Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-01
The Proposed Canadian Tnian.

unity, our Canadian neighbors are attempting
to form their several provinces into a confed-
: Grafton undera central government. Delegates
have been in session for some time at Que
bee and have agreed On a plan Of Union
which awaits the approval Of the British
Government. The sessions of the delegates
wee secret, but sketch of the proposed form
OF government, said to be correct, has been
unoffi cially published.
The general scheme is an imitation of the
English Government, with additions to suit
the circumstances Of its formation ont of
provinces This introduces some of the fea-
lures OF our system of State Governments.
administering local affairs subject to the Gen
eral Government. The main features are ar
elective House of Representatives, based
upon population, judiciary appointed by the
central Executive, and an Upper House whose
members are appointed for life by the Execu-
tive. The elements lacking in British Amer
lea to make the English system, are the her
edltary Peers to form the Upper House, and
the hereditary Executive. The first is to be
substituted by creating an Upper House by
lie appointments, and the other will be a
Governor General, appointed by the British
Grown. 1t will be position for the first sub
Ject OF Great Britain, and it suggests place
tor one of the Queens sons And such is the
affection of the Anglo Saxon part of the peo-
pie OF Canada, as of all the British people,
for the Queen, that such an appointment
would probably be received with LOYAL enthu-
siasm.
The provincial Governments will administer
local affairs. They must conform, however.
to the laws of the Central Government which
are of supreme authority. The provincial
Governors are appointed 10y the Central Elk
ecutive, who also appoints all judicial Off
GERS down to judges Of county courts The
Central Government also has exclusive con-
troll Of banks and banking. Throughout great
care seems to have been taken to avoid the
possibility of any pretext on the part of the
provinces, analogous to the State Sovereignty
doctrines in the United States, to be plead
in justification Of rebellion.
The population of the five colonies en-
braced within the proposed Confederation
was, in 1861, as follows:
canada Fast. ... ,1lo,66+
Canada West. 800, 091
All Canada. 500, 1855
New BrunsWlck.. Observation-Disclosures. 252,O4I
Nova Scotia. $50, S57
Prpce Edwards Island. S0,S57
All the Colonies. .....................3 ,293, 1873
This is considerably more than the popula-
ton of the United States at the period of our
independence and the present population Of
the chief cities of Canada is greater than
that Of ours in 1916. Their commerce, too,
is as great as ours was il l795-nearly TWEEN
ty years after we took our place among the
nations Of the earth. Provision is made for
the future admission of all the other British
North American Provinces into the Confede-
ration.
There is at present no inharmonous feel
ing between the Canadian provinces and the
British government. It will not be strange,
however, if, with the adoption Of the new
form Of government the aspiration for indie
pendence is developed. The new govern
ment will have no question of domestic slave
ry to excite dissensions, but there is an IN
tense bitterness of feeling between the Cath
Ollie and the English church, widespread and
already a leading element in Canadian poll
tics, which may cause serious troubles.
- o.
What Edward Everett says of MIR. Lincoln.
1t is pleasing spectacle, rarer perhaps
than it should be, when great man speaks
nobly of living contemporary. The late
testimonial at Boston to Captain WINSTON,
of the famous Keorsarge, gives US notable
instance of generous appreciation. EDWARD
EVERETT, whose name will assuredly pass
into history as one of the most eminent
men of his day, responded to the toast in
honor of the President, and after some ap-
propriate remarks respecting the need of
respect due the office, and on the duty of
loyalty as fealty to law, he paid noble
tribute to the personal character of our
Chief Magistrate. We hope that, after this
endorsement of the character and services
OF President LINCOLN, we shall hear no more
of the trash with which some Of the press
have been filed. Mr.. EVERETT rightly asserts
that the question of intellectual capacity
cannot be raised respecting the President
after his mastery debate with DOUGLAS He
accords him entire consciousness and
great kindness of heart, aud declares that he
owes it to his genial, sportive temperament
that he has not broken down under the over
whelming burden of care to which he has
been subjected. He defends him against the
charge Of uncouth manners and extreme
awkwardness, and gives him credit, instead
of blame, for retaining the represent
atives of clashing opinions in the Cabinet,
which he defends as a necessity of the
hour. We hope this speech will be
extensively read. 1t will confirm the public
estimate of the ability and fitness of the Pres
ident for his high Office, and will tend to dis
abuse not few of the prejudices they so
groundlessly entertain against one of the
purest and best Of men.
We annex one or two extracts. First of
the Presidents ability:
1.-The President gave ample proof of his |
intellectual capacity, when he contested |
seat in the Senate of the United States with |
Judge Douglas. When I sat in the Senate |
with Judge Douglas, / thought him, for bust |
ness and debate, the equal Of the ablest in |
that body; but his speeches, in the Senate
raj canvass, were in no respect superior to
hV Inc IOl. IL n