The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-07-17
THE NATIONAL ERA.
FROM OUR CANADIAN CORRESPONDENT.


gotion-Public Dinner to MIR. Howe.
TORONTO, July 4, 1851.
To tbs Editor oftls National Era:
An event has occurred here, during the past
week. which is of considerable Importance. | al
lude to the resignation Of MIR. Baldwin, the At
torney General for Upper Canada, and one Of the
leading members Of the Government, owing to the
decision Of the House on Thursday night last,
consequent upon motion of Mr.. Mckenzie, who
submitted q resolution having for its object the
abolishing Of the Court of Chancery, which, al
though it was not carried, was only defeated by
majority Of "a to 30 all the members Of the
Upper Province voting in favor Of the measure,
with the exception Of six, who were either men,
bers of the Government, or its supporters; and
which was negstived by means Of the French Ca
nadians Of Lower Canada, twenty-four in num-
Der, who, as usual voted together.
The Court Of Chancery was only established
in Upper Canada in 1896, and does not exist in
the Lower Province. It was purely an Upper
Canada question, therefore, and should have been
50 treated by the others.
1t seems this Court was grossly mismanaged ;
and about two years since was recognized, Mr..
Baldwin introducing the bill for that purpose.
But instead Of having Chancellor to preside
over the Court alone, two Vice Chancellors were
added, and no improvement, it appears, subse-
quently took place, sufh ,ient to allay the public
discomfort, which previously prevailed and as
an election is approaching, large majority Of the
TTnnar n .noda vofad in aacor1anpa with
popular feeling.
Mr. Baldwin, finding that he had lost the conf
dence of the constituency which he more imme-
diately represented, and considering that the
Court as reconstructed had not had sufficient time
allowed to give it fair trial, rendered his resig-
nation to the Governor General on Friday, which
on Saturday was accepted.
At first the other members Of the Government
thought they could not consistently remain but
feenpg cnas ,se 6Sssking up Of the BfruSHty at
the present jRcture would throw the public af-
II 40 -, p So ;-'o - '',saao' arfsio-
decided upon remaining in office until the Close
Of the session, at all events; when it is under
stood Mr. Lafontaine, the other Attorney Gene
raj will retire from public life and its turmoil
The effect Of Mr. Baldwin's retirement, how
ever will be to bring the session to permanent
close, after two or three weeks; by which time
various important public measures that are on
the tapis will be disposed Of
Last night the question of the Clergy Re-
serves came up for discussion, on motion Of the
Commissioner OF Crown Lands for an address Of
thanks to the Queen for the favorable reply to
that of last session, praying that these Reserves
may be placed at the disposal Of the Legislature
Of the Province, with view to their being de-
voted to educational or secular purposes.
do not recollect having particularly adverted
to this subject in any of my former LETTERS and
that the question shall be rightly understood it
may be as well here to mention, that in 1891,
during the reign of George III, one-seventh of
the land of Upper Canada was set apart by act
of Parliament for the support of the Protestant
clergy; and such portion as had been surveyed
Was claimed by those of the Church of England
Eventually, the Church of Scotland laid claim to
its proportion under the Act of Union, which Sc
cures to both equal rights in the Colonies. And
at length the twelve judges of England, to whom
the subject was referred, decided that the Re-
serves ought to be divided among the different
religious denominations in the Province.
The Free Church and COngregationalists, who
are opposed to all church endowments, objected
to this application Of the public lands, and con-
tinued to excite discomfort in the public mind,
until the question became a fruitful source Of
agitation just previous to every election.
Whan I ord Cv1anha,n govarDad tho provinca
after the rebellion he was DESTROYS Of having it
settled and the Legislature of Upper Canada
being unable to agree upon a plan, appealed to
the Imperial Parliament, which passed an act,
which was intended to set the question forever at
rest, giving to the two national churches onehalf
of the revenue of the Reserves-the remaining
half to be divided among the other religious de-
nominations according to the number of their
members respectively and thus matters stood
until last session, when the Commissioner Of
Crown Lands carried the address alluded to, pre-
paratory TO the approaching election
IL these Reserves are to be diverted from their
original purpose, there exists no reason why the
immense endowments Of the Roman Catholic
Church in Lower Canada, derived from the
French monarchs previous to the conquest should
not share the same fate. This the Franco-Cana.
dams are not slow to perceive and although they
have voted for the Reserves being placed at the
disposal Of the Legislature, yet it is very evident
that when the question comes up there, they will
oppose any alienation Of this fund from its orig-
nal object.
Notwithstanding the opposition last evening
the address was carried by majority Of As to | 6
A bill has been introduced into the Legisla-
ture, to incorporate a company for the construc-
ton of a railroad from Lake Superior to the Paci-
fc ocean and from the encouragement which
Mr.. Whitney has met with on the part Of capt.
taliss in England, should not be surprised if it
were the germ Of future undertaking The
capital in the first instance is to be s., 000, 900,
divided into 500 shares the company having
power to extend the capital as may be required
The preamble states that the construction Of
such road would not only open out for immigra-
ton and population an extensive and fertile tract
Of country at present a wilderness making avail
able and bringing into market lands at present
too remote from civilization, but il would also
open out new channel for the commerce. Of Eu-
rope and Asia, thereby creating new influences
and interests throughout the British POSSESSIONS
The plan proposed by the bill is similar to that
Of MrWhitney the Crown granting thirty miles
in width on each side Of the line Of road or
where it shall be found necessary to carry it along
the boundary line between the British posses
sions aud the United States, then in such case.
sixty miles in depth from such boundary.
IL further provides that the company shall first
hx upon and locate the route, for a distance Of
ten miles, and shall commence the work by max
ing preparations for settlers, workmen, and ma
chinery, and arrangements for carrying on the
work. And when such portion is completed they
are to receive patents for the first five miles by
thirty or sixty in depth, as the case may be and
80 on with other ten miles in succession
When the work shall have been completed, the
Provincial Legislature are to have power 10 regu-
late the tolls and charges for freight and passen-
gers, so that the Company shall not receive over