Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-10-05
From the Statesman.
CANADA.

KINGSTON, U. c., Aug. 10, lS41.
Under the recent act Of Union, this is
the seat of government for the two Pro-
vinces. The IoEn stands upon the left
bank of The ST. Lawrence, on a promon-
tory, near tho point where the mighty
waters Of this river leave Lake Ontario.
1t is built principally Of stone, and con-
tains between four and FIVE thousand in
habtants.
The Government House is plain
stone edifce, not superior to our ordln-
ary country seats. 1t stands in a beauti-
full grove about three fourhs Of mile
south west from the town. About fifty
soldiers compose tho body-guard of
Lord Sydenham, the present Governor
general Of the United Provinces. The
present vcegerant is about retiring from
the government, and is to be succeeded,
it is said, by Sir George Murray, TO y
of the first class. He is a soldier, and
has seen some Service-but it is suppoS-
ed that an old mouStGche Of the guard
would not acquire much fame at the head
Of the civil affairs of Canada. The Cana
dams think Prince Meternich would look
as we'll in grenadier's cap.
The Parliament House is also OF stone,
and, believe, was formerly a marine
hospital. 1t appears TO have been hasii-
lv fitted up for the present session. The
House of Commons consists Of eighty
tour members, elected for four years.
The qualification Of an elector is an an
nual rent equal to ten pounds sterling,
and citizenship. The latter is acquired
by FIVE years residence and the oath Of
allegiance. A large majority of the mem-
bers appear of the middle age and up
wards, and am constrained TO admit,
that they are not less digni6ed and intel
ligent than those who compose similar
bodies in the United States. They re-
csivs no compensation, which crcum-
stance will probably lead TO short speech.
es and comparatively short sessions
This body is composed of English, Irish,
Scotch, native Canadians, and smigrants
from the United States. From the bro.
Ken English of some, it is probable that
France, also, furnishes part of the rep
resenlatives. The legislative council
consists of twenty-five members, appOin
ted by the governor general, for life
The power Of the governor general, house
of commons and legislative council,
bears a striking resemblance to the soy.
ereignty Of The paCent country.
By recurrence 10 the history of these
provinces since the conquest in 1859, it
will be seen that gradual progress has
been made in the freedom of the inhab-
itants. From the cessjon hy the treaty
of Paris, in 1863, until l774, the inter
nal affairs Of these provinces were regu
lated BY the ordinances Of the governor
alone. BY the Quebec bill, which was
then passed, legislative council was
then appointed by the sovereign, and the
number fits members limited TO twenty
three. A legislative assembly was guar
anteed by the act of 1871 and lastly, the
provinces we're united in 1889, Fortu-
nately for the srfhlecls. the criminal code
of the parent country was established
from the conquest, IL the BRUSH pro
vinces: aud it would have elso besn tor
tunate if the civil code had broken down
the feudal system, which was in full
force at the conquest, and was guavan
teed by the articles oflcapitultlion, and
which, to a very great extent, still pre-
walls, and has held, asl4ilh cable Of iron,
the inhabitants to tha point Of civlIlza-
tiOn then attained. In fact, with almost
a.complete exemption from the burdens
Of govemment-witha soil, for a Latitude
so high, exceedingly produ ,tve--wilh a
healthy and saiGbrions atmosphere, the
mass in the lower province has made
little or no advancement in civilization
since they changed masters, nearly a
century ago.
The accof Union has given conEider
able offence totbe suhjeatsda The .@aar
province, who bave ,heep, compeltsd h
an equal division Of poilbcsi power witt
the upper, and have also had the mort
ficatiOn to witness the irsnfer Of the courl
and seat oflsgislalion to the latter.
The forms of legislation do not mater.
tally differ from those observed in The