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

something to supply accommodation for those who
LATEST INTELLIGELy CE.
were thus ejected." It is to be hoped that the hon.
and learned gentleman who introduced the measure, (REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
and his friends, will take this into considera-
tion, and not allow a really important and
national undertaking to be marred in its
effect by having its memory tarnished with the fact
that its inauguration was the signal of distress to
many. Mr. MALThTs truly observed that it was said
that this was a moribund Parliament, but that if it
introduced and carried out this measure it would
" die with honour," and for the first time in the
history of this country we shall see the administra-
tion of justice carried on its fitting structure. The
site proposed is certainly the best that can possibly
be, and those best qualified to give an opinion must
confess upon calm reflection that it answers all the
ends in view to the greatest extent more fully and
sufficiently than any other spot that has been sug-
gested. It combines many advantages, and affords
easy access to the different classes who will require
to meet there for the transaction of business. The
merchants from the City and the West-end inha-
bitants will not have far to come, and at the
same time it is close to the chambers of lawyers, so
that it is hard to discover any better locality. The
Attorney-General, in his reply to the several state-
ments, spoke with great decision, and so far success-
fully accounted for his plans. He soon disposed of
those arguments which had been used in support of
retaining the site of the courts at Westminster.
The Privy Council, he said, might have a chamber
in the new Palace of Justice, for there was no magic
power in Downing-street. As for the House of
Lords it did not decide many cases, although they
were of considerable importance. There was great
truth in the observations of the lon. and learned
gentleman with respect to the crowded state of that
part of the town in which the new site is to be
fixed. He remarked that " everybody who knows
the district must lament that any part of the
industrious people of this country should be
crammed up together in'such a space with so many
temptations to immorality surrounding them on all
sides." At the same time something might be done
to mitigate the annoyances that those turned out
will undoubtedly experience, and those in authority
will do well to take the matter into consideration.
'lie Attorney-General spoke out forcibly upon the
point of its being extravagant to erect new build-
ings when we have already some that are in good
repair, and correctly argued that it was not true
economy in the end to be perpetually patching up,
instead of having a good article at once. Besides,
he added, the present Courts were not so good as
some made out, and even the best did not possess
the accessories and requirements which were called
for in such cases. The nation is tenant-at-will, as it
were, to a private society, that of Lincoln's-inn,
and such a state of things ought not to continue.
The hon. and learned gentleman concluded by ex-
plaining more fully the ways and means by which it
was intended to provide for the outlay of these struc-
tures, and declared that money that belonged to no
one belonged to the State. On the whole, we think
that the Attorney-General has acquitted himself of
his arduous task with considerable success ; and, if
the measure be brought to a successful. termination,
the whole affair will redound to his credit, and he
will have the satisfaction of thinking that he has
associated his name with a scheme which has imme-
diate and prospective advantages, besides its being
of importance to the country that it should possess
a Palace of Justice worthy of its dignity and repu•
tation, and consistent with its wealth and influence

CANADA.

QUEBEC, Feb. 3.
On Wednesday list 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. idly. 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-
vernmentitook 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 cause 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 Government, 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

The Income Tax.

TO THE EDITOR. OF THE BIM

Stn,—Previous to the present Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer taking office, he assured the public that as far as
he was concerned the odious and oppressive Ihcome-tax
should cease in 1860. Yet ho is himself the means of its
continued imposition, and which is imposed as a heavy
charge upon the industry of the country, proving a cause
of more iniquity and falsehood than any other, and one
which Lord Russell, in his place in the House of Commons,
more than once denounced as unjust. I have seen small
Manufacturers in country places cry under the oppression,
being surcharged after they had sustained serious losses by
their trade, and most inquisitorial searches made into their
domestic affairs—the Commissioners acting with the ut-
most severity, if not with cruelty—and all this unneces-
sary charge upon the industry of the poor in a time of pro-
found peace, which, however, was originally instituted as
a war tax. How long is the imposition, with its cruel,
oppressive, and inquisitorial consequences, to be inflicted ?
When will the people's representatives do their duty ?
You, Sir, have often advocated the cause of justice, espe-
cially for those classes of society most oppressed with such
burdens, with decided advantage. Will you not again in
this matter—particularly as there is not an article in the
Excise or Customs that is cheaper to the consumer from
the remission of duties—render your aid in the removal
of so obnoxious, oppressive, inquisitorial, and unjust
im-
position.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
A CONSTANT READER OF " THE SUN."
City, Feb. 16, 1865.

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
til,cocooo.
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
80th 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.

BANK OF FRANCE•

-40.

PARIS, FEB. 16.

The following is the return of the Bank of France
for the week ending to-day, together -with the cor-
responding figures of the previous account :

Feb. 9.