The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-08
WHOLE NO. 227.

only two years a virtual breach Of faith. which
is referrible TO desire on the part Of the Execu.
tive Council to secure the support Of the French
Canadians, who shall be members Of the next As
sembly, the term Of the present House expiring
with the approaching spring; after which, Of
course, general election will take place.
These remarks, however, are not meant with
reference to the places designated "a every person
who has travelled through these Provinces and
the United States must be satisfied that the To-
cation OF the seat Of Government, when in place
as large as Washington, is decided disadvantage,
and is alike Injurious 10 the social constitution
and commercial and general advancement and
prosperity Of community. So far as the public
interests are concerned, Kingston which was ct
one time the seat Of Government and which is
situated at the junction Of the st. Lawrence with
Lake Ontario is decidedly the most proper stu
alton for the seat of Government for the United
Provinces, and can be reached with equal facility
by persons having business there, let them come
from what point they may; while Quebec is de-
cdedly too far distant from Upper Canada, and
Toronto, on the other hand, Is too remote, with
reference TO the inhabitants Of the Lower Prov
inoes
Were Prince Edward Island re-annexed to
Nova Scotia, and the three North american
Provinces united in one confederacy, each Prov
ince retaining its own local Legislature, with a
General Congress, composed Of members elected
by those bodies is the in the United States
to decide upon measures Of general utility, Que
bee would probably then be the most desirable
position for the place Of meeting and the resi-
denoe Of the Governor General.
This project has at various times met the ap-
prevail Of the most eminent statesmen In Great
Britain and IL IL q subject Of surprise, that no
steps have been taken by the British Government
to bring IL under the favorable consideration of
the several colonies | was in hopes that the idea
si1h hssSSsSR feStTS's 90 opening railroad frosN
Halifax to Quebec, to which it appears, by des-
patch from the Under Secretary of State, her
Majesty's Government has agreed to recommend
Parliamentary aid, by gusrsntying the interest
OF the sum required to complete it, upon ample
Provincial security, would facilitate the union of
the Provinces, by the promotion Of intercourse,
making their inhabitants acquainted with each
other and creating among them all a community
of interest and feeling.
But it appears that the Legislature Of New
Brunswick, through which Province the proposed
railroad must pass, have promptly and inconsid-
erstely rejected the preferred assistance Of the
Imperial Government. 1t, however, adherss to q
former pledge which was given, to vote EGO 900
annually, for twenty years, and to give ten miles
Of the public lands on each side Of the line to-
wards the construction Of railroad from Halifax
meet the interest on the capital that would be re-
quired for the section through New Brunswick.
The favorable action Of the Canadian Legisla-
ture, however, will be required to lead to sac-
cessfal result; and as railroad from Montreal to
Portland is already in the course Of completion,
| with which Quebec Is about TO be connected, and
as the Upper Province has little interest in the
| undertaking. do not expect the scheme will meet
with much encouragement on this question. As
l.. II - - IL l..
Mr.. Halves will probably arrive here from the
Lower Provinces, oil parties may be induced to
merge their sectional jealousies In the desire to
promote the general good, and 1t Is to be hoped
that the liberal offers of the Queens Government
will be duly appreciated and acknowledged.
1t appears, also, that the Legislature of New
Brunswick have already pledged the Provincial
credit to the extent of 100000, towards the COM
pletion Of other lines of railroad one Of which is
trgrs, ho-srs' rtqm3efn aasdi aF 81
che nunotivau rnufss. - 4-.-i- I'D frAp,
boundary line which, il carried through the State
Of Maine to Quebec, would reduce the distance
to three hundred and seventy-fve miles. And 1t
may be as we'll here to observe, that owing to the
surrender, under the Ashburton treaty, OF an i'm
mense tract of country, which extends into the
heart of the Province Of New Brunswick d.
rect line cannot be run from that Province to
Quebec, by which great saving Of distance
would be effected, without passing through the
State of Maine.
And although the British Government could
not we'll guaranty either the cost or interest OF
q railroad which might belong in part to Amer
loan citizens, and extend into American territory,
yet they have agreed that the plan for opening
railroad from Halifax to Quebec, through the
British Provinces, should include q provision
for establishing q communication between the
projected railway and one which It Is proposed
20 open between Portland and the New Bruins
wick line.
The contemplated line from Halifax to Quebec
may be viewed not only as colonial, but as o
great national undertaking, which will aid In per-
petuating British power on this Continent, and
in uniting the several Provinces in manner that
is essential to the maintenance OF British rule,
and for their more effectual protection, should
war at any time occur between the United States
and Great Britain. And II would tend to retard
the advancement of those colonies at least half
century, should the present opportunity DO al
lowed to pass unimproved.
The Canadian Legislature meet here on the
Goth OF next month, and the questions that will
probably first engage Its attention will DC the
proposal to exclude American vessels from the
canals as a retaliation for the refusal OF recpro-
city, and the exnction Of duties when British or
foreign merchandise passes through the United
States, to be returned on expectation, less ten
and half per cent--thc re.appropriation OF the
clergy reserves, to enable IL to do which, the act
Of arliament at present in force must be repeal
ed-and the removal OF the seat OF Government
The frst of these measures Ia very popular one,
but the other two will be strenuously opposed,
although the Government here will probably
carry the measure
Ia the mean time apprehenslons are entertain
ed that the late election of MIR. Henrie TO the As
ssmbly, by msjority Of twenty seven, will pro-
duce, In the mother country, an opinion that the
same disloyal feeling still exists In Upper Cana
da which produced the rebellion in 1898, Of which
he was the chief cause, and In which he took an
active part ard that In this way, not only will q
wrong estimate be formed Of the people, but that
the public credit will be injuriously affected In
EnglAnd and elsewhere.
Such asiew Of this mans success Is not the
CORRECT one. He has expressed himself averse to
a annexation y and 90 being opposed TO the work.
ing Of American institutions and the grievances
Of which he formerly made 80 much capital, have
since been redressed His declarations with re-
.pect 10 the former Of these topics prove that
disaiTection 10 the Government had nothing TO do
with his being returned to the Assembly, while
the candidate who Is an advocate OF the almost
exploded ohimera, annexation" received blu,
sixty votes
The truth Is, Mckenzie was chosen, TO pre-
vent the return Of Tory and Reform candidate
who were both unpopular. The latter, indeed, II
great measure, owes his defeat to the manage
msnt Of the Sheriff, who ID Roman Catholic, BY
which body he was opposed, because he had dared
forsooth, ~ the editor OF newspaper, to express
an opinion adverse 10 the late papal aggression
Hsndbills 10 that effect were distributed durins
the election; and II came within my own knowl
edge, that "a Irish lsborer, working near where
| live, was Induced to leave his work In Toronto
by Roman Catholic gentleman, and encourages
TO visit the county Of Haldmand, during the
election, for the purpose Of csutioning his coan
trymen, In their native dialect, against voting fo'
| Mr.. Brown. A handful was also extensively CIT