, 1865-08-18

AZ last 6oMeIQlpE Is 10 DC Gcle loF SnNA'
da. The depression Of trade, irritation Of
public feeling on political aud social INST
ters, combined with the possible abrogatlon
BY the United ststes Of the Reciprocity
treaty, and the recent ebusliuons Of auneKa'
tional tendencies, have reused the govern
ment TO d sense OF Its position. This city Is
now the scene Of unusual excitement, Hotele
ere crowded with visitors, many of them
distinguished personages, who hare come
here attracted by the Interest surrounding
Parliamentary session. As you pass aloug
the streets there are gathered little knots Of
persons intent upon politics, aud you not
unfrequently cYerhea1 the words "recipfo-
city," 'sconfedera.lon,' 'tminlstes!al ceall-
tion," &c. The death Of Sir E. ?. Tache
involved the government In difficulties In the
selection Of a premier. A proposal from the
Governor General to appoint, AS his successor,
the senior member. OF the ministry, the
othe1s to retain their positions, met With
strong opposition, Jealous Of any, the
slightest Infringement Of the constitutional
basis Of Last session, It wss coutcnded that
to appoint Mr.. Mcdonald THE senior mem.
ber) to that Office, would be nothing more
or LEES than q disruption Of the coalition,
and .would operate prejudically upon the
balance of parties. Mt. Cartier aud another
were aImfarly rejected; and there were indi-
cations at one tlne Of a rupture which would
sacrifice the pnb1ic weal to party rivalry.
Fire days were uselcssly consumed, when, at
the last moment, after no small amount Of
ditputatlon, the selection fell upon Biz Mar
cikeus BelleAu, wealthy french Canadian,
formerly member Of the Executive Council.
He acts as Premier and Receiver General
Mr.. pougal as Ad mlnlstrator Of Education,
and Mr. Mcdonald, Minister Of Militia.
TIE NEW PREMIER.
The selection Of Sir N. Be1leau was as un-
expected as 1t appears to be unsatisfactory.
Pnbllc expectations were affectea TO some
one who, although not q party leader, yet
possessed q greater amount of political tntlu-
e1ce. Ono of-the Ministers on the consetva-
tive side EXPRESSED himself In no very mea-
surcd terms, 1ema1king that Mr Belleau, "a
man, who had never represented q constitu-
tried and bsen defeated, WIS 8 singular per-
son to elect for such q position u; and further,
"that he had no Influence and did not com.
mand single vote in either house." We
need not so far, however, for q precedent to
show that it Ia not absolutely necessary for
Premier to be the su,s'nuta bonam Of political
acumen or position. In England It matters
not whether Premier be party lesder or
Otherwise, for the people care less upon whom
rests party responsibility than for the proper
discharge Of business.
MEASURES BEFORE PARLIAMENT.
This ls 9 Euomentous epoch fer Canada;
every step that the Government takes will
be bclutinized with anxious eyes. 1t Ia to be
hoped the parties In the House will not re-
interests OF the country are neglected. Jude-
| ipg from the meetings 80 far, with the eI-
| ception of dereltctlon in this respect at the
| outset, they baye entered Into business With
| c1editable ea1nestEess. A strong opposition
prcmises salntaFy results, Neyer has tho
| lkgielAtute had such an ACCUMULATION OF i'm
| portant business. Reciprocity, confedcra-
lion and constitution Of local governments;
representation By population, the inter-colo-
NAL railway, settlement Of school system In
| Lower Canads, pte'al subsidy, the Moth.
vest territory. defesces, money loans.L;an -;sIi
that they are justly censured for previous
slotb, ministers are striving to allaT the fears
! Of the timid, md to quel1 the c1amor OF the
more bold, By an effort Of energy. No secret
Is made Of the line Of policy they intend to
purlae, excepting as TeEasdsa Z, q, ne mode a o.
reciprocity question. The principles Of 4
coalition formed at the close OF the session Of
1864 are, with soma slight notifications. to
be adopted. Embodied In the form Of an
agreement made at the close Of. that session.
and forming the basis Of present policy, they
may be Of interest.
"The Government aru prepared to pledge them.
| s.ly.s TO bring In measure next tesslon 1.-The ono
now holden] tor The tutpo.e or removing exist ng
dihlculue. by Introducing The Federal principle
permit The martins psoviIcea and the North
west Territory TO Be incorporates into the Gove.3
ne1t. And he G9yetnnsnt IT. wtn sesk. ,, ~ Eng q
Ergla16, TO secure The asteut Of those Interest!
which ate beyond onf leRis!aiiys control. TO ents
upon tho Federal principe"
CONSIDERATION AND RECIPROCITY.
By this amalgamation It Is hoped to Dc
ye1op the RESOURCES Of the county, and X
Ea11iate the evils arislpg from the withdraw i
Of reciprocity and consequent hostile tariffs
Coe.cion Is entirely discarded. Tbs opp3A
ton to the scheme by Nova Scotia and New
many persons noubt Its suc:css. some scou
II as imprac acttcablc. Providing that tht
greater scheme for the confederation Of al
British North Amer2ca be found Impossible al
present, parties are resolved on its p.osccu
tIon upon the two Canadas. On the subject o.
the Reciprocity Treaty the Government dc
rot think the time bas set arrived for de
claripg the manner in which they will ap
p1cach the American Government. Soouel
that time arrives the better. Loud com
4
ment Of the matter. The mission Of oul
two ambassadors 10 Washington Ii considered
futile Of results. Three months only, and
the American Congress meets. Day by day,
the Importance Of the treaty to onl
vel. I.beipE {s increasingly felt, and its renewal
regarded more problems teal. The fact that
Canadian produce entering tbs United States
markets will have to pay duty of 20 pcr
cent, .e1cltes apprehension; and, notwfth,
! standing the atsu1ances' that America Is IN
equal participator Of benefits, It Is felt that
We are LEES able to suffer abro9ation. "A hope
exits in Montreal that the United State.
pal Tor one year, 50 that time will be afford
cd for matuit negotiations. Whatever MAY
! have led 10 the hope no one is prepared tt
I say. Government must at once adopt meas
nres which will meet the e1igencies follow
ing the possible Withdrawal of the treaty, Of
serious consequences must e1sue. We a1t
told Of their determination to consolidate
British power In this country; perhaps 1t /
British Inspiration which Ventared the cour
age, to use Minister'S owo words, to retust
ITO bend the knee and beg the renewal Q
eaid that Canada WAS subject to their (th,
United stateB} caprice anA discretion
Among miniatels little Independence may
SAVIOR well, but cool thinkers teproach thl
country ior its reticence, and foretee clish
which must resolve Itself into ona Of but twt
Alternatives
WHAT WILL COST.
Il Finances formed anything but htpp!
theme In what little allulon, WIS made Il
promised 10 perform good share, nut ther'
is cpe as heavy, II not heavier, for Canada
This Government under takes all fortifcAtiuu
. vest Of Quebec, for which purpose 1t mus
| borrow Gl5 0o0, 600 or E20. co, coo In addition
to $500, ,oco to1 The purchase Of the Hudson
One peculiarly strikes us In the latter case
Acknowledging that doubt exists as to th'
legal night OF tho Hudson Bay Company t
this territory, It is thought better to ayott
expensive litigation to pay down quietly 93,
| OK, 900. II NE were to suppose that Eng
their House Of Commons, We should no
probably be far wrong. Well may me,
! ehake their heads IN concern, where figure
like these are ar1ayed. They may not deen
!, ! Il polite to speak their minds, but they d.
noI, for all that, lack companions.
TEE ANNEXATION QUESTION.
have so far avoided, as much 80 apostolic
an expression Of M. own opinions, and, 9
, ican journals ore Advocating the policy Of c'
| etclon, aud Others are trying TO Prov
an overwhelming disposition Of Canadian
: 10 Union With the STATES, 1t is clear they ar
both wrong. American newspaper writer
coming mere nave MfAIl1ply utst aEsQme
+ and then bo1stered up their doctrine Of Cans
dian desire for annexation whilst, on th
+ | other hand, the Potter doctrine has produce
acerblty, which uny develop into oppositio
on The parts of those who had otherwise bee
friendly to annexation. The indignant DIN
E ais Of Canadian papers Of existing tendcnci!
! | In the direction Of annexation are also In th
, came extreme.
In my next will endeavor to give an nj
ptetndiced account OF my observations, etc
; In relation to annexation, aud Il I add n
/ humble opinions they will as nny rate Dc fit
from distortion. Meanwhile pa1llkmcnta,
> interesting correspondence. . n.
q Cen. Harvard vs.. Gem. Coz on Ar