tter for it. Then came
the union of the Canadas. Five more years rolled away, and, in spite
of the usual siege operations of those who have money claims against a
government, nothing was done. The various barns and cows and muskets
were still a dead loss. Then in 1845 the Tory administration of Draper
put the necessary finishing touch to the quaker act of 1840 by {116}
providing the sum of money required. By drawing on the receipts from
tavern licences collected in Upper Canada over a period of four years,
the government was in the possession of L38,000 for this specific
purpose. But, after the Union, it was manifestly unjust to pay
rebellion losses, as they came to be known, in Upper Canada and not in
Lower Canada. The Reformers of Lower Canada pointed out with emphasis
the manifest injustice of such a proceeding. It therefore became
necessary to extend the scope of the Act. Accordingly, in November
1845, a commission consisting of five persons was appointed to
investigate the claims for 'indemnity for just losses sustained' during
the rebellion in Lower Canada. This commission was instructed to
distinguish between the loyal and the rebellious, but, in making this
vital distinction, they were not to 'be guided by any other description
of evidence than that furnished by the sentences of the courts of law.'
The commission was also given to understand that its investigation was
not to be final. It was to prepare only a 'general estimate' which
would be subject to more particular scrutiny and revision. Appointed
in the end of November 1845, the {117} commission had finished its task
and was ready to report in April 1846. Its 'general estimate' was a
handsome total of more than L240,000; it gave as its opinion that
L100,000 would cover all the 'just losses sustained.' Of the larger
amount, it is said that L25,000 was claimed by those who had actually
been convicted of treason by court-martial. Not unnaturally an outcry
rose at once against taking public money to reward treason. The report
could not very well be acted upon; and the government voted L10,000 to
pay claims in Lower Canada which had been certified before the union of
the provinces. Another delay of three years followed, until LaFontaine
took the matter up in the session of 1849.

His general idea was simply to continue and complete the legislation
already in force, in order to do justice to those who had 'sustained
just losses' in the 'troubles'