The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-21
A Great Movement i'm Canada,

| a recent Convention OF RetormeTs held
at Toronto, Conads, is presumed to be the
commencement of a series of movements,
that will entirely change the machinery of
the Government of the Cansdas, il not Of the
whole Of the British North American prov,
iDces. For some years the Legislature of
Canada has exhibited the spectacle OF one
section OF the country arrayed against the
other. The representatives, from the eastern
section voting almost en- masse, and, with
The aid Of few from the West, entirely
overrling the majority OF the members from
Upper Canudl, which is by far the weaI,hiest
and most important, and most progressive
section OF the colony. The finances Of the
country, too, have been most seriously mis-
rlanoged. AT the time OF the retirement of
Mr.. Hincks, the country was at least, 10 the
! midst OF nnex,mpled Commercial prosperity.
Her public works were being carried ON W ilh
amazlng rapdhy, the revenue was largely in
excess of the expenditure, and reductions
were being E1nde in duties, the public debt
YVES comparatively light, and the credit OF
the community was as high in the money
markets OF Europe as could be desired
"a Canadian" writing to the N. Y Tr;.
tune, contends that the Hnck's government,
which was reform in principle and rail Wav
in practice, rose upon the ruins OF the old
Tory party, which it annihiated In the
western province party rose, protesting ul-
ira reform principles, whose chief lender thus
lnr had been Mr.. George Brown, of Toronto.
With the aid OF the remnant of the Tory
party these men succeeded in defeating Mr..
diucks, and that gentleman wss soon after
khighted and made Governor of the Wind.
ward Islands. So tar as we can understand
the matter, the people of Canndt West com.
plain that the results OF the action C,rtier.
Mcdonald Government arms are an uDpre.
cedented stsgnation OF trade, q deficient rev.
enue, and conse quent increase OF duties upon
imported goods, large public debt, (amount-
ing to nearly $l0O. 600 and the entire
Oss OF credit by the country, so that of prps.
ent, scarcely dollar could be raised in anv
market in the world. The inhabitants of
Upper CaDuda demand that the represe nta.
ton OF the colonists should be based upon
population, US it is in the United States.
AT the time OF the union of the two prov.
lnces, 1t was agreed that each section should
have the same number (65) of represe nta.
tiVes in the Legislature. But Upper Cana
do has now population one third Iarger
than Lower Canada, and she demanded n
proPortionately increased Representative
The Curtier Mcdonald Government bowev.
er. was all-powerful and though nearly ev
cry member from the Upper Province voted
tor the measure, it was lost. So, it seems
that the old dispute between the French OF
The Lower Province, and the British in the
Upper, is at the bottom of all these difficult
ties, clearly showing that fatal error was
committed century ago, when Canada was
conquered by the British and ceded to them
Dy subsequent treaty Of peace, in allowing
French and ieudal laws to be continsed in
the then captured colony and one great OBJ
ject OF The present movement undoubtedly is,
TO place both Provinces under modern Brit
ish laws, which are certainly more conform
aole to the enlightenment of the age. But
there is another, and more serious reform
demanded by the English population, name
ly, that the Canadians be allowed to elect
their own Governor They have become
convinced that q man sent out from England.
ignorant of the pecuiarities OF the Country.
Is not calculated to be benefit, but rather
hindrance. to beneficial legislation. Con-
currently with the privilege OF an elective
Governor, they likewise require q written
Constitution. These latter demands SAVIOR
strongly OF desire for national independ.
ence.