, 1859-02-15
The Federal Union Question in Cana.
da.-Confllctipg Interests.

Correspondence OF <oe ~ I. Islnpht.J
ToAo57o Feb. I. 1854
eral Union is one Of the chief features of the
policy Of the present Government, But it will
take some time, perhaps ten Jears, to consum-
mate such measure; and it 10 in the last dexree
improbable that those who initiate 1t will sur.
vlve, politically, to csrry their work 10 comp!e.
ton. Suppose, then, Federal union to take
place in ten years; what becomes Of the e1pen-
dlsure tor public buildings in Ottawa, construct.
ed under the notion that the Government would
remain there permanently The official answer,
if ne get one during the debats, will probably
be this: There ia large amount OF ordinance
property, which now belongs to the Province,
in Ottawa; and the increased selling value that
will be given to it BY making 0staws .he capital,
even tor ten years, will 60 far to compensate for
the population which the seat ot Government
would attract, would remain after the Govern
mert left, 80 that the additional value which tho
ordinance property may have acquired, would
be maintained; that this increased pooulation
wonld easily fad employment IN manufactures,
for which Ottawa, With its unsurpassed by drsul-
ic powers, odera peculiar facilities; and that the
value Of the neighboripg crown lands would be
increased by tbs creation Of q near market; 10
that, taking ali these things into account, there
would be little real loss in going to Ottawa now,
eyeu if Quebec were made the Federal capital
ten yea.B hence.
T6e position Of the Federa1 Union question
has just been made known by the dispatches on
the subject which have been laid before the It,
Rislature. On the formation Of the Cartier
Macdonald Government, last August, it was au-
nounced to Parliament that Federal Union
would form part Of the policy. After the pro.
rogatioo, an order in Council waa passed, au.
thorizip& two members OF tue Cabinet to 20 to
England TO urge the matter on the attention of
the Imperial Government. Whether for this Or
Soma other purpose. three Minister'S went home
-Messrs. Cartier, Ross and Gait !; and in = joint
letter to Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Colonial Secre-
tarY, they urge the necessity Of Federal union
of Ill the British American Provinces. from q
Canadian point Of view; and for imperial con.
solstion they add that it would forever do away
With the fear that these colonies may 60 to swell
the power Of another nAtion-the United Stases
being, Of course. meant Tho delegates repre-
sent that difficulty regarding the adjustment
of the representation ia the Legiststure between
Upper and Lower Canada has arl1en; that Low.
er Canada. with smaller population, has the
same representation Is Upper Canada; that Up
per Canada demands an increased repressnta-
sion in proportion g ita population, which Low
er Cauado is unwilling to grant; aud that the
difficulty which has thus ar1seu, increases with
the disparity of the population in tho two Sec
tions OF the Province. Al = means Of getting
rid o. this difficulty. Federal union Of Ill shs
S.,'isa - and 1S,
tor 8 meenn* ot oes9Ates Mua .ne olacne9s
snch I union could be edeoed is asked. This
the Colonial Secretary refases to grant, until he
hos asaurance that the other Colonies ,re pre-
pared 70 entertain ne question. a. me same
tune tae Canaolan uovShens ;,h .h onGsrsook to
on the subject Ne" hrnns"lck repEes, IN ef-
teet' that the nsttsr should not 10 hurried. hut
that time should Be g1!sn Tor consideration;
from Nora Scotia there Is no reply; Prince Ed.
wards Island aekno sledkss ahs receipt Of tee
to appoint delegsts ss soon as authority for
9eesing Of dslex.tes /. given y she Imperial
ton of federation at present. 1t cams oas in
conversation in ths hoase, that her .5e some
dispatches laid before tho Legislature, but they
are private.
Nothing can be dul1er than the legislative de-
bates thus far. There is no session Ill evening at
; O'Clock; at s an adjournment till TX o'clock
takes pl4ce; then they meet again ADD wrane!e
ill IL or II O'Clock At night, and viii soon do 50