New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-09
CANADA.

- Or Ovp Correspondent ~
TORONTO, Monday. March D, 1913.
n Il stated the system heretofore pursued OF
A.,,,s practically two premier', one for Upper
90. far Lose, Canada 10 n be dispensed with.
100 II /. said that Sir Allan McNab, 10 re-
..,.t,uctips the Lower Canada section Of the
r.hnst. did 10 without the Intervention Of sec
.,o,., premier: that be consulted Col Tache %
. natter Of courtesy, and Dot a. minister Of
.nnrdiuate powers with himself The object Of
putting an end to the system of double headed
Cabinet is to cement, if possible, more closely the
two sections Of the p Oyince, and to make them
forget that they once two distinct peoples
For some time past the political gossips have
employed Themselves with repeating and canvass
ing a rumor that Sir Edmund Head, the new Gov
ernor, is inclined to interfere unduly in matters
that belong to this Cabinet, aud that something
like an antagonism had been got up between him
and his advisers.
The story first appeared in Quebec paper,
popularity supposed to speak the sentiments OF
Mr.. Attorney General DrummOnd; and it WAS this
circumstance that gave it significance. AuthOrlta-
tive denials have been sent forth in various quar-.
ters. These denials admit that Sir Edmund Head
10 inclined to take an active part in the business
Of Government, but alege that he has shown no
disposition to 20 beyond Constitutional limits. Amid
these conflicting statements one thing is clear and
certain: no Governor who should seek unduly to
interfere in the affairs of the Government, to over
step the limits assigned to him by Constitutional
usage, could long remain in the Province. The
day has gone by for that: and ii Sir Edmund Head
does not thoroughly comprehend the fact, he is
much duller man than | take him TO be.
The recommendations of the military Commits
sions turn out to be much more extensive than
imagined, when i wrote on the information OF
telegraphic summary Of the report. The report
itself, / must say, looks nightly like proposal
to place our militia on war footing. in this re-
port, the doctrine that We are TO look entirely to
England for the means OF external defence 10
abandODed; and more than one description OF To-
cal force is looked upon available auxiliares of
the British troops for that purpose. Indeed, the
letters patent appointing the Commission declare
that one of the objects to which they were to de-
vote their attention, was TO provide AN efficient
land economical system of public defense"
For this purpose they declare themselves
unanimously in favor of the establishment
"of volunteer troops Of militia cavalry, field bat
"teries and foot companies Of artillery, and com
"panies Of infantry armed as rihemen." They
recommend sixteen troops of cavalry, seven field
batteries of artillery five companies of foot artil-
lery and five companies Of infaDtry-cOmprlsing
altogether, a, 047 men. The arms are to be: For
cavalry sabers and pistols; for each field battery
Of artillery two 6-pounder guns and two l2-pOund
hOwitzers eight percussion carbines, a saber for
every gunner and driver; for the foot companies
of artillery, percussion fusils and bayonets; and
for the infantry, the best description of Mimic
rifle. These companies are to exercise twenty
days in the year. The first years cost of this
force 10 estimated at over $4,000
Then, Of the peasantry militia, the report says
that upon it the Province must depend, in times OF
danger, for it's effectual defense. This is to con-
sist Of the whole population, OF certain ages; out
except in time of war or Instruction, the married
men, and widOwers with children, are to be kept
as a reserve force. This force, however, is only
to drill one day in the year; but great attention
il TO be paid to organization, and it is believed by
the Commissioners, if by nobody else, that
thorough organization and armament will be far
more effective than any attempt that could be
made to drill the whole force till they were re-
CURED for actual service. To meet the cOntn-
eency of an invasion Of the PrOvince--such is tho
avOwal of the report--SO, 600 stand Of arms are
recommended to be put into the hands OF the peas
antry militia for which, Also 1t is proposed to es-
tabsh armOries at Quebec Three Rivers, Riviere
du Loup SOrel, st. John, Montreal, BytOwn,
Prescott, Peterborough, Toronto, Guelph, Ham,
iltOn London and Chatham. At some of these
places, magazines are also TO be built. perma-
nent force is to be kept at Fort Wellington, Pres
colt, on account of its proximity to the United
States.
Provincial marine companies to man gun boats
are recommended 10 be formed at Kingston Co
bourg Toronto, Hamilton, Port Stanley, Dunn
ville and Oakville, to consist of one Captain or
Lieutenant, and so men, each. The expense of
this force 10 estimated at $20, 900 year.
Provincial police force, to cost $l72, 900 a
year, is also recommended; the Province to be
divided into seven police districts, with head
quarters at Quebec, Montreal, Sherbrook, By
town, Kingston, Toronto, and London, with a
superintendent at each place.
The proposal to establish force avowedy fol
the purpose of external Defense will raise the
question whether, while we occupy the position o
cOlonists we ought 10 undertake responsibilities
which belong only to independent nations, and
whether the one is compatible with the other.