Institute Lecture Course - Political History of the United Empire Loyalists

Year
1884
Month
1
Day
29
Article Title
Institute Lecture Course - Political History of the United Empire Loyalists
Author
----
Page Number
3
Article Type
Language
Article Contents
INSTITUTE LECTURE COURSE. Political History of the United Empire Loyalists. “The Political History of the United Empire Loyalists” was the subject of the lecture of Mr. C. E. Fraser, the principal of the Institute for the Blind, Halifax, delivered in the Mechanics’ Institute, last evening. The usual large attendance was present, and the platform was occupied by the president, Mr. D. P. Chisholm, Messrs. I. Allen Jack, John Magee, J. A. Wright, G. F. Mathew, G. Herbert Lee and others. The lecture was an interesting one and listened to with marked attention by the audience. Mr. Fraser, in opening his lecture, spoke of the interest surrounding the early history of our country, replete, as it is, with events which, from the novelty of their character, are bound to excite the admiration and attention of the student of history. After a passing mention of that most important epoch in the history of this country, the year l783, the lecturer launched out directly on his subject. He began by alluding to the religious difficulty which led a band of Englishmen known as the Pilgrim Fathers to settle in America, and later the Puritans, and detailed the growth and progress of the country to the time of the war which practically ended with the fall of Quebec, when the question of nationality and government was once and forever settled. The aid in this war rendered by the colonies was supplemented by the home government, who annually granted large sums of money to meet the expenses incurred by the colonies. Thus, while the national debt was increasing by the millions, the colonies were enjoying comparative financial ease, due principally to the aid received from Great Britain. The feeling of loyalty then felt, which was thirty years before the declaration of independence, by the colonies is instanced by resolutions passed by the legislature of Massachusetts. The speaker then followed closely the political events in England bearing on the colonies and those in the colonies themselves, beginning with the demand made by the Parliament of Great Britain that the export and import duties should be paid in specie instead of paper money, followed by the calling of a general congress, in which all the States should be represented, and the formulating of the Bill of Rights, claiming for the people of the colonies all the privileges of citizens in Great Britain. He spoke of the repeal of the Stamp Act and the three bills passed by the British Parliament in 1767 for the purpose of levying a specific tax and preventing smuggling, and as a result the formation of non-importation associations. People in the colonies were united; old party lines forgotten. The presence of a large number of troops also kept up a constant irritation, from which grew the Boston massacre. The second attempt to raise a colonial revenue by the Government, of which Lord North was leader, was more disastrous than the first. As a result, the throwing into Boston harbor of three hundred and seventy-two chests of tea by seventeen irresponsible men almost deprived Massachusetts of her charter, while it created a most bitter feeling in England. The cause of Boston was freely espoused by the colonies and another general congress summoned, but before the reports had reached Great Britain another election had been held, and as the Government had been sustained they resolved to continue their suicidal course, and the Government refused to give the colonial delegate a hearing. Then began the agitation for the dismemberment of the colonies. While the press advocated that course, and the country was flooded with pamphlets having this object; others did all in their power to prevent such a step, having faith that British love for justice and fair play would ultimately prevail. Notable among the latter was Isaac Wilkins, who worked with a will, although thirteen years of British tyranny had made his task a difficult one. On the first division of the representatives of the colonies, on Richard H. Lee’s motion favoring dismemberment from the mother country, the representatives of six colonies voted for independence, six against; three of the representatives of Pennsylvania voted for and three against making the vote a tie. When the second vote was taken, one of the Pennsylvania representatives who, on the first vote, opposed the motion, was induced to absent himself, and the motion was carried. The events of the war that followed, and the persecutions later of those who remained true to their country, were narrated, as well as the bravery of the 20,000 persons of the 40,000 which left the colonies at the dose of the war, who settled in the maritime provinces, embracing among the number, the most respectable and ablest of the colonists. The condition of the country at that time was reviewed, and the names of a number of those who chose British rule with untold hardships, rather than independence with ease and wealth, called to mind particular attention being given by the lecturer to the Chipmans, Robinsons, Allens, Fishers, Wilmots and others. The one hundred years that have elapsed since the Empire Loyalists found a welcome home in this country have brought many changes. The bitter feeling has long since died out and today a relation most friendly and harmonious exists. While they are content to live under republican principles, the people of New Brunswick prefer the old and well tried British constitution, under which they desire to see the country advance. The rapid progress of the last 100 years warrants the assertion that the coming 100 years has something in store for us, and it may not be too much to hope that our country will be the brightest jewel that adorns the diadem of our beloved sovereign.