>>....„ .;l IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) '•^^ ^ //,.. %^ L'?^' ^ c^l I Photographic ^Sciences Uorporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 il\k\ 872-4503 I<-. T>«^-.^w,-„ «4. mm wm present, entirely unknown. The Legislative Council hfw been rendered subservient to, and is but an echo of the House of Ai .emhlj ; and the Eepresentative of Her Ma- jesty is held, by his advisers, to be responsible solely to the people whom he governs, without any deference being paid to the power by which he is appointed. Instead of becoming an united, prosperous Province — British in fact as well as in name — we are liampered and entirely controlled by a Race cherishing prejudices,wliich, for centuries, have descended from father to son, and which threaten, in our day, to lead to the most serious and. deplorable consequences. Apart from their bitter prejudices and silly dreams of Nationality, entertained despite the rapid influx of a British population, the lead- ers of the people who inhabit the Eastern section of the Province, have systematically opposed all improvement andprogi-ess, whether social or political ;— and, instead of passmglaws and adopting customs calculated to render the Pro\dnce essentially British, and thus afford the fullest liberty and happiness to their credulous and ill-informed countrymen, these leaders have perpetuated a crude Feu- dal system, which has proved too onerous even for the country from which they boast their origin. To comprehend the vast power which the French pop- ulation exercise over the affairs of the Province, we have but to reflect upon the cordial unanimity with which they act upon every question that arises, whilst the British in- habitants, following^ the example of all really free govern- ments, are di^^ded into parties entertaining quite distinct and opposite opinions upon important public questions. The union of the French, with even the weakest of these parties, is almost certain to give them a preponderance sufficient to control the administration ; and as those who possess the power are naturally enabled to dictate their terms of support, we find one section of the Province made subservient to the other, and laws forced upon Up- per Canada, despite the remonstrances and opposition of her representatives, which are not extended to, and would not be tolerated in. Lower Canada. By this means public opinion is disregarded, nnd can scarcely be br 6 Council hfw cho of the •f Her Ma- e solely to rence being Province — ipered and lices, which, son, and ost serious beir bitter entertained I, the lead- ion of the provement instead of to render . the fullest U'informed crude Feu- en for the rench pop- 3, we have v^hich they British in- •ee govern- ite distinct questions. 3t of these )onderance those who 3tate their Province upon Up- )ositior. of rnd would ans public bear upon those who control the affairs of the country. The legislation of the Session just closed shows, fniiher, that the French are determined on adding, if possible, to the great influence which they already possess. Their Representation scheme, which was barely defeated, pro- vided for an increase of French over British constituencies in Lower Canada of fully one-third; and the Election Bill, which is now the law of the land, exteiids the fran- chise to French settlers possessing merely bonds for deeds, or contracts for the purchase of lands which they occupy ; whilst in Upper Canada, the same class of settlers are de- prived of all privileges, and even Freoholdei-s must have held their titles a longer period than the law previously pro\dded. So glaring a case of injustice and partiality is quite sufficient to show the real designs of our French rulers, and the impossibility of reconciling them to a con- stitutional mode of procedure. Turning from the political and social to the commercial condition of the Colony, we are equally unable to express satisfaction, or reconcile ourselves to the existing order of things. Financial embarrassments, and every difficulty calculated to retard the advancement of the Province, stare us in the face, with but little apparent prospect of improvement. The various expedients attempted in order to lessen our troubles, have proved worse than useless. They have but added to the load which we were unable to move. ^i.^- The advantages which we formerly possessed in the markets of the Mother Country have been taken from us, and we have been unable to obtain anything in return. The balance of trade is largely against us. We cannot exchange our productions for those of other countries,^ except under great disadvantages, and we are unable to dispose of them at aught approaching a remunerating price at home. Our manufactures are depressed ; our imports greatly exceed our exports ; our mechanics are, at their own doors, barely able to compete with foreigners, whilst they are studiously excluded from a market ;ibroad ; and evei - branch of in- dustry is struggling against the unparalleled depression Tvhich exists througnont the land. lo acid to the discontent whicli sucli a state of affairs w calculated to create, the expenses of Government are ex- cessive, and constantly increasing ; whilst measures aro passed into law which are totally unsuited to this vountr and comparatively poor country. A mass of uncalled for and ill-digested legislation finds its way annually into our statutes ; and one act is not thoroughly tested ere another, entirely novel and establishing directly opposite princi- ples, is forced mto operation, for an equally brief and uncertain existence. i j ^ It is for the purpose of taking these matters, and others winch It IS at present unnecessary to enumerate, into con- sideration, that the British American League, with which we have associated ourselves, has been formed The onginators of the Association do not presume to express an opinion, or decide upon the remedy which may be applied. The;^ lay the subject open to their fellow countrymen, and mvite their co-operation in adopting the most feasible mode of bringing about a more healthy state ot attairs A Convention, to be composed of Deleirates from each branch, according to numbei-s, to meet at some central place, will afford a favorable opportunity for deli- beration; and for deciding upon the course which, under the circumstances, should be pursued. The maintenance, ''^!r^.i!'^""''"''''c5^''^^'' ^^ -"- connexion of this Colony with the Parent State, and the recommendation of such measur^is ns are calculated to strengthen and unite us toi?e- ther, andm^e us m every respect an integral portion of the mighty Empire of which we form a part, will be the hrst and most important duty of those who now address you. Inviting the attention of the inhabitants of the Western Country to the Circular of the Presiding Officers in Mon- treal which has been extensivly publislied, we solicit the countenance and co-operation ofall who desire to take a part in the present movement. JOHN YOUNG, Presidfxt. ROBERT R. SMILEY, Cob. Secretarf. A. LOGIE, Recording Secretary. I I v.- BY-LAWS or e of affuirs w luent are ex- neasures are ) this young uncalled for ally into our ere another, osite princi- y brief and S and others tte, into con- with which I. presume to ' which may their fellow dopting the ealthy state f Delegates leet at some ity for deli- hich, under maintenance, this Colony on of such lite us toge- portion of will be the -ddress you, tie Western rs in Mon- 3 solicit the to take a SECRETARY. 'ARY. THE IIAJVIILTON BKiVNCH or THE BRITISH AMERICAN LEAGUE. I. — ^The name of this Association shall be, provisionally, The Hamilton Branou of the British Ameiucan League. II. — ^The object of the League shall be — the maintenanoQ and promotion, by all Constitutional means, of the general interests of the Province. III. — Any person signing the Register, and paying an An- nual Subscription of mt more than 58., or less than Is. 3d., shall bo a of the League. IV, — ^Tho League shall " he first Wednesday of each Month, in st, -id at such hour c^ the Executive Commi from time to time appoint, v.— The Annual Meeting of the i^eague, for the Election of Officers, anxl the transaction of other business, shall be held on the first Wednesday of August. VI. — Special Meetings of the League shall be held when- ever summoned by the President ; and he shall be bound to issue such Summons on the written appli- cation of any twenty or more Membei's, stating the special business in question. VII.— Every Member, on payhicj Msi Siibscriptimi^ shall be furnished with a Ticket of Membership ; and no person, who has not received such Ticket, shall be admitted to any of the Meetings of the League. VIII. — ^The Officers of the League shall be elected annually hy ballot^ or otherwise ; and shall consist of — a Pre- sident, four Vice-Presidents, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer. IX. — ^I'hese Oflicei's, together with nine other Members to be chosen at the same time, shall constitute the Executive Committee of the League. X. — ^The President shall preside at the Meetings of the League, or of the Executive Committee, ancl pre- serve order therein. In either case, he shall only be entitled to a casting vote. 8 XL— The Vice-PreHidentf^, in the order of seniority, shall IMjrtbrm all the duties of the President during tlif Jibsence oi* illness of that Officer. JXII. — The Corresjwnding Secretary shall, under the super- intendence of the Executive Committee, conduct the correspondence of the League, of which ha shall keep a record. XIIL- The Recording Secretary shall keep an .accurate record of the transactions of the League, and of the Executive Committee. Xiy. — The Treasurer shall receive and take chai-ge of the Funds of the League ; he shall pay all draft*! drawn on him by the President, and countersigned by the Recording Secretary, and none other ; and shall keep a regular account of the financial con- cerns of the League. XV. — The Executive Committee shall have full power to superintend the correspondence of the League ; to appropi-iate its funds; and generally to conduct the affairs thereof, in accordance ^vith these Rules. XVL — ^The Executive Committee shall meet weekly, on such evening and under such regulations as thoy may from time to time subscribe ; and shall also meet at other times when specially summoned by the President. At all Meetings of the Executive Committee, seven shall form a quorum. XVIL— -On the occurrence of any vacancy in the Execu- tive Committee, the same shall be filled at the next Monthly Meeting of the League, by the election of a Member to serve until the next Annual Election. XVIIL — The President and Vice-Presidents of the Town- ship Brmiches of the I^eague, within the bounds of the Gore District, shall be considered Honorary Members of the Hamilton Branch, and eligible to attend its Monthly Meetings. XIX. — ^No alteration shall be made in these Rules, unless at a general Meeting of the League, after notice of the intended motion at the general Meeting imme- diately preceding. / ilority, shall ■> during tlu' er the super- tee, conauct t* which \w ail .icciirate \ and of the 3 chai'ge of y all drafts nntersigried other ; and lancial con- ill power to League ; to conauct the Rules. weekly, on jns as thoy I. shall also nmoned by 3 Executive the Execu- at the next election of al Election. the Town- ! bounds of Honorary eligible to ules, unless T notice of ^ ting imme- /