New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-24
CANADIAN AFFAIRS.
c.-o,s~,.e Of The 7, ibune.

corr,spordence Of The Tiibune
ToEoNTo, Mo1dAy Jure H. 1850
The bill for encouraging emigrants % the United
States from Europe to use the ST. Lawrence line Of
navigation will finally pass through both Houses Of
the Legislature in few days, and be put into i'm
mediate operation. 1t provides for a remission of
oDshsB Of the tax, which is now one dollar and a
half per head, on all those emigrants whose uti-
mate destination is the United States, and who
merely pass through Canada. To what extent it
will turn the tide Of emigration through the st.
Lawrence remains to be seen.
The system ofcrimPing Prsctced az Quebec has
induced the Government to introduce m easars ia!o
the Legislature for extending the provisions of an
act, now in force, to foreign merchant vessels for
preventing the desertion Of seamen. Thirty foreign
vessels have arrived at Quebec this season owing
To the abolition of the Navig alton avs aud great
evils have arisen from the deserton of their crews
which no existing law could check or punish.
Strong representations have been made to the
Government by fCreign shipowners OF the evil and
at their request the remedial law has been brought
forward.
Tie bill for fixing the time for the meeting Of
Parliament was rejected at the second reading on
the ground that it contravened the provisions Of
the Union Acs
The Government have announced their intention
70 introduce some sort Of General Banking Law.
What its character will be has not ira lspirsd.-
The Inspector General stated that it would differ
In many important respects from the Free anking
Law OF the state OF New YORK.
A measure upon the currency Is also Announced
bat not yet introduced. | have heard 1t rumored
thatt is intended to propose the establishment: ola
bank Of issue.
The expediency of abolishing the Seignorial
Tenure In Lower Canada ia nOw under the cOnsid-
Grafton of the House. On Friday the question was
debated for seven hours. Except ar. Papineau,
Mr. Drummond, Col. Gugy aod .1O or three others
there was 10 Seigneurs in the House though
the number Of censstalres from Lower Canada, WHO
are all Interested in the abolition of the tenure
is very great One party takes the ground thstthe
rente which the Segneurs are entitled to take is fixed
by law at two that Ia violation of Ia tt
law many OF the Seigneurs have raised the rent,
especially in the district Of Quebec, 10 various
rates, ranging high as "a sous acre; that tho
law Courts have decided that they have no power
10 interfere in the matter, and that the question
can only be decided by the L Legislature; tina. many
OF the Seigneurs, IN cObtraventiOn of the la w. nave
refused TO concede their lands and that others have
sold them. The burden Of iOO et renter one twelfth
part Of the purchase money paid to the 5eigne1r
every time the land is sold, is much complained OF
The power possessed by the Seigneur. OF clmpel
ing the cen1t0ires 70 go ~ his mill, is also felt 70
be great evil But what is most complained Of
is the alleged illegal raising OF the reHteS by the
Seigneurs whom one party holds to be trustees,
compelled to corcece the lands granted TO them in
trust TO whoever might ask it, at two sous an acre.
On the other side, Mr. Paplneau go so far as to
claim for the Segneors ali the rights OF absolute
proprietors The relative position of the SeigneIrs
ana the ceRSitdires as stated, and believe cor.
Tectly, by Solicitor General Dummond is entirely
different from the statement OF both the extreme
...1 Ia.e -
iavors the abolition Of the feuda tenures, and we |
must therefore give him credit for disinterested-
ness. He denies that the renteS have been fixed |
by law in any Of the l40 Seigneurs, except that of
two mountains, and he rests the necessity for the
abolition of this tenure on the temper OF the times,
and the condition and requirements of Society," |
He says the original grants 70 the Seigneurs were
but subsequently the Seigneur |
required to pay fealty and homageto the King Of |
France his representative. and to make return
of all his revenues, his censtaires, and in short Of
all rights he held under the grant. Both Attorney
General Lafontane and Solicitor General Drarn. |
mond argued that the feudal tenure was the very |
hest that could have been adopted for che settle |
ment of the country, but that society has outgrown
the institution. No decision has yet been come to
on the question.
Mr. Prceis TO move a set Of resolutions 10 NOR.
row the subject Of the Clergy Reserves, on |
which TO found an address to the Home Govern |
ment, asking it to grant TO the Provincial Legsla-
ture power to dispose Of all the Clergy Reserves |
and the funds already derived from them, after the
present recipients shall have enjoyed them for life
or for given period. These resolutions WILL 10 all
probability give rise to an angry and protracted
discussion. They will probably pass eventually,
but do not expect that large majority will sup
port them. The reasons for this opinion these:
MIR. Lafontaine. who carries with him thirty four
French members, is opposed to all Interference
with these Reserves. He will be joined by the
Tories Of Upper Canada should he interfere in the
matter, although there is some reason to suppose
that he will remain passive, as the subject affects
Upper Canada exclusively. The resolutions will
be opposed by another party, weak in the House,
but strong in the country, who contend that the
Canadian Legislature is competent to deal with the
question without asking further authority from
England to do so. Amid such variety of opinions,
it is impossible to say what will be the fate of the
resolutions.
The Attorney. General, East has introduced a
bill for increasing the number of Representatives
from "a to l5O 1t does not aim at adopting popu. \
lation basis gives IS to each province, and pro-
poses no extension of the franchise.
The Financial Reform Committee have adopted
resolution for reducing the Governor Generals sal
ary from f7,777 year to f3,5o0 L.c