Chapter XVIII

1836-1837.

Important Events Transpiring in Upper Canada.

Dr. Ryerson was absent in England from 20th November, 1835, to 12th June, 1837. On the 15th of January, 1836, Sir John Colborne, by order in Council, endowed fifty-seven Rectories in Upper Canada out of the Clergy Reserve Lands. On the 23rd of that month Sir F. B. Head, the new Governor, arrived in Toronto. On the 14th of January following, he opened the Session of the Legislature. What followed was reported to Dr. Ryerson by his friend, Mr. S. S. Junkin, in a letter, dated, Toronto, 1st May:--

Our Parliament was prorogued on the 20th April, after such a
session as was never before known in Upper Canada. You will form
some idea of the state of affairs when I tell you that it "stopped
the supplies," and the Governor reserved all of the money bills,
(twelve)--including that for the contingences of the House,--for
the King's pleasure.

The immediate cause of the rupture between the new Governor (Sir F. B. Head) and the House of Assembly--

Arose out of the resignation of the Executive Council. On the 20th
February, the Governor (as directed by Lord Glenelg) added three
Reformers to his Council, viz.: Messrs. Robert Baldwin, John Rolph,
and John Henry Dunn. On the 4th March, these gentlemen and the
Conservative members, (Messrs. Peter Robinson, George H. Markland,
and Joseph Wells) resigned. They complained that they were held
responsible for measures which they never advised, and for a policy
to which they were strangers. In reply the Governor stated in
substance that he alone was responsible for the acts of his
government, and was at liberty to have resource to their advice
only when he required it; but that to consult them on all questions
would be "utterly impossible." This answer was referred to a
Committee of the House of Assembly, which brought in a report
censuring the Governor in the strongest terms. On the 14th March,
Sir F. B. Head appointed Messrs. R. B. Sullivan, William Allan,
Augustus Baldwin, and John Elmsley, as his new Executive Council.
On the 17th the House declared its entire want of confidence in the
new Council, and stated that in retaining them the Governor
violated the instructions of the Colonial Secretary to the
Governor, to appoint Councillors who possessed the confidence of
the people. Much recrimination followed; at length Sir F. B. Head
dissolved the House, and directed that a new election be held.

In regard to this election, Dr. Ryerson, in the "Epochs of Canadian Methodism" (page 226) says:--

Sir F. B. Head adroitly turned the issue, not on the question of
the Clergy Reserves, or of other practical questions, but on the
question of connection with the mother country, and of
Republicanism vs. Monarchy, as had been recommended by Messrs. Hume
and Roebuck, and advocated by Messrs. Mackenzie and Papineau. This
was successful, inasmuch as those Reformers who would not disavow
their connection with Messrs. Mackenzie, Hume and Roebuck, lost
their election; for though not more than half a dozen had any
sympathy with the sentiments of Messrs. Hume, Roebuck, Papineau,
and Mackenzie, they did not wish to break the unity of the Reform
party by repudiating them, and suffered defeat in consequence at
the elections. The successful candidates, generally, while they
repudiated Republican separation from the mother country, promised
fidelity to the oft-expressed and well-known wishes of the people
in the settlement of the Clergy Reserve question, which, however,
they failed to fulfil.

In a letter to Dr. Ryerson, from Hallowell, his brother William said:--

Our loyal address, a very moderate one, to the Governor, was
carried unanimously--all the young Preachers on trial being allowed
to vote on that occasion. This is equally gratifying and surprising
to all the friends of British supremacy. A gentleman from Montreal,
who was present, was so surprised, and I may say, delighted, that
he could hardly contain himself. I did not know for a short time,
but he would be constrained from the violence of his feeling to
jump up and shout. The Conference also adopted a very good address
to the King. (See page 162.)

We are on the eve of a new election. The excitement through the
country at large exceeds anything I have ever known. There would be
very little cause for doubt or fear as to the results, were it not
for one of the last acts of Sir John Colborne's administration, in
establishing and endowing nearly sixty Rectories. Knowing, as I do,
that the public mind is strongly opposed to any measure of that
sort, or any step towards legalizing a church establishment, yet I
could not believe the feeling was so strong as it actually is. If
the elections should turn out disastrously to the best interest of
the country, the result can only be attributed to that unjust and
most unpolitic act. We are willing to do all that we consistently
can, but everywhere the rectory question meets us. While I am
compelled to believe that a vast majority are devotedly loyal to
our gracious Sovereign, yet the best and most affectionate subjects
of the King would almost prefer revolution to the establishment of
a dominant Church thus sought to be imposed on us.

In a letter to Dr. Ryerson, from Toronto, his brother John says:--

The late elections agitated the Societies very much in some places,
but they are now settling down to "quietness and assurance." I hope
that the worst of the storm is over. The Governor is a talented
man, but very little magisterial dignity about him. He takes good
care to let every one know that _he_ esteems every day alike,
travelling on Sabbaths the same as other days. Indeed he seems to
have no idea of religion at all, but is purely a man of pleasure.
His popularity will soon be upon the wane if he does not mend in
these respects.

The friends in Kingston are very anxiously looking for your return,
and are becoming quite discontented and out of patience. They
complained bitterly to me of your long absence, and were anxious to
have me stay with them until you return.