New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-12
CANADIAN AFFAIRS.
Canadian Politics.

gether four days, the sttings commencing at p M
and continuing till about o'clock next morning.
| On the last day of the FOUR the debate lasted six
teen bours. Since the address was disposed OF
the Legislature has had under consideration various
subjects, some Of which involve organic changes.
amounting to political revolution. 1t is singular
| that oil these measures and nearly all Others
of q liberal character proceed from members Of the
opposition, who for nearly the whole Of their lives
have pro.esssd Conservative or Tory opinions and
it is perhaps not less extraordinary that all these
measures are opposed by the Government, which
calls itself Liberal, and voted down by the ma
jority that supports that Government Parties
have altogether changed in sentiment, or at least
in professions, with change in their fortunes and
position.
The present Government party was formerly the
advocate of elective institutions, especially of an
elective upper branch OF the Legislature It was
then in opposition. Now that it holds the reins of
power, it opposes the very changes it once adyo.
Gated. This is true OF the merely professional
politicians and leaders of the party; the people
are unchanged. But the power resides for the
moment in the hands of the leaders.
The question of rendering the Legislative coun.
cil elective has already, on two occasion, been
beforethe lower house since the debate on the ad.
dress and in short time it will again come I'D in
both branches Of the Legislature. The first time
it was brought up On motion Of Mr. Christie. and
after debate of some hours, postponed till the
beginning Of July. The proposition was opposed
by MIR. Baldwin, Attorney General for Canada
West; the other members Of the Government ab.
staining fromcommittiDgth onthe ouesti N
II is we'll understood, however, that every member
of the Cabinet except this gentleman is secretly in
favor Of constituting the upper branch Of the LIE.
gislature on the elective principle.
Mr.. baldwin is the leader OF the Government in
Upper Canada, aud he determiuedly opposes anv
ri ~uuc in ~cfa Nrrl,sc
three occasions latelyhe has contrastel with the
American sy sten, for the purpose of depreciatiug
the latter. The English Constitution he boldly pro.
nounces the best that the world ever saw; and
goes go far es to say that there can be no compar
son in point Of value between il and the American
And what does he look upon as the capital defect of
the American system That, under it. there il no
Executive Government, holding seats in the q
gislature, TO direct legislation
The Government has opposed proposition To
withdraw the Attorneys General from potcalbusi
ness and TO coniine them to their departmental
duties No vote was come to, but the question was
postponed although every one knows how the mat
ter will end The Attorney General and every other
member Of the Executive will continue 10 e,is. in
the Legislature to direct the business of lerisa
ton. And they can do it most eflectualig Thirty
| members OF the ministerial majority in q house of
| a. have received Government pay, in one shane or
| another since the general election OfJanuarv l94e
| some Of them having received 60 much as Sc 600 n
| year each. AL thus pot mage Is dispensed by the
| Executive Government. Il is useless to look for
an independent Legislature SO long as this svstoo,
lasts.
On Monday night the House had under consider.
alton very Important resolution for an Addre9s 10
the 4ues eod hath Houses of Parliament, pray
ING them to pass an act providing that the Upper
Branch OF our Legislature should consist of thirty
members who should have property Qualification
and be elected by the people-the country being
divided fer the purpose into thirty Electoral Dis
tricts, az nearly equal rs possible with respect 10
population; end that the two Houses OF the Lexis
lature should have power b call Convention OF
tie People 10 frame new Constitution Another
proposition contained in the resolution was 10 ous
lily the etc Power by enRcting that no measure
passed by both Houses of the Canadian Leeisla
ture shall be killed by the Royal Veto. except uDon
address OF both Houses of the British Parliament.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Bouton. late
Chief Justice of Newfoundland Several Members
unhesitatingly declared their preference for the
American system Of government over that in oper
ation here. The resolution was voted down by a
large majority.
Next Monday motion will be made in the Uo.
per House for an Address to the Queen, PRAYING
Her Majesty to Tx the numbers OF that branch Of
tie Legislature, and to exclude from it all members
oithe Government 1t viii not pass
The question OF Law Reform has been much ari
tated during the past year in Upper Canada. and
as the fruit Of that agitation we have now bere the
Legislature four or five distinct measures propos
ing reforms in the system Of legal procedure soue
OF mem oelng OF the most sweeping character
One proposes to throw open the profession of the
law to all the world and to substitute an entirely
new system ofprocedure. The Attorney General
West, however, lays it down broadly that the only
way to simplify the law is to reduce Us 10 a state
Of barbarian ''~'0
The Inspector says that the free navigation of
tee o. Lawrence Is the price with whichthe Cana.
IN
Tree trade With the United States
sons change is likely 20 be made in the License 1
Law WIN view Of checking the progress of in.
temperance A bill has already been introduced |
ioi 'es.ng N trustees the property Of drunkards
ana project OF license law almost an $50
transcript Of that OF Wisconsin, will shortly Is in
tro6uced. Va" sN'i''y DC IN
Oill similar TO tha; lately passed by the Uo.ad
sla'es congress tor altering the value OF Soea;sh
and Mexican quarter dollars and other coins &c
our Legislature. y '-"o~5h
Committee Of the Legislature has bee, m
pointed 70 take into consideration the ouestion ac
the Public Revenue and Expenditure h cc,s;...
Of twenty one members, eight Of whom are Mics
tefs end exMlnisft-s Of the Crown. aud thev e.,
therefore interested IN preserving those highsaar
les Oh " hich some OF them are, ard otberS eToac.
to become the recipients. Great pains were 49,
by ine government 10 prove that in the apDoint.
inent OF this Committee they were walking /, tha {
iisht oil English precedent. What a mockerv tbis
was Nnen we consider the unparalleled exirava.
sance OF the English expenditure, aud what n
farce 81 the pretended attempts to reduce i, have
proved! shall be disappointed il the preseptpre.
tended desire our Government to reduce the nh.
lie expenditure lead to any practical result.
measure was introduced into the Lower House
last night to remit one half the tax on enigrauts
whose hnal destination is the United States, and
who, IN passing through Canada, are no charge
upon the pubic revenue. The MEASURE has been
brought in at the earnest entreaty of the Canadian
Iorwarders, who hope TO attract to our waters
large number of emisrants who intend ultimately
10 settle in the Ststes Some members are desirous
81 sooislnng the tax altogether, AID charging the
expense Of emigration upon the revenue OF the
PROMISES but the Government are not prepared