Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1838-01-16
PROGRESS OF EVENTS IN
CANADA


PROGRESS OF EVENTS IN
CANADA.
In the second number OF the "Iondon
Review" published in July, 1898, we laid
before Our readers very full exposition Of
the miSgovcrnmcnt which has SO long pre-
vailed in the Canadas, and Of the discon-
tent which has been generated thereby.
After cnumcratng the manifold evils and
abuses which have sprung out Of The sys-
TEN Of colonial government, established by
what IS called the Quebec Constitutional
Act (3i Geo. H., c. 3l---l79I,) our article
concluded with the following summary of
the reforms demanded by the Assembly of
Lower Canada -
'ln tins situation or aiiairs, Lord Gosford
and two Commissioners are about TO pro-
coed TO Canada, and inquire into the grey
ances OF the Canadian people, and report
theroupon. What is likely 10 be the result
OF this inquiry :"
'Our answer is, that let the commission
make what report il plcascs, only one result
can follow: and that is fhe demaads Of tho
! House Of .1sscmtly mpgt be acccdcd 10.
81. An Elective Council must be grant
ed TO the people and the present Legisla-
tive Council abolished
-. The whole of the revenue must 10
placed entirely under the control of tho
people of Canada.
80. The judges must be made rcspousl-
bic 10 the Provincial Legislature, and not
to the KING"
The Commissioners above spoken Of
reached Canada IN the autumn Of the Same
year, 1888, and IN tho ensuing winter Sir
John Colbornc. the Governor of Upper Ca
NADIA, who had rendered himself extremely
obnoxious to the people Of that province,
was recalled, and his place was supplied by
Sir Francis Head.
4 The object Of this article is to detail tho
principal proceedings of these pcrsonages
and we think VIC shall show that they have
not merely failed 70 allay, but that, aided
by the dlsingcnuous--wc had almost said
trcachcrous instructions with which they
were furnished by Lord GlcneIg, they have
materially augmented the dscontcnts which
existed at the time ol their arrival.
Previous 10 the departure of Lord Gosford
and his fellow Commissioners, Mr. Roe
buck, IN his capacity Of agent to the House
OF Assembly, laid before the colonial minis
ter Lord GlencIg, full and explicit state
ment, IN writing, Of the views and demands
Of that House.
This document, which has since been
printed both IN the colony and IN this coun-
tW,f Is ~ every respect most able state
paper. The reforms demanded by the As
sembly, especially the nbolltlon Of the pres
cnt Legislative Council, and the substitu-
ton OF an elective second chamber, are
there insisted upon wish great weight of ar
gumcnt, and Lord Glcncll is warned Of the
serious consequences which may result from
refusing them.
The hope was nj first entertained, and we
may say encouraged, that the Commission
cr5 had carried ont powers 10 coBccde these
reforms. SIR George Grey, II IS nue. OK
Cused himself from laying the Instructions
before Parliament on tho ground of respect
10 the Canadians as such instructions sho'd
be FIRST laid before the Assembly. That
done bee promised they should be present
ed 30 the House.
When the Commissioners reached Cana
ia, their talk WAS everywhere, and at all
umcs liberal 10 The eEfrcmc Lord Cos
ford spoke Of himself and his colleagues as
the nominees Of q reforming ministry, op-
pointed for no other putrosc than to Gerry
ont reforms OF himself, individually, he
spoke only as the friend Of O'Connell His
'Ilr Commissioner nsr~ Lord Cosfofd, ST. Charlie.
Grey aad 3 george C.p,. i..fd Gaslor5 yss s'so
appointed 1oFsfnaf tf. ,Ae place 81 L9fd Ayi-
u.sf, Governor 80 bsd, that auy change must have
been f1T tie bsitef
see Mr koebarss pamphlet sstihsd "EIsing
Difficulties DO he Goysfnnnsut II ne CsGsdas being
sfsprint Il is HFels vheh appeared in this Review.
s.ih as1i.ons.J The efcuu,sFi alluded 70 - ~ 30
found 10 the APPsnslE .; The pamphlet