New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-11
Nem:l1ork Dailp Grib1ttre
CANADA.
From Our Own Correspondent.


TORONTO, Feb. I, 1859.
A week has elapsed since the session of the Leg
islature commenced; and nothing has been done
but to debate upon answering the speech from the
throne-as, by stretch of the imsg the
opening speech of the Governor. General is called.
The principal topic of discussion, if speakers kept
to the point would be the proposal of the minority
to sustain the decision Of the Queen, made on
reference of the two Houses Of the Legislature,
that Ottawa be the future capital of United Canada.
After inviting this decision, one branch OF the
/ Iepslature-the Legislative Assembly-declared,
last session. that Ottawa was not suitable place
for the seat Of Government That declaration was
made by the present House by majority OF 4, ana
the determination Of the Ministry, announced III the
opening speech, to make OttOwa the capital, must
either lead to the House retracing its step by ac.
ceptng for the future Capital place which last
session il declared unfit for that purpose, or TO
defeat of the Government. In the latter event, 1t
is pretty we'll understood that a dissolution OF
Parliament would take place. Many of the mem.
bers. belonging to both parties-Ministeria and
OppOstion-have a wholesome dread OF meeting
their constituents; and TO escape that ordeal many
will probably be willing to vote for Ottawa, VINO
would otherwise prefer TO vote, II only for opposl.
will carry their point, is well enough ascertaned.
The majority will not be less than five; IT may
reach to ten No public buildings have yet been
erected at Ottawa: and as the four years term for
which the Government, under the alternate system
-four wears in Toronto, and four years in Quebec
came to this city, will expire next Fall, the TIME
for removing to Quebec will then have come. lhls
determination is announced in the Royal speech;
but the Legislative Council, which has already
"a tba A n duublp
objects to going 10 Quebec at all, and favors
the idea of remaining in Toronto TIL buildings
can be erected in Ottawa. This objection
of the second Chamber will, however, be
disregarded. As the Government moved from
Montreal to Toronto in lS49, IN opposition TO the
expressed wishes of the Legislative Council, SO
next Summer il will move to Quebec against their
remonstrance. The Lower House holds the purse
strings, though it is in the power of the Upper
TO throw out money .bills and when, few years
AGO. the Lower House came to a resolution to
make Quebec the permanent capital, the Upper
House refused to sanction the necessary expendi-
ture for public buildings and the idea OF making
Quebec the permanent capital had TO be abandoned:
In the present instance, no difficulty OF this KIND
will arise. Ii is not necessary to put the amount
that will be required 10 move ~ Quebec into the
estimates till the money has been spent.
The result will be that the Government VIII 90
to Quebec during the construction Of Parliament
buildings and public Offices at Ottaws-Prooabl!
four years-and then il will move permanently 10
Ottawa. Permanently What il Federal Union
of all the British American Provinces takes place
Would Ottawa then be q suitable place for the seat
of the Federal, or even of local government :
The Government, believe, will not contend that
il will. although some of their oyer-zealous sup
torters have set up that absurd pretense. In case
the Provinces are federally united, Que
bee must become the Federal Capital.
No other place could for moment com
pete with il. AT this moment, the establishment
of Federal Union is one Of the CHEF features oi
the policy of the present Government. But II VIII
take some time, perhaps ten years, TO consummate
such measure; and il is in the last degree i'm
probabe that those who initiate il will survive, po'
liticaly. 10 carry their work TO completion. Sup
nose then. Federal union to take place IN ten
wears, what becomes of the expenditure for public
m;ld;nss in Ottawa, constructed under the notion
tbat ibe Government would remain there perma-
nentki The official answer. if We get one during
the debate, will probably be this; There is large
amount of ordinance property, which now belongs
10 the Province, in Ottawa; and the increased
selling value that will be given to It by making w
tawa the capital even for ten years, VIII go iar 70
compensate for the cost Of erecting puonc pulid-
ings there; that the population winch the scar OF
Government would attract, would remain ai'er lhe
Government left, SO that the additional value wnch
the ordinance property may have acquired, would Or
mantaned; that this increased population would
easily find employment in manufactures, Tor whlch
Ottawa, with its unsurpassed hydraulic powers,
offers peculiar facilities; and that the yalue OF the
peighboring crown lands would be increased ~