North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-09-04

4 disclosures ui ne real iaCts, Eo&eNer dis
CITE table they nigh, b. 10 this county
(besr, hesrD in the eyes ~ the civilized
world. And what appeared from Durham
1t appeared that The land question was
mixcd--closeiy aud inextricshIy mixed up
with every question 10 Canada. The
strongest dissatisfaction existed there with
the manner in which the prenga,ive had
brrn exercised with regard to the disposal
~ land. The system adopted had been
one pernicious 10 the colony and useless
10 as. In the evidence taken before the
commission, Of which his honorable friend
the member Tor Llskeard was at the head,
there was nothing 10 be found but tissue
OF pecu'aiion, lohbing, Encouragement,
and iavorilism, countenanced by all the
responsible officers OF the crown, by legis-
aiive councillors, by the government them
selves-every man, 10 fact, who had any
influence, trying to make something out
OF land, 10 the ruin and destruction of
every body else. And what were the re-
suits? In Upper Canada, out of $685.
600 acres which had been surveyed, there
remained only ,697 ,0l9 acres unappropr-
ated, and $50 900 which were required for
roads. In Lower Canada, out of $685.
963 acres surveyed. no less than 4, 500 600
had been alicnatcd. In Nova Scotia, of
5000, 900 surveyed, $3.50, 900 were alien
ated In Prince Edwards Island, il ap-
peaTed from the evidence that 400 900
acres had been a!ienaied in one day in
blocks Of from twenty To one hundred and
fifty thousand acres. The greater part oil
a.; Y.,l l.
had never taken possession Of II, aud there
appeared to be no account OF this whatever.
They found further, from the evidence,
that The clergy reserves and the crown re-
serves operated as a bar to all improve
ments. Not one-tenth Of the land thus
wantonly squandered had ever been occu-
pied, and not one-tenth Of the part occupi- |
ed had ever been brought into cultivation. |
They found, moreover, that the whole
system Of surveying in Canada had been
with the same reckless ex pendi-
ture Of means, and with no satisfactory
result whatever They found one gentle,
man receiving $500 year for ten wears,
Tor experimenting the sale of 100 900 a.
ores OF wild land (hear, hear). With re-
spect TO emigration, Of which the noble
lord, the member for Northumberland had
spoken in terms of very strong approba-
ton, so far al least as the emigration agents
were concerned, on the occasion Of the
discussion upon New Zealand last year
with respect TO emigration. they found
Lord Durham distincly stating that MOTH
ing could be more inefficient or worse than
The system OF emigration TO Canada, as
now conducted. They found great mortal
ty III the emlgrant ships, great distress at
andlng, no sort OF interference nv the GOV.
on behalf OF the emigrants, no at
empt 10 make provision or give assistance
Turing the time that assistance was most
'equired (hear, heard. They found the
people in the interior Of the province dis
)eTsed and completely isolated, most Of the j
settlers exceeding y poor, markets few and
almost inaccessible, and the clergy reserves
allng 10 afford the consultations Of religion !
o one-haIf Of the population. They found
he colony in state of complete stagna-
ION and decay-tarmers ruined by the e
oss OF their capital through the want OF I
communications which they ought TO have, ,
nd OF the emigrants from this country not =
ess than three-fiths forced to re-emigrate II
o the United States Cloud cries of hear. C
earO. That was the state TO which the
rerogatve OF the crown had reduced one
| our hnest colonles-a possession which e
llght have been one OF the most brilliant il
ppendages OF the British Crown. He h
Mr.. Ward) asked his honorable friend.
ne Under Secretary for the Colonies, if he u
ouId gain-say one word Of the state Ie
rent he had made Of the system adopted V
1 Canada. His honorable friend could =
OF DO il. When he stood up he must ad- =
nj that the whole Of those evils existed, l
nd had been produced by the manner in d
hich the prerogative had been hitherto S,
ppied to The disposal of land in that colony. u
Mr.. Labouchere. His honorable friend :.
cyan his speech by attacking the system .'
dlsposing Of the waste lands of the is
rown, which before the last ten wears eI
al prevailed. He could assure his hon.
lend and the house that of this system
icy should hear no defence or apology
ON him (cheers). System he could hard q,
call that which would be more accurate
described as total want OF all system VI
'heers.) | was really quite melancholy To [
e the mischief that had been done by that hi
silent system Of jobbng that existed "
heers). Ii was impossible TO read the =.
all OF Durham's account Of the North -
merlcan colonies, and TO refccI uponl r
hat had been done there under the old To
ctaun ,rb.t 49,