The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-27 00:00:00

VIE COLONIES.

LOWER CANADA.

THE PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT OF LOWER
• • CANADA.-(LEO►ISLATIVE COUNCIL.) •

THURSDAY, FEB. L—The House went into a Committee
of the whole to take into consideration the consequences to this
Province of the Vree Navigation of the River St. Lawrence to
the sea by the citizens of the United States bordering on that:
River, as also the consequences thereto if the water connupi-
cation with Upper Canada should be interrupted by reason of
the award under the Treaty of Ghent.

The House being resumed, the Hon. lir. Bell reported that
the Committee had come to an opinion on the subject, and had
resolved to address his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, re-
presenting the extreme anxiety of the people of this Province,
and entreating his Majesty's Ministers not to grant or con-
cede the free navigation of the St. Lawrence to the United
States, &c.

SATURDAY, Fr..g. 7.—The Hon. Mr. Richardson, from the
Committee appointed to prepare an Address to his Excellency
the Governor-in-Chief, relating to the free Navigation by. the
River St. Lawrence Sea from the territory of the United States
bordering on that River, as also the consequences thereto, if
the water communication with Upper Canada should be inter-
rupted by reason of the award under the Treaty of Ghent—re-.
ported the following address, which was agreed to :
To his Excellency George, Earl of Dalhousie, &c. &c. k.c.
May it please your Excellency,

We, his Majesty's dutiful and loyal suhjects, the. Legisla.-
tive.Council of Lower Canada, in Provincial Parliament as-
sembled, beg leave to represent to your Excellency the extreme
anxiety and alarm of his Majesty's faithful subjects in this
Province, since the publication of the Message of the Presi-
dent of the United States of America to Congress, at the open-
ing oe,their. present .Session, wherein a claim is laid to the
free navigation of the River St. Lawrence to Sea, from the
territory of those States bordering on that River, and inti-
mating 'that a negociation is now pending thereon, with a hope
of success.

'We conceive that such a claim is contrary to the established
and recognized laWfrof Nations in siinilar cases, and humbly
hope, that innovations upon those laws, by so ambitious a
neighbour to the -Provinces of Canada, canndt be allowed.
We are of opinion, that if permitted upon any conditions, it
would have the. effect of weakening'that intimate connexion and
dependence upon the Parent State, and attachment there-
to, which so happily subsists in both Provinces ; and which at-
tachment was so powerfully exemplified during the late war
with thOse States.

That it would tend to systcnaatize contraband trade and the
evasion of the laws, and destroy all hoPeS of deriving effectual
revenue from import duties.
That it would be pernicious to British interests in various
other respects, and beneficial in none to these 'Provinces, as
parts of the British Empire. . .

We further heg leave to represent to your Excellency, that it
is with great concern we observe the internal communication by
the Saint Lawrence, from Upper to Lower Canada. is threaten-
ed with interruption, by reason of the Commissioners under the
Treaty of Ghent having awarded to the said United States
Barnhart's Island, above Cornwall, in the Upper Province ;
whereby no practicable channel of
descent for boats, rafts, or
other conveyances by Water; is left on the Britith side of that
River ; and consequently, that communication seems to be
placed at the mercy of the said States.

We therefore humbly entreat your Excellency to submit
these important points to the, consideration of His 'Majesty's
Ministers-;- to state the serious anxiety and alarm prevalent in
Lower Canada thereon ; and earnestly
to recommend that His
Majesty may be advised not to concede to the said United
States, upon any terns or conditions, the NaVigation through
the River St. Lawrence to the Sea; and at the same time to
express our hope, that Means may be 'taken to procure, by ne-
gociation, the reciprocal right or exercise of Navigation, during
peace, of the several internal channels of the Saint Lawrence,
southward Of the 45th degree of north latitude, in whicluioever
territory the said internal channels may be situate, in order to
prevent those collisions which must otherwise take-place, to the
injury of both nations.

Ordered, That one of the Masters in. Chancery do carry
down the Said Address to the Assembly, and desire their
concurrence thereto.