Duvernay was one of several journalists imprisoned early in 1832 for criticizing the non-elected legislative council that represented the interests of the Château Clique. Duvernay, editor of La Minerve and Daniel Tracey, another editor of the English language The Vindicator newspaper were arrested for libel and imprisoned together for 40 days for writing articles that said that "it is certain that before long all of America must be republican." They were released after much public support and condemnation of the arrests.[1] He was arrested by the authorities on four separate occasions.
On June 9, 1834, Duvernay founded the Association Saint-Jean-Baptiste (today, the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste and designated June 24 a day of celebration of Canadien history and culture. The society was previously known as the Société Aide-toi et le ciel t'aidera ("help yourself and Heaven will help you"), founded by Duvernay on March 8, 1834.
Duvernay was briefly a member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada representing Lachenaie in 1837. When on November 16 Governor Gosford issued warrants for the arrest of 26 patriot leaders, Duvernay was on the list. He had however been warned that his arrest was imminent and fled in time to Burlington, Vermont.
Denis Monières. Ludger Duvernay et la révolution intellectuelle au Bas-Canada, Montréal : Éditions Québec/Amérique, 1987, 231 p.
Jean-Marie Lebel. Ludger Duvernay et La Minerve. Étude d'une entreprise de presse montréalaise de la première moitié du XIXe siècle, Université Laval, 1982, 212 p.
Robert Rumilly. Histoire de la Société Saint-Jean Baptiste de Montréal. Des patriotes au fleurdelisé, Montréal : Éditions de l'Aurore, 1975, 564 p.