legislative
independence of Upper Canada. Two methods were therefore adopted: The
first was to divide the Methodists (as shown in the last chapter). The
second and more astute one was to appeal to the professed loyalty of
that class which hitherto had been held up to scorn as disloyal, and
denounced as republican in its tendencies, as well as seditious in their
conduct. The appeal was varied in form, but it was in substance that as
those who made it were not themselves afraid to trust their interests in
the hands of the Sovereign, their opponents should be equally trustful
in the equal and entire justice which would be meted out to all of her
Canadian subjects.[104] This appeal, from its very speciousness, and the
skill with which it was pressed, had its effect in many cases. But, as a
general rule, it failed. The object of the decisive change of tactics
was too transparent to deceive the more sensible and thoughtful men to
whom the appeal was addressed.

The two other methods adopted (already referred to) were only partially
successful; but the three combined, no doubt, strengthened the hands of
the advocates of the scheme for the re-investment of the reserves in the
Crown. They, however, ceased to press the matter upon public attention,
being determined to bide their time, and (as events proved), to carry
their point in another and more skilful way.

In the meantime, and early in 1839, Dr. Ryerson was deputed by several
important circuits to present loyal addresses to Sir George Arthur. This
he did on the 2nd February; and in enclosing them to the Governor's
secretary, used language which sounds strange in these days of religious
equality. He said:--

I feel myself fully authorized, by various communications and my
official position, to assure His Excellency that the members of the
Wesleyan Methodist Church will not be contented with subordinate
civil standing to any other church, any more than the members of
the Church of Scotland. They do not, and never have asked for any
peculiar advantages; but they feel that upon the principles of
justice, by labours, by usefulness, by character, by numbers, and
by the principles laid down in royal despatches, they are entitled,
in the eye of the law, and in the administration of an impartial
government, to equal consideration, and equal advantages with any
other church. I am confident that I but state a simple fact, when