The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-28
CANADIAN CORRESPONDENCE.

Vote of the Assembly i'm favor Of the Halifax and
Quebec Railroad Military Pensioners to be em-
PIOyed as Rural POlice-Feudal tenure In Lower
Canada-Accdent at Kingston nineteen lives lost
Imprisonment for debt.
TORONTO, AngHs %, 1851.
To The Editor of The National Era:
The House Of Assembly have passed a resolution
authorizing the issue Of debentures, to the extent
of sixteen millions of dollars, to be guaranteed by
the Imperial Government, for the purpose of con-
structing trunk line of railroad from Halifax
to Quebec and to, or towards, Hamilton, there to
connect with the terminus of the Great Western
! line to the river Detroit
1t will be recollected that the British Govern
ment are prepared to guaranty loan Of twenty
eight millions Of dollars for the completion Of line
from Halifax, passing through New Brunswick,
to Quebec and the conditions which have been
agreed upon by the three Provinces are, that the
| line 10 the latter city shall be constructed on
| joint account and at their mutual risk ten miles
of Grown land along the line being vested in the
! joint commission, and the proceeds to be appro
! priated to the payment Of principal aud interest
eek, n-n-ieoe - npvn The 1jpe within its terrific
~ when the debt shan have been cancelled Nh
Brunswick is to complete the line towards Port
land and Canada that beyond Quebec at their
separate risk
A dissolution of the Assembly has taken place,
| and the Government are about to take the sense
Of the people on the subject, who enthusiastic
| in its favor and in New Brunswick where much
dissatisfaction was expressed by the House Of
Assembly when Earl Grey's proposition to guar
| anty loan was made known the Portland
line is contemplated in the scheme, this has sub
sided and the Government has been reconstruct
ed to enable the Executive to carry out the meas
| ure.
In this Province the opposition, which has man
ifested itself in the House, appears to me to be
of an entirely political character; but the Gov
eminent having come down in determined man
ner, and being supported by large majority Of
the House, there is no doubt that the railroad
will be undertaken; bill for the construction Of
main trunk line from Quebec to Halifax hav-
ing had second reading
mentioned some time since that the British
Government had intmated its intention Of with
drawing the troops from the North American
colonies, with the exception of force required
to garrison certain prominent points. Those
which are to be Withdrawn are to be replaced by
body Of pensioners-dischargeds soldiers of good
character-who are to be stationed at different
places throughout the Province, TO be clothed,
differed, and maintained at the expense of the
British Government
A bill has been brought in, and passed after
much factious opposition, which provides for the
employment of these men as a police force, to be
called out In case Of disturbance on the public
works, and to be paid while actually employed
! by the companies requiring their aid, it being
contended that this is the entering wedge of
| plan by which the colonies would, at no distant
period, be required to defray the expense Of such
military establishment as might be required for
their defence. II was really amusing to witness
the affected jealousy with which this proposal
was met by some half dozen members of the As
semby who seemed to think its effects would be
TO jeopardze the liberties Of the country the in
habtants of which have the happiest knack of
coDjuring up grievances on every occasion, in
which by the most forced construction it is posi-
| BILE
While Upper Canada has its clergy reserves
and rectories 10 disturb the minds Of the advo-
Gates of the voluntary principle, the Lower Prov
ince is agitated by the Signorial tenure question
to investigate which q committee was appointed
by the House Of Assembly, during the last ses-
sion of the Legislature, which has reported that
many Of the seigniories prOprietors Of hsfs
and seiguiores in Lower Canada, have made
reservations, and imposed conditions and bur-
dens on the tenantry which are not author
ICED by law, or in accordance with the terms on
which the titles were granted by the King Of
France They therefore reported bill 10 define
the rights Of the seigniors and eeHsudues, and
to facilitate the exercise Of those rights and
cluded by expressing hope that before the close
Of the present session they would be able to sug-
gest plan which, if it became law, would with
in a few years convert all lands held en rOtue
into a free tenure, without any material preju
dice to parties concerned.
1t will hardly be imagined in the United States
| by persons who have not visited Lower Canals,
that Immediately within their neighborhood, the
feudal tenure exists in all its native deformity ;
and II will doubtless be a subject Of surprise with
all, that no effort has hitherto been made by the
Government to suppress it, by the adoption Of a
| system Of equitable Communication.
IL appears by official documents that Of
1885 942 acres Of land contained in the original
survey, 9,O27 $50 acres were surveyed in seig-
niories--of which ,496 900 were granted IN PEI
and en- segReTie to individuals by the Grown Of
France, and 3,s47 629 acres we're granted in free
and common socage to leaders Of townships and
others. The estimated quantity Of land which
remained unsurveyed at that time was OF $50 900,
which will afford some idea Of the extent Of Low
er Canada alone.
To understand this question and one 20 novel
in the present age, II will be as well 10 premise
that the object Of granting these seigniOries
to settle the Province But in I'LL Louis XIV,
finding that such had not been the result Issued
an auti, which had the force Of Law. ordaining
that II at the expiration Of one year the seig-
nories had not cleared their lands nor established
settlers, they should forfeit their right to such
territories. The av6t also provided that they
should coneede lands TO the habians at the same
rate as on other lands conceded in the said seig-
niory.
Not only was the seignior thus compelled to
conce de lands for actual settlement at low rate
OF rent, but he was required TO make roads, con-
tribute to the erection Of churches and build
mills TO which the eensvaiTe must carry the
wheat 70 be ground, which was required for the
use Of his family.
IL will be seen that the ayrsi does not specify
the sum 10 be paid as rent but from documen
dated as far back as within siX years Of the time
when Il Was issued IL Is satisfactorily ascertaiped