The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-05-31
Canada.

canada.
OF all the foreign news, trans Atlantic
and North American, presented in our pa
per This week, ii can scarcely be doubted
that the most important, TO Us, is that from
Canada. The wars and rrmors of war in
Europe-narches, blockades, seges and
naval eDgagements--the capture of Dam
ish fleet at the re-opening of the Schleswig
Holstein quarrel-the repulse, or actual de-
feat of an army in Hungary--the lombard
ment of Genoa-the destruction of another
Italian city, Brescia, place OF thirty thou
sand inhabitants, all given to the sword, in
the most approved ancient style of military
butchery-and the increasing distractions
throughout Italy and Germany are grave
events, full Of a profound significancy; but
the enseute-the riot, the rebellion, what
shall we call it!-rat Montreal, where ''loy-
al" Canadians, at the very moment Of the
confirmation Of an obnoxious law. have as
sailed and insuIted the Governor General
who ratified it, expelled the Parliament
which enacted it, aud even burned to the
ground the legislative hall where il became
the law of toe lands "a transaction of such
interest as will make Americans pause for
moment, and forget the turmoils Of Europe,
TO conjecture the scenes aud results of the
new political drama commencing upon our
own borders in the New World.
Is this revoIutioni That is the first
question that will arise. 1t is one NOT at all
easy to answer. The whole occurrence at
Montreal, embracing the sudden insurrec-
ton OF the people and their instant attack
on the Parliament house, is, clearly, an act
OF rage-popular passion; not thing of
design, or any part Of premediiated
oh ~f IL s.
upon the scene muskets and bayenets, in
stead Of paving srones--which would have
heaped up the latter into barricades-which
would have heaped up the latter into barri-
.cades--which would have added to the
flames OF burning archives the blood OF
faithless Representatives or of their armed
defenders. 1t has more, therefore, Of the
character of riot than rebellion; but it is
a rebellion notwithstanding.
A blow has been struck, though no blood
has been shed-a blow at the honor and
majesty Of the British crown--a blow which
ed--punished with the utmost severity -
There, perhaps, lies the necessity which
will convert the riot of Montreal into the
revolution Of Canada. The English Min
istry at home could not have acted with
ernment Of Lord Elgin Before the night
was over, while the flames of the ParlIa-
ment House yet assembled, warrants were
issued for the arrest of one hundred aud
forty-elght riOters-insurgents,- --perhaps
TRAITORS" But will they he arrested -
Will the people of Montreal allow them to
be arrested! Will the yeomanry Of Caaada
West hear of their arrest without emotion ,
Must not this effort to revenge the violated
dignity OF the Crown bring on precisely that
degree Of resistance which is Yevo!ulhM?
Everything must now depend upon Inc
existing military strength OF Lord E!.iu's
government, and the actual spirit of the dis
affected people. The government has man
itestly, after full dell6eration, chosen its
course; which is, not to yield to sediton,
bur 10 defy it--put il down with the strong
hand. The maicontents, with our yet intend-
ing It, have preciptated The quarrel by a
most lawIess act OF outrage; aud they would
seem now TO have before Them the single a.
ternatiye Of submitting to the seyerest aud
most ignominous chastisement, or of iakin.
up arms and uufurling the flag Of indepen-
dence.
However, in these days Of novelty, when
so many revolutions are going, or have gone,
backwards, 1t is impossible 10 brOgnoslicate
, the course that events will now take in Can
ada. We have not forgotten the surprising
growth, progress and end OF lass years re-
voiution in England! 1t remains % be- seen
whether the Canadian rebellion is to be a
whit more serious than the Chartist rebel
liOn.-North american.