declaration was a call to create a convention to discuss colonial independence from Britain and that politicians in England, including former Prime Minister Robert Peel, were able to promote colonial independence without being charged with treason. The Crown also brought evidence that Morrison was at the October meeting where Mackenzie proposed the rebellion, but witnesses to the meeting testified Morrison was against this proposal when Mackenzie proposed it. Morrison's defence counsel also claimed that the reform declaration could be calling for a convention to discuss political independence from Britain, and prominent politicians in Britain were calling for colonies to be more independent without being arrested for advancing this idea. The defence counsel also challenged the idea that the declaration could call for the death of the monarch if the king was not physically present in the city. The trial ended at 2 am the next day and the jury deliberated for eight hours before rendering a verdict. Half an hour into their deliberations, the jury inquired about finding Morrison guilty of a crime less serious than high treason, but they were informed that they could not. The jury acquitted Morrison of the crimes brought forward at trial. The trial's audience applauded loudly upon hearing the verdict. Post-rebellion life and death Morrison was afraid of being charged again for planning the rebellion because the jury at his trial had inquired into convicting him of a lesser crime. He fled to Rochester to join Rolph before settling in Batavia, New York, and returning to his career as a doctor. In 1839 the legislature expelled him for leaving the country. In 1843 the Canadian government declared an amnesty for almost everyone involved in the rebellion and Morrison returned to Toronto to practice medicine. He also served on multiple hospital boards, lectured at the Toronto School of Medicine, and in 1851 served another term on the Medical Board of Upper Canada. Morrison died on March 19, 1856, of palsy in Toronto at his home on Adelaide Street. References Works cited 1796 births 1856 deaths Members of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada Mayors of Toronto 19th-century Canadian physicians Canadian people of British descent People from York, Upper Canada Politicians from Quebec City Anglophone Quebec people People with cerebral palsy