The opinion of the legislative council of Lower Canada is finally to be recorded. In its petition it gives its fixed and determined opinion that the union of the two legislatures in one would only tend directly to enfeeble and embarrass His Majesty’s government and finally to create discontent in the minds of His Majesty’s faithful subjects in this colony. Upper Canada was quite satisfied with the existing conditions. The chief agitators, therefore, for the bill were to be found in Montreal and with them sided the Eastern Townships.
The bill for the union was withdrawn. When it was brought up later it was more wisely thought out. It did not tread on established prejudices and rights and it brought with it the panacea of true responsible government. But at the present date this was not fully seen. The great objective was to become independent of the colonial office by a representative and elective legislative council. It was hoped thus to control all expenditures. Hence the members of the lower assembly, not content with the exercise of mere municipal legislation, were ever asserting their rights in the latter regard and the Colonial Office as often, checking their aspirations.
NAMES OF JUSTICES OF PEACE OF MONTREAL FROM 1796-1833
James McGill John McKindlay St. George Dupré Charles Blake Louis Porlier Thomas McCord Pierre Vallèe John Lilly Robert Cruickshank Patrick Murray John McGill James Finlay Neveu Sylvestre Alexander Henry Gabriel Franchere James Walker James Alexander Grant Joseph Frobisher John Richardson Isaac Winslow Clarke Alexander Auldjo William Maitland James Hughes Simon McTavish James Dunlop Thomas Forsyth John Lees Louis Chaboillez Jean P. Leprohon Jean Bouthillier Francois Desrivièrés Jean Durocher Jean Marie Mondelet François Rolland Paul Lacroix Etienne St. Dizier James Caldwell Henry Deschambault Henry McKenzie James Milne William McGillivray Jean Jorand L.C. Deléry Chartier de Lothbinière Joseph Turgeon Archibald N. McLeod Louis Guy Thomas Porteious Joseph Senet Francois Ant. Larocque William Robertson Pierre de Boucherville Hughes Heney Charles Fremont Alexandre Malbut Henry Bing Louis Marchand Thomas A. Turner Angus Shaw Pierre de Rocheblave James Miller Fred W. Ermatinger Samuel Safe George Auldjo James Leslie John Gray George Moffatt Jonas Wurtele George Garden William Lunn Horatio Gates N.B. Doucet Henry Griffin Peter McGill Robert Frost D.C. Napier Thomas Barron William McKay William Prady John Fleming Charles de Montenac David Ross Touissant Pothier Denis Benjamin Viger Joseph Shuter John Fisher Jules Quesnel Adam McNider Pierre Lukin Benjamin Holmes Andre Jobin Austin Cavillier Joseph Roy Joseph Masson William Hall John McKenzie J.P. Saveuse de Beaujeu John Forsyth Jos. Ant. Gagnon Tancrede Bouthillier