Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-01-18
Canadian Correspondence of the Bostoa
Atlas.

MONTREAL. Jan 3. 1850.
PropoSeI R.f,,m in the Ehc'ioa IT lie Count
cu-Pu}i's cb4ngiag siarS-Ej;ci ofn loy..
H.. Hc Et.iirc Pri,c pie-S J,ci or U,n-
& orge l'o jW-ll" Naj>tyjH Disputes
DSSoia'ion Of Parliam4t-RceM ct Llri
EgU.
Since NY last letter, at a meeting he'd in this
city. the Montreal Branch OF the British Ameri-
can league has passed resolutions in favor OF
applying the elective principle to the Lngi>a-
tive Council. | may mention that this Council
is iutanded to b. equivalent to your Senate or
an imitation Of the Rri..sh House Of Lords. A.
mentioned to you III ono Of my previous com.
muncatons, il is at present created bv the ap-
pointment of the nominees of each succeeding
ministry, under mandamuS from the Queen
and the office is held for life.
The Montreal Branch Of the League las not
gone so far as that of Brockvrllc, which is in
favor Of elective Governors, but still the re<ou-
tons to which have alluded are of a vcry in
cresting nature. 1t Will be remembered that
they have been adopted by the Conservative, or
Tory party. and il is very amusing and very
singular to sec snch resolutions passed by these
mcr. 1t will also be remembered. that this
same principle formerly formed the burden of
the celebrated % resolutions, and that it was in
effect one of the proXimatc causes of the REBEL.
in The singua,iIy of this fact is. that Nen.
the party called the rebel purity, ascrbc! all the
evils under w,ch the province groancd to the
absence OF this principle: ntlp. the same party
in power opposes it; and ao'c the loya!ls party.
which formerly took up arms against the rebels
is passing in favor Of it. | must, h1wcvcr.
state that the Tory party is not unanimously in
favor oft; | think the great majority is in low.
cr Canada, but not in Upper Canada. | think.
also, from every indcatoN that this principle
will find favor, and where and tn what it will
lead is impossible 10 say. Certain is it. that
with lis adoption will be destroyed the last vest.
irn Of al imitation oc the British Constitution.
which to establish in the colony has been the
cause of so much strife and biood,he1 Per-
haps, with the form destroyed, the spirit NAV the
better remain. and the Tory supporters of the
elective yrnciple are firm in the belief that it
will; while the Tory oppopontS, ana those of
the loyalists most sincere at heart, and truc 10
British c0nncXon through evil and rood report.
argue, and are firm in the Lrliri. that this step.
if taken, will be the first in the severance of the
empire, and the pru@imatc OF annex ,tiUN. Ii i
impossible to deny that there is much force in
this, and it is a fact that somc ot the anncXa.
tionists support i: c" this ground.
Though it may seem very anomaous. il i
qnite likely that both will be found to be rigt.
/ or me reason. llldl is III present luC lPui>Ia-
tive Council has become a mere court Of record.
and passed some Of lhe most important bills of
the last session, without even unrying the red
tape from arolnd them. Thi, might be expect
ed from the manner Of lis creation but the cf
let has hreu to bring it into universal con-
tempt. Oar Constitution requires check,
balance, which our present council - not. We
require it in an especial manner to protect MS
from the sudden cbullriunS uf uur not very dis.
Greet factions. By The application Of the rlec-
live principle to this body, we Wghl get a coun-
ell that should be in effect equivalent to your
Senate, and beyond all doubt better preserve
the principle Of the British Constitution, which
in principle and eft ct is n governUpn, of
checks. While on the othc; hand it cannot be
concealed that the reform asked for. will make
our government a Republic and the principles
of Kepubicansm conceded, we cannot doubt
that the strongest barrier in the VI ty of annex
alton is broken down.
The speeches at the meeting, both from the
matter and the speakers, were quite as intnreS-
ting as the resolutions. The Hon. George NJ f.
iatt, long the chief Of the Tory party, Is man
allowed by his encG.iqs 40 be the l;uSt honest
politician in Canada, and consistent TO his prg.
cpes and prejudices. lie stated that it was
known he had all his life opposed tie principle
of an elective council, but that recent events
had shown him that it was necessary. With
reference to anneXalion, he observed he did not
think the time yet come ,4r Tug discussion OF
that measure, but that when the time should
come, he would view it purely as "A Canadian
question. lie would first 90 TO England, and
see if she could and would do anything for us,
and when it would be found that she could not
do anything, he had no doubt that when our
case was then brought before her, she would
view it in magnanimous and proper manner
lie would then be prepared TO discuss annexa-
ton, and he did lot say that it might not event
ualiy be our policy. Sentiments like these,
from such man as Mr., Moiiatt, will not be
without their effect upon the country. They
are those OF a great many very sincere loyalits,
who will, when all other means fail, turn 10 an