First Parliamentary Elections—Political Issues of the day—Richard Beasley and William Scollick elected for Halton, 1825—Growing opposition to the Family Compact—William Lyon Mackenzie—The Members elected for Halton in 1828 and 1830—Mr. Shade returned in place of the Hon. James Crooks in 1831— Mackenzie speaks in Galt in 1833- -Burned in effigy by Conservative opponents—Arrival of Sir Francis Bond Head at Toronto—The Halton Elections of 1834 and 1836—Mr. Alexander Burnett—“Liberty Cottage”—Upper Canada on the brink of Revolution.

The first Parliamentary election in which the settlement took a part, of which we have any reliable record, was in the year 1825. There was not so much interest taken in politics then as a few years later on, and as the votes in Dumfries and Galt were limited, and the polling place distant, being at some point near Wellington Square, there was little excitement over the result. The candidates returned were Messrs. Richard Beasley and William Scollick. They were Liberals, and the latter gentleman at one time owned and resided on Clochmohr farm, which was subsequently purchased by Mr. James Cowan, and has ever since remained his residence.

Three years afterwards, in 1828, when the general Election came on, public interest had considerably quickened in political affairs. William Lyon Mackenzie had started the Colonial Advocate at Niagara in 1825, and the Province had been gradually aroused to the tyrannical and selfish rule of the Family Compact party, then firmly entrenched in power. The rankest abuses then flourished. Liberty was more a name than a reality. Public meetings to discuss politics were not permitted. Conventions were held to be Seditious. And besides ruling as an oligarchy, the Family Compact monopolized every position of profit, honour, or trust, for themselves, “their sisters, their cousins and their aunts.”

When the elections of 1828 took place, Dumfries displayed that strong sympathy with Liberal principles which has ever since distinguished it. The electors warmly supported the Liberal candidates, Messrs. George Rolph and Caleb Hopkins, who were returned at the head of the polls.

It would lead too far from the subject in hand, to enter at length into the political issues which now began seriously to disturb the Province. Two Parliaments had been elected hostile to the Family Compact, nevertheless, backed up as they were, first by Sir Peregrine Maitland, and afterwards by Sir John Colborne, they continued to control the Government and defy the popular will. The demand as well for Responsible Government as for the reform of abuses, advocated by the Reform Part}' of that day, grew stronger daily.

The death of George IV, in 1830 dissolved the Legislative Assembly, and produced another election. On this occasion the County of Halton changed its political allegiance. The Liberal candidates were beaten, and Messrs. James Crooks and William Chisholm elected. The following year, 1831, Mr. Crooks vacated his seat, being called to the Legislative Council. Mr. Shade, of Galt, was brought forward for the vacancy, and duly elected in his place. There was much rejoicing in the village when the result became known. The crowd drew Mr. Shade round the streets in a carriage, pulling up finally at the village inn—a preceding which he did not seem to relish very much, but could not very well avoid.

It was during this Parliament that William Lyon Mackenzie was expelled five times from the Legislative Assembly by the dominant party, and five times re-elected by his constituents of the County of York. Mr. Shade’s name appears in all the divisions expelling Mr. Mackenzie. The political excitement continued rapidly to increase all over the Province, and few parts thereof were more deeply stirred than the Township of Dumfries. The setting aside of one-seventh of all the public lands as Clergy Reserves, and the establishment of fifty-seven rectories under Sir John Colborne’s administration, were deemed undoubted evidence that the ruling oligarchy were firmly bent on inflicting a State Church upon the country, the danger of which served to render the people of Dumfries more strongly pronounced in their Liberalism than ever. So warmly did they sympathise with Mackenzie, that the locality was nick-named “the States,” and continued to be known by that soubriquet for several years.

During the year 1833, William Lyon Mackenzie addressed political meetings in different parts of th£ Province. He was invited to Galt, and was greeted by two or three hundred electors, among whom the neighbouring townships were well represented. Mr. Mackenzie, although now generally admitted to have been patriotic and unpurchaseable, was, it must be confessed, somewhat of a political firebrand, and his presence in Galt excited not a little hostility on the part of the local leaders of the opposite party. He spoke, during the afternoon, from the south-end window of the only tavern the village possessed, and towards the middle of his speech, an unusual commotion appeared on Main Street, about where Fleming’s store now is.

A person fantastically dressed, and with blackened face, appeared with a hideous-looking effigy of Mackenzie, which contained a small parcel of gun-powder, and which he proceeded to set fire to. The figure was well gotten up, and the extremities were fitted with a good pair of boots, which were recognised as belonging to a loading Galtonian, who usually wore a quality and style not commonly in use. Mr. William Mackenzie, of Dumfries, ran hurriedly up to the figure, which prematurely exploded, knocking him over, but inflicting no serious injury. The whole proceeding was in full view of the orator, who smiled grimly, but went on with his speech very little disconcerted.

As the darkening shades of evening came on, there was much noise and jeers and mirth among the assembled crowd, and quite a little scrimmage ultimately occurred over

Mr Absalom Shade.

the remains of the effigy. Boots were boots in those days ; and, evidently regretful to see such wastefulness, a farmer of West Dumfries named Marshall, rushed through the crowd, seized the boots of the half-scorched figure, and made oft with them as fast as his legs could carry him! The hero of this incident, who was a bit of a wag, declared afterwards they were the “bra west” Sunday boots he had ever had. But if his pursuers had caught him that night it would have fared badly with him.

In 1834, the Reformers throughout the Province once more carried the elections, and Halton again changed sides, On this occasion, Messrs. Caleb Hopkins and James Durand were returned. This Reform victory at the polls, a Canadian historian says, was “the knell of the Family Compact.” Butduring the stormy session of 1835,they continued, nevertheless, to set at defiance the people’s representatives, treating the demand for Responsible Government with obloquy and derision.

Becoming alarmed at the increasing excitement throughout the Colony, the British Government relieved Sir John Colborne, and sent out Sir Francis Bond Head late in the fall of 1835. He reached Toronto, via New York, near the end of January, 1836. This action appeared to indicate that the Imperial Government desired to redress the grievances of which the Province complained, the arrival of Sir Francis aroused the strongest hopes on the part of Reformers. We need not dwell upon what is a well-known matter of history. Sir Francis, after a slight dallying with Messrs. Baldwin, Rolph and Dunn, leading Liberals, threw himself completely into the arms of the Family Compact, and entered upon a rash and needless struggle with the House of Assembly and all who opposed his individual wishes.

Finding the Assembly would not bend to his ideas, Sir Francis abruptly dissolved it on the 28th May, only four months after his arrival. The elections which followed were unusually bitter. The Governor himself, it is now generally admitted, acted in an unconstitutional and partizan manner, whilst the conduct of his advisers, under the influence of the political excitement, was characterised by a degree of violence and unscrupulousness which they doubtless regretted in calmer moments. Even in the usually peaceful districts of Dumfries, Waterloo, and Beverly, the contest was unusually turbulent.

Mr. Alexander Burnett was then in the prime of life, and his zealous advocacy of Responsible Government and other reforms sought by Mackenzie and the Reform Party, was at this time rapidly bringing him into notice. A few years later, he was regarded as the leading local advocate of the popular cause. His residence, on the banks of the river opposite where Goldie and McCulloch’s foundry now is, was known far and wide as “Liberty Cottage,” and for some time became the centre around which political magnates and movements revolved.

The style of Mr. Burnett as a speaker was well adapted to the times. It was characterized by sharp, vigorous home-thrusts, earnestly delivered, and clothed in language always impassioned, and frequently poetic. Despite a rather strong tendency to imagery, he generally pleased, and often made a deep, and lasting impression upon his audience. His reputation spread to neighbouring districts, and his services on the political platform were often in request.

The tactics of Sir Francis Bond Head and the Family Compact carried all before them in the elections of 1836. The Conservative candidates for Halton, Messrs. Absalom Shade and William Chisholm were elected, and throughout the Province generally the Reformers w^ere defeated. Messrs. Mackenzie, Bidwell, Perry, and other Reform leaders, lost their seats. The majority obtained by their party only two years before, was completely reversed. The Province, in consequence of this unfortunate blow to the popular cause, was thrown into a state of political despair bordering on revolution. How bitter were the feelings engendered, may be known by the following verses from “ Rhymes for the People,” published at the time:—

“Up then! for Liberty—for Right,
Strike home! The tyrants falter;
Be firm—be brave—let all unite,
And despots’ schemes must alter.
Our King, our Government and Laws,
While just, we aye shall love them;
But freedom’s heaven-born, holier cause,
We hold supreme above them.”