The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-07-24

is in favor Of such an union, did not even allude
TO il in his speech at the dinner last week con-
ceiving il to be his best policy to concentrate public
sentiment upon the Quebec and Halifax railroad.
1t is very easy to perceive the cause Of Mr.
Hinckss opposition to the measure it would be
unpslatable 70 the French minority, which yields
the Government their unwavering support. Upon
the same principle he declared himself the other
evening against any scheme that does not give
an equal number Of representatives to the two
sections Of the Province, without reference to
population.
By the act which united the Upper and Lower
Provinces, each sends an equal number Of repre-
sentatives-the population at that time being
much the same in both Provinces Since that
period, however, the upper section has exceeded
the other and is steadily on the increase which
must lead, at no distant day, TO an additional
representation; and, were 1t based upon repre-
sentstiOn, must inevitably create British ascend
ency.
This would diffuse everywhere ADglo-Saxon
energy, intelligence, and enterprise and al
though the FRENCH population would remain as
they are in theosher Provinces and in Prince Ed
ward Island, a separate people, and living monu-
ment Of the ignorance Of former times yet they
could not continue to exercise that pernicious in
1uence in the councils Of the country, which,
while il is permitted to exist, must retard its ad-
vsucement and prosperity in great degree.
The union of the North American Colonies
must repeat, take place, and Canada must b.
come in fact, as she Is in name British Prov
ince In the mean time, any opposition to q
measure that would be fraught with beneficial
results. even to the French Canadians themselves,
can only arise from a selfish desire TO administer
TO their prejudices
During the early part Of the session, Mr. For
tier, one Of the Franc Canadians, gave notice of
motion for instructions TO the Committee APP
pointed 10 inquire into the causes that prevent
the colonization Of the eastern townships What
ever report the committee may make, these causes
will be found In the prevalence Of French insti
tutions and laws The Anglo-Saxon race will
doe 20. - - xsh5agcit 80 their operation and
hence the immense influx Of immigrants into
ReET - --'-
Indeed, no person who has NOV tfaveneo IN
Lower Canada and the other Provinces can form
Just estimate Of the difference between the two
races, and the superiority Of those Of British
origin, which is everywhere conspicuous in the
neatness Of their dwellings and external appear
ance. and the comfort and cleanliness which is
apparent within, in the management Of their
farms, and improved system of husbandry. One
would suppose that, witnessing that some degree
of emulation would be created But such is not
the fact they look on with sullen apathy and in
difference realizing in another sense, the senti-
ment of the poet
The wise mans happy nature to explore,
The fool is happy that he knows no more"
There has been laid upon the table Of the House
Of Assembly tabular return Of the persons who
have received licenses for opening and working
mines on Lakes Huron and Superior, showing
the price paid or agreed to be paid per acre, and
the extent of territory included therein. This
land has been sold at four shillings, or eighty
cents an acre; and of forty-three grantees on
Lake Superior and twenty-three on Lake Huron,
only three have paid beyond the first instalment,
and only two have paid up in full The amount
which has been received for grants on the former
Lake is $50, 624, and on the other, sl9,4 max
ing an aggregate Of S45040.
Accompanying these returns, are copies Of
agreements entered into last autumn, by the In
dian Commissioner and the chiefs and principal
men of the Ojibeway Indians in that quarter,
numbering at present 2,S62 souls, who have ceded
to the British Government the tract Of country
situated on Lakes Superior and Huron, on the
eastern and northern shore from Peni.sns~ishisS
at the southeast point Of Georgian bay, TO Pgton
river, at the western extremity of Lake Superior
together with the islands opposite the shores
thereof with certain reservations, the latter pay
ing to them Sl60 900 for the cession OF the terri
tory, and q perpetual annuity Of - 900. The
lands thus ceded extend to the height Of land
which separates the territory covered by the
Hudson Bay Company from Canada Should
these lands at any future period become sufficient
ly valuable, the annuity is to be Increased The
indians, however, retain the right Of hunting,
fishing and shooting, in the territory thus coded
by them, except where lands may have been sold
or leased to individuals or companies, and occu-
pied by them with the consent Of the Provincial
Government
The circumstances that led TO this agreement
are briefly these The Government of the Prov
nce having granted leases to companies to dig for
copper In the vicinity Of Sault Ste Marie, which
belonged to the Indians or TO which, at oil events
they laid claim, they assembled in the autumn Of
ls40. in considerable numbers, and so intimida-
ted the workmen, that they had to desist from
working the mines As soon as information Of
this event was received at Toronto detachment
of about $50 regular troops was despatched to
the disturbed district, to enforce order, which
was detained on the route by the advanced season
of the year Before they could arrive, affairs
were temporarily settled, and the troops returned
TO their quarters, having narrowly escaped ship
wreck The result, however, was, that Com
missioner was despatched last summer, for the
purpose Of making q satisfactory arrangement
with the Indians, which he effected
a Dill mas nten lutrOduCeu lnJO the hboetnDly,
and read fret time, to enable the Champlain
and St Lawrence Railroad Company TO construct
a bridge across the river Richelieu, near Rouse's
Point TO CONNECT with the great cities on the At
lantic seaboard, by means of the railroad through
Vermont bill to the same effect has been re-
jected by the Legislature Of the State of New
York, which will probably be the fate Of the for
mer, as public attention has been drawn 10 the
subject-the objection being, that such an OBJ
structon would materially interrupt the nsviga-
ton Of the river, and would be improper in an
international point Of view
Colonel Gugy, whom | before mentioned as
having rendered himself obnoxious TO public an
imadversion has introduced bill similar TO the
law which prevails in Lower Canada, for the pur-
pose OF lettering the press requiring that the pro-
prietors, publishers and printers, who are Of age
shall make affidavit as TO their names residences,
title of the newspaper, place OF publication, aud
the amount Of the proportional shares Of each
proprietor in the property Of the newspaper,
pamphlet, or other paper, intended TO be printed
Colonel Gugy Is a French Canadian, Of Swiss
origin; and nothing can more efectually prove
the low state OF public sentiment in Lower Can
ada. than 30 glaring an nroad upon the liberty OF
the press in British colony | entertain no APP
prehension that this bill viii pass; bat it's intro
duction In the nineteenth century speaks volumes
as TO French institutions here.
SO completely shackled Is the Newspaper press
in the Lower Province, that the remarks which
were made with reference to this mans vulgar
stoack on Mckenzie in the House, by the Ioron-
to press, could not be republished there, IL IS
not generally known, | believe, that while the
North American Colonies were contending sue
cessfully against the enforcement OF the stamp
Act, IL was submitted TO 10 Canada Since that
period however, there has been large infusion
Of Anglo-SsxOn love of liberty which will render
sbortive any attempt Of this mercenary Swiss 70
fetter OF restrain it, II the press transcends It's
proper bounds, there are laws by which an IN
jured party can seek redress; and a man VINO
could come into court with clean hands would re-
quire no other safeguard.
The returns relative TO the Lunatie Asylum,