The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-27
foreign Misfsllanp.
From the London Spectator.
DELEGATES FROM CANADA.

Sir Allan MsNab and Mr.. Moffatt, two chiefs of
the Opposition in Canada, coming TO England
as delegates from their party to protest against the
Rebelion-Losses measure, and obtain its disallow-
ance by the Crown or Parliament They had done
better TO spare their pains. The Legislature of
Canada-the House of Assembly, the Legislative
Council, and the Governor--have concurred in maxi
ing law. These organs of the Colonial Opposi-
ton come to propose that the law shall be unnnde.
Unmade by whom' BY the Crown, say some un-
der its final power of disallowance. But the Crown
has thrice declared its full concurrence in this
sure; first, when, through its organ, the Governor,
II allowed his Ministers to introduce the bill; Sc
condly, when through the Governor, it assented TO
the bill passed by both Houses of Parliament;
and thirdly, when the Queen, by Lord Greys de-
spatch to Lord Elgn, emphatically sanctioned the
Governors proceedings. II is simply impossible,
therefore, that the Crown, unless moved by the I'm
perial Houses Of Parliament, should now dsallow
this Colonial law The Imperial Houses of Par
Lament might indeed constitutionally lead the
Crown to change its mind, or might themselves an
null the Colonial law but this could not be done
without change Of Ministry at home, nor without
virtually upsettingthe constitution of Canada And
what single reason is there why Parliament should
thus interfere with Colonial legislaton3 II is said
that the honor of the empire is concerned but in
what respect' If the Imperial power, represented
by the Crown, had originally objected to this mea-
sure, then, doubtless, since questions relating to
treason and rebellion against the Empire concern
the Imperial power, and do not belong exclusively
to the Colony, the Crown or Parliament might pro-
perly interfere in such manner and to such extent
as they should deem fit; but the Imperial power,
so far as it is represented by the Crown, has fully
approved of the measure, and even been active
party to it. The measure is to great extent that
of an Imperial power ITSELF and it cannot there
fore, by any means be construed into atfront to
the honor of the empire
The Imperial power represented by the Crown
sve from ignorance and indference-has warmly
sanctioned the measure in all its stages and that
which either individual, or government, or
nation adopts as its own, cannot by any ingenuity
be twisted into an attack upon the honor of the
adopting party But again, it is said, the measure
was most impoitic: it has revived the Of races
in Canada; it may have the effect, if upheld by the
Imperial power, of dismembering the empire.
Surprising all this to be true, still the impolcy Of
overturning the measure now by Imperial authority
would be greater than that-of the measure itself.
The Imperial power could norno,o act view Of
the mpolicy of this measure, without stultfying it.
self, degrading the Crown, depriving Canada of
constitutional government, aggravating the conflict
of races, and causing the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the
empire to be more probable than ever. Whether
on the ground of Imperial honor or on that Of I'm
peral policy, it is now too late for the Imperial
power to interfere without making bad worse. Mr..
Moffatt and Sir Allan M'Nab may go back as they
come OF course, Lord Grey will hold no commu-
nioation with them, any more than the Queen
the Russell ministry being in exstence-would al
low Lord Stanley and Mr.. George Frederick Young
to preach to her against the repeal of the Naviga-
ton laws: and for the notion that these dele
gates from the minority have chance of inducing
either House of Parliament to take side with their
party in Canada, it is utterly preposterous. The
Rebeon-Losses measure is fat accompI and all
intriguing in this country against the majority
which passed it, by the minority which opposed it,
will be prevented by prompt and stern rebuff.
The folly of allowing the present Canadian min
istry to introduce such measure, and the conse-
quences of that folly with which England has now
to deal, are considerations wholly apart from the
question of overturning Colonial legislation by I'M
perial authority in this instance