For Against Not Voting 361,801½ 115,838 35,619½ Quebec 7,120½ (i.e. ¼) 20,148½ (i.e. ¾) Montreal 13,714 (i.e. ½) 6,254 (i.e. ¼) One-fourth did not vote, owing to the vacancy in the seat of one of the representatives. See “Christie,” Vol. V, 238-242. [7] The commissioners finished their six reports before the end of 1836. They were eventually doubtless useful to Lord Dunham in the preparation of his report. The commissioners considered an elective legislative council undesirable but they formulated a system of representative government on lines which we now understand. While granting the government of internal affairs it strove to preserve the unity of empire. [8] In the Imperial parliament in 1837 Mr. Robinson quoted La Minerve of Montreal, which stated that immediate separation from England was the only means of preserving French Canadian nationality. CHAPTER XVII MONTREAL IN THE THROES OF CIVIL WAR 1837-1838 THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO REMAIN CROWN-APPOINTED--THE SIGNAL FOR REVOLT--FIRST INSURRECTIONARY MEETING AT ST. OURS--DR. WOLFRED NELSON--CONSTITUTIONAL MEETINGS--THE PARISHES--THE SEDITIONARY MANIFESTO OF “LES FILS DE LIBERTE” AT MONTREAL--REVOLUTIONARY BANNERS--IRISH REJECT REVOLUTIONARY PARTY--MGR. LARTIGUE’s MANDEMENT AGAINST CIVIL WAR--THE FRACAS BETWEEN THE DORIC CLUB AND THE FILS DE LIBERTE--RIOT ACT READ--THE “VINDICATOR” GUTTED--MILITARY PROCEEDINGS--WARRANTS FOR ARREST--PAPINEAU FLIES--RELEASE OF PRISONERS AT LONGUEUIL--COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES--ST. DENIS--LIEUTENANT WEIR’S DEATH--GEN. T.S. BROWN--ST. CHARLES--ST. EUSTACHE--CAPTURE OF WOLFRED NELSON--SECOND MANDEMENT OF BISHOP LARTIGUE--DAY OF THANKSGIVING--CONSTITUTION SUSPENDED--THE INDEPENDENCE OF CANADA PROCLAIMED BY “PRESIDENT NELSON”--THE REGIMENTS LEAVE THE CITY--LORD DURHAM ARRIVES--AMNESTY AND SENTENCES--DURHAM RESIGNS--THE SECOND INSURRECTION--MARTIAL LAW IN MONTREAL--SIR JOHN COLBORNE QUASHES REBELLION--STERN REPRISALS--ARRESTS--TRUE BILLS--POLITICAL EXECUTIONS--“CONCORDIA SALUS.” In the March and April of 1837, the parliament in London seriously considered the Canadian emergency. On March 6th, Lord John Russell introduced ten resolutions, which passed. The fourth stated that it was inadvisable to make the legislative council of Canada an elective body, but that measures should be taken to secure for it a greater degree of public confidence, and the fifth, that while expedient to improve the composition of the executive council, it was inadvisable to subject it to the responsibility demanded by the house of assembly.