Читать книгу A Narrative - Sir Francis Bond Head - Страница 13

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The Republicans are mortified—My Opinions and Policy expressed to the Colonial Office—Am called upon to increase the Executive Council—Ominous Circumstances attending these Appointments—The Republicans prepare to advance.

Although the well-known blue-bound grievance book, which I constantly kept on my table, acted as a talisman in driving from me the republican party, who apparently could speak no language but that of indefinite complaint, yet I clearly foresaw that they would not long submit to be thus easily defeated. Although nothing but polite expressions had passed between us, it was perfectly evident to me, that the Republicans were sorely mortified at being, on all occasions, “brought to book,” and that as their case had thus become desperate, they were not merely waiting, but were eagerly seeking, for an opportunity to pick any quarrel with me, that would enable them to join with Mr. Papineau and the House of Assembly of Lower Canada in open rebellion. Accordingly, though the main body of their forces continued stationary, it will appear from the following despatch, that, before I had been three weeks in the Province, their skirmishers began to advance.

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No. 5.

Government House, Toronto, Feb. 15th, 1836.

My Lord,

I have the honour to enclose to your Lordship an address which I have received from the House of Assembly.

Your Lordship will perceive that it was moved by Mr. M‘Kenzie, with the object publicly to extract from me my opinions on various subjects, which have long been violently agitated in the House by himself and others, and that in order to give unusual publicity to the address, 2000 copies have been ordered by the House to be printed; besides which, it has been copied and published in most of the newspapers.

I accordingly submit to your Lordship my answer to this address, which you will perceive is written to meet the object to which I well know it is intended to be applied, namely, to be circulated throughout the Canadas.

I can assure your Lordship that I have had very satisfactory and amicable conversations with a number of individuals of all parties; and the more I reflect upon what I have heard and observed, the more convinced I am that the population of Upper Canada will eventually rally round this government, if it firmly and decidedly declares that it is determined to maintain the constitution inviolate, but to correct, cautiously, yet effectually, all real grievances.

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As long as people in the remote districts are allowed to believe that the government of this province feels itself insecure, so long will they be disposed to attach themselves to whatever they are led to conceive has stability and strength; but if their own interests be appealed to, if they find that we are anxious to infuse among them capital and population, both of which they ardently desire, and that nothing but dissension prevents it, they will, I firmly believe, very quickly correct for themselves the greatest of all their grievances, namely, a factious opposition to the British Government.

Since my arrival here my attention has been much occupied in searching for two or three individuals fit to be added to the Executive Councils, which will probably be the subject of my next despatch.

I have the honour to be,

My Lord,

Your Lordship’s most obedient servant,

F. B. Head.

The Lord Glenelg, &c. &c. &c.

The Constitutionists, or Tories (as they were called by the Republicans), who immediately after my arrival had made one bad move, now as thoughtlessly made another, which for a moment threatened alarming consequences.

An active member of my Executive Council brought before my consideration, in the most formal {53} manner possible, certain reasons for my increasing that body, which, though obvious and unanswerable, I should have been most happy to have overlooked, until I had had time enough to become better acquainted with the province. Under such an excuse, however, I did not feel disposed to shield myself, and as this grievance at least was admitted, I determined I would not be seen openly to refuse to correct it, but the embarrassing question at once arose, from which party should the increase be made? I did not choose to join the Republicans: the Tories, who, fearing I was their enemy, had thought proper to join in petitioning the King against the very first act of my administration, were still almost in a body standing aloof from me. I did not, therefore, feel it right to advance towards them; and, being thus obliged to be independent, I determined that the addition to my council should be made from the middle party, instead of from either of the two extremes. Accordingly, explaining my object, I collected all the most respectable opinions I could, putting down every name that was recommended to me, and finding that the name of a Mr. Robert Baldwin (a gentleman I had never seen) was repeated on my list infinitely oftener than any other, I sent for this individual (as will appear by the following despatch), and throwing myself upon his advice for the addition of two other names, I was led by him to select Dr. Rolph, who has since proved, next to Mr. M‘Kenzie, the most wicked of the traitors.

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The Constitutionists, or Tories, were both chagrined and alarmed at Dr. Rolph’s appointment, but if they had not joined against me on my arrival, and if one of their party had not most inconsiderately forced upon me this increase of the council, neither Dr. Rolph nor even Mr. Robert Baldwin would ever have been appointed by me.

The following despatch will explain the ominous circumstances which attended these appointments.

No. 9.