The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-30 00:00:00

THE COLONIES.

ON THE UNION OF THE TWO CANAHAS-
'• • ••• ( From the Montreal Herald.) . • •
TO THE. INUADITANTS 01' UPPER: CA.NAD,t.

The difficulties which arose between the Provinces of Lower
and Upper Canada, upon the subject of revenue from duties
imposed on Goods imported from sea into the Port of QUebec
for the common consumption of both Provineu, at length prod
duced Representatives from your Logi...haute to hie 111.nicaty'a
MinikaersAatteribingthe grievance are i,Jatliciaa'tg 11 remedy. -,

That remedy was only to he had through the intervention of
theimperial Legislature which has applied one to the 'existing
grievance ; but security against its recurrence is also necesiary;
as well as provisions to meet other difficulties and points of col.
lision which may arise.
The.proceedings of the ifotise/of Assembly of this Province',
hate been of a nature to force thbir consideration also upon
Ministers, and to produce by consequence the interposition
:of Parliament, it having become quite evident that the provin.
eial Government and dependent" institutions must be dissolved
and anarchy ensue, if measures were not speedily devised for
preventing the continuance or recurrence of such proceedings,
and for the restoration of harmony between the Provinces, as
also for amalgamating the population of both, and promoting
such feelings and characteristics as ought to. distinguish British
subjects throught the Empire.

A great variety of informations respecting the Canadas, be.
fore the Ministry, likewise proved that their industry languish-
ed, that their commercial resources were not drawn forth, and
that the present state of affairs aflbrded not the most distant
prospect of those countries becoming less hurtheniome to the
finances, or less embarrassing to the Government of Great
Britain. -

Upon a full consideration of the whole subject, it was clear
that temporary expedients would be unavailing, and that sorne
powerful measure, embracing: the interests of the Mother
COUntry and of the Cariadits, as British Provinces, as well
in respect to their future solo their present situation was in-
dispensable. • .
Acting therefore upon enlightened and prospective policy,
his Majesty's Minister, during last Session, intrnatteed into
the Imperial Parliament " A Bill to snake snore effectual
firovisions for the Government Of the Provinces of Canada, to
regulate •the trade thereof, and for other purposes ;elating
thereto."

The principle of redeeming past errors by re-uniting the
Provinces forming a prominent feature of the Bill, was fully '
approved of, by both sides of tho House of Commons ; but
objections .were started, betattse the Bill was introduced late in
the session, and time was not given fur its being known to those
on whom it was meant to cperate, and because it coinprisad po-
litical, commercial and finimebil enactments To those se-
condary objections, the Miniatry at length .gave way, and
Consented to divide the measure; and having, out of its com-
ponent parts, formed two Bills, they obtained the passage of
oue of them without opposition, entitled the Canada Trade
MU, now in force, and 'carried the other called the Canada
Governritent pill, to a second reading and recommitment, after
. which it was printed and postponed till a new Session of the
inverts! Parliament
It is not .my intention to examine the details of the mea-
sure; the same havipg been long commented upon in the pub.
lie prints ; but taking it general point of view, fam fully
satisfied that the last-mentioned Bill is calculated to pro-
duce a salutary Change, is Well in the relations of the One
Province with the other, as in their relations with the Unite 4
Kingdom..

The expediency and the extensive utility of the measure are
---r
inewcil soi evidixtt to intelligent and unprejudiced ttliraiti, that it
might not have been deemed necessary to make any attempt tip
combine the sentintentspf individuals, throughout both Pro-
vincesin its favour, if its friends inui. not becn in a manner
compe,lKto, sucks course by. the exertions of the enemies oi
the measure, wbo may be too suercssful in exciting in the igi;
natant majority of their countrymen a spirit of mistrust and

alarm In the hope of defeating the beneficent intentions of the
British Government. This disposition of the adverse party is
tile more clear from their violent clamours against that Clause
in the Biil,;which prescribes English as the Language of the -
Acts and proeeedings of the joint Legislature, which enactment
would tend to cherish British characteristics in the popular
brine'h of the Legislature of this British Colony. For it is only.
the Legislative use of the same tongue, that can operate as a
permanerit cause of removing animosities and prejudices in a
mixed population, by preventing mutual misunderstandings,
and that can unite all, as one people, by enabling all to draw
their knowledge from the sources of a common country.
in such circumstances and with such prospects before us, I
deem it my duty, to communicate my ideas on the important
interest -which your Province may be proved to hold' in the
accomplishMent of that- measure, and on the expediency of
supporting it in the British Legislature by Petitions from
your Districts, Counties, and otherwise as you may deem ad-
visable, and, I sincerely hope, that you will take in good
part the present address as proceeding from a friend of Re-
union, who 'consider' his Welfare as identified with yours at the
present crisis, which appears to demand the closest connec-
tion, and most cordial co-operation of all individuals through
out the Canadas, distinguished by similarity of origin,language,
and other sources of mutual sympathy.
While Lower Canada remains in its present situation with
its foreign aspect, the British Government, and the British
nation may be row* less willing to- make those sacrifices of
time, attention, and national revenue, which would benefit both'
Provinces. And it is impossible to devise any general measure
so well Calculated to restore confidence, and improve the rela.
firms between the Canada and the Mother-country as the re.
.union of Upper to Lower Canada. For that measure is
not recommendable merely as a security against the recur-
rence of financial difficulties, but it is likewise recommended
by many physical and moral circumstances of a permanent
and progressive description. Thus the geographical situation,
the face, of the country, and-the course of its principal river,
all suggest the propriety of one Legislature. The variation
in climate throughout the settlements' is not so great as to cause
any important difference in the character and habits of the po-
pulation ;; and frnm Lake Erie to the Gulph of the St. Law-
rence, the current of waters generally descends in a Northeast
directiOn, while the left bank of the river and the left shores of
the Lakes, so far as yet settled, : are chiefly plain or gentle ac.
divides ; and neither large rivers; norchains ofhigh mountains
cross the country to afford lines of demarcation,. or natural boun-
daries ; sci that this comparatively open communication and
want of defensible barriers strongly recommend concentration
both of military and civil power.
Thin` in separating these Provinces, the indications of na-
tural: position were neglected, anti the impolitic division was
persisted in, notwithstanding the evils which were then pre-
dicted, and which have been since experienced. Indeed the
principal objects, assigned by the celebrated author of the
separation (the lite Mr. Pitt) forpersisting in it, namely, that
it would produce unanimity in Lower Canada, and by the ex.
ample of a neighbouring Province, prospering under British
Laws anti Characteristics, prevail upon the French Canadians
voluntarily to improve their feudal and anti-commercial code,
have so 'completely failed, that were he now alive, his great
mind would acknowledge. tite errOr and repair it, as far as pot-
Able, by Re-union, lie wouiChave learned that the division
of Canada. produtted.ar divialOn' of intsrest.s, and that many per.
sons attached to BritishLars.aad Guetoros abandoning the ad,
vantages of 'proximity to the. ommercial. outlet by sea,
.were
thus drawn to an inland situation. where their mintil,worPed I.;Y:.
• , local interests,•were inevitably disengage() from that warm Par"
ticipation in the wants and wishes of their brethren, which had
previously existed., 'lle would have learned, that the English
party in the Lower Province, thus weakened, have been ens
gaged in an inetreethal struggle during43o years to obtain from
the FreneliCanadiantnajority in the House of Assembly various
salutary Laws for the protection of commerce 4 the security of
property, and the improvement of the country, and the manifold
sins of omission and commission of the present Legislature have
gradually produced such a state of affairs, that the English part
of the population are in danger of being sacrificed to the ambi-
tion of a few agitators, who will cherish to the last,: as the fotrn -
dation of their power, the hurtful prejudices of the French
, Canadians. In fine, that illustrious Statesman must have
come to the decision of his enlightened successor, namely, that
the Re-union of Upper to Lower Canada is the only line of
policy which can insure to the English Population that weight
in the Country, which is highly expedient for the improvement
of both provinces and for the interest of the Empire at large.

That these Provinces have common interests,. which cannot
be provided for by 'separate legislation, said local expedient, is
indisputable. They have only one direct channel of communi.
cation with the Mother Country by sea, through which the sup.
plies of their wants and the exports of their surplus produce
can pass, for the benefit 'of British Commerce. Whichever
Province his the key of that communication, keeps the other
Substantially in its power. 'Lower Canada holds that key; it
is in the hands of the French party, of persons anticommercial
in habits, foreign in origin, and, inheriting antipathies to all
who differ from them in those characteristics. And those are
likewise the habits and antipathies which they desire to be en-
abled to preserve, by remaining a separate people. But this
principle in suchcircumstances, so incompatible with your in.
wrests and with those of yout posterity, 'can nevot be sanction.
ed ; for, from the geographical position of this Province, and
the advantages incident thereto, it must, if established, event-
ually tempt, if not compel.yourselves, and, your descendants to
become essentially French,

If the inhabitants of Lower Canada were all of British origin,
end those of Upper CatradiiFreneb, there would be less danger
to national reputation and interest, in allowing the strange
anomaly of a people in a British Province, avowing their wish
to remain foreign in character and distinct in situation t but, in
existing circumstances, if the Provinces continue separate, you
must, politieally speaking, be at the mercy'of those who have
feelings and sympathies Uncongenial with yours.
Should any. persona. be so weak as to think that the Ca-
nada Trade Bill, containing provisions for the arbitration and
settlemeni of the present differences between the provinces,
on the subject of neVenue, and for a kind of consent in future,
on the part of your Legislature, respecting the 'imposition or
cessation of Import Dutiei,is a sufficient remedy or preven-
tive of financial grievances, they grossly deceive themselves.
The consent only implies a negative of douliful utility ; for
your Legislature can neither initiate,, nor alter a duty, nor in-
terfere in its collection ; but all propositions and regulations
for those purposeSmust originate in the House of Assembly of
Lower Canada, Whose general dispoiltion yeti have 'reason to
know and to:distrust.

If therefore the enactment aforesaid be not speedily followed
by the Legislative Union, the breach will only be widened ;
:tit} Ilk-union Incoming every year more necessary, will be
found, every year more difficult to be effected, and the present
time is peculiarly proper for the great work of Consolidating
the Canadian Provinces, when the Brltis4 nation, at peace with
the whole world, and the British Government chiefly occupied

with Legislative measures for internal improvement, can best
extend their views anti attention to Colonial affairs and amelio-
rations interesting to British Commerce.
The measure of Re-union is not only of urgent, necessity
as the only effectual remedy for financial grievances; but it
is also imperiously required to preient those legislative coll.
sions between the Provinces, on other subjects connected
with
,tlieir future progress in population and settlement.—
FOr improvement of internal navigaion by canals, and by re-
' moving obstructions in riven, are justly to be viewed as objects
of joint utility though of separate locality ; but can we con-
ceive that, with distinct Legislatures, the two Provinces could
ever agree upon the apportionment of the expellee to be de-
frayed by each in accomplishing such works ? Other improve-
ments of equal importance may likewise represent themselves to
your minds, as exposed to the same difficulty; -and the broba-
ble consequence of discord on all such matters, will be, that
every improvement in your Province, beyond the means af-
forded by local assessment, will be left unattempted, and if
combination and co.operation be found unpracticable, for
improving internal communications by land and by water,
and for directing your commerce, by every facility, to the
outlet of the Saint Lawrence, (thus securing to Montreal and
Quebec, the supply of your wants, and the Export of your
produce), the most fertile interests of your Province will be
driven to obtain a commercial outlet for their produce, and an
exchange of it for different kinds of goods and manufactures.
by forming connections with the States of New York and Penn-
sylvania. And ought not such, the inevitable results of a con-
tinuance of the present situation of the two Provinces, to alarm
every loyal subject, and induce him to support the cause of Re•
union, as a relief from present evils as well as a harbinger of
future good ? But small would be the alleviation which com.
mercial connections with foreign States and Merchants would
bring ; for the geographical position of Upper Canada in a se-
parate State, dooms it to a dependence on LOwer Canada ; and
let me suppose, that the House of Assembly of the latter Pro-
vince, for the purpose of forcing you into an acceptance of
such a proportion of Import Revenue, as it thought proper,
should hold in the Treasury the monies ariaing from such share
of revenue, where then would be your remedy ? None could
be found but in the authority of the Imperial Parliament ; and
is it possible seriously to contemplate the perpetuation of a
system of separate legislation, which would, inevitably, from
time to time, render it necessary to harrass the. Supreme Le.
gislature with Colonial quarrels and complaint.

To illustrate farther the various occasions of distention
which a protracted separation will prnduce let me remark, the
difference between your mode of taxation and that pursued
by the French party in this Province ; their ways and means
have always consisted of taxes on imports of goods, not ex-
cepting British manufactures, for the common consumption
of both Provinces and the produce of those taxes is partly
employed for the building of Court Houses, and Goals and
for the support of other local establishments, objects, which
you provide for by county rates. Thus you have been subject
to taxation, without representation, which is to be considered
a grievance even though you should receive a share of the pro,
duce in proportion to your consumption of dutiable articles.
And in the progress of various disputes and jealousies, already
in existence, is it not only a possible but a probable result, that
hostilities may actually take place betweim the Provinces, par.'
ticularly in some extreme cases, arising out of old quarrels,
where the irritation of the moment may prevent one party
from waiting the remit of 'arefereoce W the supreme Govern.
tricot at a distance of three thousand rates ?

Before I conclude the present iuldress, permit me to dwell
a few mornents--with plcasing anticipation, upon the pro.
gressire effects of that mild alterative remedy which has been
prescribed for our relief by the paternal Covertunem of his
aj es ty.—

The redress of the grievances, and removal of the disadvan.
tages under which both provinces, and many individuals, of
different classes within the same now labour, wilt be obtained
either immediately, from the enactments of the Union Bill,
or, in process of time, from the spirit of improvement, the
.energY,and enlarged political dlseussions which nr4y be ex-
pected from a Legislature sufficiently numerous to give a
fair chance of its containing men of talent capable of conci-
liating and controuling those local and personal interests,
which h"ave hitherto so notoriously impeded the dove-
lopenieni of the resources of the Canadas, and prevented
them from becoming a valuable appendage to the British
Empire.

Fronisuch a Legislature thus calculated to acquire the re.
spect and confidence of the great majority of the Colonial po.
pularion, you might expect important ameliorations in the do.
mastic economy of your province ; and • it would not be
-surprising, if under, such auspices, the internal communica.
dons, by land and by water, should in a few years, be so much
improved that your surplus produce might be delivered at
Montreal in half the time, and at half the expence, which are
now required ; while your purchases of goods 'in those Markets
might be laid down in your stores with an equal saving of time
and money.

Prom such a Legislature you might expect decisih en.
couragement to agriculture, and unceasing eWorts to obtain
in external Market, through the Port of Quebec, for the vari.
oas fniits of your industry, securing at the same time, as far
as consistent with the interests of Commerce, a preference to
the native products of your soil for consumption within the
province.

•
By the petitions of Such a Legislature, calculated to acquire
the regag and confidence of the British Government, You
might expect, from the parent state, many conunerdal favours
which would he denied to petty assemblies, that have too often
been found devoid of liberality and incapable of conciliat.
iii, the interest" of the Colonies with those of the Mother.
country.
Prom such a Legislature you might expect well digested
measures for the edailnistration of Justice, the protection-of
Commerce and the security. of property throughout the Cana.
das, which would attract British capital, raising the value of
lands and houses, introducing new kinds of industry, and en_
abling the Colony to establish, on a permanent foundation,
those various public institutions which support and adorn civi.
lized Society.
When you meet with objections to the union, I entreat you
not only to analyze and investigute them severely, but likewise
to consider the individuals or associations who make them
so that the peculiarities of their situation and character may
throw light upon their real motives. In this manner should
the various objections brought by Quebec and York be sem.
tinised, and you will find it extremely. difficult to account' for
the encreasing clamours of the majority of the inhabitants of
those places except by ascribing to them the hope of continuing
to profit by the present abuses or the fear of a depredation of
their property by the'probable removal of the seat of the Legis.
lature to Montreal. But if:you find your suspicions confirmed
by the proposed investigation, you may well represent to the
.Parliament that " the demount of selfish individuals
who are never satisfied with a due share of the general advan.
tage,' should neither prevent nor retard the wise and season«
able -measure in question, which is eqUally requisite far the
lagood of the Colony, and, for the interest of the Empire, at
rge.-
In my humble
any' measure
it is beyond the power of human wis.
dons to devise any maasttre 'calculated to deliver the Canada*
from existing evils, to enable them to enjoy their natural ad.
vantages, and to insure their lasting and beneficial dependence
upon the parent State, except the re.unian of those. provinces.
This Would remove ail discord, change envy into manly emu.
lation,"extinpish national prejudices, and amalgamate their
whole population into one homogeneous mass, animated by the
same views for the public interest, and by die same sentiment,
of royalty tewards their Co4llllpll. SOMCipi.
BRITANNICUS.
Montreal, 25th October, lea.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHANCERY, JAN. 20.
EX•PARTE CARTER, IN THE MATTER OF CRESWE
LUNATIC.
Mr. WETHERELL said,that this was a petition VI
P
Mr. Carter, the interim committee of the lunatics,
might be allowed to ittatitute suits to relieve the lohat'
bonds which had been obtained from him by Isis chilib
servants to the amount of 46,0001., together with bills to
a,nounta, upon some of which bills the parties holq
nad proceeded to an arrest The prayer was to seta
elikt of the bonds and bills, and for that purpese that t
terim committee might be allowed to proceed to such s
the courts of law as should be advised by Counsel.
The LORD CHANCELOR said, the usual course leaf
taro an order for referring the instruments of obligati°,
Master. Upon his report an application must be loaasn
Court, to file a bill, and upon the hearing. the C°lt 97"
tainment of the objects sought.his LordshiP
enabled to determine what suit should. be instituted fer I
any instance in which so large a discretion wasuiren;
tenon Committee as to allow them to institutes ts
the advice of Counsel, added to their own ineu
Mr. WETHERELL said, that he would take the
1 er''.
was suggested by the Court.
WILBRAIIA3I entered the Court shortly sow,
A thil
that his Lordship having granted an order tin
tion, he trusted that time would be given to the L"1
were to be the defendants, and who resided in theta ip
prepare affidavits. There were allegations in the Id,
nature highly injurious to them, which there ws3;,:tse
but that they would have ample means to answer."-4
did! oe
perfectly satisfactory. He wished to have the Fem., r
to Tuesday next. LI be ensr
The LORD CHANCELLOR thought that won.-
than would be necessary .or even proper for hi"; tt°„Vin
that a party circumstanced as was representeu "-"h the
rounded with all the_protection and vigilance whic
i Lordshippostponement.
was willing to have continued she
expressly prohibited it, he adjourned
Friday

COURT OF KING'S B:

TIM KING V. B

The defendant appeared in Coot,
referred against him by the Social
Vice. His plea of not gnilty was

THE KING r:NETTLEE
Mr. SI;ORES moved that these&
up and discharged from the count,
last Assizes for that county they were
and had ever since remained in pr'
given by the prosecutor of his inter
and therefore they were now entitle
their discharge.
The Court granted a rule to she\
Nothing further occurred of put
non of Mead's bail was postponed
At one o'clock the Judges rose to rni
Courts in the Exchequer Chamber,

COURT OF COMMON
The Court only sat for about an
nothing of any public interest cuing
then adjourned for the purpose of
chequer Chamber.

COURT OF EXCIIEQUER

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