The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-04
Canadian Affairs.

.
ToRoNro, CANADA w EST, Feb. "a.
The assembling of the Provincial Parliament 10
apparently remote as it a couple Of months
ago. This delay is attributed to the absence of any
liked policy on the part OF the ministry. and their
unwillingness TO meet the parliament at any period
earlier than that which necessity imposes During
Mr.. Hincks's absence at Washington il was af
frmed that the delay took place in order that min
sters might learn the course OF Congress on the re-
ciprocity question, and that as soon as that was
settled line of policy adapted to the position Of
that question would be promulgated and vigorous
ly pushed forward. The rumor was an official
trick, designed to satisfy clamorous partisans at
home, and to give counte nance to the inspector
generals labors abroad His return took place long
ago, and, though his mission proftless, we
now hear little or nothing Of the retaliation
which he paraded SO prominently while lobbying
| at Washington.
Alas, poor Hncks His letter to Hon. Mr. Nc
Lane has been dissected by one writer after an.
other, till not ona of its arguments, appeals or
threats, remains unshaken. His journey to Wash
ington was great mistake the part of the min
stry his while there was still greater mis-
take, from beginning to end. He is too open
mouthed by half for diplonatist and too reckless
for petitioner or bully. Everybody here laughs
at his threat of retaliation, The reimposition of
diferential duties would please Montreal and Que
bee, but it would not be tolerated by Upper Cana
da, which is already indignant at the extent to
which its interests sacrificed to ag&randize
Lower Canada. The closing up of Canadian ca
malls to American vessels would deprive the prov
nce OF one Of its most prolific sources Of revenue
without doing aught beyond causing nero tempo
rary Inconvenience to your countrymen. The ca
nal tolls form too important item in the provin-
cial revenue to be abandoned at tho bid of Mr..
Hincks and his colleagues. The utterance of 30
absurd threat has been denounced by all sections
of the press--from the clear-grit Examiner to tho
tory Patriot The Globe stands alone in it, advo-
cacy of retaliation. The virulcncc displayed by
that journal is on par with its information A
few weeks ago it threatened financial ruin to the
Union by abolishing custom houses from the Cana
dian frontier. Last week it propounded plan for
binding the interests of Canada with those of the
British West India islands, and annihiating the
trade of the States with both. l notice that the
Globe is spoken Of in your journals as the gov
ernment organ. Its "organship'' is questional; at
any rate, it has recently been often out Of tune
as otherwise.
am not aware OF a single newspaper or public
man in this section of the province who, during
all the discussions tho reciprocity question, has
dealt with it in any thing like broad, comprehcn-
sivc manner. There appears to be no idea of meet
ing the Union on a liberal basis. The reciprocity
sought for is sided the free trade Of Eng
land.
Perhaps you have noticed that Queen Victoria
made alusion to the colonies in the speech with
which she opened Parliament The omission il re-
garded here indication Of indifference which
can only proceed from the spread of Cobdens anti
colonial views. Taken in conjunction with the
withdrawal of troops from New South Wales, the
circumstance is construed pointing to gradual
but certain abandonment. ! speak from personal
knowledge when say that the annexation feeling
is rapidly gaining ground amongst the merchants
and business men of this city.
The concession by England of an elective second
chamber to New Brunswick, and the expectation of
similar concession to Nova Scotia, are reviving
thoughts of an agitation on that question in this
colony
The various railroad projects being pushed
forward with vgor. party of engineers from
New York arrived in this city Saturday, and
day commence their survey Of the route hence to
Lake Simcoe. There is little doubt that the scheme
for connecting Toronto and Montreal will also pro-
coed, the various municipalities the route are
voting liberal sums to carry it into effect The line
from Hamilton to point opposite to Detroit il ac-
tually in course Of construction. The rod hot 10y
alsts point to these works with great satisfaction,
rs likely, in their estimation, to enable the colony
to stake the gloss of" parts Of your gigantic
things calculated to hasten the inevitable destiny
of Canada namely, separation from Britain, and
annexation to the United States. ! nothing
to hinder the contamination of this event but your
own sectional differences, and the political uncer.
tanties to which these give rise.
The mayor has convened meeting of the citi-
zsns, to be held on Wednesday, to organize an az.
ISOLATION to promote the abolition of slavery Ii is
due to the credit of the city to say that the requi
sitonists scctaran busy bodies, whose holiness
is Of the most intolerant kind The citizens, gen
orally. must not be accused of meddling with a
matter with which they have no business, because a
few individuals, With d. d. at their head choose
TO crafty their vanity, and TO fling few columns
of abuse at your southern States.
On Saturday night the governor general was
entertained at banquet by the mayor of the city.
The affair was invested with good deal of local
Importance, though in reality it was merely COM
plimentary and convivial. A few 'sIcelers" were
thrown out. but his -excellency and his ministers
avoided them with amusing tact; choosing rather
praise rnonarchcal at the expense of republican
Institutions, and TO express their satisfaction with
state of things which yields to them good sala-
ries, and cxacts from them very little work.
alluded, in my last, to the prevalence Of drunk.
cnncss in western Canada. Official returns have
just been made which show that Toronto has
three hundred and fifty eight taverns and grog-
gsres, or about one TO every fifteen houses! The
city council have consequently passed bill to
duce the number of tayerns &C., to two hundred.
very moral city-isn't it, 8.
Supreme Court OF the United states.
MONDAY, March 3, 1851.
Present, the whole Court
Joshua A. Spencer, esq.,, Of New York; w. B.
Lawrence, jr, ESQ.,. of New York; Marshall J.
Wcl'born, esq, of Gcorgia, and George W. Ju-
liam, esq, Of Indiana, were admitted attorneys
aud councillors Of this Court