The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-24
DAILY PRESS.
ND.
Tuesday Morning, December "a 1857.
Dominion of Canada.

Dominion of Canada.
The end of the present short session of the
Canadian Parliament is approaching, and bus
mess is being rushed through with rapiditv
which some OF the steady-going people regard
with alarm. The new tariff and excise bills,
as also that respecting the collection and man.
aSement OF the revenue and the auditing of
the public accounts, have become law. The
new tariff Is, except in a few particulars,
merely the old Canadian tariff made to ex-
tend over the Dominion. OF course, the
changes but slightly affect the people of On
tario and Quebec; but the Maritime Prov
inces findth customs duties largely increas-
ed and there is consequently already consid-
cradle display OF bitter feeling. The people
OF that part of the Dominion have hitherto
been accustomed to low tariff, under which
they have enjoyed a very profitable trade
with the New England States and the
West indies; and the increased duties win
materially interfere with this business. The
duty on spirits imported from foreign coun-
tries has been Increased to 80 cents per gal
len. The excise duty being lett at go cents,
complaints are made that the spirit duties in
crease the difference between them and the
excise to an extent affording too much pro
lection, and injurious to foreign trade. The
duty on sugar. molasses, tobacco, flour, meal
and Indian corn has also been increased as re-
CARDS the maritime Provinces. The same is
true of other necessaries, and as conse-
quence the new stariff must weigh directly
and heavily upon the laboring men. When
Confederation was pending those who oppos-
ed it constantly urged that it would have the
effect to increase taxation both in the form of
customs and of excise, while its friends as
stoutly denied that this would be the case.
Already the Anti's are in a position to say II
told you So" and the natural result to them
is an increase of party strength commensur-
ate with the popular discomfort. 1t begins to
be seen that Confederation is going to be
costly; and the new !" sentiment of national
ity," of which we have heard SO much, has
not as yet attained a sufficiently vigorous de-
veloDment to connterbalance the effect on the
sensitive pocket nerve. In Nova Scotia.
where the opposition to the Union amounts
to positive hatred, this feeling will of course
be intensified by the imposition of additional
duties on their importations, and there is
talk in some part of resisting the collection
OF the revenue by Dominion officers. 1t is
hardly probable, however, that the opposition
will very generally take that form.
1t is to be noticed in connection with this
matter, that the new tariff regulations are
prepared, not as permanent arrangemen ent,
but as a make-shift to last until the House
meets again three months hence, when a ta-
riff that is to last five years is prom ised The
excuse for this is, that it is yet to be ascer-
tanned whether the tariff will yield money
enough. The Toronto Globe does not antici-
pate that the Government will be ready in
March next to say that a higher tariff is nee
essary, but thinks there is very little danger
that they will find that the tariff can be safe
ly reduced. The truth probably is, that the
tariff is called temporary because it is hurried
ly patched up, and Ministers wish to leave the
way clear for revision. fd daf4 als nj
The resolutions relating to the admission
of the North West territory have been adopt
ed, and an address embodying them win be at
once f)rwarded to the Queen. The Canadian
Government expects to be ready by the next
session of Parliament, to proceed with the
business of annexing and opening up the ter
ritory in question. asee snoi7 .arr
A good deal of excited discussion has also
been caused by the fact that the Ministry
have asked for and obtained, in addition to
annronriatian -nf RaA
lions of dollars for the ascertained expenses
of the current year, a vote of credit' to an
indefnit amount to meet demands for VIII ich
they have not yet made estimates. The de-
lay in preparing these estimates, and the i'm
propriety of asking Parliament for money to
spend for purposes on which that body is not
consulted, call out severe animadversions
from the Opposition press. 3-q n s5lsiaao}