The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-03

CoBouRo, G. w, December l9. 1851.
The two great political parties in this colony are
known by the general names of Conservative aud
Reform; but these general names cover great di-
versity Of opinion, and great number OF "scts'
and "cliques," who entertain peculiar We've.
You are curious to know something Of a Cana
dian election. The official forms and method Of
proceeding diGer from those adopted in the United
States, bot The incidents, the outside operations.
the olectioneoring, thc bringing up voters, the
cheating. the maneuyrinf, The drinking, tho
hghGng, arc The same. No day Ia firea ~ lsw sr
a Parliamentary election. The governor MAKE
proclamation to elect Representatives to psrlia-
ment, to be held at ae~ gnstod day and place.
writ issues from the State officsr W the sheriff lis
assemblies tho county at the hustings, al they are
called, platform s eroctcd-be opens and reads
the writ. Each candidate is then nominated by a
mover and secondcr, who each mako a speech.
The nominees arc then introduced, and address
the assembly in the order Of their nominations de-
claring their principles aud their views Of public
questions. OF course the candidates such ss
are previously agreed upon by their respective
parties. The sheriff then puts the question. which
is decided by show OF hsnds, division Of the
crowd. The election 10 thus decided, unless one
Of the nominees (Which is almost always the easel
demands poll. In that event, the sheriff orders
the polls 60 be held each township ten day. there
after by the returning officer. (by law, tho town
clerk,) who Is roqoirci TO return the canvass 10
him a Subsequent day named. The voter hsv-
ing freehold worth a small fired sum per an
presents himself, declares his name, resi-
dence, and occupation, and then announces the
name Of bis candidate. Then comes the cho,,isg
Of the candidate. The returning officers Il the
several townships, with their poll meet the
sheriff on the day previously named, together with
great concourse Of the voters. The result IL an
nounced, and the successful candidate is placed in
chair and carried about the sbonlders Of bis
psrtsans, amidst the shouting and huzzas Of bis
friends and the misses and boo,ngs ~ his opposcrs
Many important reforms were introduced by The
last Parliament particularly the repeal Of the law
of primogeuturo. This fundamental act 10 dcci-
sive Of the future character of the people, md PRO
baby Of their government. They are destined 10
perpetual equality Of property and Of rights.
and, consequently, TO democracy. They cannot
erect an aristccraiic OF iG6narchsca government
for themselves, and they cannot long adhere 10
a government or people heterogeneous to their
own.
Our Canadian neigtbors "a ready for reforms
ne we are. new people upon new soll, they
arc quick to eco the napplicsbiity Of old laws and
old Institotions, and ready to adopt new AMI mod
ify old 10 suit their new circumstances Few
reforms have been introduced in the bordering
State Of Neu York, either in finance, police, edu.
cation, Iurispr udcnce, which have not found
heir way into Canada. Even now they ara ngi
Eating the question whether the court Of ohanoery
.ball he abolished.
The late election has turned on one question
he only one on which each party was perfectly