Resolutions of the Saint-Laurent Meeting: Difference between revisions

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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
The following resolutions were published in ''La Minerve'', on May 18, 1837 and 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 . Translated by Meir Avidor.
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Sur motion de M. Paschal Persillier Lachapelle, de la Côte des Neiges, secondée par M. Joseph Binette, de Ste-Geneviève.
On the motion of M. Paschal Persillier Lachapelle of Cote des Neiges, seconded by M. Joseph Binette of Ste-Genevieve


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 1: That the resolutions submitted in the name of the English ministry by Lord John Russel last March 6 in the Commons of the metropole destroy de facto the rights and liberties of the people of this province, rights and liberties that we view as birthrights of  an English citizen, solemnly proclaimed by the declaratory act of the 18th George III; that this violation is even more odious in that it is accompanied by the avowal of the justice of the grievances of the country concerning the vicious constitution of the legislative council, one of the principal reasons that forced the representation of this colony to refuse subsidies so as to obtain reparation for this grievance, the primary source for all the abuses weighing on this province.
''RÉSOLU, 1 : Que les résolutions soumises au nom du ministère anglais par lord John Russell le 6 mars dernier, dans les communes de la métropole, détruisent de fait les droits et les libertés du peuple de cette province, droits et libertés que nous regardons comme les droits de naissance du citoyen anglais solennellement proclamés par l'acte déclaratoire de la 18e Geo. III; que cette violation est d'autant plus odieuse qu'elle est accompagnée de l'aveu de la justice des plaintes du pays quant à la constitution vicieuse du conseil législatif, l'un des principaux motifs qui ont forcé la Représentation de cette colonie à refuser les subsides afin d'obtenir la réparation de ce grief, source première de tous les abus qui pèsent sur cette province.''</blockquote>


Sur motion d'André Jobin, écuyer, M. P. P. secondée par C. S. Cherrier, écuyer. M. P. P.
On the motion of Andre Jobin, Esq. M.P.P., seconded by C.S. Cherrier. Esq., M.P.P.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 2: That the people of this province were right to expect from the recall of the former Governor-in-Chief that his successor would follow a  more just, liberal, and honest policy; that it was disappointed in this expectation by seeing the old system of deception and intrigue accompany all the acts of the present administration; that all that is unjust and atrocious in the plan of coercion put forth by the English  ministry was on the suggestion of the present Governor and his associates who, presenting themselves as missionaries of peace and reconciliation, have only employed this method in order to better deceive, and at the same time that they made promises of large-scale reforms they solicited the intervention of the Imperial parliament so that they could take our rights from us by force.
''RÉSOLU, 2 : Que le peuple de cette province avait lieu de s'attendre par le rappel du ci-devant gouverneur en chef, que son successeur suivrait une politique plus juste, plus libérale et plus franche : qu'il a été trompé dans cette attente en voyant le vieux système de déception et d'intrigues accompagner tous les actes de la présente administration : que tout ce qu'il y a d'injuste et d'atroce dans le plan de coercition projeté par le ministère anglais est de la suggestion du gouverneur actuel et de ses associés qui, se donnant comme missionnaires de paix et de conciliation, n'ont employé ce moyen que pour mieux décevoir et qui dans le temps même où ils faisaient des promesses de larges réformes sollicitaient l'intervention du parlement impérial afin que par l'exercice de la force il nous ravît nos droits.''</blockquote>


Sur motion du Capt. Stanislas David, du Sault-au-Récollet, secondée par M. François Tavernier, de Montréal.
On the motion of Capt. Stanislas David of Sault-au-Recollet, seconded by M. Francois Tavernier of Montreal.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 3: That when we asked for the intervention of the Imperial parliament for the good government of this province we only did this by expressing the sense in which it should accord us the reforms desired by the great majority of the inhabitants of this province; that it isn’t according to European views or the recommendations of individuals foreign to the country and its social state that our political institutions should be changed, but only according to our wishes and the recommendations expressed by our representatives, who are freely elected and the only ones competent to know the needs they share with us and to reform institutions whose harmful effects they feel along with us; that we repudiate in advance the feeble palliatives that they aspire to apply to evils whose source they allow to remain, and through the expansion of the elective system we persist in demanding institutions analogous to those of the former colonies of New England as the  only ones appropriate to our state of society and the only ones that can bring a halt in Canada to the odious national distinctions that we repudiate, and as the only ones that can serve as a basis for good government.
''RÉSOLU, 3 : Que quand nous avons demandé l'intervention du parlement impérial pour le bon gouvernement de cette province, nous ne l'avons fait qu'en exprimant le sens dans lequel il devait nous accorder des réformes voulues par la grande majorité des habitants du pays : que ce ne sont pas d'après des vues européennes ou des recommandations d'individus étrangers au pays et à son état social que nos institutions politiques doivent être changées, mais seulement d'après nos voeux et les recommandations exprimées par nos représentants librement élus et seuls compétents à connaître des besoins qu'ils partagent avec nous et à réformer des institutions dont ils sentent comme nous les funestes effets : que nous répudions d'avance les faibles palliatifs que l'on prétend apporter à des maux dont on laisse subsister la source et que nous persistons à demander, par l'extension du système électif, des institutions analogues à celles des ci-devant colonies de la Nouvelle-Angleterre, comme les seules qui conviennent à notre état de société et les seules qui puissent faire cesser en Canada d'odieuses distinctions nationales que nous répudions, et comme les seules qui puissent y servir de base à un bon gouvernement.''</blockquote>


Sur motion de M. Joseph Labelle, de la Longue Pointe, secondée par M. François Quenneville, de St-Laurent.
On the motion of M. Joseph Labelle of Longue Pointe, seconded by M. Francois Quenneville of St. Laurent.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 4: That the devious policy followed by Archibald, Count Gosford, joined to the tyrannical measures proposed by the ministry and supported by a majority in the House of Commons removes any hope from the colonists for expecting any justice from the metropole, as long as men of principles more just and liberal are not in positions of leadership in the councils of state. And that consequently we ask our representatives, our fellow-citizens of the other counties of the province, and our brother colonists in the neighboring provinces to no longer follow the degrading routine of asking of the King, of lords and their vassals in the House of Commons that justice that we only expected from them when we didn’t know them.
''RÉSOLU, 4 : Que la politique astucieuse suivie par Archibald comte de Gosford, jointe aux mesures tyranniques proposées par le ministère et soutenues par une majorité dans la chambre des communes, ôte tout espoir aux colons d'attendre aucune justice de la métropole tant que des hommes de principes plus justes et libéraux n'auront pas la direction des conseils de l'État : et qu'en conséquence nous prions nos représentants, nos concitoyens des autres comtés de la province, nos frères colons des provinces voisines, de ne plus suivre la routine avilissante de demander au roi, aux lords et à leurs vassaux dans la chambre des communes, cette justice que nous n'avons attendue de leur part, qu'alors que nous ne les connaissions point.''</blockquote>


Sur motion de Dr. Valois, J. P. de la Pointe Claire, secondée par M. Ludger Duvernay, de Montréal.
On the motion of Dr. Valois, J.P. of Pointe Claire, seconded by M. Ludger Duvernay of Montreal.  


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 5: That in the current circumstances it is urgent to have recourse in the first instance to several methods for paralyzing the attack on our rights and liberties by drying up the source of revenue that the ministry’s measures seek to take from us.
''RÉSOLU, 5 : Que dans les circonstances actuelles, il est urgent de recourir en premier lieu à quelques moyens de paralyser l'attaque dirigée contre nos droits et nos libertés, en tarissant la source du revenu que les mesures du ministère ont pour but de ''nous dérober''.''</blockquote>


Sur motion de M. Urbain Desrochers, de la Pointe-aux-Trembles, secondée par M. Rémi Lecavalier.
On the motion of Urbain Desrochers of Pointe-aux-Trembles, seconded by M. Remi Lecavalier.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 6: That the revenue which our oppressors want unconstitutionally to seize are principally raised on the rum and whisky, wine, tea, sugars and tobaccos legally imported and paying customs duties; that public and private  happiness would be greatly promoted by abstinence from wines and spirits, and we strongly recommend this to our fellow citizens. And that secondly we recommend to those who do not subscribe to absolute abstinence from these articles that they only use those manufactured in our country. And thirdly, for those who cannot obtain those made in this country to only use those smuggled in from the United States.
''RÉSOLU, 6 : Que le revenu dont nos oppresseurs veulent inconstitutionnellement s'emparer se prélève principalement sur les rhums et eaux-de-vie, sur les vins, les thés, les sucres et les tabacs régulièrement importés et payant des droits d'entrée aux douanes; que le bonheur public et privé serait grandement promu par l'''abstinence'' des vins et des ''spiritueux'' et que nous la recommandons fortement à nos concitoyens : -- Qu'en second lieu nous recommandons à ceux qui ne souscriront pas à l'abstinence absolue de ces articles de ne faire usage que de ceux qui seront manufacturés dans ce pays. -- Et en 3e lieu, quant à ceux qui ne pourraient se procurer du crû du pays, de faire usage de ceux-là seulement qui auront été importés en contrebande des États-Unis.''</blockquote>


Sur motion du Capt. J. Bte Cadieux, de la Pointe-aux-Trembles, secondée par M. François Malo, de la même place.
On the motion of Capt. Jean Baptiste Cadieux of Pointe-aux-Trembles, seconded by M. Francois Malo of the same place.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 7: That another great portion of provincial revenue is raised by a duty of two-and-a-half percent on merchandise manufactured in the United Kingdom of great Britain and Ireland upon their entry to the ports of this province, and a great portion of  the products of this nature, especially in the manufacture of wool products, cloth, and cotton could be made in this country or be obtained from the United States; that we commit ourselves and we recommend to our fellow-citizens to preferably use these latter, especially in the case where we know that such articles were made in that country or smuggled in; that above all we encourage the establishing of manufactories in this province and we will view as deserving well of their country  those who will establish or encourage said manufacturing; that we don’t take this position from hatred of the English people, who we respect and who we thank for the sympathy they manifest for their oppressed Canadian brothers; but we hate them for the injustices we are made to feel by the Whigs and Tories and so as to interest them in smashing the iron scepter of their oppressors and ours.  
''RÉSOLU, 7 : Qu'une autre grande partie du revenu provincial se prélève par un droit de deux et demi pour cent perçu sur les marchandises manufacturées dans le royaume uni de la Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande, à leur entrée dans les ports de cette province et qu'une grande partie des produits de cette nature surtout dans les manufactures de lainages, toiles et cotons peuvent se fabriquer dans ce pays ou se tirer des États-Unis; que nous engageons et que nous recommandons à nos concitoyens de faire usage de ceux-ci de préférence, surtout dans le cas où nous saurons que de tels articles auront été fabriqués dans ce pays ou importés en contrebande; que nous encourageons surtout l'établissement de manufactures dans cette province et que nous regarderons comme méritant bien du pays ceux qui établiront ou encourageront les dites manufactures; que nous ne prenons pas ce parti en haine du peuple anglais que nous respectons, et que nous remercions de la sympathie qu'il manifeste pour ses frères canadiens opprimés; mais que nous le prenons en haine des injustices que nous font éprouver les aristocraties whigs et tories et pour l'intéresser à briser le sceptre de fer de ses oppresseurs et des nôtres.''</blockquote>


Sur motion de M. P. P. Lachapelle fils, de Lachine, secondée par M. Joseph Cardinal, de la Côte des Neiges.
On the motion of M. P.P. Lachapelle, fils of Lachine, seconded by M. Joseph Cardinal of Cote des Neiges.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 8: That while we have nothing but injustice to expect from beyond the seas, we can see them lightened and perhaps rendered entirely illusory by setting ourselves to cultivating frequent and amicable communication with our fortunate and industrious neighbors of the United States of America. That nothing can more rapidly lead to the prosperity of the country than the extension of our commerce with them, and consequently the request wisely adopted recently by the reformists of Upper Canada should be proposed for general acceptance by the people of this province so as to be presented to the Congress of the free and fortunate United States of America at its next session.
''RÉSOLU, 8 : Que tandis que nous n'avons que des injustices à attendre d'au-delà des mers, nous pouvons les voir très adoucies et peut-être entièrement rendues illusoires en s'attachant à cultiver des communications fréquentes et amicales avec nos heureux et industrieux voisins des États-Unis d'Amérique : que rien ne peut plus prochainement conduire à la prospérité du pays que l'extension de notre commerce avec eux et qu'en conséquence la requête sagement adoptée par les réformistes du Haut-Canada à une époque récente, soit proposée à l'acceptation générale du peuple de cette province pour être présentée au congrès des libres et heureux États-Unis d'Amérique, dans sa prochaine session.''</blockquote>


Sur motion du Capt. Dubreuil, de la Pointe-aux-Trembles, secondée par le Capt. Joseph Monarque, de la Rivière des Prairies.
On the motion of Capt. Dubreuil of Pointe-aux-Trembles, seconded by Capt. Joseph Monarque of Riviere des Prairies.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 9: That in the case where the unconstitutional measures proposed by the ministry are adopted, this assembly hopes that the representation of the country will never lower itself to the point of sanctioning such usurpations by voting for subsidies as long as justice is refused to the country.
''RÉSOLU, 9 : Que dans le cas où les mesures inconstitutionnelles proposées par le ministère seraient adoptées, cette assemblée espère que la Représentation du pays ne s'avilira jamais au point de sanctionner de telles usurpations en votant des subsides aussi longtemps que justice sera refusée au pays.''</blockquote>


Sur motion de M. Joshua Bell, secondée par M. Simon Valois.
On the motion of M. Joshua bell, seconded by M. Simon Valois.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 10: That the inhabitants of all the English colonies owe the liveliest gratitude and these most sincere thanks are given by this Assembly to the eloquent and virtuous minority  who, in the House of Commons, truly proved that its love for justice embraced the Empire in its entire extent and will see to it that they respect the rights of man in society, and those of the British colonies in particular. That we take this occasion also to express our gratitude  to the Manufacturer’s Association of London and to other English reformists who have raised their voices in favor of an oppressed colony and who have understood that trampling our rights and liberties meant establishing a dangerous precedent that could serve to attack the same rights and liberties of the English people; that we are sensitive to their sympathy (which we greatly appreciate) as well as that of our reformist brothers in Toronto, who have also protested against the violation of pour common rights.
''RÉSOLU, 10 : Que la reconnaissance la plus vive est due par les habitants de toutes les Colonies anglaises et ces remerciements les plus sincères sont faits par cette Assemblée à l'éloquente et vertueuse Minorité qui dans la Chambre des Communes a vraiment prouvé que son amour de la justice embrassait l'empire dans toute son étendue et lui ferait respecter les droits de l'homme en société et ceux des colonies britanniques en particulier. Que nous saisissons également cette occasion pour exprimer nos remerciements à l'Association des industriels de Londres et aux autres réformistes anglais qui ont élevé la voix en faveur d'une colonie opprimée et qui ont compris qu'en foulant aux pieds nos droits et nos libertés c'était établir un antécédent dangereux pour servir à attaquer les mêmes droits et les mêmes libertés du peuple anglais : que nous sommes sensibles à leur sympathie (que nous apprécions vivement) ainsi qu'à celle de nos frères réformistes de Toronto qui ont aussi protesté contre la violation de nos droits communs.''</blockquote>


Sur motion de J. A. Gagnon, écuyer, secondée par M. Fleury Saint Jean.
On the motion of J.A. Gagnon, Esq., seconded by M. Fleury Saint Jean


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 11: That we applaud the efforts of our brother colonists and reformists of Nova Scotia, whose representatives have just demanded the introduction of the elective principle in the council that forms a part of their legislature, a government responsible to the Commons of the colony and the control of the people over all public revenue and other reforms in the general interest; that these demands and their grievances have as their source the same bad system of government that was the subject of the same grievances on our part for a long time; that we are ready to second the efforts of the reformists of Nova Scotia and to cooperate with them.
''RÉSOLU, 11 : Que nous applaudissons aux efforts de nos frères colons et réformistes de la Nouvelle-Écosse dont la Représentation vient de demander l'introduction du principe électif dans le conseil formant partie de leur législature; un gouvernement responsable aux communes de la colonie et le contrôle du peuple sur tous les revenus publics et autres réformes dans l'intérêt général : que ces demandes et leurs plaintes ont pour source le très mauvais et le même système de gouvernement qui a fait le sujet des mêmes plaintes de notre part depuis longtemps : que nous sommes prêts à seconder les efforts des réformistes de la Nouvelle-Écosse et coopérer avec eux.''</blockquote>


Sur motion de M. J. Letourneux, des Tanneries, secondée par M. François Léonard.
On the motion of M. J. Letourneux of Tanneries, seconded by M. Francois Leonard.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 12: That in the moment of current crisis for the liberties of these colonies it is urgent that the people of this province take other measures for the protection of their constitutional rights, and with this in view we recommend to our reformist brothers that they elect delegates for a general convention (of which the members of the House of Assembly and those of the legislative council approving and supporting the anti-coercion assemblies of the counties  that are now being held or will later be held will be ex-officio members) which will be held in the course of the coming summer in some central and convenient place. And that said convention can, in our opinion, in addition to the above ex-officio members, be composed of delegates of various counties and towns in a proportion double the number of representatives elected by them for the House of Assembly and that: - - MM. L. Dr Valois, E.R. Fabre, George Watson, Louis Roy Portelance, Peter Dunn, Urbain Desrochers, Thos. M”Naughton, P.P. Lacahpelle, Stanislas David, John Dillon, J. Bell, Jos. Ant. Gagnon, and Joseph Letourneux be elected to represent the city and county of Montreal at said general convention.
''RÉSOLU, 12 : Que dans le moment de crise actuelle pour les libertés de ces colonies, il est urgent pour le peuple de cette province de prendre d'autres mesures pour la protection de leurs droits constitutionnels et que dans cette vue nous recommandons à nos frères réformistes d'élire des délégués pour une Convention générale (dont les membre de la chambre d'assemblée et ceux du conseil législatif approuvant et appuyant les assemblées anti-coercitives de comtés qui se tiennent maintenant ou qui se tiendront ci-après, seront membres ''ex-officio'') qui sera tenue dans le cours de l'été prochain à quelque lieu central et convenable. Et que la dite convention pourrait, dans notre opinion, en addition aux membres ci-dessus ''ex-officio'', être composée de délégués des divers comtés, et bourgs dans une proportion double du nombre de représentants élus par eux pour la chambre d'assemblée et que : -- MM. L. Dr. Valois, E. R. Fabre, George Watson, Louis Roy Portelance, Peter Dunn, Urbain Desrochers, Thos. M'Naughton, P.P. Lachapelle, Stanislas David, John Dillon, J. Bell, Jos Ant. Gagnon et Joseph Letourneux, soient élus pour représenter la Cité et le Comté de Montréal dans la dite ''Convention générale''.''</blockquote>


Sur motion de Mr. John Dillon, de la Longue-Pointe, secondée par M. Louis Verdon, de St-Laurent.
On the motion of Mr. John Dillon of Longue-Pointe, seconded by M. Louis Verdon of St. Laurent.


<blockquote>
RESOLVED 13: That there now be named a permanent committee (with the power to add to its number) to watch over the political interests of this community, to correspond with other counties in this province and the British provinces, to adopt such measures that will on occasion appear to them to be needed to protect our rights and to advance the cause of good government in these colonies and to effect, insofar as it is in their power, the various recommendations, suggestions, and resolutions agreed upon by that assembly.
''RÉSOLU, 13 : Qu'il soit maintenant nommé un Comité permanent (avec pouvoir d'ajouter à son nombre) pour veiller aux intérêts politiques de ce comté, pour correspondre avec les autres comtés dans cette province et dans les provinces britanniques, pour adopter telles mesures qui, de temps à autre, leur paraîtront nécessaires pour protéger nos droits et avancer la cause du bon gouvernement dans ces colonies et pour mettre à effet autant qu'il sera en son pouvoir, les diverses recommandations, suggestions et résolutions agréées par cette assemblée :''</blockquote>


<blockquote>''Que les personnes suivantes composent le dit comité :''</blockquote>
That the committee be composed of the following people:


<blockquote>''MM. P. P. Lachapelle, Côte des neiges; Joseph Binet, Ste-Geneviève; Capt. Stanislas David, Sault-aux-Récollets; François Tavernier, Montréal; Joseph Labelle, Pointe Claire; François Quenneville, St-Laurent; Dr. Valois, Pointe Claire; Ludger Duvernay, Montréal; Urbain Desrochers, Pointe-aux-Trembles; Remi Lecavalier, St-Laurent; Capt. J. Bte. Cadieux, Pointes-aux-Trembles; François Malo, Pointe-aux-Trembles; P. P. Lachapelle J. P. jeune, Lachine; Capt. Dubreuil, Pointe-aux-Trembles; Joseph Monarque, Rivière des Prairies; Joshua Bell, Montréal; Simon Valois, Montréal; Joseph Ant. Gagnon J. P., Montréal; Fleury Saint-Jean, Montréal; Joseph Letourneux, Tanneries; François Léonard, St-Laurent; John Dillon, Longue Pointe; Louis Verdon, St-Laurent; J. Bte Malo, Lachine; Ls. Marteau, St-Laurent; Gab. Valois, Pointe Claire; François Christin dit St-Amour, Joseph Christin dit St-Amour, Capt. Paul Côté, Rivière des Prairies; Joseph Bruyères, Pointe-aux-Trembles; J. Bte Lapierre, Sault-aux-Récollets; Amable Desautels, Sault-aux-Récollets; Pierre Vennier, Sault-aux-Récolletsl Simon Thimmins, Sault-aux-Récollets; Charles Faquener, Sault-aux-Récollets; François Ricard, Montréal; John Hale, Ed. R. Fabre, Peter Even, Thos. McNaughton, John Armstrong, Seraphim Gauthier et Chamilly de Lorimier, Montréal; Guillaume Lecavalier, St-Laurent; Olivier Dumouchel, Paul Dumouchel, St-Laurent; J. Bte Quesnel (fils de Joseph), Lachine; Nicholas Lefebre, Lachine.''</blockquote>
MM. P. P. Lachapelle, Côte des neiges; Joseph Binet, Ste-Geneviève; Capt. Stanislas David, Sault-aux-Récollets; François Tavernier, Montréal; Joseph Labelle, Pointe Claire; François Quenneville, St-Laurent; Dr. Valois, Pointe Claire; Ludger Duvernay, Montréal; Urbain Desrochers, Pointe-aux-Trembles; Remi Lecavalier, St-Laurent; Capt. J. Bte. Cadieux, Pointes-aux-Trembles; François Malo, Pointe-aux-Trembles; P. P. Lachapelle J. P. jeune, Lachine; Capt. Dubreuil, Pointe-aux-Trembles; Joseph Monarque, Rivière des Prairies; Joshua Bell, Montréal; Simon Valois, Montréal; Joseph Ant. Gagnon J. P., Montréal; Fleury Saint-Jean, Montréal; Joseph Letourneux, Tanneries; François Léonard, St-Laurent; John Dillon, Longue Pointe; Louis Verdon, St-Laurent; J. Bte Malo, Lachine; Ls. Marteau, St-Laurent; Gab. Valois, Pointe Claire; François Christin dit St-Amour, Joseph Christin dit St-Amour, Capt. Paul Côté, Rivière des Prairies; Joseph Bruyères, Pointe-aux-Trembles; J. Bte Lapierre, Sault-aux-Récollets; Amable Desautels, Sault-aux-Récollets; Pierre Vennier, Sault-aux-Récolletsl Simon Thimmins, Sault-aux-Récollets; Charles Faquener, Sault-aux-Récollets; François Ricard, Montréal; John Hale, Ed. R. Fabre, Peter Even, Thos. McNaughton, John Armstrong, Seraphim Gauthier et Chamilly de Lorimier, Montréal; Guillaume Lecavalier, St-Laurent; Olivier Dumouchel, Paul Dumouchel, St-Laurent; J. Bte Quesnel (fils de Joseph), Lachine; Nicholas Lefebre, Lachine.


La Minerve, <br />
La Minerve, <br />
May 18, 1837
May 18, 1837

Revision as of 15:39, 18 June 2007

The following resolutions were published in La Minerve, on May 18, 1837 and 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 . Translated by Meir Avidor.

On the motion of M. Paschal Persillier Lachapelle of Cote des Neiges, seconded by M. Joseph Binette of Ste-Genevieve

RESOLVED 1: That the resolutions submitted in the name of the English ministry by Lord John Russel last March 6 in the Commons of the metropole destroy de facto the rights and liberties of the people of this province, rights and liberties that we view as birthrights of an English citizen, solemnly proclaimed by the declaratory act of the 18th George III; that this violation is even more odious in that it is accompanied by the avowal of the justice of the grievances of the country concerning the vicious constitution of the legislative council, one of the principal reasons that forced the representation of this colony to refuse subsidies so as to obtain reparation for this grievance, the primary source for all the abuses weighing on this province.

On the motion of Andre Jobin, Esq. M.P.P., seconded by C.S. Cherrier. Esq., M.P.P.

RESOLVED 2: That the people of this province were right to expect from the recall of the former Governor-in-Chief that his successor would follow a more just, liberal, and honest policy; that it was disappointed in this expectation by seeing the old system of deception and intrigue accompany all the acts of the present administration; that all that is unjust and atrocious in the plan of coercion put forth by the English ministry was on the suggestion of the present Governor and his associates who, presenting themselves as missionaries of peace and reconciliation, have only employed this method in order to better deceive, and at the same time that they made promises of large-scale reforms they solicited the intervention of the Imperial parliament so that they could take our rights from us by force.

On the motion of Capt. Stanislas David of Sault-au-Recollet, seconded by M. Francois Tavernier of Montreal.

RESOLVED 3: That when we asked for the intervention of the Imperial parliament for the good government of this province we only did this by expressing the sense in which it should accord us the reforms desired by the great majority of the inhabitants of this province; that it isn’t according to European views or the recommendations of individuals foreign to the country and its social state that our political institutions should be changed, but only according to our wishes and the recommendations expressed by our representatives, who are freely elected and the only ones competent to know the needs they share with us and to reform institutions whose harmful effects they feel along with us; that we repudiate in advance the feeble palliatives that they aspire to apply to evils whose source they allow to remain, and through the expansion of the elective system we persist in demanding institutions analogous to those of the former colonies of New England as the only ones appropriate to our state of society and the only ones that can bring a halt in Canada to the odious national distinctions that we repudiate, and as the only ones that can serve as a basis for good government.

On the motion of M. Joseph Labelle of Longue Pointe, seconded by M. Francois Quenneville of St. Laurent.

RESOLVED 4: That the devious policy followed by Archibald, Count Gosford, joined to the tyrannical measures proposed by the ministry and supported by a majority in the House of Commons removes any hope from the colonists for expecting any justice from the metropole, as long as men of principles more just and liberal are not in positions of leadership in the councils of state. And that consequently we ask our representatives, our fellow-citizens of the other counties of the province, and our brother colonists in the neighboring provinces to no longer follow the degrading routine of asking of the King, of lords and their vassals in the House of Commons that justice that we only expected from them when we didn’t know them.

On the motion of Dr. Valois, J.P. of Pointe Claire, seconded by M. Ludger Duvernay of Montreal.

RESOLVED 5: That in the current circumstances it is urgent to have recourse in the first instance to several methods for paralyzing the attack on our rights and liberties by drying up the source of revenue that the ministry’s measures seek to take from us.

On the motion of Urbain Desrochers of Pointe-aux-Trembles, seconded by M. Remi Lecavalier.

RESOLVED 6: That the revenue which our oppressors want unconstitutionally to seize are principally raised on the rum and whisky, wine, tea, sugars and tobaccos legally imported and paying customs duties; that public and private happiness would be greatly promoted by abstinence from wines and spirits, and we strongly recommend this to our fellow citizens. And that secondly we recommend to those who do not subscribe to absolute abstinence from these articles that they only use those manufactured in our country. And thirdly, for those who cannot obtain those made in this country to only use those smuggled in from the United States.

On the motion of Capt. Jean Baptiste Cadieux of Pointe-aux-Trembles, seconded by M. Francois Malo of the same place.

RESOLVED 7: That another great portion of provincial revenue is raised by a duty of two-and-a-half percent on merchandise manufactured in the United Kingdom of great Britain and Ireland upon their entry to the ports of this province, and a great portion of the products of this nature, especially in the manufacture of wool products, cloth, and cotton could be made in this country or be obtained from the United States; that we commit ourselves and we recommend to our fellow-citizens to preferably use these latter, especially in the case where we know that such articles were made in that country or smuggled in; that above all we encourage the establishing of manufactories in this province and we will view as deserving well of their country those who will establish or encourage said manufacturing; that we don’t take this position from hatred of the English people, who we respect and who we thank for the sympathy they manifest for their oppressed Canadian brothers; but we hate them for the injustices we are made to feel by the Whigs and Tories and so as to interest them in smashing the iron scepter of their oppressors and ours.

On the motion of M. P.P. Lachapelle, fils of Lachine, seconded by M. Joseph Cardinal of Cote des Neiges.

RESOLVED 8: That while we have nothing but injustice to expect from beyond the seas, we can see them lightened and perhaps rendered entirely illusory by setting ourselves to cultivating frequent and amicable communication with our fortunate and industrious neighbors of the United States of America. That nothing can more rapidly lead to the prosperity of the country than the extension of our commerce with them, and consequently the request wisely adopted recently by the reformists of Upper Canada should be proposed for general acceptance by the people of this province so as to be presented to the Congress of the free and fortunate United States of America at its next session.

On the motion of Capt. Dubreuil of Pointe-aux-Trembles, seconded by Capt. Joseph Monarque of Riviere des Prairies.

RESOLVED 9: That in the case where the unconstitutional measures proposed by the ministry are adopted, this assembly hopes that the representation of the country will never lower itself to the point of sanctioning such usurpations by voting for subsidies as long as justice is refused to the country.

On the motion of M. Joshua bell, seconded by M. Simon Valois.

RESOLVED 10: That the inhabitants of all the English colonies owe the liveliest gratitude and these most sincere thanks are given by this Assembly to the eloquent and virtuous minority who, in the House of Commons, truly proved that its love for justice embraced the Empire in its entire extent and will see to it that they respect the rights of man in society, and those of the British colonies in particular. That we take this occasion also to express our gratitude to the Manufacturer’s Association of London and to other English reformists who have raised their voices in favor of an oppressed colony and who have understood that trampling our rights and liberties meant establishing a dangerous precedent that could serve to attack the same rights and liberties of the English people; that we are sensitive to their sympathy (which we greatly appreciate) as well as that of our reformist brothers in Toronto, who have also protested against the violation of pour common rights.

On the motion of J.A. Gagnon, Esq., seconded by M. Fleury Saint Jean

RESOLVED 11: That we applaud the efforts of our brother colonists and reformists of Nova Scotia, whose representatives have just demanded the introduction of the elective principle in the council that forms a part of their legislature, a government responsible to the Commons of the colony and the control of the people over all public revenue and other reforms in the general interest; that these demands and their grievances have as their source the same bad system of government that was the subject of the same grievances on our part for a long time; that we are ready to second the efforts of the reformists of Nova Scotia and to cooperate with them.

On the motion of M. J. Letourneux of Tanneries, seconded by M. Francois Leonard.

RESOLVED 12: That in the moment of current crisis for the liberties of these colonies it is urgent that the people of this province take other measures for the protection of their constitutional rights, and with this in view we recommend to our reformist brothers that they elect delegates for a general convention (of which the members of the House of Assembly and those of the legislative council approving and supporting the anti-coercion assemblies of the counties that are now being held or will later be held will be ex-officio members) which will be held in the course of the coming summer in some central and convenient place. And that said convention can, in our opinion, in addition to the above ex-officio members, be composed of delegates of various counties and towns in a proportion double the number of representatives elected by them for the House of Assembly and that: - - MM. L. Dr Valois, E.R. Fabre, George Watson, Louis Roy Portelance, Peter Dunn, Urbain Desrochers, Thos. M”Naughton, P.P. Lacahpelle, Stanislas David, John Dillon, J. Bell, Jos. Ant. Gagnon, and Joseph Letourneux be elected to represent the city and county of Montreal at said general convention.

On the motion of Mr. John Dillon of Longue-Pointe, seconded by M. Louis Verdon of St. Laurent.

RESOLVED 13: That there now be named a permanent committee (with the power to add to its number) to watch over the political interests of this community, to correspond with other counties in this province and the British provinces, to adopt such measures that will on occasion appear to them to be needed to protect our rights and to advance the cause of good government in these colonies and to effect, insofar as it is in their power, the various recommendations, suggestions, and resolutions agreed upon by that assembly.

That the committee be composed of the following people:

MM. P. P. Lachapelle, Côte des neiges; Joseph Binet, Ste-Geneviève; Capt. Stanislas David, Sault-aux-Récollets; François Tavernier, Montréal; Joseph Labelle, Pointe Claire; François Quenneville, St-Laurent; Dr. Valois, Pointe Claire; Ludger Duvernay, Montréal; Urbain Desrochers, Pointe-aux-Trembles; Remi Lecavalier, St-Laurent; Capt. J. Bte. Cadieux, Pointes-aux-Trembles; François Malo, Pointe-aux-Trembles; P. P. Lachapelle J. P. jeune, Lachine; Capt. Dubreuil, Pointe-aux-Trembles; Joseph Monarque, Rivière des Prairies; Joshua Bell, Montréal; Simon Valois, Montréal; Joseph Ant. Gagnon J. P., Montréal; Fleury Saint-Jean, Montréal; Joseph Letourneux, Tanneries; François Léonard, St-Laurent; John Dillon, Longue Pointe; Louis Verdon, St-Laurent; J. Bte Malo, Lachine; Ls. Marteau, St-Laurent; Gab. Valois, Pointe Claire; François Christin dit St-Amour, Joseph Christin dit St-Amour, Capt. Paul Côté, Rivière des Prairies; Joseph Bruyères, Pointe-aux-Trembles; J. Bte Lapierre, Sault-aux-Récollets; Amable Desautels, Sault-aux-Récollets; Pierre Vennier, Sault-aux-Récolletsl Simon Thimmins, Sault-aux-Récollets; Charles Faquener, Sault-aux-Récollets; François Ricard, Montréal; John Hale, Ed. R. Fabre, Peter Even, Thos. McNaughton, John Armstrong, Seraphim Gauthier et Chamilly de Lorimier, Montréal; Guillaume Lecavalier, St-Laurent; Olivier Dumouchel, Paul Dumouchel, St-Laurent; J. Bte Quesnel (fils de Joseph), Lachine; Nicholas Lefebre, Lachine.

La Minerve,
May 18, 1837

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