The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-07

present movement appears to be another version
Of the scheme.
The grant Of such an immense body of land is
professedly 20 afford the Indians hunting grounds
but il was cOntended that the Indians about the
head waters of the Ottawa, which extends almost
to the north pole, are wild and untamable body
Of people, owing no allegiance, and who come
within the range Of civilization only when It suits
their purpose and that, with reference to those
who reside in the province, the granting Of hunt
ing grounds would have a tendency TO prevent
them from engaging in agricultural pursuits, and
to confirm them in their wandering and IMPROVE
dent habits.
The British Government have q General Su-
perintendent Of Indians at whose disposal it is
contemplated placing the annual vote Of 81 900
and Ii was remarked by one Of the members, that
the Indians under the Imperial Government have
been we'll treated, but that as soon as they are
placed under the control of the provincial au-
thorities, their extinction commemorative grants
which are given being extravagantly and inju-
diciously expended
Last night there was q tremendous riot grow
ing out Of the Clergy Reserve Question and the
military had to be called out before order could
be restored. About ten days since, as believe |
mentioned in my last letter, public meeting was
called, at which number Of persons attended,
who were opposed TO alternating them from the
purpose for which they were originally intended,
and who succeeded in carrying resolutions very
different from those which the projectors Of the
meeting intended and last night another meeting
took place. with the view Of carrying out the
original design.
To prevent q similar interruption, however, the
Mayor was applied to, who issued his proclama-
ton, stating that the meeting would be held under
a very stringent provincial act, which provides
that the chairman of any public meeting called
in accordance with its enactments, shall have
power to commit persons who may interrupt such
meeting to JAIL for the space of forty eight hours
and sub5ecting persons carrying arms within one
mile of the place Of meeting to penalty Of one
hundred dollars. And it being stated by the
Mayor that any individual who should even pro-
pose an amendment or express views in opposi-
tion to those Of the persons who called the meet
ing, would come within the scope Of the act An
other public meeting was called at the same time
in the open air, In the vicinity of the ST. Law
renee Hall, where the other was to be held.
Accordingly, a numerous gathering took place
In the evening; and after two resolutions had
been passed, it was closed. Immediately after, a
large crowd proceeded to the Hail. but we're not
allowed to enter the room-the Mayor with a
body Of police being there TO prevent It, Having
been elected from the building the mob COM
menced demolishing the windows and such was
the excitement which prevailed, that the assem-
blage found it impossible to retire and the Riot
Act having been read about ten o'clock, compa-
ny Of the list Regiment was marched In from
the herrpeIsss Rbinb are about a gils s-H I91
ofIaIr, khd IL was mai past tws1ve before tne
Hall could be cleared. Fortunately, no lives
were lost the troops, as is always the case with
British soldiers behaving with great forbearance;
but the Mayor received a severe blow from
briokbat on the forehead and few other indi-
viduals, who have been very active in the Anti
Clergy Reserve movement, sustained personal
injury. There we're several clergymen present,
who are at the bottom Of all the difficulty, who
escaped without injury, as did several females,
who had imprudently, and | think indelicately,
gone to the meeting.
believe every unbiased person will agree
with me that religion has very little to do with all
this turmoil which is created in it's name; and
the intention is openly svowed Of destroying the
connection between Church and State, which ex-
lists in this province only in name
Not only are the Clergy Reserves assaulted by
the Free Church party, but bill has been in
troduced into the Assembly, which comes up for
discussion this evening, which provides that the
administrator Of the Government shall not APP
point monuments to any of the vacant rectories.
There are fifty seven Of these in Upper Canada,
which were established by Sir John Colbourne
previous to his departure, some years since, for
England
The objection to these rectories is a mere cap
tious one as the rectors possess no power out of
their own church. and can only exercise control
over the edifce and the burying-ground which
is attached to it, no other denomination is inter-
fered with in any manner whatever, and the OPP
position to them originates In the most arrogant
prejudice.
!, The scenes which have taken place at Toronto
may be considered as the foreshadowing of what
will come during the approaching general cleo
ton. when the Clergy Reserve question win be
the watch word for party strife, and which fear
will be attended with fatal results, as the Orange
men, who are the stanch supporters of Church
and State whether they belong to the Church Of
Scotland or the Establishment will certainly
come out in full force, and with determination
not TO be put down.
The effect of the interminable squabbles that
prevail in this fine province not only impair it's
peace, but retard its advancement; and emgrsnts
who are DESTROYS of being in undisturbed tran
GUILTY. would do we'll to direct their course to
the sister provinces, where religious feuds and
luminosity do not disturb that harmony which
the indulgence in Incorporate passions and long
cherished and unreasonable prejudioes have been
80 prolific in disturbing here.
Nor do see any probability Of a termination
Of this state of things while ministers of the Cos
pei act SC little in accordance with It's spirit and
precepts-each one striving to carry out his own
dogmatical views and what is worse, the rising
generation are being educated in the same lib
eral spirit | recently stopped few days in
CongregationaliSt family, and never before en-
couptered such mass of intolerance. They are
perfect Puritans, denounce any one else whose
views happen to differ from those they entertain,
and consider every one who has the misfortune
to disagree with them as being decidedly in the
wrong Secluded from the world although living
in the midst Of it, these people are taught to con-
cede nothing, and keep the entire community in
q state of distraction and strife, while they pre-
tend to be the disciples of Saviour who went
about teaching good will towards men, and respect
for the constituted authorities of country.
SENEx.