Page:Letter from L. J. Papineau and J. Neilson, Esqs., Addressed to His Majesty's Under Secretary of State on the Subject of the Proposed Union of the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada.djvu/73



Petition of the county of Wentworth, in the District of Gore, Province of Upper Canada
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Imperial Parliament assembled.

The Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Wentworth, in the District of Gore, Province of Upper Canada.

Most Humbly Sheweth,

That when your Petitioners, His Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, emigrated to his Province (many of whom did so) at an early period, for the purpose of enjoying the blessings of British Government, they immediately drew forth the paternal care and solicitude of his late Majesty, who, in the Thirty-first year of his reign, by an with the advice and consent of the British Parliament, gave to Canada a Constitution, the transcript of their own; and at the same time, for good and sufficient reasons, divided Canada into two Provinces; the Upper Province being principally settled with subjects of His Majesty, who were accustomed to British laws, and using the English language. Every circumstance that has arisen during the period elapsed, has tended to unfold its benefits, by bringing its enactments into practical operation, raising our administration of, and attachment to, a Constitution so well adapted to our feelings, and contributing so largely to our happiness.

The Petitioners, conscious that their gratitude and attachment to His Majesty's Government have been manifested on every occasion, it was with the deepest regret, and utmost astonishment, that they received the heads of a Bill brought before your Honourable House during its last Session, for altering the said Act of 31st Geo. III., chapter 31, altering, so as to destroy Petitioners' liberty altogether, without their knowledge, without their consent, and without any misconduct on their part, amounting to a forfeiture! That Petitioners beg to assure your Honourable House, that the proposed alterations could only