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Story June 5, 1839

North American

Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont

What is this article about?

Mr. Bliss, a New Brunswick-born lawyer in London, publishes a pamphlet outlining a controversial government plan for the Canadas, including disfranchisement in Montreal to favor the oligarchy and strict property qualifications for legislators; the Quebec Mercury calls it absurd and unjust.

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OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

Another Humbug.--Mr. Bliss. a lawyer at London, and a native of New Brunswick, has published a Pamphlet containing his plan of Government for the Canadas. The most prominent part of this plan, is the disfranchisement, (left to the discretion of the Governor.) of the district of Montreal, so as to insure a majority to the oligarchy. In the counties having 200 voters of each class, he gives one member to the free-holders, and one member to the censitaires (that is to say those who hold their lands under the feudal tenure). There shall be two members of each House in the Executive Council, and five members of the Assembly shall be transferred to the Legislative Council, at each Session. The Attorney General and Solicitor-General of each Province shall be entitled to a seat in the House of Assembly. The qualifications of the members of the Council shall be 1000 acres of lands, free from encumbrances, or $16,000 of moveable or immoveable property : and half of it for the members of the Assembly. The Parliament shall be held in one or the other of the Provinces, or in each alternately. The debt of the two Provinces shall be united. This plan comprises many other clauses more or less absurd and unjust and forms a whole so complicated and so foolish that the Mercury itself, after having given a sketch of it, declares that it would please neither the majorities nor the minorities of the two provinces.-Quebec Canadien.

What sub-type of article is it?

Curiosity Historical Event

What themes does it cover?

Justice Social Manners

What keywords are associated?

Political Pamphlet Canada Government Humbug Plan Disfranchisement Oligarchy Property Qualifications

What entities or persons were involved?

Mr. Bliss

Where did it happen?

Canadas, Montreal

Story Details

Key Persons

Mr. Bliss

Location

Canadas, Montreal

Story Details

Mr. Bliss proposes a government plan for the Canadas involving disfranchisement in Montreal to favor oligarchy, dual representation for free-holders and censitaires, transfers between councils, property qualifications for members, alternating parliament locations, and united provincial debts; the plan is criticized as absurd and unjust by the Quebec Mercury.

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