The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-17 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGEbTCE.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)

CANADA.

QUEBEC, Feb. 3.

On Wednesday last the Hon. J. A. Macdonald
brought before the Legislative Assembly his Alien
Bill, entituled " An Act for the prevention and re-
pression of outrages in violation of the peace on the
frontier of this province, and for other purposes."
It was read last evening for the third time, and
passed with comparatively slight opposition, the
votes on the division being—yeas, 107 ; nays, 7.
The bill consists of three portions : Ist. The
personal expulsion law, chiefly copied from the Im-
perial Act of 1848, by which the Government is
empowered to remove from this country such aliens
who by their conduct should render themselves un-
worthy of asylum. 2dly. Preventive clauses,
adopted from an Act of Congress of the United
States, passed in 1838, for the prevention of incur-
sions into Canada. 3dly. The foreign aggression
law against the local preparation of munitions of
war, to be used in hostilities against the United
States, adapted from the United States Act in such
cases provided. _ _ _

In proposing the measure, Mr. Macdonald stated
that before introducing the bill the Canadian Go-
vernment]took counsel with the Imperial authorities,
and that the British Alien Act of 1848 was distinctly
indicated as most proper to be put in operation in
this country. He also stated that the measure had
been initiated entirely at the suggestion of the
Canadian Government, and not from any dictation
or even expression of desire on the part of the
United States Government to have such legislation.
The following is a summary of the Act :-
1. Any written information attested by the sig-
nature and address of the writer, and sent either to
the Governor-General or the Provincial Secretary,
enables the Governor-General to order the departure
from the Province, within a limited time, of the
alien represented as plotting against the United
States Government.

2. The alien is to be notified through the Canada
Gazette alone, no personal notification being neces-
sary.

3. Disobedience to such order authorises the im-
mediate arrest and imprisonment under the personal
warrant of the Governor-general, without bail or
mainprize of the alien, until he be finally departed
from the country. This disobedience is punished
by imprisonment (for a term not exceeding 12
months) in the common gaol..
4. The Governor may, from the close to one
month after the opening of the navigation of the
St. Lawrence, detain such alien in prison.
5. Upon an alien, not being convicted of misde-
meanour, the Governor in Council may allow the
alien's excuse, on reason given by him, for his dis-
obedience, or may grant extension of the time given
for expulsion, but no such privilege is granted should
the alien be convicted of misdemeanour.
6. The Governor is authorized to furnish the alien
with the natur3 of the charges brought against him,
but he is not required to give the name of the
informer.

7. Aliens may adduce evidence upon oath, and
examine witnesses before the Governor in Council
in support of any alleged excuse for disobedience.

8. A writ of habeas corpus may be granted by a
judge, but only to relieve the alien when arrested
and imprisoned•for disobedience to the Governor's
warrant.

9. On Wednesday last the Hon. P. Tache gave
notice that this evening he would move the follow-
ing motion in the Legislative Council
" To resolve—That an humble address be pre-
sented to her Majesty, praying that she may be
graciously pleased to came a measure to' be sub-
mitted to the Imperial Parliament for the purpose
of uniting the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Ed-
ward's Island in one Govenrment, with provisions
based upon resolutions adopted at a conference of
delegates from the said colonies, held at the city of
Quebec on the 10th October, 1864.
Owing to a demand being made by the United
States Government, the Canadian Executive pro-
poses to appropriate the sum of $250,000 in gold
towards indemnifying the St. Alban's bank.
Judge Coursal is suspended, pending a statutory
commission of inquiry into his conduct in dismiss-
ing the Vermont raiders. It is rumoured that the
Canadian Government have obtained the opinion of
the English Attorney-General, which is adverse to
Judge Coursal's decision.
It is said that owing to the friendly relations
existing between the Canadian and the United
States Government, the passport system lately in-
troduced is to be speedily abolished so far as Canada
is concerned. .

A force of 2,000-militia. is now in active service
in the frontier, entailing an annual expense of
it,1,000,000.
The following are extracts from the latest tele-
grams published by the Halifax papers
NEW YORK, Feb. 2 p.m.
Confederate papers say that 4,000 bales of cotton
were burnt at Wilmington on the 28th. Several
cartloads were also burnt.

The main body of the Confederate force is con-
centrated near Charleston.

News from Fort Fisher states that the Federal
gunboats had gone up the Cape Fear River to bom-
bard the forts near Wilmington.

The long debate in Congress on the proposition
to amend the Constitution, abolishing slavery
throughout the United States, closed yesterday, and
the amendment was adopted—yeas, 119 ; nays, 56.
It had previously passed the Senate.

Letters from the Army of the Potomac dated the
30th ult. say that there is nothing to report except
the arrival within the Federal lines of squads of
deserters daily, who report stories of demoralisation
prevailing in the Confederate ranks.
Large fires occurred in Savannah on the 27th
and 28th, during which an open keg of powder was
discovered in close proximity to the magazine, in
which was stored thirty tons of powder. It is be-
lieved some desperate Confederate intended to
destroy the city.
General Grant has been on a visit to Fort
Fisher.

There has been great rejoicing throughout Mas-
sachusetts to-day on account of the constitutional
amendment abolishing slavery, which was signed by
President Lincoln yesterday.