Stranica 58 [58]
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had no desire to embrace Republicanism. They
demanded reforms, and met with the response,
Traitor! It is not surprising, therefore, that leaders
were led into excess, particularly when we recall the
unconstitutional conduct of the representative of
His Majesty in the Province, Sir Francis Head. If
Bidwell and Mackenzie were rash, their rashness
may with truth be ascribed to the conduct of Sir
Francis, who, according to Lord Durham’s report,
“appears to have thought that the maintenance of
the connection with Great Britain depended upon
his triumph over the majority in the Assembly.”
In March, 1832, a stormy meeting was held in the
Court House, Brockville, the object being the forma¬
tion of the Emigrant Society, in compliance with
the recommendation of Sir John Colborne. The
requisition calling the meeting was signed by
Charles Jones, L: C.,
Jonas Jones,
H. Jones, M..P. P.,.
R. D. Fraser, M.P.
Daniel Burritt,
Dunham Jones,
Bartholomew Carley,
Henry Burritt,
W. L. Whiting,
A. McMillan,
A. Sherwood,
A. McLean,
Sylvester Wright,
Joseph K. Hartwell,
George Crawford.
D. Breakenridge,
QO. R. Gowan,
John L. Read,
After the object of the meeting proper had been
accomplished, it was proposed to draft an address,
to be presented to His Majesty the King. As the
address recited “that the Province was in a most
flourishing condition, enjoying the blessings of a
free constitution, and a Government most liberally
and impartially administered,” it was violently
opposed by the Liberals present. Speeches were
made by Paul Glasford, Richard D. Fraser, Walter
C. Crofton, Norton Buell, Mr. Pennock, Jonas Jones,
George Crawford, Adiel Sherwood, Bartholomew
Carley, James Gray, Henry Jones, Robert Harvey,
James Morris, and Ogle R. Gowan. The debate
waxed so hot that, at one time, there was danger of
a serious encounter. The Liberal party, under the
leadership of Mr. Buell, left the Court House, and
proceeded to organize a meeting at the inn of Mr.
Mair, at which a petition was prepared, of a diame¬
trically opposite character from the one submitted
at the Court House. The following persons were
nominated to circulate the petition: Truelove
Butler, Charles Booth, Samuel Pennock, Samuel
Lee, Hugh Scott, Richard Coleman, Thos. Purvis,
John Dickey, David Mallory, James B. Howard,
Allan Sweet, Levi Soper, James Phillips, George
Delong, Silas Smith, Jonathan B. Day, Thomas
Knowlton, Peter Howard, Joshua Bates, Elisha
Landon, John Ketchum, Samuel Olds, Joseph
Haskin, Edward Howard, John Weeks, Samuel
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Booth, John Henderson, Robert Clark, William
Cowan, William Bryan, Jonathan Lyman, Daniel
Berney, B. F. Wilson, Abel Wright, Robert Powell,
and Patrick Murphy. |
Year after year, the contest increased in bitter¬
nesss, until Mackenzie and a few followers were
to capture Little York. The prisons were filled
with persons charged with treason. Numbers fled
to the United States. Many American citizens
were, in consequence, impressed with the idea that
the majority of Canadians were desirous of annexing
the Province to the United States.
of personal aggrandizement were organized. public
meetings held, and a secret society formed, known
as Hunter’s Lodges, for the purpose of preparing an
Private schemes
army for the invasion of Canada. But very few
many were smarting from the infliction of grievous
wrongs.
The following is a list of those arrested for
treason in the Johnstown District :—
Thomas Wilson, Methodist preacher, Dec. 13, 1837;
not tried, discharged by magistrates.
William H. Sherman, shoemaker, Dec. 18, 1837 ;
not tried, discharged by magistrates.
William Pike, yeoman, Dec. 18, 1837; not tried,
discharged by magistrates—no evidence.
Charles Swift, saddler, Dec. 27, 1837; discharged
by magistrates.
Charles R. Bryan, Jan. 2, 1838; discharged by
magistrates.
John Thomas, yeoman, Feb. 6, 1838; discharged
by magistrates.
James Malone, tailor, July 25, 1838; discharged
by magistrates. |
William Parrott, laborer, Aug. 8, 1838; discharged
by magistrates.
On December 29th, 1837, a small force, under the
command of Lieutenant Drew, R.N., was despatched
by Sir Allan McNab to Navy Island, and the Steamer
Caroline (which had been acting as a supply boat for
the force under General Rensselaer, at that time
threatening Canada,) cut away, set on fire and sent
over Niagara Falls. On the r2th day of February,
1838, William L. McKenzie, who had made his
escape to the United States, addressed the citizens
of Ogdensburg on the Canadian question. In the
evening and following morning a cannon was fired
Several
persons from Prescott crossed to ascertain the
matter, and were illegally arrested and detained
over night. This action upon the part of the
Americans increased the growing hostility, and em¬
bittered the feeling along the frontier, On the 18th
several times, in honor of the speaker.
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