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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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33  WeST  MAIN  STMIT 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquas 


T«ehnical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Nota*  tachniquaa  at  bibiiographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  th^  boat 
originai  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faatunta  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographieally  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


r~~|   Covara  damagad/ 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Couvartura  andommagAa 

Covara  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurAa  at/ou  palliculte 


rn   Covar  titia  miaaing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


I     I   Colourad  mapa/ 


Cartaa  gAographiquaa  an  coulaur 


Colourad  inic  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


nn   Colourad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


D 


Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  an  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Ralii  avac  d'autraa  documents 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  reiiura  sarrAe  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatortion  la  long  da  la  marga  intAriaura 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  rastoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poasibia.  thasa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  sa  paut  qua  cartainas  pagas  blanchas  ajoutAas 
lors  d'una  rastauration  apparaissant  dans  la  taxta, 
mais.  lorsqua  cala  Atait  poasibia,  cas  pagaa  n'ont 
pas  At  A  filmias. 

Additional  commants:/ 
Commantairas  supplAmantairas; 


L'Instltut  a  microf  limA  la  maillaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  poaaibia  da  aa  procurar.  Laa  dAtaila 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  sont  paut-Atra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua,  qui  pauvant  modifiar 
una  imaga  raproduita.  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normaia  da  filmaga 
aont  indiquAa  ci-daaaoua. 

□   Colourad  pagaa/ 
Pagaa  da  coulaur 

a   Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommagAaa 

0   Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Pagaa  raataurAaa  at/ou  paliiculAaa 

0   Pagaa  diacolourad.  stainad  or  foxad/ 
Pagaa  dAcolorAaa,  tachatAas  ou  piquAas 

□Pagaa  datachad/ 
Pagaa  dAtachAas 

Showthrough/ 
Tranaparanca 

Quality  of  prir 

QualitA  InAgala  da  I'imprassion 

Inciudaa  aupplamantary  matarii 
Comprand  du  matArial  supplAmantaira 

Only  adition  availabia/ 
Saula  Adition  vJaponibla 


r~l  Showthrough/ 

I     I  Quality  of  print  variaa/ 

I      I  Inciudaa  aupplamantary  matarial/ 

I — I  Only  adition  availabia/ 


D 


Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obscurad  by  errata 
alipa,  tiaauas.  ate,  hava  baan  rafilmad  to 
anaura  tha  best  possibia  imaga/ 
Laa  pagaa  totalamant  ou  partialiament 
obscurcias  par  un  fauiilat  d'arrata,  una  peiura, 
ate,  ont  AtA  filmAas  A  nouvaau  da  fa^on  A 
obtanir  la  maillaura  imaga  possible. 


The  c 
to  tha 


Their 
possii 
of  tht 
fiimin 


Origir 
begin 
the  la 
sion. 
other 
first  p 
sion,  ( 
or  iiiu 


The  la 
shall  ( 
TINUI 
which 

IVIaps, 
diffen 
entire 
begini 
right  i 
requir 
methc 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiimA  au  taux  da  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


■^MaK.1 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gin^rosltA  de: 

La  bibliothAque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Originel  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  co  'er  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  4tA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet*  de  rexemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  orlglnaux  dont  la  nouverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
orlglnaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  ie 
cas:  le  symbols  — a^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE ',  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  pauvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  r6duction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  clichA,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  i'angle  suptrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droits, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  ie  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1  2  3 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i,,. 


) 


(I 


^*i:-y 


¥■ 


RECENT  OCCURRENCES  IN  CANADA. 


(From  thr  "  Monthly  Ri-jW/ilory,"  of  Fihrnitrif,  \M('>.) 

TFtFi  pjulcr  I-i  (loiiblli'ss  Mwarc,  tluit  ;>  Ri  \iil  ( V)nimission,  eon- 
j'iNfin*;  '»i'  l.ord  (ii-stoiNl,  \y\\n  was  a|HKHiit«'«!  governor  also, 
Sir  ( 'liarlt  s  (jrcy,  itiid  Sii- (  nor^n  <  iinps,  w  a-  last  year  <li<- 
patilH'd  to  Lower  Canada,  toi-  ihc  inirposc  of  iiiv<'sti|i;atiii<i-  on 
1  he  spot  the  i^ricvunceH  of  wliicli  tlic  pcojih' ot"  that  coloiiv  had 
('onijdaincd.  'I'hc  ohjcct  oftlic  tolhiuinu  pajjjos  is  lo  detail  iho 
fai'ly  ))rotM'C(lin<j>  of  tin-  i  ()iinnis>i<^)n«'rs. 

in  order  to  irinU'r  sucli  (h  tail.-i  iiittdliuihlo,  it  Is  nccessarv 
))ri('Hv  in  sk»'t<di  tlio  cirr'ninstaiice-  which  uave  rise  to  the 
C'XjH'dieiit  of  the  coiiniiis.sion. 

'I'he  |»oo|dt'  oi'  Canada,  psju'cially  those  of  liO^\Tr  (.'anada, 
had  loiij::  eoniplaiiied  of  the  evils  itonneeted  witii  theii'  local 
govermneut.  In  the  early  part  of  18^34,  they  emhodiedtheir  coni- 
plaints  in  a  s*eries  of  resolutions,  known,  from  their  nnnilx'r,  as 
tlu!  ninety-two  res(dutions.  With  no  other  alterations  than 
n-ag'e  demanded,  these  n-solntions  formed  the  suhject  matter 
of  a  petition  to  the  Imperial  Parliament  ;  Init  hefore  its  arrival, 
the  resolulion?*  themselveB  were  l^roujuht  i)efore  the  House 
of  Commons  hy  Mr.  Hoehuck,  who,  on  tin;  loth  of  Ajnil, 
1834,  moved  for  a  Select  ( 'onimittee,  '*  to  impiire  into  the 
means  of  remedvinLC  the  evils  which  exist  in  the  iorni  of 
government  nt>w  existing  in  I'pper  and  Lo\\er  Caiu'da.' 

A  committee  ^vas  accordiii«!,ly  sj,ranted  hy  the  JIompc;  hut, 
hy  a  hold  nustatenn-nt  on  the  ])art  of  Mr.  Secretary  Slajdey, 
the  impiiry  was  confined  to  the  Lower  Province,  to  tlie  great 
di8ap])ointment  of  the  people  <;!'  I'Mper  Canada. 

Mr.  Secretary  Stanley  informed  the  House,  that  in  Up|>er 
Canada  no  ditt'erences  existed  hetween  the  stjveral  branches  of 
the  lejj^islatun; ;  hut  that  the  jKU)ple  idid  their  re))resentative- 
were  contented  with  the  foi-m  of  ^•overnment.  The  House,  td' 
course,  C(juld  not  doubt  the  Mctrd  of  a  Stanh'y,  and  tlio  Upper 
Canadians  were  conse(juently  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  the 
iiupiiry. 

It  appeared  jifterwardi^,  that  this  was  a  mere  trick  on  the  part 
of  the  riii'ht  lionotnahle  Secretary.  Not  only  were  the  people 
discontented,  but  Mi",  Stanley  was  perl'eetly  aware  of  iheir 
disconte:nt.  When  out  of  office,  he  had  corresponded  with 
tliem  on  the  subject;  had  excited  them  to  demand  redress; 
and  had  even  jiointed  out  the  course  to  be  pursued.  "  TIh^ 
le^islijtive  council,'*  said  Mr.  Stanlev,  in  a  lettei'  addressed 
to  the  Ket'ormers  of  Ujtper  (.'anada  iw  18-j!),  "  is  at  the  root  of 
all  the  e^  ils  cotnphiined  (>f  in  both  the  pr(>\  iiiees  ;"  a.  ','  --iieak- 
in»i-  of  the  coui'-e  lo  bi'  pursiu'd,  t 'le  lettei  continue-,  **  a  vm- 

a 


Tirctnl  Omnrnwcs  in  Canntla. 


stitiif ioliJtl  iiKwIc  is  oyoM  to  the  ncojilr,  ol'  ;itl(li'<»>-;siiio;  for  tlic 
i'(iiiti\al  oT  tlic  jnlvlsri's  of  tin;  croui'  (Mr.  StunlovMU^  no) 
flicn  ill  )il;i('<'  ,  atitf  i<f)(sinii  stiji/tlit:'-,  if  iicvt'ssaiif^  to  snjfpnrf 
t'nir  U'i.slirs."  ^  ft,  in  the  facf  ol'  iliis  acciirjitt  knnw  Icd^^j-  oj 
tlic  <|jih'  ol"  upiiiioii  ill  rpjuT  ('.iiiiidji,  (lor-  tlii'  -.iiiiic  Mr. 
>I!im1»>\  iittci'WMnis  insjko  ;i  I'liUr  <i('<'l»;'»iii(Hi,  lor  \\\v  ult\  ions 
|>iir|Mi^(' of  k»Tj»iiio-  fVdjii  tlir  |Mil(lic  «'}'<•  Ji  part  ol'  liis  duiiig-s 
;is  ( 'nl(Kii}|l  S<'»'r<>t!!ry. 

Tlic  hilxmi's  J)!'  the  ('(mniiitifc  wvyv  Init  of  'ivn}ill  avail  to 
tlic  |M'Ojjl<' ()f'  1,in^  ft  ( 'anada.  Ii\ out!  of  tlir  iiicaiipst,  siil)ter- 
rnu'<'s  v\{'v  rc:^(>i'l«'d  fo  l>v  a  cdloiiial  niini'^trf,  Mr.  Sfaidey's 
sut*«'(!Ssor.  Mr  ITur,  |ir(H'iii<'d  tli<*  siij)|ir«"<slon  ol"  lli<'  rvidrncr. 
\\v  s(Hi;::lit  a  coiif't'iciicc  with  tlie  \\\n  Canadian  dclcnatrs, 
iMt'ssi>.  \  inci-  jind  Mofiii.  Al  flii^  foiiTiM-fMUM',  N\liicli  took 
i>lar«'  (tn  l!ic  J'Jnd  ol'  .hnu',  lie  iiiadf  Uif  lairt'st  jiroli'SMions 
of  a  ('oiirili;itor\(li>|tosiiioii  f<nvard>  (  aiiada  ;  |irol'i'-<'>('d  ji-n'at 
respect  for  tlie  rnnclioiis  ol"  ilie  Asseuddy,  ('(jual  in  ra«'t  to 
fliMf  wliieli  In*  (Mdeifaincd  towards  the  House  td'  (yoinnions ; 
and  only  seven  daAs  jifter  |m  iined  a  desjtatili  to  Lord 
Aylniei',  viidatiiiij  evei\  jtroniise  he  had  Made,  and  leuvinij,' 
iln-  whole  ipn^slion  in  a  niiieh  worse  state,  a'^  far  as  Jaeility  td' 
sett  lenient  is  conc'erned-  -than  he  had  f'oiiiul  it.* 

The  consetiiK'nees  may  lie  easily  I'onceived.  Hie  decoivod 
pc!>|i]e  ol'  flic  f'anadas  oecanie  hii»;hly  excited.  An  flection 
was  ahont  fo  take  jdace  in  holh  provinces,  ami  thereseenied  to 
he  a  i:;en«'ral  ileferniination  so  to  order  matters  that  the  result 
slnnild  iinpre>s  nj)on  this  <j:;ov eminent  a  clear  conception  (vf 
the  intenr«ir\  and  inianiinitv  of  popular  ojiinion. 

'lln  rCMill  corresponded  with  this  determination.  In  l^owej' 
Canada,  the  advocates  of  an  cdective  council  nnmher  no  le» 
than  seven*y-nine  out  (d'  ei«;htv-ei;j,ht,  id'  whicdi  tin  Assemhly 
is  composed,  and  in  I'pper  (.'anada,  their  strenj:,th  is  thirty-tive 
out  (d'  lil'tv-nine. 

In  Lower  (.anada.  so  impatient  were  the  ])eo])le  that  an 
expression  ol'  their  wishes  should  he  transtnitted  to  Kniiland 
without  d(day,  that  a  convention  of  the  h-adiiiL*'  memhers  of 
the  Assemhlv  assenihleil  at  Mcuitreal  in  the  Decemher  follow- 
iu<i,  whereat  ti  petition,  rriteratiu;:.  their  com^ilaints.  \vas 
niiaiiiniouslv  adt)i»ted.  In  tJiis  petition  the  former  petition 
\sas  coidii'nu'd,  and  some  iirievances  of  recent  occuirence  were 
c<.mplained  of;  the  vicious  conslitutiot*  of  the  Leii;islativeC<utii- 
cils  wn<ii!i:ain  slated  as  the  nuiiii  cause  of  most  of  the  evils 
tiny  sutl(M'ed  ;  an<l  the  petiri(Uiers  prayed,  ''*  that  the  Let:•i^la- 
tive  C<uincil  as  at  nres(!nt  c«.>nstituted  In*  aholished  ;  an<l  that 
the  peojde  of  this  provituM^  Im>  empowered  to  elect  tin-  second 
hraindi  of  Hu'  leuisl.iture  in    future,  as  the  only  means  of  pro 

*  I'ln'  MuiKiU'H  of  llii>  ciiiiri'ii'iici',  totrutlii'r  Willi  the  ili'Spatcli  in  .nn'siion,  wore 
juihitMl  •  ii  <■  by  suli',  iMil  ciicutiilrtl  atJicii};'  iih'IuIkis.  'I'lu-  inpics  wt-re  IraMsiiiifhil 
hy  post  lioiM  ( li.i\  I'si'iiil,  A>  ilio  fa«i**sl  iiiiulf  nl  i  oiiu'ViHiit',  aiij  ln-mf  ll)»'  jiajiei 
*vq!?  lullcil  tilt'  ioU.t'i  Ip.ii)    '  Mr.  lljce's  Cijaxcscnd  corro!<|Kiiiil(.'Ul.'' 


Ttecenf  Occiirrcnccr,  in  Cnumhi.  3 

diicinp,'   tiiut   lianjioiiv  witlwnif  Mhiili  iiitoniiil  pon(M»  and  <j:<'(h1 
jE^oNi'i'iiiiu'iit  cimiiot  rxist.  " 

'I'lii^  jictition,  wliicli  na-  -iili><'|ii('iitlv  jclnjiird  liy  tlir  llmi'-t* 
(>r  As>(']iil)lv,  \va-  |>rr-«'iih'(l  to  tlic  llousrot'  ( 'oidiikhi-',  on  ilic 
}Uli  i>\'  Marcli  la>t,  \^\  .Mr  Ixncl.uck,  and  on  llir  Joih  to  lln- 
House  ol  liOids,  l»v  Lord  liron^liam.  In  (li«'  IIoum'  ot'Coni- 
nion>  considrraMr  discnssion  took  placr  ;  and  it  cnd'-d  l»y  a 
di'rlaralion  1)V  >ii'  liolirrt  Pod,  thai  lii-i  Majr-*!^  Ii;mI  licm 
advist'd  to  srnd  ont  a  lli^li  ( 'oinini.-slonrr  to  iuvcstiuatt-  tlic 
iiruvan(M*s  (»t  tin-  Lo\v<i-  ('anadian.s  on  tlir  ^^pot. 

Kor  some  time  aftrr,  the  Koval  ( 'omniissionrvdiip  unit 
l»<'ti"uiiitr.  It  was  oH'iMod  to  >«'\('ial,  wlio  iclu^cd  i(,  at  t)ncr. 
Lord  ( 'antt-rlairy  accfptod  it  at.  (ir^t,  lait  al'lir  livini;  a  d;iv  or 
two  imdrr  its  dii^nity  lie  threw  it  up,  alannod  at  tin'  <!iiHrnlti«'«^ 
it  would  ontiiil  upon  him.  LtU'd  Andiors^t  was  the  next,  hut  in 
t.lu'  Uh'an  tiin«;  tin-  chaiiffi.'  oi'  iMinistry  took  place,  and  >o  mreat 
was  the  d«day  of  tin;  ])re!-eut  Colonial  Seeretarv  in  couiideliui!;' 
tlu'  arran«j:en»ents,  that,  rhei-e  was  tinn;  to  hear  tin'  ohieeiion>  ol' 
the  ('anadian  |>uo])lo  to  Lord  Aniiiiirst,  and  it  was  eonv<!nientl> 
niana<j;«d  that  ho  should  resii;ii.  It  was  then  (h'terniinod  to 
send  throe  (Joniniissiouers  instead  ul'  ono,  sind  on  <ir  ahont  tlio 
2lst  of  Jidy  tlie  Pujiw,  freiuhtod  with  the  < 'ounnissionors 
alroadv  named,  sailed  iVom  Portsmouth,  and  after  a  j)assaL:o  td' 
nhout  a  month  landed  her  (^haiicf  at  (^nel)ee. 

The  reader  nnist  not  he  surprised  to  learn  that  the  people  of 
(.'anada  rereived  tlie  Conuuissioners  m  ith  distrust.  L'aeh  sue- 
ceeding- jn()vernor,  during  a  lon£j  series  of  years,  had  1)((mi  sent 
out  to  C^anaila  with  instructions  to  pursue  a  eonciliaiory  line  of 
policy.  In  the  iii'st  Instance  this  ha<l  imposed  upon  the  peo[>le, 
and  lor  a  tiuu'  the  new  <j^overnor  had  ahuost  inviiiiahly  heen 
pojndar.  '^nt  this  po[)nlarIty  was  usually  of  short  <lura- 
tion.  Go\eruor  after  governor  had  snhmitted  his  jndpnent  to 
the  dominion  of  the  orti'an  of  tlie  ol)no\iou-«  class- -the  lixecu- 
five  Council  ;  and  it  was  1)\  no  means  an  unwarranta]>le  iid'er- 
ence  that  Lord  Ooxford  tnight  possihly  pursue  the  same  course. 

S'veral  injiulicious  though  triHing  acts  of  l,,ord  (/osfonl 
tended  to  strengthen  this  want  of  conHdenee  on  the  part  (d'  the 
peoj)1e. 

Jn  the  first  place  theohnoxious  r.xectitiveCouncillors,(d' whose 
conduct  and  iuHuence  the  people  had  conn)laiiH'd,  were  sw(»rn  in 
(tficw  })y  his  lordship.  A  ])ait  id'  the  <luty  of  th(^  Kxecutive 
Council  is  to  act  tvs  a  privy  council  to  th<»  governor  ;  and  the  ]>eo- 
pie  regarded  the  alK>\  e  actas^  a  delerndnation  on  the  part  ofthe 
Governor  and  Couiunssioners  to  receive  as  their  advise  rs  tlu-se 
ohnoxious  persons.  As  if  to  strengtheii  this  sus])icion,  the  pro- 
ceedinii'  vva>-  not  onlv  unnecessarv  htit  it  was  illeual,  inasmuch 
as  it  is  onlv  in  tin*  event  (d'the  demise  ofthe  crown  that  such  a 
course  is  ])rescril)ed  hv  law.  A  letter,  written  in  Canada,  re- 
marking on  this  iniufvcrtcnci/  —i'or  it  was  [>rolial»ly  no  umre- 
sa\s  :   "  he  has  committed  himself  with  the  pid)lic  by  appearing 

'a  2 


I 


4  Rficrttf  Ocoirrrucea  in  Canndn. 

to  cliofKe  tlu'sj^  old  \  iuors  jh  liis  ov\  n  coinicillMr^i,  aii<l  so  on- 
coiiru;ii(i'j'  the  tuotioii  ol'  tin.'  ()tti<'''.Is  to  ho|i<'  that  tlirir  ivigri 
will  !»('  jicrpL'fiuil." 

Tlie  next  injmlicious  act  <'oiiiinittc(l  hy  Loni  (iosford  vvfts 
attt'iidiiiii;  a  politicnl  l»ull  j»-ivt'ii  l>\  tin-  ImrHuiicratic*  parfy  to 
Iit»nl  A\  Imcr  pH'vions  fo  his  di-parMin'c.  Of  this  party,  IaihI 
AyliiKT  was  for  the  tiiiu'  llic  idol.  He  had  -^rrv<  «l  tluMr  piirpoMO 
hy  opposing  hiiii'^clt'to  the  w  ishr^  td'  ihr  jn'oplc  on  all  occasions, 
and  to  do  him  out^^:l^d  honour  whilst  tlicv  inuardiv  (K'^'piscd 
liMii,  wMs  part  <d' their  ^cIMsh  policy.  It  was  of  course  import- 
ant to  ihis  p;iit\'  to  ohliiiii  the  ncNV  (iov<'rnor's  apjiiircnl  sanc- 
tion of  the  conrsc  liOrd  Aylnicr  had  pnr>ncd.  and  they  there- 
lore  res/tccfj'/f//i/  (!)  invited  Lord  Cjosliwd  to  do  hononr  to  The 
occasion,  liis  Lord'^hij),  inadvertently  it  is  pre^nini-d,  a«*cepted 
their  invitation.  In  tiu'  nn'iin  titne  one  ot  the  otlnr  Contniis- 
siouers,  nuxiii'''  nn)re  ann)]i<>  ditVerent  classes  ol'  the  rMnnniunitv 
than  Ids  confreres,  saAV  the  hait  in  tinte  tu  enahle  l.()rd  (Josf'ord, 
in  some  dej^'ree,  to  orrect  the  ern»r  into  which  he  had  i'allen. 
The  mode  in  which  he  escaped  IVom  the  difhcnlly  is  thus  re- 
lated in  a  letter  dated  Montreal,  19th  Sept: — 

*' 'riu-  hall  L;iveii  to  Lord  inid  La<ly  Ayliner  look  plaee  on  the  L'^th, 
Lord  (J Oslo rd  i\\n\  S\v  Cnoi^e  (ii(>|)s  were  pre>eut  as  expected,  but 
they  remained  only  an  hour.  ^  hey  had  the  prudeiue  to  retire  hclore 
supper,  and  thus  avoided  drinkiiijf  Lord  Ayhuer's  health.  Sir  Charles 
Cirrey  <lid  better,  He  remained  ni  Montreal,  and  thus  avoided  {<ivnig 
iiuy  eouutenance  to  this  parly  eouiplimeut  to  the  late  obuoxiouK 
^ovenuir.  It  was  a  jjrear  weakness  in  Lor<l  (iost'ord  to  g-o  to  this 
hall.  I  am  willin^j  to  believe  that  his  L(M«Uhi|)  in  ted  from  ij;iiorance 
without  having  didy  deliberated  on  his  own  sin»;ularly  deluMtr  posi- 
tion :md  I  he  temper  of  the  [jeople.  It  is  tt)  be  ho|>ed  that  this  will  be 
the  last  oi'  his  /wrucx/' 

But  this  v,as  a  trilVniii;  error — a  mere  Iientc,  w--  the  writer 
calls  it,  compared  with  that  into  which  his  Lord-hip  subso- 
(jueiitly  lell  in  con.set[uence  of  abamloninyj  himself  t(»  the  iidln- 
enoe  of  the  Canadian  "  olio-ardiy."  The  facts  are  tlles(^  In 
the  snnnvier  of  1834,  Lord  Gosford's  predecessor.  Lord  Aylmer, 
appointed  to  the  ofhce  of  jnd^i^  a  man  wliu  had  been  a  viident 
jiarrisjin  of  tlie  official  party  undfM*  the  f^overnorship  of  the  Rarl 
of  Dalhonsie,  This  man  ji'ave  evidence  before  the  Canada  Cum- 
mitiee  (d'  1S'J8,  and  so  illiberal  ami  partisan-like  in  its  cha- 
racter was  that  evidence,  that  a  mark  was  s»d  ajxJiiast  his  name 
at  the  CidoTual  otfice,  as  beinfj  unfit  'or  an  office  of  trust ;  at 
h^ist  snch  is  Mr.  Rice's  account  of  the  matter.  When  the  news 
of  this  a]>p{)intnu'nt  rea(died  Eiii^land  in  the  autumn  of  1834, 
Mr.  Hice,  tiien  Colonial  Secretary,  ad<lress(Ml  a  de^pat(di  to 
Lord  Aylmei',  saviuLi"  thai  he  could  not  confirm  Mr.  Gale's 
ajtpointment  ;  of  cotjrse  it.  was  the  duty  of  Lord  Aylmer  to  ap- 
point sinne  other  pc^rson  to  the  bench,  btit  it  so  happens  thai  the 


•   l5ure;vMn'u(>  i^  tin'  iiiimo  pivon   hy  tlie  Cnnndians  to  tlie  local  povernmonf.     ^t 
i.s  SLiiif times caU<Hl  u  tlfikiircliy. 


Ufvi'tif  (hTiirrviucs  in  CainuUi. 


Ir 


•lospatclirs  MIT  always  x'lii  l>s  i!ifji(i>l  uHht  iiarUrl-.,  u  liicli  arc 
iisiiallv  tlircf  ttr  lour  \\t'«'ks  loniirr  in  th'li\«  riir'  llicii'  l«th'is 
limn  lln'  i\<'\v  Y«»i"k  "  liiu'  t»f'  )Mi('kt't«*."  'I'lif  consriiuriKM'  \^a>, 
tliiil  I^ord  Aylmcr  liranl  oi"  ilu-  cliaiij^*'  ot'  Ministry  In  Ion  li»» 
j^ol  iVli*.  HiLM!'s  (i('S|iati'li,  and  Ix'inir  nndtT  flic  domination  of 
the  Canailian  otlicinU,  Im'  disn'«;;ard(.'d  tlir  contniand  ol  tin- 
«'X-Hiinist»'r  \i\vv.  As  a  rewan!  li.r  thus  disolicvinn'  llic  honic 
i;'Ovt'rn)n«'nt — as  a  rcnaid  tor  Inivlni;"  l)r()nulil  (Janada  almost 
to  u  state  of  f»'l)(  llion,  l-oi'd  AvInnT  has  licfii  aj)j)ointfd  ('oni- 
niHnd«'r-in-( 'liiid'  in  h'tland  liy  a  ( i(»V(  rnmcnl  of  \vlii«li  Mr. 
Rict'  still  fornjsa  part.  Sclin  stcem  mnst  CiMtuiiily  !>»'  a  tpnility 
totally  uhscnl  fr;tin  Mr,  Hicc'n  mind.  No  soont  r  uorc  tin 
Tories  in  ])on»'r  ilian  the  i'.arl  of  AlxM'deen  i'onlirmcd  or  al- 
loued  the  a|»|)oin1m«nt  oj'tlii-^  most  ohnoxions  of  judu;(.'S, 

Wlitn  the  Wliiu-'  111  iiiiied  to  otiicc!  it  was  ol'cours(»  expectr*! 
l»y  tin,'  (,'anadians  tliat  the  oj'ioinal  dcspiitcli  of  Mr.  llice  woidd 
be  enforced.  "  That  despateli,"  >aid  thev,  ■' has  de^-troyed  Mr. 
Jnstiee  (ial(.''s  niorfil  iidluenee,  h\  \  i'-iualh  ileelai'iiiu'  hini  iin- 
worthy  of  tin;  confidenc*'  of  his  Maiustv,  and  now  that  tin 
Minister  who  pejnn'd  tin  despatch  is  aL;ain  in  po\^  <'r  we  shall 
without  donht  hv  relie\t-d."  J  his  expectation  was  jiirtlnT  cim- 
iirnied  by  M)-.  Uice's  speech  of  the  I'lh  <d'  March  last,  wiiitdi  re- 
iterated the  denunciation  of  (iaie  :is  an  impropt'i*  ]>ers*i>n  to 
occupy  the  bench:  yet  when  Mr.  Uice  and  his  ,,ai'ty  a^ain 
returiu:d  to  oliiv-i-  nothing;  nioi-e  w.i-  heard  of  the  improper 
appointment,  until  the  discontent  of  the  ])eople  of  (  aiiada  was 
aiiuin  excih.'d  li\  tin-  tltiiO  injiiidcious  act  of  Lord  (losioid; 
which  we  shall  I'ciute  in  the  lanLjuage  of  die  Canadian  writer 
idreudy  quoted  :  - 

"  For  ujy  part,  I  fear  that  we  hliall  be  forcejl,  l>y  tlu'  imhci-ility  or 
WiU't  ul"  t.Hl  of  tlu*  |>^e^<'nt  iii''(iMil»eiil ,  into  uiiu  illiiiy  oppusiition  hcioif 
inan\  weeks.  He  appi^iin  to  In;  gitiduully  tallni^'  into  the  Mieshes  ol 
the  official  party.  Y(»u  will  srarcely  Lehi  ve  that  any  iiiati  could  be 
l^iulty  of  the  em'.'yiou''  lolly  I  am  al)Oiit  to  relatt:.  It  steins  that 
Valliore,  tlie  judge  at  Three  Rivers  (who,  tiy-the-by,  is  a  rc<;ul»r 
political  t  urocoat  J,  Im'Iii^  ill.  scut  notice  to  the  ifov»'riioi-  to  have  aiu>tliei- 
jud^e  aj.'pouited  pro  lonjnni'  in  his  }>laoe,  to  preside  at  the  ai»|)roar|i . 
iii<jf  terui.  Cio^lorll,  uisteud  of  lakiui;  ttieadvict",  or,  at  all  es-nts,  tlu- 
opuuon  of  t-ome  of  the  Irit  uds  of  the  country,  wrote  to  Iteid,  ouv 
parli.-^au  (Jlfh  J  Justice,  lb  re  was  a  il;1oiio\is  ()|>|MMt'i!iity  of  uivobiii^ 
the  |40\"eruni,  uot  to  he  uciiltcted.  Acc(>iiiii)i>iy  Keel  \^  rutt*  to  hjiv 
that  (lalc  vMis  tlieouly  man  "  he  could  s|'ait."  (Jale  was  ac('ordinj^i\ 
appointed,  anvl  thus  ( iuslord  has  heen  drH;^>_;ed  into.*  ijiuisi  n\i\Vi)\n\ 
of  the  orii^inal  appointuieut  ol"  tiii>  m.iii  to  die  bench,  thou;^h  con- 
deiMiied  hv  liice  in  his  t.lace  in  the  Mouse. 

"■  On  leaiiiini;  !liecircuiii>l.iiice,  Papineau,  w  Iim  wa>  in  (iinher,  v\ai  (  il 
on  the  governor,  unfolde»l  to  him  (iale's  political  character,  and  ilie 
causes  that  led  to  the  As^emhly's  petition  against  the  uouiinatiou,  and 
acquainted  hini  with  Hiee's  »leidata:ion  in  the  !lou-e  ot  ('oiiunon.. 
Of  all  these  eircumst.mces  Lord  (t.»lord  said  he  was  ignoiaut. 

«•  This  is  the  fhiid  time  that  Gosf'>rd  has  coui.uitied  hunnelf.'" — 
Montreal,  Oct.  12. 


D  linrnf  ( h  (  uni'tu  t's  in  CutKula. 

Ill  iiiiutlirr  ii|i|>oiMtiii('ii(  llic  •^ovt'i'iior,  l.ortl  (MKlortl,  ilui>>< 
tiol  ii|t|»(>ur  to  li;ivr  Im'cii  iiioic  liii|>|>y.  A  Mr.  hiividhoii,  wliu 
is  one  ol*  till'  most  liitt<'i'<»i  tilt;  |)>trty  i)|)|m»(mI  to  tlic  Ass( ml)!^ 
Hinl  )M>(i|)|i\  liiH  iiccn  :i|i|Miiii;(  (I  io  tlu>  oliicr  ol  I'ikU'I' (<  ■>  il) 
S(<'irliU'\  to  tlu'  ii(t\rnn>r.  'I'lic  (yima<li;iii  l«  tti-r  w  rili'r'>  rv 
Hci'tioiis  on  lliis  !i|)|>oiiitnii'tii  and  its  c'<mis(;i|IUMii-*s  will  serve  to 
show  tlie   elll'cls  ot   tlu'x   Uiistiikua  on  the  niindi?  ol"  tiiti  jk'ojiIi; 

of    (    tlllilllil. 

*'  III  converMitioM,  (M|i|»tt  ami  Oi-j-y  talk  of  th«*  case  of  the  ('oi)hHtii- 
ti(M latitats!  a^i  ulihly  un  tlioiii^ii  tiiey  liad  \n'i:\\  iiorii  and  hred  <  oloiiial 
sli«»|)<>crats.  All  iJiHir  aliNiiid  I'allaoifs  hav«'  evidently  made  lh»  ir  way 
info  tilt;  ('•)( II 111 i^sioiieis'  iiunds  w  illuMit  exauiiiiatioi),  e\  eii  tdtlie  on  141 1 nil 
fallacy,  wliK'li  hits  \iK'.v\\  over  and  tiser  a|;aiii  deiiiolislied.  We  know 
the  several  stuteinents  of  tin  fiu  ts  <li>pr()viii;^  the  fallacy,  have  lieeii 
reud  by  (iijtjih,  yet  lie  surrenders  liiis  jiidj^ment  to  the  persons  l»y  whom 
lie  IS  siirroiifiileil.  I  fear  lie  i?  already  ciiin|»lel«'lv  |trejiidi(ed  against 
t  lie  Canadians  and  I.iherals,  and  liovv  should  it  he  otlierv^ise,  when 
D.ividsoii,  who  shared  ('aldwell  s  plumler,  is  im<l«'r-secret4uy  to  the 
j^ovcnior .''  Thi;.  man  is  hrotlier-in-hnv  t<>  Caldwell  and  Howen,  ;md 
is  the  prinee  of  intriL,'ueis.  \\v\u^  under  Walcor,  of  course  Waleot 
sees  only  with  his  «yes,  and  hears  only  with  his  ears.  Oi^dr'n  and 
other  hii|'|M)rti.rs  of  Aylmcr  arc  at  the  oflice  every  day  ;  <»f  conrK(.', 
(losford  onl\  does  the  will  of  lite  olhcials^  and  thus  the  system  works." 
—  MoiilmillOct.  VI. 

TIm  "conversations"  aliove  alluded  to,  may,  jicrliajis,  seem 
hill  triHini;-  nialtci-s,  scarcely  worth  r(!cordiii;^,  hnt  it  must  he 
home  in  mind  that  Lord  (losford  went  ainono- a  |ieo|de  in  a 
jiecnliar  ^t;^le  of  jiolitical  exeilcment  a  jK'ojdc  who  had  heeii 
o\<'r  and  ovi^i*  auain  deceivetl  l>\  j»roles>lons  -iniilar  to  flnise 
\vlii(di  the  Colonial  OHicc  and  the  oovernoi'  once  more  offered 
as  ehiiiiis  iipon  llieii'  eontidiiiee,  and  thai  these,  and  even  still 
more  triHinu  circinnstances,  when  joined  with  the  o'raver  matters 
whicli  we  have  i-itcorded,  shonhl  snhsennenily  liaxc  strewed 
Lord  (losford's  palh  \vilh  olistacles,  w  ill  scnrcc'lv  surjnise  tin.isi' 
who  ha\e  con-idert^d  to  how  yrc'al  an  extern  pnhlic  o|Mnion  is 
iiiHiieneed  liy  the  concin'reiice  oi"  a  nnmhei-  (d*aj»i>Jir»;ntly  ij-iiiiii};' 
circmiistances  —  such  evt)i  jih  the  followinn'  wlnn  joitied 
with  oliier  items  in  a  <i,<iveriior's  iirn)o|»i'hii"il\ ,  in  ti  state  of 
society  literally  torn  asunder  hy  a  loiiiif  series  of  ixditical  tuid 
social  jealonsKJS. 

"  Since  I  w  rote  to  you,  we  have  had  a  speeldien  ol'oiir  new  j^overiior's 
'  sjurit  oi'  <'()iuiliatioii.'  He  has  invite*!  I'apiinaii  and  V'i^•er,  the 
popni;n  |tii<lers  to  iiutl. — w  Ikjiii  ilo  you  tliiiik  i*  Why,  the  hiireail- 
cratie  Attttriiey-j^eiu  ral,  Oi^deii,  Anclrew  .Stuart,  the  <.-liaiiiiian  oi  the 
'  {.'onstitvinoiiHlisis  '  (so  called),  and  the  reiieL;ade  Dr.  Ceuillard  !  I  J 
'I'his  IS  piecisely  llie  sort  of  '  eoiicili.itioii  '  that  would  invite  the  ilo^- 
10  meet  th«  cat,  and  you  will  iK^t  \h'.  siirpriscti  to  learn  that  it  led  to 
the  result  wliich  luii^hl  have  been  txjiected.  A  discussion  arose  he- 
tweeu  V  ij4ef  and  Aiidrt  w  Stuart,  on  the  comparative  merits  of  the 
I'reuch  and  laighjh  writers  on  the  eiul  law.  i'upiueau  and  Viger 
contended  that,  tluni^li  Eiiuhmd  could  boast  of  many  emineut  lej^al 
writers,  yttj  011  the  Koinan  luw,  lihe  had  none  to  compare  with  Pothier 


,1 


\ 


n<>iiiHt,  itii«i  ittii«i^>.  wtiiii' Ntiiiii t  •  <iut)>ii(i«  •! ,  iiiiit  r.ii^ i.iiiti  iiiiii  iii.tii\ 

fill  f4ti|)L-iiiir  !•>  i'lkiliiiT  ;  iiiMl,  v\iiiil«|  \iiii  lit  lii-M-  It,  <^iivi-  nisitk«iitnc' 
iiH  iii>  'ii«(aiM'(!  !  Sir  ('liiiilt'M  (trty  it.xri'f«l  with  |*)i|tiii«Mii  miil  \'i;;«r, 
iiikI  a|i|MNi|c<l  to  that  stii|>i<l  |i(Mii|»oiiit  <^riitl('iiiiiii  0'j;i|i'ii,  \vli<».  o|' 
OMii'si',  ^{lur  it  ill  r.ivoiii  <  I'tlt*'  |''.iiyli«.li  vvritrrs.  .At  U'iii;lli  tlir  «lis|nil«- 
KI'l'W  ^io  warm,  tlliit  l.oid  (i<»-itori|  was  ol)|i<;c<i  lir  pill  i(  >ti>|i  to  II,  l)V 
(iial  ii|>]ii-ovo(l  iiirtlioil  'a  ^la>-s  )it'  wiiii','  ami  ^o  ciitli-tl  tlit  liist 
clia|iti'r  of  llu-  <  «>iiiinih!>i(>i»c'rs  rsNiiy  mi  c»l«»ii'al  couciliatum." — MoH" 
(real,  (kl.   12. 

SiU'li  art'  flic  priiu'ijijil  (ircnrrfMices  wliirli  tt'iidnl  (o  ciralt' 
distrust  in  the  iniiids  of  tlu'  jiropli-  of  Cjiiiadii,  towjinh  tlii' 
royal  coiiiniissiojicrs,  prrvioiis  to  tin-  o|i('iiiii;ji'  of  tlir  Session  of 
llu'  Mroviiu'ial  lojuislalnrc  on  the  "iTtli  of  (Jctohrr,   \K\'i. 


'I'lic  di-'Iriist  <d'tlir  |H'o|ili'  of  ('auada  towards  tli(;  iumv  •^•tivcr- 
iiof  and  till'  coiimiissioiicrs,  must  not,  iiowcvcr,  Im'  wholly 
attrihiifcd  to  ihr  circmii  ^taii('("<  \'i'ha\»'  dcsrrihcd.  The  coii- 
diK't  of  till'  (\doiiial  (  MHc«',  atid  of  flic  Lfov(!nmnMif ,  woiihl 
alone  Iia\<*  rendcri'd  the  pcoidc  suspicious  of  tlu'  sincerity  (d'lln' 
conciliatory  professions  with  \N'lii(di  they  were  anmscd.  In  all 
the  petitions  of  the  Ilonsi!  of  Assembly,  complaints  had  been 
made  ol'lhi'  im;ro|M;r  legislation  (d'  the  inipirial  parliauuiii  on 
matters  rtdatin-j;  sidelv  to  their  "  internal  aH'air-.."  The  wvX 
cunferrin;::  upon  tlie  (y?»nadiis  local  leLiislatures,  of  course  ^-ave 
up  internal  legislation  to  tlie  cohdiisls  themselves,  atid  the  suli- 
scipient  interference  of  the  imjierial  jiarliament,  tlu-v  contend- 
ed was  unconstitutional  and  unjust.  The  acts  they  couiplalued 
of  were  three, — commonly  called  the  (^'aiiada  Trade  Act,  -the 
('anada  Tenures  Act, — tmd  tin*  l^rltish  American  LaudCom- 
litiny's  Act.  Of  tlu'se,  Mr.  Koehuck  (who,  in  the  intei'Nal 
lietween  the  delivery  of  liis  speech,  and  tin;  "^nilitiL;"  of  the 
I'iipU',  had  lieen  I'eiiuested  to  act  as  HLi'eut  to  the  Asseitddy  iiinl 
people  of  Canada)  (leiuaiuled  the  inuiiediate  repeal,  as  a  jircdi- 
niinary  step  to  the,  ojieratious  of  the  royal  commission,  in  order 
tliat  the  [leople  of  Canada  mi^^ht  have  some  evidence  of  the; 
sincere  desire  of  ministers  to  do  them  justice.  Two  other  prelimi- 
naries demanded  hy  Mr.  Itoeluick  at  the  same  time,  Avere,  lirst 
a  i>;uarantee  that  tli(>  revenues  of  tin;  pro\  ince  should  not 
auain  l)e  seizeil  liy  order  of  the  ccdonial  minister,  without  the 
authiirity  of  the  Assetnldy  <d'  Canada;  atid  second,  that  an 
iiuiuiry  into  the  constil.ntiou  of  the  legislative  council  should 
he  incunled  In  the  Instructions  iiiven  to  the  royal  commission- 
ers.      None  of  these  demands  u<'r(;  comprud  with. 

The  meetluiLi'  of  tlu  proviiu'ial  parliament  was  looked  for 
hy  all  parties  with  intense  anxiety.  The  lih(>ral  luirty,  In- 
cluJinL;;  tin*  ^I'eat  majority  of  the  iV-seuihly  (sfiy  seventy-nim^ 
or  eiglity,  out  of  eightv-elght),  did  not  certalidy  expect  niuefi 
from  the  ('onimis.sion  ;  on  tht>  other  hand,  the  colotiial  oHii  lals 
had  not  much  t(^  cong;ratulai«' the'iisilves  upon.  It  had  Ik  en 
officiallv  tfiiiiiitiiMl  to  them,  tha'  many' of  ihe  abuses  hy  \\hi<li 
^ley   profited,   would  be   in([aired   into;   and   Hevenu  trivial 


tiircnt  fhriincurCA  in  Ciniutlii. 


circitiirxlaiiro  Wi'ic  liy  Hii'iii  iilsi*  ('onHJilrnMl  as  IxmIjh^  iIm  in 
ii<»  i;oo<|.  LonI  A\  liiMi ,  Jimo'i'^  ntlii"' iiKxIrn  <»t'  playing  iiiIm 
llnir  liiiiuls,  liii«l  rclii^i'd  to  {^raiit  a  wiirmnf  lor  tin-  uilvancr 
of  llic  iiiorn'v  for  llir  ( oiiliiitjfi'nt  ('xiMMi^Jr.-*  of  th«'  lloiisr  ol' 
As«^«'iiil)|y.  i'lu'  clVn;!  of  this  had  Immmi  ti>  |>nt  a  partial  >«fo|» 
lo  thr  Itiisincs^^  ol'  h'u'islaf ion.  The  otHcial*?  chsirrd  a  con- 
tiit'iuiu'c  of  tlii<  course,  and  the  jiaiMr-^  (U\«»lr(l  to  thfir  ransr 
Hi  first  ht)Idly  a-'>«'rt('d  tliut  flir  >aid  rxpc rises  woidd  Jiof  Im' 
jL^raiitod  ;  an  tht'  S<'ssi«(ii  apjiroachcd  ijowovcr,  it  was  s»at«'d  thi-y 
Avoiihl  ho  ;;ratif('d,  hut  u  itli  siu'h  oluio.xious  condition-  ihat  the 
AsM'iuhly  uoidd  hr  co)n|Mlh'd  to  ivl'iisi'  to  accept  theiti.  Tile 
•  hiy  heUire  the  iiieitiii;;*  of  the  pro\  iiiclal  parliaiiietil ,  the 
'*  ( 'oiistitiitioiiiilist*,"  as  tltev  call  themselves,  ventured  to 
address  his  iord>liip,  pi-avin;;'  him  not  to  ^ranl  the  eontinjicn- 
cies.  His  Lordshij)  told  them  that  tlu'  course  to  lie  a<io]»led, 
wirh  regard  to  the  contiiio-eiicieH,  had  heeii  alreadydetj'rmined  on, 
and  that  in  twenty-lour  iiours  the  init-ntioiiM  of  ij^overnnuiit 
would  !)«•  communicated  to  the  Assenddy.  This  was  a  severe 
rehuH'  to  the  anti  )ioj)ular  ))art\,  whose  fury  ^v•as  therehy  ex- 
cited in  an  extraordimirv  (Uv-ice. 

At  len;;th  the  day  «tf  the  meetin;j^  of  ihi;  provincial  parlia- 
ment canii'.  It  was  of  course  exjuMtted  that  one  of  the  earliest 
acts  of  the  ij;overnor  woidd  he  to  lay  hefore  the  lej^islattire 
Ji  copy  of  the  royal  instructions  to  the  Commissioners.  Tliis 
was  not  done.  Lord  (losfoid's  speech  did  not  luateiially  ditter 
from  j^overnors'  sj)ee(  hes  in  <;eneral,  except  that  it  was  sonie- 
A\!iMt  mor»'  exj)licil,  and  therefore  lonpw.  It  certainly  nu'U- 
tioued  the  Commission,  but  in  all  other  respects  no  topic  was 
touelied  that  might  not  have  I'ound  a  [)hic('  in  any  {governor's 
speech. 

The  writer,  whose  letters  have  already  been  ([uoled,  eharao- 
teri/.es  thesjieech  as — except  on  ;i  coujde  of  points* — "a  tissue  td' 
liberal  nothin<2:s,  very  expli<'it  on  njatters  of  little  or  no  iniport- 
aiu'c,  whilst  all  nuitti-rs  of  primary  importance  are  jiut  otl"  to 
■I  future  day  !"  Uemindintj;'  tlie  reader  that  the  writer  (pioted  i.s 
one  of  the  popular  jtarty,  there  is  no  ditiictilty  in  understand- 
ino-  that  the  "  matter  of  primary  importance, "  which  is  not 
included  in  the  speech,  iri  the  reform  which  more  than  nine- 
tenths  of  the  peoj)le  of  Canada  ha\e  demanded  in  the  constitu- 
tion td'the  leiiislative  council — their  mimic  "  Mouse  of  Ijords," 
All  minor  reforms  tlie  peojde  of  the  colony  consider  as 
nearly  tiseless.  "The  council,"  say  they  "is  the  j)arent  of 
all  the  evils  we  have  suffered,  and  if  you  wer<'  to  remove  all 
those  evils  to-morrow,  allowiiig  the  cause  thereof  to  remain,  a 
\(^n'y  short  rime  would  suffice  to  produce  an  ecjually  abundant 
<'rop."  In  i'aci  the  catah),ii,ue  of  grievances  which  ihe  Cana- 
dians put  forwanl  in  IS.'U,  was  merely  intended  as  evidence 
of   what  the  >>ysteni    had    j)ioduced,    and    never  intended    for 

*  These  points  hh'  tlio  ^rantiug  oi'  tlie    contingenon'&,  and  tjie  giving   up  the 
proviucial  revenues  to  the  Commons'  House  of  Assembly, 


t- 


"    1 


Jit'iTiil  (h  rurmurs  in  (\iniifiiu 


y 


s|M'(;iHl   iiii<)    iii(li\  iiliinl    r('*li'rs>,,   wliicli    tlic    |>c(»|'lr    oT  (']ui:t  L* 
Yivvv  Itiu  till'  ad vHiu'i'd   ill    |Mtiili<'al   kiiovvicdifr  to  Itrlicv  tic 

|M)sxiMc.     \v\  wlial  is  ilir  (•om«n»  |»iir-iuMl  liy  tlu' novrrniir  ?  - 
«•••   tilll^^   to    tin*   A^'^iiiildy  td   »»>iiin\  in^  soiim'  <d   tln'  «'\  i      of 
nllicil  tli4'\    liiid  cittllliiMillrd,  lillt  s;i\s  not  (illc  word  id'    tlic  only 
nd'onii  lor  wliirli  ilic  Miaji)riiv  (dllu-  |m'o|»i«  iijtjH'ar  to  cari'. 

At  *\\v  HiiiiH'  time  tlint  till-.  L'-raiid  omiHsiuii  is  liktdy  to  cou- 
firiii  tli«!  disroiit«'!it  oj'  tin-  niajorits  of  tiic  |Mo|dt'  of  l.tiwcr 
Caimda,  tluM'o  \h  «|uit«' j'lioiiuli  of  nd'orm  to  niis«'  u]i  an  imjuuI,  if 
not  a  '^rt'titcr.Mniouiit  (dMiocotitnit  in  tin-  nindsoftho  minority. 
TIm  It'  sr»'nis  to  \)v  ii  lli^]>^)sililln  on  tin-  jiarl  of  tin*  liovcrnor  to 
^•;iv<'  nj»  to  till'  Asm  nil dv  tin  full  and  t  oni|il<'i»*  cuntnd  of  tin* 
in'ovincial  roNtniU's.  I'liis  the  otfnial  |tartv  and  tluir  frionds 
have  ahvays  nsistfJ.  '{">  \v  irally  n's|»onsif)U!  to  tlic  A^Hi'inldy 
Mill  l)(,'  niiudi  K-sH  coiiNrniciit  tn  llicni,  than  a  nirro  nominal  I'o- 
s|M)n.«.il»ility  to  a  suja-rior  anlliorii'  locatrd  at  a  di.-<tan('t'  of 
•  »,'><Hi  mil*'-,  'flu  It'  is  also  to  lie  a  i  oi't-  ('(|iiifald«!  distribution 
of  olllcrs  MiiioDo-  tlir  ditlrivnf  idassos  of  tin- rommnnity .  This 
is  j'xticmrly  (duioxions  to  tin*  ]t!irty  tio  ''  cnjo^iiij^'  a  sjiccirs  of 
inon<tj)()ly.  No  fulnrr  cdiirf  jualift'  >:^(.'\VLdl  -so  says  tin?  govpf- 
nof — is  tola?  jXTinittt'd  to  o)»tain  sicven  or  oi^lit  lucrative  otticrs 
for  liis  own  tdiildrcn  ;  no  future  c«donial  civil  sccn-tary  (Co(di- 
ran)  is  to  usnrjt  live  or  .x  |)o>ts  in  his  own  person  ;  no  future 
«'(Mninissi<)n«'r  of  erown  lands  ^  I'tltoii)  is  to  obtain  estates  i>f 
1  ,"Jt)t)  acres  for  ea(d)  of  bis  eiLibt  t'iiildren.  Tbese  specific  re- 
forms of  collide  draw  down  ujion  the  local  u^overnment  tlnj 
hatred  both  of  the  otiiciaU  in  possession  and  the  oHicials  e\]>ect- 
ant  ;  uhich  hatred  boin^*  in  exeesH  would  n<»t  have  la-en  tr>'eater 
than  it  is,  had  the  iio\  erniiiejit  j^orie  u  sttjp  fuither  and  satisHed 
the  mass  of  the  people. 

'I'lie  answer  of  the  Assembly  to  the  sjieoch  from  the  tlinnie 
Mjis  couclied  in  courteous  but  iirm  lan;j.uajic.  I'or  all  the  ijood 
[U'otnised  by  tiie  speech  his  Majesty  was  ihanketl.  besides  which 
tlu'  Assembly  took  occasion  to  reiterate  '\\-  dcmainl  lor  (til 
Hh'dlvc  f^e^islaticc  (Junmil  'dm\  an  I'/xecutive  Council  respon- 
sible, like  tin  lji<ilish  Ministry,  to  the  (Commons  of  the 
conn tr\  . 

Some  further  ])articulacs  ndative  to  th*'  addrt^ss  in  answer 
to  the  s]>eech  will  be  i>h'aned  frouk  the  following;"  extracl>  from 
a  lettt'r  from  the  writer  already  cpioted,  uhicdi  extract  is  the 
more  interest  in  <;•  as  it  explains  the  i  elation  in  which  Lord  (ios- 
ford  and  the  Ass(Mid»ly  stand  to  ea(di  othei'.  In  relation  to  the 
Assembly  h(«  is  the  Govenior  of  (Canada;  \\\\\\  the  (Commis- 
sioners tiu'  Assem))lv  hasnolhiiiL:;  in  ie:ilii\  t  >  do 

"■  Yen  will  p«  reeiv'e  tliiit,  in  tiie  HnswtT  to  tlie  >•  eecli,  the  Ass»'inbly 
iiii>  Jibstaiiied  tVoiii  H'ee^uiz  iig  er  idbidi!  i;;;  to  the  ("()iiin!i>sU)iu'rh. 
'i'he  speech  from  the  thioiie  wsis  <'videiill\  a  liMp  to  j^ain  siieh  ii  ie<',»g- 
intioii  :  but  the  As8end>iy  's  too  jeah  .  of  it>  own  |)osition  to  do  so. 
Lord  Gosford  was  distiintly  told,  befoie  ti/e  sesioii  o|te>Ux*  that  the 
Assembly  could  not  recognise  the  Couuinssion  •    and   1  an.     jid  that 


10 


HmciU  Occurrences  in  iami'ia. 


his  l(>MUtii|)  ;ukii<>Nvl«<lmMl  lliai  lu'  did  not  t'X|»(><.l  it.  Thus.  th«  OuiU 
iiij^'  the  A^^t'llll>l^  -.uiil  tht  ('oiniiiihsioii  iirt'  f>it,  in  i«luti()ii  lo  each 
<ilh»'r,  is  thii»  : — Whatever  \\\v.  Asseinhly  <Usir(.s  ot"  thr  (.'oiiiinissio!!, 
they  ask  <»f  the  o()V('nn)r  ;  whilst,  on  the  other  haiifl,  whatever  the 
(.'ouitniss.i()ii  desiies  of  the  House  is  apjdied  tor  hy  tlie  ^(tvenior,  in 
whut  the  ohi  sehctol  politieians  call  the  constitutional  manner.  From 
this  v<^»n  will  perceive  at  onoo  the  nature  oF  the  Com mi8s.wjners— they 
are  merely  a  sort  ot  ti  inporary  executive  (!ouncil,  pUured  there  to  ad- 
vise the  f^overnor.  This  'v,  the  o|>inion  of  all  here,  and  1  myself  am 
inclined  to  tleem  it  correct.  Whether  subsequent  occ.'urrences  will 
cause  this  opinum  lo  he  ti;iven  up,  I  cannot  now  say.  It  is  thought 
that  the  (.'oinmissioners  will  not  visit  tin  country  parishes — they  have 
sufficient  evidencv  ol  the  un.niiinily  of  tht  whole  country  to  render 
such  a  step  unnecessary,  'Ihey  li:ive,  however,  announced  their  in- 
tention of  visiting  i\r»uitieal  next  summer,  and  it  is  possible  they  may 
go  to  the  Chaml)ly  disuists.  The  '  five  confederated  counties'  would 
be  worth  their  examination,  in  a  politi<:al  point  of  view.  Such  a  visit 
would  j^ive  them  an  idea  of  tiie  intensity  of  public  o|)iniou  amon^  the 
most  intelligent  of  the  population." — (luchcr,  Hud  December. 

Afti,'r  soiTio  furllicr  obsurvutions  whioh  need  not  be  quoted, 
the  loiter  <»oes  on  to  .stute  that — 

•'  The  elective  council  question  is  thus  evaded.  The  sub-('onunis- 
bioners  have  been  heard  to  say  that  an  elective  council  should  be 
j^ranted,  but  for  the  mixed  origin  of  the  peoi)le.  Well,  then,  was  the 
reply — grant  an  elective  council  to  Upper  Cuimda.  The  Upper  Ca- 
nadians demand  an  elective  council,  and  are  not  of  *  mixeil  origin.' 
' 'Prne,'  rejoined  the  wily  sub-Commissioners,  'but  there  is  not  the 
unanimity  '  which  [irevaili  in  Lower  Caudda."  *  *  * 

The  "  siib-Comniissiunei's  "  are  certainly  most  skilful  dialec- 
ticians, iler<'  the  (3anadian>  are  certainly  reduced  to  a  most 
cruel  dilemma.  The  Lower  Canadians  consist  of  about 
450,000  persons  of  French  oriu'in,  and  150,000  of"  (»tlier  ori- 
<^in  ;"  of  these,  nearly  all  the  first  art;  in  favour  of  "  the  Ele.ctiv<; 
Pnnciple,"  as  are  also  half,  or])erha))S  two-thirds  of  the  latter.* 
In  other  wo:ds  aboat  nine-tenths  of  the  whole  peojde  desire  an 
electivt*  council.  Hut  althouLih  nearlv  ntuimmnus  \\\^.\' iwc^  of 
"  mixed  ori'j^in  "'  and  so  according-  to  the  doctrine  of  the  sub- 
OoniniissioTiers  they  are  to  have  no  reform.  In  Upper  Canada 
on  the  other  hand,  the  ariiument  is  shift<'d  to  snit  the  circum- 
stances. There  the  people  are  not  of  mixed  origin,  but  then 
they  aj-(^  not  unanimous.  It  is  only  two-thirds  \'  of  the  whole 
p()]»u]anoii  that  is  in  favour  of  i-eform,  and  so  reform  is  to  be; 
denied  until  the  opposition  of  the  minority  can  be  nullified. 

A  more  atrocious  political  doctriiu;  was,  ))crha[)s,  never 
broached,     its  eli'ect  would  be  to  perjietuate  a,H  existing  abuses, 

•  'lilt'  iiumbpis  iiidiciiliMl  hy  ilio  I'ltctioii  it'tians  ar^  J70,>0i),  r('i)rosente(I  by 
persons  in  fuvour  of  ilio  tJei  tive  principle,  ami  :)2,:v)()  Uv  nuMubcis  opposeil  tlieroto. 
Sue  article  (  an-.vda  in  oui  Stijitumhcr  luunbor. 

t  I'iiis  \va^  llif  piopoi  tioii  in  l!;.)l.  Tlu've  is  reason  to  beliove  that  since  tlion  the 
IJi't'ornit'is  ut'  I'ppcr  Canada  liave  ti;r('atlv  incn.'a.sfd.  (^iiustions  of  Hcforia  have 
t,'uin(Hl  strtMii:;tli  in  tin-  Assoniblv  by  discussion  ;  and  there  is,  out  of  the  House,  nn 
extensive  organization  of  Reform  Assoc iatiou  which  ought  to  be  regarded  as  u 
Striking  sign  of  tUo  tiiut's. 


Recent  Occuncnccs  m  (Uinuda. 


11 


to  rendei'  I'cforni  iTiipos^ililc,  aiwl  virtiuilly  to  };iv«'  up  iln>  i^o 
vcniinn  |M>\NC!r  ti>  th«'  niinoiit).  TmIvhi}^  tlir  iM)|Miliition  ot'llu' 
two  ('aiiinlus  t«>ii('lli<M'  at  I  ,()()(),()0(),  the  iiimosl  iiiiiiiImt  of  jmt- 
8011S  rrprr-oiitctl  in  tlio  two  A-'Scinhlies  l»v  juM'soiis  o|))M>si'd  t(» 
tl»(i  el(.'ctiv«'  principle,  is  175,001),  or  not  nuudi  owv  one-si. if h  ol' 
the  population,  and  yet  etlect  is  still  to  l)e  niveii  to  the  will  ol' 
this  iiiiiiurity  by  the  ahoiuluahle  doctriiu' alluded  to  in  tlie  above 
extract. 

Every  newspaper  received  from  the  Colony — and  they  now 
(January  2(>th )  reach  a^  late  as  the  '>4\h  ol  D(>cenib»T — bears 
soni(»,  evidcnct!  thai  th»;  partial  iu)proveiiieats  which  have,  taken 
jdace  under  J^ord  ^losf'ords  adiuinislratioii  are  wh.olly  insufh- 
cient  to  ipiiet  the  country  The  deterniinalion  of*  the  Asjseniidy 
is  to  adhere  to  their  demand,  for  "•  the  ^.Teiit  remedial  measure 
— an  elective  second  (.'handur, '  and  with  nothing'  short  of  this 
will  they  be  contenteil.  All  otlier  nd'tn-ms,  say  they,  would 
alford  no  security  for  the  future.  It  is  on  a  responsijdf  lejiis- 
lature  that  they  place  their  soh*.  leVuuice.  Hy  vvithlioldin^* 
supplies  (the  course,  be  it  remembered,  recommended  to  their 
Jiotice  by  Mr.  now  Lord  Statdey,  in  IS21)),  they  hope  to  attain 
tJieir  end.  This  course  is  the  more  proper  in  their  ca&e  us  the 
want  of  economy  in  the  payment  of  pid)lic  olHi;ers  i>  one  of  the 
most  evil  results  which  the.  Asstunbly  desire^  to  renudy. 

As  evi(h'nce  of  the  imj>ortauee  which  the  Canadians  attach 
to  tliis  radical  measure,  and  their  determination  to  adhere  to 
Lord  Sta,nh.'y'8  "  constitutional  mode, "  we  again  resort  to  the 
writer  already  q noted  : 

*'I  have  ju&t  heard  that  il  lia?-  been  determined  to  uIi(Hv  the  Coanueus 
(.tf  Lower  Canada  to  iiave  the  whole  control  of  Hie  rt^venui.'.  This  ih 
merely  a  piece  of  j;i-.tiee — of  tardy  justice.  'J'he  ('(»lulnl!^^i(>lu  rs  are, 
1  learn,  to  report  to  the  Kin<i;  fVoui  time  t(^  tnne.  I'ir.st,  on  Fiuimees  ; 
secondly,  on  the  Teniu'p  of  Land  :  thirtliy,  on  the  Lxeeative  Council. 
1  believe  it  is  decided  ihat  we  ore  to  have  a  responsible  lixeeative 
Council.  But  the  chief  thmjj^,  an  elective  Let^ishitivt  ('ouneil,  we  are 
not  to  have  vet  awhile  ;  so  you  5>eo  we  Inive  a  long  struij^le  before  us. 
1  ho|M^  the  House  will  not  1)6 cajoled  into  voUn^one  |>enny  of  supplies 
till  we  ^et  this  essential  reform. 

"■  Vou  are  weii  aware  t.liat  oar  eiiief  relianee  for  eidorein^  reforms 
IS  tht;  "  constitulionul  nietiiod"  of  icfuaing  to  vote  the  supjilies.  \onr 
Ilttuse  of  (.xcannions  need  not  care  for  tlu.'  Lords,  if  they  would  pursue' 
onr  plan,  But  the  truth  is,  your  Mi'Use  of  Commons  is  aristocratie, 
an<l  does  not  desire  collision  with  the  Lords.  Last  xtar  f  IK'Ji),  as  you 
are  aware,  Sprinu  Bice  defeated  u'-  f)y  dip|>in;^  his  hand  into  the  mili- 
tary chest  ;  and  Lord  (rosfad  in)w  asks  us  to  ri'und  it.  This  rnalves 
one  hegiu  to  suspect  that  all  thi>  fa>>i  abont,  ani  expense  ol",  the  Coni- 
unssion,  aie  inertly  a  clnmsy  <  xpedient  to  i^et  the  ntoney  out  of  the 
Asse.ndilv.  I'he  dhcials  want  p;>>t  arrears  and  fninie  supplies  ;  and 
if  they  oettliemthey  wdl  lan^hat  ns — and  so  thev  un^ht.  TheCoai- 
missifuiers  seem  disposed  to  remedy  small  <;nt.vanees,  as  tc'.js  jmc 
vln-own  to  whales.  Will  the  asseud)ly  he  thus  eheate<l  out  of  (he 
public  money.?  1  trust  not.  Not  one  laithiui^j  would  I  y,taut,  until 
we  get  an  elective  cinmcil." — Quebt'c,  '2/ii}  Dec, 


18 


Hevcnt  Occurrences  in  Canadd. 


This  is  witlioiil  (loiibt  tlic  obvious  course  to  l)»3  ])i!rsuc<l  by 
the  Assembly.     Tlie  [)riiu('  movers  of  the  party  (lesiriti*;'  the  re- 
tention of  "  thinj^s  as   tliey   are"  are  the   olHeial    j)ersoiia;^«'S 
tJieinselves  who  now  ])rofit  by  the  system,   to^^tt\\ur  with  their 
I'riej'ds  ami  adherents   who  hope  to  profit  by  the  .-ame.     Tlie 
l>.e^ishitive  Couiieil   is  emphatically  their  Chumher ;  the  chief 
officials  are  meu  bers  of  it,  and  while  it  exists  as  at  present  con- 
stituted, it  wil)    represent  the.ir  will  and   their  irterests.     The 
voting  of  sui)plies  i^  the  only  case  wiierein  the  will  (tf  the  people 
can  have  force,   and  there  is  noUiiii;^;  improper  on  the  part  of 
the  Assembly   in  thus  determining  to  make  the  control  which 
the  constitutioi)  ^ives  tliem  over  the  public  money  a   means  of 
enforcing*  wholesome  reforms.   If  the   House  of  Asseml>1y  grant 
the  supplies,  it  is  (piite  clear  that  the  object  of  the  orticials  will 
be   gained.     The   iVssembly  migiit  still  amuse  themselves  by 
legislating  on  useful  measures,  but  it  would  be  mere  lost  labour 
If  our  House  of  Commons  Avere   elected  as  the  Canadian  As- 
sembly is — by   the  i'va-   voice  of  the  people,   a  similar  course 
would  be  freijuently  rescu'ted  to.     Sup[dies  would   be  withheld 
until  the  course  to  be  pursued  1)y   tlie  Minister,  and  pei'liap^s  by 
the  House  of  Lords  aL^o,  should  bemadc!  known,     if  the  Lower 
Canadians  now  give  the  supj)lies,   their  work  will  be  to  be  re- 
commenced,  and  they  will   not  regain   their  present  advanta- 
geous position   until   thev  have   auain   brouo^lit  the  o-entlemen 
represented  by  the  council,  to  tht'ii  present  dejjlorable  condition. 
With  the  conciliatory  conduct  and  fi.,commodating  spirit  of 
Lord  Crosford  towards  tlu-  Assembly,  tlie  nuMubersof  which  it 
had  been  the  custom  of  Ibi-mer  governors  to  des])ise  and  con- 
temn, the  ])eopl(;  of  Canada  seem  to  be  perfectly,  and  it  may 
he  added,  justly  satisfied.     Courteous   themselves,  they  natu- 
rally feel  tlie  want  of  it  In  others,  and  the  haughty  l)eanng  of 
their  former  militai'v  governors  had,  In  almost  all  cases,  dis- 
gusted them.     The  njiid  and  genthMuanly  deinea'iour   of  Lord 
Gosford  is  certainly  an  improvement  in  the  mode  of  governing 
Canada. 

The  minor  reforms  that  are  to  take  place  wl'l  also  be  not 
without  benefit ;  but,  if  li  be  the  ojnnion  of  the  colonial 
minister  and  of  Ids  colleaL'ues,  that  those  triflinii'  leforms  will 
silence  the  cry  of  nearly  tlie  whole  (Canadian  p<H)plefor  an  elective 
council,  they  will  speedily  discern  their  (>rror  The  peoj)le  of 
Canada,  notwitlishindlug  what  has  been  said  to  the  contrary  by 
interest<Ml  ])erson.^,  nv*'  in  a  very  respectable  sta.te  of  Intelligence, 
es[;eciallv  on  ])oliti'/al  nnitters.  \V\v\t  they  have  already 
eKected  us  «'vidt  nee  of  this.  Like  therr  English  fellow  sultjects 
they  will  doul;  le-^s  take  all  thev  can  <::et,  but  tbev  Avill  never 
cease  to  agitate  the  t{ucstlon  of  reform  until  they  obtam  the 
full  control  of  their  internal  aiffiirs,  and  this  thev  feel  thev  can 
never  succeed  in,  while  the  irres}K)nsi!)le  legislrtive  council  is 
pern  itted  to  renniin.  Lord  Glenelg  may  take  th*'  case  of  the 
English   Reform  Bill  as  a  nroof  tliut  ci   r)relimiuary  steij  will 


.    ) 


■^* 
o 


<r,< 


V 


pr. 


R(^ce»f  Occvrrenrcs  in  Canada, 


l» 


f) 


not.  sati-ify  an  intellitroijt  poojjlf.     ?/lorrov(v,  iho  doctrino   of 
/inttlit//  has  not,  yet  round  its  wav  nito  Canada. 

It  has  .Jniady  been  stated  that,  allho»ii>li  tlve  mass  of  llic 
peo]de  are  not  satisfied,  the  tlireateiied  leFornis  are  such  as  to 
excite  the  fiifv  of  the  eohmial  Tory  ])Mrtv.  This,  l>y  tlir^  ^vay, 
is  invariably  tlie  caf^t*  witii  j)iirtia]  ineasureN.  If  otie  abuse  ht* 
attaeiied,  the  whole  tribe,  of  those  who  proHt  bv  aluises  is 
sure  to  be  let  loose  upon  the  n^mi^ter  >anel ionium'  the  reform. 
This  is  the  case  in  Canada.  Tiu'  local  and  imperial  {go- 
vernments, are  incurrini*  tlie  very  maximum  of  oihcial 
obloipiy  by  tlie  }>artial  refornjs  they  have  already  sanc- 
tioned, whilst  those  reforms  have  not  been  sufficieiit  to  ob- 
tain for  them  the  u<;od  will  of  the  mass  of  the  jieopb'.  The 
wise  cotirse  is  invariably  to  sanction  the  uliole  measure  of 
reform  at  once.  T^y  such  a  course  tlu'  'jood  will  of  a  grateful 
people  would  be  secured,  and  the  liatred  of  the  factious 
minority  could  tiot  be  ^rreater  than  it  is.  This  principle  should 
never  be  h)st  sight  of  by  ministers,  thouub  it  is  every  day 
violated.* 

The  lanii'uaije  i»f  tlie  colonial  Tory  partv,  and  of  their 
newspapcM's,  towards  the  governor,  the  Conimission,  and  the 
g-overnnient  of  this  country,  is  expressive  at  once  of  their  rage 
and  of  their  folly.  In  the  cities  of  Quebec  and  Montreal 
exist  two  political  clubs,  dignified  by  the  name  of  •'  Con- 
stitutiona  Associatituis,"  the  nu'mbers  calling  themselves 
(Jonstitutionalists.  The  political  principle — if  such  it  can  ])e 
called — by  whicli  these  persons  are  guided,  is — o])po&itu)n  to  the 
elective  principle. 

Their  present  policy  is  to  intimidate  the  government,  and 
thereby  to  detei*  it  from  sanctioning  those  reforms,  which 
justice,  good  })olicy,  and  the  spirit  of  the  litnes,  unite  in 
demanding. 

The  means  of  intimidation  which  these  Constitutionalists 
have  adopted  are  as  folh)v\  s  : — 

1st.  To  mal<«.'  it  appear  that  tlu'v  have  the  whole  British  popniatiou 
with  them. 

2ud.  To  show — that  the  whole  p()|iulatuiu  of  Lipper  Canada  are  with 
iheui. 

3rd. — that  they  are  prepared  to  rebrl. 

4th. — that  they  are  prepared  to  join  the  United  States. 

The  first  two  fallncies  ha\e  l)een  already  exposed  in  the 
Monthly  K<^pository  for  Septendter.  It  may  however  be  Avell 
to  recai)itulate  the  exposure.  The  I^ritish  inhabitants  inh.tbit 
the  "  Townshi{>s,"  as  they  are  called,  situated  south  of  the  St. 
Lawrence.     To  make  the  claim  of  the  "  (Jonstitutionalists  "  to 


•  '[  1j(!  Kps-olvitions  on  tlw»  l^ultic  '!  iidIxt  Dnlii-s  aHords  a  otiriou^  ilhif-tiiilion  <\f  tins. 
'I'lie  iiltfiitioii  iHoiio^eil  will  (Ifstioy  'lit'  culdiiKil  tr.nlc,  hut  will  nol  (niitcr  f'liil 
l)t'iM>lit  on  the  |n'ii|iU!.  A  iiiPiisuro  of  full  btiK^lit  woul'l  Imvc  «loiio  no  uiino  fvi\  Imt. 
wiiiiUI  li;t\t>  (loii«'  tliri'c-fold  <!,o.>(l.  I'iiitiut  iiu'i(»;imts  of  ircod  iiro  almost  ;ih<iivs  wlioU; 
iimiisntOH  of  f'Vil,  iiiui  llit'Voforo  ut' olilo.jnv. 


14 


Prrctif  Occvrrrnref!  in  CannfJn. 


re])rpseiit  the  wliob'  of  tlio  l^ritlsb  pojxilation  fnio,  all  tho  nieiTi- 
))»MS  i)f'  tlio  pi'()viii('i;il  parliamoiit  n'turiU'd  l»y  i\w  Township 
HhoaldbeC'Onstitutioiiallsts.  'I'liis,  liowever,  is  not  tliecase.  Tlio 
lar^'ost  Brit  is!)  county,  StJinstead,  n'tunu'd  nicnilKTH  in  favour 
of  the  elective  prhiciph"  by  a  majority  of  thre«?  to  one.  Another 
Hritish  Townshij)  county,  Drnniniond,  returned  a  '*  Kesolu- 
tionist  '"  unanimously,  whilst  in  the  county  of  Sherhrooke, 
■whirl)  is  the  .stronj:;  hold  of  colonial  Toryism,  and  of  the 
J*ritish  American  Land  (M)ni|)Hny,  tlie  '*  Constitutional 
members  |>p<'\ailed  only  by  a  bare  majority.  Hence  it  is 
that  the  number  of  the  (/onstitutiomdisls  is  so  thoroujjhly 
cr)utemittible — is  in  fact  not  over  one-third  of  the  •whole 
Bi'itisli  ])opulation.  In  fact  «mt  of  the  cities  of  (Quebec  and 
Montreal  the  (JonstiTutionalists  are  utterly  powerless,  and  even 
there  they  would  scarcely  1)0  heai'd  of  but  for  a  control,  [»urely 
mercantile,  over  a  noisy  press. 

In  the  upper  province  the  minority  is  not  ([uite  so  weak  in 
Handlers  as  in  Lower  Canada,  but  it  is  still  a  weak  minority. 
Its  force  at  the  last  el  '<;tion  has  been  already  stated  at  one- 
third  of  the  pojnilation,  but  from  the  rapid  progress  of  opinion, 
and  the  siux'ess  of  the  principles  of  reform  in  Lower  Canada, 
and  in  the  mother  country,  the  number  has  been  considerably 
diminished,  perhaps  to  one-fcmrth.  The  organization  of  the 
liberal  party  in  Upper  Canada,  is  moreover  very  complete. 
There  is  a  "'Central  Canadiati  Alliance  Society"  at  Toronto,  the 
caj)ital,  of  which  the  most  able  and  energetic  men  are  members. 
This  society  lias  branch  societies  all  over  the  (M)untry.  By 
means  of  th«\se  societies,  a  constant  communication  is  kept  up 
all  over  the  province.  This,  however,  is  not  all.  In  Lower 
Canada  similar  associations  have  been  forme<l,  which  are  also 
in  communication  with  those  of  the  Upper  Province.  At  the 
opening  of  the  Lower  Canadian  session,  two  influential  mem- 
bers of  the  Toronto  Alliance  Society  (W.  L.  Mackenzie,  Es«j., 
and  Dr.  O'Crrady)  visited  (Quebec  for  the  purpose  of  commu- 
nicating with  the  leading  men  of  Lower  Canada,  on  the  course 
to  be  adopted  for  ju'ocuring  that  reform  which  both  provinces 
desire,  'fhe  result  of  this  mission  was  satisfactory  to  the 
refoi'mers  of  both  piN)vinces.  As  far,  therefore,  as  the  strength 
of  parties  in  the  ('anadas  is  concerned,  the  British  ministry 
need  not  be  alarmed  at  the  coh")nial  Tory  threat  of  rebellion. 

As  for  a  junction  with  tlie  Ifnited  States,  the  value  of  this 
threat  may  be  tried  by  the  interests  of  the  party  using  it.  I'ht; 
princi])le  of  the  American  government  is,  "  that  the  peo])le  are 
the  (mly  legitin)ate  source  of  |»olitical  power."  If  independent 
Canada  slu)uld  (  esire  to  be  admitted  into  the  union,  she  would 
still  retain  Iwv  own  form  of  government  and  laws,  the  only 
condition  being  that  of  giving  up  a  portion  of  the  sovenugn 
power,  -  namely,  making  war,  coini]ig  money,  regulating 
(external  trade,  (S.'c.  -to  the  g(  Jieral  i^overnment.  In  return  for 
this  she  woubl  obtain  a  voice  in  the  affairs  of  the  union,  by 


Ilcccni  Occurrences  in  Cannila. 


1.1 


f 


sending  members  to  (Jon^ross.  As  fsir  iis  tlu>  Htatf^  ot*  Le  /rune 
Canada  iui^;lit  be  coiicenu'd,  tlie  uill  of  tbt^  innjority  would 
become  law.  The  very  reform  whicli  tlie  ('oustiliitiorialistH 
threaten  to  rebel  jtbout,  would  take  place  as  a  nuitter  of  course; 
their  darling  letci^^lative  council  vAould  btvouie  au  elective 
seriate,  aud  even  the  uoveruor  himself  would  l>ee(uue  subject  to 
the  ]H)]>ular  will.  We  may,  therefore,  be  <[uite  certain  that  it 
will  Jiever  be  with  the  consent  of  the  miuoritv  that  the  threat- 
ened junction  with  the  I'nited  Stales  will  take  ])lace.  As  a 
party  tliey  would  be  utterly  unnifciilated,  nnd  any  move  to  carry 
their  impotent  threats  into  execution  Avould  he  perfectly  suicidnl. 
An  extract  from  the  Quebec  letter  will  serve  to  (dost  lhes<i 
o)>servalions  on  the  [)retensions  of  the  (Auijulian  minority. 

*'  III  the  nuautime  the  IJtllt-  'CoiistiiutiounHsts'  as  they  call  thcin- 
selvew,  are  l)y  no  iiieuus  satisfied  with  Mhe  spi.tch,'  Th<>u;;h  it  d  es 
not  y;ive  us  our  nglits,  it  threatens  to  rob  tlieni  of  s<'!ne  of  their  ill- 
gotten  privileges.  You  will  find  them  threattning  war  in  all  their 
reports^  spf^eches,  and  resolutions.  This  is  niertly  to  frighten  minis- 
ters, who  are  not  aware  how  contemptible  the  jiarty  really  is.  liotli 
tlie  Quebec  anil  IMontreid  ("lub  <»f  Constitntionalists  have  had  a 
rneeHng.  At  the  Montn^al  meeting,  Adam  Thum,  the  editor  of  a  sort 
of  colonial  *  Agc^'  spouted  forth  liis  threats  This  fellow  once  had  a 
paper  calle<l  the  '  Setlhr.'  In  the  early  nuud>er8  of  the  paper  in 
question,  the  public  were  made  to  believe  that  lie  was  a  perfect  *  lire- 
eater/ and  people  really  grew  afraul  of  him.  At  last  the  cowanDy 
rascal  received  a  challenge,  when  lie  discovered  that  duelling  was  anti- 
Chnstian.  Hereupon  his  own  set  cut  hiiu,  and  his  paper  assumed  a 
chop-fallen  air  and  died.  Now  Ik  talks  of  being  '  ready  lor  action' — 
if  It  were  really  to  come  to  ai.tion  I  have  no  ilonbt  l)ut  this  hypocrite 
would  again  resort  to  the  Scriptures  fof  arguments  against  fighting. 

**  Nothing  can  in  fact  exceed  the  rage  of  the  Tory  party,  and 
especially  on  the  granting  the  contingencies.  They  hope»l  to  stop  the 
bubiness  of  legislation  by  inducing  tlie  governor  to  refuse  to  give  the 
Assembly  the  means  of  going  on.  With  Lord  Aylmer,  they  suc- 
ceeded. The  means  even  of  sweeping  the  House  of  Assembly,  or  of 
purcha^'ing  fuel,  with  the  ihermometor  twenty-five  below  zero,  were 
refused  for  two  years,  and  the  othcials  hoped  to  ndlnence  Lord 
Gosiord  to  continue  the  evil.  However  ihey  have  been  granted. 
Their  papers  abuse  Gosford  and  his  compeers  roundly.  Sir  C.  Grey 
they  <'all  'cabbage  head'  (v\hy,  (iod  knows),  and  they  demand  that 
Lord  Ciosford  be  impeaclied.  I  send  y^u  the  ])apers  that  you  may 
witmss  their  fury. 

*'  The  most  absurd  part  of  the  lory  raving  is  that  which  points  at 
junction  with  the  Dnited  States.  H  the)  were  to  put  their  thnat  into 
execution,  that  n.onient  uoidd  seal  tleir  ruin.  1  he  great  principle  of 
the  American  democracy  is  tlcctioii  i;y  the  wlinle  people,  and,  conse- 
quently, choice  by  the  majority  —  \v  here  then  would  be  the  Icjry 
minority  ;  This  is  anothc  •^(lecllnoll  (dllie  arguments  usyd  to  bigiil<'n 
the  British  Ministry.  Ia'{  a  m\er  be  lorgotteii  that  the  *  (.Constitu- 
tionalists '  are  not  60,(100  out  uja  population  ol  (il'iO, 000,  and  \vi  ♦^hcy 
hlust»'r  a  bout  rebi  Ilioii  '"' 

The  course  then  which  ought  certainly  to  lie  adopted  towards 


16 


Recent  Oicurvencei  iff  Canada. 


the  people  of  both  Upper  and  Lo^er  Canada  doea  not  appear 
to  present  any  insuperable  difficulty.  Their  internal  altiiirs 
should  be  haiicled  over  to  them  with  a, guaraiitet  against  future 
interference.  This  niipflube  done  bv  a  single  Act  repealing  the 
obnoxious  cases  of  interference  of  which  they  have  complained 
and  in  the  preamble  enunciating  the  inexpediency  of  future 
interference.  The  Act  which  estalilisheB  an  irre.sjwnsible  council 
of  life  legislators  is  the  3l8t  of  Geo.  III.  c.  31.  Portions  of  this 
Act  have  already  been  rei)ealed  by  provincial  statutes  of  both 
2>rovinces.  Hence  it  woukl  not  be  necessary  to  legislate  here  on 
the  subject.  What  has  once  been  done  might  be  done  again. 
The  governors  of  the  two  provinces  might  bo  instructed  to  give 
the  royal  assent  to  the  necessary  Acts  for  the  erection  of  elective 
legislative  councils ;  and  should  the  present  councils  be  found 
refractory,  a'*  creation"  might  be  resorted  to  for  the  purpose 
of  procuring  the  passage  of  the  Act  in  question.  This  plan 
would  be  far  preterable  to  a  new  **  Canadian  Constitutional 
act,"  emanating  from  the  parliament  of  this  country,  as  it  would 
in  a  mannei*  be  a  pledge  of  the  sincerity  of  the  non-interference 
profession  already  alluded  to. 

With  regard  to  "  external  affa^.'s,"  that  is,  regulations  con- 
cerning foreign  trade,  there  has  been  no  disposition  on  the  part 
of  the  Canadians  to  interfere  with  this  essentially  imperial  func- 
tion of  the  mother  country.  It  is  their  internal  affairs  only 
that  they  desire  to  controul.  One  of  the  arguments  they  have 
urged  in  favour  of  the  reform  they  desire  is,  that  it  would  bring 
the  people  of  Canada  and  the  imperial  government  more  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  each  other.  The  present  oligarchy 
they  have  called  "  a  screen  between  the  people  and  the  im[)e- 
rial  government."  They  have  likened  thai  obnoxious  niiiio- 
rity  to  a  jew  money-broker,  who  has  an  interest  in  keeping  his 
principals  from  becoming  intimate  with  each  other,  and  it  has 
only  been  when  urged  almost  beyond  the  point  of  rational  en- 
durance that  they  have  ventured  to  remind  the  people  of 
England  of  their  strength.  Let  justice  then  be  done  to  the 
intelligent  people  of  the  two  Canadas,  and  we  secure  with  tliem 
a  warm  and  lasting  friendsliip.  The  danger  of  a  forcible  sepa- 
ration lies,  not  in  the  impotent  threats  of  the  Canadian  oligar- 
chies, but  in  the  continuation  of  a  system  of  misrule,  which 
must  in  time  completely  alienate  the  affections  of  the  people 
from  tliis  the  parent  state.  /^     -y  /" 

/ .    cL_ 


T.  f,     HAN»AHD.  W,  f*ATKM-NOKrKH  lUiW.