New-York daily tribune., 1856-07-30
CANADA.
From Osr Own Correspondent


TORONTO, Friday, July 25, 1856
We are Just seriously entering upon that change
of constitution, from the British model, which
many predict will be followed by the adoption en-
Noe Of the institutions of the United States. The
new constituencies demanded by the introduction
Of the principle of election into the Legislative
Council have been carried out; aud the drawing
BY lot 10 determine the Twelve constituencies that
shah first have the privilege of olocting mauy
members has taken place. The new electoral dis
tricts are divided into twelve groups, as follows:
Group l-Gulf GIsndvle De la Drran.aye aud Lauzon.
Group 2-rhe Lsuentdes La Sale, stada'ona and Shaw
rosy s-Kepnebee, De la valere, Weinston aud Saurel
Group 4-De Ia Naudiene, PepontnJ. Mile Isles and In
G,Osp 5-BedfOd, Rousemont MontaIvio spd De LOi~sr
v'S 81 s4 ss'sS .sSs pIS De .Ss
Gr0sp e-ssusesn, brock, Gore aud Thames.
Group sEys Ni%ssTs VA BSlDscn M s@S on Home
Gresr IL Newcastle, Trent, ouipte and catarsqui
The old members retain their seats for life
Twelve new ones will be elected this Fall--the
writs to issue on or before the 1st of September,
and to be returnable on the first Tuesday in No
vembor--twelve more in 1853, third dozen in
1850, and a fourth in 1862. The first dra wing,
which determines the constituencies now to re-
turn members, gives the following result:
Fsa Dras.g1IssSl LsuSon, q lie. IrpreRtdss; % s.
we.emi saussen Q, Burlington TO- Queens H. Tent
II, Ridesu-
In many respects, this elective Legislative Coun-
ell Act 10 the most important measure Of last ses
sion. Ii is departure from the model of the
British Constitution, and, 80 far as it goes an imi
tation Of that of the United States; and the ques
ton is whether, having once commenced, we can
stop there with mongrel system, or whether We
shsll not have to advance further. Everybody
sdmits that there can be no retrogression. We
cannot retrsce the step we have taken and 60 from
an elective to q nominated Chamber. To tell the
fruts the legislative Council has never been what
the trainers of the Constitutional act OF 1871
Pitt and Grenvie-intended. Ii was intended by
them 10 be, like the House of Lords, in part he
reditary body; the hot-bed of Colonial aristoc-
racy. Fox predicted the impossibihty Of THE
being realized and Burke taking umbrage, the
memorable quarrel that estranged these two
Statesmen for life followed. Fox was right,
as the event has proved. Although the Con-
stitutiona act provided for it, there never
was any attempt to carry out the hereditary
principle. For q quarter of a century after
the passing of the Constitutional act, the pOpuls,
tion Of Canada was sparse, and politics, directed
entirely BY mandates from Downing street. were
of little account. When some little life began TO
be infused into the public affairs of the Provinces
when men arose who appreciated it's wants and
proposed to supply them, the Legislative Council
was soon found to be the greatest stumbling block
IN the way. 1t Systematically opposed itself to the
popular win, and threw out every measure of im-
portance. The effect on its popularity may be ln-
agined and the cry went forth that the Legislative
Council ought to be elected. For fifteen years
from 1895 TO lS40-ths feeling was strong At
the time of the union, there was large infusion of
new blood into the Council, and from that moment
1t ceased 10 be obstructive. Time wore 90, and
every new Government made additions to the
Sooneh calculated to bring it into harmony with
Ine o,ner branch Of the Legislature. An opposite
soIP.sint hom an opposite quarter, was raised
~Ssrs' tne nominated Chamber; and the Tories
~no NAG hitnerto been its staunchest supporters.
oow turned round upon it. What remedy did thew
propose Nothing less than that which the Rsd;-
csis had previously proposed-that II should casso
90 90 nominated and become An elsct;Ta hoJ.
from oeiaS an object Of terror to one psytv Il
became an object Of contempt real or ss.n!noa ~
70 another. The old Radicals, with whou S;s1;,,
90 nominated Chamber had bcceme trsa;t;onai
cav the new movement against it with f.oIns
Of sstasfaction, though Of course some of them
questisned whether they could possibly he rich,
10 standing on the same platform with their an
cent enemies. Among the Liberals of latter days.
those who bad none Of the reco,lections tradi.
lions or feelings Of their older associates, would
occasionally defend the Council as q nominated
body. They did 90 ostsnsbly because they pre-
fessed the British system in its integrity; some
hmes IA reality, because they saw the Council |
sapyinE out the yieSs Of the predominant |
'sSty fer The ine beng - u which party !