New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-23
CANADA.
From Our Own Correspondent
tTF " "|"' "
lfdvch 80, 1855.


TORONTO. Tuesday, March 30, 1855.
The Elective Legislative Council bill has IN
derpoDe great alterations in the hands Of the Ad-
ministrstion. In fact il is sdmittedlys new bill.
The previous bill vested in the Govern nens the
pow er of dissolvipg the Council; but the present
enc denies The Executive that power. 1t would
seem to follow naturally that il is not intended
to hold Ministers responsible to that House;
that they will not be called upon to resign if de.
feated in the Legislative Council, because such re-
spob.ibity of the Cabinet would imply their right
to appeal from the Council to the constituency.
On any other principle the system would not
work 1t is obvious that Government cannot be
held responsible to two Houses which may be 0p-
posed to one another, unless il has the right Of
appealing from the decision of either to the peO
pie. TO require Government to hold itself re-
spOnsbe to two Legislative Chambers of different
political views, without the right of dlssolving
either of them, would be to insist upon impos-
sbility: and this would be the extreme of folly.
In meeting the views of Que Chamber the Cabinet
might incur the displeasure of the other; so that,
do what it would. its condemnation would be in
eyitable, and all government would be impossible.
Ii must, therefore, be intended that the Cabinet
shall not be responsible TO the Councils and be-
cause it 10 not to be so responsible, there is, of
".
dssolying this branch should reside in the Execu-
tive =
The proposed term for which Legislative Coun-
cllors are TO hold their seats is eight years. one
fourth OF them going out every two years; IL being
determined by lot which fourth shall first go out
The present Councillors are to hold their seats for
life II they do not resign them; but it is dlfhcult
TO see how they continue to mold them on
basis less popular than that on which the new
,Iare b.1J tbair in al
tween thirty and forty old Councillors; but OF
these it is hardly ever possible to get more than
twenty together. Some are too feeble 70 attend;
two are lunatics, and others neglect habitually
their duties. The chances are that some will re-
sign on the passing OF the new bill. Such OF them
as regard themselves as remaining on sunerance
will hardly consent TO hold their seats after the
rev bill becomes a law, and the principle OF cleo
ton is applied to the Constitution Of the Council.
The number Of members is to be forty eight but
il is difficult to say how many new members will
require to be elected at first because 1t is almost!
if bot quite, impossible to say how many OF the
old members can be counted upon as fixtures.
A property qualification, to the amount Of
$4,000. is proposed to be retained for Legislative
Councillors, while il is to be abolished as regards
members Of the Assembly -a distinction Tor wnlch
il would be difficult to account on any sound or
rational principle.
Il
on the same principle as that on which represent
tion in the Assembly stands; each section OF the
Province is to elect en- equal number OF Council,
lors. and the electoral diyifions are TO be formed
by the union of four Legislative Assembly constlt-
ueucies To this part OF the bill 1t Will, dOuot-
less be objected that each OF the ~ ne" consult
uepcies ought to contain an equal number o. IN
babitauts and should be formed without respect
TO any line which may geographically DIVIDE PIPER
and Lower Canada. Ii Is pretty certain, now
ever that two distinct principles OF representation
cannot at the same time, be IN force. Dosu
Houses must have their bssss ID the same prihci-
ple-whether il be population, or the giving 10 escH
lection of the Province Oh equal number OF
representatives As the lstter principle IS ln
oberatioD In respect 70 the Legislative Councl,
we must either get rid Oft as II apples 70 tha'
course. or refrain from applying IL 70 tHe O.hel
and AZ there is not that overwhelming LnaJor.5 VI
ropulation In one section OF the Province over tue
other. which could alone justify change amount
inc 10 revolution, there is no doubt the Legs
lature will readily adopt the proposal 70 give
Lower Canada an equal voice, with thlyeecIoh vi
the Province, in the election OF the Legislative
Council.
The bill 10 create Board Of Audit was 70 be
introduced to-day IL il TO consist OF three o'cers'
Int only one new Office is to be created, the other
two being subordinates in the Inspector Generals
ofHce. The Auditor-General, or whatever the
name of the new officer is to be, will have TO pro-
cure returns from all the public institutions mat
cet Government aid in order 10 have them isio
before Parliament, through the insPector'uen'
eral. r.. E.
TODAY. the cornerstone Of the Toronto TX
change 6ne building, was laid with civic hsnors.