Chapter XXII

1838.

Victims of the Rebellion.--State of the Country.

Early in 1838 the trials for treason took place. Messrs. Lount and Matthews were found guilty and sentenced to death. Other parties were also tried: among them was Dr. Thomas D. Morrison, a prominent Methodist in Toronto.[57] In a letter to Dr. Ryerson, at Kingston, his brother John mentions that Dr. Morrison was triumphantly acquitted. He also mentions (as an amusing incident at the trial) the success of the two counsel for Dr. Morrison, in showing that statements entirely contradictory to each other could be fully proved from Sir F. B. Head's own speeches and dispatches. He said:--

Mr. Macdonald, of St. Catharines, stated that Sir Francis had
declared in his speech at the opening of the Parliament, that he
knew of the rebellion long before it occurred, and that he was the
cause of it. Mr. Boswell, of Cobourg, admitted that Sir Francis had
said he knew a good deal. But the Governor was very fond of a fine
style; he liked rounded periods, or, as Lord Melbourne had
expressed it, "epigrammic" flights, so well, that he could hardly
make his pen write the words of truth and soberness on such
occasions. Mr. Boswell read several extracts from Sir Francis'
despatches to Lord Glenelg, which were in direct opposition to the
extracts read by Mr. Macdonald. A gentleman whispered to me that
anything (no matter what) could be proved from Sir Francis'
writings and sayings. In reply to the Attorney-General, Mr.
Macdonald said:--That if the suspicion of treasonable motives and
doings in others, and not informing or using prompt measures to
correct or prevent what might follow, was treason, then Sir Francis
was the greatest traitor in the country, for he said he knew all
about the proposed outbreak. Mr. Boswell said, that after Sir
Francis had seen the "Declaration," and had taken the advice of the
Attorney-General, he had sent a despatch to the Colonial Secretary
declaring that there was nothing treasonable in the country; that
everything was as it should be! To demonstrate this, he had sent
away all the troops. Thus, you see, the two lawyers made poor Sir
Francis prove everything.

The jury returned with a verdict of "not guilty," which caused
great cheering, and which could not be suppressed for some time.
Several of the jury were warm Tories, but they acquitted the
Doctor.

In another letter to Dr. Ryerson, his brother John gives an account of the efforts made to induce Sir George Arthur, the new Governor, to commute the sentence of Lount and Mathews. He says:--

I have signed a petition for the mitigation of Lount and Mathews'
punishment, as did Brother William. I have just seen Rev. James
Richardson, who has been with Lount and Mathews. Mathews professed
to have found peace. Lount is earnestly seeking. A good deal of
feeling has been excited respecting the execution of these
unfortunate men. A petition signed by 4,000 persons in their behalf
was presented to His Excellency. It was agreed that Rev. Mr. Brough
(Church of England minister from Newmarket) and I should go and
present the Toronto petition, and that we should seek a private
interview with him. Instead of having a private interview, we were
called into the Council Chamber in the presence of the Executive
Council. This was rather embarrassing to me, as I did not wish to
say what I had intended to say in the presence of Sir Francis' old
Executive Council. After presenting the petition, Mr. Brough
introduced the conversation and referred Sir George to me. I told
him that I was extensively acquainted with the country,--that I had
travelled lately through the Niagara, Gore, Home, Newcastle, Prince
Edward, and part of the Midland Districts,--had conversed with a
great many persons, many of whom, even persons of high
respectability, and were strongly attached to the interests of His
Majesty's Government, and the pervading feeling was that the severe
penalty of the law should not be executed on those victims of
deception and sin. I also read an extract of your last letter to
His Excellency [p. 188]--relating to the inexpediency of inflicting
severe punishment "in opposition to public sentiment and policy,
for political offences," etc. After having listened to me very
attentively, His Excellency said, that after the fullest
consultation with his Executive, and the most serious and prayerful
consideration of this painful matter, he had come to the conclusion
that Lount and Mathews must be executed.

I also mentioned to the Governor that you and Rev. J. Stinson had
waited on Sir Francis about four weeks previous to the
insurrection,--that you informed him of insurrectionary movements
about Lloydtown and other places, which you had learned from
me,--that you had strongly urged Sir Francis to raise volunteers,
and put the city and other places in a state of defence,--that you
and I had waited on the Attorney-General next day, and that we had
urged these things on him in a similar manner;--but that these
statements and advice had been disregarded, if not disbelieved.

In a subsequent letter he thus related the closing scene:--

At eight o'clock to-day, Thursday, 12th April, Lount and Mathews
were executed. The general feeling is in total opposition to the
execution of those men. Sheriff Jarvis burst into tears when he
entered the room to prepare them for execution. They said to him
very calmly, "Mr. Jarvis, do your duty; we are prepared to meet
death and our Judge." They then, both of them, put their arms
around his neck and kissed him. They were then prepared for
execution. They walked to the gallows with entire composure and
firmness of step. Rev. J. Richardson walked alongside of Lount, and
Rev. J. Beatty alongside of Mathews. They ascended the scaffold
and knelt down on the drop. The ropes were adjusted while they were
on their knees. Mr. Richardson engaged in prayer; and when he came
to that part of the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses, as
we forgive those that trespass against us," the drop fell!

In a letter written to Dr. Ryerson the next day, his brother John mentioned a sad incident connected with Lount's trial:

Lount's daughter, a young woman, was present when her father was
condemned. It had such an effect on her, that she went home and
died almost immediately afterwards. These are indeed melancholy
times!

The evil effects upon the country of the arbitrary conduct of Sir F. B. Head, are thus described in a letter to Dr. Ryerson from his brother William, dated Toronto, 22nd April:--

The very painful excitement caused by the execution of Lount and
Matthews has in some degree subsided, but dissatisfaction with the
state of things is, I fear, increasing from day to day. Emigration
to the States is the fear of the hour. It is indeed going on to an
extent truly alarming and astonishing. A deputation has been sent
from this city to Washington to negotiate with the American
Government for a tract of land on which to form a settlement or
colony. They have returned, and say that they met with a most
gracious reception, encouragement and success beyond their most
sanguine expectations. An emigration society has been formed,
embracing some of the leading citizens. Its object is to commence a
colony in the Iowa Territory, on the Mississippi River.[58] A very
large class are becoming uneasy, and many of the best inhabitants
of the country, as to industry and enterprise, are preparing to
leave. My own spirit is almost broken down. I feel, I assure you,
like leaving Canada too, and I am not alone in those feelings; some
of our friends whom you would not suspect, often feel quite as much
down in the throat as I do. If ever I felt the need of faith, and
wisdom, and patience, it is at the present. I have just returned
from visiting the prisoners. After all, we know but little of the
calamities and miseries with which our once happy land is now
afflicted, and yet Sir Francis, the most guilty author of this
misery, escapes without punishment; yes, with honour and praise!
How mysterious are the ways of Providence--how dark, crooked, and
perverse the ways of man.

FOOTNOTES:

[57] Dr. Morrison had been a clerk in the Surveyor-General's office,--had, indeed, while there, collected materials for Dr. Strachan's Ecclesiastical Chart,--but, without any charge, or the slightest deficiency in faithfulness and efficiency, was dismissed, for the simple reason that he had become a Methodist! He then devoted himself to the medical profession. He was once elected to the House of Assembly for York, defeating the Attorney-General. He was also once elected Mayor of Toronto. He was the writer's [and the editor's] physician during life; died in great peace, strong in faith, giving glory to God.--"Epochs of Canadian Methodism," pages 188, 189.--H.

[58] This disposition to remove from Upper Canada to Iowa was not confined to Toronto and its vicinity. In the following chapter the case of a Mr. John Campbell, M.P.P. for Frontenac county, is mentioned. He was on his way to Iowa when he saw and read Dr. Ryerson's defence of Mr. Bidwell. The reading of that defence changed his plans, and he remained in Canada. (See page 192.)