The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-06-19 00:00:00

TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 19, 1549.

By the arrival yesterday of the Halifax mail
steamer, Caledonia, we have advices from the British
American provinces up to the 31st ult. The in-
formation which they bring, with respect to the
state of public opinion, recently excited by the
passing through the Canadian Legislature of the
Rebellion Losses Indemnity Bill, is not a satisfac-
tory one. Although, beyond the outbreak, which
occurred in Montreal, on the Governor-General's
assent being given to the bill, no decisive move-
ment has been originated, and no precise direction
given to the effervescence of the public mind, it is
very generally admitted that mischief is brewing;
and that a feeling of irritation against the mother
country exists in the minds of a portion of the
population, which at any moment may burst forth
into a serious flame. At the date of these advices,
they were waiting to learn the final determination
of her Majesty's Government, with respect to
affirming or vetoing the bill. What the effect
may be of the arrival out of the packet, which
sailed on Saturday, carrying out the two days
debate in the House of Commons upon the
question, cannot be predicted with any certainty.
Under any circumstances, it is a dangerous state
of things when a population of a colony set them-
selves deliberately to calculate the relative advan-
tages of a connexion with the parent country,
annexation to a neighbour and rival of that country,
or the condition of an independent state. Such is
the nature of the topic which is just now occupying
the minds of our Canadian brethren. "The opi-
nion," says a witness, writing from Upper Canada:—

" The opinion prevails among all classes, that some
great event is about to occur—but what it is, no one can
tell. Some say that annexation to the United States is
inevitable—others, a federal union of all the British Ame-
rican provinces is the only salve that will heal the wounds
of the body politic—others, that a great, fearful and bloody
war of races is close at hand, and that before long, the
rival factions will be engaged in deadly combat."

The impression that things are not right, once
established in the minds of a community, generally
leads, sooner or later, to an attempt to put them
right. The British Canadians have imbibed the
idea that they are under the ban . of the Imperial
Government; they feel, moreover, that they are a
minority in the Canadian Legislature; they are ex-
asperated at the predominance which the French
Canadians have gained over them in that body;
and, under these goadings, they may be impelled
into steps, from the contemplation of which they
would at present shrink, as from dishonour, and
which once taken, can never be retraced.
We were told during the debate on the obnoxi-
ous measure in the House of Commons, that
the excitement amongst the British Canadian
population would die away. Sir Robert Peel him-
self reminded us of their devoted loyalty in 1837 and
1838 ; and expressed his confidence that the same
feelings would draw them back again to a recol-
lection of their duty, as the faithful subjects of her
Majesty. Most sincerely do we wish that such
may be the result; most heartily do we wish that
Government, instead of pursuing a stiff-necked
course, had deferred somewhat to the prayers of
these tried and trusty and loyal men. But we can-
not forget that there are times and circumstances
under which friend turns against friend, brother
against brother, child even against parent. In the
sinking vessel or the burning dwelling, we are ready
to cling for safety to our most loathed enemy ; and
thus it seems to be with Canada at the present
moment. She is staggering to her fall, beneath
the blows dealt at her prosperity by a selfish fac-
tion in the Imperial Legislature; and she will not
fall without an effort to save herself, even should
the beam which she clutches be her late enemy,
the United States Republic. We. quote, as de-
scriptive of her present condition, and the motives
which must have driven her into a new and anti-
British course of action, irrespectively of the com-
paratively insignificant operation of a Rebel In-
demnity Bill, the following paragraph from an
able correspondent of the New York Herald :

":In the upper province the feeling (of dissatisfaction
with British connexion) is rapidly spreading. When the
people of Upper Canada no longer can find purchasers for
their produce at a rate that will pay them—when they find
the lower province, and the large cities of the upper pro-
vince ruined, which all the first mercantile men agree in
allowing they must be, as things are going on—they will
then, if they do not before, see the actual necessity of an-
nexation. We cannot get on without strong protection
in the home markets, and that protection we will never
have. It is folly to ask it. The very protectionists them-
selves. in England, do not desire it. What are we, then,
to do ? Can we, with the difficulties which attend the
navigation of the entrance of our river—shut up six months
in the year—attempt to compete with the world ? Flour
is now at a price in the English market that we have never
seen it at in Montreal for many years, and should it con-
tinue so, will probably ruin the few remaining sound firms
that now stand. I will not anticipate, however. A few
hours will bring tidings to these shores, the result of
which it is impossible to calculate upon. I can only say,
no matter how this "rebel bill" goes, the colonies cannot
ranch longer remain connected with England; and time
will show the fulfilment of my words."

Our next advices from the Colonies, we expect
will confirm the views here expressed; and we may
remind our readers that we have ourselves held and
expressed the same from the commencement of
our insane policy towards these abused colonies.
The arrival out of last Saturday's Mail from this
port will, however, bring events nearer to a crisis.

HER Majesty's Government Nava had a week's
respite afforded them from the disagreeable task of
displaying to the world the barrenness of their
financial resources. The Budget has been post-
poned for a week, as the condition of allowing a
single day's adjournment of a debate, affecting
probably by its result the fate of a Colonial Empire ;
and Sir Charles Wood rests in peace for a time.
Nothing more pleasing to themselves could have
occurred, except the discovery of an official year
containing five quarters, and an extra visit to the
Treasury. We doubt much, however, whether the
adjournment of so important a portion of the par-
liamentary business will be very satisfactory to the
public. The people of a commercial nation, en-
during severe distress, and groaning beneath the
weight of local and general taxation, are naturally
anxious to learn, at the earliest possible period,
what hope a Chancellor of the Exchequer can
afford them of alleviation of their burthens ;
whether the Government have been able to make
ends meet, or whether further imposts will have to
be placed upon their shoulders. All this informa-
tion we bad conveyed to us very early in the ses-
sion ; and no party were so impatient in exacting
it as the Whig party. Former Governments were
generally able to meet parliament at the opening
of the session with their minds in a great measure
made up on this important subject. But it seems
now that the chapter of accidents has mainly to
be consulted. Budgets are now extemporized at
the last possible hour; and, in Sir Charles Wood's
hands, are even then such crudities that a second—
ultra editio emendata—has been necessary.
But is the business of the session, generally, in
a more forward state ? We are now in the middle
of June; and in two months hon. members will
be hurrying off to the moors and the grouse, the
Thompson and the Bowring class excepted, who
who will probably pass their time at some cheap
watering place, unless they are able to get a
little to do in the lecturing line. Yet what, amidst
the oceans of talk which have been added to the
pages of Hansard, and have flooded the columns of
the daily press, has parliament effected since their
assembling on the 3d of February ? The following
is their position at the present moment :—Sixty-
four government bills have been introduced, of
which thirty-two have passed and thirty-two are
still pending. Amongst these are several Dublin
Improvement Bills, the Irish Poor Relief, Estates
Leasing and Municipal Corporations Bills, and
several Scotch Bills relating to Public Health,
Police of Towns, Marriages and Registration of
Births. The English bills embrace important mea-