New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-02
THE REFoRM MOVEMENT IN CANADA.

70 TIE Editor Of The ~ y. Tribune.
SIR: / am Of opinion that the Convention Of Re-
formers in Toronto, Canada, is the commencement
of movement which will entirely change the
machinery of the Government Of the Canadas, If
not of the whole Of the British North American prov
inces For some years the Legislature of Canada has
exhibited the spectacle of section of the country
aTayed against the other The representatives from
the eastern section voting almost DiGsSe and with
the aid of few doughfaces from the West, entirely
overriding the majority of the members from Upper
Canada which by far the weahiest most important
and most progressive section Of the country. The
finances of the country too have been most seriously
mismanaged. At tne time of the retirement OF Mr..
Hincks for whom, AS politician have not word TO
saw the country was, at least, in the midst of unex
ampled commercial prosperity. Her public works
were being carried with amazing rapldy, the reve-
nue. was largely in excess OF the expenditure and the
reductions were being made in duties the public debt
was comparatively light and the credit of the country
was as high in the money markets OF Europe as could
possibly be desired.
The Hincks government which WAS reform in prin-
cple and railway in practice rose upon the ruins OF the
old Tory party which it almost annihilated. In the
western province party protesting ultra reform
principles whose chief leader has thus FAR been Mr..
George Brown Of Toronto. With the and of the rem
nant of the Tory party these succeeded in defeat
ing Mr.. Hincks, and that gentleman was soon after
knghted and made Governor of the Windward Islands.
Instead Of the victors uniting 10 form government,
the Tory section deserted their clear grit allies,
and allied themselves with the defeated Reformers TO
establish the coalition government, which, through
many changes, has existed to the present day. The
action of this Government has been marked by the most
unblushing partisan legislation that ever disgraeed
representative assembly, and runous squanderng OF
the public funds.
The results of the action of the Cartier-McDonald
Government are An unprecedented stagnaton Of
trade deficient revenue, and consequent increase oil
larg rFfhil dehf
amounting 10 nearly 800 600 600, and the entire oss
of credit by the country that at present, scarcely
dollar could be raised in any money market IN the
world In addition 10 all this, Gov Head IA maine Of
ill-omen to Canada openly fayors the dominant party
and sanctions It's fatal mismanagement OF the Affairs Of
the province.
What the people of Upper Canada have been de-
mandinQ is that the representation of the country
should be based upon population is in the UuEed
States At the time Of the union of the two provinces
it was agreed that each section should have the same
number 65 of representatives in the Legislature Dut
Upper Canada has now population one-third larger
than Lower Canada and she demanded proportion,
atey increased representation The Donald
Government, however, was all-powerful; and though
nearly every member from the Upper Province vO'eo
for the measure, il was lost.
Some four OF Eve years ago, VIM. Lyon Mckenzie,
Of rebellion notorety, set on foot an agitation Tor INC
repeal ofthe Union of the two provinces. II my mem
DRY me, Mr.. Brown and his adherents opPose9
the agitation the time. Al all events, it received
but little attention. hr. Mckenzie did not possess inc
confidence Of the people, and the matter allowed
TO drop. Mr.. Brown, however, has since taken up
the cry for dissoluton and think that will be one OF
the questions DISCUSSED by the Toronto Convention
Upper Canada is far populous and wealthy than
Lower Canada and pays nearly three-fourths OF the
revenue; yet to proPitate their Lower Canadisa sup
porters the Government exPend the larger part OF tue
appropriations for public works &c, in that secsioa
The priests Of Lower Canada the real rulers OF the
country; and bills intended to take effect in Upper
Canada only, and supported by almost the entire Upper
Canadian representation, have been defeated through
their influence.
Another reform demanded by the people of Canada
West Is tina, of an elective Governsr They have De
come convinced that man sent out from Ene;iand'
ignorant Of the peculats Of the country, Is not cal
eulated to be benefit BAT rather hndranee, 10 oens-
fetal Legislation. The present Governor who, see,
has asked leave to retire whether permanently or 1o'
cannot ssy,l i violent political partisan; and mas
rendered himself odious TO the majority OF the people
They also demand wltsea constitution, unwitns