Part 42 (1/2)

Feeling that the bill provides for the encouragerossest injustice by robbing and plundering the National Church; that it attempts to destroy all distinction between truth and falsehood; that its anti-Christian tendencies lead directly to infidelity, and will reflect disgrace on the Legislature, I give it ain utters his prediction, and stated that what he wanted would be secured in England He said--

At the sa law But it may be useful, for its monstrous and unprincipled provisions will teach the Iislature to tareat and holy principles of the Constitution, on the preservation of which the prosperity and happiness of the British Eh it was almost impossible to reason with any one ould deliberately use such extravagant language, yet Dr Ryerson replied to the Bishop's statements _seriati such an effusion, the Bishop ht well betake hiood Lord to deliver hilory and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred and malice, and all uncharitableness

The fate of the bill is thus described in a statement on the subject, prepared by Dr Ryerson What he details clearly reveals the powerful and sympathetic influences which the Bishop of Toronto was able successfully to bring to bear upon ”Henry of Exeter”--the then leader of the Bench of Bishops,--and, through him, upon the other Bishops in the House of Lords Besides, Sir John Colborne (now Lord Seaton) took strong ground in the House of Lords in favour of the views of his old friend, Bishop Strachan, and aided the English Bishops in giving them practical effect Thus the reiterated prophecy of the Bishop of Toronto was not uttered without abundant foreknowledge It proved too true Knowing this, he no doubt felt free to deal in strong language, both against the Legislature of Upper Canada, and the land in both Houses, ere too patriotic, just and reasonable, as well as far-seeing, to second his efforts to aggrandize the Church at the expense, and against the strongly-expressed and oft-repeated wishes, of the majority of the people, of Upper Canada He said:

On the bill being sent to England (accoetic despatch fro Her Majesty's Government not to disallow, but to sanction it), the Bishop of Exeter ht to the clergy reserve property in Canada should be referred to the twelve Judges of England; but the decision of the Judges having proved adverse to the exclusive pretensions of the Bishop of Exeter and his party in England and Canada, the English Bishops then conferred with Lord John Russell, in order to set aside Lord Sydenham's Canadian bill, and introduce one into the Imperial Parliament which would acco the question to the Judges Lord John Russell becaent in this unconstitutional act of injustice and spoliation against the rights and feelings of a large ainst this act that Messrs W and E Ryerson (then in England), on behalf of the Wesleyan Church in Canada, rely-worded letter to Lord John Russell--the only coious body in Canada against the bill while it was before the British Parlia the strong influences which had been brought to bear upon Mr

Poulett Thoe 193), and against the Methodist body generally by interested parties in this discussion, Dr Ryerson addressed a letter to the Governor-General on the 25th March, 1840, in which he reviewed the course of the _Guardian_ and his own attitude on public questions during the preceding ten years

The letter was evidently written with deep feeling, and under a keen sense of the injustice done to the Methodist people by ed and persistent misrepresentation of these years He said:--

I address your Excellency with feelings of the highest respect and strong affection You are the first Governor of Canada who has exerted his personal influence and the authority of his station, to accomplish that in Upper Canada which has been avowed and pro the last ten years--fra the Government for the equal protection and benefit of all classes of Her Majesty's Canadian subjects In doing so, your Excellency has been told that you have patronized ”republicans and rebels”The _Guardian_, which you have been pleased to honour with an expression of your approbation, has been charged with opposite crimes from different quarters You have been told that the hts you have justly and kindly consulted--have formerly co the first years of its existence, was nothing but a vehicle of radicalism, disaffection, and sedition As to the former, I may say that the Methodistthe last twenty years As to the latter, I furnish three columns of extracts fro may be adduced:--

1 That in 1830 I entertained less friendshi+p towards our Ahbours than I do in 1840

2 That in 1830 I advocated the very principles in the administration of the Provincial Government that your Excellency has declared to be the basis of your adly opposed to an exclusive, or sectarian, spirit as I aave to the electors in 1830, as to their rights and interests, I could now repeat with a view to support your Excellency's administration

5 That the very principles upon which your Excellency has commenced your administration,were actually promised and assured to the people of Upper Canada by a Tory Government in 1830

In 1830 the Colonial-Secretary and Sir John Colborne proclaiood laws and free institutions,” and the non-preference systeious denominations, which your Excellency is determined to carry into practice When the hopes created by these avowals have not only been deferred for these years, but those who have indulged these hopes have beena realization of them, you cannot be surprised if many of their hearts have been made sick, and that confidence and hope has yielded to distrust and despair

The Governor-General, through his private secretary, often requested Dr

Ryerson, while Editor of the _Guardian_, to correct ard to His Excellency's proceedings[109]

After an intervieith His Excellency, at his request, Dr Ryerson, in a letter dated 4th April, 1840, estion as to the desirability of establishi+ng the _Monthly Review_, as athe liberal viehich he entertained in regard to the future governan of public opinion in harmony with these views It was at first proposed that Dr

Ryerson should edit the _Review_, but after fuller consideration of the eestion, placed in the hands of John Waudby, Esq, Editor of the Kingston _Herald_ It was issued in Toronto early in 1841, but ceased on the death of Lord Sydenham, in September of that year In Dr Ryerson's letter to the Governor he said:--

About a fortnight after your Excellency left Toronto, I happened in the course of conversation with Hon R B Sullivan toa monthly periodical, such as I hadof the kind should be undertaken; I stated to hihly approve of such a publication, if it could be successfully established Mr Sullivan pressed me to prepare a prospectus and submit it for your Excellency's consideration I drew up a prospectus, and got an esti all expenses Mr Sullivan fully concurred in the prospectus, except the first paragraph He was afraid it ht be construed into an expression of opinion in favour of ”responsible Governraph in place of it The one was as acceptable toof apprehension and e, and the course of exertion which a successful accomplish, until now, the acconification of your pleasure thereon[110]

I cannot but see that the public mind in this country is in a chaotic state, without any controlling current of feeling, or fixed principle of action, in civil affairs; but susceptible, by propercast into any ; yet liable, without judicious direction, to fall into a state of ”confusion worse confounded” I know that now is the time--perhaps the only time--to establish our institutions and relations upon the cheapest, the surest, and the only permanent foundation of any systes of the population But I alone have not theto the accomplishment of these objects To the ut to exert s'

reh overnment about to be established in these provincesand loftiest reatest earthly blessing to its inhabitants; and it will be to me a source of satisfaction to contribute towards the for of materials for the erection of a monument at once so honourable to its founder, and so beneficial to Her Majesty's Canadian subjects

The personal influence of your Excellency in Lower Canada will be required to induce two or three of the cleverest men in Lower Canada to contribute to the columns of the _Review_; especially on questions and subjects which grow out of the state and structure of society in that province Mr Sullivan thinks he will be able to contribute one, if not two, articles for each nuentlemen who are competent to contribute very ably on soit character, ive it soul, if it have any; he must combine, concentrate, and direct its power And such a publication, got up under so high and favourable auspices, and properly conducted, and e ine of immense and even irresistible moral power in the country; and must materially contribute to its intellectual as well as political elevation

As toaltogether from any connection with the press in all discussions of civil affairs in every shape and form, and I can consistently and honourably do so in June But if this course be not justifiable in the present circumstances of the province; if it be deemed expedient for ht to do ious body The relation, character and objects of the publication I now conduct, impose a restriction upon the topics and illustrations which are requisite to an effective discussion of political questions Under such circumstances I can neither do justice to myself, nor to the subjects on which I occasionally reht discuss

I have felt the more disposed to make this communication, because your Excellency's avowed syste to practice those views of civil polity in Canada which have guided my public life, as your Excellency will have observed from the articles and references which have appeared in the _Guardian_ I have been defeated and disappointed heretofore, because the local executive itself has been for the most part rather the head of a party, than the Government of the country, and the opposition, or ”Reforone to equal extreance; so that I have occupied the unenviable and unco and checking the conflicting waves of mutual party violence, convinced that the exclusive and absolute ascendancy of either party would be destructive of the ends of just Government, and public happiness; a position which, previously to your Excellency's arrival in Canada, I had determined to abandon, as I foundany per it

I think the appearance in this province of Lord John Russell's despatch on ”Responsible Government” is timely The ”Reformers” are too fully coe portion of the old ”Conservative” party are glad of an excuse to change their position Neither party can triu This mutual concession will prepare the way for mutual forbearance, and ulti perceived that the Editor of the _Exa the Govern wholly of the old Reformers, who had identified themselves in 1834-5-6, with the Papineau party of Lower Canada, I thought it desirable to check such a design in the bud, by insisting upon the support of Hon W H Draper, and that he should be returned upon the sarounds as those of Mr Baldwin