New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-06
CANADA.
IMPORTANT DEBATE ON THB ORGANIZATION OF COW
FtDERAToS-THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ouTyoTbs
@ TO 81

FEDBRATIOS-THE REPUBLICAN PARTY oUTyoThs
q TO 81.
OTTAWA c. W., August D 1850.
From Oar Regular Correspondent.
Last night OF the often deferred discussion oi The
Constitution of Local Legislatures.
Mr.. Dorion led of with amendment Of the Fourth
Resolution arguing that if the duties of the Local Gov
ernments were to be municipal only Chamber would
be sufficient for Lower Canada All questions of i'm
portance regarding commerce, banking currency public
works etc. we're be dealt with By the General Govern
ment. He moved. therefore, that the Legislature 81
Lower Canada be elective Chamber as well as that o
Upper Canada.
He was seconded BY Mr. Lanmbose, who said he rose,
with great ddence address the House, IN language
with which be mperecty acquainted, in reply to e
Hon. Minister of Agriculture, whose eoquence was 90 "t
known He had given the House most eoquent speech
but there argument in H. and no doubt he could bs
as eloquent side as the other. lie Mr. lAl then
proceeded argue against nominated Upper Chamber,
which would produce dead lock in the Government Tho
gentlemen opposite wanted Legislative Union, but they
knew very well they cannot get IT, and so they pToyde
an Upper House that they may bring abont
dead lock, and so lead 10 Legislative Union. IL Upper
Canada can do with one Chamber, why cannot Lover
Canada he had heard no reason TO prove tnat orc
Chamber good for Upper Canada ard YET not good
for Lower Canada The Honorable gentlemen had spoken
of the GOOD feeling existing between the two races, but
there was so much good feeling, why all these precautions
on the part OF the British population why give them
school bill which the Lower Canadians could not toIon
Why guarantee them many constituencies that the Par
lament could ehangel Ii was because they mad 4"
faith in that feeling The good feeling was not stronger
now than it was 20 years ago. He would like to hear one
good reason why House good for Upper but NOT
good for Lower Canada.
Mr. Dunkin said there had been tme since tho
Union when the great majority OF the British population
had not been on the side Of politics. and woraed
with the great majority of the French Canadans-a acs
that spoke strongly in favor OF the good feeling when Lao
been called in question. Then 10 the question OF gua
antees why not guarantee the British minority in Lower
Canada when the Lower Canada majority guaranteed
in lis Institutions against the aggression Of the whole
Rri4i nuula IF With regard
question before the House, be was exceedingly
glad that no new experiment was to be tred
chamber a. inconsistent with the principles, or at all
events with the usages OF the British Constitution and
not in harmony with responsible government. Inc he
publican sagacty OF the United states had confined tDe
single chamber system the Territories but whenever
the Territories raised to States then the two cham
bers were introduced. Then the Local Government OF
Lower Canada would have more important functions TO
perform than Of any other Of the Provinces. 10y reference
to the d resolution OF the Quebec scheme, 1t would DO
found that the control Of the civil and criminal cous on
all the Provinces. excepting Lower Canada, might DO
merged in the general government thus leaving rpoD-
sibity upon the local government of Lower Canada
which did not rest upon the Others.
After other members had spoken DIVISION lock
place with this result For the amendment 81 against
IL, 90.
On the nth resolution Mr. Caucbon moved an amend
ment striking out that part of it which guarantees ths
present limits of the constituencies OF Pontiac Ott"a
Argenteuil, Huntingdon, hisssquoi, bronze, onenofu;
Stapstead Compton, Wolfe, Richmond, Megantic, ard
the town OF Sherbrooke against any future alteration WITH
out the consent OF majority of the representatives of
these constituencies. -
This is to secure these constituencies English speak
ing ones lin Lower Canada,, that the minority ID The
Lower Canada Legislature may not be lessened
Mr.. Gan replied explaining the object OF guarantee
given the British population. 1t was not because 81
any -treatment in the past, but to remove any app
hension of it in the future. The British population IN
Lower Canada had viewed their position with considerable
apprehension aerbey shoudbe deprived ofthe protection
of the representative from Upper Canada herpartcu
interests as they would be in the Local Legislature ard
they desired to have guarantee that they should have
place on the floor of Parliament TO state thercase wnen
they would trust the justice of the majority Theywers
not afraid of the majority of the Lower Canadians 81
French origin; but the time might come when the nom
member for Hocheaga and his friends would rule tnat
majority; and the British population were not willing to
trust their interests IN hands of that party IL was as
guarantee against the party of the hon. member opposite
that they demanded the of place on inc hoof
of Parliament to make their rights known in Legislature
and before the country.
Mr. Dunkin said when this guarantee was offered DO
had no hesitation in saying that be would accept IT, and
he thought that any party who should refuse oy tDen
give this small guarantee OF the prvleee "
being heard on the floor of Parliament, gave but poor
assurance of fair play in the future.
The amendment was lost-Yess "a Nays o.
These we're the two chief points ia the debate lido
rest of the resolutions were carried.