ion contests, and at the general
election of 1824 was himself returned to the Assembly as the colleague
of the brilliant young lawyer.

In addition to John Rolph, Marshall Spring Bidwell, Captain John
Matthews and Peter Perry, a number of other advocates of Reform
principles were returned at the general election of 1824. For the first
time in Upper Canadian annals, it was manifest not only that the
Reformers had a majority in point of numbers in the Assembly, but that
they had a decided preponderance of ability. No adherent of the official
party--not even the Attorney-General, John Beverley Robinson--was a
match for Rolph or Bidwell, to say nothing of Perry, whose oratory was
of an altogether different complexion, though scarcely less effective.
Upon the meeting of the Houses the numerical strength of the respective
parties was fairly tested by the vote on the Speakership. The Reformers
nominated as their candidate John Willson, one of the members for
Wentworth. Mr. Willson was an unpretending farmer, of strong political
convictions, but of good sense and calm judgment, who had allied himself
with the Reformers, and who might safely be depended upon to discharge
the duties incidental to the Speakership with judicial impartiality. The
vote stood twenty-one to nineteen, the majority of two being in Mr.
Willson's favour. The Reformers felt that they had achieved a triumph,
and were accordingly jubilant; but they soon found that the mere control
of the Assembly signified very little in the absence of Executive
responsibility. The Legislative Council interposed its dead weight, and
vetoed one bill after another sent up by the Assembly.

The Reform preponderance in the Assembly, however, and the bringing
together of the leading supporters of Liberal principles, led to the
establishment of an organized body of Reformers, which from that time
forward made its existence felt throughout the constituencies, and
presented an obstacle to the continued rule of the Compact. Conspicuous
among the Fathers of Reform, in addition to John Rolph, Peter Perry,
Captain Matthews and the two Bidwells, were Doctor William Warren
Baldwin, his son Robert, and William Lyon Mackenzie. None of the three
last-named gentlemen was at this time in Parliament, but they were
nevertheless all able to render very valuable services to Reform
principles--the first two by reason of their wealth and high social
position, and the third from the fact that he was