The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-08-31
Canada.
Canada.
We continue our extracts from Lord Sydenham's

The following is an extract from letter written
by Lord Sydenham to private friend in England,
and dated the 18th December, 1852
81 am NOT BIT afraid OF the Responsible Govern.
ment cry: have already done much 10 put II down
In Its inadmsslble sense; namely, the demand that
the Council shall be responsible TO the Assembly,
and that the Governor shall take their ADVICE and
De 6ound 6y II. Ia tact, this demand has been
made much more Tor the people than by them, and
have not met with any one who has not at once
admitted the absurdlty OF claiming to put the Coun-
ell over the head OF the Governor. II is but fair,
too, to say, mat every thing has in past times been
done by the different Governors to excite the feel.
ings OF the people on this question. FIRST the Exc
cutive Council has generally been composed OF per-
sons most obnoxious To the majority OF The Assem-
oily. Aud next, The Governor has taken extreme
care to make every act of his own go forth to the
public on the responsibility Of the Executive Coun-
Gil SO the people have been carefully taught TO be-
l!eve that the Governor Is nobody, and the Execu
tive Council the real power, and that by the Go
vernon himself. At the same time, they have seen
that power placed in the hands of their opponents
Under such system, II is not to be wondered al il
our argument founded on the responsibility of the
Governor TO The Home Government, falls to the
ground. have told The people plainly that as cam
not get rid OF my responsibility to the Home Co
vernment, will place responsibility on the COua-
chi; that they are Council for the Governor 10 con
suit, but no more Aud have yet met with no Re
spOnsible Government man who Was not satisfied
with the doctrine In fact, there is no other theory
which mas common sense. Either the Governor Is
the Sovereign or the Minister. II the first, he may
have Ministers, but he cannot be responsible to the
Government at home land all Colonial Government
becomes impossible. He must therefC fore be Minis
ter, in which case he cannot be under the control
oil men in The Colony"
The next extract we shall give is from letter,
also written 10 Irlvate friend, and dated at To-
ronto, on the 81 Of November, 1889 =
have succeeded in Lower Canada in far less
time, aud with greater ease than could have eX
pected from Sir John Colborne's account to me OF
The state OF feeling, especially in his own council
The tact Is, thai his council riot, and did not
know how to proceed. l have given them my
opinion strongly, at the same time that | expressed
my wllllnsnesst to hear and give due weight to theirs
Tins course has shortened business Qor there is a
strong wish to be guided by the Home Govern
meni), and produced unaLimty So lar, therefore,
as the Lower Province Is concerned, look upon
the Union settled. The decision, too, have
reason TO know, gives the greatest satisfaction TO
the Province generally, and nearly all prepared
TO accept the measure, II it be carried through
Parliament, with the utmost cordlalitv. The fact
is that all parties there are dead sick of the present
state OF things, and desire return to Constitutional
Government. OF course the extremes have their
different crotchels Tor arriving this end. The
ultra French desire immediate return TO tn" old
Constitution The ultra British, the dlsraIchlse-
m-nt Of the French Canadians But even they have
been satisfied. believe, by a little management
and good deal of firmness that both were equally
out OF the question, and have now joined with the
great mass who hold the middle opinion in favor OF
real Herald lie down together upon this point. In
short, the unanlmlty is wonderful.
81 have now the upper Province to deal with,
which will, fear, be a more difficult matter But
do not despair and certainly, 50 far DIS all the
real interests of the country are concerned, the
Union Is tar more necessary to Upper Canada than
to the other. II 1t were possible, the best thing
for Lower Canada would be despUtism tor ten
years more for, in truth, the people are not yet
tit for the higher class OF self governme nt-scarce.
ly indeed, at present, for any description OF it: and
by carrying ones self the measures which House
OF Assembly will probably never carry, one might
gradually fit them for both, and, at all events,
leave them On amount of good institutions which
the United Legislature, when il came, could not
destroy But In Upper Canada the case, as it APP
pears to me- is widely different. The state Of things
here is lar worse Than had expected The country
here is split into factions, animated with the most
deadly hatred TO each other. The people have got
into the habit OF talking much of separation, that
they begin TO believe in it. The Constitutional party
is bad worse than the other, spite OF all their
professions OF loyalty The finances are more deran-
ged than we believe, even in England. The deficit
E75 600 year. more than equal to the income All
public works suspended Emigration going fast
from the Province. Every mans properly worth
only half what it was When look 10 the slate of
Government, and to the departmental administration
OF the Province instead of being surprised at The
condition in which find it, am only astonished it
has bern endured so long. know that. much |
dislike Yankee institutions and rule, | would not
have fought against them which thousands OF these
poor fellows, whom the Compact call rebels did, If
It were only to keep such government they got.
The excitement upon Responsible Government is
great. Not that believe the people understand
what they are clamouring for by that word but
that they eel the extreme uneasness of their sltua
ton, owing to the financial endorsements, and
hate the dominant party in the Government with
intense hatred. do not wonder at the cry tor Re-
sponslble Government, when see how things have
been managed.
''The Assembly in such a House Split into hall
dozen different parties. The Government having
none-and no one man to depend on! Think OF a
House in which half the Members hold places, yet
IA winch the government does not command
single vote In which the place-men general vote
against the Executive; and when there no one TO
defend the Government when attacked, or to state
the opinion or views OF the Governor! How, with
apopular Assembly, Government is 10 be conducted
under such circumstances, Is a riddle TO me. | ar
now more than ever satisfied hat the Union afforcs
the only chance OF putting an end to the faction
mat distract the country; the only means OF recruit
ing ls finances by persuadlng Great Britain to help
the Upper Canada Exchequer; the only means by
which the present abomnable system OF gov rn-
ment can be broken up, and strong and powerful
administration, both departmental and executive, be
formed. And unless the people will assent TO the
general outline OF II, and Parliament will then car
ry the details, upon which they would never agree
with high hand, the Province is lost. From all
that eau hear or see, would not give years
purchase iOr our hOl0 OF II, II some great stroke 10
not given which shall turn mems thoughts from the
channel in which they run, and give fresh inn
petus TO the public works, emigration, ami the prac-
ncai Improvement OF the coun,ry's resources
cit is indeed pity TO see this Province in such a
state Ii is the finest country ! ever knew, even
what have Of il in circle of thirty or forty
miles from here and by the accounts receive the
Upper part Is even SUPERIOR Lower Canada is not
TO be named in comparison The climate, the soil,
the water-power, and facilities of transport, finer
than any thing in North America
whether In the present state Of violent excite.
ment sha be able to persuade the people to come
to reasonable terms, cannot venture to say bul |
am sure II is the last and only chance. after having
brought - and - to think that the French
Canadians ought to have their full share OF the rep
reseniation, shall not despair of any thing But
what hear, and have yet seen, OF the House OF
Assembly, is not encouraging. II they are not will.
ling, however, shall appeal to the people without
hesitation for the state OF things admits of no de-