The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-24

LneH voStoB cutters remains
capture them BY force they will meet with resistance
and where there are 30 many resolute men together.
should the cutters cerariy annoy them trouble WIZ
assuredly result
Our Quebec Correspondence.
QUEBEC, Sept. 20, 1852
The Clergy Reserve Question: Sectariau Agitatsos
DECISION ofths Imperial GoUaAmert on the Sub
ject-Subsequert Proceedings of the Canadian
Legislature The Effect on RomGw csAtolic En-
d0soMeHts. w~ ~ Fw
The entire of last week, with the exception ee
Monday, was occupied by the House Of Assembly
in discussing certain resolutions which had been
introduced by the government, on which 10 found
an address to the Queen for the repeal Of the act st
the Imperial Parliament, distributing the fand ars-
ing from the clergy reserves among the different
religious denominations in Canada.
The history of these reserves is briefly this.-By
act Of Parliament, passed In 1871, when the pub
lie lands in this colony belonged to the crown, one
seventh Of all that should subsequently, be surveyed.
to be reserved for the support Of the Protestant
| clergy-the Roman Catholic church Of Lower Ca
NADIA, already possessing large sndownents, arising
from private donations, or grants from the French
King, which were confirmed at the time Of the con-
| quest Of Canada. BY provision In the act, how.
ever, power was given to the Colonial Legislature
to alter repenl it, with the sanction Of the Impe
rial Parliament upon which is grounded the present
application.
At that time, the principal portion of the inha-
| bitants Of Upper Canada belonged TO the Church
| OF England, by which the reserves were claimed !;
but as settlers arrived from Scotland much dissa-
tssaction was expressed at this exclusive appropra
ton Of fuId, set apart for religious purposes and
it became the cause OF SO much strife and c)nten-
on that the rebellion Of 1877 is chiefly to be at
tributed to this source. The subject was taken up
az different times by the Colonial Legislature ; but
finding this body unable to agree upon any stisfac-
tory settlement Of the question, and bill, which
was sent home in 1929, containing retrospective
clause, the Imperial Parliament passed act, in
1870, distributing the funds arising from the clergy
rese YES among the different religious demo nina
items in Upper Canada, giving two-eighihs to the
Church Of England thereffom the coss
| of surveys, and other expenses that had been in
cured one-eighth to the Church Of Scotland, and
the remaining half of the gross amount to the
other religious bodies. including the Roman Cath0-
lies of that section of the province.
This was considered final settlement of this
vexati0us question ut the time !; but as members
of the Free Church, and other dissenters from tho
Churches of England and Scotland came into the
country, much dissatisfaction began to be expire
the subject was made the watchwOrd at the cleo.
tions, and last session Mr. Price, one Of the menu
bsrs of the government at that time, in his indi-
vidual capacity, introduced resolutions, upon which
an address was founded to the Qaeen, requesting
that the clergy reserves might be placed at the dis
posa Of the local legislature, to be devoted to other
|
and an address was sent home, accompanied by q
despatch from the Governor General, expressive of
his regret that the subject had again been egitated
The action OF the Queens government ought to
have satisfied the agtators here thai, at ali events
the Imperial Parliament would not be called upon
to divert the clergy reserve fund from the support
of divine worship and religious instruction in the
colony and the despatch, received in reply states,
that, " under the present distributions no ground is
left for reasonable jealousy or complaint OF undue
favor to particular religious denominations" but
admitting that, owing to changes that may be
effected in the character OF the population through
Immigration any other cause, the question Of
distribution might, from time to time, be considered
Notwithstanding this decision, the provincial
government, ut the commencement of this session,
brought in series OF resolutions, couched in rather
strong language, which were passed on Saturday,
and to day an address, in accordance with them.
was presented to the Governor General, by whom il
| will be transmitted to England
1t appears to me-and have watched the pro-
| ceedipg throughout-that it originates in con-
temptible sectarian jealousy. There is question
of Church and State al ISSUE is pretended. every
| religions denomination being placed on footing
| ofpcrfect equality III the province. the reserves
are not withdrawn from settlement, bu5 are in the
| market In the same manner as other public lands
ana secular education, 10 which il is urged the
Should be devoted, beng amply and eXtfavdgantll'
| provided for
! With religious intolerance which would reduce
the opinions OF others 70 its gn standard, there is.
| il the present movement. iuiHsign Of socialist
| feeling; and find the advocates OF the seclI RIA
ton OF the clergy revenues equally camorou3
! for susrending The Transmission of tar mails or
Sunday, the Maine Liquor law, and the abolition OF
slavery at the South-in fact, in favor of every
measure calculated 10 interfere with the affairs an.
social condition of others.
There was no declaration contained in the resolu-
tons referred to, Of what to be the destination
of the reserves, in the disposal of them should
be transmitted TO the local legislature; bat the
members OF the government declared that the in
tention was to secularize them and thus transfer
orip ,,u hto,, IL
that, the next step viii be to attack the Roman
Catholic endowmenfs in Lower Canada, which are
lar more obnoxious to censure than are the clergy
reserves OF the upper province, and which give the
priesthood OF one denomination on undue ascendan-
cy in the community. This is perceived by the
members of French origin who voted for the reso-
lutions not from any desire to withdraw the fund
from religious purpose, but in the convicten that
as 1t was local object it is one peculiarly belong
ing to the local legislature to deal with It is NOT
improbable that the Queen ministers will bring the
subject before Parliament, and that law will be-
passed to that effect, but ut the same time provi-
ding that any legislation which may follow, shall
be in accordance with the original intentions Of those
who appropriated the to religious purposes.
As to the propriety Of religious endowments, / en-
tertain my own views upon the subject. There are
numbers, however, who are in favor Of the measure;
andprobably the superior moral condition of tho
people of Canada and the extent of religious in
s'ruction that prevails, may be attributed in great
measure to the attention which was thus paid, at
the early settlement Of the country to the spiritual
requirements of its inhabitants
Inc cause OF the resignation of Mr.. Young, COM
missioner OF Public Works, was the compelling the
Montreal and Kingston Railroad companyt to surren-
der its charter in favor of Mr.. Jackson the English
contractor, to which he was opposed and with re-
ference to which be differed with the other mem-
ters of the government. w.
Theatrical and Musical.
BowERY THEATRE The attractions for this eyor-
ing consist OF the drama of " lie Tour d'Nesle,"