SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 Art. VI. Requested. Replied. Art. VII. Requested. Replied. Art. VIII. Requested. Replied. Art. IX. Requested. Art. X. Requested. Art. XI. Requested. Replied. Art. XII. Requested. Replied. Art. XIII. Requested. Replied. That the Act of Habeas Corpus shall be in force, &c. That our August Sovereign having granted it to us, it is unnecessary to trouble him further concerning it. That in the Courts of Jurisdiction, Juries may be granted at the request of the Parties concerned. If That this article is entirely in favour of the Rich against the Poor. they are the ordinary Juries; Ye poor men, what will become of your families when you are forced to leave your work, for a part of the year, to go and decide causes which in no way concern you? You already complain at being compelled to interrupt your work when you are summoned for Criminal Affairs, which occurs six times in the year. What would be the result if you were obliged to take part in every sitting? Some one perhaps will say that this is done in London, and it can therefore be done in this country. But let such a one compare the number of citizens in London, amounting to about three hundred thousand men, with twelve hundred which, at the most, is all that you are in this town and its suburbs. He will then see that you would be obliged to be present at the sittings, two hundred and fifty times for every time that a citizen of London need appear. Judge from this if you have any other trade to carry on, what would become of your families. If the Juries are special ones (and in consequence remunerated) what poor man is there who could contend against a rich oppressor who has unjustly seized his property; and who, to crush him, may demand a Jury (which could not be refused him) would not this force the poor man to the alternative of giving up his cause, or of being totally ruined if he loses. Complaints are now being made of the expense which Justice entails. Who will be able to afford it, when the payment of twelve Jurors is to be added? Would not this close the door of the Sanctuary of Justice to the poor. That the Sheriff's shall be elected by the House, approved and commissioned by the Governor, &c. That if the Sheriff nominated by the House does not please the Governor, what will become of the administration of the Laws of Justice? Will not a time of anarchy in consequence ensue, prejudicial to the public interests. That no civil Officer shall be suspended from his office by the Governor without the consent of the Council, &c. That no new civil Office shall be created by the Governor without the consent of the Council, &c. That all positions of trust shall be filled by the Persons themselves, &c. That the three preceding articles would be admissible time and place considered. That Judges shall be appointed for the Courts of the Province, and that they shall have fixed and sufficient stipends. That it is right to have Judges to administer Justice, and that they ought to have stipends sufficient to live suitably to their station. For, without that, they will either neglect the duties of their office, to occupy themselves with the care of their own interests, or they will put Justice up to auction. That appeals from the Courts of Justice of this Province be made to the Lord Chancellor, at the Court of Westminster Hall. That up to the present time we have made appeals to the King and his Council, who have taken our Laws as the guide of their decisions. But what will become of our Rights when brought before a Court which will deviate in nothing from the British Laws & Constitution! And further if the Council of the Province changes your laws, and replaces them by the laws of England, in what confusion and difficulty shall we not be placed? 18-3-331 Art. XIV. Requested. Replied. 6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 If, on the contrary, they are allowed to remain in force what means of That it may Please His Majesty in the interests of Commerce, and for the encouragement of Agriculture to invest the House of Assembly with power to impose Taxes, &c. That this article duly considered would give rise to many reflections. For what community is there between our requirements & the proximity, the climate, and the situation of the United States which give them the advan tage in Trade over us? Would the imposition of Taxes add three months to our summer, and make our river navigable for the whole year? No: then the advantage would still be on our neighbours' side. Would Taxes make our Agriculture flourish? No: for the Seigniors to encourage Agriculture give the lands for three years, exempt from all dues, and the lands often lie uncultivated for lack of means to work them. What is it then that compensates for the advantages they possess over us? It is the peace that our rural districts have hitherto enjoyed; free from Taxation, and in spite of the severity of the climate, they have seen the fruit of their labours, and have enjoyed it. To this it may be urged that the rural districts are harassed by the billeting of Troops and by corvées. This is true, but would the imposition of Taxes exempt them from this burden. Let us see. When the King considers it necessary to send Troops into this Colony for the safety of our possessions, would any one oppose it? No, this is a right which the King possesses in all his Dominions, without even being obliged to give account of his action. Have we Barracks in a condition for housing these Troops? No: can they live the whole year under canvas! no; then we must either construct Barracks, or lodge them. Troops bring with them a considerable amount of ammunition, provisions, &c. Who is to transport these goods to their destination? willing men, it will be said, who will be well paid. You can get willing men, it is true, but at a rate so exorbitant that the Province would not have enough to pay for this one branch of defence. If you impose taxes upon them, you will no longer find them. So then, not to put a stop to works so indispensable, it will be necessary to commandeer; and in consequence we must have recourse to Corvées. But someone will perhaps say as has already been said, that what are called Volunteers will be raised in the country. Here then would be a band of Freemen condemned to Slavery. Is it not enough for fortune to have treated them so unkindly, without increasing their misery by slavery. This being inadmissible, taking everything into consideration it appears. conclusive after mature deliberation that Taxation cannot exempt us from the billeting of Troops, or from corvées; and that consequently an Assembly for the imposing of Taxes would be contrary to the interests of this impoverished Colony. End. I certify that during the Course of the month of December of the year 1784, I have printed about two hundred copies of the Objections and about the same number of an Address to His Majesty in opposition to the House of Assembly, (in the same space of time) Montreal 29th December 1788. fl. Mesplet printer. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 (Copie) ADDRESS OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CITIZENS TO THE KING.1 LA TRÈS HUMBLE ADDRESSE DES CITOYENS ET HABITANS CATHOLIQUES ROMAINS DE DIFFERENTS ETATS DANS LE PROVINCE DE QUEBEC, EN CANADA. Sire, AU ROI. Les Bontés dont Votre Cœur Royal et Généruex a pris plaisir à combler Vos fideles et loyaux Sujets Canadiens, les Démarches actuelles et prematurées de Vos Anciens Sujets residents dans notre Province, et le petit Nombre de Nouveaux qui se sont joint à eux, nous font esperér que Votre Très Gracieux Majesté nous permettra de nous prosterner derechef au Pied de son Trône, pour implorer Sa Bienfaisance et Sa Justice. Dans les Addresses que nous avons pris la Liberté de faire passer à Votre Majesté Deux Objets ont eu l'Unanimité de nos Con-citoyens; la Religion de nos Pères etoit pour Vos Nouveaux Sujets, comme pour tous les Peuples du Monde, le Point essentiel de nos Demandes. Animés de cette Confiance, que la Générosité de notre Souverain nous inspiroit, nous espérions, et nous espérons encore, que Votre Majesté nous accordera les Moyens nécessaires pour la perpétuer dans notre Colonie : Nous avons, Très Gracieux Souverain, un Besoin urgent de Prêtres pour remplir les Seminaires et Missions de notre Province; des Régents et des Professeurs de cette Classe, et de toute autre, nous manquent: Nos Collèges sont deserts; de ce Defaut provient l'Ignorance, et de-là la Depravation des Mœurs. C'est un Peuple soumis, un Peuple fidele, qui attend de Votre Clémence Royale La Liberté de tirer de l'Europe des Personnes de cet Etât. Le second Objet, Très Gracieux Souverain, étoit, que sous quelque Forme de Gouvernement qu'il plairoit à Votre Majesté établir en cette Province, Vos Sujets Canadiens Catholique jouissent indistinctement de tous les Priviléges, Immunités, et Prerogatives dont les Sujets Britanniques jouissent dans toutes les Parties du Globe soumises à Votre Empire. De ce second Objet S'ensuivoit notre Desir le plus ardent de Voir dans le Conseil Legislatif de notre Province un plus grand Nombre de vos nouveaux Sujets Catholiques, proportionnement à celui qu'ils composent; de Personnes expertes dans nous Coûtumes, qui devant naturellement mieux connoître nos Loix municipales, nous en feroient plus efficacement ressentir les Avantages suivant les Intentions Royales de votre Majesté, qui nous les à Octroyé. Une Colonie naissante, un Peuple très-imparfaitement instruit des Loix et constitutions Britanniques, ne croit pas devoir inconsiderément demander des Loix et Coûtumes à lui inconnues; il doit, au contraire, et telle et l'Opinion de Vos Suppliants, S'en rapporter entierement à la Bienveillance de Son Auguste Souverain, qui fait mieux le Gouvernement qui convient à ses Sujets, et les Moyens les plus propres à les rendre heureux. Qu'il nous soit permis seulement d'assurer Votre Majesté que nous ne participons en aucune Manière aux Demandes de Vos Anciens Sujets, conjointement avec quelque Nouveaux, dont le Nombre, en Egard à celui qui compose notre Province, ne peut avoir beaucoup d'Influence. 2 Que la Majeure Partie des principaux Propriétaires de notre Colonie n'a point été consultée. 1 Canadian Archives, Q 62A--1, p. 297. No names are appended to this petition and it is without date, but it evidently belongs to this period, and is doubtless the one referred to in the printer's note at the end of the preceding document, as being issued along with it. 2 Referring to the petition of Nov. 24th, 1784. See p. 502. 6-7 EDWARD VI., A. 1907 Qu'il vous plaise, Très Gracieux Souverain, considerer que la Chambre d'Assemblée n'est point le Voeu unanime, ne le Desir général de Votre Peuple Canadien, qui par sa Pauvreté, et les Calamités d'une Guerre recente, dont cette Colonie a été le Theâtre, est hors d'Etât de supporter les Taxes qui en doivent nécessairement resulter; et qu'à bien des égards leur Petition paroit contraire et inconsistante avec le Bonheur de Nouveaux Sujets Catholiques de Vôtre Majesté. C'est pourquoi, Très Gracieux Souverain, nous Vous supplions, qu'en Consideration de la Fidelité et Loyauté de Vos Sujets Canadiens, dont leur ancien Gouverneur, Sir Guy Carleton, a eclairé la Conduite dans les Circonstances les plus critiques, il soit permis à nos Evêques Diocesains de tirer d'Europe les Secours Spirituels; qui nous sont si indispensablement nécessaires, que le libre Exercise de notre Religion sont continué dans toute son Etendue, sans aucune Restriction, que nos Loix Municipales et Civiles nous soient conservées dans leurs Entier; et ces deux Points, avec les mêmes Prérogatives dont nos Pères et nous jouissions avant la conqûete de ce Pays par les Armes Victorieuses de Votre Majesté; que Vos nouveaux sujets Catholiques, qui forment les Dixneuf-Vingtieme de cette Province ayent à l'avenir, en Proportion de cette Nombre, une plus grande Part à la Distribution de Vos Faveurs Royales. Et que dans le Cas que Votre Auguste Volonté fút d'acquiescer aux Demandes de Vos Anciens Sujets conjointment avec quelques nouveaux, il vous plaise surseoir Votre Decision Royale jusqu'a ce que tous les Corps et Etâts qui composent notre Colonie ayent été généralement et légalement convoqués, ce que la Saison trop avancée nous empêche de faire en ce Moment; afin que par ce Moyen le Voeu unanime de notre Nation puisse étre transmis à Vôtre Majesté. C'est que Vos fideles et loyaux Sujets Canadiens, fondés sur Droit Naturel, et plus encore sur Vos Bontés Paternelles, espérent humblement obtenir de leur Très Gracieux Souverain: Ils ne cesseront de prier pour la Conservation de Sa Personne Sacrée, pour son Auguste Famille, et la Prosperité de ses Royaumes. Tels sont les sentiments qui les font souscrire avec le profond Respect. Sire De Votre Majesté Les tres-humble, trés-obeissants Fideles et loyaux Sujets. (Translation.2) (Copy) THE VERY HUMBLE ADDRESS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CITIZENS AND INHABITANTS OF DIFFERENT CONDITIONS IN THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC IN CANADA. Sire, TO THE KING. The Favours which it has pleased Your Royal and Generous Heart to heap upon Your faithful and loyal Canadian Subjects, the present illconsidered Measures of Your Ancient Subjects resident in our Province, and the small Number of New Subjects who have joined them, make us hope that Your Most Gracious Majesty will allow us to kneel down at the Foot of your Throne to implore Your Benevolence and Your Justice. In the Addresses which we have taken the Liberty of transmitting to Your Majesty, Two points have the unanimous Consent of our Fellow-citizens. The Religion of our Forefathers was for Your new Subjects, as to every People in the World, the 1 This and other expressions in the document would indicate that this petition was presented by the oblesse and the higher clergy. Canadian Archives, Q 62A-1, p. 302. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 essential Point of our Petitions. Animated by that Confidence with which the Generosity of our Sovereign inspired us, we hoped, and still hope that Your Majesty will grant us the necessary Means for perpetuating it in our Colony. We are, Most Gracious Sovereign, in most urgent need of Priests to carry on the work of the Seminaries and Missions of our Province; Directors and Professors of this Class, and indeed of any other are lacking. Our Colleges are deserted; from this want arises Ignorance, and from Ignorance Moral Depravity. Submissive and loyal, this People hope to receive from Your Royal Clemency, Permission to bring from Europe, Persons of this Class. The second Object, Most Gracious Sovereign, was that under whatever Form of Government might seem best to Your Majesty to establish in this Province, Your Catholic Canadian Subjects, without distinction, might enjoy all the Privileges, Immunities, and Prerogatives, enjoyed by British Subjects in all those Parts of the Globe, which are under Your Sway. From this second Object follows our most earnest Desire to see in the Legislative Council of our Province a larger Number of Your New Catholic Subjects in proportion to their numbers; Persons experienced in our Customs, who being naturally better acquainted with our Municipal Laws, would more effectually impress on us the Advantages resulting from the Royal Instructions of Your Majesty, who has granted them to us. An Infant Colony, a People very imperfectly acquainted with the British Laws and Constitution does not feel that it ought, without due consideration, to ask for Laws and Customs as yet unknown to it; it ought, on the contrary, and such is the opinion of Your Petitioners, to cast itself entirely on the Goodness of its August Sovereign, who can best form the Government which is most suited to his Subjects, and employ the Measures most fitted to render them happy. May we be allowed to assure Your Majesty, that we in no wise concur in the Petitions of Your Ancient Subjects, conjointly with some New Ones, whose Number compared with the total number comprised in our Province, can exercise but little Influence. That the Greater Number of the principal Proprietors of our Colony have not been consulted. May it please You, Most Gracious Sovereign, to consider, that the House of Assembly is not the unanimous Wish, nor the general Desire of Your Canadian People, who through Poverty and the Misfortunes of a recent War, of which this Colony has been the Theatre, are not in a Condition to bear the Taxes which must necessarily ensue, and that in many respects to Petition for it appears contrary to, and inconsistent with the wellbeing of the New Catholic Subjects of Your Majesty. For this reason, Most Gracious Sovereign, we entreat You that in Consideration of the Fidelity and Loyalty of Your Canadian Subjects, to whose Behaviour in the most critical Circumstances, their former Governour Sir Guy Carleton has testified, our Diocesan Bishops may be allowed to bring over from Europe the Spiritual Help, which is so indispensably necessary for us, that the free Exercise of our Religion may be continued to us to the fullest Extent, without any Restriction, that our Municipal and Civil Laws may be preserved in their Entirety, and that with these two Points may be granted the same Privileges enjoyed by our Forefathers and ourselves, before the Conquest of this Country by the victorious Arms of Your Majesty; that Your new Catholic Subjects, who form nineteen twentieths of this Province, may in the future, proportionately to their Number, have a larger Share in the Distribution of Your Royal Favours. And that, in Case it should be Your Royal Will to agree to the Petitions of Your Ancient Subjects, and of some New Ones, it may please you to suspend Your Royal Judgment till all the Classes and Communities which compose our Colony shall have been universally and legally called together, which the Lateness of the S ason, at present prevents us from doing; so that by these Means the unanimous Wish of our People may be transmitted to Your Majesty. This is what Your faithful and loya! Canadian Subjects, relying upon Natural Right, and still more, upon Your Paternal Affection, humbly hope to obtain from their Most Gracious Sovereign. They will never cease to pray for the Preservation of Your Sacred |