The difference They evidently With all possible respect for his intentions and abilities, the foregoing despatch evidently proceeds upon erroneous views in relation to the matter in question, and which are quite inexcusable in the Colonial Minister, but common to all English Statesmen, who uniformly confound the existing differences with those which subsisted between the old colonies and the parent state. The difference between the two cases we have already attempted to shew. They confound too the present condition of this Colony with the condition of the old British Colonies, when their revolution broke out. here we have also attempted to point out. suppose that we would be glad to join the United States. This is not so: the manners and habits of the majority of the people of this Province are essentially different from those of the adjoining countries. The Canadians well know that they would be merged and lost in such an union, and we all know that, according to a fundamental law of the United States, all imposts upon goods imported from abroad, are payable into the National Treasury; that we should be charged with duties greater than we could bear, as appears by their Tariff, and that we should be obliged to obtain supplies for the civil expenditure of the country by direct taxation, a thing that we have not been accustomed to and which we do not like. The less blame attached to Lord Goderich for this recommendation, as it was but calculated to carry into effect the following clause of the report of the Canada Committee of 1827: "Although from the opinion given by the Law Officers of the Crown, your Committee must conclude that the legal right of appropriating the revenues arising from the act of 1774 is vested in the Crown, they are prepared to say that the real interests of the province, would be best promoted by pla cing the receipt and expenditure of the whole public revenue under the superintendance and controul of the House of Assembly." In accordance with this view of the subject, the Imperial Parliament passed an act in the 1st and 2d year of his Majes ty's reign, authorising the Legislatures of this Province and of Upper Canada, to appropriate at their discretion, all the monies which may arise from the duties imposed by the Act. 14, Geo. III. Although no blame for these measures and their consequences attaches to Lord Goderich, some does to the late Mr. Huskisson. He was evidently unequal to the position of Colonial Minister; and, as men placed in situations above their abilities are too apt to do, he shrunk from the responsibility incident to his office; and, as a weak and timorous General convokes his council of war, so did he move a committee in the House of Commons to enquire into the Civil Government of Canada, and obtain from them such advice as would justify his future proceedings, whatever effects they might have upon the future colonial interests of the Empire. As matters now stand, it requires not a magician's ken to see that the British Parliament will be driven to the necessity of resuming the appropriation made by the 14th Geo. III., which has thus been surrendered; and England may then say to this Colony, Quoties volui congregare filios tuos quemadmodum avis nidum suum sub pennis, et noluisti? 228 No. XXIII. CONCLUSION. QUID autem habent admirationis, cum prope accesseris ? Having thus examined the more prominent public proceedings of the Session of 1831, and vainly sought the reasons of the admiration of his Excellency Lord Aylmer, expressed in his Speech at the close of that Session, it remained for me, in order that no portion of the subject might be omitted, to examine the various Messages transmitted by his Excellency to the House, and to ascertain whether the course pursued by the House in relation to them was such as to produce a sentiment of satisfaction in his breast, so great as to burst forth in the expression of the admiration with which his Lordship was pleased to honor them as the high meed of their labours. The following is a list of the Messages of his Excellency with the proceedings had upon them: 1. Two Messages of the 24th and 25th January, acquainting the House that, by reason of severe indisposition, his Excellency could not meet the House in Provincial Parliament. Referred to Committee of Privileges; Committee report the course adopted by his Excellency to have been irregular. House concurred in the report. 2.-Message with plans and estimates for the erection of a Penitentiary and House of Correction at Quebec ; referred; committee report; report committed. 3.-Do. Transmitting proceedings had by Trinity Board in relation to the erection of a Light House on the Island of St. Paul, and an address praying for a remuneration to certain officers for extra services, together with an estimate of the expense to be incurred in completing the Light House at Anticosti; Bill to provide for the establishing of light houses at Anticosti introduced and passed. 4.-Do. With public accounts for 1830; referred. 5.-Do. With copy of communication from the Commissary General on the subject of the Currency, and informing the House that the Commissary General was then absent on public duty; address from the House for further information on the subject. 6.-Do. Relating to the renewal of Commissions, acquainting the House with the proceedings had upon that subject within the colony, with an extract from a letter of Mr. Hay, Under Secretary for the Colonial Department; referred to Committee of Grievances. 7.-Do. Recommending the subject of the Chambly Canal to the consideration of the House; address to his Excellency upon the subject. 8.-Do. Accompanied with opinions of Crown Officers relating to renewal of Commissions. 9.-Do. Recommending an advance for the payment of needy witnesses at Montreal; no proceedings taken by the House upon this Message. 10.-Do. With public estimate; referred. 11.-Do. Relating to Boundary Line between Upper and Lower Canada; bill to regulate introduced and passed. 12.-Do. Recommending the House to provide for the expense of remitting certain fines by the Collector at St. Johns to the Receiver General; referred. 13.-Do. Relating to Emigrant Hospital; bill for its support introduced and passed. 14.-Do. With an account of expences incurred in 1830; re ferred. 15.-Do. Relating to repairs of Court House at Quebec; referred. 16.-Do. Respecting New Market at Montreal; not referred. 17. Do. Relating to Court Houses and Gaols; bill introduced to authorize erection of; introduced and lost in Committee. 18.-Do. Recommending increase of salary to certain public. officers; referred. 19.-Do. With copy of Imperial Act, 1, Will. IV., c. 23, relating to actions; bill introduced and passed in consequence thereof. 20.-Do. With copy of Imperial Act, 1, Will. IV., c. 4, relating to renewal of commissions; referred to Com mittee of Grievances. 21.-Do. With a proposed Civil List; referred. 22.-Do. Informing the House that Mr. Routh, the Commissary General had returned to Quebec. 23. Do. Relating to Gaol at Sherbrooke; bill introduced and passed for relief of Commissioners for its erection. 24.-Do. Recommending renewal of the act relating to the salary of Tidewaiters; bill introduced and passed. 25.-Do. Relating to Hospitals; referred and further proceedings had thereon. 26.-Do. Relating to Agriculture; bill introduced and passed for encouragement of. 27.-Do. Relating to Royal Institution; referred. 28.-Do. Recommending advance to needy Crown Witnesses at Quebec; not referred. 29.-Do. Respecting qualification of Militia Officers; bill introduced and passed. 30.-Do. Relating to education of Deaf and Dumb Persons; referred. 31.-Do. Education and Schools; bill passed to encourage them. 32.-Do. Relating to Chaudière Bridge; bill to appropriate a further sum to complete it, passed. 33.-Do. Recommending a further sum for exploration of country between St. Maurice and Ottawa; not referred. 34.-Do. Relating to Montreal Harbour, further proceedings had in relation to. 35.-Do. Relating to Customs at Nouvelle Beauce; further proceedings had thereon. 36.-Do. Relating to Communication between Upper and Lower Canada; further proceedings had thereon. 37.-Do. With Widow Rolette's Petition; Idem. 38.-Do. Relating to Judges' Circuits; not referred. 39.-Do. Informing the House that his Excellency had suspended the Attorney General. Clerk of the House ordered to furnish that officer with copies of all documents relating to the complaints of the House against him. |