Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-23
Iniun and Ameritam.
SATURDAY. June -. 1866.
THE CANADIAN NOBILITY.
TITLES. DIGNuTIES AND FORMS.
An American Royal Legislature,

An American Royal Legislature
Mr.. COFFIN, Carleton" writing fror
Ottawa, gives the following interesting ac
count Of the Canadian Parliament:
THE GOVERNMENT.
The present Governor General is Lor,
MONCE-an Irishman, said to be Of no grea
accOunt-in stature of medium hight, darl
hair, lover Of good living, who doubtless
can live well on an annual salary Of S3l, III
in gold which the Canadians Cheerfully pay
for their whistle royal. The heads of De
partments are the Government, and my
lord is only a thing, having no voice in tn,
Government. He might with appropriate
ness be called sentiment-an idea-or with
no disrespect intended dummy The
leading spirit of the Cabinet or Ministry is
Mr.. GAIT, Minister Of Finance. Next to
him stands Mr. CARTTER-the same who
proposed three cheers for JEFFERSON DAVIS
in the Parliament House at Quebec lie is
AttOrney General for Canada East
The Minister of Agriculture is Thomas
D'AGCY MCGEE, dark hued Irishman with
a mop Of black hair and black eyes-the
best speech maker-in no sense an orator,
witty and wordy, who was once n citizen of
Boston, Of no account there, but now the re-
cipient Of $1,000 per annum in gold. The
premier is Sir NARCIssUs BELLO, Of Toronto
Sir Is another word greatly revcrenced
here in Canada. 10 means that The gentle
man is a Knight but what Knight has to
do more than any other man, / don't know
There are twelve heads Of Departments, and
the political machinery is therefore cum
brous, and rs there are but two or three men
of ability in the Cabinet, the machinery is
weak. 4 gentleman thoroughly conversant
with Canadian politics informs me that the
present ministry is composed Of a "set Of
iinbc"iles." Warming with his theme, he
added: "Thcy run the machine for their own
benefit, and don't care a copper for the good
of the public. They 60 for confederation,
because they hope to make something by it."
rs the gentleman is not Of the Government
party, some allowances may be made for po-
litical prejudice; but that the public good
takes care of itself instead Of being fostercd
by the Government, is very evident, even 70
a casual observer.
TIE BUILDINGS.
The buildings, three in number, are not
yet completed. They stand on three sides
Of a plrallelogram, the Parliament house on
the north, the Department of Agriculture on
the east and the General Postoflice on the
west. The situation is on an elevated bluff,
three hundred feet above the river, comman-
ding panorama Of great beauty. The ar
chitecure is Norman Gothic style. The
walls are cream colored sandstone and rose
colored limestone. At distance the APP
pearance Of the the building is imposing,
but nearer view is less satisfactory. The
workmanship is rather shabby in some par
tculars. The architects have surrounded
the turrots and covered the roof with iron
railings, in blue and gilt, which detracts from
the beauty. The buildings and grounds,
when completed, will cost three million
dollars
The council and assembly chambers are
patterned after the British House Of Com
mons and House of Lords, except that there
are galleries on all sides, the Canadian Par
Lament being more democratic than that of
England. The acoustic properties are faulty.
Very little Of what is said on the floor can
be heard in the reporters gallery. Theread-
ing rooms-there being one foreach House
are supplied with every paper published in
the Canadas many of those in the Provinces,
aud the leading papers of the United States
and Great Britain.
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.
The Government intended to make the
opening Of Parliament n grand occasion, but
owing to the troubles along the boundary no
unusual demonstrations have taken place.
Two hattalions of volunteers and compa-
nv Of boys formed a guard for the Governor
General Lord MoNCK, who entered the
council chamber, accompanied by his staff,
aud took n seat on the throne
His regal dress is profusely embroidered |
with gold lace. Col. IRVING, of his staff, is |
an old grey headed, stout, John Bull, and |
the Junior members Of the staff are Junior |
Bulls, having the Bull cast Of countenance, |
the Bull cut of whiskers the Bull complex |
ION. indicating the excellent beef, and doubt |
les possessed of the Bull intellect-est:ma- |
bic gentlemen, who glory in being bulls
What llummerv Look at the Canadian |
Lord There sits the only real Lord upon /
the scarlet throne. BY his side stands the |
holding up the great gol- |
den mace-a magnificent bauble, five feet |
long, and big enough for beetle-the en-
blem of royal authority. On either hand of
my lord stand the ministers, in gold en-
blue coats, wearing swords. The
Secretary OF the House is noticeable for his
putting You in mind Of lions
maue.
The Chaplain appears in white bands
Episcopal robe and red scarf tied about his
neck and hanging down his back. More
than these is the Speaker, wear
ing a three cornered cooked hat, rs if having /
come down from "fOrmer generation The |
honorable members st with their hats on or
ptl, rs may suit their inclination. The Vicar
Ocncral of the Catholic church, in long
black robes and 4 clergyman OF the English
church. have seats on the floor rs represen-
iajives Of the two recognized religions of the
provinces. The French Consul, with deco
ratiuns OF honor upon his breast, sits i'm COM
placcnt dignity BESIDE the Mayor of Toronto.
wears a huge gold chain rs the emblem
II his office. The L...e, round, bustling,
doorkeeeper, wearing Il court
dress, white necktic, a swallow-tailed coat,
with a brass plate upon his breast, evidently
feels the responsibility resting upon him,
and throws open the door with supreme dig
nifty. But most magnificent of all is the
lshcr--a thin, spare man, with n trill shirt
bosom which seemed 10 have got loose from
confinement beneath his vest, and which
rustlcs with his every motion, reminding one
VI a nag of truce waving in the breeze He
wears close fitting long hose, after the fash
ion of our graudhthcrs and is another relic |
pf the oldon time. See him rs he goes out
.o summon the House OF Assemhly-hc bows
like an acrobat to my lord upon the throne;
il is a profound Salyo; an inch or two lower
and hc would turn summersanlt or fall
hcadlong upon the floor; he retreats back
ward. Ii would never do for him 10 turn
his back upon the royal dummy mo
lisrcspert 10 Lord MoNCE. Half way
down the hall lac bows again and
lourishes his black rod, tipped with gold.
lie is the usher Of the black rod. Why |
black instead Of blue, or green, or yellow, I
don't know. Ii is such flourish as necrO-
delight 10 give to mystifed audi
ruces. Again stepping backward, the shirt
rrll reaches the bar beyond which regal
rtlulgence is not suppose 20 shine; then,
bowing once more profoundly, the usher is
allowed 10y etiquette to follow MS nose In
stead Of his coat tail.
The House Of Assembly enter, preceded
by the usher, who bows, hourishes his rod,
advances halfway, another bow and flour
sh. another advance and final flourish at
he foot Of the throne, and the shirt-frill has
performed its part of the ilummery. The
members Of the Assembly may not place
heir feet insid the bar. They must not
some beneath the full glory Of the sun.
They stand outside and listen to the words
from the throne. They also have now