h has been passed by me, and as the
most uncompromising enemies to the whole of my administration of
affairs there.

I had been made aware of this Gentleman's {61} proceedings for two or
three days, and certainly could hardly bring myself to tolerate them,
but in my great anxiety to avoid if possible any disturbance, I had
delayed taking any step. Upon receiving, however, from himself this
extraordinary demand, I at once treated it, joined to his previous
conduct, as a resignation of his office, and informed him that I
accepted it without the least regret.

Of Baldwin's personal integrity there was no doubt; but the honest man
had been used as a tool. If the intrigue had succeeded, all Sydenham's
labour must have been lost, the Union would have been wrecked in the
launching, and the country thrown back into chaos. Fortunately the
intrigue failed. Baldwin passed over to the opposition, but he was
unable to lead the Reformers of Upper Canada into killing government
measures such as extension of the main highways, reform of the usury
laws, establishment of a comprehensive municipal system. They followed
the sounder leadership of Hincks and supported Sydenham in his wise
efforts to promote the country's good.

{62}

The whole session was a series of crises. Sydenham stood pledged to
the cardinal principle of democratic government, that the majority must
rule. Parliamentary procedure, as they have it in England, was a new
thing in Canada. In Great Britain the government does not always
resign when defeated on a vote, nor does the opposition defeat the
government when it has no power to form an alternative government. The
only consistent opposition was Neilson's band of French Canadians, and
their policy was pure obstruction and their object to separate the two
provinces once more. By combining the factions it was possible
sometimes to defeat a government, but for the government to throw down
the reins of power, with no one on the other side capable of taking
them up, would have been madness. The situation craved wary walking
and most delicate balancing; but Sydenham was equal to it. Later in
the session, when the members had learned their lesson, the
governor-general affirmed his position in a series of resolutions moved
by Harrison, the leader of the government. In these he asserted:
first, his position as representative of the monarch, and, as such,
responsible to Imperial {63} authority alone; secondly