GOUVERNEMENT LÉGISLATIF

Le Général Haldimand remplace le Gouverneur Carleton. — Actes du nouveau gouverneur. — Suspension des tribunaux, la loi martiale est en vigueur. — Peter Livius, Juge-en-Chef. — Guerre de PI.

dépendance américaine. — Le Canada perd une partie de son territoire par la reconnaissance de l'Indépendance Américaine par l'Angleterre.— Henry Hamilton esl nommé Lieutenant-Gouverneur, en rernplacement d'Haldimand, et peu après le Gouverneur Carleton revient sous le nom de Lord Dorchester. — Ses diverses commissions et instructions. — Destitution du Juge-en-Chef Livius par Carleton et

Sui «vint

ture, Parle moins inais médi vince cette | son i un n glete table.

otàs uns C tent }

les cours elles, cidite pro- ‘en tout les, ainsi | Succeset conla dite

rien de ‘a, nine Dger où Québec, assés par retagne, régler le s et planue ; Mais ctes ainsi ci-devant port aux seront, et en force , et dans

e Gouvereau qou- 'ibunaux, L — Peter de Pr Canada "e par la 2 Améri- Tamilton eur, en peu après sous le diverses Destituarleton et

sa réint'allation par le Conseil Privé d'Angleterre, — Emprisonnement de du Calvet, — Son livre. — Agitations cn Canada. — Difficultés relativement à la construction déglises et aux titres des concessions. — Toule une paroisse est eæcommuniée, — Kneller, Procureur Gé néral, — Conseil législatif. — Composition de ce corps. — Ses travaux. — Pétitions pour et contre un gouvernement représentatif. — Enquéle sur l'administralion de la justice, ete. — Tentative du juge Smith de substituer les Li+ #nglaises aux lois francaises. — Nouvelle division territoriale du Canada. — Pétitions à l'Angleterre. — Intervention des marchands à Londres. — Projet de Constitution de Grenville envoyé à Lord Dorchester, qui passe à Londres en 17.

—Le Général Hope estnommé Lieutenant- Gouverneur, en l'absence de Lord Dorchester ; maïs il décède presqu'aussitôt.— Le général Alured Clarke le remplace. — Pitt introduit l'Acte Constitutionnel dans le Parlement.—Débats.—L'acte est adopté par les deux chambres sans division. — Proclamation du lieutenant gouverneur Clarke et division du Canada en deux provinces.

Suivant du Calvet (1), le Quebec-Act «vint prononcer, par l'organe de la législature, non pas la sentence fulminante, (le Parlement d'Angleterre est incapable, du moins intentionnellement, d’asservir), mais l'installation réelle, quoique non méditée, de l’asservissement de la Province. Il est étonnant que la nature de cetie législation, j'entends sa propriété ou son impropriété, ait été jusqu'à ce jour un mystère impénétrable à toute l'An.

gleterre; c'est-à-dire à ses plus respectables têtes, à ses plus grands politiques et à ses plus savants hommes d'Etat. Les uns canonisent le Bill de Québec et l’exaltent jusqu'aux nues, € mme le plus beau

(1) Appel à la Justice de l'Etat, 143

chef-d'œuvre de la politique quisoit jamais émané de la sagesse du Sénat britannique, tandisque les autres le foudroient d'anathème, comme un monstre enfanté dans lesateliersdu Despotisme, pour la vexation complète de ses sujets. » Le même auteur ajoute encore (1) : « dans cette institution nouvelle, pour un domaine britannique, le Parlement n'a pu être animé d'aucune autre intention que de nous replacer sous l'empire de la jurisprudence primitive, qui nous avait gouvernés sous la domination de nos premiers souverains, par ce qu'il sait très bien, que son autorité législative ne s'étend pas an delà de cette restauration. Cette jurisprudence, sans doute plus assortie aux notions précoces, dont nous avons été imbus par l'éducation, plus analogue aux titres primitifs de nos propriétés, et conséquemment mieux ajustée à leur conservation légale, enfin intimant de plus, une loi, au moins de convenance, de n'être administrés, que dans le langage naturel que nous tenons de l'enfance ; envisagé sous ces traits, le Bill de Québec est en effet le plus beau chef-d'œuvre de politique, dont la sage condescendance de la législature ait pu gratifier nos besoins et nos goûts: ce Bill nous à ouvert l'entrée des dignités publiques. »

Le 22 Août 1774 (2), Masères informe comme suit les Anglais de Québec de ce qui s'est passé lors de la discussion de l'Acte de Québec :

« L'understand that you have expressed a desire to receive an answer Lo the letter with which you honoured me last winter concerning your petition for an house of assembly, and that vou üave been surprised at my not sending one. Î may perhaps have been wanting in respeel to you upon that cecasion ; and, if J have, I beg your pardon for it: but

(1) Appel à la justice de l'Etat, 142.

(2) An account of the British, etc., page 223.

the true reason of my not writing was because I considered the answer 1 wrote to the committee at Quebeck (which was a pretty full one and of which I herewith send you a Copy;) as an answer to both committees, which I supposed to correspond together and lo communicate to each other all the papers they either sent or received concerning the matter of their application to the King, Since my writing that answer an act of Parliament has been passed which seems to put an end to all hopes of success in your endeavours to obtain an assemb” :, having erected a legislative council .. its stead without any limitation of time, and enlarged the province to such a degree as to make an assembly an impraticable method of government. The merchants of London who were concerned in the Quebec trade, petitioned the House of Commons against this act, but without success ; and the City of London addressed his Majesty to refuse his royal essent to it, to as littie purpose. It repeals and

annuls the King's proclamation of October :

1763, with respect to the province of Quebec; and gives the popish priests a legal right to their tythes from all Roman - Catholicks, which Sir Jeffery Armmherst had refused them at the capitulation. This is disapproved af by great numbers of dispassionate people here, as going beyond a toleration of the popish religion, and, in a great measure, establishing it, by imposing a tax of the twenty-sixth bushel of corn upon fortynine landholders out of fiftyfor the maintenance of priests to teach it. At the same time the act makes no provition for the teaching the protestant religion, but only impowers the King to do so out of the tythes due from protestant landholders, if he shall so please. So that, upon the whole, the act seems likely to perpetuate the Roman-Catholick religion, rather than gradually to introduce the

protestant. In short it has appeared in so bad a light to the lovers of liberty and the protestant religion, that the duke of Gloucester,. (though remarkable for the moderation of his conduct and his general disposition to comply with the King's pleasure,) thought fit to vote against it.

«As I had prepared a draught of an Act of Parliament for establishing a legislative Council in the province of Quebeck, Î am apprehensive that, from the similitude of the names, I may be thought to approve of the legislative Council established by this Act, and perhaps to have contributed towards its being established ; whereas in truth 1 utterly disapprove it, and have done all that lay in my little power to prevent its passing. I therefore beg leave to point out to you the difference between the legislative Council which I had proposed and that which is established by this Act. In the first place, that which I had proposed was to have been only for seven years, after which 1 hoped it might be found practicable to have an Assembly... this, which is established by the act, is without limitation of time ; so that the accomplishment of the King's promise in his proclamation, to summon an Assembly as soon as the situation and circumstances of the province will permit, is removed quite out of sight. Secondly, the former legislative Council was to consist only of protestants ; because, if papists are fit to be members of such a Council, they must likewise be fit to be assembly-men; and in that case there is no pretence for not calling an assembly at present, agreeably to the King's promise in his proclamation. But this legislative Council may consist of either protestants ot papits:

nay, théy may be all papists, and even popish priests for aught that is enacted to the contrary in this act. Thirdly, the former legislative Council was for the old province of Quebeck only, which is of a

eared in s0 iberty and he duke of ble for the bis general the King's igainst it.

ught of an shing a lence of Que- , from the be thought ouncil estaaps to have stablished ; sapprove it, n my little I therefore u the diffeve Council at which is first place, as to have er which I acticable to , which is out limitaplishment 8 proclamaas soon as ces of the oYed quite rmer legisnly of prore fit to be they must men; and ice for not | agreeably proclamancil may ot papits:

, and even enacted to irdly, the for the old bich is of a

size capable of being governed by an assembly ; by which means the introduction of that constitutional mode of government in some years hence was kept in view, in case the number of protestants should sufficiently incréase in the province to make it proper; whereas the legislative Council is invested with authority over a country 100 extensive to be governed by an assembly, if the inbabitants of it should all be protestants ;

which gives room to apprehend that the whole design of even having an assembly is laid aside. Fourthly, the, former legislative Council was to consist of thiriy one members, of whom seventeen were to be necessary to make a board. This may consist of only seventeen members of whom nine may make à board. Fiftly, in the former legislative Council the members were to be wholly independent of the governour, neither liable to be removed nor suspended by him, but only by.the King; but in this act there is nothing . to prevent the. King from communicating to his governour à power. of suspending or removing the members of this Council at his pleasure, Sixthly, in the former legislative Council thé members were to have been paid for their attendance ; which was done with a view to procure a full attendance, . and thereby to give weight and dignity to the ordinances they should make: but in the present legislative Council the members are not to bé, paid, and therefore will not perhaps ättend in considerable numbers, but will leave the business to to be transacted by those who have offices in the government, or who are othervisé most .dependeht on the go:

. verhour, and disposed to be subservient

to his pleasure. There is certainly some danger of an inconvenience of this kind, though T heartily wish the event may shew it to be very small, These diffe.

rencés between the two legislative Coun-

cils, will, I hope, acquit me in your opinions, geutlemen, of the suspicion of having in any degree contributed to the establishment of that which is appointed by this act.

«You will further observe that this act révives the whole French law, in the lump, concerning civil matters : the words of the act, are, concerning matters of property and bit rights. It was ob.

jected to this clause in the house of Commons where alone this act met with a full discussion, having passed the house of Lords, as 1 have been ase"ed, almost without opposition, and ‘sa matièr of course, and without calling any vvitnesses Lo support the allégations upon which the bill was grounded,) that by it the English laws concerning personal liberty, and the writ of Habeas Corpus were abolished, and the French practice of imprisoning subjects at the King's pleasure by letters de cachet, or orders under the King's | hand and seal, without assigning any cause for such imprisonment, would become lawful. Mr, Dunning déclared it to be his opinion that it would be 60 : for thai, as personal liberty is a civil right, and ‘the act says that in all matters of property and civil rights resort shall be had to the laws.of Canada, and not to the laws of England, it must “follow that! if a man was deprived of his liberty by a lettre de cuchet, and his fiends were to apply to the Chief justice for his discharge, the chief justice would be bound to answer that, as his was a mattér concerning à civil right, he must proceed by the laws of Canada, which afforded a man no relief when be was imprisoned by,the King's lettre de cachet.

« It was therefore moved that a short clause to introduce the English law concerning the writ of Habeas Corpus for the recovery of personal liberty, should be inserted in the act. But the Ministry opposel it, and threw it out, notwithstan-

ding they declared they had no thought of introducing the practice of issuing lettres de cachet. This seemed very strange to many people, because a clause of this kind was not only necessary to the honour of the crown to fulfil, in a very important article, the King's promise to his British subjects in the proclamation of October 1763, of the enjoyment of the benefit of the laws of England, but must likewise have been agreable to the Canadians out of tenderness to whom this revival ofthe French laws in civil matters is said by the patr: à1s of this act to have been made. For it cannot be supposed that they would be adverse to so excellent a method of protecting their personal liberty.

« Further, it was objected in the House of Commons to the same clause concerning the revival of the French law upon all matters of property and civil rights, that it takes away the trial by jury in all those cases, And it was thereupon proposed that a clause should be inserted in the bill for preserving the trial by jury in civil matters as well as in criminal, at least upon the footing it has been upon in the Court of Common Pleas in that province ever since the establisment of the civil government, of an option in either of the parties to have the cause tried by a jury, if they so thought fit.

And it was alledged in support of this motion, that an option to do a thing or let it alone, is generally agreable to people and that in the present case this option had been allowed for ten years, and found to be agreeable to the Canadians; because many of them had made use of it, in causes of considerable consequence, to obtain a jury to decide the matter in dispute, rather than leave it wholly to the determination of the judges .For it had been testified at the bar of the house by several witnesses that, in causes of that Kind, the Cana.

dians had oftener chosen to have a jury than not. It was further said in behalf of this motion for an optional jury, that it was highly necessary for the satisfaction of the British inhabitants of the province and was a most essential part of those benefits of the laws of England which the King had promised to grant them by his proclamation. But, notwithstanding these augments, (to which no answers, or very slight ones, were given.) the motion was rejected.

«Mr. Hey, the Chief Justice of the province, was very instrumental in preventing the Franch law from being revived upon criminal matters as well as civil. In that point, he has succeeded so far as to obtain a continuance of the English law upon that subject in ai its extent: which TI presume, will be con sidered as à great service to the province, and more especially 10 the British inhabi tants of it.

«Lamin hopesthat your new legislative Council will restore to you the writ o!

Habeas Corpus, and the trial by jury in civil cases, when the parties desire it, or, at least, when the Judge thinks it proper, by an ordinance for that purpose.

But it would certainly have been more satisfactory to have had them established by the late act of parliament.

«I greatly suspect that this act of par liament will not be agreable even to the Canadians, when they come to examine it carefully and understand it thoroughly.

For, in the article of religion, I dare say many of them will think they were full as happily circumstanced before, when they had a most complete toleration of their manner of worship, but without a compulsive obligation to pay the priests their tythes, as now that this act has been s0 kind as to impose that obligation upon them, and with respect to civil matters, the loss of the Writ of Habeas Corpus and of their option of having their civil

have a jury in behalf of jury, that it satisfaction he province rt of those land which crant them 1otwithstan which no were given)

e of the proal in prerom being s as well as ucceeded so ance of the ct in ai its vill be con

1e province, tish inhabi

y legislative the writ o!

by jury in s desire it.

: thinksit at purpose.

been more established

act of [arven to the 0 examine 1oroughly.

I dare say were full re, when eration of without a he priests is act has obligation civil mat-

eas Corpus their civil

contests decided by the Jury or not, as they like best, will hardly be considered by them as advantages. And ia the affair of the legislative council I am persuaded they will find themselves greatly disappointed. For in a memorial which accompanied their last petition, and which, together with the petition, was laid before the House of Commons, they desire to have a legislative council rather than an assembly only for a few years, till the province shall be able to pay the taxes necessary for the support of the civil government ; because they consider the province as too poor to pay those taxes at present, and they suppose that they shall be obliged to pay them as soon as an assembly is established, but not before : so that their desire of being governed by a legislative council is grounded on the supposition that in that case they shall pay no taxes. But now they will find that they may be taxed, though they have no assembly. For another act of parliament has been passed at the same time with this, for imposing certain duties in the province ; which, though they are, [ believe, very moderate and judicious, will certainly be disagreable to them, who made that strange preference of a legislative council to an assembly merely for the sake of avoiding them.

Mr. de Lothinière is extremely displeased with this legislative council, and calls it a most de. -otick instrument of govern:.

ment. He says expressly that, of the two, he should less dislike an assembly of protestants only, agreeably Lo the king’s commission. And truly, upon the whole, I believe that would have been the best method of governing the province, while it remained of its former moderate magnitude, and even still, while the remote parts of it continue uninhabited. And Ï am not without hopes that, after some trial of this new legislative council, the Canadians themselves will come to be of

the same opinion with Monsieur de Lotbinière, that a protestant assembly is a better instrument of government than this legislative council, and that they will join with the, British inhabitants in a petition to have one established.

Such a petition would, I dare say, be complied with, more especially if it contained anacknowledgment of the supreme authority of parliament, and a declaration of their willingness to consént to any test that should be thought necessary to be imposed upon the members of such future assembly, expressing their sense of its subordination to the authority of parliament, and their readiness to obey all acts of parliament without exception or reserve. This 1 believe to be the only way by which you are likely to obtam the establishment of an assembly. I am informed that the province of Maryland has been governed in this manner by an assembly of protestants only, ever sinceits first settlement, notwithstanding the majority of the inhabitants have been Roman . Catholicks, and are so still, though not in so great a proportion as formely. And yet no disturbance has happened there from the jealousy, or dissatisfaction of the Roman-Catholicks at being excluded from the assembly :

but, on the contrary, they have entrusted the care -of their interests to their protestant neighbours with pleasure and alacrity, knowing that the temporal interests of the protestants in the province were the same with their own, and that the protestants would be more likely, (from the less confined genius of their religion, their fewer fasts and holidays, lesssubjection to the priesthood, better education, and greater degree of knowledge,) to take good care of them than they should themselves. And, if Britons born, and the descendants of Briton born who have never acknowledged any temporal sovereign but the

king of England, have not thought it a hardship to be excluded from the assembly of Maryland on account of the unhappy principles of their religion, which made them subject to the foreign jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome in spirituals, it surely ought not to be thought so by the Canadians, who were sa lately the subjects of the King of France, and in arms for many years together against the crown of England.

Yet the Catholicks might be permitted to elect, though not to be elected members of the assembly: and that would give them a sufficient, and a very considerable influence in the government. I heartily wish that you may persuade many of the Canadians to be of the same opinion with M. dé Lotbinière upon this subject, and to join with you in expressing a desire to be govérned by a protestant assembly rather than by this legislative council, and in acknowledging the supreme authority of, parliament : and then, [ doubt not, your request will be complied with ; but not otherwise.

“The news-papers and other prints will inform you of the particulars of the proceedings of the House of Commons upon this bill; in which Mr Mackworth, Mr Dunning, Mr Thomas Townshend, Jur., Colonel Barré, governor Johnstone, Mr Dempster and Mr Edmund Burke, exerted themselves most in opposition to the bill, and did procure some considerable amendements to be made toit. Andthe same papers will likewise shew you how much the bill has been disliked by the people at large, by the number of letters written against it'for the space of more than two months together. There are, however, two clauses in the bill, (besides that above mentioued for continuing the laws of England in the province upon criminalmatters,) which Î presume wiil be agreable to the generality of the inhabisantof the.province, of both nations. There

are, a clause to impower persons possessed either’ of land or personal estate to dispose of them as they think proper, by their last will and testament, and the clause which prohibits the legislative council from imposing any duties or taxes ; though there they have added an exception which some persons will be apt to think too large. And the clause which revives the laws of Canada on civil matters is generally thought to be reasonable enough so far as it relates only to the tenures of land, the mode of conveying it, and the rules of dower and inheritance, (which seem necessary to the family peace of the Canadians,) but is blamed only for its very great extent, by means of the words, in matters of property and civil rights, by which the writ of Habeas Corpus, and the right of having a trial by jury in actions of false imprisonment, battery, and slander, and for other injuries, are thought to be taken away, and à heap of French laws upon these and other subjects introduced in their stead, which our judges neither do know nor are likely to know, and therefore will not be well able to administer.

This distinction was mentioned in the printed case of the merchants trading to Quebeck, which was distributed to the members of both houses of parliament, and of which I am informed some copies have been sent into Canada : and several of the gentlemen who spoke in opposition to the bill made use of this distinction in their speeches, and expressed a readiness to consent to a revival of s0 much of the former French laws as related to the tenures, conveyances and ipheritance of land: but wished that in other matters in which the revival of the French laws did not seem to be necessary to the happiness of the Canadians, the English laws might continue to be observed, as this would gradually tend.to produce an union of manuers of affections

non

1S possessed

estate to ink proper, nt, and the legislative duties or e added an ns will be the clause Canada on ught to be s it relates he mode of dower and cessary to lans,) but is extent, by of property he :writ of )f having a alse imprir, and for o bc taken laws upon roduced in neither do and thereadminister.

ned in the trading to

] ome copies nd several in opposi-

e necessary dians, the to be ob- Ily tend.to affections

between the two nations. These are the principal observations that have occurred to me concerning this act of parliament, and the fate of your petition for an assembly, as worthy of your notice and attention. And therefore with them I shall conclude this long, and I fear tedious epistle, I remain, gentlemen, &ce., &c, »

Le 16 Septembre 1774 {1}, Frederick Haldimand reçoit sa commission de Vice- Amiral.

Les délégués des Colonies dé New- Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode- Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, les comtés de Newcastle, Kent et Sussex du Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina et South Carolina, députés par les habitants de ces colonies, pour lés représenter dans un Crrgrès général à Philadelphie, dans la province de Pennsylvanie, aux fins de se consulter ensemble pour trouver les meilleurs modes pour obtenir le redressement de leurs tristes griefs, s'étant en conséquence assemblés le 26 Octobre 1774 (2), prirent en leur sérieuse considération l’état des affaires publiques, et envoyèrent aux habitants du Canada une Adresse dans laquelle ils leur demandaient de nommer des députés pour les représenter dans le Congrès continental qui‘devait avoir lieu à Philadelphie le 10 Mai 1775.

A ce congrès préliminaire, l’on avait adopté la résolution suivante : « Que nous considérons la violation de vos droits (Province de Québec) par l'acte tendant à Changer le gouvernement de votre province, comme une violation des nôtres, et que vous devez être invités à accéder à notre confédération, qui n’a pas d’autres objets que la parfaite sécurité des droits

(1) Stuart’s. Admtralty Reports, 390.

(2) A letter to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebes Extract from the Minutes of the Congross. Philadelphia, 1774,

naturels et civils de tous les membres constituants, conformément aux circonstances respectives, et la conservation d’une connection heureuse et durable avec la Grande-Bretagne, sur des principes salutaires el constitutionnels. Pour obtenir ce que nous désirons, nôus avons adressé une humbleet loyalé adresse à Sa Majesté, priant pour le redressement de vos griefs et des nôtres; et nous nous sommes associés pour arrêter toutes les importations avec la Grande, Bretagne et l'Irlande, après le premier, Décembre et toutes les exportations dahs ces royaumes et les Indes Occidentales, après le. 10 Septembre prochain, à moins que ces griefs ne soient redressés.»

Le 12 Novembre 1774 (1), les trois reque: suivantes sont signées par les Canadiens pour demander des changements à l’Acte de Québec ou son rappel:

« To the King's most excellent Majesty, «The Petition of your Majesty's most

loyal and dutiful ancient Subjects settled in the Province of Quebeck,

« Most hu mbly sheweth,

«That we, upon the faith of your sacred Majesty's royal proclamation bearing date the seventh day of October, which was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three, did come.and settle ourselves in the said province, purchasing houses and lands, and carrying on extensive trade, commerce and agriculture, whereby the value of the land and wealth of its inhabitants are more thar doubled ; during all which time we humbly crave leave to say that we have paid a ready and dutiful obe.

dience to government, and have lived in peace and amity with your Majesty’s new subjects. Nevertheless we find, and with unutterable grief presume to say, that by a late act of parliament, intitled,

(1) Masères, An account, etc. p, 239,

« An Act for the making more effectual provision for the government of ‘he Province of Quebeck in North America,» we are de:prived of the franchises granted by your Majesty’s royal predecéssors, and by us inberited from our forefathers; that we have lost the protection of the English laws, so universallÿ admired for their wisdom and lenity, and which we have ever held in the highest veneration, and in their stead the laws of Canada are to be introduced, 10 which: we are utter strangers, disgraceful to us as Britons, and in their consequences ruinous to our properties, as we thereby lose the invaluable privilege of trials by juries. That in matters of a criminal nature the habeas corpus act is dissolved, and we are subjected to arbitrary fines and imprisonment at the will of the Governor and Council, who may at pleasure render.the certainty of the criminal laws of no effect, by the great power that is granted to them of making alterationsin the same.

« We therefore most humbly implore your Majesty to take our unhappy state into your royal consideration, and grant us such relief as your Majesty in your royal wisdom shall think meet. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. »

Il y a six noms canadiens-français parmi les signataires de cette pétition.

« To the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled,

« The Petition of his Majesty’s loyal and dutiful his ancient Subjects settled in the Province of Quebeck,

« Humbly sheweth,

« That since the commencement of civil government in this province, your lordships, humble petitioners, under the protection of the English law granted us by his sacred Majesty’s royal proclamation, bearing date the seventh day of

October which was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty three, have been encouraged to adventure their properties in trade, estates and agriculture, to a very considerable amount, thereby rendering the province a valuable acquisition to Great Britain : That, to their inexpressible grief, they find, by an Act of parliament intitled. « Act for making more effectual provision for the government of the province of Quebeck in North + Arnerica,»

they are deprived of the habeas corpus act and trial by juries, are subjected to arbitrary fines and imprisonment, and liable to be tried both in civil cases and matters of a criminal nature, not by known and permanent laws, but by ordinantes and edicts which the Governor and Council are impowered to make void at their will and pleasure, which must render our persons and properties insécure and has already deeply wounded the credit of the country, and confined our views in trade to very narrow limits.

In this cruel state of apprehension and uncerfainty, we humbly implore your lordships’ favourable interposition, as the hereditary guardians of the rights of the people, that the said act may be repealed or amended, and that your humble petitioners may enjoy their constitutional rights, privileges, and franchises heretofore granted to all his Majesty’s dutiful subjects, &c., &c. »

« To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament assembled.

«The humble Petition and Memorial of his Majesty’s ancient Subjects the Seigneurs, Freeholders, Merchants, Traders, and others settled in his Majesty’s Province of Quebeck,

« Sheweth, «That, under the sanction of his Majesty's royal proclamation bear 3 date

ar of our idred and uraged to trade, esy consideg the proto Great xpressible t of par- 19 more efnent of the - Arnerica, »

2as COrpus bjected to ment, and cases and e, not by ut by ordi- Governor make void hich must perties inwounded d confined ow limits.

ension and plore your ion, as the chts of the be repealed mble petistitutional ses heretoy's dutiful

ns of Great bled.

emorial of ts the Seiants, Tras Majesty's

of his Mapari: 3 date

the seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three, which graciously promises to all persons inhabiting in, or resorting to this province, his royal protection for the enjoyment of the benefit of the laws of the realm of England, until assemblies should be called therein, they did come and settle themselves in this province, having entrusted their own properties, as well as very considerable sums of their friends, in goods and merchandizes, from Great-Britain, and entrusted the same into the hands of the Canadians, as well for the purpose of internal trade in the province, as for outsets in carrying on the traffick of furs and peltries in the Indian countries and fisheries below Quebeck, many of them having purchased lands and houses ând been employed in agriculture, and the exportation of grain and other produce to foreign markets, to the great benefit änd emolument of the ‘said province, which has flourished chiefly by the industry and enterprising spirit of the said subjects, who, under the. protection of Bfitish laws, and by the assistance of annual supplies of British manufactures, and other goods and merchandize obtained upon credit from the merchants of Great Britain, have been enabled to carry on at least four parts in five of all the imports and exports which are principally made in British bottoms, the latter consisting of furs, peltries, wheat, fish, oil, pot-ash, lumber, and other country produce : and for the more convenient carrying on of the said trade and commerce, they have built wharfs and store houses at a very great expence, insomuch that the property, real and personal, now in British hands, or by them entrusted to Canadians at a long credit, is one half of the whole value of the province, exclusive of the wealth of the different communities;, which your petitioners have

in part set forth in the humble petition to his most excellent Majesty, dated at Quebeck, the thirty first day of December, whichwas in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred aud seventythree ; humbly praying that he would be graciously pleased to require his governour or commander-in-chief to call a general assembly, in such manner, and of such constitution and form, as to his Majesty’s royal wisdom should seem best adapted to secure the peace, welfaré, and good government of this province. Wherefore with deep concern they observe, that in certain examinatiors taken before your honourable house, the British sub:

jects here have been grossly abused and misrepresented, as well as to their numbers as in their impôrtance in this province. For the number of the new subjects has, we humblÿ conceive, been greatly exaggerated, it being, by the last computation, about seventy - five thousand; whéreas, by an enumieration of the British subjects, they amount at this time to upwards of three thousand souls, besides manyÿ that we cannot immediately.ascertain that are dispersed in the Indian countries carrying on trafflck with the savages, besides the merchants and traders with their families settled at Detroit and its dependencies, and at the fisheries below Quebeck. And whereas an act of parliament has lately passed, intituled «An Act for the making more effectual provision for the government of the province of Quebeck in North-America, »

which is said to have been passed upon the principles of humanity and justice, and at the pressing instance and request of the new subjects, signified to his Majesty by an humble petition setting forth their dislike to the British laws and form of government, and praying, in the name of all the inhabitants and citizens of the province, to have the French institutes in their stead, and a total abolition of

trials by jury, together with a capacity of holding places of honour and trust in common. with his Majesty's ancient subjects. We crave leave to inform your honourable house, that the said petition was never imparted to the inhabitants in general (that is) the. freeholders, merchauts and traders, who are equally alarmed with us as the Canadian laws being to take place, but was in a secret manner carried, about.and signed by a few of the seigneurs, chevaliers, advocates, and others in thei” confidence, at the suggestions, and under the influence of their priests; who, under colour of French laws, have obtained an act of parliament which deprives his Majesty's ancient subjects of all their rights and franchises, destroys the Habeas Corpus act, and the inestimable privilege of trial by juries, the only security against the venality of a corrupt judge, and gives unlimited power to the Governor and Council to alter. the criminal laws ; which act has already struck a damp upon the credit of the country, and alarmed all your humble petitioners with the just apprehensions of arbitrary fines and imprisonment, and which, if it takes place, will oblige them to quit the province, or in the end, it must accomplish their ruin, and impoverish or hurt their generous creditors, the merchants in Great Britain, &c. To prevent which, your petitioners most humbly pray that the said act may be repealed or amended, and that they may have the benefit and -pr@œ tection of the English laws, in so far as relates to personal property ; and that their liberty may be ascertained according to their ancient constitutional rights and privileges heretofore granted to all his Majesty’s dutiful subjects throughout the British empire. And, &c., &c. »

Le 8 Décembre 1774 (1), Guy Carleton

(2) Chishoime’s Papers, M.SS. de l'Etat, p. 100.

lance une proclamation pour annoncer la mise en vigueur de l’Acte de Québec.

Le 26 Décembre 1774 (1), la lettre suivante circulait parmi les canadiens français :

« Quelques Anglais travaillent à nous indisposer contre les derniers actes du parlement qui règlent le gouvernement de cette province. Ils déclament surtout contre l'introduction de la loi française, qu'ils vous représentent comme favorisant la tyrannie, Leurs émissaires répandent parmi les personnes peu instruites, que noùs allons voir revivre les lettres de cachet; qu'on nous enlevera nos biens malgré nous ; qu'on nous traineràa à la guerre et dans les prisons ; qu'on nous accablera d'impôts ; que là justice sera administrée d’une manière arbitraire ; que nos gouverneurs Seront despotiques ; que la loi Anglaise nous eût été plus avantageuse. Mais la fausseté de ces imputations, ne saute-telle pas aux yeux ? Y atil quelque connexion entre les lois françaises et les lettres de cachet, les prisous, la guerre, les impôts et le despotisme des gouverneurs ? Sous cette loi, à la vérité, vos procès ne seront plus décidés par un corps de jurés, où président souvent l'ignorance et la partialité. Mais serace uw mal? La justice anglaise estelle moins coûteuse ? Aimeriez-vous que vos enfants héritassent à l’Anglaise, tout à l'ainé, rien aux cadets ? Seriez-vous bien aise qu'on vous concédât vos terres aux taux de l'Angleterre ? Voudriez - vous payer la dixme à dixième gerbe, comme en Angleterre ? La loi française N'’est-elle pas plus claire, plus simple ? n’est-elle pas écrite dans une langue que vous entendez ? La loi française a donc pour vous toute sorte d'avantages : et les anglais judicieux, (tels qu’il s’en trouve un grand nombre dans la colonie.) con-

(1) Masères, An account, etc,, p. 264.

joncer la ébec.

la lettre inadiéns

t à nous actes du 2rnement t surtout française, ‘avorisant ‘épandent aites, que lettres de nos biens era à la w’on nous stice sera rairé; que ques ; que us avantas imputaux? Yales lois achet, les le despoette loi, à us décidés dent sou- Mais serase estelle $ que vos se, tout à vous bien terres aux riez - VOUS be, comme N'est-elle ? n'est-elle que vous donc pour s: et les en trouve bnie,) con-

viennent qu’on ne pourra nous la refuser avec équité.

« Aussi n'est-ce pas là le point qui choque d'avantage, ces citoyens envieux dans les actes du parlement dont ils voudraient obtenir la révocation. Le voici, ce point, qu'ils vous cachent, mais qui se défend entre eux, L'un de ces actes non seulement vous permet le libre exercice de la religion catholique, mais il vous dispense de serments qui y sont con.

traires, et par là il vous ouvre une porte aux emplois et aux charges de la province. Voilà ce qui les révolte! Voilà ce qui les fait dire dans les papiers publics :

«Que c’estun acte détestable, abominable, qui autorise une religion sanguinaire, qui répand partout l’impiété, les meurtres, la rebellion. » Ces expressions violentes nous marquent leur cCaractère, et le chagrin qu'ils ont de n'avoir point une assemblée, dont ils se proposaient de vous exclure en exigeant de vous des serments que votre religion ne vous aurait pas permis de prêter, comme ils ont fait à la Grenade. Par ce moyen ils se seraient vûs seuls maîtres de régler tous vos intérêts, civils, ‘politiques et religieux.

Vous pouvez vous instruire de leurs desseins en lisant les adresses qu'ils ont envoyées à Loudres. Ils y représeutent au roy. « Que les sujets protestants sont en assez grand nombre en cette province pour y établir une assemblée.» Ce motnous les démasque, Une poignée d'hommes, que le commerce avantageux qu'ils ont fait avec nous vient, pour la plupart, de tirer de la poussière, veulent devenir nos maîtres et nous réduire à l'esclavage le plus dur, Je le répète, Je ne parle que des Anglais du comité de Montréal et de quelques marchands de Québec, qui demandent la révocation de cet acte. Il faut que ces gens là nous croient bien bouchés et bien aveugles sur nos propres intérêts, pour nous proposer de nous opposer à un acte, que nous avons de-

mandé ; qui a couté bien des soins et des sollications aux personnes respectables qui s'étaient chargées de nos interêts ; qui nous a été octroyé par’ notre très gracieux Souverain comme une marque de bienveillance toute particulière ; qui à été reçu de notre part avec les marques de la joie la plus vive et la plus grande reconnaissance ayant tous signé, il y à peu de jours, une adresse à Sa Majesté pour lui en faire nosremerciments. Ne serait'ce pas nous rendre ridicules que dé nous'dé.

clarer contre un acte qui nous! accorde ce que nous demandions, le libre exéreice de notre religion, l'usage de nosanciénnés lois, l'extension des limites de notre province? Nos prétendus amis n'en ont tant d'horreur que parcéqu'ils trouvent qu'il nous est trop favorable. Il est vrai que ces actes établissent un impôt sur les boissons. Maïs n'y en avaitil pas du temps des Français. N’est-il pas juste que nous contribuions aux dépenses ét''aux chargés de la provitice ? Cette taxein’'ést:

elle pas modérée et assie sur les objets les moins nécessaires à JA vie? Ouvrez donc les yeux, chers Canadiens, ‘qui pouvez vous être laissés séduire par des ennemis qui veulent vous engager à servir la haine qu'ils vous portent et'à vous faire perdre l'affection de votre sou:

verain. d'oubliais une de leurs objections.

On parle de la levée d'un régiment Canadien. On se Sert de cette circonstance pour vous dire qu’on vous forcera à vous enrôler et à aller faire la guerre au loin:

et, d'un bienfait qu'on a sollicité pour vous, on vous en fait un objet de terreur. Seraitce donc un malheur pour la colonie s'il y avait un régiment Canadien de quatre à cinq cents hommes, dont tous les officiers seraient Canadiens? Cela ne rendrait-il pas à quantité de familles res:

pectables un lustre qui réjaillirait sur toute la colonie ? On augure mal de votre courage, puisqu'on Cherche à vous effrayer par là. Il me reste bien des

choses à vous dire : mais je serais trop long. »

Le 30 Décembre 1774 (1), Guy Carleton reçoit sa commission de Vice-Amiral.

Les instructions, qui ont accompagné la commission du Gouverneur Carleton, le 3 Janvier 1775, après l'adoption du Quebec-Act, ne sont pas dans les Archives de l'Etat. L'explication de cette absence regrettable se trouve dans un pamphlet publié à Londres en 1779 (2), par le Jugeen-Chef Livius, qui avait été destitué par Carleton, pour avoir simplement demandé à la séance du Conseil du 23 Avril 1778, que le Gouverneur communiquât aux membres de son Conseil, les instructions qu'il avait reçues avec sa commission. Le but de cette communication était de constater la juridiction du Conseil et sa compétence à faire des lois. Carleton s'y refusa et fut tellement froissé de cette demande qui lui paraissait plus qu'indiscrète, suspendit le moteur ou plutôt destitua le Juge-en-Chef Livius.

Il est impossible de retrouver en entier le texte de ces instructions. Livius, dans son pamphlet, n’en cite que neuf articles. La réponse aux observations des Juges des Plaidoyers Communs dont il sera bientôt parlé n’en reproduit qu'un article.

L'abbé Ferland, dans ses observations à l'Histoire de l'Abbé Brasseur, ne fait que des extraits de l’article 21. Voici le texte de ces extraits tels que publiés dans ces divers ouvrages :

«20 It is our further will and pleasure, that any five of the said Council shall constitute à Board of Council for transacting all business, in which their ad-

(1) Stuart’s. Admiralty Reporte, p. 390,

(2) Proceedings between Sir Guy Carleton, K.B., late Governor of the Province nf Quebec, and Peter Livius, Esquire, Chief Justice of the sai Province, with the Representation of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations thereupon; The Report of the Lords Committee of Council, and his Majesty order in Council, 1779.

vice and consent may be requisite, acts of legislation only excepted (in which case you are not to act without a majority of the whole). And it is our further will and pleasure, that the members of our said Council shall have and ‘enjoy all the powers, privileges, and emoluments, enjoyed by the members of our Councils in our other plantations ; and also such others, as are contained and directed, in our said commission under our Great Seal of Great Britain, and in these our instructions to you, and that they shall meet together at such time and times, place and places, as you in your discretion shall think necessary, except when they meet for the purpose of legislation, in which case they are to be assembled at the town of Quebec only.

«To You are forthwith to communicate such and so many of these our instructions to our said Council, wherein their ‘advice and consent and mentioned requisite ; as likewise all such others, from time to time, as you shall find convenient for our service to be imparted to them.

«8o You are to permit the members of our said Council, to have and enjoy freedom of debate, and vote in all affairs of public concern, that may be debated in Council.

« 9o And whereas by the aforesaid act, passed in the fourteenth year of our reign, entituled.« An act for making more effectual provision for the government of the province of Quebec in North- America ; » it is further enacted and pro.

vided, that the Council for the äffairs of the said province, to be constituted and appointed in manner therein directed, or the major part thereof, shall have power and authority to make ordinances for the peace, welfare, and good government of the said province, with the consent of our Governor, or in his absence, of the Lieutenant Governor, or Commander in Chief for the time being, provided that

no son the of d wh said pro grec latic ver!

plea nier bliu lati\ Apr con\ and tion shal thei:

well ritol « À peci at an than sent ; first May gent ber t] fifty sumn UT] any t only town assess town ing & for à local town « TI or by inflict ment.

lisite, acts in which it a majour further embers of and ‘enjoy nd emoluers of our tions ; and ained and ion under in, and in , and that such time as you in essary, EXpurpose of y are to be bec only.

mmunicate ur instrucerein their ationed rethers, from convenient to them.

nembers of enjoy free- | affairs of debated in

oresaid act, bar of our or making he governc in Northed and pro:

e affairs of tituted and directed, or ave power nances for rovernment consent of nce, of the imander in bvided that

no ordinance shall be passed unless upon some urgent occasion, at any meeting of the Council, except between the first day of danuary and the first day of May. And whereas the state and condition of our said province do require, that immediate provision should be made by law for. a great variety of arrangements and regulations essentially necessary to the government, it is therefore our will and pleasure, that you do, within a conveuient time, issue saummons for the assembliug of our said Counci! in their legislative capacity, either on the first day of April next, or as soon after as may be convenient, in order to deliberate upon and frame such ordinances, as the condition of affairs within our said province shall require, and as shall, in your and their judgment, be fitand necessary for the welfare of our said province and the territories thereunto belonging.

«100 You are nevertheless to take especial care, that no ordinance be passed at any meeting of the Council, where less than à majority of the Council is present; or at any time, except between the first day of January and the first day of May as aforesaid, unless upon some urgent occasion ; in which case every Member thereof, resident at Quebec, or within fifty miles thereof, shall be personally summoned to attend the same.

«That no ordinance be passed for laying any taxes or duties, such rates and taxes only excepted, as the inhabitants of any town or district may be authorize” io assess, levy and apply within the said town or district for making roads, erecting and repairing public buildings or for any other purpose, respecting the local convenience and economy of such town or district.

« That no ordinance touching religion, or by which any punishment may be inflicted greater than fine or imprisonment for three months, be made to take

effect, until the same shall have received our approbation.

«That no ordinance be passed relative to thé trade, commerce or fisheries of the said Provinee! by which the inhabitants théreof :shallbe put ‘upon à more advantageous footing; than any ot his Majesty's sabjetes eiilier of this King dom or the Plantatians.

«That no ordinance réspecting private property be passéd without a élause suspending its. exécution,-ubtib oûr, royal Will and pleasure is known, not without a saving of the right of us, our heirs and successors, and of all bodies politic: and corporate ; and of all other persons, except such as aré mentioned in:the said ordinance, and those claiming by, from, and under them ; and before such ordinance is passed, proof must be made befôré you in Council, and entered in the Council books, that public notification was made of the party’s intention to apply for such ordinance in the several parish churchez, when the lands in ques.

tion lie, for three sundays at least successively before any such ordinance shall be proposed ; and you are to transit and annex to the said ordinance a certificate under your hand, that the; same passed though all the forms above-mentioned.

«That no ordinance shall be enacted for a less time than two years, except in cases of imminent necessity, or immediate temporary expediency ; and you shall not re-enact any ordinance, to which our assent shall have been once refused, without express leave for that purpose first obtained. from us, upon à full representation by you, to be made to us by one of our principal Secretaries of State, and to our Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, for their information of the reasons and necessity for passing such ordinance ; nor give your assent to any ordinance for repealing any other or-

dinance, which hath passed in your government, and shall have received our royal approbation, unless you take care, that there be a clause inserted therein, suspending and deferring the execution thereof, until our pleasure be known concerning the same,

«lo In the consideration of what may be necessary to be provided for by law, within our said Province, as created and established by the aforesaid act, intituled « An Act for making more effectual pro vision for the government of the Province of Quebec in North-America, » à great variety of objects hold themselves forth to the attention of the legislative Council.

120 (1) The establishment of Courts.

and à proper mode of administering civil and eriminal justice throughout the whole extent of our Pravince, according to the principles declared in the said act for making more effectual provision for the government thereof, demaud the greatest care and circumspection; for, as on the one hand, it is our gracious purpose, Conformable to the spirit and intention of the said Act of Parliament, that our Canadian subjects should have the benefit and use of their own law, usages and customs, in all controversies respecting titles of land, and the tenure, descent, alienation, in cumbrances, and settlement of real estates, and the distribution of personal property of persons dying intestate ; s0 ou the other hand, it will be the duty of the legislative Council to consider well in framing such ordinances, as may be uecessary for the establishment of courts of justice, and for the better administration of justice, whether the laws of England may not be, if not altogether, at least in part, the rule of decision in all

(1) Cet article est reproduit aussi dans la réponse de M. Monk à l’Introduction aux Observations des fuges ete., page 5, dont il sera ci-après parlé.

cases of personal actions, grounded upon debts, promises, contracts and agreements, whether of a mercantile or other nature ; and also of wrongs, proper to be compensated in damages ; and more especially where our natural-born sub

jects of Greal-Britain, freland, or our

other Plantations, residing at Quebec, or who may resort thither, or have credit or property within the same, may happen to be either plaintiff or defendant, in any civil suit of such a nature.

«139 Security to personal liberty, is a fundamental principle of justice in all free governments ; and the making due provision for that purpose, is an object the legislature of Quebec ought never to lose sight of; nor can they follow a better example than that which the common law of this kingdom hath set, in the provision made for a writ of habeas corpus, which is the right of every British subject in this Kingdom.

«170 You shall not displace any of the Judges, Justices of the peace, or other officers or ministers, without good and sufficient cause, which your shall signify to us by one of our principal Secretaries of State, or to our Commissiouers for Trade and Plantations for their information (l.»

«210 C'est notre volonté et notre bon plaisir :

«1o Que... toute correspondance avec une juridiction ecclésiastique quelconque, de quelque nature ou de quelque sorte qu’elle soit, soit prohibée, sous les peines les plus sévères.

«2e Qu'aucun pouvoir épiscopal ou vicariat ne soit exercé dans notre dite province, par une personne professant Ja religion de l'Eglise de Rome, excepté les

(1) Proceedings between Sir Guy. Carleton, K.B., Laie Governor of the Province of Quebec, and Peter Livius, Esquire, Chief Justice of the said Province, &c., &C., p: 28.

rois mai pou aux par ligi

« r'OÏS bon vai nées la tr ser 0 néfi sent seil.

à pl inar aux du «

«1 sont J'aul tout retit de t le b pub

ded upon d agreeor other per to be nd more born sub d, or our uebec, or » credit or y happen nt, in any

iberty, is ice in all king due an object t never 10 w a better common t, in the as COFPUS, r British

ny of the or other good and shall sincipal Sebmmissiofor their

hotre bon

nce avec quelconquelque sous les

al ou vidite prosant la recepté les

leton, K.B., ce, and Peter id Province,

peuvoirs qui sont essentiellement et absolument nécessaires au libre exercice de la religion romaine, et dans ce cas, ils ne seront exercés qu'avec une licence ou permission de vous, sous le grand sceau de notre dite province... et aucun indi vidu ne recevra les ordres sacrés, ou n'aura le soin des âmes sans une licence tenue et obtenue de vous pour cette fin.

«40 Qu'aucun individu, professant la religion de l'Eglise de Rome, ne sera nommé desservant d'une paroisse, dans laquelle la majorité des habitants demandera la uomination d’un ministre protestant ; dans ce dernier cas, le desservant sera protestant, et aura droit à recevoir toutes les dîimes payables dans telle paroisse; néanmoins les catholiques romains pourront avoir l'usage de l’église pour le libre exercice de leur religion, aux heures où elle ne sera pas occupée par les protestants pour leurs services religieux.

«70 Que tous les desservants de pa:

roisse possèderont leurs bénéfices durant bonne conduite ; cependant s'ils sont convaincus d'offenses criminelles ou de menées séditieuses pour troubler la paix et la tranquillité de notre gouvernement, ils seront suspendus ou privés de leurs bénéfices par vous, de l'avis où du consentement de la majorité de votre Conseil.

«80 Que les ecclésiastiques qui jugeront à propos d'entrer dans le saint état du inariage seront affranchis de toutes peines auxquelles pourrait les assujétir l'autorité du siége de Rome pour cet acte.

«120... Que tous les missionnaires qui sont établis parmi les sauvages, soit par l'autorité des Jésuites, soit par celle de out autre pouvoir ecclésiastique, soient retirés graduellement, à telles époques et de telles manières que le demanderont le bon plaisir des sauvages et la sûreté publique, et que des missionnaires pro-

testants soient nominés à leur place (D, n

Ces articles, dit l'abbé Ferland (2), sont suivis d'une longue série d'instructions, dirigées contre l'église catholique, et ton jours mises en avant comme ne gênant aucunement Le libre exercice de la religion de l'église romaine.

Lors de l'invasion de l'armée améri caine, le Général Carleton (3) ordonna à un seigneur canadien d'enrôler ses censi aires, pour repousser l'ennemi. Ge sel gueur le fit sur un si haut ton que les censitaires lui répondirent qu'ils n'étaient plus les sujets du Roi de France, mais du Roi d'Angleterre, et qu'ils n'étaient plus tenus de lui obéir comme à leur seigneur Ce seigneur était presqu'un enfant et les censitaires ne voulaient pas souffrir d'être commandés par lui, Hs offraient cependant leurs services, [en fut de mème dans toutes les parties du pays.

Le 6 Avril 1775 (#, Peter Livius est nommé Juge de la Cour de Vice-Amirauté,

Malgré que l'acte de Québec fût sanctionné Le 22 Juin 1775 6) el que par cel acte toutes les cours de justice fussent abolies le 1er Mai 1779, le Conseil Législalif laissa La Province sans tribunaux jusqu'au 13 Octobre 1775, Aucune action civile ne fut instituée dans cet intervalle.

Le Juge-en-Chef Hey avait proposé au conseil de rétablir les lois commerciales anglaises et le procès par jury à l'option des parties et du consentement du tribunal; mais le conseil sv refusa. Lo Gouverneur Carleton pour prévenir 1e désordre que susciterait Fabolition des ibunaux nomina trois magistrats qu'il

() F'abbé Ferland, Observations à E Histoire de l'abbé Brasseur, p. 28.

(3) Masères. Papers on Quebec, 72.

MacMullen. Æistory of Coude, p. 201.

(4) Stuart. Admirally's Reports, 391,

(5) Musères. Papers on Quebec, 151.

appela Conservateurs de ja Paix pour le dastrict de Québec et autant pour le district de Montréal. Ceux qui ont été nommés pour Québec étaient MM. Adam Mabane, Thomas Dunn et Claude Panet.

Les deux premiers avaient été Juges de la Cour des Plaidoyers Communs pour le district de Québec avant l'abolition des tribunaux, M. Panet était un Avocat et Notaire catholique. A Montréal les conservatours de la Paix étaient MM. le Capitaine John Fraser, John Marteilhe et Réné Ovide Hertel de Rouville. Les deux premiers avaient aussi été Juges des Plaidoyers Communs et le dernier, Juge à l'rois-Rivières sous la domination francaise.

[l y avait sept ans (1) M. Vincelet, seigneur de lIslet avait donné, à la requisi.

tion de l’Evêque dans sa visite, un terrain de huit arpentsen superficie, à la condition qu'on bâtirait l'Eglise sur ce terrain. M.

Vincelet y fit construire à ses frais un très vaste presbytère, dans lequel on pouvait dire la messe, en attendant que l'Eglise fat construite : le curé y étail logé. Au bout de deux ans, Mgr. Briand, à la demande des habitants du haut de la paroisse, détermina ailleurs un lieu où l'Eglise devait être bâtie. Elle s'éleva insensiblement et après trois annéeson la compléta de manière à y pouvoir dire la messe, La condition n'étant pas remplie, M. Vincelet reprit son terrain et la maison qu'il y avait construite, L'Evèque lui fait signifier par le curé que ce qu'il a donné à l'Eglise, il ne peut le retirer; et qu'en conséquence s'il ne remet pas le terrain au curé, il l'excommunierait avec toute sa famille M. Vincelet ven fit rien et garda son terrain. Le prélat lui fit signifier par le curé lexcommunication, ainsi qu'à son épouse, dans le cas où elle aurait été du même sentiment, Alors M. Vincelet le poursuivit, et, en pleine Cour, lui reprocha

(D Musères, Quebec Papers, 120,

ses fureurs, ses violences et son ambition de vouloir se rendre despotique dans le pays, le traita de perturbateur du repos public. La Cour garda un profond silence pendant que M. Vincelet parla et elle ordonna que vù que la clause conditionnelle n'avait pas été observée, le terrain retournerait à M. Vincelet, et condamna l'Evêque.

ar une des clauses de l’Acte de Québec les cours de justice furent abolies, comme on vient de le voir. Cette claus :

annulait les Ordonnances adoptées par le gouverneur et le Conseil et comme conséquence tout ce que ces ordonnances avaient créé et établi. Malheureusement l'acte de Québec en détruisant les tribunaux existants ne pourvoyaient pas à leur remplacement. C'était done une mesure de prudence que Carleton pre nait en réinstallant les juges des Plaidoyers Communs sous un autre nom.

Le jour où les tribunaux furent abolis.

le Ter Mai 1775, le buste du Roi, à Montréal, fut couvert de noir, une mitre mise sur sa tête, et l’inscripion suivante se lisait: « Voici le Pape du Canada et le Sot des Anglais. » Ce n'était pas un cas pendable, tel est l'avis de Masères (1).

Cependant un M. de Bellestre, membre du nonveau conseil législatif, croyant loyal d'y trouver matière à pendre, se serait trouvé froissé d'entendre dire près de lui par un jeune anglais du nom de Franks, qu'en Angleterre on ne pendail pas pour si peu. Une altercation survint entre M. de Bellestre et M. Franks, il s'en suivit des coups de poing. M. Frank:

voulut se plaindre aux juges, qui refu sèrent de lentendre, Ges mêmes juges consentirent cependant à entendre M. de Bellestre, Il le fit arrêter, Nous lisons ce qui suit dans l'acte d'emprisonnement :

« Nous, ayant égard à la dite plainte, et cousidérant combien tout bon citoyen

(1) Additional Papers, 155,

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doit envisager avec horreur un acte aussi atroce, et que par conséquent, tous les propos qui tendent à dire que c'est peu de chose, doivent étre reputés criminels.» Le gouverneur Carleton fit ouvrir les portes de la prison au prisonnier.

Le 25 Mai 1775 (1), les officiers en loi de la Couronne font l’intéressant Rapport suivant sur les prétentions du seigneur de Lotbinière, On y voit la discussion sur la propriété du lac Champlain :

«Pursuant to your Lordships order, dated the 17th day of June 1772, we have taken into consideration the petition of Michael Chartier de Lotbinière, Chevalier and styling himseif Seigneur d'A:

lainville and d'Hocquart, setting forth amongst other things that he has been deprived and dispossessed of his two Lordships of d'Alainville and d'Hocquart, situated at the head of Lake Champlain, in à most advantageous position and consisting of the best and richest land in the Province of New-Yorkto which they were annexed eighteen months after the Treaty of peace and humbly praying for the reasons therein contained thai he may

be reinstated in the full enjoyment of

his said two Lordships, in the same manner as when under the government of France, and that he may be reimbursed of the expenses he has been at in endeavoring to obtain redress therein and to be indemnified for having been kept out of his estate and property for s0 long a time as well as for the damage his said estates may have sustained, whereupon we beg leave to report to your Lordships :

«That the petition of Monsr.'de Lotbinière refers to two Tracts of land under very different circumstances.

« With regard to that tract which 1s claimed by the petitioner under à title derived from a purchase made by him, of Monsr, de Hocquart, in April 1763,

(1) Manuscrit de la Société Historique de Québec, Archives de Londres.

after the conclusions of the Peace with France, it consists of two Seigneuries which amongst several other Seigneuries were granted by the most Christian King.

under his authority, by the Governor of Canada upon Lake Champlain, after France had in violation of the rights of the Crown of Great Britain usurped the possession of the late and cireumjacent country and forcibly maintained that possession by erecting in the year 1731 a fortress at Crown Poini.

«[t appears by the most authentic evidence upon the books of our office that Lake Champlain and the circumjacent country were at all times claimed by the 5 Nations of Indians, as part of their possessions and that by agreement with them, the land on bothsides of the Lake to a very great extent was granted by the Governor of New-York to British sub jects long before any possession appears to have been taken by the Crown of France, which having by the express stipulation of the 15th article of the Treaty of Utrecht acknowledged the sovereignty of the Crown of Great Britain ove: the five Nations, had upon every principle of justice and equity precluded itself froni claim to the possession of any part of their Territory.

« Upon these ground: il was that erec ting a Fort at Crown Pointin 1731, was then and ever after complained of as an encroachment on the British Territories and à violation of our rights, and so careful were the ministers of this coun.

try to preserve those rights, that when in consequence of the treaty of Aïx-la- Chapelle, commissioners or commissaries were in the year 1750, appointed to settle with commissaries on the part of France, the limits of each others posses sions in North America, they were instructed to insist that France had ne right to any possession on the South side of the River St. Lawrence.

RSR ET

«Under these circumstances therefore and for as much as we are clearly of opinion that the stipulations of the Treaty Of Paris, by which Canadian property is reserved doth both in the letter and spirit of them refer only to the property and possession of the Canadians in Canada of which we insist that the country upon Lake Champlain was no part : We cannot recommend to your Lordships to advise His Majesty to comply with what is requested by the Petitioner or to do any act which may in any respect admit a right in the Crown of France to have made those parts under which the possessions upon Lake Champlain are now claimed either by Canadian subjects or others deriving that claim under purchases from them. We do not however mean by any opinion of ours to prejudice the claims in any suit they may bring for establishing those claims by due course of law, and we submit that under any circumstances of the case, the question in dispute, and between these claimants the possessors under New-York grants, can not be properly decided by his Majesty in Couucil, unless upon any appeal from such courts as have constitutionallv the cognizance of such matters.

«Onthe other hand when we consider that many of his Majesty's subjects trusting to the validity of the Canadian titles have become proprietors of those seigneuries under purchases for valuable considerations, we cannot be of opinion that the making grants uuder the seal of New-York of any part of those seigneuries was an unjust and nunwarantable proceeding. That the claimants therefore ought to be quieted in the possession of at least those parts which remain yet ungranted by such order as his Majesty’s law servants shall think more effectual for that purpose, that the Governor of New-York should receive the most positive orders not to make any further

grants whatever of any part of the lands within the limits of any of those seigneuries and that a suitable compensation should be made to the ciaimants for what has already been taken away, by giving them gratuitous grants equivalentin quantity in other parts of his Majesty's Provinces of Quebec or New-York.

«With regard to the other tract claimed by the petitioner under the description of the concession of d'Alainville, when we consider its situation to the south of Crown Point, that it is stated to have been grant*! to him at a time when his Majesty’s armies had penetrated into, and occasionally possessed themselves of the country and that independent of these objections there is no evidence of the grants having been ratified by the Crown of France or registered within the Coony, we cannot recommend to your Loidships to advise his Majesty to give any countenance thereto. But if the petitioner thinks he has a good title, he should be left to establish that title by due course of law in such mode as he shall be advised to pursue for that purpose.

« Having said thus much upon the iuerits of the petition itself, in so far as it regards the validity of the petitioner's title to the lands he claims, we think it necessary in Justice to the nchle Lord that presided at this board in the year 176% to take some notice of what is alleged therein in respect to the declara tion said to have been made by his Lordship to the effect of what is state by the petitioner, and lo observe thi admittinÿ that his Lordship had, in conversation with the petitioner, made use of the expressions he states, they could only refer to the possessions and property in general any where, to which he could shew a legal title; and as an evidence of this meaning we beg leave to lay before your Lordships the annexel extract of à letter to the Lieutenant-Gover-

in AI the

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t clained escription le, when * south of to have when his into, and ves of the of these ‘e of the he Crown u the Covour Loidgive any petitioner he should lue course shall be ose, upon the o far as il etitioner's e think it ble Lorl the vear what is e declara e by his , is statell serve thai had, in er, made s, thev sions and to which nd as a g leave to annexe ut-Govet-

nor of New-York written in consequence of the petitioner’s application and subs cribed by the Earl of Hillsborough which is s0 far from admitting a title in the petithoner to these lands which he claims in particular (hat it expressiy reserves any discussion upon that question until the evidence of the legality of the title should be more authentically adduced and in the mean time with equal justice and humanitv forbids any further grants being made within the hmaits of the seigneuries claimed hy the petitioner, »

Les Conservateurs de la Paix dont il a été ci-dessus question ont exercé leur fonction judiciaire depuis Le fer Mai 1775 au 9 Juin de la même année, L'armée américaine ayant tenté une invasion en Canada, la loi martiale fut déclarée dans toute La province par la proclamation suivante :

«By his Excellency Guy Carleton, Captain General and Governor in Chief, in and our the province of Quebeck and the territories depending thereof in America, Vice-Admiral of the same, and Major-general of his Majesty’s forces, commanding the northern district, etc etc etc.

« À Proclamation.

« Whereas à rebellion prevails in many of his Majesty's colonies in America and particularly in some of the neighbouring ones; and whereas many of the aforesaid rebels have with an armed force made incursions of late into this province, attacking and carrying away from thence à party of his Majesty’s troops together with à parcel of stores and a vessel belonging to his Majesty, and are at present actually invading the province with erms in à traiterous and hostile manner, to the great terror of his Majesty's subjects, and in open defiance of his laws and governinent, falsely and maliciously giving out, by thémselves and

their abettors, that the motives for so doing are to prevent the inhabitants of his province»: from being taxed and oppressed by government, together with divers other false and seditious reports, tending to enflame the minds of the people and alienate them from his Majesty : To the end therefore that so treasonable an invasion may be soon defeated, that all such traitors with their said abettors may be speedily brought to justice, and the publick peace and tranquility of this province again restored, which the ordinary course of the civil law is at present unable to effect, I have thought fit to issue this proclamation, hereby declaring that, until the aforesaid good purpose can be attained, shall, in virtue of the powers and authority to me given by his Majesty, execute Martial Law, and cause the same to be executed thoughont this province : and to that end I shall order the militia within (he same to be forthwith raised. But, as a sufficient number of Commissions to the several officers thereof cannot be immediately made out, E shall in the mean time direct all those having any militia commissions from the Hon. Thos. Gage, the Hon. James Murray, Ralph Barton and Frederick Haldimand, Esquires, heretofore his Majesty s Governors in this province, or either of them, to obey the same, and execute the powers therein mentioned.

until they shall receive orders from me to the contrary; and 1 do accordingly in his Majesty's name hereby require and command all his subjects in this province, and others whom it may concern on pain of disobedience, to be aiding and assisting to such commissioned officers, and others who are or may be commissioned by me, in the execution of their said commissions for his Majesty's service. »

Masères (1) condamne cette proclama.

(1) Additional Papers, 173,

tion ét là déclare contraire aux principes sur lesquels repose la loi Martiale. Québec et Montréal jouissaient de la plus entière tranquillité et les tribunaux établis par le gouverneur lui-même exerçaient leurs fonctions, avec toute l'indépendance et l'efficacité voulues. Au point de vue légal, cette proclamation était nulle, car le gouverneur n'avait pas, par sa cominission, le droit d'établir des tribunaux extraordinaires et de priver toute une province de l'exercice de ses droits civils.

De plus, cette proclamation ne portait pas le sçeau de la province dont le gouverneur était le dépositaire. Les habitants n'étaient pas tenus de prendre connaissance des proclamations du gouverneur, sçellées du sceau de ses armes. Les proclamations du Roi en Angleterre sont toujours sous le grand sçeau de la Grande.

Bretagne. La Commission du gouverneur dit entr'autres choses : qu’il pourra établir la loi Martiale en temps d’invasion et chaque fois que la loi le permet. Or la loi ne permet la loi martiale, que lorsque les lois sont impuissantes à protéger les citoyens ou à faire maintenir la paix.

I y à dans la commission du général Murray et dans celle du général Carleton une différence remarquable qui indique le changement apporté par lActe de Québec dans les attributions législatives du gouverneur et du conseil. Dans la première, le gouverneur, conseil et assemblée sont autorisés à faire des lois qui ue répugneront pas, mais qui seront autant que possible conformes aux lois d'Angleterre. Par la dernière, le gouverneur et conseil seulement (sans assemblée) sont autorisés à faire des Ordonnuances pour tous les objets, à l'exception de l'imposition des taxes. [Il n’est pas dit que ces ordonnances devront être conformes aux lois d'Angleterre. Par la première commission, les lois devenaient en force dans un certain délai. Par la seconde,

elles doivent être approuvées par le Roi en Conseil.

Il y a plus que cela encore. Par l'Acte de Québec, le roi, par Lettres Patentes sous le grand sceau de la Grande Bretagne, peut établir des cours civiles, criminelles et ecclésiastiques (1). En nommant le Gouverneur Carleton, le roi l’autorise conjointement avec son conseil à établir des cours civiles et criminelles.

Le roi pouvait-il déléguer son autorité à ce sujet? L'établissement de ces cours par le Gouverneur Carleton et son conseil n'ayant pas lieu en vertu de Lettres Patentes du roi sous le grand sceau de la Grande-Bretagne, est il légal ?

Vers la fin de l'été de 1775, les treize colonies anglaises, qui formèrent depuis les Etats-Unis d'Amérique, comme on vient de le voir, firent suivre leur déclaration d'indépendance d’une tentative d’invasion au Canada, dans le but de s’en emparer. Le Canada, encore sous l'effet de la terreur et la désolation causées par la conquête, se souciait peu d'épouser la querelle des Etats-Unis, lorsque dans un cas d'insuccès, il perdrait les avantages que l'Angleterre venait de lui accorder par l’Acte de Québec.

Un homme de la paroisse de St. Jean, dont M. de Gaspé était seigneur, voulut se marier avec une de ses parentes assez éloignée et demanda une dispense à l'Evèque, Mgr. Briand (2) Ne pouvant payer le prix qu'avait fixé l'Evêque, l'individu alla voir un ministre anglais pour le marier, lequel s’y refusa ; voyant cela, il assembla ses parents et amis, leur donna un festin et avant de se mettre à table, fit paraître sa future et en présence de son père et des cousins, l’un et l'autre se donnèrent mutuellement le consentement pour le mariage. Ce n'était pas légal, il

(1) Additional Papers, 219, (2) Masères, Additional Papers, 121.

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