The Portland daily press., 1867-01-03
British American Matters,

Ahc SucDec Dodru OF lTaue mas been
considering the feasibility Of winter naviQa-
ton of the st. Lawrence. The committee to
whom the inquiry was entrusted, have ascer-
tanned that "no insurance could be effected
during the months of January or February,
and that the premium by steamships sailing
early in December or in March would prob.
ably be per cent" As the extra insurance
on the cargo of steamship on these terms
would more than double the freight by rail
rom Quebec to Halifax, no winter port on the
river can be considered available for CONNER
cial purposes. The Chronicle, nevertheless,
believes that the mouth of the Saguenay
would offer safe and convenient landing for
troops and military stores at any season.
The SherbrooEe Gazette complains bitter
ly of the lingering delays of the law in the
trial of the Fenian prisoners, at Sweetsburg.
Mr.. Devlin, the counsel for the accused, inter
poses too many frivolous, technical objec-
tions," it appears. "Really," says the Gazette,
"when we look at those brigands coming into
the Province TO murder aud steal, and at the
dilatory, slip-shod fashion in which the trials
are conducted, people can hardly be blamed
for resolvil that such a farce will not be
played again with their consent, and that II
Government permit and sanction such pro-
teedings, they will, on another occasion, take
the matter into their own hands" Amiable
Gazettel
The Toronto Christian Guardian has the
following decided hit:
1t appears certain that the Unjted States au-
thorities have captured Surratt, and he is in
danger of being tried and executed. We hope
we are not transgressing our usual limits,
when We suggest that the Canadian authori-
ties should Immediately apply 10 the United
States authorities for copy of the proceed
ings in the case" coupled with declaration
that, they could not but regard with displea-
sure the execution of the extreme penalty of
the law in tine case of the prisoner, inas asmuch
as the crime Is ''eminently political
The Toronto Globe reports that tue con-
demned Fenian, Thomas Smith, laughed sew
with him, while his death sentence was being
pronounced.
The Globe strenuously opposes the pro-
posed arrangement for equal rates over the
Great Western and Grand Trunk railways be-
tween competing points west OF Montreal,
declaring that such an arrangement will lead
to consolidation by act OF parliament, and
that consolidation will create monopoly
which will be, in the words of Mr.. Provincial
Secretary McDougalL dangerous to the civil
and religious liberties OF the country"
The Globe also throws cold water upon
the project of the Huron and Ontario canal
and is assisted in this sprinkllng process by
Mr.. George Laidlaw, produce dealer, OF I O.
ronto. Mr., Laidlaw declares that the canal
would be both costly aid useless. It's doubt
iul, he says, if the canal would save single
day in transportation from Lake Michigan 10
Lake Ontario, while the tolls would more
than counteroalance this slight saving Ia tima.
Mr.. Laidlaw further urges that the CONNER
cial policy of the United States Is not gene
rous enough to encourage the Canadians to
build canals for our advantage. II It Is quite
convenient, we would like to have she Globe
or Mr.. Laidlaw inform us just what degree OF
generosity ocould encourage our neighoors to
build canal solely for our convenience.
The Charlottetown Examiner reports
that there has been ministerial crisis In
Prince Edwards Island and resignation of
the Ministry. That paper thus gives the
cause ofdiffculty: "For considerable time
there have been some dissensions in the ranks
of the Conservatives, parity owing to the forc-
ed retirement of the Hon. Attorney General
r,.,, tha tIy Do IY,,a 10
ers were ranged on one side; Col. Gray and
the Messrs. Pope, with their followers, on the
other. The misunderstanding arose out OF
the confederation question" The EramineT
states that 1.-THE Liberal Party stands sadly in
need OF reorganizing."
The st. John IN. b. Globe alludss to the
rumor that the Confederation delegates from
the maritime IrJvinees to England are On
their way home, and says lit is about time the
delegates did return, for they have been living
long enough at the expense of this people,
which is as ungrateful as anything we remeu-
Der in the history OF republics even.
The Quebec Chronicle draws happy au-
gury for the success oil the Confederation
scheme, from the TACT that at celebration of
st. Andrews day in London, notwithstand-
ing the presence of Mr.. Howe and his col.
league from Nova Scotia. whose sole business
in England is to pre- ent Confederation, "pub-
lie speakers and writer's like Lord Eleho and
DIR. Mackay [Chaples-Good time coming,
boys did not hesitate TO speak OF the imme-
diate prospect of uniting the British AmerI-
can possessions in one grand Confederacy.n--
The Chronicle infers that Mr. Howes opposl
ton must have entirely subsided, which In.
ference, masmuch as 1t rests upon an assum-
ed infallibility oisDr. Mackay in point OF good
manners, we are obliged to reject. We rsmem-
Der the Doctors impertinences when he was
in this country as the special correspond
ent of the London Times.
Canadian politics are rather worse than
American. The Toronto Globe, disguised
with the nominations for municipal officers In
some Of the Toronto wards, says "the only
thing to be done is to pick out the worst men
and vote against them" The Sherbrooks Ga
zette, in the course of "a little plain dealing''
with the Richmond Guardian, declares that the
Guardian states what Is false, and what-if the
editor has read our paper-he knows TO be
ialse." The New York press however rivals
these amenities Here Is something worse
from the Quebec News:
The Relief Committee has received altoeeth-
er round sum Of S3O0,000. Out Of this it
has disbursed about $4,000 since the fire. and
of this latter sum $4,000 has been paid to
friends and relatives OF members Of the Relief
Committee for articles of clothing the refuse of
their stores, which were Of little or no use
whatever to the sufferers. There is, therefore.
a balance OF S225,000 to be applied TO some
purpos, or other; and as the Rev. Mr., Racine.
the Rev. Mr.. Durocher, the Sisters OF Charity'
and others who have been charged with the
distribution or relief moneys, tel US that no
more distress exists, and thai the very few ap-
plying tor 1t are net characters worthy OF relief
1t is worth while 10 inquire what Is 10 be dono
with that sum. We know that considerable
amount will have to be paid away in the shape
OF salaries to Mr.. Cauchon's friends and ior
office rent, &c, still the greater portion Of tho
relief fund will remain in the hands Of ths
treasurers. We have heard it stated, and we
believe with truth, that the moneys now in the
hands OF the treasurers of the Relief Fund
viii. not be parted with before June next
About that time there will be q general eieo-
ton, either for the Confede rate Parliament, or
for the Canadian Legislature, which expires
by the const tuition. Mr.. Cauchon, with this
powerful lever, will be in q posiuoa TO wipe
out the rouge element in st. Koch, and gee
hims elf elected as the future representative iox
| that important portion OF tine city OF Quebec
| There are wheels within wheels; but the ciey-
crest of political diplomatists win tail to traca
| the schemes and tricks Of the clique who have
| already subverted our municipal system ror
| their own purposes, and will not stop short