New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-16
CANADIAN AFFAIRS.
English Hostility 10 Canadian M1nuf1ciure Lord Greys
Dispateh DecisiVe.. The RetrelehmeHt Committee

Correspondence Of The Tribune.

DisDateh Decisire. The Retrenehment COMMITTEE a
Correspondence OF The Tribune.
MONTREAL, Tuesday July 9, 1850.
You are aware that numerous, wealthy and
educated body Of men associated themselves TO-
gether in this Province, adopting the pame of the
League to discriminate themselves from the
Mihsterialists and the Annexationists. The
Lesguers, at their last meeting now some months
old pronounced, as a portion Of their creed, their
sdoption of the principle Of Elective Institutions,
and Of aProtective Tariff, to promote the growth OF
Canadian Manufactures In so far as the elective
principle is concerned, it is not to be imagined that
the Imperial Parliament, which so recently voun-
teered the introduction Of elective institutions into
Australia-woud offer any hostility to the views
Of the Leaguers'-but it is pretty evident that
when Canada presumes to talk Of q Protective Ia
riff that she will be made to feel that she u.s. in the
estimation of England but Colony, and market
for the sale of English fabrcs
A dispatch Of the Colonial Secretary to Lord FL
gin has recently seen the light which unequivO-
cally demonstrates the sentiments which animate
the Imperial Cabinet, upon the question OF Canada
attempting TO manufacture for herself instead of
importing her cottons from Manchester. Lord
Grey says:
have further observe The subject Of the Act in
question: that while Her Msessys Confidential Servants
Lave lot thought II expeden sdvise that Her haesiys
sanction should be withheld from H. they regret that 1t
should baye betn found necessary by the Legislature Of
Csnsda impose such high rates OF duty upon many OF
the articles 10 which this Act applies shCugh these duties
appear 10 hare been IN all cases Imposed oih rleU merely
rttRue and not for the purpose OF arhcay encour
aging The production OF particular articles within The Pro-
vince hch can be more chespy obtained by Importation
Ito toieh need hardly say that Hr MGestys 2oveTnsn
must haze oeced cannot but fear that The imposition Of
such high duties w have tendency to check The progress
OF Canadian Commerce, and hope that whenever the
state OF the finances will admit Of H. ihese duties may be
reduced give 10 trade that freedom which much
dusuy"
If we are to accept this declaration of Il ar Grey,
as the matured resolve oil the Imperial Government,
| assuredly fresh element OF discontent has been
added to the other grievances OF which the people
complain.
During the last year writers belonging to the
various political parties have unanimously preach
ed the blessings which Canada would ENJOY II she
were ~ direct her attention 10 manufacturing, aud
impose Protective Tariff The glorious state
ments Of wealth realized by your " Lawrences at
| Lowell aud the apparent facilities which cheap
labor and profuse water privileges mold out to the
Spectator, contributed 10 plant the idea Ia the
! minds OF the COonists, that they were on the eve
| OF entering manufacturing career OF highly re-
muntrative character. These dreams are now
dispeled. The reality stares men IN the face that
though the COlOnists may swagger under the delu
sion thar res ponslbe Government imparts 70 them
tbe right to egisRte for themselves, yet that that
| Of Manchester fabrcs-in other words Canada re-
sembes the bird with a string to its leg The
only restraint upon its liberty IS the string. Win
Canada the only restraint upon her Provincial bills
is the veto Of the CroEn 1t will be interesting 10
watch the impression which Lord Greys dispatch
will leave on the public mind.
That men have been seriously thinking OF manu-
featuring you may infer from the TACT that " Nj
Larochee' has commenced cotton factory on
the banks Of the EtchmD, Is miles due south OF
Quebec-and in this city the g Messrs. Nelson's,
gentle men of large wealth, which they acquired
distilEpg whisky, feeling the effects Of the Tenn
perance" crusade in a diminished demand for
spirits thought seriously OF converting one OF their
largest establishments into factory One OF the
Messrs. Nelson's visited Lowell and Great Britain
10 inform himself upon the details of the process
of manufacturing cotton, but they have not yet
moved in the matter, possibly because they per
ceve the difficulty OF obtaining protection on the
one band, and on the other, admis sion 10 your
markets Your countrymen who travel from Mos'
! treal 10 Quebec and thence down to the "Sague-
nay" see Numerous tributary streams tumbllng
aBd cascadng over the banks into the st. Law
renee. These are water privileges running waste.
| The lands in the vicinity are inhabited by popu
| lation who can work well, and who would labor for
less than half the sun you pay operatives at Low
| ELL" Yet neither the population nor the water
| power are turned TO account aud no man thinks Of
setting up cotton factory because English COM
petition would be ruinous, and the market Of Cana
ds is too limited to furnish work repay the spec
uiation. The inhabitants Of Canada manufacture
at the psesent time glass, crockery, pipes, paper
iron castings wooens and varieties of article fab
ricsted from wool, but all Of the coarser kinds
therefore II is from no lack Of inclination that they
abstain from making cotton goods, but ia truth Il
is because the Manchester dealers would If they
saw any attempt at manufacturing here, az once
food the MARKET with their goods as they did
some years since in India.
The dispatch Of Lord Grey clearly explains the
perfect understanding which exists between the
policy of Downright. and that OF the Manchester
Cotton Lords. Those who examine our position,
must confess that we are regularly cornered, and
destined 90 long as we submit to the condition to
remain mere sgrculturasts Whether tho people
will long consent to be consigned to an inferiorly
the more conspicuous when contrasted with the
New England States, must depend upon the eda-
cation and intelligence Of the masses.
The farce OF retrenchmeut is in progress. The
Committee named by the Office holders ia tine As
sembly made display OF energy and patriotism az
the outset, and even proceeded so far as 70 recon
mend the reduction Of the Governor Generals saA-
~. But II presumed that the usual sinister inia-
ence 10 at work-that some of the loudest takers
have, for consideration reviewed their opinions
and are not likely to prove FESTIVE under minister.
al management The man OF most note on the Com.
mittee is Mr.. Merritt, a member of the Cabinet
who unquesuonably appreciates the strength Of the
feeling on the subject Of retrenchmeni outside the
House. de has differed from his colleagues lately
upon some important questions, and aims possibly
al being the leader Of the future Progress party.
He is practical man, and his reputation is derived
from bis early advocacy of the A." w eAand canal, a
work which he urgei to completion, in opposition
to very powerful interests HIS private resources
are limited, yet he is known to favor retrench.
| ment that viii include bis own salAry-hence bis
! growing popularity with the country
| There is a rumor that Lord Elgin meditates re-
firing, and that Baldwin and Ls'antaine an 10
| initiate his example. The same tale has been to)
| often repeated to gain many believers The love
| Of money and the love Of power viii suice to re-