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


Opposition to a Federative Union of the North
American COlonles-French AAcendency-Lake SUI
perIor Mining OperatiOns-Treaiy with the fn-
dians-Bridge over the RicheIieu-AIiempt TO fetter
the Press-Lunatc Asylum at Toronto.
ToRoNTo, July 7, 1851.
Probably nothing will afford q better insight
into the character of the inhabitants Of coun-
try, and the various questions at issue there, than
attendance at the halls of legislation, where sub
jects Of diversified and local interest are continu-
ally discussed. 1t is in this way have been ena-
bled to arrive at knowledge of the baneful eff
fects Of French influence, which is operating to
prevent the advance Of this fine Province, and
to which have before alluded.
Among the bills Of private nature which were
discussed in the Assembly on Wednesday last,
were two that were of considerable importance to
the parties concerned, and as the result proved,
will not be without their bearing on. the future
welfare Of the Province The object of these
bills was to authorize the admission of two Irish
gentlemen to practice law as attorneys, in Upper
Canada, which, to my utter establishment, were
opposed by the members of the legal profession,
in the House, and ultimately rejected by large
msjorItIes-tbirty-rou 10 sevsntesp--siIUesn OF
which were French Canadians.
If we look at the population of the Upper
Province, which, from few scattered settlements
of disbanded French soldiers, has increased, IN.
til last year it numbered $40 souls, we shall
find that, like that of the United States, it has
been augmented by the introduction Of immi-
Oh "a, fha Dnit:oh Inlaa.
whom has been a very superior class of settlers,
bringing with them adequate funds, and, what is
of still more Importance, superior intelligence and
intellect.
These consist for the most part, Of officers on
halfpay, belonging to the army and navy, and
English gentlemen of private fortune, who are
not required in the Colonies to keep up that style
of living which is indispensable in England
Should any of the latter happen to be professional
men, belonging to any other pursuit than that of
the law, they can engage in such pursuits being
required, as in the practice Of medicine, for in
stance, to undergo a preliminary examination.
But strange to say, the Courts caDaot allow at
torneys to practice, although English barristers,
as such, have only to exhibit their testimonials TO
authorize them 10 take their place with other
counsel at the bar.
The object Of the bills alluded to was, as have
already stated, to enable two British subjects, OF
legal attainments, TO follow their calling as attor-
neys here the unfavOrable result of which APP
plication must be TO compel persons Of standing
in community to seek in the United States a
more congenial home, because there foreign birth
does not constitute bar to citizenship in it's full
est sense Of the word, and there "a mans man
for a. that"
And what did this refusal amount TOT Simply
that they shall not, as British subjects practice
the mere routine duties Of their profession for
the system Of conveyancing is the same here as
in England-the same principles Of the common
law prevail--and there is no difference in the
chancery practice; while in the more elevated
sphere Of barristers, they bring with them an
authority which the Courts of the country must
respect for, as such, they are entitled to act
wherever the flag of their country waves as na-
tional emblem and they can assume their proper
rank and position in any portion Of that vast en-
pire, on which the sun never sets, and which, at
its rising, 10 use the remark of MIR. Webster, Is
greeted throughout it's daily round by the martial
airs Of England.
Not only is this illiberal determination Of the
assembly, in favor of which the most talented
and well.read members Of the House voted, cal
culated to perpetrate an act Of individual injus-
tice. but il must deter men Of enlarged minds be-
longing TO the learned professions, and who might
exercise beneficial influence upon society, from
seeking in Canada another home, and was very
properly denounced by one Of the advocates Of
the bill as most contemplate and iliberal legisla-
ton.
The style Of oratory here Is inferior, both ct
the bar and in the pulpit, 10 that in the United
States The same remark will apply to the other
British Provinces and that a little sharp Old
Bailey practice would not be amiss in Canada is
evident from the acquittsl Of Mrs. Freeman, who
was tried couple Of months since at Kingston,
TO which believe | alluded In former letter
The charge was that Of poisoning her alleged
husband, by administering strychnia. So made
quately was the case conducted by the Queens
counsel there, that he did not deem il necessary
to call the coroner 10 prove the fact Of her hsv-
ing offered him six hundred dollars TO destroy
the contents Of the stomach who has since relin-
pushed the situation In disgust, having unavail-
inxly endeavored to draw the attention Of the
Attorney General to the Importance Of the case
previous to the trial
A federatiye union Of the North American
Colonies will not be mOOted during the present
session, nor, indeed, while the Government here
Is constituted - At present - Mr. Hincks, the In