The Express.
London, England, 1862-06-05 00:00:00

THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN CANADA.

The Quebec and Toronto journals received yes-
terday explain the circumstances which have
brought about a ministerial resignation in Canada.
The rejection of the Militia Bill was caused by the
defection of the Lower Canadian members who
usually support the government. The bill was lost
by seven votes. The ministers had a majority of
seven among the Upper Canadian members sepa-
rately taken, but as among the Lower Canadian mem-
' hers they were in a minority of fourteen votes ; the
result was that which we have to record. The bill was
rejected silently. On a previotui occasion a discussion
had taken place ; but when the Minister, Mr.
Cartier, moved the second reading, nobody spoke ;
the motion was at once put to the vote, and the
bill was rejected. The bill was not considered a
good one, but it was the only proposition for
placing the defences of the country on a sound local
basis, and its absolute rejection has an appearance
otherwise than that which would have been pre-
sented if it had been rejected avowedly for its defects
of detaiL The colonial supporters of the Ministry
blame them far not announcing at first that the bill
represented their view of the duty of the colony
towards the mother country, and that they would
stand or fall by it.
The Quebec Chronicle makes some very severe
remarks on the conduct of the French Canadians,
accusing them cf insincerity in their professions of
loyalty. It says : . . .

The fall of am cohinet, or the rise of another, is a minor
consideration compared with the grave issue which is now
presented, as between Canada and Greet Britain. By their
votes yesterday a majority of French Canadians have put
on record their refusal to respond to the reasonable require-
ments of the Imperial Parliament; they have said in effect
that Lower Canada will contribute nothing towards the ,
defence of the province ; they have formally proclaimed that
their recent ebullitions of loyalty on the arrival of the
British troops were either sheer eelhsboeee or tan egregious
sham ; and they have deliberately assumed • position
which must materially affect their future relations,
and the relations of the province, to the British crown.
It is of DO avail to remind us iet other grounds of com-
plaint existed than those which appear in the rejection of
the Militia Bill. Whatever qualifications local knowledge
may enable us to attach to a Lower Canadian majority of
fourteen against the bill, in England, France, and the
United States, it is susceptible of but one interpretstiou.
It is a declaration no the part of thirty even Lower Canada
constituencies that the colony will not discharge its duty
to the crown in the vital matter of defence ; and so the
world is bound to estimate it. No amount of lip-loyalty
will suffice to obliterate this ins • . A French Comedian
majority have refused to pay • ew dollars, and to perform
slight service, as the price of costumed British tonne:los& ;
and their action must so stand before the world,

The organs of the French Canadians repudiate
this interpretation of the votes of their representa-
tives, admitting at the same time that it is the one
which is most favoured by appearances.
The following list of the new ministry is pub-
lished by the Quebec Chronicle as authentic :
lire= CANADA. —J. S. Macdonald, Attorney-General ;
M. H. Foley, Postmaster-General ; W. P. Howland, Minis-
ter of Finance ; W. McDougall, Commissioner of Crown
Lands ; James Morris, Receiver-General ; A. Wilson, Soli-
citor-GeneraL
LOWER CANADA. —L. V. Sicotte, Attorney-General ; A.
A. Dodos, Commissioner of Public Works • T. D. McGee,
Bureau of Agriculture and Emigration • 11. J. Tessier, Pre-
sident of the Council ; F. Evanturel, Provincial Secretary ;
J. J. C. Abbott, Solicitor-GeueraL
These gentlemen are not taken exclusively from
any one Canadian party.

The Martinique papers, just come to hand, state
that the Council.C.rweral of that island had agreed to a sup-
plementary vote of nearly 10,0001. for providing stages fur
coaling the French, West India, and Mexican mail packets.
The agent of the French Mail Packet Company had arrived
at Martinique. There are fora steamers to begin the mail
packet service with, viz., the Louisiana, Florida, Vera Cm,
and Tampico. The length of the entire main route of the
packets from St. Nazaire, the port of departure in France,
to Vera Cruz. rid Martinique, is 5,643 miles. The passenger
fares by the French packets will be 30 per cent. leas than
those by the Royal Mail packets, and it is anticipated that
a number of passengers will travel by the French steamers
on account of the lowness of the fares, and to avoid em-
barking at Southampton and the transhipment at St.
Thomas.
TER OUTWARD INDIA AND CHINA MAILi.

SOUTHAMPTON, Jowl 4. —The Peninsular and Oriental
Company's steam-ship Ripon. Captain Christian, riled
hence to-day, at 2 p.m., with the mails for Gibraltar, Malta,
Egypt, Men, Ceylon, India, and China.. She took oat 24
first sod 12 sera-class passengers, and in freight 660 boxes
specie, value 170,2631. 3s. for the following porta, viz. :
Madras, gold men, 3,1091. 10a. ; silver coin, 21. 15s. ; gold
thread, watches, ttc.„ 1,6341. 12a. Calcutta, medals, watches,
jewellery, ,ke , 4,7361. 15a. Singapore, dollars, 23.8801.
Hogg Hoag, bar silver, 19,7501. ; dollars. 82,5464 17a. 6d. ;
gold and silver thread, &c., 7101. Shanghai, bar silver,
4,9701. ; dollars, 23,5261. ; jewellery. watches, &c., 394/.
13s. 6d.: and for Alexandria, sovereigns, 5,000. Also a
full cargo of general merchandise.
THE OUTWARD AMERICAN MAIL& —SOUTHATCP-
TON, JUNE 4.—The Hamburg and American Company's
mad steamship Bavaria, Captain Meier, sailed hence to-&y
for New York with the usual mails, 452 passengers from
Hamburg, Ham, sad this port, and a full cargo, also on
fn' 27,2501. from Havre.
DESPATCH OF AMINICAN AND CANADIAN MAUL
Tim lamas steamer Glasgow was yesterday dispatched from
Liverpool for New York with mails for the United Slates, •
kisgenumber of presagers, cargo, do. To-day the Quebec
and Montreal Royal Mail steamer Nova Sorra will be &-
rithad from the Mersey for Quebec with Canadian and
rdEitatas mails. On Saturday the Cunard Boyal Mail
steamer China will he dispatched from the Mersey for New
York with rails for North America and the United Stare.
nom RMINTOL TO CORE AND BALE.—It is asl
sourad that the imailinp of the Flom sad Sabrina berms
Bristol and Cook in re month of Jur are to be increased
to Monday, Wedarday, and Friday from awe port, afford-
ing greater (militias for intending arras from the sister
island to the interustioar Rabobition, and for karats frees
this side to visit the far-fared Ulm of =areal.