North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-08-28

From The .Montresl C5wscv.
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF
CANADA COMPARED WITH
THE UNITED STATES.
I[Cenfinufd frosn 70. e. ]

def on thrse circumstance, aud reflect
that the prosperity ofthe Csnadas - manly
depend at on the settlement ot tie eoanifY,
they will not deny this Is zoe Of the causes
WIN The condition II the Csbadas. as com
pared with that OF the United States, Is
90 back wafd.
Another cause is,the distance from Us, 81
the Imperial Government, and, the wretch
ed Colonial svsicm, One Bureau, con-
posed OF one Secretary, Two Undef-Secre-
taries, and a senre Of clerks, manages The
complicated affairs of countries, Of immense
importance, and as extensive as empires.
Some of these countries, the North Amer
,esn ProsiGees, for example have, nom
inslly, governments ol their own but TIE
powers nj these governments have been,
and still are greatly restricted so much
80. indeed, that, until oil laIe years, II has
been impossible TO obtain the Incorporation
of cities OF towns, or banks or companies.
The Colonial Argus saw, 10 corporations,
somthng dangerous, sinister, and, they
could not be Obtained until extofed through
shame much 10 the same way that our II.
catholic countrymen were relIeiously eman-
cipsled, souie years since. IL went very
much against the grain, TO do either the
one thing OF the other. Hardly Session
takes place. that there are not some dozen
or more bills reserved for the Royal assent.
"Le Rni lie veut," is the sonorous sound
from the throne, when bills are assenIed
to, and the Colonists, as obedent children
should, make a salute but when the
ROYAL assent ia reserved, we think as little
m could be done, would be, taking pains
TO ge, The Royal assent, promptly. THIS
a. not done. The bills 60 home, and there
they remain, perdu, in some dusty pigeon
hole or other, for months, and where they
would become dry as dust, were II not,
that, after year or two, the Colonists in
onire. somewhat impatiently, what has be-
come oi a certain bill the Governor bus
ties about, hunts over his dispatches, but
finds not word about it; the Colonsts
chde & the Governor writes a despatch, TO
saw, the Cooisls are becoming mutinous
about the neglect Of their affairs there
is. for an hour or two, good deal oil stir
among the clerks hurry-scurry, they run
from pieeon.hoe TO pigeon-hole, and at
last, drag forth the missing bill Of Her
Malesty's faithful and loyal subjects. The
dust is brushed off of il, and it is made TO
look almost as good as new, and then,
the Secretary gives knowing wink to the
Under Secretary, and he another 10 his
under strapper, as much as 10 say, il is
well for Us that these Canadians are so
far away, or we should be hauled over the
Goals and the under-sIrappers then smrk
and chuckIe, and are delighted with the
system of responsibility. We think we
hear some chivalric defender oil the existing
order Of things, say,-but there is respon-
sibiIity. ave! there is, certainly, after
fashion. So there is justice for the poor
man, bu, il a man has not two shings TO
rub together, he cannot secure the services
of eminent counsel. The CoIonists might
impeach the Governor, true; and he
would show that he was not to blame, that
it was the fault Of some Under-Secretary
and he too, would show he was not to
blame, and the Secretary would make an
apology, tell NV Lords" how il all hap
ened, and despatch would come out, de-
claring how sorry al! were, and perhaps
announcing that the Royal assent could
not be given, for good and substantial rea-
sons best known TO the people at home.
The consequence OF this, and host of
oihe evils springing out OF our remoteness,
has been, that the Colonisis have become
apatheiic TO their affairs, or have been
driven 10 disafection, or discomfort. Neg
leci, paralyzes their energies, and finally.
they Sit down, moodiiy, and amuse them
selves, BY comparing the progress OF Can
ada with that Of the United States. Com
parsons are odious, DooBERRr says, and
the Colonisls think DoGBERRY is right |
When men make the discovery that their |
most strenuous efforts are unsuccessful, |
because of some hidden, or noxous inf1u-
ence, they cease from continuing them.
They are ehterprizing. but there is no use
in showing il. We all feel that so much |
is this the case. that the reply for years
20 demand FOR aid and assistance, towards
obtaining some important ameiioraiion,
has been -" there is no use troubling
ourselves. +" Nothing is ever done, not
our recommendations"
The limits Of a newspaper will not per-
NIT us to enlarge upon this point There
IL, however, another cause why the con-
diiion OF the Canadss, IS compared with
the United States, is so backward.
Can we deny, that. politically, CONNER
:ially, and socially we have cut ourselves
~, as mech as we could, from all connex-
On with The rest OF the continent Of Ame,
lea. A wsil has been built ~, partly by
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