hose servant he had been for as long a period as the
oldest inhabitant had been his subject, and whose highest displeasure
he should incur if the acts of these designing men had produced any
effect, he trusted that neither doubts nor jealousies had crept into
the public mind. He would recall to the deluded, if there were any, the
history of the whole period during which they had been under His
Majesty's government. It was for them to recollect the progressive
advances they had made in the wealth, happiness, and unbounded liberty
which they then enjoyed. Where was the act of oppression--where was the
instance of arbitrary imprisonment--or where was the violation of
property of which they had to complain? Had there been an instance in
which the uncontrolled enjoyment of their religion had been disturbed?
While other countries and other colonies had been deluged in blood,
during the prevalent war, had they not enjoyed the most perfect
security and tranquillity? What, then, could be the means by which the
traitorous would effect their wicked purposes? What arguments dare they
use? For what reason was happiness to be laid aside and treason
embraced? What persuasion could induce the loyal to abandon loyalty and
become monsters of ingratitude? The traitorous had said that he desired
to embody and make soldiers of twelve thousand of the people, and
because the Assembly would not consent, that he had dissolved the
Parliament? It was monstrously untrue, and it was particularly
atrocious in being advanced by persons who might have been supposed to
have spoken with certainty on the subject. It had been said that he
wanted to tax the lands of the country people, that the House would
only consent to tax wine, and that for such perverseness he had
dissolved the Assembly. Inhabitants of St. Denis! the Governor General
never had the most distant idea of taxing the people at all. The
assertion was directly false. When the House offered to pay the civil
list, he could not move without the King's instructions. But in despair
of producing instances from what he had done, the traitorous had spoken
of that which he intended to do. It was boldly said that Sir James
Craig intended to oppress the Canadians. Base and daring fabricators of
falsehood! on what part of his life did they found such assertions?
What did the inhabitants of St. Denis know of him or of his intentions?
Let Canadians inquire concerning him of the heads of their church. The
h