The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-14
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON, d. c. AUGUST IA, 1851.

Provincial property, OF en- advance Of ten or
twelve per cent. upon the outlay.
One would suppose that 90 reasonable propo-
siiion would have been acoeded 10, but il was on
posed, and the measure was lost on a division, Of
20 to l9--the French Canadians forming large
portion Of the majority.
There is no estimating the advantages that
would result from such undertaking, not only
TO the American inhabitants on Lake Superior
in the Minnesota Territory and Wisconsin, but
also to this Province. There Is q vast amount Of
traffic. that has to pass over portage at the foot
OF the Lake, and which Of course, has TO be laden
and unlsden. This would be obyiated by canal
Of only four hundred yards In extent, with but
two locks, the fill being only eighteen feet, and
which would not cost 100, 600 dollars.
Some idea may be formed of the Importance Of
such line of communication, when state that
Lake Superior, which is $50 miles in length, by
1870 in width, is fed by upwards Of thirty rivers,
that extensive operations are going on in the min
ing district at the foot Of the Lake where copper
in pure state is found In great quantities, and
where one single sheet Of virgin copper lies I'M
covered, which is twenty-one feet long, eight
broad, and two and a half in thickness and that
the Cliff Mining Company alone shipped last
year, TO market, 900 tons Of rich ore, which, at
$500 per ton amounted to S270,000, the working
expenses Of which was only 100000.
shall endesvor to visit this region after the
House rises, and to send you more extended ao-
count Of what is going on there.
But to return to Legislative proceedings Col
Gugy, to whom | alluded in former letter, with
reference to his vulgar attack on Mckenzie and
his attempt to gag the press, has taken it in high
dudgeon, that the reporters take no notice Of his
speeches; and on Tuesday evening, in pursuance
of previous threat TO that effect moved that the
galleries should be cleared. In Congress | be-
lieve, this can only be done by vote Of the ma
jority but ia the halls Of British legislation it
can be effected by moving the Standing Order,
which enjoins that no stranger shall be present
during debate. The result of this course was
that the House proceeded to transact business
during three OF four hours with closed doors
The next day q motion was made, that the or
der should be so modified that motion TO clear
the galleries must be seconded; which was lost
by the casting vote of the Speaker. There was
such q universal disapproval Of the course the
Colonel had pursued in this instance, that do
not think he will again attempt to play such an
other prank.
Mr.. Papineau regret to say, has been called
home. on account of q death in his family He
took no active part in the proceedings Of the
House, however, while he was here, and only
spoke twice, think, during the three or four
weeks he was present. lie is terse and vigor-
GUS speaker Win a. miuu Nol bbOFtu, anu "A re-
tentive memory. Ii made me feel melancholy,
to witness a man who at one time guided the des-
TIMES Of Lower Canada, and exercised unbound
81 influence eaerv, occupying retired seat, gene
rally ssf't. 49,. II - "sd AppassSlSy,"-
fecty Indifferent to what was taking place around
him.
Last night the feudal tenure system Of Lower
Canada came up incidentally, during the discus
sion Of bill to prevent Judges from holding
Office who are seigneurs, and deciding In cases
where they are interested and quite an exciting
scene took place among the French members, who
however united they may be in their opposition to
the advancement Of Upper Canada, 1t appears
sometimes differ among themselves.
M La Fontaine, the leader Of the Government
and who usually exercises unlimited control over
his eoRfreYes denounced the measure, as one des-
ttute Of principle and dsgrsceful to Lower Can
ada and attributed the movement to Socialism,
which, he regretted TO state was on the increase
in this Province. Several Of the French mem
beers on the other hand charged him with having
abandoned those principles which he formerly en-
tertained, relative 10 the seigneuries and spoke
of his conduct in no very measured terms A
motion made by that gentleman that the further
consideration Of the bill be deferred till that day
six months, was carried
II is really surprising that the French popula-
remain 30 doggedy opposed TO the introduction
of British institutions among them. Some of
those in the House are well informed; and in the
debate which took place on the Representation
bill, one Of them manifested a very intimate &C.
quaintance with what recently took place at the
Virginia Convention, whose inhabitsnts on either
side of the Blue Ridge, he heard, were as much
opposed to those of the other 10 sentiment, as are
those Of Upper and Lower Cspads.
This being the first Of August, the oolored
population turn out In considerable force the
dag 10 very fine, and while sm writing they are
organizing procession. After attending Divine
service, and making display Of their numbers
there is TO be dinner at five O'clock where
doubtless there will be quite as much Of the
feast of reason and the flow of soul, as the
Orangemen recently manifested, and great dea
more Of good will towards all the world and the
rest of mankind, ;" Of which shall probably send
full report in my next. SENEx