New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-23
CANADA.
From ourOrr Ccrresrordsn'.


ToRoSTo January 10, lS57
The Canadian Parliament is 70 meet 90 the %t;.6
February next. What measures viii easag. ~
attention DO one seems 10 know. There is no
prunn. NJ subject of legislation before ,he coun ~
at present. awaiting the decision Of Psriament
Within the last few years all the accumulated ar.
Iears Of legislation have been cleared of. We have
altered our representative system and in .rea sai
the number Of members in the Lower House from
81 20 $50. We have applied The Oriucipe OF e.e,
ton 10 the second chamber We have aboh. hei
the fedual teLure OF land holding. which he
Lower Canals French inherited from their ances-
tors and heb they reaiUed .Xty year. after i. h.d
teen swept away in France We have secul,rized
,kree Millions facres of Church lands We haze re-
mCdeled our Judicial system. We have assisted a.
build great railroads. We have completed our
canal system. We have obtained reciprocity OF
trade with the United States. In short We have
done so much in a few years that We have nothing
Of pressing importance left to do. Nesrly all be
questions which parties we're organized 20 carry
having been disposed Of, parties Themselves have
fallen 10 pieces, or are seeking pew bases. aGd
trying to form anew. IL is the most diff
cult thing IN the world to frame new plat
forms for new parties 10 stand upon. The
builders do not know what they would be az;
but as the necessities of the case force them
to DO something, they have just TO make the best of
il. Any new combinations, however. at present
merely result from the necessities of politicians;
and not because there are really any great ques-
tons requiring new organizations 10 carry them.
Ii The Ministry he wise they will hold short ses
sion, just long enough to do the real business OF the
cOun nv, and adjourn. What their intentions are.
however, has lot transpired. Under our system,
and in our state of society, the business of lcSis
lation drags on very slowly. The Opposition
always have their eye TO the treasury benches
and shape their conduct to the sole object OF
eiectipg its occupants. THIS creates degree of
fac;i,n which does not exist in the United States
because there the Executive officers hold their
places for four years. and which does not exist in
England, because there is there totally different
state of society and because It would not be tOler
ated. All parties here about alike in this re-
spect, only the evil seems to be growing one, aud
ia putting institut ons 10 very severe test If
they survive the unnatural strain il will be almost
a miracle. No business in the way of legisls-
ton can be got on with, with any
thing like reasonable expedition. When the
opposition is too weak for any other purpose,
it il always strong enough for purposes of Oostruc-
tor. IL seldom Ob,ecyes any rules. Bills are
often opposed on their Introduction, though the
practice is contrary 10 rule The second reading
is confessedly the time for discussing the merits.
Then all sorts of Instructions to the Committee
often moved when the question OF going into Com
mittee Uf the Whole arises. The discussion is re-
ueved with an additional mnuteness of detail, and
bill il not always allowed 10 pass the third read
ing in peace. And after that, riders are sometimes
moved. And all this when successive tests of
strength have proved that nothing is to be gained
by il but delay-an unnecessary and criminal waste
OF tine and money. lt ia certain that our lnstlta-
tons were never intended for such purposes never
calculated to stand such wear and tear-and they
will do more than can fairly BE- expected Of them,
if they DO not give way under it.
A section Of the Opposition held secret meeting
here last week, and adopted a new platform. About
a dozen members OF Parliament were presents aud
the movement seems not at all to be sympathized
in by the Lower Canada Opposition. the French
organs of which reject both the movement aud the
platform.
A curious case has Just been decided by the Court
of Appeals at Quebec. During the last general
election, Col. Gugy gave TO one Larkin note OF
hand, for certain election expenses. The note was
udorsed by Mr.. DrummOnd, then Attorney Gene
raj for Lower Canada. Col. Gugy, instead OF pay
ing the note when il became due, pleaded that u
had been given for illegal purpose-that Of cor
ruptipg the electors-and that the Attorney Gene
raj had promised TO pay it, as the sum of his cleo
ton expenses. On the original trial, the Court
ordered the payment Of the note; and now the
Court Of Appeals, the Judges beng unanimous, re-
verse that decision. The ground they take, Is that
there is abundant proof that the note was given for
a corrupt, and therefore Illegal purpose. The
Judges 90 further and declare that the action ought
never to have been brought.
Private letters brought by the las. mail from
ralsud, state that over 1900, 600 Of the TWO mil
lions sterling of Grand Trunk Rail way preferential
bonds had been sOld-the whole Of them. believe,
TO the boilers OF the stock, by whom it has been
eseery taken.
So far the Winter, which set in early, has been
steady and Of more than average severity.