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CANADIAN LANDSCAPES/ PAYSAGES CANADIENS mêmes principes, la position du journal posait une contradiction que l’auteur tente de résoudre en examinant les idées du rédacteur en chef Charles Bennett Ray. Mots-clés: The Colored American, abolitionnisme, Noirs, les rébellions du Haut et du Bas-Canada As the fourth American periodical published by African Americans, The Colored American of New York City had a notable, albeit brief history. During its existence between 1837 and 1841, it attempted to fulfill its stated motto of “Speaking in THUNDER TONES” by covering the issues of the day for its readership (Ripley 216). The subjects of articles ranged widely, from the treatment of the Cherokee nation, to the campaign for abolition, to the practice of judicial review. Its operation coincided with the late 1830s’ rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada by those opposing British, imperial rule. Despite the Black community’s affection for the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the principles of which the Canadian rebels appropriated for their own revolt, the newspaper’s writers rejected both the insurrection and, more broadly, Canadian republicanism. By presenting compelling arguments, they hoped to persuade their readership to do so, as well. Supporting British rule to ensure a haven for escaped slaves, though crucial, was only one of their rationales. Several secondary rationales reminded free Blacks that their core interests in stability and progress in the United States could be jeopardized by the overthrow of the established regime across their northern border. The colonial rebellions against the British Crown began in 1837 in two different parts of British North America, one English speaking, in what is now Ontario, and the other, French-speaking Quebec. Key differences existed between the uprisings. For example, Quebec’s conflict was characterized by greater violence than Ontario’s and resentment against ruling elites there intertwined with the linguistic divide. Yet, the rebels in both shared an antipathy to the heavy-handed rule of their royal government and the absence of democratic representation. The Constitutional Act of 1791 had earlier divided what had been a single colony into two — Upper Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec). Both had a governor, an appointed Executive Council, an appointed legislative council and a locally elected assembly. The assemblies were empowered to make laws over local matters. During the first decades of the 19" century, locals elected to the assemblies met infrequently and lacked expertise that might have enabled them to challenge the Executive Council. As the colonies evolved from ‘pioneer conditions’ into more complex societies, passivity towards executive control was replaced by resentment (Bell 49). Advances in communications and transportation meant that average citizens could look beyond their own situations to the larger forces influencing their + 140 +
