The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-02
Our Canadian Correspondence.

tive Council, with reference 10 the construction OF
that body, and the other in the Assembly, in rela-
ton to the clergy reseres-and in both instances,
tho administration, with the aid of their Lower
Canada friends, have come of apparently trium-
phant Tho who have studied the constitution
of the human mind, have everywhere come to the
conclusion that il is in the nature of man 10 be dis
satisfied with his present conditions; and verify
Canadian friends DO not form an exception TO
the general rule.
The question came up in theLegislatve Council,
upon motion Of Mr.. De Blacquire, one of the old
school, of whom il Ray be said that the present
professions Of It's members al variance with
the prejudices and practices of their past lives.
They contended strenuously for years, against the
introduction of a liberal and responsible form of
government; and having been defeated, and lost
their Offices and their emolumens, have become
all at once the admirers and advocates of the ex-
Ieme opposite OF conservatism; would deprive the
sovereign OF all control over this portion OF the
British empire, and OF the exercise OF that preroga-
tive with which the crown is invested, for the pro-
lection of the rights Of the subject aud the proven
ton of anarchy and confusion.
The object of the agitation in the Legislative
Council, the determining of the number Of
members of which that body should be composed
areductlon in the expenses attending lis sittngs,
and more deliberate mode of passing bills, which
are sent up from the other house, owing TO the
system of procrastination which prevails there
the result, of which il contended would be TO
restore public confidence, and to enable the upper
house 10 be more useful TO the country And
although all this is very desirable, and there Is
much room for improvemt nj, YET, as the Intentions
OF the mover were evidently not sincere, and
there was no little probability of the resolutions
being acted upon by the government, IN case they
were adopted, the number who voted for them
the basis of an address were only four, including
the mover, in a house of about twenty.
hAU OF had al nrvtnn agf m
the estimation in which this illusrlous body is held
throughout the county, but certainly the orato-
ncal powers Of its members calculated 10
elevate them in public opinion Ii would make
this letter too long, Were | TO describe the pro-
ceedlngs and paraphernalia of the Legislative
Council, which, with that OF the IA ouss of Assem-
bly,, shall form the subjects OF my next commu-
nicafon and will merely AT present observe, that
the establishment OF body in the colonies, upon
the principle Of the House of Lords IN England is
at once absurd and ridiculous, and entirely incon.
sistent with the requirements and condition of a
colony.
The clergy reserve question came up for discus
sion in the Assembly on Tuesday. aud was not de-
cided till last Friday night, rather al two o'cloc
on Saturday morning.; and slfhoJgh tle maiorities
on the series OF resolutions which were introduced
ranged high 81 TO 10, vet the division on the
18th resolution which involved the principle at issue
=" that although no religious denomination can be
held TO have such vested interests in the revenue
derived from the clergy revenues, as should pre-
vent further Legislation for the disposal of them,
treated in the most liberal manner'-wss only car
ried by majority of 30 To 81
The history of the clergy reserves in this pro-
vince resembles that OF Trinity Church in New
York, and which were doubtless intended as an
endowment for the established church although
II was subsequently determined by the twelve
JUICES OF England, that under the term "protes-
tant clergy" was included the clergy of all demo-
limitations, with the exception of the Roman Ca
tholic who at present, how ever, in Upper Canada.
receive proportion OF the clergy reserve funds as
also the Church of Scotland and the WESLEYAN
Methodsts; and there Is balance, which severy
year Accomplishing in the hands of the govern
ment, for the benefit of other churches who receive
no proportisn al present.
cannot lind from the conversation OF members,
and from what was stated m the House, tn Al the
question creates as much Interest throughout the
province, as has been represe rtcd However that
may be, II was made the subject OF discussion in
the Assembly almost every Nsst, with The eXcep-
ton OF 1877, when the people tOuud somethn !,
else 10 fight about, from 1877 "a lo29; when Lor |
Sydenham, who was then Governor General, sue
ceeded in having a bill passed, re-lnNesting tn e
Clergy reserves IN the crown and an act OF tn 4,
Imperial Parliament was then passed, approprat
ing tbis fund for the benefit OF all The religious de-
nominations IN the province The object of the
present movement IL, To have them recOnyeyed 10
the Provincial Legislature, to he appropriated for
the diffusion of education the various trusts which
have arisen under the imperial act, to terminate
with the hfe of the iudiV iduilS. and with refer
ence TO religious establ shmebl-, after certain
time.
Such proceeding would be % glazing a viola.
tien at public faith, and no. IN interference with
the rights of properly, thai Is not probable the
British government viii sanction -uch proceed
ing, ana the result wall probably b. the repeal of the
act ef Parliament, ~ To- IN. funds have not been
already appropriated, ADJ leaving the members of
the Colonial Legislature tu quarrel about the ba-
lance to their hearts cont.ut
The value Of these revenues, although at FIRST
they did not pay the expense attending the SAFE, Is
at present estimated 1T c2,unO.UOO, or about eight
millions of dollars The Whoic number of acres
~ ihs way set apart ~ the Upper Province, was
2,3g5,6s7; o which, there nave been sold OBJ ij3,
leaving 2gb2 is To- be- disposed Of; aud the amount
Of lands already sold, amounts to c72O,7j6, cur
rency.
The liberal spirit in which the people OF the Uni
ted States acted. with reference To similar grants
was eulogissd 10y more thsn one speaker; and Mr.
Cameron, of Cornwall, m a very eloquent speech,
said that these endowments were preserved sa-
cred through all the turmoil and excitement of re-
volution and the rights If Columbia College, for
merry called kiug'- College, IN New York, had
also been presrryed under the republican govern
ment OF the United States.'
Another yexrd question, the seignories IN Lower
Canada, stll remains undecided, having been con-
tinued over from last week. This 10 another at
tempt TO interfere with The rights Of property, 80
peculiarly ut the socialist school, aud should
both these attempts succeed, The Immense endow-
meBts of the Roman Catholic church m Lower
Canada, will be- endangered; where, also. there ~
reservation of .aads Tor 10 tru,h Of the Protest
ant Clergy, to Tire extent &C VI nJ2 acres of which
57l 3.sl acre. remain uusuli-lhe amount of the
sales being sbou. IyU.trp.
The weathCr, which continued very dry till
within a iortmlh'. has since changed. 10 the great
delight Of the iauncis. and almost every day we
have had shower duriuE 'hc past week, accom-
panied with thunder The crops are, consequently,
looking very tine. and the fuiit promises to be
abundant.
The post-citcs will Boz u nsicrrcd 10 this pro-
vince after The 9Th October next. - believe have
already oIued you. when new postmaster
general will lie appointed. hut not nj 30 high a
ssluy ga TIE pl,-cut poStmaster-general, who,
hy meens at luck and the pcrquisiies OF office
which az enc time be- enjoyed with IMMUNITY, but
which would act L. tolerated at the present day,
hes amused "a fCInnc, md was described by Lord
Iurhem az ne lars, II lanGholdor IN Canada Tits
Ia b, boped when thus change takes place, that
something will be- done with the pOs'-otiice here,
a, NJ Pre- ~. his letter. which might have been
sent by this mornings boat, hss been detained till
this Afternoon, owing 10 The mail closing on Sa-
tufuuy afternoon. and remaining u the post-oifice