Old Goal Montreal 3d February 1838 Mr Editor,

As the Editor of the Montreal Herald has inserted my name among the number of imprisoned traitors, I hope that you will not refuse me a corner of your valuable paper for the purpose of self vindication. That I am no traitor, tho' at present ... the whole tenour of my past life is fully sufficient to prove and I could now, if permitted, bring forword the inhabitants of half a county to prove what I assert. But I cannot accuse the Government of injustice; it would indeed be morally impossible, unless a special Court were appointed to try prisoners at their first arrival, to separate the really innocent from the guilty. Such a Court might, however, be easily formed, and would tend, in a great manner, to prevent the incarceration of many good and loyal subjects, who by malice of their private enemies have been torn from their homes - cut off all communication with their friends, and doomed to months of imprisonment; and when at last they are brot' to trial, and their innocence fully prove, they go forth from their horrid abode with lacerated feelings and a ruined constitution. Surely, Mr Editor, this is not justice, and can never be in accordance with the views of a benefical Government. Punishment ought not to preceed conviction.

Every obscure place has now its pitty military Despot, who takes advantage of the distracted state of the Country to gratify his private passions, at the expence of his unfortunate victims. It may, indeed, be truly said, that «a little power, like a little learning is a dangerous thing». I will now proceed to state the examination which preceeded and attended my arrest.

There are, Mr Editor, in the immediate vicinity where I reside, which is in the County of Vaudreuil, about fifty families consisting of English, Irish and Scotch, who, with the exception of a few individuals, have generally shown themselves peaceable members of society. But what changes will not political strife and excitement produce! and how often on the innocent and ignorant made use of by designing men to compass their own designs. Among the individuals above mentioned, there is a person by the name of Mathison, who from some cause has shown himself my most deadly enemy and has for several years past (being in the Commission of the Peace) not ceased to persecute me in the most cruel manner. This man having succeeded in alarming the fears of the people, by propagating the most false and absurd reports, induced them to sign a petition to sir John Colborne, praying for arms to defind them against the attempts of the Canadian population, though the whole County of Vaudreuil was in a perfect state of tranquillity; and the arming of so small a body could answer no purpose, and would, in all probability, draw upon us an attack from the Grand-Brûlé, which was at no great distance and which had already been threatened. Under these circumstances, your present correspondent, as well as some others, refused to have anything to do with the project for arming the English population, which greatly excited the wrath of Mathison and his coadjutors.

The petition was, however, forwarded to sir John Colborne, and in accordance with the prayer of the petition, a number of arms were sent to arm the English inhabitants, whom Mathison was appointed to command. Seeing himself thus invested with power, he set no bounds to his pride and arrogance: bands of armed men were kept constantly parading our streets, Her Majesty's peaceable subjects ill treated and insulted. Private houses were entered and their inmates for violence and fear to feed these lawless men; and who scrupuled not to present their loaded guns at defenceless females.

At length, about the 25th of December, band of armed men, at midnight, violently broke open my house, and commenced a general sack; all the books and many articles were broken and injured, several articles carried off, and your present correspondent, Mr Editor, made a prisoner and carried to Mathison house; when after having been grossly insulted, my hands were ordered to be tied. Next morning, I was sent off to jail, when I still remain deprived of all those comforts which long habit renders necessary to the hapiness of civilized men. Could you, Mr Editor, take a peep at our dismal abode, at the close of day, when the officers go their round? and behold the prisoners, at the command of ..., think, «like guilty things» into their cells, what an instructive lesson would it suggest to your mind! As a philanthropist you would ... that any circumstances should render it necessary for men to inflict so much misery on his fellow victims. Indeed it may be well asked what purpose it can answer to shut up so many miserable beings, many of whom are entirely unconscious of having committed any crime; will it tend to make good subjects, and bind them to the present that by the ties of affection? Never: on the contrary by thus confounding the innocent with the guilty Her Majesty's most loyal subjects may become alienated in their affections and the seeds of future rebellion sown in this devoted country.

I trust, Mr Editor, that you will not refuse to insert this statement; it may, perhaps, draw public attention to the many acts of oppression which are daily committed under pretexts of loyalty, by, in reality, the greatest traitors to their Queen and Country. Your

William C. Whitlock

(1) William Coley Whitlock (c1793-1875), âgé de 45 ans, marchand et imprimeur à Vaudreuil. Incarcéré le 22 décembre 1837; libéré le 9 juillet suivant, moyennant un cautionnement de 1000 £. Décédé le 20 octobre 1875 à Hudson (Vaudreuil Anglican Church)....