The Last Laird of MacNab: An Episode in the Settlement of MacNab Township, Upper Canada
History
The Last Laird of MacNab: An Episode in the Settlement of MacNab Township, Upper Canada
MacNab, Archibald, 1778?-1860
The settlers in August of this year drew up a narrative of their
sufferings, and the hardships and injustice they had endured under the
Chief. It was prepared by Mr. D. C. McNab, and forwarded to Mr. Hincks
for publication in the _Examiner_, at Toronto. Mr. Hincks, with all the
ardor of a warm Reformer, not only published it, but called public
attention to the township of McNab and its grievances in a series of
well-written editorials. He entered into the question with commendable
zeal and warm-hearted enthusiasm. These articles exposed the whole
management of the affairs of McNab at the very seat of Government.
Simultaneously with Mr. Allan's report, it struck the Chief's moral
standing as the battle axe of a puissant knight would fell his mailed
antagonist, crashing through shield and helmet and prostrating the foe.
The Chief now trembled for his position. It is true he had received
L1,000, but L3,000 were remaining in the background. The damaging
articles in the _Examiner_, were opening the eyes of the Government as
well as the people. Even the Family Compact were amazed that such things
were permitted under their regime. They hitherto were
indifferent--careless of the poor settlers' interests. These searching
and vigorous attacks roused them to action. So long the aggressors on
popular rights, they were now put on the defensive. No longer able to
oppress or to dominate over their fellows, they were now compelled to
defend their own acts, which in law and justice and morality were in
themselves indefensible.
McNab resorted to his usual weapons. He commenced, by the Hon. H.
Sherwood, one of the principal members of the oligarchy that had for
years ruled Canada, an action for libel against Mr. Francis Hincks, the
editor of the _Examiner_. If the articles before the commencement of the
action were severe, those published afterwards were doubly so. The
Chief's private and domestic life was attacked with no sparing hand. The
settlers backed up Mr. Hincks, and the trial was fixed for April, 1841.
Mr. Hincks justified the alleged libel; there were eight pleas of
justification placed upon the record, and everything was prepared for
bringing the issue to trial, when McNab, not being prepared,
countermanded notice, and the case was delayed till the Fall Assizes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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