The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-14
Prom the New York Journal Of Commerce.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF CANADA.

lis Legislature Lord Elgn the present encouragement
who has filed that Office ably than almost any OF his
any rate has done more than any OF
them ever did to develop the of the colony and
extend the liberties of the colonissfound ii necessary
for various reasons be absent from his post for nearly
wear and during greater part of the time OF his prin
cpa ministers, Mr. Hncks absent also They were IN
England mainly occupied it is alleged in their defence
with the business of the colony II is not shown that any
practical difficulty experienced in carrying on 'he AZ
fairs of the government this account But the course
OF legislation was obstructed Instead of the Provincial
Parliament being convened in February is not assembled
until June and then it is told that he various important
questions on which legislation is required are not to be
entered upon during the session but that the House OF AS
embly is to gye its hest consideration to any measure
which may be submitted for bringing into early operation
the acl of last session which extends the elective
in other words that they to get through the routine OF
financial and fiscal business which will not brook delay
and then be prorogued preparatory to being dissolved
The omos,on kick at this Instead Of voting the custom
rv address OF concurrence they amendment con-
yeying disagreement and implying censure; whereupon
the ooyernor-genera proceeds to anticipate what ne 'o
proposeto prorogue The Parliament at once in order 10
effect is immediate dissolution and then to order new
election so rs obtain without delay under the EXTENDED
elective franchise constitutional expression Of OPINION
,houob the representatives of the people, well upon the
noicy of the government upon the legislation that is 10
be proposed
Now there is nothing in all this TO threaten what IS I'M
Piled and taken for granted by the phrase independence
The meaning of that word applied and UNDERSTOOD IS
freedom from the dominion Of the mother country-the
same thing virtually which glorious Declaration
of Independence meant whose anniversary we have just
celebrated But there does appear be the slightest
desire for such consummaion the part OF the people OF
Canada themselves who the parties most nearly inter-
csed and whose alone ought 10 decide such ques
ton The very party in fact that has caused the commo
ton out of which the whole idea has arisen s manly COM
posed of men who have been the most loyal 10 the
Crown Of England the most attached to its sovereign
rule the most devoted its perpetuated authority Who
could ever for moment suspect old and so hearty
royast as Sir Allan MacNab for instance of wish to
throw off the yoke Of Englandone whose great complaint
invariably that such yoke has by what he regards an
u;ra-lbeal policy been only made too easy? Why Sir
Allan among the foremost in producing that very
crisis which is so confidently in certain quarters cacu
lated upon Introductory to independence certain
kind Of independence he and they with whom he acts
may be seeking aerand dare say they are but it is
of very different kind from that which popularity UNI
dersood by the expression It means independence of Lord
Elein not Of Queen vctora--abe Lord Elgn is Queen
yictorias representative.
The fact of The matter is that the authority ofhe Crown
of England is little interposed its yoke is
completely une that the people of Canada oud we are
assured be quite content with their present position as
British colony could the development of its vast resources
be allowed to proceed uninteruptedly as TO great extent
they lately have DONE and those other improvemenssncb
for example, the adjustment of the segnoria question
be effected which they consider essential to their welfare
and prosperity.
But despite of all lis though without knowing what
has just resulted from Lord Egns long intercourse
with the Canadian Parliament voice has proceeded not
from the democracy of the lower but from the astocracy
of the upper house of the British Legislature recommend
ing if not demanding, the part of England herself the
Independence of Canada Lord Peterborough it seems
did hesitate declare that he thought they had gone
far in concession to Canada that the question now
whether they ought not TO the connexon between
that colony and the mother country entirely and thus get
rid Of responsibility from which very little advantage
derived in time of peace while great harm might arise
from it in the event OF waraddng that he thought it
incumbent the government to ascertain the opinion of
leading personages in the colony this question with
little delay as possible" Lord Elenborongh, it happens
is not exactly absolute wisdom neither have his opinions,
any other account much influence But his remarks
had Che effect Of drawing from ie Duke Of Newcastle who
has just ceased to be Colonial Secretary reply which, if
there DO any force in words would 60 to show most
phaiicay how such proposal would be met by her Maj
estys government in the first place, the Duke denounced
what he called the doctrines of snch proposal to be
unpaatable to the Canadian coonsts they to their
ordships' house; and then he with than ordinary
emphasis added that for his part, he would never
belong to government which was party the separ-
ton of the colonies from the mother country for he regard
ed such step hostile to the best interests of the colo
Mes and as offence against the sovereignty Of the
Crown Egg
No. we do not think that things ripe for any such
change within the territory Of neighbors; and
rather inclined to attach credit to hear from
England Of s being in contemplation to send vceroy in
stead Of yceroy who shall be
Der of the royal family of Englandthc Duke Of Cam
bridge the cousin Of the Queen being named the first
There may be Interior object in view II may be in
tended to make it separate kingdom settlement for
Of her Britannia Majesys progeny Such
idea has already been whispered But il is for the peo-
pie Canada to settle TINT question If they satisfied
We of the United States have right TO interfere.
John Mitchell The Irish patriot last week delivered nm
address before the Washington and Jefferson Societies
the University Of Virginia The subject True Civil
ization and the means of attaining it, The about
material progress Of the present day receives hard criticism
at his hands
The highest civilization in the world simple JUS
ice yet, II you ask the fst you may casually
meet IN Trar6aA what they by the civilization
they talk Of flor everybody talks of it and congranlaes
himself and his neighbors upon i) nine of them will
tell You that il is steam, that il Ia electricity, that it
printng-pess that il is carpets and upholstery that is
gunpowder gas One man, proounder than the rest,
will perhaps answer that it is conmerceinnite imports
unboundcd exports and unhearaof trade; wordcni-
bacng commerce. that brings distant nations making
them family Of mutually helpful brethren Such is the
current talk
Now it is not altogether clear that discoveries in art
ana science now widely applied and made suscr
went 10 mems convenience any real improvement de-
monstfae any real progress towards any thing good
civilization or so much instruments or frtherances
civilization. The printing press or the electric wire is