The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-01
the DOMINION OF. CANADA.



Ousbreaks-The Removal of the Seat nj Gov.
meut-Lord Elgin's Rule-Re' siprocity aud
Relations TO the United State s-Ths Confed.
Grafton Plan.
ToRo Sro. April %, 1857.
II the science OF government Was as well under
stood in the past as it should have been by Canadian
statesmen long series Of Experiments viii, perhaps
suffice show that they wee alike and anxious
TO consolidate their country 90 as to make every way
worthy its connection with the empire of which forms
NO nconsiderabe part, No country much less pro-
vince could have made greater progress in material
wealth and prosperity than Canada has done during the
quarter Of century that has elapsed since the rebellion
and can look back to that eventfel period with
perceivng the good results Of the Union Act lS40
Il was no mistaken policy to unite Upper and Lower
Canada under system of colonial administration for
most assuredly 1t better that there should be one
than two separate forms, though it did not
brace homogeneous people. The very design Of the
union was to bring the two races into closer
contact, and ultimately assimilate the laws Of
the two sections which has gradually been done
until now there but the semblance ofdspay between
them The opponents Of the union project proessed to
nothing but disaster rs the result Of the experiment.
but many Of them have lived witness asty their
predictions and to-day rejoicing to find the Franco
Canadians and the Angl0Saxons OF Canada happy and
united people 1t is only too that such result has
been arrv ed at through much difficulty and danger
The grand aim of the promoters Of the union Of the two
provinces was kept steadily in view by those public mon
who really had the good OF the country at hear and de-
spite the many serious obstacles in the way Of its
achievement there faItering in the attempt to
overcome them. However Lord Sydenham may be
blamed for the he took in the inception Of the
union scheme, his memory should be cherished for the
earnes.ness he manifested and the determine
tiOrh o adh IN in ant Tn all, Nha-
bity he may have resorted in certain instances to
not generally approved Of in his endeavors TO
follow the spirit Of the great plan laid down by those
who framed the measures all events he sincere in
the desire that the two provinces should be united in
feeling as we'll as name. The principles OF the union
had been clearly set forth in Lord Duhams celebrated
report the distracted Of the country rendered it
imperative that something should be done to eradicate
all remembrance Of the ills complained Of by those
who had been concerned in the nsurrec-
tor and the first thing to be done was to
get rid Of the called undue influence exercised over
the colony in Downing street. and responsible govern
ment, which DR.. Dunlop faceously dubbed "a trap set
by knaves to catch FOOLS was finally conceded. This
concession has been regarded by many as an acknow
edgmcnt Of the misrule complained OF by the
the rebellion Be that IL may, the advisers Of the
Queens representative started with the design OF ad
ministerng tho government sin accordance with the
well understood wishes Of the people," Responsible
government was carried out n its integrity until at
length the practice led TO difference between Sir
Charles Metcafe and his ministers eliminating in the
resignation Of the latter, and their ultimate expulsion
from the cabinet, the country having sustained the
Governor in the stand lie took.
The quarrel between Sir Charles and the ministry,
which occurred only few wears after the union was
tenn, and II had tho effect Of unsettling affairs for
time. II originated in question of patronage the Gov
cl TO promise appointmen TO young man as the
successor to his deceased father. It was certainly a
small matter to quarrel about but the ministry took the
ground that involved question Of principle and con-
tended that the Governor had right under the sys-
TEN q responsible government, to insist upon such
q paItry appointment as the one question. They
could not brock the idea OF perpctuang appointments
in families although it shown in this instance that
the Governors nominee was the sole prop and stay Of
his widowed mother II sir Charles Me:cafe erred it
the side OF mercy and compassion, for he could
have no personal object in making the appointment
and must therefore be regarded having acted solely
from disinterested motives nobcr spirit than his
never breathed aud this very act which caused SO So
rious difficulty between him and his Ministers affords
the best proof Of his kind and generous disposition He
fully sustained by the country for general cleo
ton following the resignation OF the Ministry Paria-
ment was elected in direct opposition to that which
seemed to be prepared 10 sustain the Ministry against
that the head Of the Executive Council looked upon the
action Of his advisers attempt to render him null
ge to tell them So The good sense Of the people pre-
vailed, and the difference arranged by the substtu
since arisen although the result could scarcely be- con-
sdered fair test of the principle at issue II Is EVIL
dent that the people decided simply as between the Gov
and his advisers and without reference the
question raised The triumph was but short-ived for
the government passed into weak hands and II not
long before the old set OF Ministers we're back in their
places.
that carries matters with high hand for 1t is led into
All sorts Of dcuity by its supineness from which il
find way Of escape and ultimately has TO sue
cumb the country 10 the meantime suffering by the
failure. Such the with the cabinet that
ceeded the general election OF 1874 II dwindled into
nonentity Its chief sought refuge the bench,
and the cabinet soon went 10 pieces.
question OF some importance came up, and II
aroused very great excitement in the country II
n proposal ~ remove the seat OF government from
Kingston TO Montreal and although in direct violation Of
the stipulation In the Union act the project found many
supporters even in Upper Canada Members fastened
their homes on the proposal being limited at, and
those who opposed II at called their constituents
together and asked for instructions how to 1t
appealing to the constituencies, however,
for the party in the House favorable to the removal had
the majority, and the removal effected That any
real injustice done to Upper Canada matter OF
doubt but that act led to the adoption OF the poranbu-
ating system and Montreal did long the OF
government for, In 1s4e when the Parliament Houses
destroyed, the Legislature decreed that Montreal
longer safe place for Parliament to at
and IL arranged that Toronto and Quebec should
four years At time. The alternating system failed
give satisfaction, besides II costly; and finally IL
eminent The question became troublesome 70 the
government for they beaten upon she proposition
@ submit. the settlement Of i 70 the Queen. Rssigna-
and last succeeded In carrying their point getting
her Majesty TO name Ottawa But that selection
IL questioned, and attempts have been made restore
the capital to Montreal or Quebec. that the provinces
are 10 be united.
The question Of the clergy reserves, which had long
been agated by the reform party in Upper Canada
revived with far greater bitterness than formerly and
soon became the staple commodity In political ha.
rangnes by designing politicians, who really had no In.
tenion Of being sincere In their advocacy OF the abroga
ton OF the They simply used IL a means OF
raising themselves TO power and when that end
complished those who had been clamorous in their
demands for the settlement OF the question forgot ali
about their promises, and nj last compelled 70
COVER before the indignation OF outraged people, who
had been duped BY hollow pretensions % long az q
certain set OF men remained in Office, the question OF
aboshng the kept in abcy ance, but only,
IL appeared for the purpose OF being trotted out
stalking horse for use at election umea Time
wore on, and, notwithstanding reformcs were
In the Cabinet this great question was
left untouched the extreme section OF that party
continuing the agitation The opposition kept the
tenor OF their way and left tho government 70 It's
devices until ct length, gathering from the
silence OF their opponents the Ministry ven,ured upon