"The principles of the reformers are those of truth, are those that tend to promote the happiness of the many--instead of the few. Although in common with thousands of the old farmers in Canada, with thousands of the sons of U. E. Loyalists, I was willing to petition the mother country for the redress of our political wrongs, and even to petition them again and again, yet when I see insult upon insult heaped upon the reformers of this Province: our Governors allowed with impunity to slander and laugh at the people and their House of Assembly--when I see Governors who have held up with both hands the gracious despatches of the deceitful and tyrannical Colonial Office--conspiring against the liberties of this colony by establishing a 'Dominant Church' and 'English Church Rectories' amongst us against our will and desire, _raised, promoted_ and _applauded_ for deceiving the people here, when I see Judges suspended and dismissed from their offices for voting for liberal men and the _elective franchise_, the only spark of liberty we can boast of, trampled down by office holders, and done away with by the Governor issuing thousands of patent deeds to his favorites and officials, I begin to ask myself, shall I, shall we, who have made the country what it is, be used thus with impunity? Shall we, the native Canadians, the sons of U. E. Loyalists, be called aliens in the land of our birth, and by the fluttering officials that hang on the smiles of a Governor's brow--I say nay. I feel that we are too tame--that we have forgotten that we are free--that we are in America,"[26] etc. etc. There is no need to quote more of this verbiage. The above is sufficient to show that Durand was able to "tear a passion to tatters, to very rags," and if he had ever had this letter published it would have doubtless "split the ears of the groundlings." The curious thing it that a man should be condemned to death for writing such a letter. Truly Arthur and his Executive Council lacked a sense of humour!