The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-28
THE NEW DOMINION.
The Canada Pacific Railroad Under Discussion in
characterization Of the Proposed Con-
tracts-The Fenian Invasion-The Official
Correspondence Between the Gov
ernments at Washington Lon
don and Ottawa.

OTTAWA, ontario, April 81 1872.
The most important bill OF the session was intro
duced in the House of Commons last night by Sir
George Cartier It provides for the construction of
the Canada Pacific Railway. According to the
terms by which British Columbia came into the
Union the road Is to be commenced not later than
July, 1873, and completed within ten years. The
proposition OF the government is that the road shall
start from Lake Npissing from which point to the Pa
cifc coast the distance is some twenty-seven hun
dred miles, The work is to be done by private
pany, which shall give proof of its bona tide ability
for undertaking it by lodging with the Receiver Gen.
eral the sum of Sl,000000. Under the bill the gov
eminent will have power to arrange with any one
Of the company now applying for the charter, or
with an amalgamaton OF them. The subsidy to
the company will consist Of lands and money,
the land grant to be alternate blocks
of twenty miles deep, and q money subvention of
some s20000,000. The blocks of land have been
made twenty miles In depth, so as to make the
Dominion grant uniform with that agreed to be
given by British Columbia. The government ex-
pect that the quantity of land in alternate blocks
reserved by them will be sufficient to reimburse the
country for the money subsidy. But, even if it
should not, the Treasury is now in sufficiently
healthy condition. as Sir George Cartier remarked,
to justify the expenditure. spread over ten years as
it will be.
In addition to the main line two branches are
proposed to be built-one from some point in Mani
toba to the boundary line, and another from point
on the main line to Lake Superior. 1t is not pro-
posed to make any grant in money to these
branches, as several companies applying to
carry out the work. There will be difficulty, Sir
George Observed in proceeding with the undertak
ing.
The correspondence between the Dominion and
imperial governments relative to the claims arising
from the Fenian invasion of Canada, was laid on
the table. The correspondence dates back to
June 1870 and the substance of good deal OF il
communicated to the House at the last session,
upon the return from England OF the Hon. Mr..
Campbell, who strongly urged upon the English
government the Canadian claims for damages in
n hcts on the Dominion government by
of the Council requesting Her Majesty's
government to instruct Sir Edward Thornton
representations which he may have made to the
United States government, in order that they may
be enabled to make out statement. The order OF
the Council comes next, and Is general history OF
the Fenan invasions from 1868, and points out in
what respects the United States have failed in their
duty as a friendly Power. Earl Kimberley replies
that the document received had been forwarded to
Her Majesty's High commissioners at Washington
on the 10Th of June.
Earl Kimberley writes informing the Canadian
government that the United States Commissioners
declined to receive the claims expressing his re-
greet at that result and pointing out that the choice
was between withdrawing the claims or abandoning
the negotiations. The last document is the report
of the Council, in which Her Majesty's government
are reminded that John O'Neil, who had recently
been arrested by the United States authorities while
leading an invasion OF Fcnians into Manitoba,
the person who led the raid on the
province OF ontario in 1866, and the
second on the province of Quebec in
1870. 1t also shows that ONeil and others had been
arrested by the United States authorities on both
occasions; once without prosecution to convic-
ton; and that in 1870, having been tried and con-
victed, ONcil was pardoned and discharged after a
very short Imprisonment.
The committee further urge that communication
should be had with the United States government,
representing the continued crimes OF O'Neil and
other persons in such manner would insure their
being prosecuted to conviction, ana the infection
OF punishment commensurate with their repeated
offences.