September 18, 1867
KIDNAPPING ALLEGED IN MONTMORENCY
The following is the affidavit sworn by Ferdinand Lefrancois who had intended to oppose Joseph-Edouard Cauchon in the riding of Montmorency:
On the night of the 7th and 8th August, being at St. Anne du Nord, I received a visit from Mr. Huout, now member of the House of Commons for Québec East. He said that he came from Mr. Langevin, the Secretary of State, to ask me for what sum of money I would retire, and permit Mr. Cauchon to be elected by acclamation. I said that I would not consent for any amount. He said it was a pity, for he was authorized to offer me £100. He went home with me, and there in company with Mr. Mathieu, the contractor for the Grosse Isle Piers, he renewed his entreaties.
Next day, being at Québec, I met Mr. Mathieu, who reminded me of the offer of Mr. Huet, and said that I had only to go home with him, and that the money would be at my disposal. On my refusal, we parted.
The 25th of August, the day before the nomination there was a knock at my door, and my wife asked who was there. The reply was ‘Mr. Mathieu, who has offered the money, and wishes to see Mr. Lafrancois.’ Fearing that some violence was to be attempted towards me, I made her say that I was not there. Thereupon they left. So far as I could see there were five or six persons, of whom two or three only were at the door, the others keeping themselves in an alley leading from the road to my house.
Next day I went to L’Ange Gardien, the place of the nomination. Mr. Cauchon came soon after with Messrs. Huot, G. H. Simard, and Hector Verret. They were followed by a large omnibus full of men, among who I recognized one Leblond and Peter L’Abbe. They got down together, and Mr. Huot went and spoke privately to them, familiarly taking them by the chins, and pointing me out to them. They all then passed near me and appeared to examine me with a view of recognizing me again.
When the time for the nomination came, there was a two-horse carriage to the south-west of the place where I stood. The carriage, as I am informed, on the order of Mr. Simard came near me, and while it did so, I was surrounded by the bullies of whom I have spoken, who said that Mr. Cauchon must be elected, menacing me with violence if I did not go away. Then one of them struck me with his fist on my hat; and another hustled me; all rushed upon me, and having seized me, by force threw me into the carriage, where five of them including the coachman, who acted in concert with them, threw themselves upon me.
The carriage set off at great speed and was driven so rapidly that one of the traces broke. We went towards Château Richer. When we were at the Petit Pre Mill, three miles from the hustings, we saw a light carriage come at a gallop bearing M. Simard, and one Premount, a partizan of Mr. Cauchon. When about three arpents off, M. Simard made signals and called for us to stop.
When they had come up, he said — ‘There never was such a stupid thing. The candidate has been carried off and the elector left. M. Lefrancois, your name has been called for and there is to be a poll.’
I replied ‘No, Simard, let me go; I know your tricks. You know that Mr. Cauchon has been elected, why then do you want me to go back.’ In spite of my resistance, he made me get into his carriage; but when we reached the hsutings the nomination had take place, and Mr. Cauchon was gone.
This affidavit was sworn before Mr. Porter, a J.P., on the 5th September.
Mr. Cauchon had earlier been tapped as the first premier of Québec but resigned after those he had appointed to his cabinet refused to serve alongside him. There is no word as to what remedy, if any, Mr. Lafrancois seeks or may obtain.
TEXT OF LANCTOT’S PETITION
M. Lanctot, recently defeated by Hon. George-Étienne Cartier (Militia) in Montreal East, is circulating a petition to His Excellency, the Governor-General seeking the dismissal of Cartier from the Privy Council. The text of Lanctot’s separatist petition has been obtained. Its conclusion reads:
That the refusal of this satisfaction will take from the undersigned and from that part of the public, which is honest, conscientious, and attached to its liberties, all confidence in your Excellency, and in the Imperial Government which you represent, will make them resign all hope of obtaining justice under the Colonial regime , and will force upon them the duty of seeking, under another form of government, the protection, the safeguards, the liberty, and justice, which the members of a civilized community have the right to require from their government.
DAILY ELECTION REPORT
Final Results
Ontario
Centre Wellington
Ontario Legislature
- J. Armstrong (Liberal) 1047
- Alexander Ferrier (Conservative) 1106 ELECTED
- J. Loughrin (Independent) 339
Stormont
House of Commons
- Samuel Ault (Liberal-Conservative) 955 ELECTED
- Mr. Sinclair 363
Ontario Legislature
- A. Cockburn (Liberal) 632
- William Coquhoun (Conservative) 793 ELECTED
North Grey
House of Commons
- Mr. Bolton 1143
- George Snider (Liberal) 1399 ELECTED
Ontario Legislature
- John Cooper (Liberal) 1162
- Thomas Scott (Conservative) 1430 ELECTED
Lambton
House of Commons
- Alexander McKenzie (Liberal) 1999 ELECTED
- Alexander Vidal (Conservative) 1311
Ontario Legislature
- Timothy Pardee (Liberal) 2107 ELECTED
- Mr. Rae (Conservative) 1095
South Renfrew
House of Commons
- Daniel McLachlin (Liberal) -- Elected by acclamation
New Brunswick
Victoria
House of Commons
- William Beveridge 549
- John Costigan (Liberal-Conservative) 778 ELECTED
- James Tibbitts 0
- James Workman 16
Partial Results
Haldimand
House of Commons
- Mr. McKinnon 498
- David Thompson (Liberal) 737
Ontario Legislature
- Jacob Baxter (Liberal) 732
- Mr. Hurssell (Conservative) 514
North Wellington
House of Commons
- George Drew (Liberal-Conservative) 985
- Mr. Foley 805
Ontario Legislature
- Mr. Beattie (Conservative) approximately 899 votes
- Robert McKim (Liberal) 892
South Renfrew
House of Commons
- T. French (Conservative) 76
- John McDougall (Liberal) 299