The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-02-04

to effect. 1t our troops invade T. anad a,
We do think with Mr.. Williams, that it
would DC As easy toresist the Fails of Nj /
agara as them. But, delays viii give Eng
land time to make diversions OF our force,
favourable to her ends. The Canadas are
more valuable to her than the lndies.1
lfhig.
From !he Canadion Courant, Of Jam Is,
Erinted at Monirc0i.
The provincial torn of government has
been a subject of some popular pref udices,
especially since the American Revolution.
Before that period, 1t was the most common
form ii government in the British Ameri-
can Colonies. Upon rcn0uncing their con-
nection with the mother country, those colo
mes which joined in the revolution, became
democratic, that is, elective in all branches.
In theory that is the most plausible system I;
but whether 1t can be supported in Erac-
tice, is question to be settled by the Ame-
rican experiment now on trial without un :
dertaking to decide it, or to give any opin-
on respecting 1T, l will only observe that in
France and other countries where it has
been tried, it has degeneratcd into anarchy,
and terminated iii despotism and even i'm
the United States the violence existing be-
tween the two parties, into which the peo-
pie are divided, stimulated as 1t is by their
frequent popular elections of all branches of
sneir government, appears to have exceed
ed the expectation of theoretiC rcasoners on
the subject. The party leaders are sup
posed to feel as hostile TO each other, as the
English and French although their HOSTILE
| ty has not actually broken out in acts of ci-
VII war, but vents itself in SANDER, newspa-
per abuse and mutual examinations and lace
rations of each others characters and feel
lngs, until all confidence is shaken and the
harmony of social life is nearly destroyed.-
ihe evils OF this party spirit are said to be
not subsiding but still increasing, Citizens
OF quiet disposition, stunned with such a
perpetual din of party, must wish for a more
stable and temperate state of government
The point, on which the colonies, now
composing the United States, revolted from
the mother country, was parliamentary tax
alton. To preclude all uneasiness on this
| subject in those colonies, which adhered to
| their allegiance it was declared by an act
passed in the 18th of Geo. Sd that the King
and Parliament of Great Britain qviH nor
imfose any duty, tao or assessment 1uIat-
eOer Payable in any Of rhe Provinces, ear
cent such as may be required for the regu-
fattons Of commerce, the net PRODUCE Of
which shall be to the better use of the Pro
Uince, suhere il may be so fmhosed. The
same declaration is recited in-of his Ma
Jesty, dividing the Province of Quebec, and
constituting the Provinces of Upper and
Lower Canada; so that it has become an
essential article of the Constitution of this
Province.
The exemption from Parliament taxation
IS an important improvement in the prpvin-
cial system of government, and renders it
contormable to the true principle of the
English constitution, that the people ought
not to be taxed without their own consent
expressed by their Representatives. The
application OF this constitutional principle
to the colonies, as well as the mother coun-
try, was advocated by the celebrated Mr..
FIT, afterwards Lord Chatham, and some
others, in opposition to the Stampt act, al
though it was not then admitted, it has
been since adopted and confirmed, under
the auspices of the younger Mr. Pitt, in
whose administration the constitution OF
Canada was established.
/ This constitution is an emanation from
that OF the parent kingdom. The Crown
is here represented by the Governor, who
administers the executive power, pursuant
10 his instructions, with the advice of a
Council similar to his Majesty's Privy Coun-
Gil. The Legislative Council is analogous
10 the house OF Lords, except that it is not
a Judiciary tribunal of the last resort. & its
members are noe hereditary, but appointed
tor life, subject to a loss of their seats on
certain speCitied conditions The Legisla-
tive Assembly, like the British House OF
commons, represent the people. They
are elected, however, for four years only.
he inhabitants of the province have this
great, constitutional safe guard, that no tax
can be levied upon them, without the con-
currence, and even the origlnation OF their
own immediate representatives, who must
share in all the burdens they lay upon their
| constituents.
| Most of the expenses of the admins
tration of justice and civil COVERT nent are
| betrayed by the Crown: 7ares are much
| lighter in ibis Province as 7veN as that
y Ofher Canada, than III the United
| States.
These are truths, which ought to be uni
versally known as they are calculated to
counterfeit some vulgar prejudices against
the Provincial system and attach the good
people OF the Province to the government,
under which they ENJOY such distinguished
immunities and blessings. FRANKLIN.
! from the same.
10 the Editor ct the Quebec A4crcprv.
SIR beg leave to address, through tile
medium OF your paper, a few words to the
inhabitants OF these provinces, upon the
critical state of our political relations with
tine u. States. set out with thorough
convection, in my own mind, that war is al
/ no great distance; and that we shall sool.
! be called upon to defend every thing dear
To US against syste IN of warfare, ground
Ell upon the avowed principles of pluRder
and rapiue. This is no vague conjecture
as every man NAV soon have his doubt.