New-York tribune., 1873-03-20
CANADIAN POLITICS.

STATES BY A NATIVE OF THE COUNTRY.
OTTAWA, March 1G.-Here in the capital city
of the Dominion Of Canada Winter still maintains It's
control regardless OF tho fact that nearly one-hah oi
the first Spring month has slipped away. The ice In the
streets Is piled up three feet higher than the sidewalks
and the heat Of the midday scarcely great enough
to give us the ncipient symptoms Of thaw The ice on
the ottawa River is firm enough for the passage OF
! railway train, il need be, and viii not DC
likely break up before the middle OF next month
Ottawa is capital situated upon the very verge OF thc
wilderness that stretches the northern limit Of the
Canadian settlements the Arctic regions. narrow
belt of cultivated land separates the site of the city from
a range OF granite hills the north and beyond that is
country that has been penetrated only by the rapper
the Indian trader, and the lumbernan The city Is stu
ated at the head Of navigation on the Ottawa River ana
is the seat OF immense lumber trade. Tho Chaudere
Falls furnish unlimited water power, and the mills
there and at the Rideau Falls which are also within the
city limits, have capacity Of 2o00o0OOO feet OF
lumber per The entire lumber trade Of the city
is said TO be in the hands OF Americans In the Ottawa
basin above the city said to be 40CO0 square miles o
territory. largo proportion OF the timber in this
extensive region has been touched by the OF the
lumbcrnan. The drain OF timber has been enormous
however 80 years past and the rayages OF forest
pines has also seriously diminished the quantity avail
able for commercial purposes The public buildings
here somewhat imposing in appearance. They arr
built Of sandstone in the Tudor Gothic style, and cost
something S3OJOOCO The .te occupied by them
limestone bu the south side OF the Ottawa River, and
havngan elevation of something than 100 icetaboye
the stream From the plateau upon which the buildings
stand fine view Of the Chaudiere Falls the country up
and down the Ottawa Valley, and the OF highlands
toward the north is obtained Tho city in 1865 was
Struggling and presented the appearance of half dozen
numbering villages strung together. IL now has 22ooo
inhabitants and IS growing rapidly. In time probably
the houses will be numbered, some good hotels built,
and various other improvements introduced
The first session Of the second Parliament Of the
Dominion was called on the 9Th On that day the
House convened and organized by regccng ts former
Speaker, Mr.. James Cockburn. On the following day
the speech from the throne delivered by Lord
DufTerin, the Governor General. The ceremonies are
almost identical with those that observed on like
occasions in the days OF Henry VIII On Thursday last
Lord Dunern. escorted by the military, welcomed by
sa!yos VI artillery, and surrounded by his staff in bril-
liant scarlet uniforms, proceeded from Rideau Han TO
the Senate Chamber. At the grand entrance OF the
building containing the Hall OF the House Of Commons
and the Senate Chamber he met by the usher OF the
black rod who in his official costume Of knee-breeches,
long hose bag wig aud sword stood ready to usher the
Governor General into the Senate Chamber This
nony performed by the usher advancing backward
and making profound bow at every third step After
Lord Duficrin seated upon Tire thrOne-an over
grown Gilt armchair with q gilt canopy overhead sur
mounted by the British arms in gthe usher dis
patched TO the Hall OF the Commons 10 summon
profound bows the summons delivered TO
the Speaker Of the House, who proceeded
to the Senate Chamber followed by the Commons. This
proceeding always most digned one, and on this
occasion the whole crowd rushed hecr-sketer through
the passages the two chambers very much after
the manner Of q large school OF unruly boys just let
loose and on their way to the playground. After the
assembling Of the Commons the Speaker addressed tho
Throne praying that the Commons might have freedom
of speech in their debates, etc. etc.; whereupOn the
eneral and read the speech put into his
mouth by the Ministry, first in English and then in
Fieuch after which the Commons and the brilliant array
OF ladies' officers bishops spectators dispersed and
Lord and Lady Duffern escorted back TO their
residence. so ended display which annually serves to
illustrate the pomp of attending the performance Of
state ceremonies In the middle ages
The new House consists OF 200 members, Of whom IS
are from Ontario C5 from Quebec q from Nova Scotia,
1G from New-Brunswck, from British Columbia, aud
from Manitoba. AmoAg the number are Sc new mem
bers, which is large proportion Of fresh men in
Canadian Parliament. Tae result Of the late appeal 10
country been unfavOIablc to the Government and 1t
is doubtful whether they maintain their posona and
command a majority during the session. On the first
and only division that has yet been had their majority
was only l6, and desperate efforts made TO So
cure support The Liberal party feel confident Of speedy
success in ousng the coalition Of Tories and socalcd
Reformers who l the Treasury benches. The ses-
sion promises be Of unusual interest, and among
other questions the Canadian Pacific Railway policy OF
the Ministry viii be most thoroughly discussed. Last
night during the debate the address, Mr.. Anson
Green Phelps Dodge, late Of NeE-York City, made his
maiden speech ana placed himself rapport with the
Tory element Of the House. Mr.. Dodge nau-
rahzed last year by special act OF Parliament,
not having been in the country long enough TO
arrive at the honor OF being British subject in the
natural way. Ho has succeeded in becoming the mem
her OF Parliament from North York, where he has made
large investments lumber lands and mills. The speech
Of Mr. Dodge consisted chiefly IN attacKs upon the
republican institutions OF the United States and lauda-
ton Of the advantages Of monarchca government The
United States, he assured the House, had worse gov
ernment than Austria The best hopes OF this continent
ccntcred at Ottawa and the example OF the Dominion
Government was perhaps the only thlng that c0q c0ulS
save the United states. He gloried In being British
subject aud could the House that he loyal
man to his Queen. Mr Dodge proceeded 70 say tnat
YESTERDAY gentleman Of the opposition side wishing
TO convert him odgel to the opposition views OF Llber
alisn and thinking 70 flatter his supposed American
procvities sand that the time not far distant when
Republic when Canada would dispense with the emblens
Of royalty, and when the House could convene ana
adjourn without tho OF that gded bauble referring
the But the gentleman found that he had mis-
st1 his m man. 4q WAS e seaEog eoo No Sao Snd
tho rascatiee that characterized the Govern,
NewYork and other large cities Mr. Dodge then re-
ferred the speech OF Liberal member who had pre-
ceded him, and declared that he could almost nave
believed that gentleman belonged 10 the Legislature
the State of Illinois, which was worse than all else
and not to honorable aud noble body as Ine House
of Commons Of the Dominion OF Canada. Mr. Dodge
took his seat amid general applause from the Tory
benches. He was followed by Mr.. Charlton, who u
another Of the three members OF Congress Who are
Americans by birth. Mr. Charlton declared that Canada
was indebted 20 the United States for many thihgs-
among Others, for freedom from Imperial taxation for
the possession Of numerous inventions for the numerous
and valuable productions Of her literary men, aud for
vast sums of money invested Canadian enterprises;
but the last and best gifts we had received from the
United states Dodge and for this we never could
be TOO thankful. Mr.. Dodge had brought 10 his recOl
lection some lines OF Sir Walter Scott:
Brelthes there with soul 70 dead,
That % himself has said,
This > native land"
aft seems" SAYS Mr. Charlton, that such soul ami
,ates me body of man who brcathes this moment