New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-10


fore the local Assembly had settled down sufficiently
TO discuss the question Of Intercolonial Railway.
In that year the Canadian Government acting on the
implied promise of In Imperial subsidy of rome
Sl5 900 900 toward the construction Of the Halifax
and Quebec Road passed series of resolutions which
authorized negotiations with tina maritime provinces
and the British Government for the commencement
of the work, and Mr.. Hincks, the Finance Minister
of The day. was empowered by bis colleagues 10 act
as the negotiator for Canada. Similar legislative
action was taken the same year, in NewBTnnswIck
and Nova Scotia, and two Commissioners were
named TO confer with Mr.. Hincks at INC 0o'oi'ai
Office in London.
OTTER RAILWAY ACTS.
MEANWHILE other acts for the construction OF ead-
ING raiiv az lines had been passed by the Canadian
Parliament, and 1t is necessary to refer 10 tem neie
as their absorption By tie Grand Trunk, as ultimately
projected forms one Of the main features ID the fas
cality which has marked tho whole enterprise
These lines included a railway connection between
Quebec and point on the St. Lawrence and Atlantic
Railway called Richmond, a line from MONTREAL !"
Toronto. and another from Toronto TO the western
frontier of the Province. The whole OF them, en-
bracng in their entire length Of $40 miles, were 10
have been constructed by local contractors at an aver
aoe Of s35. coo mile. What they cost as incorpo-
rated uar,s Of the Grand Trunk we shall See anon.
THE cor oNIAL COMMISSIONERS ANDEARL GREY.
Shortly after the passage of tie joint railway reso-
lntions by the three Provinces the Commissioner
Mr.. Hincks of Canada, Dir. Chandler Of New-Bruns-
wick, and Mr. Howe Of Noys-Scotia-pToceeded 70
England Oh their mission. From the outset, NJ
IIncks appears to have acted IN great measure on
bis own account and Il seems 70 have become evi-
dent at an early stage Of the enterprise that there
were serious difficulties in the way of united ap-
peal Ly the Colonial Commissioners for the expected
Imperial aid. New. Brunswick very naturally re-
fused TO pledge her lands and her revenues Tor
mere military road skirling her wild, northern
frontier-for which alone the Imperial Government,
acting on Major Robinsons Report, seemed prepared
to make contribution. Along with this difficulty,
moreover there appeared from the first to be Gu In
compatibility Of temper between MIR. hinchs ana
Mr. Howe which made harmonious action cIincuit'
if not impossible. From this it became manifest that,
even if nothing else to cause divergence IN
their line of action, an srtagoDsm Of poicy must
ensue which would almoet surely be fatal TO success
To aogravate still further the troubles Of the Proyin
cal legation, they had TO deal with Colonial Minis
ter of a temper peculiarly his own. Earl Grey, 81
most of his parliamentary cotemporaries know, 10
their cost has sufficient fire in his competition to get
the entire Colonial Empire in blaze Most readers
of current political history are aware that under LORD
John Russells administration IL WAS not the fauL Of
Lord Grey that he failed in alternating hom tie
Crown some of the largest and weaihest OF the En-
clisb aependences 1t IT, therefore, no great matter
of wonder that occupying ground so essentially an
tagonistc on The main business they had before the
.he negotiations Of the Commission with the Colonial
Miniser made Glow progress. Lord Grey took mas
stsnd on the principle that, II the British people were
TO be- taxed Tor Colonial Rawny, Il must DO for one
which should serve an Imperial object His answer
70 tie wretchei deputy from New-Bruuswick was
,lat the route b. tie Bay Of Chs!eur and the Gulf
must be chosen, or the Imperial subsidy would be
reinssd To Lord Grey il was nothing that the
famous valley of the 81. John was fruitful; that II
was the garden Of New-BrunSwck; and that ii
opeued the only way toward making the enterprise
commercially profitable. In vain the deputy sng-
oe,ted that there were other interests Of account be-
yond tue military service of conveying At certain IN
teryals few hundred ssppers and miners from tie
vd The nperious Minister, &" it must be left to judge
Of that" Possbly Lord Grey might have been com
peled TO modify bis views Al the instance of bis col
leagues or the overthrow OF the Russell Cabinet,
which shortly aferward took place, might have
opened the way for some compromise which would
have met tue views OF the Colonial delegation; but
that is now matter Of bare speculation. II the secre-
ry Of State for the Colonies reeol1to AID iInpe-
rous, there Was but little tine given to attempt lis
conversion; Tor slresdy tho Canada Commissioner
had begun to discover another Way TO lis objects,
whatever these might be. Aud at this point COM
meuces the project, whose gigantic proportions have
already been pointed out in brief.
EMINENT CApITALIsrs-TiIE CONFIDENCE GAME.
Mr Hncks lad already spent several weeks be-
tween no,loys Hotel, tho Colonial once, and the
London Sock Exchange. Il is due TO the Canada
delegate 10 Fay that, considering the numbers aud the
character Of lis constituency, he Lad not been treated
with too much consideration in official quarters and
it may lie some Jaliiaon OF the extraordinary nature
Of the financial transactions he entered into 81 Thu
particular jnctuie to FAY that he really soured
and disappointod with the treatment lie received at
tho hands of Earl Grey. 1T tho time We speak OF,
railway Spectator o. come uo.ogiety named Jack
son, occupying seat in The House Of Commons, had
managed to work himself into nm eminent contract
iag Grnl, at tie head ,f which was Mr., now Sir,
Samuel Morton Peio. Mr.. jackson wss person OF
III Dquirng turn of uiud and in The prosecution Of
his rsiness as a builder OF railways NC was naturally
fIequentcr Of the socl Exchange. There by some
stroke Of lack he fe in with the disappointed ard n
disusni Minister from Canaiasmartng under Lord
Cleys i'm, ertinerces, aud naturally dislofed to send
The Secretary aud his office ~ the dsvil together