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Price: Is. 3d.

THE

SEAT OF GOVEENMENT

CANADA.

(FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1843.— NOAV REPUBLISHED WITH

ADDITIONAL MATTER.)

ALSO:

THE COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS

OF THE

LEGISLATRE COUNCIL.

AND

THE "DOUBLE MAJORITY" QUESTION.

By DUNBAR ROSS, Esquire,

M. P. P. FOR THE COUNTY OF BEAUCE, AND II. U. SOLICITOR GENERAL

FOR LOWER CANADA.

Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgns.

VlRO.

— Multos per annos
Errabant ncti futis maria omnia circum :
Tautie molls erat Romanam condero gentem.

lb.

■>'-A^W^ArfO«^^W^A,«^^A^K>^^Vn>V^S^,A>^^SA^US«NA>^^KA,^kAAAAAA^>K'S<N^V'

QUEBEC:

PRINTED BY E. R. FRECHETTE,

13, MOUNTAIN STREET, LOWER-TOWN.
1356.

\jm.

THE

SEAT OF (lOVERN^ENT

CANADA,

ITS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

ANT)

DOUBLE MAJORITY " QUESTION.

THIS rmir.li vexed point liosngainhcoorac one of the loading questions of the day.
(1843^ No measure of colonial legislation, how(!ver important, (.•itlieii)i<)c!(;' ding
from the llomc Government, or originating in tlio Colony, has hoen treat' : . Ill
po much importance, or agitated with so much Avarmth, as the question of :; ■.,er-
manent locality of the Capital of Canada, — if the measure of that irnportaTi^;j and
that warmth be taken from the degree of rancour and scurrility which seems to
have influenced the contending parties. The subject has been universally discussed,
in Upper Canada at least, with that indecent heat which ever ])otrays the predomi-
nance of selfish interests over reason and principle. The imaginations of the
different disputants have been extremely fertile in the invention of reasons in favor
of their own pai'ticular localities; and hence no subject has ever been discussed
with a more slavish adherence to sectional interests, nor a more barefaced disregard
of the merits of the question in the abstract. The advocates of each rival locality
exaggerate its real or supposed superiority in regard to some one point, which,
cither from instinct or necessity, they treat as the sole essential requisite, — the sine
gvd non of the question, to be considered to the exclusion of all other advantages,
— disdaining, or more probably not daring to put the (piestion on its true basis, and
dispassionately to enquire, — what place or city in Canada possesses the greatest
combination of all the essential requisites for the permanent location of the seat of
Government.

The simple question is : — Which is the most advantageous place in Canada,
for the permanent establishment of its seat of Government, all ihings considered? —
In order to arrive at a sound and impartial conclusion, let it first be ascertained
what are the main points to be considered in making the selection, without refer-
ence to any particular locality. — The groat requisites for the Capital af Canada
would seem to present themselves in the following order : —

lo. Security from foreign invasion.

2o. Easy and rapid coinmunicatiou with the Metropolitan State in peace
and in war.

80. Centrality.

4o. Salubrity. ,

6o. Tho i)0.sflcSHk)u of publu: liuUdiiij/s iiflurdiivg HiiitiilU; aoconuiujcktujii Hjr
tlio .siUiugy ot tlio liO^jiHlaturo uiid tlio n'.sidiMico uf Urn (iovcriior (Jiucnd, tof^dtlicr
Willi iKo iu!cosfliiry Govomuicut olliuy, oc tho giviiUist liitiility li)i' tluiircrocliou (.u
till ocoiiDiiiiad pliiii.

Go. L*i!rin;mfiicy of clij^ii)ility of sit nation in rcwpcct of ivnlndity of Uirritory

(lud populiition. .

Tlu' forc'^oinj^ point* :u'o,i;;iv('n in flio order of tlicif cstimnfcd iiii|)(n-l!incv, :ill(>r
tho most mill uniT'onsiilrnit ion of tlu; siihjivt, jiitliou-^di tliul (jrdcr may lu' tlt'i'iiu-d
an iirbilrary one, iiiid iniiy (litVcriiccordiii;^' to tlio opinions and Jud<fiu(iitofdill'.;rent
persoiiH; l»iit llio ciintiicnitcd rKpiisitcs must in(luliitiil)Iy rntrr ull, moi'(! or l(>f;s,
Into a f:iir coiisidoratiou of tiic iiialtor at is.sm', which cuw only bo acciiialcly dctiT-
uiincd by Hotno simihiritrocosrt of reasoning, in or(U>r to keep the ('n(|uircr within
rational bounds, and to woan him from tho influence of liis jiartiality lt)r particular
localities. It iri obvious tliat tho throe In'st,- ,S rurity, — Facility of eomminiication
with KMgland,~and Contrality, — are tho most osscntial. Tho otlu.T three — ynlu-
l^rity,— I'ublio Huildini/s, and rcrmanoncy ofCc-ntrality, — thougli by no nieans to
bo overlooked, are yet secondary in importance wlien conipared with tlio threo

finst.

In tlio consideration of tho abovo liead.s tlio application will bo restricted U

Ill llie oinriiuil ui iiiv; luiiin^iiu iiini. tiiiiiMi/iwu.-} iiiiinMitniii-.-j yii tiiu jiiiJivi

Town of Hytowu. — Let us then take \\\) the rival Cities in this game, and make
them run tho gauntlet of the foregoing a.ssumed requisito qualilietitions.

TORONTa •

"With refcronco to tho flrst of thcao Cities tho determination ia quickly and
cnaily conic to. — Toronto is palpably deficient in almost all the requisites.

lo. Secimtij from Forcitjn invasim^. — It is utterly defenceless and indefensible.

2o. Commxinication ivilh Evfjhud. — It is too far inland and consequently in-
accesvsiblo from the sea. It has no Sjccure means of communication with the Mother
Country in war, while on the other hand it is in too close proximity to a powerful
and griusping people, who "reckon" that "the whole boundless continent is theirs."

3o. Centraliiy. — It is situaio near one, and tho weaker extremity of tho Pro-
vince. The annexed Table has been formed for tho purpose of affording some idea,
approximately, of the relative contrality of most of the Capitals and Cities of the
world. — The ligures in the column styled "Rate of Contrality, " denote tho ckfi-
ciency of each on this head, estii lated from one to one hundred degrees; — one degreo
implying that a City so situated is almost perfectly central, while one hundred
degrees indicate its situation to be at the extremity of the country. — Thus Toronto,
aa the Capital of the late Province of Upper Canada, is only deficient 8-lOOths. in
contrality, or eight percent removed from the centre of that country, which is calcu-
lated, as well as the other Cities and Towns of Canada, with reference to tho course
of the St. Lawrence, tho best criterion under present circumstances ; although tho
rates of all the other Cities and Towns have been estimated geographically. Toronto
aa tho Capital of Canada, it will be seen, is thirty two per cent deiicient on this
point, and is therefore by no means central.

4o. Saluhrity. — Its .situation is sufficiently salubrious.

5o. Publio Baildimjs. — It possesses some public buildings, but they are insuffi-
cient for the accommodation of tho Legislature of the United Province, and would
diminish, in a comparatively small amount, the necessary expenditure for the
erection of sufficient buildings.

60. Pcrmaniency of eligihiUty. — It is only in tho event of any one place pos-
sessing, at the present moment, a decided preponderance in the assumed requisite

(jMalili.^;
now, an
fore bo
hon-afti
in tiiat
Th
of tho h
sion to

lions, ni
lo.
BtroTig

kt'ujii fur
ivi'.lioii ()U
f U'.rrilory
!inco, nlTor

H' (IcM'TllCtl

iftlilVi ri'iit
ro or Ions,
Irlydctvr-
IV r within
particuliir
mniicntioii
ICC — Siihi-

J UU'llllS to

tlio thrco

slrictoil to
the small

)kc, Tlirco
ineligible,

)ftlio little
and inako

ilcklj and

idcRnisiblc.
uently in-
he Mother
[X powerfnl
t IS theirH."
of the Pro-
somo idea,
ities of tlio
e the defi-
one degree
hundred
IS Toronto,
-lOOths. in
ch is calcu-
the course
though the
y. Toronto
nt on thia

arc insuffi-
aud would
irc for the

place pos-
d requisite

(jaiiliiitjalioiH, ihiit the
now, uiid likely U
lore lie id'
I

t the ],)erinaucnev uf its cli{',il»iiity inH'd 1h5 di*;iirtSid. 'lorontu is

- , -J . » ei)iilinuo, gri;!itly delieieiit in most ul' these; nnd it would tlieiv-

I'ore lie idle t^) urgui- Hpecuhitively upon uiiy advantjigt! whit;h it iii;iy be Hn]>|u)sed
liore;i(l(!r to JUMjuire from adveiitiiious eiiuscM, nri.-ting out of tin inereiuseit j»o[)ul;iticm
in that seef.ion ofthe l'rovi!iCi\ — or otherwise.

'I'Ih! nainful c.onehisioii is then iriovitabh^,— that Tonmto, sr
of tlic hi^ii niindiid iiihiibitanlsof thatTory City, Ih oxchulod frc
Hion to bo the Capital of Canada.

save in the opiiil(Mi
roin liny juMtpreten-

KlNr,S'lX.)N.

Ncixtin order cornos the ^i\iwn of Kin'^ston, nnd its boistcrons pretensions to
II preHircnee, pretlioated, it is presunied, upon its iK)Sses.sing the rctpusitc (jiialiliui-
liinw. in a higher degree than any town or city of Canada.

lo. iScnivil 1/ frum. forci'jn inra.^t'nu. — Kingston isa Jurtified town, aridsnfrieiently
fitrong to bid di!li;in('.o to surrounding nations in the piping times of jieaee. but
by no means foi inidaUe in the event of a war. It is situate on the borders of Lake
Ontario, the waters of which are navigat^id by us in common with a foreign Powt'r
ambitious of naval superiority, an<l not to be contemned. It insiy be bombarded in
summer from the Lake, and redu(!ed toaslies in a few hoiirs. It may be approaclieil
by 100,000 men across the ice in winter, — invested and taken, whilst its metro])o-
litan-mindcd inhabitants are slumbering in fancied security. A serious, and l)y no
means iinpracticable project of this nature, was on foot during the last American
war, and the "sympathising" inhabitants of the opposite frontier, during the last
insurrection, made no secret of their intentions to storm the fortified city of the
Lake, with a small band of their loafing ragamuHins.

2o. Goininnnicntion vnlh Enijland. — Without being so far inland as Toronto,
the site ofthe good town of Kingston is suinciently remote from sea navigation to
render it extremely didicult, if not imjiossible, in time of war, to keep np an
uninterrupted communication between it and tlie mother country. We could not
have a more striking instance of this dilUeuity than the fact that a few jilnndering
"Patriots" from the "land of liberty, " packed in a windmill at Prescott, and the
smuggler, Bill Johnson, lurking amuLstthe "Thousand Islands," Avere sufll cient to
interrupt or render dangerous the navigation of the St. Lawrence. And there aro
many points between Kingston and Quebec as ?X: ' ig as Navy Island, from -which
an enenay, however otherwise contemptible, might do incalculable mischief before
ho could be dislodged.

3o. Gcnlralit;/. — Kington, by the Table, is shown to be twenty per cent deficient
in centrality, and althougli preferable to Toronto, is inferior in tliis respect to all its
other contending rivals.

4o. Sahthritij. — Of all the localities now in agitation for the honor of the Capi-
tal, Kingston is the most unhealthy. * Already have two Governors General suc-
cumbed under the pestiferous in tluence of it.s climate, who, in more favoured localities,
m,ight have long preserved their lives nnd their usefulness.

5o. Public Buiklings. — It has no buildings whatever suited to the wants of a
Capital. It is true that it has a valuable swamji upon which the necessary edificea
may bo constructed at an enormous ex[)enso. It is equally true that they may be
burned down by the Americans in one night, and the vanity ofthe KingstoiJans
gratiticd by the CTCction of new and move improved models of architecture, and
their "deserted village" thus greatly embellished at the expense ofthe Province.

Co. Permanency of eligibility. — Of the six assumed requisite qualifications,
Kingston clauns to possess one in a high degree, namely, the probability of its
increased ...ontrality at some future period. Should the tide of emigration continue
always to flow westward, and the pretensions of Kingston be tested by this prospec-
tive advantage a<? the principal requisite, rcgardlessly of every other, tlien indeed the
inhabitants of the Midland District might have hacl some reason to suppose thiit

• (• 18,56.)

n
i\

Jl
I '.I

/ (

Lord Syhoiihiim'rt chou-o of Kingston for the (.'iinmliiin Ciipital was l)ftHC(l upon
some iiilior t duim to HiUM'riunty, uncoimecto(i with uiiy nuic. to rt^eoiicilo tho
ir|)[)(!r (JiiMiuliuns tolho riiKin, or"''li) lot that country ilnwiininy." The 0)h>n\y.ii-
tioii,howovi!r,orthccxtciisivtuiiul(ortiUsn',"-ionHl>- (liTiiig upon the UivcrSuf^'iieuiiy
iinil Liikc St. John, :iiiil llii; contcMuphitcid cstal)lishmcMt of :i vvoiilthy niid nowcrlnl
company to promote the hiesliiiuHlibli; llsh«'ri('.s»)IG;isp«) Hay, may n'ti(U;r tho h)wcr
districts of tho St. liiiwronco tiie most popidous, tlio most wonlthy and tho most
iinporfiint in tiu; l'rovin(H>. lint in tlio idwonoo ol'uny inoroaso in tho ))opn!iition
ortho lovvi;r extremity ol'lho I'rovinoc, i'rom tiicso or any other Hourocs, it must bo
admitted that KirKr.ston is more likely to possess, henud'ter, tliis sin-do (juality of
contrulity in a higher (lej^'reo than any other; nrovided always — that the politicMana
of tliat' portion of tho IVovinco "do not become more inoculated with lie-
puhlioanisiri. and consetpiently disalVected towards monarchial institutions ;
which possible contiiif^eiu'y wouM rwnder tho future problematical centrality of
Kingston, clogged as it is with many other dcIectH, — utterly vuluolcHS.

MONTREAL.

Wo nmst now subjoet " the favored City of Canada" to the same tost: —

lo. »SEOiJKiTr FiioM iNVAf^iON. — The Island City's pretensions to security
from invasion, fiu'cign or domestic, are so nicngcr, that it is unnecessary todiscusH
them. It may merely be observed m passant, that it is within less tlum twen*
ty-four hours niareli (if the saino colossal iuidgr.'iflj)ing power already adverted to ;
— that tho proximity of its unique monnfain, (in tho hands of an enemy,) rendera
its j)osition worse than delenceless, and that tlie possessioti of this eminence, which
may bo acquired by one night's forced march, would hold the Capital of the Cana-
dius, — the two Jlraiiches ef tho IjOfrii-'Iaturc (w^ero they '\n session,) and the Eoprc-
Bontative of the Britisli Crown, in a most delectable state of submission ; — ])ossmly
with no other means than the rodoubtal^lc Doric Club at their commaiul to retake
the mountain ; — and w(! should then again witness the humlliatnig spectacle of tho
Governor Gencrnl of British North America, like Lord Dorchester, escaping in
disguise in a frail canoo to Quebec for jjorsonal safety.

2o. Communication n;il/i (treat Jiritain.-^'Vho situation of Montreal, though
not so much inland as Kingston, is still obnoxious to the same formidable objection,
that it would not be easy to keep u]i a communication between it and the Metro-
politan state in time of war, for any ]M-acticablc purpose. — Having no bulwai'ks of
its own, it is as much beyond tho protection or "England's biilwarks" both in
■winter and summer, as renotanguishinc on the borders of Lake Huron; added to
this — that tho naval supremacy of Groat Britain would be totally inelFectual aa
respects Montreal, by reason of the inability of that City to hold out for one day.

3o. Ceiitralihj. — As regards centrality, Montreal has the highest pretension of
all, with reference to population or territorial extent, its deficiency in this respect
being on\y fux per cent oy the table. Tested by the centrality which isbasedupon
the facility of eoinmunication, or travel between the two extremities of the Province,
tho merits of Montreal suffer some diminution, as will be shown hereafter.

4o. Saluhrily. — In this particular the situation of Montrcalis superior to that
of Kington, and inferior to that of (Quebec. It is sufficiently healthy to obviate all
objection to its climate, and occasionally sufficiently unhealthy to preclude the pos-
sibility of its claiming prc-cmmence on that score.

Co. Fuhlir, Buildinrjs. — Montreal has no public buildings whatever adapted for
the sittings of the Legislature, or the residence of the Governor General ; nor docfl
it possess any suitable public property within the City available for the uses of tho
Government,— the "llcport" of Her Majesty's Canadian Executive to the contrary
notwithstanding. If so, — where does it exist in sufficient extent, without the de-
molition of other useful public buildings which must be elsewhere rebuilt at an
enormous cost. The ofl rcnterated and idle boast of the superiority of Montreal as
a great — flourishing — commercial city has, if true, no other bearing on the question
of the Seat of Government, than the proportionate augmentation which it must nc-

of th

hiwod upon
roiu'ilo tliu
Ih- r.i»l(itii/,a-
;r Saj^ueimv
ul power I'll I
i.r tlio IcnytT
1(1 tlu! nioHt
)M)|)iiliili()u
t, il inuHt bo
Ic ((uiility of

\r ])(>Iiti(MllllH

(I with Itc-
MHtitutioiiH ;
ii'iitnvlity of"
ilutis.

! test : —

t<) Hocurity
ry todiHcUHrf

tliuii tweu-
.dvcrteii to ;

y,) rciulcra
eiiw, which
of the Cana-

tho Eiiprc-

; — posHiuly
iid to retake
ctaolc of the

escaping in

cal, though
lie objection,

the Metro-
bulwai'ks of
<a" both in
n ; added to
lelFectual aa
r one day.
)retension of

this respect
s based upon
he Province,

Drior to that
;o obviate all
ude the pos-

' adapted for
d ; nor dofts
1 xisea of tho
the contrary
out tho dc-
3built at an
Montreal as
the question
L it must nc-

ccHKnrily onase- in tlio price of the prfiuml to In; pun h;Lsod f- r the erection (T i ub||
buiidiiif^'H.

<5o. /'ii'iiinnnnif »</' cli'jthilt'fi/. — Tlic prcHoiit eligibility, or ineligibility of the
ii»t»T City "f l-ower (.'nnadii is not liktly to be niurh ulUrled, either fiivorubly or

Hi»t»T \ nv i>i i.ovver \. nnauii is noi. iiKt'iy lo ne niurn uneeieo, eiiner luvoruUly or
unfuvonibly, I'V Jin- future condition of the I'rovinte- -Its centnility, !w to pojtuhi-
tion, lui'y possibly b(! i-idmnced by the aniiliorution an<l peopling of the fertile
regioTKi t*» its nouthwiird, — hiai tntcmhi, — that the defection of tho voturicH of
republicanism forms no part of tho vista.

QIKHKC.

l^ist, (and eertaitdy not least) eornes the consitleration of the ancient Cnpittd
of the ('anuilas, the merits and demerits of which shall Ik) tested with all the fair-
jit'ss and impartiality iii h can U; expe(;ted fr(»m a eitizt^n of that place. If tho-
judipnent ol'our modu Provincial Statesmen l)e to bo adopted, the discussion
may Ix; fruitless. Its ui^aiidonmtuit, howi'ver, shall not be sealed without one voice
being raised in its favor ; and should the various (pudilications herein assumed be tho
iru(! orthodox tests, wo shall presently s(;e how immcoHurably Quebec outstri])s the
boiusled advantages of its ])igniy rivals, as wtill in tho number of th(;so qualilicatioiiH
as in tilt! weight and value to be legitimately ascribed to each. The object of the
writi^r is to establish, ni)on just prineiph^s, its infinite superiority over Toronto,
Kingstim and Montreal ; and although he does not assume tlio character of a judge,
pronouncing, in measured terms, and with aflected coolness, upon the comparative
(h^serts of each comijctitor, it is nevertheless to be lioped, that, divested uf any
colouring which jtrejudiee or a partiality for Quebec may impart to the discussion,
enough will still be left to convince the disinterested and dispassionate enquirer,
that tliat city possesses unanswerableclaimst(»a preference — tooe, as it has hitherto
been, the Seat of Ciovcrument of the Canadas, imd as such — tho metropolis of the
JJritish possessions in North America.

lo. iSeciiriti/J'i'x , invasto7i. — The commanding heights and frowning battlements
of Quebec suilicientl^ attest the justice of its claim to be styled the second fortress
on the globe. Nature has done more lor it than art, and science, and wealth
combined can ever do for any other city or town in Canada. It is a great strong-
hold marked (;ut by nature as a site for tho Capital of a great country, and rendered
im[)regnable by a lavish exj)enditure of the wealth of the British nation. Its high
character in tins respect will be conceded by its most inveterate opponents ; it is only
the degree of importance to be attached to this qualification wnieh they will at-
tempt to call in question. It would be well, however, for those who now sing the
praises of Montreal in disparagement of Quebec, to remember that we have tho
best evidence of the o})inion of the inhabitants of the former as to the comparative
Talue of the two cities in point of security, in the well authenticated histoncal fact,
that on the outbreak in 1837 the banking Institutions of Montreal were glad to
remove tlie contents of their coffers to Quebec for safe keeping; and further,
that the General commanding the Forces in Canada at that period, with his stall',
were rea(\y — bag and baggage — to fly to Quebec, on tho first intimation of any
reverse being sustained oy Colonel VVeatherall, who was sent out to subdue a
small band of uiidisciplincd insurgents in tho District of Montreal.

2o. Communicatwn with tlie mother country. — It has an easy and rapid commu-
nication with the United Kingdom during seven months of tho year. It is acees-
sible to the largest ships of the line, and the whole British navy may ride in safety
under its walls. — Its means of communication in winter lie through British territory,
and are therefore incomparably superior to those of the other cities, whoso only
direct route is through a foreign country.

So. Cenimlifi/.—it is more central than either Toronto or Kingston, and less cen-
tral than Montreal, regard being had to territorial extent or population. Its rato
by the Table is minus ten, — that is, within one of the city of Madrid, the most cen-
tral capital of any note in the world. — But of this more anon.

4<). fiiUitf/iilif.— hi r«'Kiu-(l tu ih'iu quiUitkuition Qui^lxx] Worn t)io jwilm. Tti<
cU,'VuU<i jioriiliun in Uuj iniitat ol' ii irouutHinoii.i country criHuri' it, u oiiii,iiiiiiiiu'»> «)!
rufri'sliini^ bru'/i-H, uimI tho nalubrity ul'iUJ climiitow doiihly i'iiluuu.vil hy thograii«
(h'lir oftlie Hiirroymlin/' HCtimry, wliJcli w uiisuijwwwiil hy that of uiiy couuti; »
the world.

60. Jhthlic Jiuiltliin/t^. — ItH iwlviuitugcH an to the fifth (luulillontion liavo Wvn
utU!tii|>to<l U> Vh) uiithsmilcd hythtiviTv im[mrtiiil Hiipfiuik-i-H of'Monlriiiil. (.iu'-ln'o
iH>nH«'NSt'-H Hjiiu.'U)U.s iux!i)iniii(Mlntioiid for thopitfiiif^'rt ol'tlir Logisliit.irc, «iri'ctcil on 11
lim^'iiillcciit scuhi, coiisi.slin^' orii; hiilf— or nithor more than oin- hull" — ofiui ch'^iint
uew i;«lillc«^ built on thu nito of a iiortion of the old I'lilaco of tin." Catliolic; iJirthtip,
and nppropriatcii for tlu) Hall and OIlicoH oftlui Ijuj/islativw AHS('ndily,--lliii otlar
luilf, or rallu-r \vha than ihi; half— of tlu^ roniains of tlu! Hunio Palaci-, which huvi'
been o<*cupicd by the li(!gi«lativo Council and tho OfUcfs attached to it, and which
wore in prof^rt'SM of b(Mn^' rejtlaccd by ft c-ontinuation ol'lhe new buildin^-s upon
the Hame elej^ant se-alo, wIhmi the jxilitiealdisHenHions in IiO\verCanadu)>nt a speedy
j»i;riod to all legislation.* — The completion of thiKHUperbedillee could nolneccs.«»itato
un extionditureofmoro than a tcnith of what tnuHtbe iMcurred in th«;pm'ehaM(!oftho
ground, and the erection of the iieceasary buildings in Monlri-al or Kingston. 'I'ho
wantof a suitable residence for the Governor Oeneral iseonunon to all. — with this
difVerence in favor of tiuebee, — that it already jiossesses spjicious grounils for thut
objei;t, commanding ene of tlie finest prosi)ects on this continent.

60. Permanenri/ o/efifjibiliti/. — \V ith respect to the pci-manency of the prefient
eligibility of Quebec, it must de]>end upon tho course of events. — Shouhl the
country to its southward and westward become very populous, and ri;tain its nlle-
giance tothe liritish Crown, the ccntrality ofQucbee will be diminished in tho
ratio of tho inere:vso of the population of tho south over that of tlu; north. — Should.
hf)Wever, our anticipations in either of these respects prove iMlacious, Quebec will
tlien have lost notliing in importance ; and should it ue found ueci'ssary hereafter
to unite the whole of the British North American Provinces, it will, under such
circumstances, become eminently c<nitral ; and the lavish expenditure of the L'ublio
llevciiue, in tho erection of buildings in localities which will have cesused to bo
central, or the inhabitants whereof siiall have traiusferred their alh gianee to a foreign
Power, will then bo pronounced to have been an act of egregious — irretrievable

Such are tho merita and demerits of tho City of Quebec and of tlic threo other
a^pirantti for tho honor of tho Seat of Govornmeut. -•

In further prosecuting the enquiry as to which of tho localitio-; in question haa
the strongest chum to a preference, it may bo taken for granted, on the onlv sound
principles which must and ought to govern the choice, that no one requisite is of
Kuch paramount importance as to determine the point, in the absence or to tho
exclusion of every other. In default of any one candidate for the honor uniting
nil the requisites, it must then bo ascertained which possesses the majority in num-
ber, or the preponderance in value of tho given tests. Assuming the foregoiiig six
qualifications to be the true tests, — namely. Security from invasion, — Facility of
communication with the Mother Countr\-, — Ccntrality, — SiUubrity, — Public Build-
ings, — jind Permanency of eligibility, — ^it haa been abundantly shewn that Toronto
is preeminent in th j exiguity of its pretensions to tho principal rcquisitcg, and
that; its claim to bo the Caijitalof the new Province could only rest ujion tho pos-
flession of a few public building — together with a sufficiently healthy locality, — a
equality very beneficial to the mhabitanta of that city, and one in which it rejoicos
in common with tho Orandi Calumets and the Lsle of Anticosti. — It has also been
made evident that Kingston cannot boast of the possession of one single qualifica-
tion in a sufBcient degree to entitle its claim to dc considered at all, unless wo
except itfl prospect of becoming, at some fiiture day, more cciitral aa to population.

• Since bunieJ down.

Dut W

folly

.Miitru

upoit

voueli

down

hini in

Kingsi

Miiitiru'<> of
»■ lhi'f,'riin-
;ouuti; <

liavi) Vwon

I'Ctc'll oil H

lU) t'lt')L';aiil
ic liiHli(i|),
-till) other
liicli liivvo
iiiul which
lugs upoti
it u spii'dy
lu'ccssitiito
hii.S(!ot'tho
iton. Tho
—with thirt
(.b I'ur thut

,hc present
ihoiild tho
lin it« ftllo-
It'll in tho
.— Shouhl
lut'bec will
y heiviifter
under .such
'Ihel'ublio
luscd to bo
o 11 foreign
etricvuble

Jirco otlicr

icstion liafl
)nly sound
lisito is of
! or to tlio
or uniting
,y in luun-
ogoing six
''Vcility of
)lie Build-
it Toronto
isitoa, and
n tlio pos-
>cality, — a
it rejoices
also been
qualifica-
inlcsa wo
Opulation.

Hut ;Mu' tvliiba to u pr-Turouoc oJi thlw w.'oro hn k'ou Tor over fviwlrutiul I tin)
folly of it,-i louiidin, ill not Uuving betti.T provided for tho lieullh of tho ei ryu
Metropolis, 'riio oIuiu.'udu.i proten.sionx ot the Kingstoitian.s H(>ein Lo bo foundtMl
upon a total want of «!voiy other nmrit than u furtive jtoHsesHion of tw(» yearn,
voiuihsiiffd to it by l.ord Syiu nhani with a view (h it is Maid,) "to let Upprrdaiiada
down e;isv, " anil proltably Ni eount<"raet tho el\> e,t of tin- dc«'laralioii,s ulliiliuLed U»
him in otlier qinirtiTH, "tiiat it was (juito [)r jH/Sterous to think of t}uit ji\ud-holo
Kingston b<:iii;,' tlioperrnaneut (.'apilal of (/anada. "

'I'ho ehoioe then is betwei i (.iuebeo and Montreal,— -CJik^Im-o riehly endovvetl
with every essential re([niHite, except .entrality, — Montreal highly objeetionabh' in
every point of view, save always its ^.lunted eeiitrality. It will Ibrin an iinportanL
ch;inent in tlu! eotisideration to iMcortain th(: valiu; of thi>4 attribute iij)on whitli
alono thiisiHter liity rests her elaini. In deterniining this point the ligl'ts (h-rived
from <'Xperionce, ami from tho existing condition of tho Capitals of the. various
States and Sovereignties of tho World, more j)artii;ularly of represeiitativo Kuropo
and Jlcpubli(ran America, in which popular institutions have; obtained th<! hway,
n.ust not and cannot bo slighted, witnout a wanton disregard of tho results of his-
tory, and thi5 respe(!t <luo to tho opinions of this majority of mankind. If tho argu-
ments in favor of eentrality, as a fiinc nwt nan, aro to bo borne out by the pra(!tieo
of other countries, recourse must bo had to tho constitutional (lovornmet>ts of
Eurojic, and the Uepublies of democratic Amiirica, for examples in supj)ort of tho
])roposition. If these fi.ruish no data to bear them out, the llimsy Hnperstructurn
erected upon this foundation must crumble to tho ground. Tho results exhibited
by tho annexed table by no moans tend to enhance tho value of a central powitiorx,
much less to determine its being tho prinuiry object in pointing out tho b<!st luax-
lity for tho scat of tho (lovcrnmeut of a country.

Tho rato of eentrality, — or rather tho avoragr deheiency in eentrality, of tho
different countries enumerated in tho Table, is as follows : —

The Capitals of liritisli America arc 23 degives removed from the centres
of their rcs[)ectivc territories, or 23 percent dcficicutm centraliy,. 23 "

Those of tho IFnitcd States, 30 "

Europe, 80 '♦

Africa, 84 "

Central America, » . 30 "■

Asia, 8i) "

. South America, 40 "

Tho average deficiency of the whole is. 81 »

Of Ibrty-six European Capitals, seven only are central cities !

Often British American Capitals, two are central !

Of thirty United States Capitals, ten only aro central. — Three are more central
than Quebec, and ttventy^even less central ; and their principal Capitals, iiuch aa
Washington, Boston, Providence, Albany, Richmond and New Orleans are far from
being central.

Of the eleven Capitals of Central and South America, not one is central.

Tho average deficiency in eentrality of tho Capitals of tho States of Europe
enjoying constitutional Govemmenta is 29, while that of the Capitals of tho Statts
ui!<!'.r the sway of despotism is only 28.

The deficiency of Quebec as the Capital of Canada Is only .0, while that of
^,he Capitals of Europe and the United States is 30, and of all tuose enumerated in
tho Table 31.

Of all the Capitals of Europe, the hapless City of Madrid alono is central, — a
prey to all its enemies, whether foreign or domestic, — tlio worthy prototype of tho
" Island City of the French," I — " the favored City of Canada," I — and a lasting monu-
ment of the profound wisdom of a central situation, shorn of every other requisite.
Among the great Capitals of the world we find that Madrid is ."gain the most
central City ; that Amsterdam, Berlin, (as the Capital of modem Prussia,) Pekin

(pi the Chintso Empire) Coustautinoplo, (of the TnrkLsh Kinpirc,^ Lisbon and
Coponhagcn, aro only partially central, — their delieieneierf runf,'ing from 19 to 2H
per cent ; — while Dublm, Vienna ( AiLstrian Kmpire), Mexico, New Oileuns, Naples,
and Washington, nearly all of which are great coniniereial marts, and under the
rule of popular institutions, aro far from being central, their distances from their
respective territorial centres varying from 29 to 83 i>er cent. But tlie following
Capitals, among which ar(» the greatest and most populous cities on the globe, and
the great majority of whicl ' clon^ to countries enjoying constitutional govern-
ments, namely Pjiris, Edinl .rgh, Warsaw, (old Poland,) London, Boston, Stock-
holm, St. Petersburgh, Berlin, (old Prussia,) Frankfort upon Maine, Pekin, (China
Proper) and Rio Janeiro, seem to have bi>en placed, and to have grown to their
present colossal grandeur, in localities indicating the utmost contempt for the
shadowy a<lvantage called centrality. These little worlds have continued to be the
Beats of their respective Governments, whether constitutional or despotic, in defiance
of the political changes and revolutions which many of them have undergone,
although situate at points closely bordering on the confines of their several (lomi-
nions ; — thus affording striking illustrations of the little regard which has been
paid to, and the little advantage derived from centrality. There is an additional
and a remarkable feature in the position of these great commercial capitals of the
world, which has a strong bearing u})on the question at issue, and is destructive of
the pretensions of the advocates of mere terntcn'ial centrality. The Cities of Am-
steraam, Berlin, Pekin, Constantinople, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Dublin, Vienna, New
Orleans, Naples, Paris, Edinburgh, London, Boston, Stockholm, St. Petersburg and
Rio Janeiro, seem to owe their origin, their wealth, magnificence and permanent
locality aa Capitals, to their vicinity to water communications, and their great faci-
lity of'^intercourse with foreign nations ; or in other words — to their external or
international centi'ality, — utterly regardless of internal

The Capital elect of Canada is said to bo endowed in a high degree with this
virtue of geographical centrality, limited to the course of the St. Lawrence ; and if,
denuded of every other requisite, the sister City of the nether Province is to have
its claim tested by this single property, then indeed it can only yield the palm to
the ^ood town of Three Rivers, which is still more central, nearer to sea navigation,
and infinitely more salubrious. But if, on the contrary, the essential requisites for
the permanent establishment of the Canadian Capital be all taken into considera-
tion, and the choice awarded to that one which possesses a preponderance of advan-
tages, Quebec is incomparably superior to all its rivals. Strongly contrasting with
the other three, which can scarcely boast each of the possession of one solitary
requisite, Quebec possesses, in an eminent decree, four of the necessary qualifica-
tions, namely, Security, Freedom of communication with the Parent state, Salu-
brity, and Public Buildings, all of which give the City of Cape Diamond an over-
whelming preponderance over her less favored competitor, — "the Island City of
the French, " even were Quebec more deficient in centrality than it is represented
or supposed to be.

But since the ancient Capital of the Canadaa is undervalued, in the eyes of
Her Majesty's Canadian Executive, by reason of its want of centrality, it would bo
well to ascertain what is the precise ratio of its deficiency in this particular. Cen-
trality, properly considered, embracess three points —

First — Centrality in respect to territorial extent Secondlv — Centrality in
respect of population. Thirdly — Centrality in respect to facility of communication,
or access to and from the other parts of the Province.

In regard to the first, or tcriitorial centrality, Quebec is about 125 miles dis-
tant from the navigable or arterial centre, which at the present day, and for a cen-
tury to come, will be the true one, and is therefore deficient to that small extent.
By the table its defect is represented by im. That of Montreal by five; niid the diflc-
rence between the two on this head is so trifling, that so slight an advantage cannot
weigh a feather in the general balance.

As to the second, or the centrality of population, Quebec is certainly second

al)<)ii and
i 19 to 2«
IS, Naples,
under the
from their
fbUowin}^
j;lol)C, and
d govem-
011, Stock-
in, (China
rn to their
pt for the
1 to be the
in deliancc
indergonc,
oral (iomi-
has been
additional
itals of the
tructive of
es of Am-
3nna, New
rsburg and
permanent
' great faci-
extemal or

! with thia
Lce ; and if,
is to have
e palm to
lavigation,
uisites for
considera-
of advan-
isting with
ne solitary
Y qualifica-
jtate, Salu-
an over-
ad City of
©presented

the eyes of
t would be
liar. Ccn-

ntvality in
mnication,

miles dis-

^or a cen-

lall extent.

i the diflc-

age cannot

nly second

to Montreal, the mass of tlic population of Canada being found to the southward.

But with respect to the third, or the centre both of territory and population,
regard being had to the facility of communication, or distaiice measurect by the
time required to overcome it, the rank to l)c assigned to Quebec, as a central j)0-
sition, must precede that of all the others. — This is obviously the main considera-
ration, — the only genuine and rational test to be applied to the qucsti(m ofccntra-
lity. It is idle to reason about tlie centre of territory or population, without mea-
suring both by the facilities of communication or the means of travel. Steam an-
nihilates distance, and any theory which excludes that imjwrtantelement of speed,
is but an improper argument to obtain an improper end, — a mere inii)Osture. If
it were required to determine the most contral point for the location of a Capital in
a country divided by a lofty range of Alps or Appcnines, and having one-tenth
part of its population on one side, inhabiting an extent of one hundred miles, and
the remaining nine-tenths (a the other side, occupying an extent of nine hundred
miles, ; — and further that the larger plane, intcrsecteil by rail-roads, Avere traver-
sable in cushioned cars in twenty-four hours, while it would require a week to
accomplish the other distance, — would it be consistent with reason, common sense,
or " equal justice, " to place the capital of that land at its geographical centre ?
Would not the true centre — that point which would be equally centrical for all its
inhabitants, — all things considered, — incline greatly towards the range of mount-
ains and the smaller plane ? Would it not be unjust, on the part of the rulers of
that country, towards one portion of its inhabitants, to choose the Montreal of the
territorial centre, as the tittest place for a Capital, by reason of its being a supposed
greater mart for trade f And how would such a shallow argument be strengthened
by descanting, as in the Report ( '' the Canadian Executive, on the dissimilarity of
the habits and customs of diftereut portions of the same land — and contrasting the
"strangeness" of the appearance of the transalpine Dos blancs and their City, —
with the simplicity of tlie Sawnies and Jonathans of the Cisalpine region ! ! ! —
Would not such a choice be deemed an act of gross injustice, and such reasoning a
mockery 1 !

Yet such is the state of the question respecting the rival merits of Quebec and
Montreal in respect of centrality. The distance from Quebec to the Lower extre-
mity of the Province, in round numbers, is 500 miles, and its distance from the
Upper extremity is about 760. The time required to travel either distance, in
summer or in winter, according to the present mode of conveyance, is greater as
regards the Lower extremity than the Upper, and is likely to continue so for a
period which will outlive the allegiance of the inhabitants of either section to the
British Crown. If the inhabitants of the lower region, numbering about 200,000,
be entitled to a participation of that "equal justice," which is the clap-trap of the
present day, a due regard must be had to their facility of communicating with the
seat of legislation and of the administrative Machine. If the inhabitans of Gaspd,
a populous and flourishing district, encounter greater hardships and require a longer
time to make known their wants to the Government, supposing it to be situate
at Quebec, than the inhabitants of the Western District ; and that the present rela-
tion and circumstances of the two sections be lik(-^ly to continue the same for a long
?eriod to come, then Quebec is decidedly the most central point ibr the seat of the
'rovincial Government, upon the only true and rational grounds by which centra-
lity can be tested.

The report of the Canadian Executive dwells Avith a tone of infinite confidence
and satisfaction upon the great advantages Montreal joossesses as a site for the
Canadian Capital, grounded upon its being a large, flourishing and wealthy City,
and the supposed centre of an extensive trade. It would be difficult to comprehend
upon what principle its commercial importance could ensure it a preference, were it
built in Gaspd Bay, or at the extremity of the Western District ; surelv, at either
of these points no precedence could be awarded to it on that ground which is ob-
viously extraneous to the main question. The claim of Montreal to superiority, if
any it have, must rest on other and intrinsic advantages, namely, its boasted cen-
B

1 1

trality, which great attribute is no doubt prodigiously enhanced by the statesman-
like argument of Her Magesty's Colonial advisers, that Quebec and its people would
appear, *' strange " to the single-minded, unsophisticated denizens of Upper-Cana-
da, and that for that reason they could never tuink of subjecting the hypocondriu-
cx\ temperaments of the latter to the suicidal eftects of such a contact 1 1 What
particular bearing this unfortunate blemish in the physiognomy and circumstances
of the people of Quebec has upon the question, they have not condescended to
show, nor nas the degree of weight which has been given to it in Downing Street
as yet transpired.

Again, (says the Report,) "<Ae Island of Montreal was chosen cw the site of a
" great City by the French Government in the early times of the colony'^ — Certes — " the
" acknowledged sagacity and foresight displayed by the officers of that nation in their
•' selection of positions for eitlwr civil or military occupation,^^ — which is so much ad-
mired in the said Eeport, — is at this day amply borne out by two important fact^
— namely — ^that the Executive Council of Canada agree in opinion with the officers
of that celebrated colonizing nation upon the eligibility of Montreal '■^ asa position
for civil or military occupation!" and that the French have been driven almost from
every inch of ground which they possessed on this continent 1 1

Admidst the host of trashy reasons which have been attempted to be palmed
upon the British ministry for the purpose of adding to the fancied embellisnmenta
of " the favoured City of Canada, there is one with respect to which all badinage
must be put aside, and which, if it had any foundation in fact, would give considerable
weight to the claims of that City. Montreal is represented to be " situate at the
'• head of navigation from the sea, and at Hie foot of Hie river and canal navigation, not only
*' of Canada, but of North Western America. " This must have been an error on the
part either of the printer or ufthe amanuensis employed by the Council. If the
words — "ybr Montreal read Quebsc^" had been added m a note, it would have saved
the framers of the report from the equivocal position in which this erroneous state-
ment — or typographical or clerical error, has placed them. During the season of
navigation, from one thousand to eleven hundred vessels resort annually to the
Port of Quebec, of which ofae hundred to one hundred and fifly, of comparatively
inferior burden, axe towed to the aforesaid " head of navigation from the sea." —
If towing vessels against the strong current of a shallow river of intricate naviga-
tion, constitute sea or ship navigation, — then there is some truth in the assertion ;
and the only remaining difficult!- would be, — after the completion of the St. Law-
rence and Chambly Canals,-r-to determine, upon such a criterion, at what particular
point, between Montreal and Chicago, the terminus of ship navigation would be
round ; and it would be equally difficult to show in what way this style of sea or
ship navigation could differ from the towage of vessels, over a rail-road, five hun-
dred miles into the interior of the country, — ^whither the author of the Beport on the
seat of Government-question, by the same misapplication of terms, might extend the
ordinarily received bounds of 6ld Ocean and " astonish his weak nerves " by landing
him amidst the primeval pines of the Canadian forest. Could the framers of this
statistical deception have possibly imagined that Lord Stanley, or the other Mem-
bers of the British Cabinet, are not as well acquainted as any man in Canada with
the depth of water, and the nature of the navigation of every foot of the river St.
Lawrence between Quebec and Montreal ? The man who penned the assertion in
question must have known, that Quebec, and Qttebec alone — ^was the termination of
sea or ship navigation, and — conversely, the 'Commencement of inland or steam
navigation. Any statement in disparagement of the marked position of the City
of Quebec in this respect, was a deviation from fact, unpardonable in individuals
whose accession to power is predicated upon their supposed intimate knowledge of
all the circumstances of the country submitted to their rule.

But it may be answered that the discussion of the relative merits of the diffe-
rent sites above mentioned is now idle, in as much as the Home Ministry, in the
exercise of the Royal Prerogative, have restricted the choice to Klingston and Mont-
real, and that having deferred to the Provincial Legislature as to the selection to

itatesman-
ple would
)per-Cana-
pocondria-
!1 What
umstaucoB
icendod to
ing Street

he site of ct
fries — " the
ton in their
) much ad-
rtant fact^
the oflRcers
s a position
imost from

be palmed
jllisnmenta
.1 badinage
rasiderable
ituate at the
on, not only
rror on the
il. If the
have saved
leona state-
3 season of
ally to the
iparatively
the sea." —
ate naviga-
; assertion ;
»e St. Law
t particular
would be
le of sea or
, five hun-
:)ort on the
extend the
by landing
tiers of this
)ther Mem-
mada with
le river St,
issertion in
mination of
or steam
of the City
individnals
owledge of

)f the diffe-
stry, in the
and Mont-
election to

■'

be mivde between the two, a decision has been conic to in favor of Montreal which
is irrevocable. It will be necessary to combat this new feature of the case, which
would seem to exclude the Gibraltar of the American continent from any consi-
deration whatever in the choice of the future Canitid of the Canadaa, before it can
be shewn that the present discussion of the question cutx lead to any beneficial re-
sult. The expression of an opinion by the Legislature has only been given under
a limited choice between Kingston and Mo->treal, and so far its dco.o.v;i c atails no
sentence of condemnation upon Quebec. — Tiie submission of the point tj the deci-
sion of the Legislature of two lately United I'rovinces, composed of heoorogencous
and discordant elements, and differing so widely in languages, laws, and religion,
before the separate identity of each section of the new x rovince or its individual
interests could possibly be lost sight of in the minds of their respective deputies,
or amalgamated, as they ought to be — with the entierty of the Province
as a common country ; — and at a time too when every aisturbing influence
which could in the least affect the flimsy cicatrice of the recent revolt,
ought to have been carefully eschewed, — Avas a blunder which may bo
attended with disastrous results. But it was an infinitely greater blunder
to require the expression of an opinion at the hands of the Legisla-
ture, as the supposed best judges of their local affairs and circumstances, in res-
pect to the most suitable place for a Canadian Capital, — and at the same time to
direct that lioice, and to restrict it to one of two localities. The reference to the
Legislature was tantamount to an admission of want of sufficient information and
means of judging on the part of the Ministry, and was deferential to the Eepre-
sentatives of the people. The exclusion of Quebec and Toronto fi-om their consi-
deration was, on the other hand, an assumption of a higher degree of knowledge
on the part of the ministry, which was destructive of the wisdom of the reference
and of its deferential character. — It was " donner et retenir " — a gaucherie — and an
anomaly, which could only have been the result of the unwise communications on
this subject which have crossed the Atlantic from either side, and which are now
prudently veiled from the light of day. But at all events the opinion required, and
that which ought to have been given on a point of this nature, was a free and
unbiassed expression of the sense of the Legislature as upon an open question, not
the echo of the previously pronounced opinion of an office — dispensing adminis-
tration, or the judgment of a stipendiary House. — For these reasons, then, the
decision of the Legislature is deprived afall moral influence.

Again the Executive Government have egregiously mistaken their position in
relation to this question. They have treated it as an act of ephemeral administra-
tion, and as such coming within the legitimate scope of their control as responsible
advisers of the Crown ; while, on the contrary, it was a question of permanent in-
terests, deeply affecting the whole of the Province, and not at all dependent upon
any principle of political economy, or of the science of Government, and one totally
unconnected with the ascendancy of ary one party in the state, whether French
or English, Tory, Reformer, Radical or Destructive. It was an unwarrantable
assumption on their part to make it a Cabinet measure, and to throw their influ-
ence into the scale in favor of any one locality. The opinion thus extorted cannot,
therefore, be deemed to be the free and unrestrained judgment of the Legislature,
which the Home Government had a right to expect, and which ought to have been
given, and is consequently so much diminished in value as to preclude the possi-
bihty of its being taken to be conclusive.

The course pursued by the Executive Government sins also in another respect,
which seems to indicate not a too accurate conception of their present footing. The
reins of Government have been confided to their hands on the introduction into
the colonies of the principle of Responsible Government, a system which was ab-
solutely necessary to give essence to the representative form of government esta-
blished in Canada, and to impart harmonious action to the constitution, by transfer-
ring the administration of the Government from the hands of servile officials, to
peraons having the confidence of the Representatives of the people ; but the practi-

cai

bility of which Bystcm, in a colony, rcst3 solely upon a marked lino of demarca-
tion being rigidly kept up between qucstiona of an Iiiwerial, and those of a Colonial
or local nature. The least encroachment upon this lino will instantly revive tho
old bug-bear objections of the incompatibility of Kesponaiblc Government with
colonial dependency ; and tho "action (to adopt an Americanism) of the Provin-
cial Executive in tlibi matter, was an act of usui-pation in which they have b§en
unadvisedly countenanced by the Colonial Oflice. The permanent good working
of the new Colonial constitution will materially depend upon a careful severance of
imperiid and colonial mejusures, as well as upcm mutual forbearance in working
out a system, in which each of tho dramatis persome, instead of pertinaciously
* insisting upon the unccmtrolled exercise of the particular prerogative or power
entrusted to him by his Sovereign, will strive to co-operate cordially with the
other servants of the constitution for tlic general good, holding their aftso/wte powers
in abeyance, to be exercised only when a jarring of the elements may necessitate
a change.

The permanent establishment of the scat of Government of the most important
of the British North American possessions, was a question of an Imperial, and not
of a Colonial nature ; or one at least in which local interests, (if any were involved
in it,) were comparatively of so little weight as to become merged in the paramount
importance of its imperial character. It was assuredly a question in which a mul-
tiplicity of reasons combined to require the decisive and definitive exercise of the
prerogative of tho Crown by the Home Ministry, in order to prevent thatrancourous
rivalry and opposition which its reference to the people of the country was sure to
produce.

Upon this view of the case then the Provincial Executive have erred — the Co-
lonial Office has erred. That enor, not being irremediable, must now be retrieved,
and the point deemed undetermined and still open, (notwithstanding the late pai*-
liamentary proceedings,) to all the reasons which may be urged in favor of Quebec
or any other locality. Moreover the inharmonious manner in which this question
has passed through the legislative bodies, — the contradictory addresses of the Le-
gislative Council and Assembly, — the ministerial pressure on both Houses, — the fer-
ment in Upper Canada, — all atfbrd conclusive evidence that the Metropolitan G overn-
ment is not in a less responsible, but in an infinitely more embarrassed predicament,
in relation to this matter, than when they first referred the point.

There is one additional argument in lavor of Quebec, which, though forming no
part of the abstract merits of the question, it would still be unjust to omit. This
City has not only been the Capital of Lower Canada, the most important British
possession on this continent, but it was formerly the Capital of the same extent of
Territory as the new Province, under the ancient name of the Province of Quebec,
and it has always been the seat of the General Government of all the Provinces.
The inhabitants under the pledge implied by acts of the supreme authority, have
invested their property in that city ; and this pledge, under an honest and impartial
Government, ouglit not to be lightly violated. This reason ought to secure to it
at least the enjoyment, ad interim, of the advantages to be derived from its being
the seat of Government, until either the explosion or the complete subsidence
of the various elements of discord which still simmer in the land, — afford some
prognostic of the future political condition of these valuable ..ppendages of the
British Crown.

It is impossible that the British Cabinet, now under the influence of the sound
judgment of the most experienced General of the age, can be otherwise than alive to
the value of the Citadel of Quebec, as the key to the British possessions in North
America. For,— of what avail would be the retention of that stronghold, if the
Seat of Government, — the person of the Queen's Eepresentative, and the public
documents and records of the country, be placed in a situation in which they may be
suddenly paralysed or destroyed, either by the incursions of a neighbouring enemy,or
the revolt of the surrounding district ? The establishment oftheSeatof Government
aud of the sittings of the Legislature in the midst of a populous district, would in-

if dcmarca-
fa Colonial
revive the
inient with
lie Proviii-
have bQen
)d working
averance of
in working
tinaciously
e or power
»■ witli the
>hUe powers
neecssitatc

t important
il, and not
'e involved
paramount
hich a niul-
•eise of the
rancourous
vas sure to

id— the Co-
e retrieved,
he late pai*-

of Quebec
lis question

of the Le-
8, — ^the fer-
an G overn-
edicament,

forming no
mit. This
ant British
i extent of
of Quebec,
Provinces,
ority, have
i impartial
jecure to it
1 its being
subsidence
iford some
ges of the

the sound
lan alive to
in North
lold, if the
the public
ey may be
; enemy, or
)vemment
would in-

evitably draw upon it the attacks of an invading foe, and necessarily cause a need-
less sacrifice of human life. It ought, tiierelbre, on that ground uloiie to be avoid-
ed, and a situation chosen, allbrding the best means of lUtfcnce, and the smallest
chance of the destruction of life and property. The defenceless condition of Mos-
cow caused the necessity of a{)plying the torch to that ancient and magniticent
capital of the Czars, — a frightful national calamity, from which its caUralityl
ailorded it no protection.

The Province of Canada is not in a condition to contemn the advantages to bo
derived from a fortified city. Placed in the vicinity of a formidable enemy to
British supremacy, who claim the whole of the North American continent as their
legitimate J)rey, more especially whatever portion of it is to be found in the posses-*
sion of Gn.at Britain, — Canaua cannot look forward with much coniidenco to a
prolonged peace. T!ie irresponsible rul(>rs of the United States, to wit, the "un-
washed" Sovereigns of that lawless land, have always sought and will ever seek
every opportunity of embroiling their country in a war with England. All the
ranting and blustering about the North Eastern Boundary is again to be enacted
in respect of the Oregon Territory ; and as the urgency of their demands is ever in
the inverse ratio of their rights, tlie British (iovernment will again be berjded, and
bullied into fresh concessions, or else into a sanguinary war in which the dis^aco
of their recent national bankruptcy and their brazen fraud of their English creditors,
will render the " liepudiators doubly vindictive.

Again, it is the duty of the Parent Government to place the Seat of the Cana-
dian Capital in a position of defence, as well against (external, as internal foes.
The recent "troubles", (not to give umbrage,) are fresh in the memory of all. We
know not when, njr from what quarter, they may again si)ring up. The hyal citi-
zens of tipper Canada already threaten disivlfeetion on account of the removal of
the Seat of Government to Lower Canada. What may we not apprehend when
they become inspirited by some less imaginary grievance, and when the year ofthe
"restoration " arrives, and the great agitator is reinstated in his pristine notoriety
and political ascendency, and afforded another opportunity, under the mask of

f)atriotism, of again ajipearing in the unenviable character of the leader of a lawless
lorde. The recent union of Lower and Upper Canada is a trial measure, intended
as a panacea for the grievances and political dissensions of the two Provinces. It
was a measure of necessity which may be eminently successful, or which may sig-
nally fail. It is not to be denied that the contiguity of Upper Canada to the neigh-
bouring States along an extended frontier line, — the daily increasing commer-
cial relations of the two countries, and their similarity in language, laws and reli-
gion, are fast engendering mutual interests and mutual sympathies, and spreading
the leaven of republicanism among the loyal people of Bond Head. The conces-
sion of Eesponsiole Government to Canada, though a Just and wise measure, is
rather calculated to assimilate the working of their respective institutions, and to cause
them still more to fraternize ; and should perchance, the demagogues of Upper and
Lower Canada under its operation ever attain to power, and become restive under
the curb which must occjisionally be applied by the metropolitain authorities in
regard to questions of a mixed Imperial and Colonial nature, fresh and factioiw
agitation and discord may be the result, and a future O'Callaghan or M'Ken^ie
may spring from the ashes of their hapless ancestors, and produce a collision
dangerous to the safety of the United Province, — a consummation neither impos-
sible nor very improbable, and by some devoutly to be wished It would tnen
become necessary to check the republicanism of the one section and the radicalism
of the other, by an infusion of the determined loyalty of the truly British Provinces
of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, by means of a federal union of all the Provin-
ces. It is obvious that under such circumstances, the City of Quebec would resume
its former importance, and become, what the finger of nature has marked it out to
be, the capital of a great country. We should then become convinced — nay, convicted
of the egregious folly of havmg established the Seat of Government in a city
closely bordering on a foreign state— destitute of every means of defence either

natural or artificial, — requiring a prodigious outlay of public money in an already
impoverished country, and witn no better justification or apology for the iuaensate
act than the double sjn of having trunsferreditto such a frail tenement, from a city
possessing in an eminent degret- every requisite for the site of the Canadian Cajital,
and as much distinguiiihcd for its intrinsic od^ nntages as Montreal is for its absolute
want of them.

The gigantic scale of the Parisian fortifications exhibits a striking instance of
the opinion of modem times as to the expediency of securing the capital of a mon-
arcUial country alike from inward commotion and foreign invasion, and that one
of the most enlightened nations of Europe, alive to the lessons of experience, has
directed its attention to the strength and safety of it8 Capital, utterly heedless of ita
want of centrality. It is in vain to defend the propri(!ty of choosing Montreal aa
the Seat of Government by reason of its greater centrality ; and British statesmen
will have but a sorry account to render of their stewardship in awarding it a pre-
ference upon this ground alone, while they must be convinced of the fact, that it ia
but tioelve hours steam distant from the Gibraltar of North America. * Centrality I
— What particular evil or inconvenience has resulted to the many great Capitals of
representative Europe, whicli are situate on the confines of their respective States
and Kingdoms, from the want of centrality ? .Has there ever been a hue and cry
raised in those countries upon such a ground ? Who ever heard of such a thing,
except amidst a few of the mushroom capitals of the mushroom states of the neigh-
bouring Union.

Let it ever be borne in mind, that the connexion of these Colonies with Great
Britain can only be co-existent with the naval supremacy of the latter. In vain
would England continue to be " Mistress of the seas," as regards the protection of
the Canadas from foreign or domestic trouble, unless the Capital be accessible to
her na^y, and possess all the requisites of a naval station, where " the sleeping
thunders of Britain may repose on the bosom of the majestic St. Lawrence." If the
lessons of experience have any weight, the examples from the principal capitals of
the world hereinbefore enumerated, place the cities of Quebec ana Montreal in
bold contrast, proving to demonstration the possession by Quebec of all the ele-
ments which history seems to indicate as the most conducive to the formation of a
great and permanent Capital, while the application of the different essential tests
to her rival, — " the Island City of the French," — '* the favoured City c. Canada "
— results in a lamentable *' Proch verbal de carence" — which would justify the
issuing of a commission of lunacy against any man, or set of men, who would
attempt to palm such a place on their Sovereign as the most eligible site for a
Capital.

Should, however, this act of spoliation or injustice — folly or imprudence, or
by whatever name it may be characterized, be now consummated, and that the
course of future events do unhappily realize tlie dark side of the picture herein
hinted at, it will but add one more fatal instance to the many to be found in the
minutes of English diplomacy and colonial government, in which the earnings of
many a hardfought field have been thrown away by the blunders of British States-

men.

Qxubec, 20th November, 1843.

,1 t

1856, five hours .'f

an ftl ready
be iusensate
:roin a city
ian Cnjital,

its Absolute

; instance of
nl of a mon-
ad that one
crience, haa
edlesB of its
Montreal aa
h statesmen
ling it a pre-
set, that it i»
Centrality I
t Capitals of
!ctivc States
hue and cry
ich a thing,
rf the neigh-

s with Great
jr. In vain
)rotection of
accessible to
the sleeping
;nce." If the
al capitals of
Montreal in
F all the ele-
rmation of a
sential tests
1. Canada"
justify the
who would
lo site for a

jrudence, or
nd that the
;ture herein
[bund in the
earnings of
ritish States-

TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL CAPITAL CITIES IN THE WORL[

KINGDOMS

AND

8TATBS.

EUROPE.

Ornat-Drituiii and Irolund

England

Scotland,

Ireland,
Franco,
Spnin,
Portugal,
Italy,

Naples,

Papal Dominions,

Lombardj,

Tuscany,
Switzerland,

Gommny,

Doltrniia,

Moriivia Si Rilosin,

Archduchy uf Auntriu &
Salzburg,

Tyri.l,

Styrin,

Illyriu,

Pomcrania,

Bavaria,

Hnnover.

Wurtomburg,

Saxony,

Baden,
Belgium,
Holland,
Denmark,

Sweden and Norway,
Austrian Empire,

Hungai'y,
Poland (Old,)
Prussia (Old,)

Do. (New,)
Greece (Modem,)
Turkey (Europe,)
Russia (Europe.)

Turkish Empire,
Russian Empire.

ASIA.

Turkey,
Siberia,

Chinese Empire,
China Proper,
Japan,
Hiudostan,
Birman Empire,
AiTghanistan,
Bouloochistan,
Independent Tartary,
Persia,
Arabia,

Populatioa

KiDgdomi

and
States.

2fi

1
3
8

14
3

21
7
2
4
1
2

4
32

8
1.0
13

9
52

21
63

360

150

134

CAPITALS.

III

London,

London.

Edinburgh,

Dublin,

Paris,

Miidrid,
600 Lisbon,
150 Rome,
640 Naples,
650 Rome,
280 Milan,
300 Klorenco,
100 Borne,

Zurich.

Lucerne,

Frankfort,
800 Prague,

Biaiin,

60 Vienna,
800 Inspruck,
860 Gnitz.
200 Trieste,
900 Stot»in,
70 Munich,
600 Hanover,
600 Stuttgard,
500 Dresden,
150 Karlsruhe,

Brussels,
300 Amsterdam.

Copenhagen,
200 'Stockholm,

Vienna,
60 Buda,

Warsaw,
60 Berlin,
500 Berlin,
800 Athens,

Constantinople,

St. Petersburgh,

Constantinople,
St. Petersburg,

Constantinople,

Tobolsk,

Pokin,

.leddo,

Calcutta,
500 Ava,
500 Caboul,

Kelat,

Boukara,

Teheran,

Mecca,

1500

170

220

780

200

240

1.56

360

156

140

50
117

320

210

110

320

130

220

600
450

600

l.>5

2000

1.300

700

175

140

■9

o .

o
Is

eg U

.9 2

y .a s •"

600
320
230
200
500
40n
250
450
450
250
220
100
150
180
150
700
120
120

180
110
100
100
150
200
120
90
90
110
120
110
250

1000
500
300
600
500
500
1.50
700

1200

1300
5000

1300
3600
2500
1600
1000
1700
1500
600
500
1000
1300
1250

^■a

s
a

280

110

150

300

150

400

150

120

100

200

100

• 80

100

200

300

130

150

250

130

400

130

1000

700

500

1500

700

1300
400
400
300
600
600
850

a
I

1
■si

« m

s i

100

160

100

20
15
25

20
40
15
20
25

30
20

130

100

150

240

20
240

u S >'

III
m o a

500

200

130

1.50

250

200

120

100

220

110

500

40
60
40
60
30
100

§•5

^ s
si

Di>
of

frou
and
Nav

1—43
')4
—41
—29
-^7

— 9
—24

— 8
—32
—33
—42
—11
—13
—30
—20
—50
—16
—29

—41

—28
—10
—54
—12
—32

25 —12

50 —16

30 —12

20 —30

50
90
190
450
500
250
500
300
300
120
700
900

200
1500

200
150

10
150

80
150
200

80
200
100

1300

1000
700

1600
800

1200
350
350
200
750
300
650

—15
—19
—26
—44
—29
—34
—41
—50
19
—18
-lOO
—20

1—20
-49

-100
—48
—19
—99
—28
—25
—34
—17
-20
—30
—24
—23

100

15
80
30

TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL CAPITAL CITIES IN THE WORD. SIIEWI

KINODUMS

AND

BTATB8.

EUROPE.

Oront-nritiiiii and Iroliind

En(,'liinil

Bcdtliiiiil,

Iri)liind,
Frniico,
Spitiii,
I'oitiiSali
Italy,

Nuplog,

Papiil DoniinioDS,

Loml)iinly,

Tuscimy,
8wit/urluud,

Oomiimy,

Hdhi'iiiiii,

M<iravia it Silcsin,

Aicli'liicliy of Auntriu &
S;il/.l)Ui'g,

Tyrol,

Slyrin,

Illyri;.,

Poinci'iiiiia,

Biivnrin,

Ilanovtjr.

Wurtoinburg,

Saxony,

Buden,
iJelgiuni,
Holliind,
Denmark,

Svvedon and Norway,
Austrian Enipiie,

Hungai'y,
Poland (01.1,)
Prussia (Old,)

Do. (New,)
Grcncc (Modern,)
Turkey (Europe,)
Russia (Buroi)c.)

Turkish Enipiro,
Russian Empire.

ASIA.

Tnrkey,
Siberia,

Ghincsc Empire,
China Proper,
.Tapun,
Hindostan,
Birman Empire,
Aifghauistan,
Boulooctiigtau,
Independent Tartary,
Persia,
Arabia,

Population

Kmgdomi

and
8tat(!s.

2(1

8
33
14

;)

7
■I

4
1

8.5

]r,

1»

!)
62

21
63

12
2

SCO

1.50

131

5
12
12

(iOO

ir.o

(MO
(i.')0
280
300
100

800

CAPITALS. Z

London,

I.ondoti,

Kdiidxirgh,

Dublin,

I'ariH,

Madrid,

rJsbon,

UoniK,

Naples,

Home,

Milan,

Florence,

Berne,

Zurich,

Lucerne,

Frankfort,

PrLgiie,

Mruiin,

(30 Vienna,
800 Inspruck,
8(i0 Gnitz.
200 Trieste,
000 Stettin,
70 Munich,
600 Hanover,
000 Stutlgard,
iOO Dresden,
1.00 Karlsruhe,

Brussels,
300 Amsterdam,
Copenhagen,
200 Stockholm,
Vienna,
(,0 Budn,

Warsaw,
(JO Berlin,
.-iOO Berlin,
800 Athens,

Constantinople,
St. Potorsburgh,

Oonstontinople,
St. Petersburg,

Constantinople,

Tobolsk,

Pokin,

I'ekin,

Jeddo,

Calcutta,
500 Ava,
500 Caboul,

Kolat,

Boukara,

iTeheran,

Mecca,

!S IN THE WORD, SHEWING niE ORDER OF THEIR CE" TRALITY, ftc.

■a

J=3S

5. si
3

O a

1
(J p

S t
« a

100

.')0

lUO

5.')

20
Vi
25

20
40
15
2(1

130

100

150

240

500
200
130

ir.o
2:.o

200
120
100

220

110

'JO

500

()5

!>0

40
00
40
CO
30
100
25
50
30
20
50
90

a —

[itancn
of Oapitnl
fro ohip
nil' HtauRi
Niigatioii

—43

—54
—41
—29
—37

— 9
—24

— 8
—32
—33
—42
—11
—13

30
—20
—50
— l(i
—29

—41
—28
—10
—54
—12
—32
—12
— Ifi
—12
—30
15
—19

190 —26
450 —44
500 —29

250
500
300
300
120
700
900

20
240

200
150

10
150

80
150
200

80
200
100

200
1500

1300

1000
700

1600
800

1200
350
350
200
750
300
650

—34
—41
—50
—19
—18
-J 00
—20

—20
—49

100
—48
—19
—99
—28
—25

34
—17

90
—30
—24
—23

Other

Chief Oitiot

and

TOWDI.

Dublin.

Manchnttor,

Glaigow,

Cork,

Lyons,

nnrctilona,

Oporte,

Naploa,

I'nlcnno,

Bologna,

Vonin;,

Leghorn,

Geneva,

Hamburgh,

Olmutz,

Lintz,

Tronto,

Judonbiirg,

litiybuch,

8truliiiin(l,

Nuronibourg,

Bromon,

LcipFiick,

Manhcim,

Antwerp,

tiuttordam,

Altuna,

Gotleiiburg,

Milan,

Tost,

Dantzick,

Itrealaw,

Adrianoplo,
Moscow,

AJrianople,

MoRCOW,

Damascua,

Irkoutsk,

Singuanfou,

Singuanfoa,

Osaaca,

Benares,

Pegu.

Candahar,

Samarcand,

Ispahan,

Muscat,

1-5

■a *
a a

820
200
210
120
105
120

80
300
170

04
120

120

Moil Ounlral

City or Town.

Liverpool,

Uirniinijitain,

I'lirlh,

Athlonc,

Hoiir^'c'it,

Miidiid,

Coiinliru,

Itonii',

Nupltii,

V'cronii,

Flornnce,

Lucurue,

15 Bruun,

40
40

41
2:

70
76
2(
24
140
CI
61
90

120
250

Urixoo,

Lnyl)iich,
Start,'iird,
ICatittbon,

Kii'khoim,

DcoNilou,

Badiui,

Louvain,

Dovontcr,

Guiding,

Buda,
Buda,
riiiaka,
i'osoD,

Sophia,
Moscow,

i;.' onieh,
': . J I'oboUk,

200

1000

700

COO

150

100

200

Diarbekir,

KirenHk,

Lantcheou,

Kingtchoufou,

.leddo,

Allahabad,

Pegu,

jOitiei in thn order

their Oeotrality.

Thrtte Itiveri,

ImlinnupoliH,

Dover,

Mint Ju(;o,

Montreal,

Itoiiio,

Toronto,

Miirlrid,

Gratz,

(^iiiboc,

Klorcncp,

Little Uock,

Sli'ttin,

Hfinovi-r,

Dri'sden,

iSuahville,

B<:rni',

Bruaaela,

Prague,

StuttL'urd,

Hartford,

(Quebec,

Halifax,

Trenton,

I'uwaloosu,

Cliuquii^aca,

Cnboul,

Athons,

N(!W Guatimala,

Clmrlotte Town,

Amatordam,

Berlin,

Vnndalia,

Pekin,

Columbus,

Conatantinoplo,

Lncerne,

Milledgevillp,

Tallahaaaeu,

Kelat,

Kingston,

St. Pcteraburgh,

Annapolia,

Montpolici',

Oolumbia,

Frankfort,

Goudar,

Raloighr

Mecca,

Liabon,

Teheran,

Calcutta,

Copenhagen,

Auguata,

Jefterson City,

Lima,

Inspruck,

Jeddo,

Dublin,

Vienna,

Brunn,

Trijioli,

Zurich,

Karliruhe,

BTiTII.

^.^

Ciiiiada,

Indiana, U. 8.,
5 Delaware, U. U.,
5 Chili,
5 Canada,
8 Italy,

8 Upper Canada,

9 Spain,
10 Styria,

10 Canada,

1 1 Tuscany,

11 Arkansas,

12 Ponierania,
12 Hanover,
12 Saxony,

12 Tennessee, U. S.,

13 Switzerland,

15 Belgium,

16 Bohemia.

16 Wurtemburg,
l(i Oonnocticut,U.S

17 Lower Canada,
17 Nova Suotin,

J 7 Now Jersey, U.S.
17 Alabama, U. 8.
17 Bolivia,

17 Atfghanistnn,

18 Greece (mod)
18 Guatimala,

18 Prince Rd. Island,

19 Holland,

10 Prussia, (Now.)
19 lllinoia, U. S.
19 Chinese Emp.

19 Ohio, U. 8.

20 Turkish Bmp.
20 Switzerland,
20 Georgia, U. 8.
20 Florida, U. S.
20 Bouloochistan,
20 Canada,

20 Ruaaia (Eur.)

21 Maryland, U. 8.
21 Vermont, do.

21 S. Carolina do.

22 Kentucky, do.
22 Abyaaiuia,

22 N. Carolina, U. S.

23 Arabia,

24 Portugal,

24 Persia,

25 Hindostan,

26 Demmark,
26 Maine, U. S.
26 Miaaouri, U. S.
26 Peru.

28 Tyrol,

28 .lapan,

29 Ireland,

29 Auatrian Emp.
29 Moravia Sc Silesia,

29 Tripoli,

30 Switzerland.
30 Baden.

I, SHEWING THE ORDER OF THEIR CENTRALITY. ftc.

■

ESSBSS^8E3^9BBHiV

1 itancii

I Onpita
1 > tihii
m. Buan
f i((atioi

' other

' Ohief OitiM

Most Oenlral

Oitiea in the order U

■2S

City or Town.

thoir Oentrality.

Statu. )

•nd
Towni.

•

li'

Dublin.

C2(

Liverpool,

Throe liivcri,

Canada, 1 1

Maiicheitor,

•JOI

llirniinghain,

Inilinnupiiliii,

Imliana, U. 8.,

Olaigow,

iiU

I'orth,

DoviT,

Delaware, V. U.,

Cork,

12(

Athlonr,

Mnn Jiiy;u,

Chili,

Lyon«,

kj:

li()iir^>c«,

Montreal,

Canada, 1

nnrcnlona,

li!(

Miulnil,

Itiiino,

Italy,

Uporto,

Coiiiiltra,

Toronto,

Upper Canada,

Nanloi,
I'ali<nno,

3(;i

llonif.

Madrid,

vSpaiu, ^

171

Naplui,

(Jratz,

Styria,

Hologna,

Quebec,

Canada, i^

VonicK,

121)

Vt'ronii,

Klon-noe,

Tuscany,

Leghorn,

5(J

F'l(ircnc«i,

Littld Hock,

Arkansas, :
I'onierania, f
Hanover, '

Qeneva,

2.".

Lucerne,

Stittin,

Hanover,

Dn^sden,

Saxony,

Hamburgh,

120

Nashville,
Bfrnc,

Tennessee, U. S.,
Switzerland,

Olmutz,

Brunn,

llriisscls,
I'raguo,

15
16

Belgium, 1
Bohemia,

Lintz,

StuttL'iird,
Hartford,

Wurtemburg.

Troiito,

Urixen,

Oonnocticut.U.S.

Judunbiirg,

(jiieboo.

Lower Canada,

liiiybucli,

Lnyimch,

Halifux,

Nova Scotia,

HtruUnml,

Stiirgiird,

Trenton,

Now Jersey, V.S.
Alabama, U. S.

Nuronibouig,

Uutisbon,

Tuiu;al(>08u,

Breuiun,

Cliuquisaca,

Bolivia,

Kirklioim,

Caboul,

Afi^'hanJMtnn,

Loipnick.

OcoHilou,

Athens,

Greece (mod)

Manhoini.

Si;

Italian,

Now Guatimala,

Guatinmla,

Antwerp,

Louvnin,

Charlotte Town,

Prmco Ed. Island,

liottoi'dam.

Doventor,

Amsterdam,

Holland, i

Altona,

2(1

Colding,

Berlin,

Prussia, (New.) |

Gotteiiburg,

Vandalia,

Illinois, U. S. ,

Milan,

140

Uuda,

I'ekin,

Chinese Emp.

Tost,

Budn,

Columbus,

Ohio, U. 8. 1

Dantzick,

i'inska,

Constantinople,

Turkish Emp.

Hreslaw,

90 Posuu, II

Lncerne,

Switzerland,

Millcdgeville,

rJeorgia, U. 8.

Tallahassee,

Klorida, U. S. i

Adrianople,

120

Sophia,

Kelat,

-20

Souloochistan,

Moscow,

250

Moscow,

Kingston,

St. Pctersburgh,

Clannda,

Russia (Bur.)

Annapolis,

^laryland, U. 8.

Montpelicr,

Vermont, do.

Adrianople,

120

Konieh,

Columbia,

S. Carolina do.

VIoicow,

250

robolik,

Frankfort,

Gondar,

Raloighr

Mecca,

Lisbon,

Teheran,

22 i
221

23 i
24

24 1

Centucky, do.

Abyssinia,

^. Carolina, U. 8.

Lrabia,

'ortugal,

'ersia.

)uma8cui,

200

liarbekir,

Calcutta,

iindostan,

[rkoutsk,

{irensk,

Copenhagen,

>emmark,

Jinguanfou,

000

iantoheou,

Augusta,
Jeiferson City,

261

Waino, U. 8.

Singuanfoa,

000

<ingtchoufou,
eddo,

261

tlissouri, U. S.

(

.^soaca.

700.

Lima,

261

'eru,

3enares,

(iOOi

Ulahabad,

Insnruck,
Jeddo,

281

'yrol,

'ogu.

1501

^gu.

28 J

apan.

3andahar,

100

Dublin,

291

re land,

Vienna,

29/

Austrian Bmp.
iloravia & Silesia,

iamarcand,

Brunn,

291!

spahan,

200

Tripoli,

291

'ripoli,

70 I

Muscat,

Zurich,

30 E

Iwiuorland.

iiiii '

Karlsruhe,

30 aadei),

AUGUST 1856.

The foregoing observations wcro written twelve ycnrs ngo. — Thoir chief aim
Was to deinonstrato that the Huinll nupcriority of Montreal over Quebec in mero
territorial contrality, was no equivalent for the other great advantages j)OHHossod by
the latter for a seat of Government. Since then " a change has eonie over the
spirit of our dream." Riiihvavs and electric telegraj)hs have annihilated distance,
and centrality has ceased to to a (juestion, — thus adding materially to the prefer-
ence already duo to Quebec tnla fair consideration of all the n^quisitcs for a proper
iite for the Oovtrnment of this Province. Nor has tin! superiority claimed for
Quebec been in the least impaired by any new or adventitious circumstances super-
vened since 1848 ; on the contrary its value has been enhanced by the course of
events.

No sane man will deny that security from foreign aggression is a paramount
question in time of war ; and no impartud reiusoncr upon tho subject will contro-
vert the proposition, that however profound may be the peace which wo now enjoy,
and however durable it may promise to be, the precautions necessitated by a state
of war must bo looked forward to, and provided for in time of peace. This has
passed into a maxim as the settled j.olicy of all tho nations of the globe. Then how
stanils the question of peace or war at the present moment? Has the probability
of war diminished since tho Union? Ilavo our ambitious neighbours becouio lesa
aggressive or gi'asping ? Have they manifested a more amicable disposition towards
Great Britain? Let tneir conduct in rcs])ect to the recent European contest answer
for them. — England and France, aa tho loading Powers of Euroj)e, have been
engaged in a gigantic and costly war, not in defenco of their own individual
rignts, but of the civilization and tho liberties of Europe, against tho aggressiona
of Russia, and in reality against tho despotism of tho northern hordes, who now
as of yore, are ready to overrun the more polished nations of tho south. With whom
have the people of the land of liberty ^wir excellaice — tho disciples of Washington
— sympatliised ? Whose cause has been espoused by the movement party oi the
Union, — they who ride rough-shod over the intelligence and respectability of their
country, ancl effectually govern its destinies for good or evil? — ^They have openly
and unblushingly sided with the advocates of despotism and barbarism, and only
seek a pretext to array themselves against the chivalry of France and England, and
the heartfelt sympathies of the various nations and peoples of Europe who still
pant for liberty ; — thus destroying root and branch — tho prestige of their much
vaunted revolution, imprinting an indelible stain upon their republicanism and se-
riousl;^ damaging the cause of civil liberty throughout the world. Onevtiy occasion
on which England happens to bo threatened with a war, or actually engaged in
one, whether in defence of her rights, in vindication of the national honor, or as
the champion of the liberties of the weaker nations of the great European Family,
American statesmen, well knowing the bent of their people, will furnish their
diplomatic tools with some subterfuge likely to produce a rupture, of which tho one
now under discussion is perhaps the most flimsy and the most disingenuous ; — and
american ingenuity will not fail to discover some pretext for a quarrel, by which
the proud position of England may bo loweredj and they themselves possibly
raised a little higher in the scale of nations. Their inordinate national vanity, and
their jealousy if not hatred of England would be gratified to the full, and no sacri-
fice either moral or material would be too great, could they succeed in making
their advancement coeval with tho downfall of England, the country from whose
people and institutions they imbibed the first principles of that liberty in the
excessive indulgence of which they are now running riot, utterly ragardless of the
eternal laws of justice and honor.

If HUch lie tho c(»»icliwiMii to wlii'li our rxpirii'ti t; of tlu" ]\o\ioy piiHt and pro-
■cut of tli«! rniti'il Slut«'H iifccssiirily Itadn iiH, tluii' niii Ik' no (pifntiou tluit wu
jir«! iMMiial to Hi'lrct tliut pliiii- loru piTiimiiciit wrut of ptv-'Tiiiiicni, which, il"il Ihi
pcrli'ctlv (lotiipiilibh' with tht; rnirtoimlih' and prohaljh- rxigt'iicicM dl pfiicr, will
allonl tlio f^ifatt'Ht HtTuiity in litiif uC war l'<ir the |irot«'<'ti<)ii (»|' the priMniiM til' tht;
Governor, tho mcinbciH <tVthi' Kxtriitiv*! and lit'^iiwhitivc Ut<dicMand the olliccrMor
thodoviTnnicnt, as well as th»» prfscrvatinn of the puMii- anhivi-s of tho l*n)-
vinw. In thts event of a war, the .scat of p»\ eminent, wherever it may he, will
luwuredly l)0 the first and main oliieet ol'atta«;l<. \\'on!d it Ik) w'mi now to incur
tin «>xpt;nditnre of a million ol' di)ilarM f<>r the erectinn of pnMic l>nildinK>< sintahlo
to the rank and importanee of this I'rovinee, and in aeeurdaiu'e with the wislu'soi'
tho people, in Montreal, or in any other place west of Quehec, only to l>o laiil iu
iwhcH on tln! lirst oiithreaU ? The position of Montreal, — now an before the inowt
ftinhitious rival of Quebec, instead of beinj^ Htn'n}flhene<l, is on the contrary v»'ry
seriously impaired by its material improvementH. 'J'he nunu'rous railroails unitinj^
there would greatly facilitate; the advani'e and concentration ot a hostile force, and iti
HO brief a spa<!e ol' time as to take the city by snrprise : and that stiip<'ndous tm-
dcrtaking, — tho Victoria bridge, — so creditable to the; J'rovinee, will, when com-
pleted, assuredly render Montreal more defenceless than belbre. On the approach
of an invading nrmy, whetlmr conipos»ul of regulars, militiamen or n rauders,
onoof two thingH must inevitably occur; either the railroads and the great liridgo
must bo destroyed, or the CJovernmeiit must again repeat ita disaatrous flight from
that city.

The })reten.sion.s of Ottawa (Bytown) aro much extolled by reason of its inland
and central position, and its capabiliticH for a fortified city. Centrality has
vanished ; and what would tho best fortifications avail withouttroops tt» mun liiem.
In tho event of a war the enemy would measure the strength and position of every
piece on tho chessboard, una in all probability tho first strategical muncouvro
would cut off all communication between Quebec and the fortilied inland city, by
which tho Governor and his Executive, and the Meip'oers of the Ijcgislaturo, if iu
session, would become thi lirst prisoners of war. A i incalculable loss of l)lood
and treasure would then be incurred in order to regain the jwxsition which tho
exercise of a little wisdom and foresight would have secured before iuuid. In such
a lamentable plight tho Queen's Vice-gerent might indito despatches to tho Homo
Government w ithout number, but would they ever reach Quebec or any other
place from which their transmission to England might be effected ? Tho LegLslators
of tho day who strenuously contend respectively lor Afontreal, Ottawr, Kingston
and Toronto, without venturing to advance one solid argument to sustain their
views, will answer — "that we aro not now at war nor likely soon to be, and that it
will be time enough tti guard against its evils when wearomenaccu with invasion, "
— resorting moreover to a host of similar arguments and reasons entirely beside the
question, and which become unanswerable solely by reason of their puerility. Tho
only possible relief they could suggest iti such an unfortunate, — thougli by no means
improbable predicament, would be — that tho Queen's Re])rcaentative might escape
the indignity of his position by taking flight in a balloon and running the risk of
reaching Quebec, or peradventure making a descent into Lake Champlain, or
alighting on the Green Mountains of Vermont. His governmental staff might
adopt the alternative of following his fortunes by the same aerial medium, or
" resign " !

Let us contrast Ottawa or any other city, town or village of Canada with the
fortress of Quebec under such untoward circumstances. Should the enemy first
direct his attention towards Quebec, it requires very little knowledge of military
tactics to divine what his plan of campaign must be. The invading army must bo
composed of a regular — well disciplmed body of trocrps, accompanied with Artil-
lery, Engineers and a well supplied Commissariat. Every necessary preparation
must be made i ad precaution talcen for investing the town and maintaining a pro-
tracted siege. A'he organization and equipment of such a force could not be

.ii««>m>pl
hundred
tiftie to
frufird »^
to any «>
I'roni tlif
\Vi(
ut)on Ml
'loronto.
little ni<
rtHin^'/, «e
(.'anadii I
lU'ersor
nro.isiot
into the
atiy one
hx'.'ited a
enemy t<
\Vil
review tl
honsion (
most, unti
and wit! I
<ni boa id
Knglaiid,
catjon w<
"Mistrc."
of fllibiisl
liieiit whi
ol St. 1\;|
e'tadel of
(i*iielu e ii
British )
apathy o
If. St, to (I
all her c
warn us
In

seat of 1
choice w
Tiio
g.inendlv
the for II
ling a ";
vineo w;
iiowcvcr,
one on ai
dians in 1
wa« ver_>
an overw
iiadu del
llms rol'a
prinoij-)l(!
fH)tic'ally
rejioal of
l:aivc A
ing of an

iirid pro-

I lliat wu

I, it' it )hi

li'iu't', will

»IH (if tlu!
(illiciTH of

till' Pro-
V Im', will

to itK'ur
s HiiituhU;
wiHiu'rt of
)o liiid in
tlin inoHt
fury vt-ry
.s uniting

CI-, Ulul 111

lulous iin-
,lu!i COIIJ-
( appnuu'li
.nmdorH,
at Bridge
liglit I'roiu

'itH inland
rality liua
Dui; tlicni.
I of every
nuncDuiivro
id city, by
iiture, if iu
i of blood
which the
d. In such
the Homo
any other
LeguslatorH

Kingston
iHtain their
and that it
invaaion, "

beside the
rility. The
{ no means
ight escape
the risk of
implain, or
staff might
nedium, or

la with the
3nemy first
of military
fiy must be
with Artil-
prcparatioi
ling a pro-
ild not be

rt(HN>mpliH}ied in wvrei'y. llH nmreh ihrm^rh tin ir own t. vr\U)ry nnd over one
liiMidred tniifs ()^ull|^^, would iiir<ir<l tla- Miifliurifien and jn'ople ol ('iimula a lilile
lirm- to tiiarslial their luri-cs mid niaiu' pivpunitiniiM l««r nlliielv vv diliiice, and lliUM
^fifnrd njrniimt surprise; and eru lltflu'kiij.''iuMV«l forfreM eoidd be at all Huhjt'eti-d
tnatiy of tlii> iii.|iii!iry privalioiiM ol'a nir./i', fhc Hiitiyli p«'tinrr\tM Would bo (ioaling
from tlie "woocjcii walls <if old l'lti;/lMnd " in llie liarbonr of <iiiebee.

Wiilelv dilVeri-nt would b(< the iimihcI (.f allnirs HJiould theeneriiv llrnt nmreli

upon Montreal or the eirdiryo Metropolis of tlu) Ottawa, or even upon lvin;i;ytor» or
'loroufo. 'I'lif eliiir.ieter nnd eouipintiit of tlui invailiiig forcf would be a tni'ltt-r of
little rnotricnt. All tliat would Mfeni to Im Ufcissary woidd bo a viinult;uieou«
riKinj^r. Heeretly ovgaiiiMed, of the fdlibustrriug po|>ulation ol the Slatt;; bordering on
Cauaua to tlai ext' nt of some llfli-i'iior tnentv thousand, without ArtilliTv, I'lngi'
iie»!rs or ( loturriissni iiil, each nimi HliiMildcrinjj his UiUsKi't or his rille, with livv! tIayM
nrokisiouM on his back. Sueli nn uiidiseipliued — iitiofricercil horde might mnreh
mlo till" iVovince in forfv eight hours, autl by a 'o'//* <A' »/"/// take possession of
any one of the other loealitii's which tiow aspire to hii\e lln; siat ol' ;.'overnineiit
located among them, for the exprenH ]»ur])OHe, one woidd KUpjiose, of attracting the
eneinv to a weak and vulnerable point.

Within tliii walls of (.Quebec thi! (loverner fieiicral would be able »'alinly to
review the conilitioii olallairs and to conunlt tlin result tr) jwiper, without ajtpre
hension nf being ingloriously ineareerateil witiiin the limits of his '.'overniuetit, (a
most, untoward mishap, whieli woidd of ilsell'tarnish the honor of his country;)
and with the certainly that his rne;v n;j"er, iu a few minutes thereafter, woidc' Htcj»
on board an armed British Stciamer, and wend his way at oiico to tie Metropolis of
Mnglarid, without danger from any of those casualties by whii'h !i land eomnnmi-
cation would Ik; beset, and in lull confidence! that ua lon;^ as I'lnvland remains
" Mistress of th(>. Sens," the di-.stinies of Canada woidd not be abnndoneel toa horde
of fllibusji rs without relief from the other side of th(! Allantie. The, min^hly rvrma-
mentwlii(;li anon awaited but the order to demolish the adamantine dcfciuscfi
of St. Petersburg, could ra[)idly trnnsi)ort the gallant army of the Crimea to tho
eiladel of (,>uebee, to ^vin IVesh laurels in expelling the invaders jrom our midst.
<.i>ueb( c is eoidi'.-;.sedly tlu! key to the Cauiidius; t/inj cou.^titute the stronghold of
British jiossession in North America; arul on the day on which, cither by the
a[)athy or the stolidity of our statesmen, this important app(Midaei> ol' the Crown is
lost to (ireat lirltain, away go the other ^ioith American Provinces and eventually
all her empire on this eontineiit. Tlu^ salutary admonitions of history .'^ullieiently
warn usol the certain consequences of such a calamity.

hi addition to the reasons already assigned lor the eligibility of Quebec n^ tho
scat of the Canadian (jovei'nment, there are other consideratioiiH involved in the
choice wdiich are assuredly not undcsrrving of notion*.

The union of Upper jind Lower Canada was decreed for the jiurpose, as if. is
gvinerally believed, (4' setting oll'lli':! rejnited lovaity of the Mnglisii Inhabitants of
the Ibrmcr against the disaffection of the Lowt>r Canadian French, and of j)ut-

ling a "strn it-Jacket" upon l^)wor Caiiad;i.

|iO]^,ulation of the nether Pro-

vince wa.s then greatly superior to that of tho Ujij)er. 'J'hc marriage contract,
however, wa.s drawn upon jnst and fair ])rinciples, and the two ProviiiccH became
OTK! oii an equal footing in respect of rejireseritation. In 18-10 some Lower Cnna-
<liuns in I'urliauieiit made a move Ibr representation on the basis of population, which
wa« very ])r(>perly, and —it must be admitted, very m;ignaiiimously negatived by
an ov<n"whelming majority of the delegates of their sccti(jn, — all those of Ujiper Ca-
nada deliberately, biiu very improvidcuily as it turns out — voting with tnern, —
thus refusing to acknowledge tiiis {)retcnsinn, and .-solemnly ratifvin,'.!; thegovi'rning
princifjlc of the Act of Union. Tlais principle has since been di.^turbcd, and dcs-
fK)tieally, though possiblv unwittingly infringed by the Tnipevial Parliament in their
rejH-al of the Provir-oorihe Act of Union, rcquiringa \oteof two thirds of the Lejns-
lativc A.sj'embly and Legislat'vc Council as a condition precedent to the sanction-
ing of any \V\]\ altering the number of Kcprewntativts, — a trick in all probability

t''\

'%'\

secretly hatched by Bomc dceii — plotting knave of the rrovince in the interest of
a party, palmed upon the Metropolitan Government and smnj^'glod throufrh Parlia-
ment witnout the Knowledge or consent of the people or Government of thi.s (coun-
try — , a high-handed and daring act calculated to endanger the allegiance of a
whole people who, though by no means an independent — consenting party to the
contract, had every reason to rely upon the justitie and the honor of the Parent Ijc-
gislature to be treated as such in any subsequent legislation on this vital ques-
tion. Upper Canada obtained con iihrablo advantages by the Union. It was
beneficial to it in a financial point of view. It conferred upon it a new political
existence by the subsequent and consequent introduction of ltes})onsible Govern-
ment, — a concession which never could have been extorted from England in favor
of either Province, while Lower Canada was supposed to be in a condition not to
bo entrusted with self-government. — Fifteen years have since elapsed ; and no
sooner have the two sections approached an equality in immbers, than certain
agitators in Upper Canada begin to resuscitate the cry of Eepresentation by popu-
lation, under tlie expectation that in a few years their section will far outnumber
the other ; and this agitation seems not to be unacceptable to a certain portion of
their people, and to be participated in, moreover, by some prominent ])olitieians of
the old Family Compact party, whom the "greatest good of the greatest number"
had never before inducecl to condescend to " ofjiiate " on any matter or thing cal-
culated to arouse public opinion, adversely to the existing (jrder of things.
however unpopular or reprehensible it might be. Of course this new band ol'
patriots, although composed, it is true, of somewhat heterogeneous materials, choose
to forget the solemn refusjd of Upjicr Canada by the unanimous voice of her
representatives in Parliament, to c(jncedc the same principle to Lower Canada
when it possessed, that which Upper Canada has not yd acquired, a large majority
over the other section. They comi»laccntly " disremcmber " that ilwy were the
only consenting party to the bans ; that a union of two countries differing
toto crelo in language, laws, religion, customs, manners and traditions, was imposed
by the supreme legislative autliority upon Lower Canada, and that the principle
of a perfect equality became a necessary ingredient of the contract, with the
wise and just intention of guarding against any undue advantage being taken
by the one over the other. This principle of the Union must now Ije reversed, and
the same reasons wliicli presided at its consimnmation trodden under foot in the
interest of one section of the Province, which now happens to be, or is expected
hereafter to become, diametrically opposed to what that section contended for but
a few years ago, when it suited their jiurpose. Such a fratricidal course must neces-
sarily tend to the dismemberment of cither section. A time may come Avhen the
preponderance of U ppcr Canada in population will be so great that it can no longer
be overlooked without endangering tlie peace of the Province. What then will be
the condition of that country whose financial and political rights were rudely as-
. sailed to meet the exigencies of the day ! —

Again the social and political condition of the neighbouring Kcpul^lic by no
means prognosticates its permanency. Elements of discord continue to simmer in
the national cauldron. The curse of slavery on the one hand, and the still greater
curse of ungodly lanatieism and intolerance on the other, suggest the possibility of
a disruption at no very distant period. The invasion and subjugation of Canada by
the United States, or a severance of the Northern from the Southern States of that
country, might load to very dilferent results as regards our relations with them or
the adjacent Provinces. Whatever may be the issue, the inhabitants of Canada and
the other Provinces contemplate with horror the bare possibility of witnesshig the
degrading spectacle of the execution of the fugitive slave law in their midst ; and
this plague spot in the vista will long keep their \ :arts right towards the standard
nf Victoria, in whose dominions a man's freedom is not measured by his color.
In order the more securely to prevent our being absorbed by the Great Eepublic
under any contingency-, these Provinces may come to the conclusion that the high
and honorable degree of freedom which they now enjoy may behest guaranteed and

interest of

iifrli Parlia-

' this (>ouii-

jfianeo of a

ifirty to the

! Pjircntljc-

vital qucs-

)n. It was

w political

)lo Govern-

ind in favor

ition not to

:d ; and no

than certain

1)11 by popu-

outnumbcr

n portion of

loliticians of

est number"

T thing cal-

r of things.

ew band of

jrials, choose

,'oicc of her

wer Canada

rgc maj(^rity

ey were the

ies differing

was imposed

the principle

ct, with the

being taken

■eversed, and

!r foot in the

[• is expected

;nded fcr but

e must neces-

ne when the

can no longer

. then will be

3re rudely vcs.-

^.public by no
to simmer in
still greater
possibility of
of Canada by
States of that
with them or
•f Canada and
^itnesshig the
ir midst ; and
? the standard
by his color.
reat Eepublic
. that the high
aaranteed and

transmitted unimp.aircd to tlioir (l;3condant3 by a federal or legislative union of tho
whole. The obstacles interjiosud by distance are, from day to day, 1 x'ing fast surmount
ed by lines of railroads uniting and intersecting them all, and eummercial reciprocity
and a community of intere.>;ls on many [joints are gradually, hut not the less surely,
bringing niiMi's niindsto look fiirwaTd'totliis union as a mattcroCnccicssitv. Reverting
again to the prosiicetive iiumovical S!ii)criorily of the pojinlation of lJp]:)er over
Lower Canada and its threatened conseiiuences, we would seem to glide naturally
and imi)erecpti]»ly towards a general union, as the only sedative to the elements of
commotion, external and internal, Avhich now overshadow the future of this Pro-
vinet^ Assuming that tlic union of all the North American Provinces is an event
not at all improbable, but one to which various progressive changes in our political
existence seem to ])oint as a haven oC refuge from the storms which may follow
upon the small s]H'eksnow visible in the hori/iOn, tluin are we bound in common pru-
dence to reilectero we put the iinal seal upon the choice of a seat of Government.
Jl is obviously the duty of our public men to take these possible contingencies into
their sltIous consideration, and to select some jilaee which, Avhile it meets the wants
of the now Province of Canada, will also be adapted foi- the seat of Govemmeut of
all the British Provin(!es. The mere ccTitemphition of such an important change
in our e(mdilion at once suggests the city olQuebee as not only the fittest, but tho
only fit i)lace for that ])ur}>ose. Pesides — and this is by no means the least impor-
tant feature of the ease, — the heavy expeiiee to be incurred in the erection of suit-
able edifices would then be borne, not by the Province of Canada alone, — but by
all tho Provinces; and these buildings, il'conimenced now, could be laid out in
such a manner a.s to render them susceptible of being enlarged t>nasealo commen-
surate with the wants of the United Provinces without infringing or destroying the
original j^lan.

The ])ropriety, therefore, of selecting Quebec as the Seat of Goveniraent
either of Canada or of the United Provinces, is eminently enhanced by a contem-
plation of all these possible contingenci(>s; and the "linger on the wall" points mena-
cingly to the folly of establishing it in any other place.

Such are a few of the considerations which ])resent themselves to the most
unreflecting mind at the present juncture and which are amply sufficient to con-
vict our metropolitan and Colonial Statesmen of 1843 oftheilital error of deferring
to the j udgment of a popular body, wdio obviously could never be expected to tender
to the Crown a strictly disinterested and patriotic advice, sustained by a large or
decisive majority, upon a question so fatally embarrassing to their popularity indi-
vidually as delegates of particular localities. The Avriter has committeu them to the
j)ublie m tho hopes that those who uphold the superiority of Toronto, Kingston,
Montreal and Ottawa will not disdain to enter the arena and advocate the eligibility
of their respective localities by arguments and reasons addressed to the common
sense of mankind, and the best calculated to lead to a wise determination of this
long mooted point.

Since the foregoing was written, the question of the Seat of Government has
passed through thcLcgLslativcAssembly, terminating on the 16th April last infavor
of the City of Quebec by successive majorities of itw-n/yycmr over Ilamilton, tiventy
one over Toronto, fourteen over Kingston, ten over Montreal, and Udrty four over
Ottawa, thus establishing the order of eligibility in theopinion of the Assembly asfol-
lows: — Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa. On the same
day and before the votes were taken, the Governor General, by a message to the Assem-
bly delivered by the Attorney General for Lower Canada, 'informed the House that
His Excellency was ready to discontinue the present system of convening Par-
liament alternately at Toronto and Quebec when the necessary information as to what
wasmo.st convenient to the Legislature, and the requisite means for carr^dng out
its w^ishes, should be in the po&session of His Excellency. On the 18th April, Mr.
Macdonald, member for Gleugary, having previously given the required notice,
moved an Address to the Governor General praying that in consequence of the
vote of the House, Els Excljllency would be pleased to recommend an appropria-

^
m

■ i'-

%:\

Liuii to bo iimdo fur the cuiiatrui^tion ol auitablu buiktiugs for the accoiuinodation of
tho Lcgislaluvo and Govcnuncut in the Cltv of Quebec. The AUuriu-y Ocm^r.'il
(or Upper Cuunda, iu his .seat, decland ihaL llio Uovermueiil wtmld bo preparcii to
ask during tho jireseiit Session for anapprojtriation in aocoidaneeMvith Ino de(;i.«*i<m
uf the llcjuse, upon \vliioli auuouuuomeut tho Address was witlidrawu lui being

iinnocossarv.

This idl iinjjortant cpiostion, airriod tliroui.di thcpopidar ]5raiicli by successive
majorities, \\i\s decuicd to have been finally i)ut at I'ost by the ptissing in that
liousoof the r>ili of sui)])ly containing an item of ,£50,000, as an instalment of tlie
amount required lor the erection ofsuital)lc public buildings al Qut;bec for tho
use of the Uovernnientand Legishiluro. The Keprescntatives of the People being
thus committed to a vote which tlu'v and every riglit minded inhabitant of Cana-
da, believed in his heart to be a just o!i(>, and the Governijr General a)id the
Administration of the tlay having publielv pledged themselves to its faithful and
promj)t eyecuiion, no individual tlironghout the length and breadth of tlie land
ever dreamed that the intentions of eitlier Avould lie jterverted by the other Branch
of the Legislature. Noverlheless the peo])le (<fthis Province were suddenly awa-
kened by the astounding intelligence that the Ligishitivc Council/ — that Body
whose historical annals are but a tissue of acts of subserviency to the Powers of
the day, had concluded to thwart the wishes of the people and of the Crown, and
to give cIVect to the sinister views of })articular localities, by nothing less than a
resolution to stop the suj^plics I— a movement of so marked Ji revolutionary cha-
racter that the Commons of England and of the Canadas have never resorted to it
except in times of impending convulsion. This bold determination they took on
tlie strength of a majority of i/irce/ in a Uonsc reduced by absentees to twenty
one members, and on the hollow pretext that Ihci/ had not been consulted.
The members of that body Avdio were absent from their Legislative duties, more
particularly those from the Lower Section of the Province, who have thus by their
apathy and want of patriotism or other more unworthy motive or cause, produced
this untoward rcsidt, wantonly and lieaillcssl}' damnifying the nuiterial interests of
the City and District of Quebec, if not of Lower Canada, and j)ermitting a faction in
the Council to take a most unusual and luieonstitutional course which may be preg-
nant with future disaster to the whole Province; — these faiyikints — wdio though re-
peatedly urged to repair to the'r posts, sent their paltry excuses instead, and aban-
doned Lower Canada to its fate in its hour of need, must stand prepared to render an
account of their stewardship at the bar o'' Mublic opinion. Every individual mem-
ber of that Chamber knew, and if he dio not know, his ignorance would have en-
titled him to a public flagellation, that the selection of a place for the permanent
Seat of Government appertained exclusively to the Prerogative of the Crow^n, a
constitutional principle the wisdom of which lias been but too forcibly illustrated
by each Branch of the Legislature in this very matter. They well knew that
neither Branch could set up a claim of right to be consulted ; — that the Legislative
Assembly, the sole constitutional exponent of the wishes of the peojjle of this
Province, had not been consulted, nor had arrogated to themselves tne I'ight to bo
consulted. They tendered their advice to the Crown as it was their indisputable
right to do; the Legislative Comxcil might have adopted a similar course, as they
in fact did in A])ril of the preceding year, when their wishes and 'ews coincidecl
Avith those of the Assembly of the pi-esent year. But no 1 they pr(^ferred at the
eleventh hour to take advantage of a thin Ilouse and to signalize their
transition from a state of independence, to one of pusillanimous dread — of the breatli
of the people, by ])andering to the clamors of political agitators put forth in the
interest of certain localities. This conduct on their part is the more reprehensible
when we contrast it with their address to the Crow^n on the same subject in 1855,
recorded' in the 387th i)age of their Journals, in which- — sage and siljy by turns,
aa it would nj^pear, they enunciate the following sentiments :

lOiiatioiiof
•y Guuerjil

u tui being

succoisslve
iig in tliut
iu;nt ortlu!
ji'C lor the
;<)pl(' bcin;^
it ol' Ccinji-
al luid llio
Litiil'ul und

r llio land
her Branch
dcnly awii-
■lliat' ]3odv

Fowci's of
Drown, and
less than a
iouary cha-
.^sorted to it
cy took on
,'to twenty

consulted,
uties, more
UTS by their
e, produced
. interests of
a faction in
lay be; prcg-
) though rc-
1, and ubun-
to render an
k'idual inem-
dd have en-
j permanent
Lie Crown, a
y illustrated
. knew that
5 Legislative
iople of this
i right to be
indisputable
.rse, as they
vs coincided
ferred at the
lalizo their
)f the breath
forth in the
ijprehcnsible
ect in 1855,
.Jy by turns,

" TO HIS EXCEI*LENCY SIU EDMUND WALKiUl UEAD, Ac. "

" Wo, Uer Miijestv's dutyful und loyal subjeota, the LegLsUitive CuiuicLl o/
" Canada, in Provimaal rarliament assenujled, beg leave res[jeett'ully to represent
'* to Your l<Lx.eellcney that, in our opinion, the time has arrived wnen the Utjyal
'" Trerogative .sliould he exercised in deteruiinirig U[)(jii a permaiUMit scat of Oio-
" vernment in this Province; that the system of holding alternate I'arHaments at
'' Quebec ami Toronto is objectionable and detrimcntid to the Public Service, on
'* account of its manifest ami extreme inconvenience, that it involves a large ex-
" penditure of the Public Funds, and that by the frequent transportation from
" place to ])lace of the several departments eouneeted with the Governiuent — tlio
" security and sale keeping of the LibraricH, liccords and Archives of the Country
" are seriously endangered.

" \Vv. therefore pray that Your Excellency will be pleaded in the exercise of the
" Itoyal Prerogative to iix p(;rmanently upon some convenient place for the au-
" nual assembling of Parliament, and we beg to assure Y'our Excellency of our
'' cheerful c(jncurren('C in any })n;jiosition you may tliink fit to make for the ap-
" |)ropriatioii of Public Money for the erection of suitable buildings ibr the acconio-
'' dation of the Tliree lirauehes of the Legislatui'e, at the place which may be so
'' tixed upon by your Excellency. "

Having thus anathematized the alternate system as detrimental to the PvhliG
iSarvicel txtremdij inconveniaU / involviwj a larijc expenditure ! — and seriously
endanr/cring the securiti/ of the Libraries and the Archives of the Province ! ! they do
an act which tends to per[)etuate these very evils : — having earnestly praycu hia
Excellency to exercise the Eoyal Prerogative for the choice of a permanent place
and assured him of their cheerful concurrence in any proposition for the appropria-
tion of the necessary funds to that end — tlms proifering their advice and ih.Qir cheerful
concurrence I without ever having been asked or *' consulted ; " — no sooner does his
Excellency in harmony with the Lower House accede to their request, than these
specimens of profound wisdom resolve to frustrate the viewt; and determination of
the Crown and peoi^le by withholding the annual sxtpi)lies, at the risk of suddenly
interrupting all the Public Works of the Province, consigning hundreds of families
to destitution, and arresting the whole machinery of Government. They first pathe-
tically bewail a public evil and solicit a remedy ; they next " cat their own words,"
and stultify themselves by rei)udiating the })rayer of their own address and ajjing
the acts oi' po])ular assemblies in times of great excitement; and for all this ex-
travagance, they gravely assign a reason condemned by their own previous so-
lemn declarations, and of so shallow and unfounded a cliaracter as to be worse
than a falsehood, and to be an insult to common sense.

The Legislative Council constitute a third co-ordinate Branch in the Parlia-
ment of Canada. Its functions, assimilated to those of its counterpart in the Brit-
ish Constitution, are clearly defined ; they are called into serious action when the
torrent of jwpular fury threatens to o\'erllow its banks, and to imperil tiie safety
of the vessel of State, — hut only then. — In ordinary times its course — smooth — pas-
sive — 'torpid and innocuous, must not transcend the limits of its normal sphere.
From whatever source it may draw its existence, whether nominated by the
Crown or elected by the peo})le, it cannot exert, and must not be ])ermitted to
exert, a greater amount of control in the Parliament of Canada than is assigned to
the House of Peers in the British Constitution, — that great Fabric upon which
ours has been modelled, and the wisdom of wdiich has been tested by the expe-
rience of ages, ; — which has so receritl}-- i)rovcd the sole barrier to European re-
volution and anarchy, and now stands the sheet-anchor of the liberties of the
civiUzed world. The House of Lords, with its hereditary Avealth, character, and
talent and its enormous influence in the State, would not dare to invade or abridge
the privileges and attributes of the House of Commous. In every contest of the
kind it has invariably receded. The Legislative Council of this Province may
be proud to fulfil a similar lunited sphere in the destinies of Canada. The^

¥>'

t.<\ 1

, t

' I

Kloppajrc of the Bup])licti hns been ever rofcunlrd riH tlie liiirbiii^cr of the vol-
miio, the tdtima ralio vl' mi oiitm.^ed ])Co[)le in ikl'.nei; of tli(<ir liberties. It
must ever n'tiiiiin tiio hi;.";!! iind t'ritic;:il pivi'ui'.'ilive ol'lhti |)<)|>iiI.m' luiiucli, iiiid no
Dtlirr bodv in tlic Stutc niiirtL be |H'rnutled tu dure the (hui^'Tous ordeul. The
lossil \vouldd)e revoUitioniiry Memlier.s oC onr " House of Lords" oujdit to remember
tiKitiin (Overweening,'; rcspicl I'oriu-rson.s in lii^b .sk'.lidiis is not, jin iiidi<j"en()iiM plant
«>n this Continent, and wiiinid by tiie. i'a'ie of the ambitious i'rog, — they mr.st not
jittempt to cndargo or overstep their legitimate fuueliuns, or again pUiy tiny "antics
before lligli Heaven."

Should that body in its re. nned condition ever again omit symptoms of
Hucli a tendency, it mav produce u ieeling of regret ihat in the recent ehangcj of its
constitution any regard lor sujiposed vested righls sIkjuIiI have led to the retention
of those members udiose antt'cedents never identified them "\vilh any j)ortion of tho
people, save the class of C(.)lonial Oilicials who mono])(jlized the whole patronago
of tlie Crown as their legitimate ])atrimony or ])rey ; and who had entailed u})ou
themselves the sif:,nilic;int distinction, ;it once traditicMiary and prophetic, of "z'tV//-
lar<k malfaisantsr The recent enactment, passeii for the purpose of ameliorating tho
composition of the Legislative Council, is due to tho i)reviou3 vicious selection of
materials for that branch not in the least cakndated to constitute an indejiendent
body, or a counterj)oise between tlie Crown and the])eo|)le, but of individuals alto-
getlicr subservient to the will of the Executive. 'JMie Council having thus become
obnoxious to the peo])le and ])laced under universal ban, it was determined to
substitute election t)y the peojile to nomination by the Crown, from which change
it is very reasonably anticipated that \\s jwrsomiel will be im[)roved. N'> ' h; of its
members, however, must for a moment imagine that its functions as i. >ranch (jf
the Legislature have lieen in the least changed or extended. The yjrocoss of elec-
tion places the individual elect within the bar of that House, in like manner as a
similar process confers the entree io the Assembly ; hut there the analorjy ends. The
Councillor will not carry with him one iota of that representative character wliich
is the peculiar faculty of the Lower House. Were he allova'd to do so, it would
operate as a diminutiion, in an equal ratio, of the privileges of the latter and would
at once create a constitutional anomaly.

The Councillors, like the Lords, rc]irescnt their own individualities; — ^the
Members of the Assembly the entiio body of the people. The Constitution can-
not tolerate two representative bodies. Their simple recognition in the State
would produce a dangerous conflict, and the essential attributes of tlie Lower
House and their imprescriptible rights and their efficiency as sole representatives
of the people would be seriously impaired. In a word — the Crown with the con-
sent of both Houses of Parliament, has surrendered a portion of its prerogative
which entitled it to make appointments to the Legislative Council ; but in doing
80 it has never been contemplated, nor can the law legally or constitutionally be tortur-
ed to intend, that the Legislative Assembly consented to abridge, or even to share
with any other body or power in the State, its own peculiar attributes as guardians
of the monies of tne people and their sole representatives in Parliament, — rights
for which its great prototype the House of Common has battled, and which it has
maintained inviolate for centuries. It Avould be passing strange if an' enactment
which was expressly designed to impart wholesome vitality to the Members of the
Legislative Council and render them more acceptable to the people, could be in-
terpreted as investing that body with a power beyond the constitution, and there-
by rendering it as king Stork, infinitely more mischievous than it had ever been
as king Log, and neutralizing at the same time the most important privileges of
the Lower House and paralising the whole machine of Government. The members
of the Upper House nominated by the Crown constituted the Legislative Council
of Canada ; elected by the people — they constitute the self-same Branch — neither
more nor less. Although more independent of the Crown, and less independent of
the people, they arc clothed with the same powers and exercise the same functions,
and they must be held — and fenced and fettered if need be — within the strict

of the vol-
ibertk'S. It
u'li, lUid iiu
r.loiil. Thu
h-iviuombcr
rc'tioiiH plant
vy niv.st not

iiiiy "unties

yniptonis of
•,liiinge of its
tlic retention
•ortion of tlio

le patronage
[itailcd iii)on
Lie, of "t'ic'V-

lioratingtlio
H Hcleetion of

indejiendent
ividnuls alto-

thus bccomo
letermijKHl to
vliieli eliungo
N'^ ( '\c of its

I: jrancli of
'occss of elcc-

manner as u
7?/ ends. The
aracter wliicli
> so, it -would
tor and would

ualities ; — ^tlic
istitution can-
in the State
of tlie Lower
epresentatives
with the con-
ts prerogative
but in doing
aallybetortur-
even to share
!S as guardians
iment, — rights
d which it has
an' enactment
lembers of the
!, could be in-
ion, and there-
had ever been
it privileges of
The members
slative Council
ranch — neither
independent of
same functions,
ithin the strict

litnits of tlicir constitutional bout. Tame submissivcncsi? to the dictates of tho
Crown and mean subserviency to the eaj)rice3 of i\w pcojjje, were tlie evils to bo
guarded against. 'V\ui ('utun; ciiarii(;t( r of the Council, and the ])eace and welfare
of the Province wiUdi'pond upon the wisdom of the men who are chosen. Their
course will shew whetiicr we liavc hit the happy medium, or the constitution has
lost its balance.

It is a remarkable coincidence tliat tin's recalcitrating sj)irit of the Legislative?
Council should have been inaugurated contemporaneously Avith tho birth in the
Legislative iVssembly of anotlujr monster ycleped " the double majority." Should
the Upper Branch persist in their usurpation of the rights and privileges peculiar
to the Lower, and arrogate to themselves a representative capacity to such a de-
gree as to insist upon the Administration of the day being subjected to a veto in
their House, it will form matter of amusement, perhaps of sorrow to contemplate
the 2)ossibility o^ their being infected with this new political epidemic of a certain
party in the Lower House, and the consequences which it may entail upon our
administrative system. JiCt us figure to ourselves for a moment a ministry unable
to ^-/tvern tho country because they cannr-t command four distinct majorities in
Parliament! Such a "dead-lock" woidd certainly make us the "eighth" wonder
of the world. Of the various doi»endencics of tho Ci'own endowed with a repre-
sentutivo constitution, Caiuida was tho first to evolve the })rinciple of Responsible
Government, which though inhereut in tl; . constitution, had lain dormant for half
a century. Should slio follow in the wake of certain political demagogues of the day,
she may possibly be also tho first to gratify the enemies of constitutional liberty
by making an exhibitioTi of her inability to carry out or even to comprehend this
systmn ; and instead of leading the van in colon'ial reform, her folly may serve as
a bt^acon to other colonies to avoid the shoals upon which we shall have made
8hi[)wrcck. 'Vho seeds of discord and disunion are daily sown by reckless agita-
tors and palmed upon the public in tlio shape of abstract principles of Government.
Although intrinsically so impracticable as not to impose upon the veriest simpleton,
their continual discussion may nevertheless tend to shew that union in the colo-
nies is the source of weakness instead of strength, and may be a bar in the way of
that more general union upon which our safety may hereafter depend. When
such absurdities as the question of tho "double majority" and of one Branch of
the Legislature performing the functions of, and in reality representing the other,
are seriously entertained and disciissed by men of reputed mediocre judgment and
understanding, — who, we would ask, can foresee what crude notions of government
may hereafter be hatched from time to time. Everything on this continent is
progressive with tho exception of common sense which seems to halt and to retro-
grade occasionally, as a tender exotic unable to keep pace with the "tall" plants
of this cUmate.

The new dogma of the " double majority " would seem to have started up
for the express purpose of demonstrating the utter hopelessness of procuring any
satisfactory or decisive conclusion from the Legislature on the question of a perma-
nent Seat of Government, as well at the same time, fortunately, of establishing tho
utter nothingness of tho (logina itself; ^'^ : what Legislative Assembly or Council
could bo found to give a double riajoruy vote in favor of any one locality in tho
Province. This novel doctrine of two majorities in one Legislative body, is fraught
however, if suffered to germinate, with more danger to the State than we are
ready to admit or can forcseo at the moment. The more impracticable and in-
comprehensible it is, tlie more mischief it is likely to create. Vain and ambitious
men will affect to understand and analisc it, and must therefore profess to adopt
it ;• — wise men will look upon it with coutcm}it ; in the mean time political gam-
blers will make use of it for their own ends. Its mere discussion is calculated to
affect injuriously as well the question of th(^ permanent Seat of Government, as
every measure of Legislation or government which may arise. In short, if ad-
hered to, it Avill throw everything " off the track " and bring us back to chaos.
It will be well tlicrefo: : that our attention were drawn to it in due time with a

viow to c/mvincc the nicniiOf't cni)iicity of itx utter in!iJmi8yi>)ility !W iv guiding nilc
in the govermnont of this or nny other enlightened eoiintry w conununily under
the Hun. .

Tlie union of the I'rovinoes of Tipper mid Lo-wer Canada "\vns designed for tlio
amelioration of the ])olitieal eondition of })0t}i. Tli<' recognition of the priiu^ple
of Responsible Governmcmt was deemed a matter of nec(>ssitv in order to n^gnlate
the administrative functioMS <^f the Govcrnnunit ef>nronn:d)Iy 1o long estahlislied
usage in Kiurliind, and thereby to enal)le the Kcpivscnfative of the Sovereign,
through liis Kxeentive Council selected prineip;dly from the delegates of tiie people,
to govern the Country in a jnimnermorc congeni;d to the well aseerf.iined wislies
of the majority of its inhabitants, mid su\m:ct to their j'erpetual and salutary eijn-
trol in the popular Branch. Assuming this as a governing ]»rineiple, it is obvious
that in carrying it out the Trovince must be considered as a politieahvhole, and as
thevoiceofadeeide(l miijority oft]ie]>opularr>rniieh in Piivliainentinustto all intents
and puqwses be acec]Hed as the constitutional index of the voice <^>rilie in;ijority of
the people, so also must the ]<>xecutivc Council be talvcn and considered as a
whole, enjoying the conridence of the mnjority of the jieople Avifhont nierencc
to Bcetions, so long as they command such decided majorily in Parliament. I'lviTy
member of the Assembly, tlu* instant ho takes his peat in the body of that
House, ceases to be the niere represcntalive of the particular coTisfitnency by
whose mtfrages he has \nHin elected a iraindier of Parliament, n fiiculty with
which the constitution has invested him solely for the purpose of constituting
him an integral — indivisible portion of the entire rcpr'reiitjitioTi of tlie Province;
and should he coaso b}^ d(>atli or from ony disqiialifviiig cause to hold tho
office, the constituency which deputed him still continues to bo legally and
constitutionally represented equolly as much as if ho had not los^ his scat, subject
only to a diminution of that representation in the ratio of one to one hundred and
thir^-y, a defect which the constituency in question shnres in common with all tho
others whose delegates continue to retain their seats. Theoretically this jirincipln
is undeniable, and in practice it is manifest that no other can be siilely acted upon
without derangement of the whole fabric of the constitution, in as nmeh as if the
administratiA^e functions of the Crovernmcnt, which of themselves ineifeet absorb
the entire essence of tlu; constitution, arc not exercised nnd maintained in their in-
tegrity and with rigid adhesion to the principle tliat the majority must rule the
minority, the constitution would relapse into tho state of paralysis in which it lan-
guished before a healthful action was imparted to it by the apjilieation of the prin-
ciple of the responsibility of the members of the Cabinet to 1 he people. Although
the inhabitants of the two sections constituting the Province of Canada diftcr.
Avidely in language, laws and religion, nevertheless riolitically they constitute but
one people, and the majority, as in all countries enjcning re])resentative institutions,
must legislate for the minority, always of course with an erpial and undeviating
regard to tlie riglits of all. Tlui French and Catholic majority of Lower Canada,
and the Englisli and Pi'otestant majority of U])per Canada, legislate(l for their
respective minorities before the Union without any jarring of tlie consiitution,
and generally with due respect for tho right*' and privileges of their respective
minorities.

But the most conclusive argument in proof of the necessity of dealing with tho
inhabitants of the two sections and their Kepresentativcs in Parliament, as well aa
the Executive Council of their choice — eacli in their respective spliert>s — as one
whole, is derived from the self evident truth that any other administrative Rystem
A^-hich is based upon sectional divisions is utterly impracticable. Let us rcA'icw tlio
(iODsequenecs of the a|)plication of tlie double majority system. If it should happen
for instance upon the vol<) in the I;OgisIative Assembly of a fair working majority of
the whole House in favor of the Administration of the day, tliat a majority of the Ke-
presentativcs of UpperCanadais found r/va/os^theGovernment side of thcmea.^urc, the
membcrsof the Administration elected in Upper Canada must, ujion the "dcaible ma-
jority" principle, take such vote as declaratory by Ujiper Canada of ilxS want of con-

lei

gave a
dians w
in the fi
home tc
gave hi
valuelt

Bu
rity, an
Canada
upon a
them.

In
that th(

fidcncc ill the Government, and thcroiij)on nitiro from oflko. Then — prcciaoly jw tho
con verse of tlie .siinie proposition, — the inemherH l'''om Lower Ciirmda, li:»,vinj^ a miijo*
rityiiswellof tlieirownseeti»)Ma.st)ithc\vh(ile House, uro entitled to eoiusiiler the sumo
vote iw un cxpreswion ofeonlidenee in thevi luul by consequenee to retuin their oflices.
Usually when the Premier as Head of the Government resijj^na liia office, hi.s Gov-
criuiientiH thereby broken up, and the individual seleeted by the Crown to form ft

the Upper Canada section of the Administration nmst all retire carrying tho Pre-
mier along with them, while tho Lower Canada section remains in office, thus exhi-
biting the straiifje inconsistency in practice of the retirement of the Premier in one,
instance disaolvmg the entire Government, while in the o^Aer tho resignation of tho
same imnortant political chief, together with half his Government, only rivets tho
other half more firmly in office by virtue of the same identical vote which entail«
the dismissal of the former 1

Should tho double majority principle be constitutionally applicable in the ad-
ministration of the Government of two Provinces united in one, it must also be tho
governing rule in tho case of the union of three or more Provinces, and in such
cases tho Ministry of the day must command a majority of the Members of each of
the three or more united Provinces. No sooner is such an iiypothesis suggested to tho
mind than it exnlodes amidst the ridicule which it calls up. If a line of distinction
is to be drawn uetween Upper and Lower Canada as two separate political enti-
ties, there is no determining to what number of subdivisions the rule is to bo ap-
plied. If for instance it were tho case of Lower Canada alone in the enjoyment of
Kesponsible Government, and that all the Members from the District of Montreal
withdrew their confidence from tho Government, it would b j necessary upon tho
same principle that all tho Members of the Administration from that District (if
any there happened to be,) should at once resign. If not — where is the con'^titu-
tional line of domarcation to be drawn ? Then again, although sound policy and
equal justice require that the Administration should be composed in equal parts of
Upper and Lower Canada Members of Parliament, there is no constitutional neces-
sity for such a composition of the Cabinet. The majority, or indeed the entire
Government may be selected from one section ; — and in case of any such disparity,
which, though highly improbable, is neither impossible nor unconstitutional, what
rule is to bo followed with respect to a vote of want of confidence expressed by
that section which is unrepresented in the Government? For, however absurd tho
supposed consequence, the rule, if sound in principle, must be applicable to all
possible emergencies. The more we attempt to carry out this governmental doc-
trine the more paradoxical it becomes, and there is no end to the absurdities to
which it may lead us.

The first innovation of this character occurred in 1851, when the Hon. Robert
Baldwin, Attorney General for Upper Canada, resigned his office and seat in the
Cabinet, in consequence of a vote of the House upon the Court of Chancery which
gave a large majority to the Government, but in which a majority of Upper Cana-
dians were found in the opposition. The unconstitutionality of this act of resignation
in the face of a large majority of Mr. Baldwin's Government was practically brought
home to the breasts of the supporters of the G overninent from LoAver Canada who
gave him that majority, and avuo felt that their votes were treated as nugatory and
valueless.

But it is said that we must not govern Upper Canada by a Lower Canada majo-
rity, and vice versa. There is a fundamental error in speaking at all of an Upper
Canada majority or a Lower Canada majority. The premises assumed are based
upon a constitutional fallacy, and no legitimate conclusion can be drawn from
them.

In the event of our being driven to submit to the double majority system and
that the Government of the day, while sustained by a majority of the whole House,
1)

huvo tho inisfortuno to onoountor im niivcrne vote from the nmiority of tli<! Meni-
berft cither of Up|x^r or Lower (.'unadu, nml that this sectional deniiigemeut is to
be dec 1 1 led u i ')ii8titutionnl iiiUM'diiiiont, they innst dissolve Parliatnenl and appeal
to the country, notwithstaiidiiij^' that from the usuid legitimate diagnoses in such
matters they may be perteetlyjustilied in assuming that their noliey — already ap-
proved by a majority of the House, in uls(j in aeeordarice with the views of' th(5
people, Tliey wouhl thus t-xhibit to ilu- world the singular anonudv of a Govern-
ment disaolvmg a Parliament in vfhw.h they possessed a fair working majority;
and this for the purpose — not of sending the entire popular llraneh to their consti-
tuenis for approval or disapproval, but of trying a trivial Ni.si l^riua issue with !

some

lol iryuiga
tenot twelve Mend)ers out of a lIou.s(! of one hundred and thirty, who from some
motives of ambition or self-interest have seecded from their party and gone gnmib-
lingly into opposition. They would also hy the same course nK)St unjustly subject
all tne memuers of the section of the majority, and rt great many members of the
section of the minority, as well n.H their most unoffending eontitueneies, to tlu! vexa-
tious and harraasiug ordeal of a general election, merely because a minority who
could not under such circumstances scarcely ever exceed one fourth of the whole
representatives, are hostile to the Government. Instead of thus succumbing, very
possibly in the midst of a Session, to the designs oi'a few factionists, and at " one
fell swoop " sending to the " tomb of all the Capulcts " a variety of important
measuri'S maturing before Parliament, and which might have already received the
sanction of an undisputed majority of both sections, a sane })olicy would suggest
the propriety of bringing public opinion to bear on the recalcitrants, in order to
prevent their ever again attempting to arrogate to themselves the power of disar-
ranging the whole machinery of Government, and destroying the efficacy of Parlia-
ment by rendering it subservient to the caprice or the venality of a few discontents.
In all popularly constituted Governments the majority vnist prevail and constrain
the mmority, whether it be in Conventions, at the Hustings, in Legislative Bodies
or Parish meetings. This is the essence of responsible or constitutional Govern-
ment. "When the Crown can no longer command a majority in the Assembly of
the People's delegates, it dissolves the House and the People decide the issue at the
Polls. If a section of the House put the Government in a minority, and that the
double majority notion is to be tolerated or essayed, then there is but one cure for
the evil which may be worse than the disease, the Governor must have the power
to dissolve the section ! ! Should tlie views of the section be triumphant the Govern-
ment will find itself just where it was — •beautifully balanced and neutralized, thus
shewing that the whole thing has reached what the mathematicians ^all a redudio
ad abstirdum, and — la.shed by the lessons of experience — we must retrace our
steps. If we refuse to give the power to dissolve the section, then, as already
stated, we commit a gross act of oppression towards the section of the majority and
place the majority of the House at the mercy of tho minority, Scylla or Chary bdis !
It were better to throw the "double majority" "notions" overboard into the
vortex and return to port for more ballast. The instant you confer the power on
the minority to fetter the action or arrest the course of the majority, you must go
elsewhere for a constitution.

Should the future proceedings of the Council betray a second attempt to coerce
the popular Branch, either directly or indirectly, into the rejection of any measure
appertaining to its own exclusive jurisdiction, and which it had previously sanc-
tioned, or into the adoption of any policy of the same nature which it had already
repudiated, — ^bv intermeddling with its final and solemn disposition of the peoples
monies ; — should anj^ portion of its Members — under the pernicic is influence of the
old leaven, or intoxicated with the notion that they possess some imaginary — un-
defined representative capacity, venture to supersede or embarrass the functions of
the Legislative Assembly, they will produce a conflict which may be fatal to their own
existence. The people of Canada are resolved to preserve their Constitution in-
tact, and will not blindly abandon the fruits of the victory achieved by the intro-
duction of Responsible Government. It is said that " to be forewarned ia to be

roreurmod." Tho llrHt atttinpt of the Comicil to poHoli upon tlu; donmin of tlic
pctmlo ami tlwrchy to mar tlio Imrmoiiioiis nctioii of tlu! (^oiiMtilutiou, niuHt lu'
crusluid in tliir bud. Hut it' ocrsLstcd in- llio shout ol' an arountvl and itidi^'uant
pcjophi will bo "(i Ui hmternc with thi! oll'inding cxcreHccni'c ; thi!ir political f«xi«-
toticc- -iifdividiud and collective- -will be snappecl by (he Hat oCan avetifiiij; pub-
lic, and the " craciv ol'do^lin " will nnj< in tlieu- carH ere they b,i a^jjain allowed to
have an opportunity oi' trampling' upon the sacred ri;.^hlH of the p(>ople.

Amouf^ th(! advantafrcK which have recently eminently cnlianced the elifnbility
ofQuebo(! on (he score! of .salubrity nia\ be meivtioned iis rTia^'uilicont Aqueduct,
unequalled in poW( r by that of any City on tho j,dobe. 'J'he Town is sufmlied,
without limitation as tocpnmtity, IVom tin; C/i(V<(iuiVJ'J'm constnietcd on the Itivcr
St. (yharlcs at llui Villaj^(M)f Korctte, nine miles from (Quebec, at an (!h!vation capable
of discharging' the pellucid waters of Lake St. Charles at tho height vi' onr liiindrcd
fixt above tho top of the Flaju; StalV on tin; eitailcl, and of completely inundating
tho highest building in the City with a fbrci! snr])as.sing that of the most improved
Fire Engine on "the most improviHl principle of modern invention," and aftbrd-
ing, at tlie .satr ; time, a facility of drainage and sewerage altugether inappreeiablo.
Compare the moans of clean' iiioss of such a City and its purilied atm(>s[»hcre — in
the heart of u mountainous n^gion, — havin-jj its shores laved twice in twenty-four
hours by the ocean swell which uplicavcs tho broad Atlantic, — with the tropical
climates of more inland citic.^, situate in champagnes countries scarcely broken by
a 8in<'le undulation of mother earth. In vain do th(! inhabitants oi' these; look
rouna for the commanding altitude of a St. Charles or a Montmorency to furnish
the means of cooling their incandescent strea^ts and })averneiitH. lu vain — rumi-
nating upon the borders of their kjw marshes and swamps — do they fancy that they
overlook, or aft'oct to look down upon the promontory of Capo Diamoncl. In vain,
are they surrounded or bathed by miglity rivers and lakes, most of them the fruit-
ful source of perennial aches and agues. " These inland seas would furnish an ever-
lasting deluge for the wants of the inhabitants, could they lirst reverse or over-
come the laws of gravitation, and invert the established onJer of things to tlie same
degree that tliey violate tho dictates of reason and common sense in their labours
to depreciate the })08ition of Quebec and pull* up their own sultry or humid loca-
lities as eligible sites for the permanent Seat of the Government of Canada.

Amidst nil tho plotting and intriguing against the City of Quebec in and
out of Parliament by persons actuatt^d by interested motives, and utterly reck-
less of the general welfare of the Province; amidst all the mancevring ol" politi-
cal adventurers seeking to make capital out of the prejudices and the selfish views
of the inhabitants of particular localities, the most unscrupulous of tliese advocates
of outre po])ular notions, — whose career is stereotyped in acts of political fraud and
imposture, have not dared to enter into a comparative estimate of the eligibility of
the various rival Cities. They have restricted their comments and their strictures
to the one ofl repeated assertion that Quebec is situate at one extremity of the
Province, — an objection which every schoolboy knows to be unfounded. Quebec
is distant some five hundred miles from the eastern, and about seven hundred and
fifty from the western limits of United Canada. The soui'ces of wealth derivable from
numerous and valuable water powers for manufacturers, and rich and inexhaustible
fisheries in Eastern Canada, are incalculable ; wdiile the means of settlement of tho
western Section, extensive and fertile though they be, have yet a vLsible limit
assigned to them. Political jugglers and empirics may continue to predict and
declaim that in a given number of years, the population of the Upper Province
will far outnumber that of the Lower ; but our wants and obligations aro with
the present, leaving the future to the course of events, and the dispensation of a
Higher Power of which the dogmatical charlatans of the hour do not even pretend
to know any thing. Unless we assume that the rights of the vast population in-
habiting the northeastern and less congenial portion of the Province are to be
utterly disregarded, we cannot with any semblance of justice establish the Seat of
Government permanently in a place innnitel}' less accessible to them than to their

1^1

I I

more Ibrluauto i\n»l proHpi'ioiw bretlicren of tho wost. Tliojounu^ Irom lijihrn-
ilor or Qun\)6 toQuelK^c, Ih yet a matter of several dnv's, if not of wcoks, while lliiit
from tho umier lituitM of the Province, is but a ([iieHtiuii of ii ll'w lioiirH. Tho
wriU»r lefl Windsor, the western limit, on Monday, the 14ili (»f .July, at lO^^ A.
M., and reached QueV)ec on the following day, at 1(>4 P. M., — thus accomplishing
the distance of seven hundred and fitly miles \n t/iirti/ .su hours. In the face <rf such
n fact will those who incessantly " de"l)laterute" to their du])es about the remote posi-
tion of tho anei(!nt Capital of the Province, presume to impuj^'n itseligil[)ility on the
ground of its want of eentrality ? Will they continue to nntcrate this dec^eptioii
from day to day in tlicir veracious mouth-pieces, and exhibit to the world a per-
verse adnerenee to error, which can only b(> sustained on the assumed ignorance of
those whom they address, and whose monies they lilch in return.

The Assenibly is split up by sectional interests on this disturbing question.
TheCabuiet, wiiicli is constitutionally the reflex of the policy of the Kepresenta-
tives of the people, cannot possibly be united when its source is so cxtensivt'l}''
Hcliismatic, and must of necessity leave this an open question. 'JMie Heprcscnta-
tivo of the Sovereign thus deprived of his Council cannot act. There seems to be
but one issue to tne pn^sent dilemma. Tho matter must revert to the narent
authority. Tho question is one p.-ilpably of an imperial and not of a colonial char-
acter, 'i^ho ultimate object can only be Lest attained, witliout damaging or embnr-
raasing the position of any member of the Executive Government or of the Legis-
lature, by an addreas to the Councils of the Em^jire praying them to resume, that
of which they ought never even partially to have divested themselves, the deter-
mination of the fittest ^ilacc for the permanent Seat of tho Govenimcnt of Canada,
with a "single eye to the integrity of the Empire and the fundamental and permanent
uitcrcsta of tho Province.

Under such circumstances let the inhabitants of the City and District of
Quebec rouse from their lethargy ; let tlicm for once break the chrysalis of their
proverbial apathy, and carry a respectful representation to tho Throne, setting
forth fairly and impartially the grounds uj)on which they claim the preference for
Quebec, and at the same tmio challenge every other rival locality in Canada to do
the same. I^et them not by their snpincnesa damage the vantage ground which
they have recently rightly and justly acquired, nor be deterred by the insidious
accusations of their enemies, — that they aro moved by self-interest. Each and
all of the aspiring localities are equally so moved, with this preeminent advan-
tage in favor of Quebec, that its position is justified by a host of unanswerable ar-
guments enabling it to laugh to scorn all the disingenuous imimtations of its com-
petitors, while they arc abashed by the total absence of any rational grounds to
prop their pretensions.

Quebec and the surrounding District arc inhabited by a peaceful, moral
and loyal population. The demon of intolerance has never yet disturbed the
general tenor of their social relations. The groat mass of the inhabitants, com-
posed of numberleas sects, dwell together as christians. This amiable charac-
teristic of our people is an universally known and recognized as the geo-
graphical position of the country. There is not an individual of standing in
Lower Canada who would stake nis reputation uj)on a contrary assertion. The
French and Catholic Legislature of Lower Canada gave — ^years ago — a lasting
proof of their christian charity by conceding equal rights to their fellow subjects
the Jews — an cxami)le which has yet to be followed by that great philanthropic
Nation of which they are but a dependency. The pro])ortion of Protestant Mem-
bers in the Assembly, is greatly in excess of the aggregate of that class of the in-
habitants, and several constituencies composed entirely, or for the greater part of
French Canadian Roman Catholics, are represented by Protestant Members, who
in some instances have obtained the suffrages of the people against French Cana-
dian residents of the County, — the choice almost in every contest depending —
liberally and magnanimously — upon tho known political principles of the candi-
dates. The Roman Catholic majority oi' Lower Canada, respecting the scruples of

1(1 ('itV of'QiK'lu'C, It4 tllO

thf) J'rntostiiiit jniiiorify, uilliiif^ly/^riuit thoiuHcpaiutoHclKHdj*; tin- Homati Catholii;
iniiiiin'f;/ n|' (Tiipcr ('iit)a<lM, iicfimtcil liy tlic Hariie conncicntioiis scnipIi'M in irganl
to the (MlncMlion of their youth, h;tvc with j^n'at iliniciilty cNtortril the Hamc privi-
Ifj^t^ IVoiri the I'lutrstaiit iiiajoiit.y of that Sei'lioii, anion;,' whom a honh- ort'ainiticM
yet move licavm ami cartii to \v rest thi.i provih^ro from thmi, and to rc-onact
the (I)riner odions iiierpnility of relij^'inus ri^fhts. The Honian (Catholic di^niitarieM
of liOVN'iT ('anada, in their puhlii; rnandates to their own peopU', ever make; men-
tion of I'rotoHtantH by th»! highly ehristian de.'^ij.^nation ot ^' vna frhns s/'jinrh.^^
Our Protestant ehiiinpioMs when ///"/ I'nlniiniile, generally earrvont, liic principles
ol'tlwir (ireat Mattel- oy speaking ol'their lellow christians as '^)iii/(it.i mn/ iilnlnlers^^^
and interlarding their observations with thei-legant and resiieetCul lernisol'"l{()niish"
and " I'opish," and evtM'y other oll'ensive epithet whu'h can ))e gleane(l (Vom
the voeal)nlary of the worst times of religions persecution nnd intolcrara-e. When,
therefore, ('(-rtain religious and dishoju'St iiolilieal zealots, with the niaehia-
vc'lish d<'sign of depreciating tlu! character ot (^nebcc in tl
Upper (/an ad a, hazard the, bold and lying assertion, that tin
Hoat of popi-rv, and that its |»o[)idalion of all origins are held \n bondage by the
Roman Catliolic Priesthood, tlio mind of every honorable man, whether (Jatholio
or Protestant, revolts at the calumny us tlio culminating jxjint of brazen impudcnco
and mendacity.

Whiniovcr the Im])erial Govermm-nt decides which iilaco in Canada is to bo
the permanent Seat of (}ov(;rnment, all conti'iition and rivalry on tbc subject will
immediately ccjuhc. ^Phe various sections of the Assembly who arc ia)vv con-
.^trained lo maintain, against their judgment and their conscience, the candidature
of localitif^s Avhii'h they know to be utterly defenceless, will rejoice to Ix; relieved
from the embarrassment of such a j)ositi(jn. The attention of both Ibmses will be
directed to Uie discharge of those auties to which the constitution and their oaths
have called them. That harmony which is so essential to these ends will bo res-
tored to the Legislative Assembly ; \oy it is a matter of notoiicty that on <ivcry
occasion on which this monstrous question has surged up, the landmarks of politi-
cal ])arties, and the efficiency of the preponderating i)arty in the ] louse, were com-
pletely shivered, and invariably gave place? to that extravagant zeal li)r sectional
interests which Members displayed, or conceived themselves comiu'Ued to affect, '
and to that undignified rancour which is the usual concomiUint of such a state of
thiYigs. The tenure of office of the party in power, whoever they may be, and how-
ever otherwise acceptable to the majority of the j)eo])le, will bo rendered very ,
precarious if they bo doomed to be assailed from Session to Session by the tur-
moil caused by a subject upon which it is hopeless to expect that any Admmis-
tration can be unanimous.

In whatever light then this question is to bo regarded ; whether in respect to
the abstract point of the superior eligibility of any one place, or its damaging ef-
fect upon the Queen's Government in this I'rovince, all i)arties unite in demanding,
and every rejvson presses for its speedy adjustment. Should however the Metro-
politan authorities — carrying a little too far their indisposition (otherwise judicious
and praiseworthy) to intermeddle in Colonial affiiirs, still decline to exercise tho
Royal Prerogative in this matter, and bo unwilling to a.ssume the responsibility of
governing a Colony with that firmness Avhich ought to preside at the helm of State
in regard to all points strictly within their competence, more particularly one of
HO urgent and important a character as the key to their Empire on this continent,
let them — in default of any other mode of decision, appoint a commission of com-
petent persons to determine once for all, which is the most eligible place — all things
considered — for the permanent Scat of Government in this Province. Such a
commission might be composed of an experienced Officer of the Line, an Officer of
Engineers and a British Statesman, to be selected by the Home Government, to-
gether with two Members of the Provincial Parliament, one from Upper and one
from Ijow^er Canada, to be chosen by the Governor General.

In so far as Quebec is concerned, and whatever be the mode of adjustment, it

will Ih> no hurculcnii Uutk to oMtublitih to the soliMfiu^tion of our )<;mciou« Soveroi^
and the enlightened StHteMinen of England, on welt u» uf every rutionul nnd unpre-
judiced being from Dun to BeerahclMi, thut the IntereHtM iitid the |)ennunciit wel-
fkru of the City «)<'Ca|H! Diamond, iw well an ofthe Canutliw utid the wiHterProv-
inc(^ and indeed of the Ktnpire at large, are iw one u|M)n thiH great oueNtion, nnd
tliat any error tronunitted now in the elioiee of tlw; iK-rrnanent Seat of Government
of tlie OanaduH, may be fatal to the proHperity and jeopardiao the Md'uty of ouc and
all of them.

Qucbee, August, 18C6.

MKMUKHS WHO VOTKI) FOU gUKUliC

Hon. Mc8«rfl. Tachd,
Quesnel,
IJourot,
Rofw,
Panet,
Rellonu,
Armstrong,
Carticr,
Perrv,--(9.)

AGAINST QUKBfcXJ :

Hoc. Messrs. De Rlft(juit^re,
Crooks,
Ferguson,
Hamilton,
Ferrie,
Goodhue,
Morris,
Gordon,
Matthieson,
Bolton,
Seymour,
Dickson,— <i2.)

ABSENT :

Hon. Messrs. McGill,
Caron,
McCaulay,
Mills, ■
Dioimcy
Wallccr^
Irving,
Bouchcrvilk,
Widmcr,
Pinhey,

Viger,

Leslie,

De Beauj'eu,

Methot,

Wilson,

Turgeon.

ifemffra who culomt&t ami votfd for a permanent Stnt of GoVf^rumfnt " in any
place between Peni'taiufuinhinc and AuticoHti^^ ! and who, whm (hey had //m-
aiUd u/nm a imtjimty of t/in Ilmint! to votf wit/i ihnn, voted ivjainifl Qufbfc a/tn-
the sense of Urn Uome had In-ni jtronouncrU in its favor by a majority of ten,—u
very laryr one mi such a qui tioni :

Times.

Mosws. Hell, U. C.,— 2.

Church " —2.

Crawlbrcl, " —I.

CryHlor, " —1.

Duly, *' —1.

Delong, " —1.

Fcrrie, " —1.

Mactlonald J. S., " —I.

MacdonaldR " —1.

Mattice, " —1.

McCann, " —2.

Patrick, " —2.

Powell " —1.

Rankin " —2.

Shnw, " —1.

(16)— Yeilding, " —1.

Darche, L. C, — 'l.

Ferres, " ~1. ' •

Holton, " —2.

Rhodes, " —0.— (Absent)

Sanborn, " — 1.

Somerville, '* —2.

Terrill, " —1.

( 8>- Young, " —1.

(24) .

DIVISIONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

NAMES.

17 Alar' '5«

Prnmneiicy
po8tpoiicfoi
thi8 8es8i()n.

17 Mar' "Od.

1 oiitpono

fur
r.stiinntoR.

UAprl 5C.

Pnuunoncy
po8tponpfoi
thi8 8e88ion.

UAprl'iO.

Porma-
uoncy.

U) Apr! :Vi

Quebec

afjt

Hamilton.

Hi Aprl '5C.

Quobco

agt
Toronto.

For

Afjt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

Aikins

1
I

.....

1
1

....

1
.....

"i"'

AlU'Vii ...............

.....

Boll

Bellini?hiLin . .......

Ui&ifai* -

.....

1
.....

.....

1
.....

.....

1
.....

Dournasu. ........ ....

1
.....

Dowos -- -. --- ......

....

.....

1
.....

r
.....

1
1
1
1
1
.....

Brodeur ...... .............

.....

1
.....

1
I
1

1
....

.....

1
I

l
....

....

1
1
1

1
1
1
1
1
.....

I
1

1
1

.....

1
1

i
.....

....

Brown.

Bureau

Burton. ...................

namoron ...... ...... ......

1
.....

1
1
1
1
1
.....

1
1

1
.....

I
1
1

1
I
1

.....

C'lrticr

Casault.

1
1
1

1
1

Cauchon... ..

Cayley ....

nhabnt

Chiipais. .

Cbisholm

Chrvstie.

.....
.....
.....

Church

Clarke

1
I

Conger

Cook

Cooke

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

1
1
1

I
I
1
1
1
1
1

Crawford

Crysler. . .........

Daly

1
1
1

Daougt, C.......... ....

1
1
1
1
1
1
.....

1
1
1

.....

1
1

.....

1
1

I
1
1
...

Daougt, J. B

Darche

Delonc. . ...

Dcsaulnierg

....

1
1
1
1

De Witt

1
.....

1
1
1

....

Dionne ....... .

Dorion, A. A.

1
1
1
1
1
1

Dorion, J. B. E

Dostaler

Drummoud

Dufresno ...

....

1
1
1

Egan

Evanturel

1
1

i
.....

.....

1
....

.....

1
.....

Felton

Fersugson

Ferrcg

1
1
1

1
1

Ferrie

Foley ^

.....

1
1

Fortier, 0. C

1
1

Fovtier, Thos ; .

Fournier

1
"l

Frazer

1
I

Freeman

Gait

1
i"

.....

Gamble

Gill

Gould

1
1

I
.....

1
1

.....

1
.....

....

.....

1
1
1
1
1

Guevremont

1
....

1
1

1
1
1

Hartraan

Holton

1
I

Huot

Jackson

Jobin

1
1

1
1
I

I
1
1

Labello

Laberge

.....

For
.....

Agt

1
....

.....

i
.....

.....

1
1

i
1

i
....

.....

I
1

1
1
1

1
1
1
1

1
1

i
.....

1
.....

' i"

1
1

1
.....

.....

1
1

']
I

1
1

.....

....

1
1

1
....

i
1

SSEMBLY

><<

10 Aprl '5C.

Qiiobco

agt

Toronto.

«t

For

Agt

.....

••

.....

, .

...

■ > ■

■ • •

■ « •

...

. . .

...

1
1
1

...

. . .

...

.....

...

. . . >^

• « -

...

■ - •

• • .

...

. . . .

. B ■ *

» . • •

i "

. • . ■

■ . ■ ■

. . .

ON THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Ki Aprl '5G
Quebec

Qgt

Kingston.

10 Aprl '50

Qiieliec

iif;t
Moiitroni.

10 Aprl TiO-i

Quebec
ngt

Ottiiwa.

16 Aprl'Sfi.

U. Canada

agt
L. CiiiimlH.

16 Aprl '56.

Final Vote
for

QU(^llCC.

35 June '5C.

Ottawa

agt

Montreal.

25 June 1850.

I'o re8(:iiii| %'()tc

n fuvor (if Qiie-

liec 1111(1 in.sort

Montieiil.

25 June '5f).

Vote

£50,000.

For

Af.'t

1
.....

For

Apt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

.....

1
.....

....

......

.....

1
1

.....

1
.....

....

1
.....

1
..„.

i
1

1
1
1
1
1
.....

1
1

'l
1

1
1

1
......

.....

1
1

.....

1
I

1
.....

1
1
1

.....

1
1

d
1
1

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

1
1

1
1
1

.....

]

.....

I
1

1
I

1
1

.....

1
1

1
1
1

"i
1

1
1

i
1

1
1

1
1
1

1
1

.....

1
I
1
1
1
1
.....

.....

1
1

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

....... ^

.....

1
1
1
1
.....

1
1
1
1
1
1

.......

1
.......

1
1
I

1
1

;;;;:■

1 1

1
1

i 1

.....

1
1
1

.....

i
1
1

I
1

.....

1
1

"'i'
1

.....
I

'i'

.....

1
1

i
1

.....

"i
.....

1
1
1
1
1

1
1

1
1
1
1

.....

1
1
1

1
1

.....

.....
....

1
....

.....

1
.....

"i'

1
1
I
1

.......

1
1

1
.... .

.....
"l"

1
.....

.....

1
1

1 1

1
1

.....

1
1
1
1

.....

1
1

i
.....

1 1

1
1

....

:':':':■.

1
1

.......

DIVISIONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

ifM i|.

( ;t

NAMES.

•

17 Mar" '56

Prmanoncy
postponei))!
this session

17 Mar' '56.

Postpone

for
estimates.

14 Aprl '56.

Prmanency
postponi'foi
this session

14 Aprl '56

Perma-
nency.

16 Aprl '56.

Quebec

ngt

Hamilton

16 Aprl '56.

Quebec

agt
Toronto.

F'or

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

Lftnorte . .................

"l
.....

.....

1
.....

"i"

.....

1
.....

.....

1
1

.....

1
.....

.....

I
....

1
1
1
1
1

.....

"i'
.....

I
1
1
1
1
.....

....

.....

1
1

.....

....

1
.....

1
....

....
.....
.....
.....

1
.....

.....

.....
.....
.....

1
1
1

.....

1
1

.....

1
1

"i"

1
1
1
1
1
1

1
1

1
1
1

Le Bouthillier .. .....

TjOrani/er ^. ............

TjUTTiftuen ...... ...... ......

Lvon ( Fellows) ..*.

1
1

Macdonald, Atty. Gen

1
1

Macdonald. R.....

.....

"l"

Murchildon.. ..............

1
1

"i"

....

.....

1
1

MasBon. ... .............

Mathiesou ............ -.

Mattice....

McCuDu ...................

.....

1
1

.....

1
1

Meagher

Morritt

.....

1
.....

1
1

Munsenais .. .. ...

Morrison, A

1
1

Morrison. J. 0. ..

Miiiiro ...-,«

M u I'lie y ..-•.. .............

Nilrs

1
1

O'Fairell

....
.....

.....

1
1
1

Papiii .............. ....

1
1

Patrick

Polelte

. . . • .

PoulJn

1
.....

.....

Pouliot

I
1
1

Powell.

1
1
1

1
I
1
1
1

Prevost. ................

Pi-ice

Rankin

Rhodes.

1
1

.....

1
1
I

.....

Robinson

i
.....

"i
1

1
1
1
1
1
.....

....

RoLbin

Rulph

.....

1
1

1
1
1

. . . . .

.....

Ross, Sol. Gen

Ross, Jas

Sanborn

1
1
1
1

Scutcherd

Shaw

Smith, Sol. Gen

1
1

Suiith, Jas

Smith, Sid

....

Somerville

.....

1
1

Southwick,

.....

Sponce

.....

1
1
1
1

1
1
1

Slevouson

Supple

1
1
1
1

1
.....

1
1

1
1
1
1
1
1

Tachd

.....

1
1
1

.....

Terrill

Thibaudeau

Tiircotte

1
1

Valois

Whitney

1
1

.....
1

Wilson

1
1

- .... *

1 1

1
1

Wright

Yeilding.

....
1

.....

1
1

Young

62 '

58 1

64 54 1

1
1

SSEMBLY

ON THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

5(!.

gi
....

i
1
1
1

....

....
1

....
....

....

1
1

16 Aprl "56.
Quebec

Bgt

Toronto.

For

Agt

1
1
1
1
1
1
.....

.....

1
1
1

.....

1
.....

.....

1
1
1

.....

1
1

"i
.....

.....
.....

.....

1
1
1

1
1

—

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

.....
1

16 Aprl "56.

Quebec

agt
Kingston.

16 Aprl '56.

Quebec

agt
Montreal.

16 Aprl '56.

Quebec

agt
Ottawa.

16 Aprl '56.

U. CanaJa

ngt
L. Canada,

14Aprr56.

Final Voti

for

Quebec.

25 June '56.

Ottawa

Montreal.

1!5 June 1856.

To rescind vote
in favor of Que-
bec and insert
Mjntreal.

25 June '5«.

Vote

£50,000.

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

1
1
1

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

For

Agt

"i"

1
.....

1
1
1
1
1
1
.....

1
1
1
1
1

1
1

.......

1
1
1

.....

1
1
I
1

.....

....
1

.....

"i"

1
1

1
1
1

.....

1
.....

.....

1
1

"l
1

1
.......

.....

1
1

.....

1
1

1
.....

"l
1

.......

1
I

1
1

" i'

.....

.....
1

.....

1
1
1
1
1
.....

.....

1
1

1
.....

1
1

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

.......

1
1
1

1
.....

.....

1
1
1

i
1

.....

I
1

1
1

.....

..„.

1
1
1

1
.......

1
.....

.....
.....
.....

.....

' l

....

1
1

.....

1
.......

' 1
1

"i
.....

1
1

.....

1
1
1

.....

..„.

.....

1
1

....

1
1

1
.....

.....

1
1

1
1
1

I
1

.....

1
I
1
1

1
.....

....

.....

1
1

1
1
1

1
I
1

.....

1
1

.....

1
1

.....

1
1
1
1
1

.....

1
1
1

.....

i
1

1
1

1
I
1

.....

1
1

.......

1
1
1
1
....

1
1
1
I

1
1

1
.....

1
1

....

.....

1
.....

1
.... .

I
1

1
1

r^4

<i.')

.V,

<i7

fi4

.OCi

74 i

■2!)

' '.' '1 r,o

ERRATUM.

Ill tlie column of Members who voted for Permanency and jiiterwards
against Quebec Mr, Rhodes has been inserted by error. He voted on every
division in favor of Quebec, except the one from Avhich he was absent.

i'tcrwiirds
on overv

■I-