The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-15

Steam Ndcfg0ft0H tDth observation-disclosures Re.
sIts-Rofidass in Lower Canada-Pa~ieious
Legislatiom-C Closing the Banks and Consequent
| Ineonreniens to Mercantile Men-EyroweosAs
Policy Of the Government The Inquest at Montre-
al Contradictory Evidence INSTRUMENTATION IL
| British Regiment.
| The arrival Of the Lady Eglinton, yesterday-one
| Of the steam propelers, of $50 tons, under the
government contract after passage Of little over
thirteen days, notwithstanding she called at New
foundaDd, where she remained four hours, and wax
subsequently detained five more during fog the
| river, has excited considerable exultaton in this
community and is considered as prelude to impor-
tant results that probably were not contemplated by
the government when It authorized the undertaking.
Canada, however, must have government more free
from popular influence than that which at present
directs; its destiny and Lower Canada in particular
must be rid Of those laws and customs that crush the
energies of its people before such ancipaions can
be realized in full.
believe that the religious acerbitv which-not-
wthstandipg the evident effort to conceal it-pre-
walls among the Professionals and Roman Catholics in
Canada is increased by Gsystem Of legislation and
the existence Of laws-many of them the relics Of
less enlightened and less age than the pre-
sent--whch interfere materially with the transaction
OF business. The plan of enacting different laws for
the two SECTIONS Of the province-Upper and Lower
Canada-also leads to much embarrassment and an.
noyance. For instance, person may obtain judy
ment against his creditor in this part Of Canada and
execution may follow, but it will not affect either
the debtor hs property in the other portion Of the
province, the boundary line which separates them
being but short distance above Montreal.
Then by law Of Lower Canada on certaine fae
days, tie banks are permitted to suspend business,
and an individual, whose note falls due on either Of
these days, must take it up on that which precedes
it, or it will be protested On Friday last was st.
John the Baptist day, and on Tuesday it was st.
Peters doy when the shops Of the Roman Catholic
portion Of the community were closed and business
was pretty generally at a stand still.
Then with reference to agriculture the observance
Of those days set apart by the church has equally
pernicious effect. Not only does the French. Cana
dian system involve among its consequences the de-
teroration of thesOi owing to which Lower Canada,
from being awhest producing country, has TO import
flour for the support of its nhabitants but there is
the absorption OF large portion OF the valuable time
OF the farmer weekday devotion, and the drain Of
his pecuniaIy U-eans for the requirements of his
church, Of which the former is the most important
consideration for at moderate calculation, thirty
days are distracted from his own productive Indus
try and that of his family-not unfrequenty ct the
most precious season of the year.
Now no liberal minded man will object to every
exercising and enjoying to the utmost his relig-
ous rights and privileges but this should not be per-
mited to affect the public veal particularly with the
sanction Of the Legis tnre which adjourns over on
these occasions and passes laws for their application
to business men, who conceive that they perform
their duty il they devote Oneseventh OF their time to
rest and recreation and the service of their Creator
What, tor instance, would be the state Of affairs in
NewYork it, during two successive weeks, the banks
should be shut for day in each, and sometimes two,
in addition to Sunday.
It was great misfortune for this country gene
! rally, and for the French Canadians themselves,
that the British government did not make 1t essen
TALLY British colony and prohibit the administering
Of laws which must everywhere retard the advance
ment Of a community and after a certain period,
the Of the Frenc language in legislation, the
courts OF justice, and iD public documents. On the
contrary, their policy seems to have been-so far as
the French Canadians were concerned, and which
must operate on those OF other orignsto perpetuate
| the existence Of a system which existed under the
former French rule. when the whole government, as
has been observed, seems to have been left to the
influence which military force has over the bodies,
and which system OF religion, dazzling in its cere-
monies, and OF Grating 'orcibly on the imagination,
has naturally on the minds Of men whose employ
ments ard wants have little time for reflection"
believe mentioned in former letter that just
previous to the rising of the Legislature, law
passed render ny the city liable for injuries caused
by popular Disturbances principle OF British law,
which should suppose rendered unnecessary any
local legislation. The measure, however, originated
have retroaction. The object, however, was very
quietly defeated by the introduction Of additional
clause, that in fact rendered the act nuity, which
oIly permits a sum to be assessed for that purpose
where the assent Of the Mayer shall have been OBJ
tanned, when the lecture or exhibition which may
have led to q riot sha have been sanctioned by the
Mayor, where money has been paid.
The proceedings before the COroners inquest at
Montreal, since last wrote have rather increased
than disspated the difficulties that attend the inves
tigation. During the first two days on which the
Yates testified that Lieut.. Colonel Hogarth gave the
order to the troops to discharge their muskets. Since
then two pIivates have been examined who belong
ed to the upper division, commanded by Captain
Cameron, who have sworn that he gave the order;
private belonging to the lower division, which, it
will be recolected fired first, testified that Lieut..
Colonel Hogslth called out attention. and that
Lieut.. Quartly who commanded the division, gave
the subsequent order ready, present." and another
belonging to the same division swears that it was
Colonel Hogarth. A sergeant, on the contrary,
ttsties that he did not hear that officer give the
military word of command
There il the same discrepancy ia most of the evil
dence with reference to the firing of the troops, al
though is uniform in relation to the conduct Of the
Mayor. The bugler who sounded the order to cease
firing" swears that he near Colonel Hogarth
when the firing took place, and that be must have
heard that officer If he gave the command attributed
TO him. and asserts most positively that he did not.
he immediately moved down, calling cease firng,W
and that the bugler met him, and Immediately sound
ed to cease firing He also states, that he does not
know who gave the order to fire; while the bugler,
who says he was near him. swears that be heard the
, Mayor call out-"Fire, fire, there's no time to be
LOST
Lieut.. Chute, who the subaltern Of Captain
Camerons division, textiles that military word Of
con maDd was given; but that the men came to the
| present in hurried manner from sloped arms -
and who does not recollect having heard the bugle.
| am equally positive, on the other hand that the
soldiers went through the usual motions, from soped
aims TO the present. and recollects distinctly the
| bugle sounding to "cease firing"
1t came out in evidence by the soldiers that after
the mischief had been effected, Lieut.. Qmrtley--of
which he said nothing on his examination-toid his
division of into sections and files which should have
been done in the first instance and case of SUBJ
ordination IN tact OF mutiny appears to have marked
the extraordinary proceedings Of the day one Of
the witnesses testifypg, that private refused. to
march after they lett the barracks on account of the