The Portland daily press., 1868-04-07
DAILY PRESS.
ND.
Tuesday Morning, April 7, 1868.
Dominion of Canada.

| Su iOI tLC dooituiIdtlOu Vi CuTIcuCN Ot NO
va Scotia to that of Canada. But so strong
has been the expression of dissent from thi
measure that Mr.. Rose has consented to post
pone the requirement for the present. The
Nova Scotian currency is closely modelled up
on our own in the United States; and it i:
very wisely suggested that should our Con
gress adopt the International standard agreed
to at the Paris conference, the currency o.
the whole Dominion will soon be adapted tC
it, and it is desirable to avoid any change in
the Nova Scotian currency at present, which
will, perhaps, have to be again changed very
shortly. A Montreal paper suggests that il
the assimilation were brought about by re-
verslng Mr.. Roses plan, and adapting the
whole currency to the Nova Scotia standard
the much complained-o silver nuisance would
disappear. The British shilling would be
worth just 20 cents, and the American quar-
ter dollar would be worth nearly as much.
| Bank bills, In that case, would not be SO much
more valuable than silver, as to prevent their
| circulation.
REPEAL.
The Nova Scotia delegation, consisting of
the Hon. Joseph Howe, the Hon. VIM. An
nand, and two members of the provincial
Parliament, have presented their petition to
the Imperial Parliament 1t is quite long
but we give the telegraphic summary:
1t sets forth that the inhabitants OF Nova
Scotia have hitherto governed themselves,
framed their own laws and dispensed their
hot fha A. LII
thrown their institutions and initiated pro-
cess of dismemberment. The petition objects
to the further extension of the frontiers of
the Dominion, which it states will then be
beyond the possibility of defence, aud states
that the people of Nova Scotia protest against
the Act because it deprives them OF the right
OF selt-government, and subjects them to
enormous cost and inconvenience, by COM
pelling them to transact a vast amount of
public business in city 800 miles distant,
which formerly they despatched in their own
capital. 1t transfers to the Government at
Ottawa powers more extensive than the
Queen and the Imperial Parliament ever ex-
erclsed, and vests in that Government the
entire patronage of the Post Office, Revenue
department, Lighthouses, aud Public Works,
constructed by the people of Nova Scotia at
great expense: it transfers the ownership of
railways to the Dominion without equivalent
takes from Nova Scotia the regulation OF the
trade, Banking system and Savings Banks, of
her sea coast and Fisheries, her Militia, her
Courts and Criminal law. 1t transfers the
Customs duties for sum which is no equiv
alent. 1t confers upon the Dominion Par
lament the right to burden the trade of Nova
Scotia with the world at large to protect their
manufacturers, &C., &c.
Inc petition goes on to state that the Act
OF Union is most distasteful to the people of
Nova Scotia, who believe it unjust, and un-
called 1er. 1t characterizes the mode in which
It was prepared as surprise upon the people
and fraud upon the Imperial Parliament,
No scheme resembling the Dominion Act was
submitted to the people, and it has since
been condemned at every hustings with a
unanlmity never before witnessed on a pub
nc question. The petitioners trust the Act
will be frankly withdrawn and cancelled.
Ihe document is signed by 50 members of
Parliament.
THE RED RIVER REVOLUTION
We mentioned last week in brief para
graph that section of the people of the
Red River Settlement had shaken off their
allegiance to the Hudson's Bay company
and established government of their own.
Their capital, so to speak, is at Manitoba,
| not far from the seat of the Red River gov
eminent. The revolution has been an en-
tirely bloodless one, and the new Govern
| ment through its President, Mr.. Thomas
Spence, formerly resident of Canada, have
addressed tl.e cvaS-I1ar
| ed him of their intention to remain loyal to
the Crown of England. The movement is
said to havesbeen brought about by certain
acts on the part of the magistracy,' and by
the discouraging delays of the existing
Ottawa authorities in bringing the Red Riv
er colony into the Dominion; but doubtless
there are other causes at work. The settlers
in that region are very largely from the
States and belong to class who have de
cided preference for managing their owr
affairs. We shall await further developments
in relation to the affair with no little interest
DIsAFFEcTIoN IN NEW BRUNSWICK.
The secession leaven seems to be spread.
ing in New Brunswick. The bitterness
against what is scornfully called the "Can
muck Government grows daily more appar
ent, and it would seem that the Provinc
is nearly ready to follow the example of Nov;
Scotia. The st. John Globe of recent dat,
says;
The dissatisfaction with the Union is dai
ly and hourly increasing. There seems tt
be no escape from the troubles that beset us
but in the repeal of the Union. the vacanc
in this county offers an admirable opportunit,
to test the feelings of the people upon thi
point. Let candidate come forward il
open and undsguised hostility to the Union
and he can be elected, we think, by a two
thirds vote.
On the following day the same paper says:
1t is freely stated that an effort is abou
being made to induce one OF our leading mel
chants, member of one of the first busi
Less firms in the city, and gentleman whC
has already served with credit to himself, an
advantage to the country in the Legislator
to offer as candidate for the vacant seat /
this county. The object is not only to get
respectable representative, but to test th
feelings of the people on the question of
repeal of the Union. Requisitions to tn
gentleman above indicated are, we under
stand, being very numerously signed.
A CURIOUS CASE.
A very curious law suit is at present befor
the English House of Lords. 1t involves
claim to Scotch peerage, and to the posses
sion of vast estates in Nova Scotia and Car
ada, with titles and privileges and prerogi
tives almost regal in their extent, and inclut
ing, inter ALA, the right of creating baronit
} and comforting baronetcies. 1t seems that
1921, James I, granted to Sir William Ale!
ander. afterwards Earl of Stirling, chartt
bestowing the territory of Nova Scotia an
part of Canada upon him, with the power
creating cities, ports, &C., enacting laws, il
ficting punishments, coming money, bestoy
ing offices, titles, rights, &C., building fortress
es and raising regiments, and generally GOV
erning and maintaining the colony. By tw
' other charters under the Great Seal of SEQ
! land, Charles l., confirmed these right, an
all the charters were ratified by Act of Par
o ament in 1888, chap. %, Sir William ente
ed into possession of Nova Scotia, and expt
!, renced the powers conferred upon him
the charters granting lands and conferrin
!. baronetcies. Among others, he created
John Browne Baronet of Nova Scotia,
whom Lord Kilmaine, in Ireland, is
scendant. On the death of the first Earl Il
family seems to have sunk into comparati
obscurity, but in the year 1881 one Villa
Humphreys appeared, claiming to be the Ii
cal descendant of the Earl of Stirling, Al
insisting on his right to exercise the powe
conferred ON the first Earl by the Ro,
Charters. He even executed documents &C