diminish our regard for the constitution. All other forms of government are subject to such abuses . . . All our contestations with the executive have eventuated in developing those advantages the constitution has vested us with. A master-work is best known by its practical operation. To enable us to appreciate the utility of each of the springs in the state machine, we have but to be deprived of its use altogether. It is, besides, in the nature of things that great advantages should be obtained by some sacrifices. Pierre Bedard remained composed during this period where he directly felt the wrath of Governor Craig. Governor Craig’s tenor was referred to as the Reign of Terror. Pierre Bedard believed in the system and believed that this system could work for the Canadiens. The increased awareness that the professional class brought to the inhabitants, had effects on other aspects of Lower Canadian society. The political arena gave a voice to the inhabitants, which resulted in the economics conflicts between the French and English. The economic stratification between the French and the English was always a cause for numerous debates within the government. The English merchants felt it essential that the political structure of Lower Canada change in order to help the advancement of commercialism, and as they found out this advancement was not a high priority of the Canadiens. Thus the English merchants and the councils believed that the Canadiens were holding back ‘progress’. Again the assembly was divided but not only was it French verus English, it had become a battle between the farmers and professional class against the merchants. In order for the commercial industry in Lower Canada to grow, the merchants were demanding that money be put into the water system, via canals. In order to build canals, ...
