The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-30 00:00:00

TRE STATE OF POLITICS AND
PARTIES IN LOWER CANADA.

No. VI.
The population of Upper Canada is essentially British, and
' the struggle of parties in this Province is merely a contest be-
tween Tories and Reformers—between a class of men who are
desirous of retaining
P by the all existing abuses, because they profit
m, and the majority of the people, who, having no
interest in the maintenance of misgovernment, are desirous
of introducing such ameliorations as the existing state of
the country may from time to time require. The po-
pulation of Lower Canada is differently constituted. Ori-
ginally settled by the French, their descendants still con-
stitute a large majority. The total population is about
600,000, of whom about three-fourths are of French and
the remainder of British or American origin ; and it is said
that the contest here is not between reform and anti-reform,
between
Toryism and Liberalism, but that it is a contest
for Superiority between the inhabitants of French and those
be 13ritish origin. This is the colour which is attempted to
4 given to it p
,
no and perhaps, to a very limited extent this may
wbe its actual character. Lower Canada is governed
ander the same Act as Upper Canada ; the administration
°f its affairs has always been conducted upon the same prin-
eiPles and in the same spirit, and, in general, the grounds of
hmPlaint are the same. As, however, a state of discontent
8 existed for a longer period in the Lower Province than
in the „
uPper, the people of Lower. Canada have become
foure discontented and their feelings more exasperated, and
rm accordingly require a more extensive change in their
1 government than has yet been publicly suggested
Y the Reformers of Upper Canada. By both sides of late,
,and especially by the Constitutional or Tory party, efforts
have been made to infuse into the present disputes the
additinnal element of national antipathies, and it is probable
that
have thus given a sort of vitality and activity to
Me-rigs which they affect much to deprecate, and which
-*ai otherwise have lain dormant.
ltdinat is
manifest, however, that the struggle is not, in its
enal features, one of national origin, but that it is a
cnatest between Tories and Reformers ; for even in dis..
tri;
els, like the Eastern Townships, which are wholly occu-
pied by settlers of British and American origin, a decided
-ai°ritY of Reformers is sent to the House of Assembly.
vie After having stated at so much length the peculiar
thogVaneeS of Upper Canada, it is not necessary to detail
of the Lower Province, which do not differ materi-
ally froth the others, either in character or magnitude. It
PapPtiroib.a.hle, however,' owing to the mixed character of the
dis anon, and the national features, which the present
heirhave in some degree assumed, that it will be
r,e difficult to find peaceful and constitutional means for
his retnoval. In the Upper Province the Governor, by
4," 'Weal to English prejudices, and probably by other
:ins* which time will explain, but which are not practi-
ja Lower Canada, has. obtained a majority in the
gse of Assembly, so that with a very moderate share of
aill3e,r,etien and foresight on the part of the Administration,
vexat qu Zones may now be satisfactorily settled,
al f things put in ea
peaceful and quiet train for the next
Il century ;
but in Lower Canada, so long as Mr. Papi-
an lives, or any other man can be found to agitate the
Ihrbench Canadians, by no possibility can the Administration
this a majority in the House of Assembly. Considering
t6is circumstance, and the much more highly exasperated
te Of political feeling which prevails in Lower Canada,
Cher
Can be little doubt, that constitutionally speaking, the
I'Pers of the Administration will soon be suspended.
hat the Imperial Government will do in this crisis it were
ii4o4lto anticipate. Such have been its timidity and vacilla-
° 10 the management of the Canadian Provinces, that he
hsi be a bold man indeed who would venture to predicate
ttany
alight in given event be the course of its policy.
e cannot leave these topics without adverting more
le`rtdicularly to Mr. Papineau, the Canadian O'Connell, the
Ae Coder of the reformers, especially those of the Canadian
tT' and Speaker of the House of Assembly. Mr.
saaPitnewhat neau
may be 50 years of age ; he is of the middle size,
,e stout in appearance, and of a grave and portly
Meanour.
Re is said to be possessed of a considerable
15knovna
is tte fortune, and lives in ..a retired but handsome style at
hfa r° al, for which place he is the Member. His private
Ora a Perfect contrast to his public career ; when with-
-"frcnn the turmoil of politics, his habits are quiet,
4,s i°us, and domestic. In general society, his man-
derst:red easY and polished, and by those who affect to un-
gra tl" such matters, are said to possess the finished
veitheefulness of the old French noblesse. He speaks English
itep, great fluency, though from an occasional but almost
to,CrcePtible hesitation, and a certain peculiarity of in-
itti I
ui. on
to hitis easy to perceive
• that English is not
_ In the House of Assembly, or in address-
-01).10! Public meeting, he is eloquent and powerful. His
affect are clearly and decidedly republican—he does not
la a „t° disguise them, nor to conceal his conviction that
cleoe.:rY few years the Canadas will shake off all depen-
treqi England. In the event of a struggle, he relies
gill 63PAtIP011 the assistance, both direct and indirect, which
prof, be
from the United States. At present, all he
Itgislsses to seek for is a responsible executive—an elective
ilaes,attivie cenneil—complete control over the Colonial reve-
the io the total freedom from all interference of England in
ett,„„e_4l affairs of the Colony—reserving to the Home Go-
tpg
°llly the regulation of matters of trade ; and insist-
gle e"` even this last is a matter which must soon be left to
4opianadians• He regards the present state of the Colony
111441 Preparatory to absolute independence, and conceives
4110tqa the Control and regulation of the Home Government
All l'ave a view towards the speedy arrival of this event.
kenti eYendence upon England he conceives to be emi-
,t4t4 Injurious to the Province, and looks to the United
'tlt 484 net only the natural connection of the Canadas,
t° e°otaining the form of government most suitable
pd the He characterizes the conduct of Lord Gosford
Itith tereonamissioners, as having been unfair and tricky,
illti4tle'erelice to the expectations held out that the consti-
ki tooster the Legislative Council was open for discussion,
Means taken to obtain a permanent civil list.
%es 'caPineau is shrewd, clever, and enthusiastic ; but he
Ltc)rapl: appear to be possessed of a very enlarged and
4hita-tlensive understanding. There seems to be wanting
1-411.iik-me grave and stedfast purpose, and the clear states-
-o.‘herte „view's of the ex-Speaker Bidwell, John Rolph,
4tikb Baldwin, and the other Reformers of Upper
L4tiooL,:rhere is a certain extravagance in his ideas and
.1144,"eh indicates them to have sprung rather from
r•triot: 44,4 Passion, than from deep reflection and pure
et4tiesh,"Sign• In short, he is rather a declaimer than
Oh, demagogue than a patriot,—hot-headed,
nvin,nd violent, but withal talented and eloquent,—and
tet4P: 10 his character rather the fiery and impassioned
trratnent of the men of the first French revolution, than
4'elly4.ve determination the deep conviction, the sound and
r°°ted • • band of heroes, patriots
states principle of the
ti:140(1 ticlee: who achieved the independence of the
end ti
griattheSe 1114a49 will probably be found to be the crea-
aeitlecoph_edy of voters for the o,c,casion,by.egkreatisi.ti"ng
lveyances to the holders of location tickets."
RE
~I,4di
ome
4tetled Ot o,4ll°N.—The church party at Gir es ,
Iv .440 a-4e inhabitants in vestry, refusing the church-
ti3laß to have them of the benefit of the church clock, by
qt
„.11 4 fie," 1t wound up.—Northampton Chronicle.
thstie Ktill lately an ash plantation) in the parish
I.las beeging.liam, in the occupation of A. Majendie, Esq.,
itt n
.this Year an extraordinary growth of oats. The
th" 11 tit "rtle Instances, has attained t thickness of reeds,
e°tar' i• the heinli of
more than 63- feet. The sheaves ga-
Itit';1114."1 the twont
esrtre t c h.e s are standing in a line close tone-
he Vtimut
option, 400 in number. —Essex Herald.
111' IleißhiZ.ll'L°Siolsr•--About six on Friday evening
exuprilos,od of the Seven Dials was great-ly alarmed
NIIA, the • ion of gas, which occurred at the " palace"
111k:1141s Crowi?, at the corner of Great St. Andrew and
1114 fo • Within
%liar ten minutes after the occurrence took
t 0
ge engines were •
reaui ~ in attendance, but their assist-
ttler, ed pr riu, the flames having fortunately been ex-
ti b • evlously. The damage doe is not to any great
vth ein/C cordlned to the ceiling of the bar, and to the
,not,:i..soUthern portion of which was blown out.
t414411(1 II A G
4b„ 4Alf AUG. 13.—The navigation of the
phtediktei yea much more considerable this year than in those
ItLN j eedin If
t hOt g• the number -of ships that have
110 polarge as in 1832, the total value of the cargoes
1144% e,ttit'l inferior. It is no tau uncpmmon_circumsfa-nce
tlitt on!a,ree hundred ships to pass the Castle of Cumen-
o Nitt uaY, which affords extremely fine sight from
44, 'rho stew
to b. _ eam-b.oat stationed at the entrance of the
‘k4:ltioqi„' employed in towing merchantmen, which had a
, has "e Put into it last year and is now in excellent con-
rdi4"Y usb een much used ;his year, but will be found of
e to ships on some occasions.