The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-25 00:00:00

the delegates freely admit their desire to tighten
rather than to slacken the ties that bind these ad-
venturous young communities to the old kingdom,
and by so doing they are undoubtedly consulting
the best interests of the colonies. England is never
anxious for her children to throw off their allegis
ance, though she retains her authority over them
rather as a wise and fostering guide than as an
arbitrary ruler. She leaves them to administer their
own affairs, only giving them such direction as new
and untried settlements may require, and she would
not be slow to grant them more material aid so long
as she saw them able and willing to di their own
part in self defence, Whatever individuals may
say, or whatever theories may be supported by
shortsighted economists, the people of this country
would never suffer our North American colonies to
be overrun without assistance. The feelings of the
nation would declare itself in those unmistakeable
tones which Ministers and Parliament must hear
and heed. We cannot indeed undertake to guarani'
tee the integrity of a thousand miles of frontier, or
' to garrison the towns throughout the provinces,
but we may call upon the colonists to do their ut-
most, and, when the time of need comes, we can
supplement their endeavours no less by our moral
than by our physical force. Let all foreign States
know that in touching the North American Pro-
vinces they touch England; and, notwithstanding
their affected contempt for the sleeping lion, they
will be duly careful of disturbing his slumbers.
The real danger, of course, lies southward ; and the
energy with which this movement about the Union
has been carried on gives evidence of the uneasi-
ness with which the Provinces regard the proceeds
ings of their American neighbours. So rash and
reckless has been the conduct of the Federal Gc-
vernment, so lavish of men and money, that it
might not shrink from so dangerous a task as invad-
ing Canada if it were left by the sudden termina•
tion of hostilities with the army idle on its hands
and the people irritable by failure. It is the sense
of this possible danger which has given vigour to
the deliberations at Quebec, which have resulted in
the Constitution before us. It requires the sanction
of the Imperial Parliament and of the local Parlia-
ments, neither of which will, we trust, be withheld
from it. It is framed with the strictest regard to
the just balance of the different colonies, and it is
especially stipulated that in any change which may
hereafter be made in the number of the Repre-
sentatives the same proportion shall be rigidly
maintained. In imitation of our Houses of Parlia-
ment, the Federation is to be composed of a Legis-
lative Council and a House of Commons. To form
the Council the provinces are to be divided into
three parts—Upper Canada, Lower Canada, and
the three maritime provinces, each section having
24 councillors. On Newfoundland's entering the
Union it will have a right to four councillors.
These councillors are to be named for life by the
Crown, but will forfeit their seats by two years'
absence from their duties. The members of the
first council will be taken from the existing pro-
vincial councils, care being had to secure the repro.
sentation of different political parties. The Pre-
sident is to be chosen from among them by the
Crown, having only a casting vote, like our Speaker.
The House of Commons is to be formed on the same
principle of equitable representation, its num-
bers being revised after every census, and
regulated according to the variations of the popu-
lation, care being taken to preserve the
same proportions between the colonies. Each
province is to have a Lieutenant-Governor to be
appointed by the Governor• General in Council, and
who is not to be removed in less than five years,
unless for cause, which cause must be communi-
cuted to the two Houses of the Federal Parliament
►vithin the first week of the session. It is thus
provided that the central authority shall not unduly
interfere with the local Governments. The Go-
vernor-General himself is, of course, to be appointed
by the Crown, and the settlement of all matters of
law, finance, and justice are wisely and equitably
provided for. The accomplishment of their ardu-
ous and responsib'e task is a matter of congratula-
tion to the delegates, whose unostentatious labours
may hereafter prove to have laid the foundation-
stone of a vast community which shall carry the
blessings of English freedom and civilisation into
the waters and wilds of the far North and West.