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The following was taken from the book ''Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838'', texts collected and presented by Jean-Paul Bertrand, Montréal, VLB Éditeur et l'Union des écrivains québécois, 1988, 304 p. ISBN 2-89005-313-X
{{title|Resolutions of the St-Polycarpe Meeting|British Subjects (Patriots)|October 15, 1837<br /><br />Translated in 2007 by [http://www.marxists.org/admin/volunteers/biographies/mabidor.htm Meir Avidor] from:<br /><br />''[[biblio:Résolutions de l'assemblée de St-Polycarpe|Résolutions de l'assemblée de St-Polycarpe]]''|}}
 
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The following resolutions appeared in ''La Minerve'' on October 19, 1837 and were reproduced in the book ''Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838'', texts collected and presented by Jean-Paul Bertrand, Montréal, VLB Éditeur et l'Union des écrivains québécois, 1988, 304 p. ISBN 2-89005-313-X.
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Les citoyens de [[St-Polycarpe]] et quelques-uns de [[St-Ignace]] se réunirent dimanche le 15 courant à 3 heures de l'après-midi en face du pont de l'église dans un local convenable -- La réunion était très nombreuse et respectable. L'assemblée ayant été appelée à l'ordre, [[John McDonald]] fut nommé président, [[G. Lalonde]], vice président, et MM. [[Dugald McLachglan]] et [[Étienne Merleau]], priés de faire les fonctions de secrétaires, l'ordre ayant été donné aux personnes qui avaient des résolutions à présenter, de les soumettre, les suivantes furent dûment proposées et adoptées par l'assemblée:
Proposé par M. McDonald, secondé par sieur [[Joseph Devaux]].
<blockquote>''RÉSOLU, I: Que cette assemblée après avoir pris connaissance du [[discours dit du trône]] à la dernière session de parlement provincial, et de la réponse énergique, noble et ferme de la chambre d'assemblée à ce même discours, approuve le vote dans cette circonstance de la majorité pour l'adoption de l'adresse: Et que la conduite dans cette circonstance de la chambre d'assemblée, était conforme aux voeux, aux demandes et aux besoins du pays qui sait apprécier et reconnaître le courage, la fermeté et l'indépendance du seul corps de la législature qui connaisse ses besoins et s'efforce d'obtenir les réformes que demande si instamment et depuis si longtemps le peuple de cette province.''</blockquote>


Proposé par M. [[Jean Bte. Bourbonnais]], secondé par M. [[Chs. Pharant]].
The citizens of St. Polycarpe, and some from St. Ignace, met Sunday the 15th of this month at 3:00 p.m. across from the church bridge in an appropriate spot. The meeting was large and respectable. The meeting having been called to order, John McDonald was named chairman, G. Lalonde vice-Chairman, and Messrs Dugald McLaghlan and Etienne Merleau were asked to fulfill the function of secretary. The order having been given to those who had resolutions to present to submit them, the following were duly proposed and adopted by the meeting:


<blockquote>''RÉSOLU, 2: Que forts du droit qu'ont les électeurs de charger de leur mandat les représentants qu'ils envoient à la chambre, de leur dicter la conduite qu'ils doivent y tenir en leur qualité de député du peuple, de les obliger à appuyer leurs demandes, ou de les contraindre à remettre au peuple les pouvoirs qu'ils en avaient reçus, les réformistes de cette assemblée s'engagent à ne soutenir pour candidats aux élections futures que des personnes qui, au préalable, jureront et promettront solennellement de soutenir les [[92 résolutions]] dans tout leur contenu, de demander l'abolition des droits seigneuriaux, qui sont pour le peuple un vrai code d'esclavage et l'entrave de l'industrie; l'abolition des douaires ?préfix? et coutumiers; le vote au scrutin secret dans les élections; un conseil législatif électif, et un conseil exécutif responsable et ami du pays et de son bonheur; la révocation de l'[[acte inique de la compagnie des terres]]; le renouvellement du bill des écoles élémentaires; l'extension du principe électif dans le choix des officiers de paroisse, commissaires des chemins, etc.''</blockquote>
Proposed by M. McDonald, seconded by sieur Jospeh Devaux:


Proposé par Mr. [[Etienne Merleau]], secondé par Mr [[God. Lalonde]].
RESOLVED, 1: That this meeting, after having learned of the speech of the throne at the last session of the provincial parliament, and of the energetic, noble, and firm response of the House of Assembly to this same speech, approves of the vote of the majority in these circumstances for the adoption of the address; and that the conduct of the House of Assembly in these circumstances was in conformity with the wishes, demands, and needs of the country, which appreciates the courage, firmness, and independence of the sole body of the legislature  that knows the needs and strives to obtain the reforms insistently demanded for so long by the people of this province.


<blockquote>''RÉSOLU, 3: Que le conseil exécutif ayant été flétri par le gouverneur à son arrivée dans le pays, flétrissure qu'il méritait depuis longtemps, il ne saurait avoir à présent la confiance du peuple qu'il n'avait jamais méritée; que le gouverneur ne saurait former à l'avenir pour but conséquent un autre conseil exécutif qui puisse avoir la confiance du peuple, vouloir et effectuer le bien du pays, qu'en le rendant responsable et le composant d'hommes désintéressés, et connaissant les besoins du pays, et en harmonie avec le peuple et les réformes qu'il demande; et que ce serait avec douleur que cette assemblée et les réformistes en général verraient son excellence essayer de recomposer l'exécutif d'hommes qui auraient des intérêts pécuniaires, à ménager avec son excellence ou ses subalternes, de quelques membres du conseil législatif, de personnes rejetées par le peuple dont ils n'avaient ni ne méritaient sa confiance, ou qui se seraient toujours montrées en toutes circonstances les partisans outrés et déterminés de l'opposition officielle, de pareils choix ne serviraient qu'à entraîner l'administration encore plus avant dans la marche qu'elle a adoptée pour le malheur d'un pays dont elle devrait au contraire s'efforcer de chercher le bonheur.''</blockquote>
Proposed by M. Jean Bte. Bourbonnais, seconded by M. Chs. Pharant.


Proposé par Mr. [[Louis Bourbonnais]], secondé par Mr. [[Joseph Cholette]].
RESOLVED, 2: That strong in the right that voters have to charge the representatives they send to the Chamber with their mandate, to dictate their conduct in their quality as deputy of the people, to oblige them to support their demands or to constrain them to return to the people the powers they received from them, the reformists of this meeting commit themselves to only support as candidates at future elections individuals who, as a precondition, will solemnly swear and promise to support the 92 resolutions in their entirety, to demand the abolition of seigneurial rights, which the people take for a slave code and a hindrance to industry; the abolition of customary dowers ; a secret ballot at elections; an elective legislative council and an executive council responsible to and friend of the country and its happiness; the revocation of the iniquitous land company act; the renewal of the elementary school bill; the extension of the elective principle in the choice of parish officers, road superintendents, etc.


<blockquote>''RÉSOLU, 4: Qu'en vertu de la constitution, le peuple devant avoir par ses représentants le contrôle sur tous les revenus publics; le gouverneur et les officiers du gouvernement devant avoir leurs salaires votés par la chambre; le gouverneur en s'emparant d'aucuns des revenus publics sans le vote de la chambre d'assemblée, pour aucune fin quelconque, commet un acte manifestement en opposition à la constitution de sinistre augure pour les libertés coloniales.''</blockquote>
Proposed by Mr. Etienne Merleau, seconded by Mr. God. Lalonde


Proposé par M. le président, secondé par M. Devaux.
RESOLVED, 3: That the Executive Council, having been attacked by the Governor, an attack it had long merited, can at present no longer have the confidence  of the people which it never deserved; that in the future the Governor cannot form another Executive Council having the people’s confidence and the will and the ability to realize the good off the country except by making it responsible and composing it of disinterested men knowing the needs of the country and in harmony with the people and the reforms they demand; and that it would be with pain that this meeting and the reformists in general would see His Excellency attempt to recompose the executive with men with pecuniary interests, to have His Excellency, his subalterns, and members of the legislative council treat with consideration individuals rejected by the people, whose confidence they had never deserved or who had always shown themselves to be extreme and determined partisans of the official opposition. Such choices can only serve to lead the administration further along in its adopted march towards the unhappiness of a country whose happiness it should be striving for.


<blockquote>''RÉSOLU, 5: Que la paroisse entière connaissant la vérité et l'authenticité des faits qui s'y sont passés, et voyant que des personnes (vraiment calomniatrices, hypocrites et injustes) ont publié ou fait publier dans un journal de Montréal, appelé le "Populaire", des correspondances dans lesquelles on déversait l'injure et la calomnie sur des citoyens honnêtes et respectables; cette assemblée croit de son devoir de réclamer hautement contre de pareils écrits et déclare en conséquence, publiquement que l'article éditorial du dit « Populaire », intitulé « Paroisse St-Polycarpe », -- et la correspondance signée « Un mieux informé » du même journal de lundi dernier, ne contiennent pas une seule vérité; Que les commissaires et juges de paix de cette paroisse, et les officiers de milice possèdent hautement la confiance publique c'est-à-dire de toutes origines, de toutes croyances et de toutes nuances politiques; que le plus grand tort de ces Messieurs est de n'avoir pas favorisé les tours de passe de ces vils calomniateurs qui s'efforceront en vain de ternir à nos yeux et vis-à-vis de tous ceux qui les connaissent, les personnes qu'ils s'efforcent de salir de leur boue.''</blockquote>
Proposed by Mr. Louis Bourbonnais, seconded by Mr. Joseph Cholette.


Proposé par Mr. J. Lalonde, secondé par Mr. [[McPherson]].
RESOLVED, 4; That by virtue of the constitution, since the people should have control over all public revenue through its representatives, and  the governor and the government officers should have their salaries voted by the House, the governor, by taking control of any of the revenue public without the vote of the House for any goal at all, commits an act manifestly in opposition to the constitution and bodes ill for colonial freedoms.


<blockquote>''RÉSOLU, 6: Que nous avons la plus grande confiance dans les talents, les vertus, la fermeté, le courage et l'intégrité de l'honorable [[L. J. Papineau]] et de la majorité de la chambre d'assemblée ainsi que dans les autres défenseurs et soutiens des droits populaires et ceux qui s'efforcent de nous mettre au fait des affaires de notre pays; que les injures, les calomnies que s'efforcent de déverser sur ces citoyens respectés, des hommes menteurs par le canal des presses anti-réformistes bien loin de mettre aucune division dans nos rangs ne contribueront pas peu à nous rallier d'avantage et nous unir plus étroitement que jamais aux défenseurs et soutiens de la cause populaire.''</blockquote>
Proposed by Mr Chairman, seconded by M. Dvaux.


Proposé par Mr. D. McLachglan, secondé par Mr. [[D. Ranger]].
RESOLVED, 5; That the entire parish knowing the truth and authenticity of the events which occurred there, and seeing that (truly slanderous, hypocritical , and unjust) individuals have published or had published in a Montreal newspaper called “Le Populaire” correspondence in which insult and slander were poured upon honest and respectable citizens, this meeting finds itself duty-bound  to loudly speak out against such writings, and consequently publicly declares that the editorial of said “Populaire,” entitled “St Polycarpe Parish,” and the correspondence signed “Someone Better Informed” in the same newspaper last Monday, do not contain a single truth; that the Commissioners , the  Justices of the Peace of this parish, and the militia officers are in firm possession of public confidence, that is those of all origins, all beliefs, and all political shades; that the greatest wrong of these gentlemen is to not have favored the maneuvers of these vile slanderers who strive in vain to tarnish in our eyes and vis-à-vis all that know them those individuals they strive to sully with their mud.


<blockquote>''RÉSOLU, 7: Que les citoyens de cette paroisse, de toute origine , de toutes croyances religieuses et de toutes opinions politiques ont vu avec chagrin que son excellence le gouverneur en chef avait démis de sa commission le capitaine Antoine Lantier Ecr. sans lui fournir l'occasion de savoir quelle en fut la cause, ni de se justifier des accusations portées contre lui; et que cette assemblée et les citoyens de cette paroisse se plaisent à rendre hautement à Antoine Lantier, écr. la justice de témoigner publiquement qu'il est un citoyen honnête, respectable, juste intègre, équitable autant que réformiste ferme et sincère.''</blockquote>
Proposed by Mr. J Lalonde, seconded by Mr. Mcpherson.


Ordonné: Que les procédés de cette assemblée soient publiés dans les papiers réformistes.
RESOLVED, 6; That we have the greatest confidence in the talents, virtues, firmness, courage and integrity of the Honorable L.J. Papineau and the majority of the House of Assembly, as well as the other defenders and supporters of popular rights and those who strive  to keep us current as to the affairs of our country; that the insults and calumnies that liars strive to spill upon these respected citizens through the channels of the anti-reformist press, far from dividing our ranks will contribute in no small amount to rallying us ever more and uniting us  more strongly than ever with the defenders and supporters of the popular cause.


Des remerciements furent votés aux officiers de l'assemblée qui se sépara au cri de « Vive Papineau! »
Proposed by Mr. D. McLaughlin, seconded y Mr. D. Ranger.


Par ordre du président.
RESOLVED, 7; That the citizens of this parish, of all origins, of all religious beliefs and of all political opinions saw with sorrow that His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief stripped captain Antoine Lantier, Esq. of his commission without allowing him to know the cause, or to defend himself from the accusations against him; and that this meeting and the citizens of this parish are only too happy to openly render justice to Antoine Lantier, Esq., to publicly testify that he is an honest, respectable, just, upright, and fair citizen, as well as a firm and sincere reformist.


Étienne Merleau
Ordered; That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the reformist papers.


Dugald McLachglan
Thanks were voted to the officers of the meeting, which broke up with the cry of “Vive Papineau!”


secrétaires
By order of the chairman. <br />
Etienne Merleau <br />
Dugald McLaughlin, secretaries.


''La Minerve'', <br />
''La Minerve'', <br />
Line 50: Line 50:


* [[List of the public meetings held in Lower Canada between May and November 1837]]
* [[List of the public meetings held in Lower Canada between May and November 1837]]
{{GFDL}}
[[Category:Resolutions]]
[[Category:Translations]]
[[Category:19th century]]
[[Category:1837]]
[[Category:2007]]

Latest revision as of 03:29, 30 January 2011


Resolutions of the St-Polycarpe Meeting
British Subjects (Patriots)
October 15, 1837

Translated in 2007 by Meir Avidor from:

Résolutions de l'assemblée de St-Polycarpe



The following resolutions appeared in La Minerve on October 19, 1837 and were reproduced in the book Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, texts collected and presented by Jean-Paul Bertrand, Montréal, VLB Éditeur et l'Union des écrivains québécois, 1988, 304 p. ISBN 2-89005-313-X.


The citizens of St. Polycarpe, and some from St. Ignace, met Sunday the 15th of this month at 3:00 p.m. across from the church bridge in an appropriate spot. The meeting was large and respectable. The meeting having been called to order, John McDonald was named chairman, G. Lalonde vice-Chairman, and Messrs Dugald McLaghlan and Etienne Merleau were asked to fulfill the function of secretary. The order having been given to those who had resolutions to present to submit them, the following were duly proposed and adopted by the meeting:

Proposed by M. McDonald, seconded by sieur Jospeh Devaux:

RESOLVED, 1: That this meeting, after having learned of the speech of the throne at the last session of the provincial parliament, and of the energetic, noble, and firm response of the House of Assembly to this same speech, approves of the vote of the majority in these circumstances for the adoption of the address; and that the conduct of the House of Assembly in these circumstances was in conformity with the wishes, demands, and needs of the country, which appreciates the courage, firmness, and independence of the sole body of the legislature that knows the needs and strives to obtain the reforms insistently demanded for so long by the people of this province.

Proposed by M. Jean Bte. Bourbonnais, seconded by M. Chs. Pharant.

RESOLVED, 2: That strong in the right that voters have to charge the representatives they send to the Chamber with their mandate, to dictate their conduct in their quality as deputy of the people, to oblige them to support their demands or to constrain them to return to the people the powers they received from them, the reformists of this meeting commit themselves to only support as candidates at future elections individuals who, as a precondition, will solemnly swear and promise to support the 92 resolutions in their entirety, to demand the abolition of seigneurial rights, which the people take for a slave code and a hindrance to industry; the abolition of customary dowers ; a secret ballot at elections; an elective legislative council and an executive council responsible to and friend of the country and its happiness; the revocation of the iniquitous land company act; the renewal of the elementary school bill; the extension of the elective principle in the choice of parish officers, road superintendents, etc.

Proposed by Mr. Etienne Merleau, seconded by Mr. God. Lalonde

RESOLVED, 3: That the Executive Council, having been attacked by the Governor, an attack it had long merited, can at present no longer have the confidence of the people which it never deserved; that in the future the Governor cannot form another Executive Council having the people’s confidence and the will and the ability to realize the good off the country except by making it responsible and composing it of disinterested men knowing the needs of the country and in harmony with the people and the reforms they demand; and that it would be with pain that this meeting and the reformists in general would see His Excellency attempt to recompose the executive with men with pecuniary interests, to have His Excellency, his subalterns, and members of the legislative council treat with consideration individuals rejected by the people, whose confidence they had never deserved or who had always shown themselves to be extreme and determined partisans of the official opposition. Such choices can only serve to lead the administration further along in its adopted march towards the unhappiness of a country whose happiness it should be striving for.

Proposed by Mr. Louis Bourbonnais, seconded by Mr. Joseph Cholette.

RESOLVED, 4; That by virtue of the constitution, since the people should have control over all public revenue through its representatives, and the governor and the government officers should have their salaries voted by the House, the governor, by taking control of any of the revenue public without the vote of the House for any goal at all, commits an act manifestly in opposition to the constitution and bodes ill for colonial freedoms.

Proposed by Mr Chairman, seconded by M. Dvaux.

RESOLVED, 5; That the entire parish knowing the truth and authenticity of the events which occurred there, and seeing that (truly slanderous, hypocritical , and unjust) individuals have published or had published in a Montreal newspaper called “Le Populaire” correspondence in which insult and slander were poured upon honest and respectable citizens, this meeting finds itself duty-bound to loudly speak out against such writings, and consequently publicly declares that the editorial of said “Populaire,” entitled “St Polycarpe Parish,” and the correspondence signed “Someone Better Informed” in the same newspaper last Monday, do not contain a single truth; that the Commissioners , the Justices of the Peace of this parish, and the militia officers are in firm possession of public confidence, that is those of all origins, all beliefs, and all political shades; that the greatest wrong of these gentlemen is to not have favored the maneuvers of these vile slanderers who strive in vain to tarnish in our eyes and vis-à-vis all that know them those individuals they strive to sully with their mud.

Proposed by Mr. J Lalonde, seconded by Mr. Mcpherson.

RESOLVED, 6; That we have the greatest confidence in the talents, virtues, firmness, courage and integrity of the Honorable L.J. Papineau and the majority of the House of Assembly, as well as the other defenders and supporters of popular rights and those who strive to keep us current as to the affairs of our country; that the insults and calumnies that liars strive to spill upon these respected citizens through the channels of the anti-reformist press, far from dividing our ranks will contribute in no small amount to rallying us ever more and uniting us more strongly than ever with the defenders and supporters of the popular cause.

Proposed by Mr. D. McLaughlin, seconded y Mr. D. Ranger.

RESOLVED, 7; That the citizens of this parish, of all origins, of all religious beliefs and of all political opinions saw with sorrow that His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief stripped captain Antoine Lantier, Esq. of his commission without allowing him to know the cause, or to defend himself from the accusations against him; and that this meeting and the citizens of this parish are only too happy to openly render justice to Antoine Lantier, Esq., to publicly testify that he is an honest, respectable, just, upright, and fair citizen, as well as a firm and sincere reformist.

Ordered; That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the reformist papers.

Thanks were voted to the officers of the meeting, which broke up with the cry of “Vive Papineau!”

By order of the chairman.
Etienne Merleau
Dugald McLaughlin, secretaries.

La Minerve,
October 19, 1837

See also

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