The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-27 00:00:00

THE SU IN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 27, 1868.

on both sides have been so often quoted that, it is
needless to refer to them ; only it is wortl by of
notice that several members of the Royal Con mis-
sion, who, from their position, declined to
vote, expressed themselves as adverse to
corporal punishment. There was very lit tie
said in favour of it, and Sir C. RUSSELL'S remark
that only seventeen were flogged last year was
happily met by Mr. TREVELYAN, who asked why
those seventeen offenders should not have been
summarily dismissed the army. If so few are liable
to this punishment, and those few are hardened
offenders -whom there is no risk of degrading,
it would certainly be much more conducive
to the interests of the army to get rid
of such men altogether. The class of offences for
which flogging should be reserved in time of peace
are of such an order that men who could be guilty
of them are better out of the ranks altogether, and
the stigma attaching to an honourable profession
entirely removed. A decided majority of 25 in a
House of nearly 300 members has virtually settled
the question in a manner which will be cordially
endorsed by the public at large.

It is always a very difficult task to legislate for '
people at a distance with whose modes of thoughts
and habits of daily life we are not familiar. Re-
presentative men are naturally accepted as express- 1
ing the views and feelings of a whole community,
whereas it is likely that they only represent the
opinions of one particular party or section. It is
impossible to find any man who can accurately ex-
hibit the wishes of a large and mixed community,
and if we raise the number to six or eight we shall
not find the difficulty much lessened. We should
be puzzled to choose six members of Parliament
who could be said to represent fully and fairly the
whole English people, with all the varied inte-
rests, agricultural, mechanical, political, commercial,
professional, mercantile, domestic, King, Lords,
and Commons. In the same way it does not always
follow that the decision of delegates and committees
may give satisfaction to the bodies which they re-
present, and it appears that this has been the case
with regard to the people of Nova Scotia, who com-
' plain that the home Government and the Imperial
Parliament were misled by the statements of the
delegates who professed to represent their opinions
to the Earl of CARNARVON. Neither Prince Ed-
ward Island nor Newfoundland, they say, was
affected by the Act of Union, and Nova Scotia was
only included in it on account of the presumed ap-
proval and consent of her people. In reality there
seems to have been a strong opposition to the mea-
sure, and if we are to judge by the result of the
subsequent elections the people of Nova Scotia
are gwatly dissatisfied with the change.
" But one of the delegates who prepared the
Dominion Act was re-elected, and but two of the
32 members of the House who voted approval of
it have been chosen; and of fifty-seven members
returned to both Houses, all but four are petitioners
for the repeal of the law so universally condemned."
So runs the petition which the people of Nova
Scotia have resolved upon presenting to the House
of Commons, and it sets forth in strong terms the
grounds for complaint which the petitioners believe
they have. They argue that the proposed scheme
should have been submitted to the test of a general
election before it was presented for the decision of
the home Parliament, and finally passed into law ;
whereas the election did not take place till Sep-
tember last, more than two months after the
Confederation Act was declared to be in force. A
cupy of resolutions passed unanimously by the
Nova Scotian House of Assembly on the 21st of
February is now before us, in which the action of
the Delegates is strongly condemned ; and it is
affirmed that the only powers given to them were
to arrange a scheme of union " which should
effectually insure just provision for the rights and
interests of this province," each 'province to have
an equal voice in the Delegation. These powers, i t
is urged, they altogether exceeded, and, while
they neglected to preserve the interests of the co-
lony from molestation, they allowed the bill to be
finally decided upon without submitting it to the
test of one popular vote.
Audi alteram partem. We must remember that
strong arguments have been adduced by the sup-
porters of the Delegates in favour of the union of
the colony, while undoubtedly the general scheme
of confederation has commended itself to
the approval of all interested in the future welfare
of British North America. At the same time, it is
not in accordance with British legislation to rule
any State in a manner unwelcome to its people, and
the grievances of the Nova Scotians demand there-
fore full and free investigation. Mr. HOWE, the
able and eloquent advocate of the anti-Confede-
rates, is now in this country, and their cause will
certainly not want for vigorous and earnest defence.
In a recent speech which he made at Brooklyn, in
the county of Hants, Nova Scotia, Mr. llowE
summed up very forcibly the several points to which
the colonists objected, among which he gave a pro
minent place to the taxation of flour, corn,
and corn meal, which presses heavily on the poorer
colonists, and has excited the greatest discontent.
As Mr. HOWE remarks, if the colonists refuse
to pay these taxes, it will be hopeless for the Cana-
dians to enforce them. " Everywhere indented
with creeks and harbours and river mouths, it is
evident that oppressive and unpopular imposts can-
not be regularly collected. Should smuggling be-
come fashionable, I should like to know how these
Canadians can enforce them." Let us hope that
matters may be amicably adjusted, and that a few
wise and timely concessions on either side may
restore more kindly feelings. The great object to
be attained by confederation will be missed if the
Union becomes a source of discord and bitternes
instead of strength and mutual support. If both
parties would consent to lay aside the jealousies and
rivalries almost inseparable from a small band of
neighbouring independent States, the obstacles now
barring the way to a better state of things might be
speedily and happily disposed of.

THE PRINCE OF WALES'S HARRIERS.—BRIL-
LIANT CLOSE OF THE SEASON.—On Thursday
morning his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales left
town in order to attend the closing meet of the season
with his harriers. The Prince, who left Paddington in
a saloon carriage, was accompanied by their Royal
Highnesses Prince and Princess Christian ; Colonel
Kingscote, Master of the Prince of Wales's Horse,
Colonel Hardinge, Colonel Gordon, &c., travelling
in the same train. The royal party reached Wind-
sor at 11.40 a.tn. precisely, and were received
at the station by Lord Bridport, the master of
the Prince's harriers. Mr. Moon, of the Queen's stables,
was in attendance with a shooting break and four and
other carriages. Their Royal Highnesses Prince and
Princess Christian entered the first carriage, the Prince of
Wales and a distinguished party occupying the shooting
break, and the other carriages following with the suite
In this order the royal cortdge, which presented a very
dashing appearance, quitted the terminus, and driving
through part of High-street turned down Peascod-street,
and left Windsor on its way to New-lodge, at Winkfield,
the residence of M. and Madame Van do Weyer, about
four miles distant. The progress of the Prince through
Windsor was a sort, of ovation. The weather was damp,
and the roads heavy. The royal party arrived at New-
lodge shortly after noon, there being a large field ready to
meet the Prince. As a trial to the pack and bunt a stag
was turned out, and pointed for Billingbear-park. Prince
Christian rode to the hounds, her Royal Highness
Princess Christian returning to Windsor after seeing the
start. The Prince of Wales after following the chase for
some time left the hunt, and returned, via Taplow, to
London.