,iH aMIPHHD vmv 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ALIKE QUESTION UNMASKED 
 
 \ '' :'■> 
 
 - v A_V , 
 
1826. 
 
ABRIDGED VIEW, 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 S (he agitation of the Alien Question has excited unusual interest in the 
 public mind, and the most gross misrepresentations have gone abroad, both as 
 respects the sufficiency of the alien bill, drawn up by the Attorney General, passed 
 by the Honorable Legislative Council, and sent down to the House of Assembly, 
 and the conduct of the latter House in rejecting it, the Editor of the Canadian 
 Freeman respectfully submits the following brief view of the leading features of this 
 abortion of legislative wisdom, which would scein to have been generated by the 
 spirit of oppression, under an awful cloud of Egyptian darkness. 
 
 As this measure, from the beginning up to the present stage, appears to be one 
 of the most dark and deep political snares that was ever laid for the liberties of a 
 free people, it is essential to view it from as early a date as possible. 
 
 At the beginning of the last parliament, assembled in the winter of 1820-1, J. B. 
 Robinson, Esq. His Majesty’s Attorney General for this Colony, took his seat for 
 the town of York, which he obtained without opposition, in consequence of the 
 deservedly popular gentleman, (Major Coring.) w ho intended to have opposed him, 
 having been called upon to join his regiment. — The Attorney General coining into 
 the House under these circumstances, was regarded more as the organ of the Exe- 
 cutive than the representative of the good people of York, and from his unusual 
 flow of words, and other good natural talents, although but rudely cultivated, he 
 at once became the leader of the ministerial side. 
 
 A number of Anglo-Americans were then returned to the House, and among 
 them Barnabas Bidwell, Esq. a lawyer of deep research, consumate knowledge, 
 and superior talents. Mr. Bidwell, and almost all the Anglo-Americans, joined 
 the popular side, carrying with them a majority of the House, and took a bold and 
 unequivocal stand in favour of the rights and privileges of the people. 
 
 By this means, and owing to the sharp-sighted views of Mr. Bidwell, and his 
 profound knowledge of the law, which enabled him to analyze the measures of tho 
 ministerialists, and throw in upon them salutary amendments, the plans of the lat- 
 ter were deranged, and many of their favourite projects frustrated. 
 
 From this moment, a determination seemed to enter into the minds of the minis- 
 terial party to new-model the representation of this Colony, so as to meet their own 
 views ; and the Alien Question was selected as the most feasible means of accom- 
 plishing this darling object. And as Mr. Bidwcll's wholesome amendniendments 
 thrown in with a masterly hand upon the measures of the younger and more inex- 
 perienced lawyers, who were basking in the sun-beams of courtly patronage, 
 made them feel not a little feverish in his presence, he became so obnoxious 
 to the ministerial party generally, that they determined to get rid of him by 
 some means or other. With this view, a hired informer was sent to Boston — 
 thirsting after defamation, as the tyger thirsts for blood — seeking from every record 
 in the State of Massachusetts — from the mouth of every political enemy — a stain 
 to be fastened upon his character. In the whole course of this disgraceful inquiry, 
 the most exalted character that, ever was borne by any man filling high official situ- 
 ations, turned up in favour of Mr. Bidwell, even from the very mouths of his politi- 
 cal enemies — But whiic he filled the arduous situations of Attorney General of the 
 State and Treasurer to the County of Berkshire, his clerk, who managed the books 
 in the latter department, made some unfortunate erasure or error which had long 
 since beed made good by Mr. Bidwell, to the last farthing — 1 ins was seized on as a 
 sin against the Holy Ghost, neither to be forgiven in this world nor in the world to 
 
4 
 
 
 come the informer delivered in his foul gleanings — the ministerial party pounced 
 upon the character of Mr. B. with that degree of tenderness and mercy 
 wmch vultures show to lambs— the cry of forgery— felony, &c.— from the hollow 
 voice of C ntharus the political daggerman, and other official sycophants, reverbe- 
 rated from the vaulted ceiling of the assembly-room, and was heard resonant throuoh 
 every hall in the House-(men who ought to be the ashamed to mention crimes 
 tha : could be brought so near their own doors) — no respect to the age, the talents 
 calumny niVerSa Upnght char;icter of the subject then under the dissecting knife of 
 
 Mr. Bidwell was put on his trial — his enemies were conscious of success.— 
 But as the physicians at first tried the effects of vaccination and other experiments 
 on criminals under sentence of death, so did these charitable legislators choose 
 
 as a j* Subject for tllClr iirst ex P erim ent against the lights and privi- 
 E ° f a , iar " e and respectable portion of their fellow-subjects by means of the 
 A hen Question. As they were afraid to try its individual merits nakedly they 
 
 f offeed 1 ertot he foul Bostonian current of defamation! 
 and having gained a few votes by it, Mr. Bidwell was ousted out of his seat 
 by a majority of one, in the face of law, justice, and precedent— insomuch that on 
 iftEi?’ one member, who had voted against him, publicly asserted in the 
 liouse, that his having done so was an act which, of all others of his life, he regretted 
 most on mature reflection. On the day after Mr. B. lost his seat a bill was intro 
 duced, supposed to have been drafted by the AttorneyGeneral, to cover the illegality 
 of this proceeding, and to disqualify the whole class of people to which he belJLed 
 
 from taking a seat m the House, in order to prevent his re-election, which otherwise 
 would have followed as a matter of course oinerwise 
 
 cimd Mansion of every unbiassed man in the colony was ex- 
 
 ched, and Mr. Bidwell, jr. son to the expelled member, a youno man !f “une- 
 
 - a CntS "' aS lmraedlate] y inv 'tted to the hustings, in order toffil the seat thus 
 finallvlt t ° fficer ' h0VVCVcr ' thinking that the Alien Question was 
 
 to -fli re t y 10 dec,slon 1 of House in tlm above case, or hS iStruS 
 
 MlSSSSssi^iapS 
 
 sanguinarv and rlnnKtCnl r, <i c , U e P®°P‘ e - lhe contest was close, 
 
 totally routed by a sweeping majority J "'“ h freemen-and vvere 
 
 V ° id thn re,Urn of Mr - Ham, and confirming the 
 brought up to lie ^ husti, ;i and ?,° n 3 17 T ° fclec,io " being issued, was again 
 Thus defeat in C ° Unties of Len ° x ™ d Add-on. 
 and with drooping flaas rot\r \ 1 u nL ^ 0 '^- ,riencan en emy, sadly discomfited, 
 
 weakness, and71mnced of theirlovu J " V° ^ Fu " y sensible of their own 
 
 turned wholly upon stratasem T ^ pedienc - V of another open attack, their thoughts 
 
 hausted ever! 2 W ho c. lZ7< mea Wh ° had straincd ^ nerve, ex- 
 
 ' c Cm ’ a,ld whose lo - val tears were seen to flow in the heighth of 
 
their zeal, with a view to deprive the Bidwclls, father and son, of the elective fran- 
 chise, by means of tins very same alien question, at once turned round assumed 
 an apparently frindly attitude, and under pretence of setting the mailer to rest, and 
 allaying the doubts which themselves had laboured to excite, (but with the actual 
 view of obtainging an acknowledgement from the mouths of the representatives of 
 people that the Anglo-Americans were aliens,) introduced a series of Re- 
 solutions most graciously promising all the rights and privileges ot natural 
 born subjects.—' The veteran defenders of the people’s rights had now been 
 too lon<> in the held to be thus easily outflanked— Mr. Wilson, our present honor- 
 able Speaker rose, and put forth against them the whole powers ot his clear and 
 comprehensive mind, in a strain of native eloquence, simple, it is true, mU8 garb- 
 but powerful and resistless as the mountain torrent. — “ Doubt not,” said lie, “ the 
 rights of people who proved themselves worthy of the name of British subjects m 
 the day of peril— disturb not the minds of those who have been in the peaceable 
 enjoyment of their rights for thirty years— tamper not with a supposed disease, to 
 which you have no power to atford an effectual remedy.”— No allusion was made 
 to the loyal bones of his ancestors in the grave— whose sons were obliged to sit 
 within the same walls with “ felons and democrats "— no “ loyal tears were shed 
 yet the appeal was convincing— the snare was unmasked— and the Resolutions 
 swept out of the House by a large majority. . . . 
 
 The failure of this stratagem, put an end to all hopes of success in this trick, un- 
 less the home ministry could be induced to turn a card. VV jtli this view commis- 
 sioner after commissioner— lay and ecclesiastical— were sent to London— while 
 the people of the colony were enormously taxed to pay for their underhand services : 
 — representation on representaion followed — every shelf in the alien-ofln e w as 
 ransacked, but no case was found to suit their view's. At last a solitary decision 
 of the Court of King’s Bench was had by accident, or designedly got up to meet 
 the case, by the agents of the trick, from the interest and intimacy created among 
 the under-strappers at home, by their many and well-paid for visits. 1 lus decision 
 again lifted the druping hopes of the ministerialists in the colony— communications 
 afresh showered about the cars of Earl Bathurst— but cautiously, so as to have the 
 final management of the question under the hands of its first agitators m the 
 colony, to dispose of it according to the original design— namely, to confirm their 
 titles to real estate, but deprive them of the elective franchise. 
 
 Earl Bathurst, at last, overcome by importunities, and, in the lmrry of business, 
 evidently either not having before his eyes the leading features of our constitutional 
 act, or being implicated in one of the deepest political tr-ks ever attempted against 
 the liberties of a people, (which is not for a moment to be supposed, as no doubts 
 are entertained of the sincerity of the imperial government) sent out to the Exe- 
 cutive of this colony the following document : — 
 
 « Extract of a Despatch from the Right Honourable the Earl Bathurst lo His Excellency Major 
 General Sir Peregrine Maitland , dated Downing Street , 2 2d. July 1325.” 
 
 «.[ have had under my consideration the REPRESENTATIONS which I have had the ho- 
 nor of receiving from you, on the subject of Aliens who have become sc tiers m the province of 
 Upper Canada, and I regret that it arrived at a period ot the session loo late to admit ol any 
 
 measure being proposed to Parliament. , . .. 
 
 - ‘ I an, of open ion that it u-ill be advisable lo confer by a Legislative enactment , the ca ,1 r g Is 
 and nrioileyet It British subjects upon such citizens of the United States , as being heretofi ,e settled 
 in Canada are declared by the judgment of the Courts of Law, in En S a ^^^ e T”^ n a ^ 
 the I aw Officers to be Aliens; and of including in (he same enactment the disbanded Officers and 
 Soldiers of U.reimi con*, which were in the liritish service and such other foreigners resident in 
 Canada, n! are in truth Aliens, although they have hitherto enjoyed, without question, the nghts 
 
 ^ftZnfne, you should deem it expedient lo submit to the Legislature of province at its 
 next Session, a Bill lor the rehef of such persons as are now m the Province, I have to convey to 
 you His Majesty's sanction for assenting to it, notwithstanding the general royal mstrurUon on 
 
6 
 
 that subject, and there is no necessity for you to withhold such Bill for the signification of His 
 Majesty’s pleasure, unless it shall pass in such a shape as map make you doubtful of Us expediency 
 (True Copt.) ( Signed ) G. HILLIER. 
 
 On receiving this despatch, which left it altogether at the discretion of the Exe- 
 cutive whether or not the measure should be submitted to the colonial legislature, 
 His Excellency immediately communicated it to both Houses, recommending them 
 to pass a law to meet the case. With this view, he called upon the Attorney Ge- 
 neral to draft a bill to be submitted to the honorable Legislative Council, in strict 
 accordance with this despatch. Instead of informing his Excellency that this legis- 
 lature had no power, according to our constitution, to confer on aliens the civil 
 rights mentioned in the despatch, and recommending the Executive to refer the 
 measure back to the imperial legislature, this legal adviser of the crown sat down 
 and drafted the following bill — die greatest anomaly in legislation — the deepest 
 laid snare against the rights of the people — that ever appeared in any country on 
 earth— purporting, on the face of the preamble, to give all the civil rights of na- 
 tural born subjects, thus extending the boon beyond the power of a colonial legis- 
 lature, but, in all the enacting clauses, slipping in the two particles "SO THAT” 
 no estates, etc. shall be vested in his Majesty, or titles impeached — thus by a nice 
 legal turn coming up to the original design of depriving every Anglo-American in 
 the colony of the elective franchise : — 
 
 AN ACT to confirm uni quiet in the possession of their Estates, and to admit to the Civil Rights 
 of subjects, certain classes of Persons therein mentioned. 
 
 V*fIIERF.AS many persons have become resident in this Province who having been formerly 
 T T citizens of the United States of America, and being subjects of the Government of those 
 Stales, have been naturalized as British subjects by any Act of Parliament ; And Whereas there 
 arc also m this Province many persons who came from other foreign countries, and many reduced 
 Officers and discharged Soldiers of foreign corps late in His Majesty’s service, but not being sub- 
 jects of His Majesty by birth or naturalization; And Whereas it is expedient that all saeh persons 
 should be confirmed ami qa/ted m the possession of their Estates, AND SHOULD HE ADMIT* 
 i ED TO i HE CIV 1L HIGH 1 S OF SUBJECTS, with such exceptions as hove been from 
 time (o lime provided by Acts of the Legislature of this Province with respect to persons havin- 
 beeu resident in the United Slates of America, or having taken the Oath of Allegiance to their 
 Government ; And Whereas His Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland. Knight Commander of the 
 MostHonourr.ble Military Order of the Hath, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of UpperCana- 
 da, and Major General commanding; His Majesty s Forces therein, has been pleased to signify by 
 Messii^e to both Houses of the Legislature, that he lias received His .Majesty's express sanction 
 to assent to the passing of such enactment as may afford relief to such persons being now in this 
 I rovmc;: be it theretore enacted by the King s most Kxccllent Majesty, by and with the advice 
 and cais-nt of the Legislative Council and Assembly of the Province of Upper Canada, constitut- 
 ed an 1 assembled by virtue nf and under the authority of an Act pawed in the Parliament of 
 ,f ut;Ued a » Act to repeal certain parts of an Act pa-sed in the fourteenth year of 
 r ,, c ' ly s ‘teign, entitled, u An Act lor making more effectual provision lor the Government 
 o. the Province ol Quebec m North America, and to make further provision for the Government 
 ol the said Province," and by the authority of the same, that from and after the passiiw of this 
 Act al. persons who at the time ol the passing thereof are resident inhabitants of this Province 
 shad be deemed, a (judged and taken within this Province, to be His Majesty’s natural born sub- 
 ject., to all intents, constructions, and purposes as if they, and every of them, hud been or were 
 bom within the. Province, SO I HAT no L dates of what nature or kind soever, heretofore pur- 
 chase J by them or any of them within this Province, or to which they or anv of them shall have 
 become, or may become, m any manner entitled, shall be liable to seizure into the hands of His 
 , ” s * lcin», or Successor?, or their titles thereto be otherwise impeached by reason of their 
 miarng the said purchases, or becoming otherwise entitled, any Statute, Law, or thing whatso- 
 ever to the contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That all persons who have been at 
 any tune heretofore rcsidenl inhabitants of this Province and become possessed of real estate 
 therein, other than and except such as have been, or hereafter may he tinder any express provi- 
 sion in the Statutes ol this Province declared or found to be Aliens, shall be deemed and taken to 
 have been natural born subjects.of His Majesty, SO THAT neither their title to any real estate 
 wuhm this province, nor the title of any persons claiming under them, shall be in any manner iui- 
 pcac.ued by any proceeding on the part of His Majesty, His Heirs, or Successors, or otherwise 
 howsoever by reason ol their having been Aliens. 
 
7 
 
 III. Provided altcat/s nevertheless , And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That 
 nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to repeal or make void, or in 
 any manner interfere with any Law of this Province respecting the qualification of persons enti- 
 tled to vote in the election of Members to be returned to the House of Assembly, or to be return- 
 ed as members of the said Assembly. 
 
 (Signed) WILLIAM CAMPBELL, Speaker . 
 
 Legislative Council Chamber , ) 
 
 213th November, 1825. \ 
 
 This bill was submitted to the Legislative Council, passed by that honorable 
 body in the above state, and sent down to the House of Assembly for concurrence. 
 The Attorney General, still the leader of the ministerial side of the House, w hich, 
 through the agency of reporting the debates, has been reduced in this Parliament 
 to a minority of ten, rose to bring this bill before the House, in doing w hich, ho 
 delivered a speech of about five hours — the whole tenor of which, went more to 
 argue, that the Anglo-Americans ought not to have equal rights with natural born 
 British subjects, than to induce a belief that they were entitled to such rights, and 
 ought to enjoy them — incumered, however, with such a heavy baggage of sophistTy, 
 that his real views might appear doubtful. In the course of this untoward harangue, 
 he admitted that he had drawn up the bill, in his official capacity, at the desire of 
 the Executive, and that it would be all-sufficient for the purpose by expunging the 
 word “ SO,” in the enacting clauses, and inserting the word “ und,” which word 
 “ so,” he said had crept into the bill in its passage through the Upper House. He 
 stated, that he w ould prefer the passing of this bill ; but should the majority be of 
 opinion, that this legislature had not the power to legislate upon this question, ho 
 had drawn up a series of Resolutions which he would recommend to the House. 
 The Attorney General then read the Resolutions, which were mostly a transcript of 
 those formerly rejected by the House, and concluded by again remarking that he 
 would prefer the bill. 
 
 On hearing the bill read, and the arguments of the Attorney General thereon, 
 jh the popular side immediately saw the cloven foot. The Speaker and Mr. M‘Bride 
 rose alternately, and pressed the Attorney General so closely with questions touch- 
 ing the sufficiency of the bill, in the answers to which his character as a lawyer was 
 so much at stake, that he frankly and openly confessed this bill as drawn up by him- 
 self, and passed by the Legislative Council, would be ‘‘unconstitutional, mill, anil 
 void,” so far as respects the elective franchise, should it pass into a law, but at the 
 same time, observing, that it was not more unconstitutional than many acts that had 
 been already passed and acted upon in this Province. 
 
 This acknowledgement from the first legal adviser of the Executive, together 
 witli the deception apparent on the face of the bill, confirmed the suspicions of the 
 majority of the House, and justly excited in their minds the strongest apprehen- 
 sions as to the purity of the intentions of the colonial executive, and those who 
 acted in conjuction with them from the first introduction of this question. Anxious 
 however, to know the real views of the colonial government, the House addressed 
 His Excellency for a copy of the correspondence with the home government upon 
 the question ; but His Excellency refused to comply with this request. 
 
 Thus convinced that the whole measure, cither in the shape of the bill or resolu- 
 tions proposed by the Attorney General, was only a continuation of the old trick — 
 another insidious eflbrt of the well-known enemies of the Anglo-Americans, tho 
 House took a broad stand against both. But as the consideration of Earl Bathurst’s 
 despatch had been so anxiously pressed upon them by llis Excellency, they came to 
 a determination to express their opinion upon the subject, without any hopes 
 that their views would meet with the concurrence of either of tho other branches of 
 the legislature. With this intention, Mr. Bidwell moved the following amendment 
 to the above bill : — 
 
8 
 
 Amendments made by (he Commons' House of Assembly in and to the Bill, enticed, « An Act 
 to confirm and quiet in the possession of their estates, and to admit to the Civil Rights of subjects, 
 certain classes of persons therein mentioned.” 
 
 Ill the Title— After the word “Act” expunge the remainder of the Title, and insert “ to declare 
 the law respecting the Civil Rights of certain inhabitants of this Province.” 
 
 Press, 1 line 1— Alter the word “ Whereas” expunge the remainder of the bill, and insert “ a ve- 
 ry large portion of the inhabitants of this province is composed of persons, who have come from 
 the United States of America, and who were either natural born British Subjects themselves or 
 children of natural born British Subjects, which said persons have, with the knowledge, appro- 
 bation, and encouragement, and in many cases, in consequence of the invitations of His Majesty’s 
 Government, come into, settled, and been received in this province, and been treated and consi- 
 dered as natural born British Subjects, to all intents, constructions, and purposes whatsoever, 
 not only entitled to all the rights, privileges, and immunities, but also subject to all the duties 
 obligations, and responsibilities ol natural born British Subjects, and have manifested the most 
 loyal attachment to llis Majesty's Government : And Whereas doubts have lately been express- 
 ed whether they are entitled to the rights and privileges of British Subjects, whereby °rcat 
 uneasiness is likely to be excited in the minds of the people of this province, and the honor and 
 good faith of llis Majesty’s Government arc liable to be impeached ; and it is therefore expedi- 
 ent for (lie pur[M>se ol removing those doubts to declare the Law upon the subject : Be it there- 
 fore declared and enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the consent of the 
 Legislative Council and Assembly of the province of Upper Canada, constituted and assembled 
 by virtue of, and under the authority of an Act passed in the Parliament of Great Britain, enti- 
 tled “An Act to repeal certain parts of an Act passed in the fourteenth year of His Majesty’s 
 r ®, l p > n ’ e h ui led, “ An Act formakingmore effectual provision for the Government of the province 
 ol Quebec in North America, and to make further provision for the Government of the said 
 province, and by the authority of the same, that all persons who were horn, or whose fathers, 
 or paternal grandfathers, were born in llis Majesty’s dominions and who hare since been resident 
 »n this province , (notwithstanding they may have resided in, or been citizens of the United 
 btates ol America, at or since the period when the independence of the said United States was 
 recognized and acknowledged by His Majesty’s Government,) are, and shall be considered to 
 be, anil to have been to all intents, purposes, and constructions whatsoever, natural bom British 
 Subjects, and to be, and to have been, entitled {subject to any qualifications which the Lcgisla- 
 lure of Inis province has from lime to time thought it expedient to impose,) to all the rights privi- 
 leges,^! immunities of natural born British Subjects.” 
 
 c, , Tr (Signed) JOHN WILSON, Speaker. 
 
 Commons House of Assembly, ? * 
 
 I4lh December, 1825. 
 
 T his amendment, or declaratory bill, was opposed by the ministerial party with 
 the utmost vehemence. The Attorney General, in a most impassioned tone, said 
 lie would s uftcr death before he would consent to a measure that would confer 
 the rights Of subjects on men who, but a few years ago, had “ invaded our country- 
 ransacked our villages — burnt our houses — and murdered our wives and children ” 
 1 lie provisions ot the amendment, though plain and simple in themselves, and con- 
 fined to the persons now in the colony, were misconstrued into a broad and gene- 
 ral admission to the rights of subjects of all Americans who might hereafter choose 
 to come in— It was also openly asserted, in doors and out of doors, that by this de- 
 claratory bill, all Americans by crossing the lines, might immediately enjoy the pri- 
 ' 1 1 ”? 1 S ° 1 lo cb'ctive franchise, although it contained an express proviso subject- 
 mg a persons embraced in it to the existing laws, which require seven years’ re- 
 sic enc c , c. lie debate was Animated and lasted for four days successively, when 
 U closed with the adoption of the amendment, by a large majority. 
 
 fins declaratory bill, after passing the House, was sent to the' Legislative Coun- 
 ci , v here it was soon committed to the company of the six repeals of the 44th of 
 the late king. r 
 
 , P'j 11 l * le House of Assembly, however, acted correctly in passing this bill, and 
 that these Anglo-Americans can never, with the slightest degree of justice, and 
 ui lout an open violation of good faith on the part of the government, be viewed 
 as any thing but natural horn British subjects, to all intents and purposes, 
 ™ us - a Pi )< ;' ar clear as the sun at noon-day, to any dispassionate mind, on reading 
 the following communication, which lately appeared in the Canadian freeman 
 
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 For the Canadian Freeman. 
 
 The Message of Ilis Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor, to the House of As- 
 sembly, presents one side of the ease of the Anglo-American inhabitants of Upper 
 Canada. It states that the greater part of them became inhabitants of this Prov- 
 ince “ with, the knowledge of the Govornment.” It might have stated, that they be- 
 came such, not only with the knowledge, but with the approbation, and not merely 
 w’ith the approbation, but under the encouragement, and upon the invitation of the 
 Government. They were thus invited and encouraged by offers of Crown lands to 
 settle on, and by actual grants of such lands made to them accordingly, upon their 
 becoming settlers ; and these lands were thus granted to them from the Crown, not 
 by mistake, or under any misapprehension of their character, but with a full know- 
 ledge that they had been resident in the United States at and after the treaty of 
 1783, which is now considered the criterion of national character. 
 
 A series of Acts, Legislative and Executive, and indeed the whole course of the 
 proceedings of the British and Provincial Governments, in respect to them, have 
 recognized and treated them as subjects, from the first settlement of the Province. 
 I hose Acts being appropriate to these Colonies, and this Province in particular, 
 and not applicable to the mother country, the claim of the Anglo-American settlers 
 to civil rights, and a capacity of holding land in the Provinces stands on different 
 grounds from the claim of such persons to inherit estates in Great Britain. Yet it 
 was not until 40 years after the treaty of 1783, that there was any decision in West- 
 minster Ilall, that the treaty produced the effect of incapacitating a British born 
 subject, resident in the United States at its date, from inheriting real estate in Eng- 
 land. In the mean time, there were repeated decisions to the contrary in Scotland. 
 Those cases, however, are clearly distinguishable from that of the An<do- American 
 inhabitants of this Province, holding lands here. 
 
 The limits of this communication will admit of no more than a bare outline of 
 their claim. 
 
 Seven years after the treaty of separation, being one year only before the date 
 ol our 1 rovincial Constitution, a Stauteoi'the British Parliament, the 30th of Geo. 
 3d, cap. 37, entitled “An Act for encouraging new settlers in Ilis Majesty’s Colo- 
 nies and 1 lantations in America,” was passed for the professed purpose of encour- 
 aging these people, describing them as “subjects of the territories or countries be- 
 longing to the United States of America,” to come from thence, with their families, 
 into “ the territorities belonging to His Majesty in North America,” particularly 
 mentioning “any part of the Province of Quebec,” “for the purposes of residing 
 and settling there,” this province being at that time a part of the Province of Que* 
 bee. To encourage them thus to come and settle here, they were authorized to lie 
 
 licensed to bring witli them property, not exceeding fifty pounds, free of duty. 
 
 Such persons, so coining to reside and settle in the Province, were required to take 
 the oath of allegiance, without any probationary period of residence. It was not, 
 indeed, specified what rights they should enjoy as settlers. The very term implies 
 a capacity to take and hold lands for settlement, and there was no intimation of 
 any restriction as to civil rights. The Statute was undoubtedly intended in good 
 laith, and not for the purpose of decoying them into the Province, |±»t, after fortv 
 years, they might be disfranchised and alienated, by ex post facto construction; anil 
 it should be interpreted so as to effectuate the intent, with which it was enacted. 
 In its effect, according to a fair interpretation, it was an act of naturalization of those 
 settlors, or recognition of them as subjects. So it was understood not bv them only, 
 hut also by the Government, not only of the Province, but likewise of the Parent 
 ►state, and not only then, but afterwards. , 
 
 The next year our Constitutional Act, the 31st of Geo. 3d, was passed, by the 
 same Parliament, under the same auspices, and upon the same principles of Colo- 
 n.a po ir\ . and there can be no doubt that the term subjects, used in it. was intend- 
 ed and understood to comprehend the settlers under the naturalizing Act of the 
 
10 
 
 preceding year. In that sense these Acts were, and have been, practised upon; 
 an;! cotemporaneous and continued practice is a good rule for the interpretation of 
 Statutes. 
 
 General Simcoc, the first Lieutenant Governor of the Province, having been a 
 member of the British Parliament when both of the Acts were passed, and in the 
 confidence of the ministry that framed them, and organized the Provincial Govern- 
 ment under them, in pursuance of his instructions, and in prosecution of the liberal 
 policy of the settling Act, issued a Proclamaiion, in llis Majesty’s name, dated leb- 
 ruary 7, 1792, and caused it to be published in all the northern parts of the United 
 States, addressed “ To such as arc desirous to settle on the lands of the Crown in 
 Upper Canada,” inviting them to come and receive grants of these lands, upon 
 making it appear that they were in a condition to cultivate and improve them, and 
 taking the oaths of allegiance, &c. to which they were to he immediately admitted. 
 
 In compliance with that public invitation, and with full confidence in the security 
 and good faith of the British Government, after consulting Counsel in and out of 
 the Province, as to the legni effect of the Acts of 301 li and 31st Geo. 3d, several 
 thousand of such settlers, from time to time, became inhabitants of the Province, 
 obtained lands here, by grants from the Crown and purchases from grantees under 
 the Crown, erected buildings thereon, and expended their money and their labour 
 in clearing, cultivating and improving their farms. They were received as subjects, 
 and admitted at once to the full enjoyment of all civil rights. 
 
 Three years afterwards, in consequence of their having been resident in, and 
 under allegiance to the United States, tho Provincial Legislature, in 1795, thought 
 proper to suspend, for a limited time* the exercise of their right of eligibility ; anti in 
 1800 they suspended, for a similar length of time, their right of suffrage. These re- 
 strictive Acts, to which His Excellency alludes, as imposing qualili -ations upon 
 these inhabitants, were predicated upon their character as subjects, recognizing the 
 existence of their civil rights, even those which were thus temporarily suspended, 
 and indeed implying that without such temporary suspension of them they might 
 be still exercised immediately, and that they could of course come again into unre- 
 stricted exercise, after the expiration of the limited term of suspension. The 
 preamble of the first of those qualification Acts, the 35th Geo. 3d, cap. 2, was in 
 these words — “ Whereas many natural born subjects of llis Majesty, who have 
 sworn allegiance to other States or Powers, and been resident in the dominions of 
 the same, have been induced, or may hereafter he induced, by the excellency and 
 lenity of llis Majesty’s Government, to become inhabitants of this Province; and 
 whereas it is expedient that such persons should he immediately admitted to all the 
 privileges of British subjects, therefore he it enacted &c. that “ from and after the 
 passing of this Jkt," they shall not be eligible &.c. “ until such person or persons 
 shall have resided for and during the space of seven years next ensuing the day of 
 his coming into and settling as a subject in the said Province.” Here is an acknow- 
 ledgment of them as subjects. This Provincial Statute, thus acknowledging them to 
 be subjects, by His Majesty’s Representatives in the Province; and, being trans- 
 mitted to the Secretary of state, in the manner prescribed by the Constitution, and 
 not thereupon disallowed within two years, it thereby received the sanction of His 
 Majesty himself and his ministers. The Act now proposed to be passed, for the 
 acknowledgment of these persons as subjects, under the same qualification, may be 
 more formal and explicit, but cannot be more constitutional or obligatory. 
 
 It is observed, that the Provincial Acts of restriction applied only to the rights of 
 eligibility and suffrage. They did not restrict or suspend, even for a limited time 
 the capacity of these inhabitants to hold land, of which they were then, and from 
 the commencement of the' Province have ever been, in the actual and undisturbed 
 possession, and in the exercise of which, they have taken, held, conveyed, and trans- 
 mitted innumerable tracts of land, until a large proportion, probably one half of aB 
 
11 
 
 the improved farms in the Province, are now held under these Anglo-American 
 ties, and must stand or fall together. 
 
 At every succeeding .election of Parliamentary Representatives, freeholde 
 this description personally, and upon such freehold qualifications, haS^ -h oyi 
 exercised the right of sullrage : and i believe every succeeding House olT 
 has contained members of this description, and almost every member, \ 
 elected by the votes of such electors. \ 
 
 The miiitia laws have considered them to be subjects, and as such, have re \ 
 them, under penalties, to serve in the militia, and they did, in fact, during the V 
 war, serve in defence of the Province against the United States. 
 
 If. after all this, they should now, by a retrospective and reversing interpretation 
 of the laws, be condemned as intruders , usurpers, and aliens, it would be the gross- 
 est breach of public faith, that ever disgraced a civilized nation. It would, at the 
 same time, amount to a declaration, that the whole proceedings of the British and 
 Provincial Governments, relative to them, have been founded in ignorance, and ill- 
 faith. It would imply a censure upon the illustrious Pitt, and the other great men, 
 who were the authors and advisers of those measures. It would particularly cast 
 reproach upon General Simcoe, the sincere and zealous promoter of the settlement 
 of the Province, whose name instead of being reproached, ought to be held in grate- 
 ful remembrance. 
 
 Why should the proposed Act in one clause, declare this, “ very considerable por- 
 tion of the population of the Province,” to be aliens, and, in the end, confer on 
 them the rights of subjects'! That would be passing sentence of condemnation on 
 them, in order to have the satisfaction of pardoning them. It would, indeed, be 
 killing them wantonly, for the sake of bringing them to life again. 
 
 If the existing Acts of recognition or naturalization of these inhabitants he not 
 sufficiently explicit, let one be framed, in more definite and explicit terms, declin- 
 ing them to he subjects, entitled to the civil rights and capacities, which they have 
 long possessed and now enjoy, under the qualifications already imposed by law. — 
 Such a legislative declaration or acknowledgment may set at rest any just apprehen- 
 sions or doubts entertained on the subject ; and it is tairly within the Lieutenant 
 Governor’s recommendation and authorized oiler of the Royal Sanction. His 1.x- 
 cellency has candidly expressed his persuasion that these inhabitants may be safe !y 
 '‘acknowledged as snijects, with no other qualifications than those which the Legisla- 
 ture. of the Province has from time to time thought it expedient to impose." W hatever 
 difference of opinion there may be as to the premises leading to such a conclusion, 
 1 trust every loyal and patriotic mind will concur with His Excellency in the con- 
 clusion itself, that it is safe to acknowledge them as subjects, entitled to civil right* 
 and capacities, subject only to the qualifications now required by law. 1 hese 
 qualifications are a residence of seven years, to be capable of voting as electors or 
 eligible as members of Assembly, and the perpetual ineligibility ot tnose of them, 
 who have held official situations in the United states. Although l feel no doubt 
 that they are now subjects, entitled to all civil rights thus qualified; yet, to set at 
 rest forever all apprehensions and doubts existing in any quarter on this delicate 
 subject, I hope such a Bill of acknowledgment may pass both Houses, and receive 
 from His Excellency the proffered Royal Assent. 
 
 The Speeches of Messrs. Rolph, Bidwell, Beardsley, &:c. in favour of the de- 
 claratory bill, were clear, argumentative, and convincing : but as this sketch is only 
 intended to fill one sheet, no extracts can he given from them. All, however, w as 
 unavailing with the ministerialists — the amendment did not forward their favou- 
 rite and long desired object, and it could never meet with their approbation. 
 
 The ministerial party, enraged by disappointment and despair, and finding 
 a large majority of the House inflexible in their determinat ion to jj jj<po rl s t\jy.'~Whtfv^-~~* > 
 
 ANGLO-AMERICAN US. 
 
and privileges of the American emigrants to their fullest extent, immediately ral- 
 Vd all their forces, in-doors and out-of-doors, and assailed the conduct of the 
 ^jVise from all directions. — They were accused of declaring that to be true 
 Stain' 1 " as U,,t * — l * lat to l aw ’ which was not law — and that too by the At- 
 
 Gen efeK* 1 * 1 ™! un hlushingly, as well as others in the House, although he had ac- 
 mei'nlr-rf^d ^' mse ^ guilty of the very inconsistency of which he was accusing the 
 coutir i' tors ^ le declaratory bill, by drafting a null and void hill for the Executive, 
 mp u'ecommending it to the House for adoption. This gentleman, in the course 
 
 ,,/ie discussion, indulged in a national abuse of the Americans so gross as to dis- 
 J^ist all who heard him. The revolutionary patriots, the companions of the immor- 
 tal Washington, he uniformly named as “rebels and traitors” — The Unined 
 States’ soldiers who fought in the late war, lie more than once termed “ mur- 
 derers.” 
 
 The Kingston Chronicle, a paper in the pay and confidence of the government, 
 was the first, to unveil, and openly avow the original design of the ministerialists; 
 in doing which, it re-echoed the very language and sentiments of the Attorney 
 General in the Lower House, and, we hear, of the Rev. l)r. Strachan in the Upper 
 House. A person supposed also to be in the pay of the government, and who 
 had long been waiting the issue of the alien question, with a hope that it would 
 leave some vacant seats in the Assembly, now enraged by disappointment, could 
 no longer conceal his real sentiments, and those of his party, and opened one com- 
 mon battery of the most foul and unjustifiable slander and abuse alike against the 
 House and all the Anglo-Americans in the colony, under the signature of Catharus. 
 This writer, finding all the insidious attempts of his friends in-doors to disfranchise 
 the American emigrants, rendered abortive by the talents, the firmness, and patri- 
 otism of the Assembly, called aloud upon the Executive, through the columns of 
 the Kingston demi-official Chronicle, to violate the laws of the land — to violate the 
 faith ol the government — to violate the uniform practice of nearly forty years — and 
 to turn every American out of office and out of Parliament. His words are as 
 follows : — 
 
 “Let all alien Americans, who now hold offices under the Crown, he immediately 
 dismissed — let none but British subjects of approved integrity be appointed to the 
 magistracy, to the office of sheriff, coroner, &c. — At a new election, let the sheriff', 
 or returning ojjicer , be instructed in their writs to admit none us candidates or voters 
 hut natural horn svhjccts, or persons legally naturalized — hut if by any chance, any 
 individual ol a different description happens to be returned, let the Executive dis- 
 solve the Assembly 
 
 In a colony where the Speaker, nearly half the Assembly, and it is thought at 
 least two-thirds of the people, are American emigrants, such sentiments as the 
 above, corning from a demi-official paper, must have created considerable sen- 
 sation. Mr. Fothergill, then Ilis Majesty’s printer, and an independent member of 
 the Assembly, called the attention of the House to these publications, w hich, he 
 said, were a gross libel on the House, and were sufficient to kindle a flame of re- 
 bellion in the country, inasmuch as they came from a demi-official paper, notorious- 
 ly in the pay of the government, at a critical time, when rumours were afloat that 
 the government were about to deprive these people of their political rights — ob- 
 serving further, that this same paper had been libelling the House of Assembly, 
 for the last twelve months. For these observations. Mr. F. was immediately dis- 
 missed from his situation, w ithout a moment’s warning, by which act, the Executive 
 seemed to give an additional sanction to the writings of Catharus, who became 
 every day more daring — being aware that his slanders were sweet as honey to the 
 ministerialists, and that the present House despised the idea of interfering with the 
 liberty of the press. 
 
 In a few days afterwards, Catharus appeared again — repeated the above call up- 
 on the Executive to turn out every American, and under the type of the warnings 
 
13 
 
 of Cassandra, before the destruction of Troy threatens the ^ 
 tic, by the hands of the American settlers, if his warnings be not attended t 
 S abuse of the American emigrants had now become shan efm- he fol 
 lowing are a few samples, in which he clearly points out the original object 
 
 aUeT' 'Americans" whoTowTold offices under the crown be immediate- 
 !v dismissed &c &c. For how can we expect men born under a Republican go- 
 vernment and of republican education and principles, to be heartily attached to any 
 monarchical government, h = r exeunt 1 How 
 
 c“o7.o c r°Lrow **«***>- . . . 
 
 apparent sincerity, and ingenuousness, and then real l et ,JJ r y \ n d * clare t0 
 
 feci myself justified, by a thoioug i 'now o ® j whole world .that it is dangerous 
 the whole British empire, and. if you please ° tlm who lev .. a ^ 
 
 ™ ^ extreme to permit any of these ° Shoves the coreness 
 
 r -&sg - a ... 
 
 sentiment, co„i„ g from SSWu.iX^' SSS 
 
 doubts that had existed about the on g.nal design of " te ™ bv a long chain ot- 
 to all intents and purposes, the the very face of 
 
 circumstances, but most particular y y j w hole proceedings on the 
 
 the Africa,, entignm- °f the M. 
 
 franchise. . , » Annra tbe T eoislative Council took up 
 
 While these things were going on out-of-door,, the g cA a f, cc confer- 
 
 thc question with unusual diligence anc i • J Houses ran 
 
 ence with the House of Assembly upon ’ . ^ aVhnii.ve C uSa be effected. The 
 so directly counter to each other, >a no i r > to report upon the question, 
 
 SSu^d'rSSl’iS corrected by the Attorney General, was submitted and 
 
 adopted. . ,i in t the American emigrants 
 
 SaSSe^ancTdw^gcly upon the old cuckoo 
 
 for a moment entertain tins clause, which the Amcncun Revolution, 
 
 vernment, the destroyers of our parents and friends dm g 
 
 upon a footing with ourselves.” .wiaratorv bill, which only includes 
 
 Now as this passage has reference to from it, 
 
 all those Americans now residing in PP cr ‘ ‘ f comolvintf with the despatch of 
 tbat.be Legislative Council had no ^ ^ t^ie UnUed States, as 
 
 Earl Bathurst, which positively includes all such citizen. 
 
14 
 
 „ heretofore settled in Canada, are declared by the judgement of the court* 
 ot law, in England, and by the opinion of ihe law officers, to be aliens, ’ without 
 any reference to, or exception of, those who may have been traitors to the kind’s 
 government, or “ the destroyers of the parents and friends” of these honorable 
 legislative councillors, “during the American revolution.” 
 
 1 his idea seems to be strengthened by the following passage in the same Report 
 m which the Legislative Council distinctly admit that this legislature has 1101 die 
 power to confer the civil rights, pretended to be conferred by the bill winch was 
 passed by them, and sent down to the Assembly for concurrence 
 
 It is quite evident that this legislature has not power to enact laws repugnant 
 to the constitution conferred upon us by the 31st of the late king. In cases not 
 provided for by that law, we are at liberty to act, but no further. In as far, lliere- 
 J«re, as rights oj property are concerned, we may proceed in affording ample secu- 
 rity and protection. But, as respects civil rights, ice can do nothing, but in accor- 
 dance with the constitutional statute. Now by this law, no persons are capable 
 ot voting at any election lor a member to serve in the House of Assembly, in either 
 ot the provinces, or of being elected at any election, who shall not be of the full 
 age ot twenty-one years, and a natural born subject of His Majesty, or a subject of 
 lhs Majesty naturalized by Act of the British parliament, fc." 
 
 It must appear surprising to any person possessed of common sense, how, with 
 such sentiments the Legislative Council could presume to pass a hill pretending 
 to confer civil rights. ( )r, could any one imagine, after such an acknowledgement? 
 hat they would censure the Assembly for rejecting such a bill 1 Because, if anv 
 person who is not a natural born subject, can alone be “ naturalized bit Act of the 
 British parliament, how could a provincial act be turned into an “ act of the 
 British parliament by a despatch from Earl Bathurst-or by the mere ipse dixit of 
 the king himself ! Impossible. It is therefore to be inferred, that neither the le- 
 gal advisers of the crown, nor the Legislative Council, had anv intention of con- 
 vening the rights of elective franchise. They art, by no means backward, however, 
 in joining in the general endeavour of the disappointed advocates of this measure 
 to cast unjust odium on the House of Assembly, as will appear from the following 
 passages in their Report : — ° 
 
 “ The other branch of the legislature has thought fit to stand between the Royal 
 race an ose it was intended to beneiit, and to propose measures subversive of 
 every law that connects society together'' J 
 
 A fj'k f*? Ca *' ng m th ? amendments to their alien bill, or the declaratory bill 
 nf, by - 1 le A T, m)y ’ t )', ey s:iy “ These amendments attempt to sap the founds 
 * 0B °J ,0Cle ty< and to consider me duty of allegiance as a relict of tyranny." That 
 these are the foulest aspersions ever thrown out by one branch of any civilized le- 
 gislature agai nst another, must appear evident to any unbiased person, who will take 
 the trouble of reading these amendments, inserted in this sheet 
 
 I he session having now come to a close, His Excellency, in proromteing the 
 parlmment, chimes m with the general delusion of the ministerialists, 0 and their 
 unjust censure of the House ol Assembly, in the following passage in his speech : 
 individnfk! 16 g - aC1 ° US [ ecom raendation of His Majesty in behalf of certain 
 mo in ‘ H t‘ S Pr .° VlnC r’ u ^ ^ are Ual,]c to ^^tion, has not been 
 
 ncctpH . h n . )r: '" ches ° f , the legislature, with the feeling it might have been ex- 
 pected to call forth ; and that its object should have been defeated in any quarter, by 
 awantof confidence, so difficult to reconcile with those unvarying expressions of 
 gratitude to a most munificent government, which 1 have ever witnessed with the 
 
 d Sat aCt '° n ' . frOD l knowled g° of paternal care and protection by 
 ch they were so abundantly deserved. 1 am unwilling to entertain the belief, 
 tha any considerable number of the people of this province can have been insensible 
 to the kindness and protection which they have uniformly received from his Majesty’s 
 B ov eminent , and I have, therefore, enure confidence that Lite good sense anil 'mod 
 
 <r 
 
15 
 
 feeling of those whom it was the wish of the government to relieve, will readily 
 correct any delusion which may have been excited. M 
 
 Now the *• gracious recommendation” of His Majesty respecting “ civil rights, 
 ha* been received with feelings of gratitude by the Assembly, and it is further 
 . impossible that the “ object” could have been defeated by them, or by any other 
 « qua rter,” in this colony, when no “ quarter” or authority in the colony has the 
 power either to confer on aliens the civil rights ot subjects, ^or to prevent the Im- 
 perial Legislature from so doing at any time they please, therefore the “delu- 
 sion” is evidently on the side of His Excellency himself, and those who have taken 
 part with him in this legislative mockery, and the reflection upon the majority of 
 the Assembly, in the allusion that no “ considerable number of the people ot this 
 province can' Have been insensible to the kindness and protection, which they have 
 uniformly received from Ilis Majesty’s government,” was uncalled lor, unmeritted, 
 
 and disingenuous. T . „ , 
 
 Immediately after the prorogation of the Parliament, the advisers of Llis Excel- 
 lency, knowing that their own conduct, and the inconsistency of the Executive Go- 
 vernment, were likely to bring down upon both the heavy censure of a free press, 
 and the disapprobation of the country at large— and with a view of backing the 
 representations on the alien question, about to be sent home by the Executive, en- 
 couraged llis Excellency to make a tour into the new settlements, in the New- 
 castle? Midland, and other Districts, where they thought a few loyal Addresses, 
 miuht be got up, before the real state of affiiirs became generally known. 
 
 With this view, Ilis Excellency and suit, with all his advisers, lay and ecclesiasti- 
 cal, put out on their journey. In the bark settlements, they succeeded pretty well, 
 and by the aid of a few local office-holders and expectants, got up some of the 
 most ignorant and inflammatory matter ever presented to the representative of ma- 
 jesty in the shape of Addresses— all carefully couched, however, so as to reflect up- 
 on the conduct of the House of Assembly, ou the alien question, with the exception 
 of that from Mr. Robinson’s late settlers. The following extract, from the Address 
 of sundry inhabitant of the Newcaste District, is a good sample both ot the matter 
 and style of these Addresses generally : — . . . 
 
 “ We have lately perceived, with feelings of honest indignation, an attempt base, 
 malicious, and unfounded, of rendering the government of your Excellency an object 
 hostile to the best interests of the Province, w e . mbrace this occasion to publicly 
 convey to your Excellency and the country an abhorrence at the loul attempt, and 
 beg most respectfully to avow that our sentiments are truly different to those ex- 
 p essed by some of the representatives of the people. We are faithful to our King, 
 
 honest to our government, &c.” 
 
 In the Durham Address, in speaking, as it is generally understood, of the House, 
 they say “ It is painful to advert to the proceedings of a hand of Juctwus demagoges 
 whose Acts perceptibly tend to disorganize society , to subvert legitimate authority, and to 
 alienate men’s winds from the constitutional government.” All this inflammatory trash 
 was most graciously answered by Mis Excellency, and officially gazetted. 
 
 In Kingston, how ever, Ihey succeeded hut poorly ; for, although an Address was 
 got up, the Herald positively asserts that in order to make up something like an ordi- 
 nary number they had to procure the signatures of a set of apprentices and mir ora 
 The same paper asserts, that many persons signed the Address, without hearing it 
 read, who are since mortified to find that it contained a censure upon the House 
 of Assembly, whose conduct they heartily approved. 
 
 Thus in disgrace, discomfiture, and disappointment, has ended, so far, every 
 attempt on the part of a set of ambitious, illiberal, and vindictive politicians 
 to deprive a brave, industrious, peaceable, and loyal people of the righ 
 of freemen— rights, to the enjoyment of which, they have been invited by 
 the government— rights of which they proved themselves worthy m times ot 
 
peril and distress — rights which they have enjoyed in uninterrupted quietude for 
 
 nearly forty years. 
 
 ft is but justice, however, to the character of llis Excellency, and of the home 
 government, here to state, that in whatever manner they may appear to have been 
 implicated in this dark and deep design — this unwarranted and uncalled for inter- 
 ruption of the peace and happiness of an hitherto most peaceable and happy colony, 
 and however His Excellency may have adopted arbitrary and high-handed measures 
 against those who have, from principle, fearlessly opposed his advisers — the advo- 
 cates of this unfortunate measure, yet public opinion acquits both His Excellency 
 and the home government of any design against the liberty of the people, and 
 rests the odium of such a trick upon the backs of a few deep and designing poli- 
 ticians, who have long nestled about the Colonial Executive — and who, like the 
 fable of the spake and the countryman, the moment they have been warmed into 
 existence by the fruit of the toils and the industry of the American emigrant far- 
 mers — the early pioneers of our forests— turned round upon their benefactors, and 
 sited upon them the deadly poison of their political malice. 
 
 Want of time and means to publish more than one sheet at present compels the 
 Editor to come to a close. But lie hopes that enough has been said to convince 
 every unbiased and dispassionate mind, that the Alien Question has been nothing 
 but a snare — a liiddeu trap, with which to destroy the civil rights of the Ameri- 
 can emigrants in this colony — an apple of discord, with which (irst to divide the 
 people, and then rule them with an iron rod — and that the conduct of the House of 
 Assembly, from the first agitation of the question, has been such as to merit the ap- 
 probation and gratitude of every man who loves his country. 
 
 Let then the people of Upper Canada be cool, patient, firm, and united — let 
 them repose unlimited confidence in the wisdom and liberality of the Imperial Go- 
 vernment — let them preserve a talented, patriotic, and independent House of As- 
 sembly — and they have nothing to fear from the snares of their enemies. 
 
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