re so pleasing to Mr.
Witsius Ryland, in Lower Canada, and which had evidently been stirred
up, by the men-in-office, with the view of depriving both provinces of
the "exact image and transcript of the British constitution," with
which the Canadas had been favored in 1791. Until the invasion, in
1811, political discontent was loud and incessant, as well in Upper as
in Lower Canada; and it was the misrepresentations of the governing
party and the outcries of the governed in both provinces, that induced
the government of the United States to make war, on false pretences,
upon the government of Great Britain. There were persecutions for
opinion's sake in Upper as in Lower Canada. The newspaper was as odious
to the government in one province as in the other. In 1806, a sheriff
of the Home District, in opposition to the will of the Governor, voted
at an election. He lost the shrievalty for his stubborn independence.
Thrown upon his own resources, he established a newspaper, which he
called _The Upper Canada Guardian, or Freeman's Journal_. He spoke with
considerable freedom of the governor. He attacked the ministerial
party. He exhibited abuses with wonderful dexterity and skill. The
ex-sheriff, Joseph Wilcocks, was rapidly rising into note. It was time
to restrain him. A Captain Cowan was induced to be his persecutor. The
truth rapidly becoming dangerous to those whose business consists in
concealing the truth, cannot always be told with safety. Wilcocks
alleged that the Governor or his Executive Council had bribed several
members of the Assembly with land, to induce them to vote against the
interests of their constituents. Captain Cowan knew that the assertion
was without foundation. Wilcocks was prosecuted but was acquitted,
gained popularity in return for his persecution, and ultimately
obtained a seat in parliament. There was no more freedom for Wilcocks
in parliament than out of it. For some extra freedom of speech on the
floor of the House, he was thrust into prison. Nevertheless, he
acquired an ascendancy in the Assembly, to the great regret of the
ministerialists. He became still more the object of governmental wrath,
and when the war broke out, he was deprived of his paper. In 1812, he
fought as a volunteer against the Americans. He was present at the
battle of Queenston. He did all that within him lay, for his country
and for his king; but the government of the province hated and
persecuted him, so that starving an