The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-19
The Canadian Troubles In an English Point
OF View.


our article of Monday morning, that is new, either
TO us, or to anybody else who is connected WITH or
interested in, Canada. To the Colonial Office how
ever, according to Mr. Halves, it is all new. The
monstrous resolutions of MIR. Lafontaine the pub
LEGATION of the list of rebels to be compensated the
agitation with which the province is conyulsed in
consequence, the threats of civil war and of sepa-
ration-in short, the entire series of events by
which the honor of the crown is outraged, and the
integrity of the empire impered, have escaped the
notice of minister occupied in depressing Guiana,
insulting the Cape, and defending the cause of mi
litary despotism in Ceylon. Parcerc SUBJECTS, ct
debelae superbOs, was the Roman maxim its con-
will soon, according to present appearances,
be the established rule for the colonial policy Of
Great Britain.
This matter, however, cannot rest here. Two
questions have been rased-and differing though
they do in lmportance) both require to be cleared
up. The first duplicates Mr. Hawes's character,
and veracity. If he was not cognizant of the oc-
currences stated in our paper of Monday, he must
account for his ignorance ; if he was cognizant of
them, he must account for his denial of "any know
ledge of the facts at all"
The second question duplicates the conduct of
those who represent the British crown in it's rela-
tions to Canada. All we know at present is, that a
fatal error has been committed, in allowing Mr..
Latontaine and his colleagues to Introduce their
measure IN the capacity; and with the authority of
the Queens MINISTER'S; we wish further to know
who is responsible for that error, and what steps
will be taken to retrieve it. 1t is EVIDENT from the
whole tenor OF the public and private accounts
from Canada that the Governor-(ieneral is under
stood to acquiesce In, II not to back, the determl-
nation of his cabinet in this affair One letter which
we have seen says, "Lord Elgn must be strongly
supported at home for he sticks by the ministry
through thick and thin" 1t is the business, there
fore, of those who dsapprove of his conduct, to
certain whether he Is supported at home" or not.
1.-The has acted under Instructions Lord Grey must
be called to account for them; if on the other hand
as we can hardly bring ourselves to be ieve- he
has acted lro1uio mOtu, without either giving in
a
such vital Importance, II remains for the minis
ter, to whom he is responsible, to express, at
the very earliest opportunity, his dsavowal
ment should be lost in publishing. throughout
every corner of the Empire, that this insult to the
British crown, and this encouragement to its loyal
cretion of an individual and that the Imperial GO
venment utterly disclaim and repudiate all parti-
clpaton In the transaction. But more than this Is
required another Governor must, in the contin-
gency supposed be sent out to initiate an opposite
policy. We trust that it may yet not be too late.
though we observe that the measure is pressed
with the frenzied haste of colonial craftsmanship, to
prevent it from taking effect. If it be now too
late, we can only say, that a deep responsibility
has been incurred by those through whose mex
plicable ignorance tornght's invaluable time has.
been already lost. For, every hour, during which
the assent of the Imperial government is assumed,
contributes indefinitely to weaken the prestige of
its name, and to sap the foundation of It's autho-
rity.
possibly be used in favor of Lord Elgiin's policy
one founded on the nature of relation with Ca
NADIA, the other on the nature of the measure now
under discussion In the first place, it may be said
that this is purely Canadian question, and that
responsible government involves, as "a matter of
course, the acqulescence of the Executive in the
proceedings OF the representative body, with re-
spect to all such subjects. But clearly even accord
ing to the extreme theory of responsible govern
ment, the Executive has its privileges as well as
the representaaves--the head of the government,
as well as his ministers. Lord Elgin should
Lafontaine to the Assembly and, then, if
necessary, from the Assembly to the country.
This would have been very different thing from
allowing his ministers to Introduce and carry their
measures with every appearance of possessing his
countenance and support. AS he has not taken this
obvious course, neither he nor his advocates can
possibly alege that the issue has been fairly tried,
natural operation of responsible government We
must add, however, that this question is, by its
very NATURE excepted from the category of those to
which the principle of responsible government for
colonies applies. 1t is not purely Canadian ques-
tion--but one which deeply involves the honor of
the imperial crown, and the authority of the i'm
perial laws If Canada were formally independent,
she could of course, do what she pleased with her
resources and might sanction any principles of GO
vemment that suited her and we not prepared
to say, that a delberate sanction, by the Canadian
people, constitutionay appealed to, of MIR. Lafon-
talne's resolutions, might not be considered as a
symptom of fundamental ncompatlbillty between
the mother country and the colony, and a signal,
therefore, that the proper time had arrived for their
separation. But that separation has not yet taken
place. We have relations with Canada, not only
formal, but real; not only are her laws administer
ed in the name of our sovereign, but we are MAIN
tanning army of 5000 men to defend her against
foreign war and domestic disafiectiOn and, while
this is the case, we deliberately say, that is inn
possible for us to acquesce in measure by which
the sanction and approval of the Canadian govern
ment are given Gin the shape of pecuniary rewards)
to eb.IIt Of Tho anfIn and
sistance to the Queens troops.
The second argument which we shall notice, is
founded on an incorrect Interpretation OF the prln-
cipes of the measure itself 1t is conceded, we
find, by the provincial ministers, that persons
convicted of rebellion (and those only are to
be excepted from compensation; and tins may APP
pear, to persons who are not acquainted with the
case, important, as 1t Is plausible concession.
But the fact is, that OF the persons who were noto
riously and avowedly in arms as rebels, a very
small proportion indeed were ever convicted 1t
must be SO In all rebellons-and 1t was especially
so in that of Canada, where the jury system work.
ed IN such manner as, generally speak, ing, to
make conviction impossible, and trial farce. Al
most all the leaders escaped to the United States,
whence they have Just returned, under the benefit
OF an amnesty; and 1t is from this class OF people,
that many of the largest claimants for indemnity
have now been selected Take, for example, the
case of Wolfred Nelson; he, it seems, is to get
.G2',O00, sum twice as large as he was ever worth
IN his life This man fortified and defended his
house against the troops under Colonel Gore, who,
after being once beaten off, finally took and de-
stroyed it, Nelson captured, and would have
been trled-and, matter of course, capitally
punshed-it he had not been included in the num-
Der of those whom Lord Durham, by his celcbra-
ted ordinances, liberated under the condition of
Punishment to Bermuda When the ordinances
were disalowed, Nelson returned home having
escaped punishment by purely fortuitous and un-
precedenied accident. But, not being. a Convict
ed'' criminal, he is to be compensated for the da-
mage done TO his house during the siege, and for
all sorts of things besides. This is sample of the
kind Of men who to receive public money with
the sanction of her Maesty's government, and
under the eyes of the very officers with whom
they were in collision.
We are told that the measure now brought for
ward is identical with one which emanated from
the late, or conservative, ministry. But such is
not the fact. The late ministry issued, indeed, a
commission of inquiry into all housekeeping
in terms, only those of men convicted. The rest
they considered open TO investigation but their