Voices of the People

Nova Scotia House of Assembly Petitions and Correspondence

14 February 1812

Petition of Terence Cockran, complaining of the sheriff of Hants County using undue influence against him in the late election. The sheriff wrote this letter to the schoolmaster at Nine Mile River: "Dear Sir / I hear that Tery Cochran has been Canvicing for the ensuing Election on the Nine Mile River and he reports that the people unanimously has promised him their voats tel them they don’t Know the man – he is a professed Roman Cathelick and for fear that Might be a Bar in his Way he found means to Jump over it he has come forward as I hear to Doctor Cochran and Said he had just found out his Error and would turn to the Church of England and Came forward to the Lords Table with two of his boys and I hear the Docter admitted them What have we to Expect if an Irish Roman Catholick has the rule over us read the History of the Irish Rebellion and you may there See a Cathoulge [catalogue?] of as Bloody deeds as ever was acted by the Wildest Savages the Scotch Roman Catholicks are a difrent people they are loyal and a man that Wont be true to his God will never be true to man no further than serves his own interest I will be over your Way before the Election and will Give the people such Advice as I would give to my own Children" signed W. Smith, and with a postscript "I lent the magazine that had the history of the Irish Rebellion to Carpenter John McDonald Get it & read it to your neighbors." As a result of this letter "and very improper and illegal interference of the said Sheriff many persons were induced not to vote for your Petitioner, and declared to him, that the reaons they did not vote for him, was the interest they said Sheriff had taken in the Election and the apprehension they were under of displeasing him knowing that his influence was very great, and that he had it in his power to injure them, and prevent their getting land, which they were afraid he would do, if they acted Contrary to his wishes." He presented himself at the hustings and lost the election; he asks that seats of members be declared vacant. (For action of House, see p. 39 of Journal.)

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 18 number 31