This paper considers the resolutions passed at the large Patriote assemblies held between May and October 1837. Often written in advance, these resolutions can appear repetitive.[1] Nevertheless, they do identify the fundamental political issues in the months leading up to the Rebellions and about the inspirations, rhetoric, political platform, and the measures taken by the Parti Patriote and its supporters. Before plunging into an analysis of the resolutions passed by the assemblies, it is important to place them in their context.
Following the passage of the Ninety-Two Resolutions in February 1834, the metropolitan government appointed Lord Gosford as the new governor of Lower Canada and also established a Royal Commission to consider Patriote grievances. Arriving in Quebec on 23 August 1835, Gosford and Grey and Gipps, his fellow commissioners noted that, in effect, colonial government had broken down. [2] Following a fruitless attempt to conciliation, conflict between the Legislative Council and the Assembly reached new depths when in 1836 the Council blocked a law on education passed by the Assembly. The result was that the Parti Patriote refused to sit in the Assembly and threatened that, unless the Council became an elective body, it would refuse to vote the Civil List.[3] The commissioners finished their enquiry at the end of October 1836 and Grey and Gipps left for England. The various reports of the Royal Commission were finally laid before Parliament on 2 March 1837 and was immediately followed by the rejection of the Ninety-Two Resolutions in Russell’s Ten Resolutions. [4]
News of these resolutions reached Quebec on 10 or 11 April 1837 and created vocal opposition among Patriotes and reformers. Four of Russell’s resolutions were especially difficult for the supporters of the Ninety-Two Resolutions to accept. Resolutions 4, 5, 6 and 7 rejected demands for an elected Legislative Council, refused to grant responsible government, supported the position of the British American Land Company and finally, authorised Gosford to use public monies without the approval of the Assembly. In La Minerve on 13 April and in The Vindicator the following day, there were calls both for agitation following what many saw as the British betrayal and to follow the example of the American colonies. Then, on 20 April, La Minerve announced the calling of a great assembly in the comté de Richelieu.[5]
On 7 May 1837, the first anti-coercive assembly was held at Saint-Ours and it served as the model for the subsequent assemblies.[6] Although there were a large number of assemblies across the province, only the Patriote assemblies benefited from widespread coverage in the radical press especially in La Minerve, The Vindicator, Le Libéral and Le Canadien. I intend to focus exclusively on the Patriote assemblies from Saint-Ours on 7 May through to the apogee of the movement, the Grande assemblée de la Confédération des Six Comtés in late October 1837.[7]
It is important to recognise the immense importance of the resolutions of Saint-Ours.[8] Its condemnation of Russell’s Resolution was typically repeated as the first resolution at the subsequent assemblies. It is generally accompanied by constitutional arguments based on traditional rights and privileges accorded to British subjects of the Crown. Among these, the principle of ‘no taxation without representation’ was mentioned most often. Jealously defending the principle that control of the public monies should lie with the Assembly and arguing that it is the only constitutional means for the people, through their representatives, to exert pressure on an irresponsible government, the Patriotes were particularly angered by Resolution 8. This type of resolution can be regarded as a direct reaction to Russell’s Resolutions and especially to what Patriotes saw as its coercive reaction to the question of appropriations. However, these resolutions did not affect the confidence of Canadian reformers in the British authorities and they decided that further appeals to the British Parliament were both possible and necessary.
The second broad category of resolutions was concrete measures taken to counter the Russell Resolutions and put pressure on the British government to think again. There was widespread support for a boycott on British imports to reduce levels of revenue. However, the assemblies were more divided over the question of smuggling. In this respect, no assembly held on the river north of Montreal apart from those at Malbaie on 25 June supported smuggling as a means of exerting pressure.[9] When the assemblies had voted for the boycott, with the exception of Malbaie and later on 16 July at Deschambault[10], they also elected comités de surveillance for each comté to ensure that the boycott was enforced. It is important to emphasise that there was also widespread support for establishing a convention that brought together members from each comté in the province. Linked to this were calls for support from other colonies and the United States as well as a desire to provide information and education on people’s political rights. The first two types of resolution made up the vast majority of resolutions before 6 August and were reinforced by legal action by the Assembly. This is perhaps better explained by the request from the House of Commons on 3 July 1837 to Queen Victoria to renounce Russell’s Resolution. [11]
The third type of resolution related to long-term grievances and generally restated themes from the Ninety-Two Resolutions. These included the classic themes of the Legislative Council, responsible government, land monopoly by the British American Land Company and the colonial aristocracy. To these were appended new attacks such as on Gosford’s good faith and the bias of the Royal Commission.
The question of seigneurial rights made up the fourth type of resolution. It was the assembly at Sainte-Rose on 11 June that proposed abolishing the seigneurial system with compensation.[12] Then the assemblies at Napierville in Acadie on 12 July and 10 September also called for its abolition.[13] On 6 August, at Saint-François-du-Lac there was an assembly uniquely called to discuss seigneurial tenure or reform of the seigneurial system.[14] The same occurred at Saint-Ignace on 10 September.[15] By contrast, at Vaudreuil[16] on 6 August and Saint-Polycarpe[17] on 15 October, there were explicit calls for abolition. It appears that in the comté de Vaudreuil seigneurial rights was a significant regional issue and all its assemblies called either for their abolition or at least reform. This comté also saw the only resolutions that called for the clergy to keep strictly to spiritual matters and not interfere in more worldly affairs.
The last type of resolution was concerned with establishing a parallel system of justice and also the formation of a force of volunteers and paramilitary organisations. Following his proclamation on 15 June banning further assemblies, Gosford began to dismiss justices of the peace and captains of militia who refused to cooperate with the colonial authorities. Others, who were supporters of the Parti Patriote, resigned.[18] To begin with assemblies were satisfied by denouncing Gosford’s actions but on 10 September at Napierville, the assembly recognised the contribution of those officials who had either been dismissed or resigned. In addition to congratulating them on their patriotism, reformers were informed that they should avoid any business with the ‘unworthy people’ who had accepted Gosford’s new commissions. From the beginning of October 1837, the movement became more threatening. At an assembly in the Deux-Montagnes, its comité permanent established a system of parallel justice on 1 October.[19] For the first time, a comité de comté maintained that its authority had been ‘conferred by the people’, a direct stand against British authority. The same comité recommended that its people should organise and arm themselves by parish under the command of a chosen captain of militia. On 4 October, the Fils de la Liberté in their Address to the young people of America invited Lower Canada to rise up and achieve the sovereign independence of America. [20]
Finally, the Patriote movement reached its peak with the Grande assemblée de la Confédération des Six-Comtés at Saint-Charles on 23-24 October 1837. [21] The 4,000 to 5,000 people present reiterated the resolutions passed in the Deux-Montagnes, discussed the possibility of recourse to arms and while the official resolutions had a pacific appearance, the pompous form of the assembly and also the Adresse de la Confédération des Six-Comtés aux habitants du Canada that borrowed from the preamble of the Declaration of American Independence represented a dangerous precedent for colonial government. [22] Ironically, the largest loyalist assembly was held in Montreal[23] on 23 October and less than a month later the Richelieu valley was embroiled in military action.
Appendix 1: List of assemblies held, May-November 1837
| Date | Event | Organisation | Media |
| May 7 | Saint-Ours | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on May 11 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 23-28 |
| May 15 | Saint-Laurent | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on May 18 in in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 29-37 |
| May 15 | Saint-Marc | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on May 22 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 38-41 |
| May 15 | Québec | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on May 23 in The Vindicator; Bernard, pp. 42-46 |
| June 1 | Saint-Scholastique | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 5 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 47-56 |
| June 1 | Saint-Hyacinthe | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 8 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 57-61 |
| June 4 | Longueuil | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 12 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 62-66 |
| June 4 | Québec | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 8 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 67-77 |
| June 11 | Sainte-Rose | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 15 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 78-83 |
| June 18 | Berthier | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 22 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 84-91 |
| June 18 | Saint-François-du-Lac | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 26 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 92-100 |
| June 23 | Saint-Hyacinthe | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 29 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 101-104 |
| June 25 | La Malbaie | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 31 in Le Libéral; Bernard, pp. 105-110 |
| June 26 | Saint-Thomas | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on July 3 in Le Canadien; Bernard, pp. 111-116 |
| June 28 | Montréal | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on June 30 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 117-121 |
| June 29 | Rawdon | Loyalist | Resolutions published on July 14 in Le Populaire; Bernard, pp. 122-125 |
| July 4 | Stanbridge | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on July 13 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 126-132 |
| July 6 | Montréal | Loyalist | Resolutions published on July 8 in The Montreal Gazette; Bernard, pp. 133-134 |
| July 12 | Napierville | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on July 20th in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 135-143 |
| July 16 | Deschambault | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on July 24 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 144-147 |
| July 24 | Napierville | Loyalist | Resolutions published on August 1 in The Montreal Gazette; Bernard, pp. 148-152 |
| July 25 | Trois-Rivières | Loyalist | Resolutions published on July 28 in Le Populaire; Bernard, pp. 153-155 |
| July 26 | Yamachiche | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on July 31 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 156-160 |
| July 29 | L’Assomption | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on August 3 in La Minerve |
| July 31 | Québec | Loyalist | Resolutions published on August 2 in L’Ami du peuple; Bernard, pp. 167-170 |
| August 4 | Aylmer | Loyalist | Resolutions published on August 19 in L’Ami du peuple; Bernard, pp. 171-173 |
| August 6 | Yamaska | Loyalist | resolution unique published on August 19 in L’Ami du peuple; Bernard, p. 174 |
| August 6 | Saint-Constant | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on August 14 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 175-179 |
| August 6 | Saint-François-du-Lac on seignorial tenure | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on August 18th in Le Canadien; Bernard, pp. 180-182 |
| August 6 | Vaudreuil | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on August 14 in Le Canadien; Bernard, pp. 183-188 |
| September 10 | Saint-Denis | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on September 24 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 189-193 |
| September 10 | Napierville | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on September 21 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 194-196 |
| September 10 | Saint-Ignace | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on September 21 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 197-201 |
| September 16 | Milton | Loyalist | Resolutions published on November 29 in Le Populaire; Bernard, pp. 202-203 |
| September 16 | Saint-Antoine | Parti patriote | an account of the country lunch published on September 21 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 204-206 |
| October 1 | Permanent committee of Deux-Montagnes | Parti patriote | Resolutions of the 8th sitting published on October 9 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 207-213 |
| October 13 | Clarenceville | Loyalist | Resolutions published on November 11 in The Montreal Gazette; Bernard, pp. 223-225 |
| October 15 | Saint-Polycarpe | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on October 19 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 226-230 |
| October 23 | Montreal at Place d’Armes | Loyalist | Resolutions and addresses published on October 24 and 28 in The Montreal Gazette; Bernard, pp. 231-258 |
| October 23-24 | Confederation of the Six Counties in Saint-Charles | Parti patriote | Resolutions and addresses published on October 30 and November 2 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 259-285 |
| November 5 | Saint-Athanase | Parti patriote | Resolutions published on November 9 in La Minerve; Bernard, pp. 286-290 |
| November 13 | Abbotsford | Loyalist | Resolutions published on November 21 in The Montreal Gazette; Bernard, pp. 291-293 |
| November 20 | Sherbrooke | Loyalist | Resolutions published November 2 in The Montreal Gazette; Bernard, pp. 294-298 |
| November 23 | Granby | Loyalist | Resolutions published on December 4 in The Morning Courier; Bernard, pp. 299-300 |
Appendix 2: Analysis of assemblies
This table is based on material found on the Patriotes website.
| 1. Saint-Ours: 7 May | 9. Vaudreuil: 6 August |
| RESOLUTIONS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | |
| Russell Resolutions denounced | X | | X | X | X | X | X | X | 7 | |||||||
| Denounce attacks on Constitution | X | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 10 | ||||
| People misled, broken confidence | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 9 | ||||||
| Americans as natural allies | X | X | X | X | 4 | |||||||||||
| ‘No legislation/taxation without rep’ | | X | X | X | 3 | |||||||||||
| Repeal Act of Tenure | | X | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Reduce revenues; boycott | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 8 | |||||||
| Smuggling | X | X | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Develop manufactures/commerce | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 8 | |||||||
| Comité de surveillance | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 7 | ||||||||
| Association patriotique du pays... | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 8 | |||||||
| Thank friends in London and Toronto | | X | X | X | X | X | 5 | |||||||||
| Attack Legislative Council | | X | X | X | X | 4 | ||||||||||
| Denounce Gosford | X | X | X | X | X | 5 | ||||||||||
| Petition US Congress to abolish customs | X | | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Not vote subsidies | | X | X | X | 3 | |||||||||||
| Equal citizens without distinction | | X | X | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Elected Legislative Council | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 8 |
[1] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, p. 12.
[2] Filteau, Gérard, Histoire des Patriotes, (L’Aurore), 1975, pp. 161-164.
[3] Greer, Allan, Habitants et Patriotes, (Boréal), 1997, pp. 133-134, Ryerson, Stanley-Bréhaut, Capitalisme et Confédération, (Parti pris), 1978, p. 49.
[4] Ibid, Filteau, Gérard, Histoire des Patriotes, pp. 183, 186.
[5] Leclerc, Félix, ‘1837-1838, dates et événements’, in ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Les Rébellions de 1837-1838. Les patriotes du Bas-Canada dans la mémoire collective et chez les historiens, pp. 92-93.
[6] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 23-28.
[7] See Appendix 2 below.
[8] See above, pp. 297-301.
[9] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 105-110.
[10] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 144-147.
[11] Leclerc, Félix, ‘1837-1838, dates et événements’, in ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Les Rébellions de 1837-1838. Les patriotes du Bas-Canada dans la mémoire collective et chez les historiens, p. 100.
[12] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 78-83
[13] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 135-143, 194-196.
[14] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 180-182.
[15] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 197-202.
[16] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 183-188.
[17] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 226-230.
[18] Ibid, Greer, Allan, Habitants et Patriotes, pp. 200-201.
[19] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 207-213.
[20] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 214-222.
[21] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 259-285.
[22] Ibid, Greer, Allan, Habitants et Patriotes, p. 209; ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 277-285.
[23] Ibid, Bernard, Jean-Paul, Assemblées publiques, résolutions et déclarations de 1837-1838, pp. 231-258.
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