle G Chas Dalton Jas Green T.J Clarke William Duclos Fras Dorten John Groves Geo Craig Hugh Dier Wm Dunbar Jas Gnaedinger Louis Chedwick John Donnelly C Day John O Geddes Chas Cowan Wm DeWitt Jacob H Esdaile Robt Gunn Wm " Hugh Duffield Geo " J Gregory S.E " David Doan T.C Egar J Green E.R Carson Robt Desmarteau E.B Evans J.H GadboisJ.Bte Ciark H.N Dupont Dominique " W.C Gibson T.E " Joseph Dubord A Escalonne J Grant John Courtney W.V Dansereau C, Easton W Gunn Jas Cosgrave John DeMontigny Jos Ennis Thos Gravel Jos Cadotte T " lean Eager D.W Gagnon J. A A F.X Wm.L Gariepy A Colleritte P.N Derome A.D Easton Geo Gadebois J.B Courtney W.B Doherty Chas Eckart Isaac. R Griffard Chas Cajetan L John English M Gagnon E Coderre J.E.M.D Dorwin C ElMott Andrew Gillerd Jas Coursellc Joseph Day S.H English Saml Gilmour John Campbell John.L Douglas Jas Frothingham John Gardner Jno Cheesman Wm Davis Nelson Forsythe Thos Gleeson Michael Cousens W Dunn Peter Fisher John Gowan Edward Connor John Dumgoole P Ferrier Jas., Jun Gordon James " Michl Dufort E.B " GeoD " John Clifford Patrick DeLorme E.LemayFuller Rinaldo Graham Robt ' Cavanagh J no Dagg Jas Froste Bobt Gallagher C Clark Geo Darling D Farewall A.(Osh.) Greene N.S Colgan Jas Docherty John Frauchere J.B Gordon Thos- Currigan Jos Dagg Jas Fresiault H.A Germain J.B Robt.B Dorion W.P.V Forbes Jno Guiklry Jules Campbell Jno A.A Fitts C Grant J Cane Patrick J.B.E Foster Thos Gilbert E.E Conroy Owen Donohoe T Franklin Lancelot Graham Jas 12 Grant John Glassford H.A Greig John Guimond Ant Germain J.B Gauthier L Giroux Jos R Geroux Joseph Glen Crawford David Greig John Giard A Gall Wm Gray Geo Holton L H Holmes Benjn .< wj Hart Benjn Henderson John Hutchison Wm Hutton Jas Harvey T^s Hall Geo T.D Jos N Hart Theodore Haldimand W.L Hagar Geo " Chas Henderson John Howard Irvine Hauselnian E Huston C.W Healy Christopher Hall F.T Haldane Jas Hays Andrew Holland Geo A Hutchins B •* James R Howell Ed Hudson Pierre Hibbard Ashley Hilton John F " John Hurst Willm Hudjon Kichd Hacket Thos Harrington Wm Harkin H Hobin Patrick Harrison J.W Hazen J.J Harvey S Hagarty P Lyman Theodore I^claire Jean Henderson John *' Benj " Isidore " James " Henry " C ] J Hannan John •' S Jones Lepaillier N Ilamulty Lawrence Levinscourt AKingLeavers Wm Hannon Patrick Hutchinson John Hay James llaliday James Innes R.W Irwin Jas Inglis Jas Irvine John Ireland H.W Johnson F.G.Q.C Jones Sydney Thos Leeeming John Loughry John Lee Joseph Lalarme ED Lusignan Alfred Long John Linton Sam Lamontagne L J Lindsay Chas Latham R Leitch Angus Locke Forest " R. (Cobourg)Lameaureaux Frs *' Hon.R Lavendure M. Janes W,W Lachapelle P Jacques G.E^ Julien J.Bte Sen Jun Lewis James Lothian Adam ■Lyon John Levey John Leprohon JL.MD Larkin Patrick Londreau Henry Lanctot M Lenoir J Laml)ert Louis Lemay Louis Lavoie Gilbert Lavinge Theophile Lamothe J M Longpre LouisJ Letouneaux C (Cote des Neiges)Lappare H.N.P Lawley Wm " Wilbrod James Thos Knowlton P.H Kelly Michl CM '< John Kearney Matthew Keenan John King James " Waddle Kerens Dan Kennedy Danl Kreagen Jas Kerfut Thos Kiernan Wm Kerr John Kirknp Jos Kadwell Chas Kilpatrick Wm Kennedy W Keller John Knowlan M Kilgour Jos " Tos Kelly John ♦• Michel Kean Bernard Kinnear David Knapp Joseph KrieghofT C Kain John Kay John " Thos Divid Lefebre Chas Larue Pierre Lepage Germain Lemyr Maxieme Lesperance A Letourneux T LeSueur P Larkin P Logan fas Lamb J H Lovis J A '« Jos Lessard Pierre Lepage Oliver Ludlam W Letamore John Laftamme L.A.G R Lazure Louis Lapierre A Leniyre Maxime Lamontagne H " Chas " LJ C.H Laberge Chas Lafontaine L I^beau N.M Lamoureux Nap Laramie S Longpre Louis J LabadieJ.E.O " Adolphe " Edmond Leslie R W Lavery Jas Lyle Walter Low John Molson John Wm " Geo.E Mackay Robt Murray Milliam McDonell Allan Muir W' illiam Monk John MacDougall D.L Maitland Edw McCulloch^M.M.D McFarlane' Walter Murphy Edward .. P " Alex " John.P " A.A P.A McFarlane Arch " Andrew Mulholland H. Mahony J Martin P.P S McGrath Thos Moreland Thos 13 McCormick Thos McPherson D L Mackenzie J G Mathevvson John McGillis John McDoiigall \Vm Morton Robt " Geo Miillins Fras McCoy John Merry W A Mills E Lyman " Cephas Moody Wm Mochrie G Moore Jas McLaughlin Jas IVIcQueen iJanl Moss David McGill John Mitchel Robt MacDougall Geo McGregor Alex Mtui'. Jos II Munro Hector Millar A Alclntire N G Patterson James Philbin Rich Potts Jas Potts Jos Peacock lien Prentice Wm Papineau P G MathewsonJAdam Pelletier Roch McDonald NormanMcGoun Archibald Mansfield Edw Mcintosh Angus Rob*. " Wm «« Alex " John Mills Robt Milligan David Miller T McBean Wm Mayo Chas Maxwell Edw " Jas Moiison James McCuaig S S Mathewson Sam Mcintosh Neil Mc Arthur John Muir Ebenezer " James McDonel M McShanc Jas Mclean John McCiinnis ] IMiller W "M McNally Wm McDonell A Moss E McArthur Wm Magill [er Miller A Muir Jas " David Moody John McDonnell Eras Mc Millan Miles Mousseau A Malhoit J E Merrill C H IVIacDonell Richd Mitchell Joseph Macdonaid Jas Maher Patk McCallum D MD " John D McBean A S Morrison John McGinnis W McKerracher Geo Mcintosh Nich Macaise L C Magill W McNamee Francis Murphy John McKay R W S F S, N «« Geo Mann And " David Mathews Thos McCrib Peter Mack Robt «' Saml McKeon John Moir And *' James Mclaughlin John ler " Mich ., P Wm Madden J J Meagher John Murray Edwd Meehan Mich McClary Wm Mcgovern L Mollowney John Madden D Miller A S JamesMeigham M *' EdwdMooney John Michon L McMillen Hugh Magnan A " D Mathews G Muckle Chas F McCrow John Mitchell John McGrath Geo " Thos Maley Patrick McDonald John McKinlay Wm McKay G L McShane James " Peter M elver Geo McWaters John Jr.Paton David Murry Patrick Price Jos C Prevost Andr^ Poulin S P]'"guet lac A Papineau DE.NP C.F.N.P AC Prentis Thos.B Poet Jas Power John N Pierce John Proctor Chas D Murray Patrick Matthews Wm Midgley Chas Murphy Danl Neagle Thos Noel David Nicholson Robt Nolan Wm " John Nugent Patrick . Noshen I Ode 11 Louj) Ostell John Orr John " James. R O'Mara (ohn Oilier D O'Keefe M " '"John O'llara Domk O'Reilly Thos O'Herri Jas O'Meara J no Owen H Ollendorjr M O'Connor Danl " Tno " Edward O'Brien Timothy Pierce Jason.C Wilder Phillips Chas Peck Thos Perkins J A Patton James " Thomas Poirier N Pautre P B Baton T C Pollock Alex Pepper Thos Plean Isaie Papin J Reliant Alexandre Pominville F Pease Orton Peel Thos Pennie Robt Penny Edward Goflf Patton Andrw Price Martin Park Wm Parker Jas Wm Quevirion C Quain John Redpath John Peter Rose John Routh H L Robinson Rich Rivet Edouard Roy Adolphe Regnie A Rice Wm Ruston Robins Perry G. (Cobourg) .14 Robinson James Sincennes J,R Taylor Hugli Wilson Samuel Roy E Savage Joseph Torry J.ii ti ii Ryan Joseph Sutherland John Trudeau Rom Thos Rafter Thos Shaw CD " Joseph Warren Cieo P Reeves A I ) Stevenson Adam Tutlle E.C Walker Wm Ready W W Springle J II Thomson J Welsh John Ryan A Savage Alfred Tellier . . Wishart Robt. Ryan Michel Si roston John J.B.E Warner Ed N Ryan John Stewart Dugald Templeton Thos " Ro'-^ Redhead I'hos Shipway J.G Taylor Jas Wardley Sam Ryan Joseph Scott Jas Geo " A " Jeremiah •' •' Junr " Homer Wright Joseph " Nicholas Slack J John " Robt " John Sculthorp James Thompson Jos Whitelaw Jas " Danl Scott Walter (Laprairie) Wamsley W Ros? Donald Simdon Louis Thompson Hugh Windsor Chas Ramsay A Surgeon Danl Taylor E.T Wooly James M Syms Hugh " James Wallace Jas Rolland G.L " John (St Armam l)WickensJas Robertson R.F Shepherd Wm JW Waldie Jas Rogers Geo Smith Wm Thos M " [olin " John ti a Todd Wm Wood Robt Ryan Martin " J. 15 Terroux J H Weir Wm Rocre Maxime H.B Tucker Thos Warnock Hugh Rodden \Vm Skimmings S Thompson John White Constant Ree David Stjermine D'U " JL Welsh James RoUin Janvier Sharpley Rice Thorn W Workman Wm Ronne Danl.B Swords P Turner Thos Ben Ramsay Alex Sloan Thos.C Tabb Wm R " Thomas Reinhardt CJeo Sparks Geo " Horatio N Whitty Thos G Seaver W.R Thayer Jesse • ' Philip Robertson \Vm Stephens H Tilton S P " Wm " James Seery James Touzean Geo " John Sadlier James Sanders John Urquhart Alex. Wanen 1) H Shaw Noah Stacy Geo Venner A " Francis S ymour Chas Sims Thos Visenor Jerry " Chas C.E Stevenson Andrew Vass David Woodside T " M.H Stevenson J Viger J LeLabreche Wallace Alex R.E Shane Lawrence Naudal H Williamson John H Smith Henry Van Buskirk Geo Weeks Geo Sinclau- John Sanderson li^ Venables Joseph Ward Joseph Stephen Wm Sargisan Jos Vincent Jas Whitney H H Smith Ferdinand Scott W.R Vennor H " NS " Wm Smith W.P Valigny Louis Wilson Andrew Stethem W.G Sheney Richd Way Ed Wright Geo Sullivan P.O Shelly Thos Vv^heeler Geo II •« John Souvri^r C.S Sharpe Edwd Ward Jas H Watson Wm Scott G Stewart James Watson Geo White John Sanders Jno. S Torrance Jas " Wm Wrigley W Sqarkes Geo '• John Williams Chas Yule John Jun Scears B.A David Wray H Yeoman Thos StMartel Honore J.W Wilkins Chas Young David Stjean Fleury Turly John "barren Jas Sauvageau Z Tobin John M Winaman Jas ** ANNEXATION MEETING. Pursuant to Requisition, a meeting of the Signers of the "Address to the People of Canada." in favour of a peaceable separation from Great Britain, and of Annexation to the United States, was held in the Temperance Hall, St. Maurice Street, for the purpose of forming an Association for promoting that object. Benjamin Hart Esq. proposed that John Redpath Esq. do take the chair, which was carried by acclamation. Mr.REDPATH accordingly assumed the chair, and Messrs. Glass and J.B.E.Dorion were appointed Secretaries. Mr.REDPATH then rose and said that the meeting had been called for the purpose of forming an Association, com- posed of the persons who had signed the Address to the People of Canada, which had lately been published, and of all who were favourable to the separation of this country from Great Britain and its Annexation to the United States. The gentlemen who would bring forward the several Resolutions which it was intended to submit to the meeting, would, he had no doubt, convince them of the propriety and necessity of forming an As.^ociation for the purpose of carrying out the object of the Address, and he therefore had only a few remarks to make. The Parliament of Great Britain had thought fit to change the commercial policy of the empire from a Protective to a Free Trade system. This change of system has been ruinous to this country. We had no right, however, to question the propriety of the change if it was made for the purpose of promoting the prosperity England. If the new system was adopted for the purpose of giving cheap bread to her thirty millions of people, even although it should prove injurious to the million and a half of people in this country, we had no right to question the propriety of the change. They thought it would prove advantageous to the empire, and the English statesmen had a right to adopt it. We could not expect now that they would ever ret' '-n to the policy which they had abandoned, and the peopL could not ask them to return, — it would be .too selfish of them to ask the people of England to return i6 to a system which they thought injurious to them, even if it would benefit this country. But although they did not question the wisdom of the Imperial Parliament, they could not shut their eyes to the fact that its change of policy had b* wught this country to ruin. They saw their agriculturists obliged to sell their grain at a ruinous price. They saw their artizans obliged to leave the city in consequence of the want of employment. Real property had become a drug. Their Bank and Railroad stock had become depreciated more than one half its value, under these circumstances, it became them to consider whether it was not their duty to take measures to remedy those evils and to avert the calamities impending over the country — to prevent it from being utterly ruined. Most of them had already proposed as the only effectual remedy, separation from Great Britain and Annexation to the United States. If this was a mere theoretical remedy, there might have been some misgivings as to the result of the measure, but there was nothing theoretical about it — they had only an imaginary line dividing them from another country in which the people were prosperous. If they looked across that line they saw the agriculturists getting 20 per cent more for their produce than the farmers on this side of it got. They saw property one half more valuable than here. They saw mechanics getting higher wages and plenty of employment, and they saw the people peaceful, and happy, and contented with their government, which they not only thought a good, but the best, government on the face of the earth.. Every day they saw people leaving this to go to that country; but they never saw any of them coming back again. Some persons had lately endeavoured by figures to convince them that they were in a better state than they were; but those facts staring them in the face would carry far more conviction than all the figures that could be shown. In the Address they had issued, they stated the principles \ipon which it was intended the Association should act. He hoped that nothing would ever be done but by the peaceful doctrines it contained, for he could never be a party to any other but peaceful measures. The address had generally been received with favour, except by a few interested men who were afraid of losing their places and salaries, and every day the people were becoming more favourable to it. They had seen what a change had taken place in the opinion of ■1'j'iff . ft—wr^eB^i 17 tlic country since it had been promulgated. They had seen the change which had taken place in the League since then. The League would not listen to the doctrine at its ^rst meeting, but now a great many of its members had begun to be'ieve in it, and the members of the League are going to exactly the same place with them only they are going in a roundabout way, while they are going straight forward to it. He found the principal opponents to the measure were those who were interested in keeping up the present form of government, who were afraid of the loss of their offices. There were also some, but very few, persons opposed to the measure from a principle of loyalty, and from attachment to the mother country, but he thought they would soon become favourable to the change. The present Government could never effectually resist the progress of Annexation, unless they could place the people of Canada in as favour- able a position as those of the United States, The Annex- ationists only desired to obtain their end by peaceable means and their only hope of gaining it, was by making known to the country, the true state of the case, and by convincing it of the merits of the measure which they proposed; and he hoped that they would persevere in their endeavours to obtain it by those means, for then they would be certain of ultimate success. They had nothing to gain by adopting any other means. Their opponents would be glad if they were to resort to violent measures, because they thought they would then be able to crush them.- but he hoped nothing but peaceable and friendly means would ever be assented to. They must then, by all means, confine them- selves to calm and temperate arguments and representations, and leave declamation and violence io their opponents. One of the advantages of this Association would be that it would bring new measures before the country, without reference to party politics, It would have nothing to do with keeping one party in, or keeping another party out, and it would soon convince people of the impolicy of supporting either of the two parties into which the country was divided. The Association would also tend to remove the dissensions now existing, which occurred between one portion of the community and the other. They would have nothing to do with the past. They had only one i8 object in view, and that they would adhere to, — to carry out the undertaking which they had begun, which they consid- ered would prove advantageous to the country, the prosperity of which was their sole object. Hucii Taylor Es(^)., moved, and it was Resolved: — "That it is expedient, under the evils that afflict our country and the depression of its material interests, that all, animated by a desire for its welfare, should associate with the view to the attainment of a remedy, and we do therefore, form ourselves into an Association for that purpose ; and, to promote the social amelioration of Canada, we adopt the sentiments of THE ADDRESS T(; THE PEOPLI". OK CANADA, published in the journals of the city in October last." jACor. De Witt Esq., M,P.P., seconded the resolution, and said; — "In rising to second the resolution in your hand I beg leave to say a few words. When we look around us, we see our country afflicted with many evils. I feel that we are called on to come forward and propose some remedy for our suffering country. Although I can expect to aid her only a feather's weight, yet Sir, I do not feel at liberty to withold that feather's weight. We find the industrious classes leaving the land. I believe there is not a parish in Lower Canada that has. not lost a portion of its inhabitants. The people are fast leaving the country, because they can get no reward for their labour. For instance, look at the price of peas in Canada and the United States; and all other produce is much higher in the Unites States than in Canacla. We cannot induce our children to settle and cultivate the land in Canada, because the produce will hardly pay the labour of cultiva- tion; — the land, in many cases, placing the proprietors of the soil in a worse position than the hired labourer. In fact the labourer without land in the United States can earn more wages than many proprietors in Canada can obtain for the produce of their labour on their own farms, consequently, the land in Canada is of little value, and this is one cause why property in Canada will not command more than one half the money, that similar property will sell for in the United States, I think we should adopt some means to ^9 1