The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-21

ests aud regulations Of society is continually
forced upon the public mind.
Last year trip was proposed, chiefly as q means
Of relaxation for members Of the Legislature.
The party we're 10 take the stage at Toronto on
Saturday morning the steamboat on Lake Simcoe
in the afternoon, and to sail round the Lake dur
ing Sunday, returning to town during the follow
ing day. But no sooner was this advertised, than
Of these clerical agtators attacked the affair,
aud controversy was the result which lasted
several weeks Meantime the excursion was pre-
vented by q maneuvre, by which the House, for
the first time during the session, met on Sstur-
day.
But this is not all. These men, instead Of imi-
tatiDg the mildness and foTbearance Of the Chris
tian religion, are at present engaged in a crusade
against the post Office being opened for the deliv
cry Of letters and the Transmission Of mails on
Sunday; and yesterday bill came up for discus
sion, which went 10 authorize municipal councils
to prohibit the opening Of mail on that day, and
which would have been carried, had IL not been
| for the members from Lower Canada, although
there was an evident disposition on the part Of
those from the Upper Province not to vote for
| the measure
During the entire debate, no member ventured
TO express his opinion as to the nature of the day
set apart by the Christian church, in contradis-
! tinotion to the Jewish Sabbath, or TO advert to
the mode OF its observance in countries where
the stern principles Of Calviuism do not prevail.
With the exception Of Mr.. Hincks, they all allu-
| ded TO Sunday as the Sabbath thus administer
ing TO the inclination to transfer the character Of
the Jewish Sabbath to the Christian Sunday-the
custom having descended from the puritans, who
evinced decided inclination to thu sternness Of
! the Old Testament
| am no advocate for Sunday labor in any de-
partment of life and look with pleasure upon
the appropriation of the seventh portion Of time
for rest, public worship, rational enjoyment, and
communion Of man with his Maker but the post
al arrangents Of q country should not be suspend
ed on that day. 1t was attempted not long since
in England, but the very next session the suspen-
sion had TO be removed Human life may depend
upon the prompt delivery Of a letter, and in this
way the absent may converse with their distant
relatives and friends
Ii is surprising how prone men are to fall into
the very errors which they condemn and no class
ofpersons are more intolerant when it is in their
power than those who have suffered from intole-
rance. The Puritans Of New England instituted
greater tyranny than that from which they had
fled. And those Of this Province, who enjoy every
civil and religious right, would mould society to
their views. begin to think, after all, that the
French population Of Lower Canada are the true
Conservatives; and certainly the only obstacle
to the success OF the enemies Of the Established
Church and Of civil and religious liberty ia in
terposed by men who are members Of the Church
OF dome ~
1t may be remarked, however that the portion
"a that nhnrck ic Canada a. well as in the sther
Provinces, over which the French priests presfas
psrtakes OF nothing Of the intolerance which il
witnessed in Ireland and elsewhere. These are
an amiable and kind-hearted set of men, exercis-
ing parental care and control over their people
and possessing the happy faculty Of rendering
them docle, happy, and contented.
The sum of $40 900 has been voted for erect
ing residence for the Governors General at To-
rOnto; and supplemental estimate, which has
been brought down, contains an appropriation Of
$50, 900, for completing the survey of railroad
line from Quebec to Halifax, being the supposed
| proportion Of this Province. The former vote
looks like continuing the practice Of having the
seat of Government alternately in Upper and
Lower Canada; and the latter, like being in ear
nest about the Great Trunk line through Cana
da, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, as the sur
vey with the exception of a small portion OF the
line in New Brunswick, has already been COM
pleted by competent persons sent out by the Brit
| ish Government some five or six years since. The
| only point TO be determined is, whether the rail-
way shall sweep round the northern frontier of
New Brunswick, or proceed direct through that
Province, from the terminus Of that through Nova
| Scotia.
A bill has passed the House, providing that
| census shall be taken next year throughout the
| Province and in future once in every ten years.
1t was taken in Upper Canada only last year but
| it has been found impossible to effect this in
Lower Canada for the last six or seven. 1t strikes
me that whenever this Is satisfactorily done, it
will turn out that the French population Of the
| Lower Province will not form 90 large proper
i ton Of the inhabitants as is generally imagined
Our African friends had their demonstration
on the st instant, to which alluded In my last
They formed very respectable procession; and
after attending Divine service, drew up befor,
the Parliament Building while the Legislature
was in session, headed by band Of music, where
they gave three cheers for the Queen, three fol-
Prince Albert, three for the Governor General
and the same for both branches of the Legisla
ture Of United Canada--unted upon the prinoi-
pie that both sections "agree 10 differ'-thS
band playing the national anthem which English.
men are never tired of hearing, and other appro-
pirate airs
They afterwards dined together, where every
thing passed off well and 10 the evening, for the
qualification of the fair SEX" quite number Of
whom accompanied the procession, they had a
dignity ball, where they "tripped on the light
fantastic toe" till the waning hours intimated the
propriety of terminating the festivities Of a day
intended to celebrate the abolition Of slavery
; throughout the British dominions at cost 10 the
nation of a hundred millions Of dollars.
Accounts from all parts of the Province afford
the assurance Of most abundant harvest There
have been heavy rains, however, and on Monday
last we had violent gale from the eastward.
SENEx