New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-15
CANADA.
From Our own Correspondent.

From Our own Correspondent.
IoRo..ro, May IL, 1857.
The present session OF ne Legislature flows on
with unwonted T4oothness. A Government with.
out a large standing majority holds the reins with
tolersble frmness and gets along with no unusual
difficulty. The Opposition is fecble, spirtess, di-
yided, mutually distrustfu and heterogeneous in
opinion. No more talking takes place than 10
necessary to the proper discussion Of any
measure that comes before tho LegisIa-
ture; and both Houses have been in .
fit of business ever since the session opened
The changes in the Legislative Council consequent
on the introduction Of the elective principle have
been very great and very much for the better.
Under the old system, this branch Of the Legisla-
tlre seemed to have become utterly dispirted. Ia
appeared to feel that it had no hold upon
public opinion, and seemed either afraid TO take any
bold stand or careless as to how matters went
For the first month or two Of every sesson IL
was almost impossible TO get quorum to
dispatch anything. When they did meet, the bus-
ness was of the most humdrum character; and was
hurried through with haste that hardly left the APP
pearance of decency. The public did not attend,
and the press did not report this branch OF the
Legislature. Its members went by the sobriquet OF
1.-THE old LADIES'" and all their proceedings seemed
fitting subject of jest, rdicule or contempt. I'M
der the new regime all this is changed. The
latiye Council meet as regularly ." 10 Affair Uonsa.
and it is acquiring c. .".aeratisa in the community.
iN' INC and the press no longer feel at liberty To
neglect it. 1t initiates numerous bulls; dellberates
nationally upon all that are sent down from the other
House. and evidently feels that it is allving branch OF
the Legislature. In the Legislative Assembly mere
claptrap passes for ttle-at least its value IL evi-.
IDENTITY depreciated-and busness-like spirit seems
to reign paramount.
The important measures Of the session are not
numerous. The seat of government question was
among the first TO be disposed OF. As the Ca
madam Legislature could not agree upon any
ylace for the permanentseat OF government, they
referred the question to the arbitrament Oh
Queen Victoria; and her Majesty has been gra
ciously pleased TO accept the reference. The ap-
pointment hsweyer, will not be made tall the differ
ont competing cities have, sent forward their
ella ms; and whenthey arrive in Downing street, No
doubt her Msicstys advisers will settle the question
wholly irrespective Of these conflicting statements
aud claims,
The next great measure, il, indeed, il be not tho
measure of the session. is bill for the relief Of tho
Grand Trunk Railway Company. The Province
has advanced some $l3,0OO,000 on behalf Of this
enterprise for which it holds "a hen on the road
The bill introduced by the Government, and hkeiy
TO become law deters the Provincial claim on az
count Of this lien till the stock and bondhoders get
provides that in future there shall be no Govern
ment Directors in the Companys Board. The de-
ferring of the Provincial claim is looked upon By
many persons as equivalent TO the abandonment OK
il; and more than one member OF the Opposltiou
has moved to give up the whole lien, but withou0
success. The bill imposes two conditions on thd
Company while granting them this liberal measure
of relef-tO extend the road eastward to Riyiera
du Loup and westward to Sarnia. The bill 10 about
all the Company asked; and it is believed that this
is the last assistance the Company viii ever demand
from the Government
There has recently been Ministerial resignation,
or expulsonfor it has the aspect Of the latter
than the former-and the place Of the retiring MIN
ister has not yet been filled The retired Minister
is Mr.. CauchOn who had occupied the Crown Lands
Department since the f,rmaton Of the present. or,
rather, the McNabMorn Government The cause
of Mr. CauchOn's resignation was this: Some years
ago he conceived the idea OF railroad on the north
side of the st. Lawrence, from Montreal to Quebec5
and being the editor of lie Journal de Quebec, wrote
the scheme up for some years. Last session, the
Legislature granted four millions OF acres Oh Crown
lands in aid Of an upper section Of this road--the
Ottawa and Lake Huron Railroad. But no part OF
the grant applied to the North Shore Railroad as it
is uiscalled Some time ago, Mr. CauchOn wrote
a letter 10 recommend the municipalities along the
line to subscribe toward the work. They did 70,
Quebec giving aid TO the extent OF $l,200O0O and
the other municipalities to something hke an
equal amount Still, there was desire
TO obtain two millions Of acres Of Crown
lands in aid Of the road and Mr.. Cau-
cbon's local popularity was hourly declining be-
cause he did not obtain the desired grant When
the Grand Trunk measure was under discussion ho
thought it favorable time tO strike bargain with
his colleagues; and, failing this be tried the effect
Of intimidation; going 10 the extent OF writing q
letter to the Premier from his place IN the House,
stating that until some understanding was come To
about the North Shore Railroad he could not permit
the Grand Trunk measure TO pass second reading.
This menace was treated by Mr.. Cauchon's col
leagues. one and all as tender Of hs resignation;
though il is more than doubtful that he ever intended
il for anything Of the kind.
To-day the House discussed for two hours with
closed doors, question Of privilege. IL appears
that on Friday last Mr.. Caucbon, ex-Conimiss.oner
Of Crown Lands, met Cspt. Armstrong "a me
lobby, and was accused by him Of being no genus.
man. because he had not answered. son'1 omcAt
letter which said Armstrong had sent nin' wnoie-
mon Mr. Cauchon showed bis gentility BY knock
inc his accuser down sans c<ytmo"ie, repeating tha
dcse ~ fhs shortest possible moment. Capt. Arm
s,rona s,'h..ouently sent, through another member
&c lie Uouss some sort 0f message W hI.
C.naLo,--pot a hostile msslre, as technically un
$1,000 the bearer declared. AT al eVenh' ME-
Tancbon thought himself entitled, alter knocking
the man down twice, 10 complain VI INC r .s1
VIZ 10 him; and this complaint was deiberated
Son for two hours. The result, it may be pre-
.1rmed was to establish the privilege OF members
If the Legislature TO knock down those who are
nat members, and then TO complain TO the lleuse Il
the victim expresses any dissatisfaction.
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