The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-11

Our Toronto Correspondence.

-" DV'e~1teS 0Heuutwg LHe 0FHtSH RMe w Cuhuu
The Established Ch,~ch-Erents Preceding the
I"swreetiom in lsS7-High-handod Proceedings
Of the House of Assembly Comsiliatory Conduct
Of the British Government Extraordinary Con-
dNd Of Sir Francis Bond Head, by phicL tho
Rebellion tcas Prtcipitattd.
The difficulties that have attended the British
rule in Canada-some of which appear to be as far
from being settled as everare to be attributed 10
various causes, originating, in the first instance,
in the retention of the French language in official
proceedings, and the continuation Of the French
code Of laws, by which the distinction of races
has been perpetuated, and the colony prevented
from becoming permanently British. Another
source of trouble was the introduction of re-
fugees from the United States, at the close of
the American war; and, subsequently, when the
province was divided, the imposition of duties by
acts Of the Imperial Parliament, and the casual
and territorial revenue, over which the crown
exercised sole control, and from which were de-
frayed, to certain extent, the civil expenses of
tie government.
1t became necessary, however, to apply to the
Assembly for aid to meet the local expenses of
government, which application that body at
first complied with, but which, eventually, claimed
the supervision of the entire revenue, and the
but to which neither the Governor General nor the
home government would consent. The result was,
frequent stoppage of the supplies, owing to which
the judges and other public officers remained I'M
paid, and the ordering OF payment, by the execu-
tive, from the public treasury--a course that was
invariably condemned.
Another cause Of difficulty, which has remained
priation Of the public lands fer the support Of the
blithed church. AS far back as 1874 the House
OF Assembly Of Lower Canada voted an address
m fhn knO ftprvt k,@A -
Church of England were minority of the popula-
tion OF the province, which, in 1884, was esti-
mated at 300 900 souls, of which only sixty thou
sand belonged to the established church; stating,
further, that the Church Of Scotland had right to
portion of such appropriation for ecclesiastical
purposes, and that dissenting ministers had also
an equitable claim
In 1928, a committee of the House of Commons
was appointed to inquire into the nature and
grounds Of the complaints that had been reiterated
from Lower Canada, whose report on the subject
was warmly euogized by the party then; but the
recommendations it contained, unfortunately were
not carried into effect owing to the state of political
parties in England about that time. Mistrust and
increased disaffection was the result, although it
was evidently and avowedly the desire of the
British government to carry out the suggestions Of
the committee.
In 1884, in consequence of another collision be-
tween the House OF Assembly and the government,
the state of Canada again attracted the attention
Of Parliament, when Mr.. Roebuck moved for
committee to inquire into the political situation of
the provinces, when MIR. Stanley stated that, in
compliance with the recommendation of former
committee, the Judges, with the exception of the
Chief Justice, had been withdrawn from the coun-
Gil, and that, while, in 1929 of venty mem
bers in that body, nineteen Of them held offices
under the crown, in 1892, when it had been in
creased to thirty FIVE members, only seven ware
connected with the crown, which proved the desire
Of the parent State to promote harmony in the
colony. The present collision, he said, caused
by the circumstance of the Governor General having
advanced, from his own private revenue, Ct, 900,
which was met by charge of misapplication Of
the public money.
Much dificulty, he continued had been caused
by the committee having recommended that certain
officers Of government ought to be Independent
Ct the province, without providing specifically from
what fund they should be remunerated Objections
were also made by the committee to the Eegisla.
tive Council being elective, when all property, with
the exception of lands, was in the hands Of the
british, as to the employment of whom in the
province, it wa, commended that this necessary
to maintain the connection with Great Britain
He farther stated, that not solitary instance
had occurred of judge being sent out from Eng
madam bar, with the understanding that the As.
sembly would provide for the maintenance of the
judicial establishments, which hope had not been
realized. lie therefore moved, as an amendment
to Mr. Roebuck's motion, the appointment Of a
committee to inquire if the grievances complained
Of in ISIS had been redressed and its nda-
lions complied with also, with reference to other
grevan set forth in the resolutions Of the House
Of Assembly.
The result was, that commission at the head of
which was Lord Gosford, sent out to Canada in
1875, Lord Aylner having previously been recalled,
before his successor could be appointed by the Peel
ministry. He was appointed Governor General,
with instructions to examine into the several causes
of complaint, to ascertain how far they were found
ed in justice, and to redress all grievances in true
spirit Of Cancellation. His recall, therefore, pro-
du.ed much regret among the British party ia Cana
da, ard even among the respectable portion Of the
French population; and as the Judges and other
w auffe FARM fron tha
OF their salaries, he was instructed to advance
e3l 900 from the military chest, for the payment Of
the public officers who were in arrears.
Probably better idea cannot be formed Of the
extreme lengths to which the Assembly proceeded,
than will be found in the fact that the House. at its
subsequent session, before taking into consideration
the Governors speech at the opening, expunged
from its journals that with which he had closed the
preceding session, as containing a censure on their
proceedings, which one branch Of the Legislature
osght not to bestoW upon another:
The commissioners before alluded to arrived at
Quebec in August, 1885, and in October following,
Lord Gosfsrd informed the House Of Assembly
what remedies he was authorized to apply; the
home government expressing Its readiness to place
on condition OF independent provision being made
for the judges, and the salaries Of the other public
officers, for ten years. 1t also agreed to place the
proceeds Of land sales at the disposal Of that body,
without, however, surendering their manag
Notwithstanding the evident desire Of the British
government to promote harmony in the province,
guidance Of Mr.. Papineau, who possessed unbound
ed influence, proceeded to pass what were called
the ninetytwo resolutions; and among other
grievances which were embraced, they COM
planned that the Jesuits College had been converted
into barracks, and q portion Of their estates had
been transferred to the Church Of England; that
an undue preference was given to the English Ian
guage over the French, and to Canadians OF British
origin over French Canadians, in being selected to
fll Office and who also held neon atible Offices Of
the non communication Of dispatches between the
colonial government and that Of England calling
for extra judicial opinions from judges, subjects
that must ultimately come before the House for its
royal assent, and delay in communicating the de.
termination thereon.
The propositions Of the British government we're
fair and honorable, and might have been satsfac-
tory, notwithstanding the idea Of French nation
aliiy, with which Mr.. Papineau and his party
were possessed, had not Sir Francis Bond Head,