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THE SEAT OF GOVEENMENT OF 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'Sr 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 Judf;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 (I 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, ann\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 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 «)! 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 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 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. 7 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 thts 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 ber 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 atreal, 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- 18 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- 13 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 14 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 of KiDgdomi and States. 2fi 1 3 8 33 14 3 21 7 2 4 1 2 S5 3 o 4 32 8 1.0 13 i) 9 52 21 63 12 2 360 150 25 134 3 6 2 5 12 13 CAPITALS. I a. O 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, Pokin, .leddo, Calcutta, 500 Ava, 500 Caboul, Kelat, Boukara, Teheran, Mecca, 1500 1500 170 220 780 200 240 1.56 360 156 140 86 21 50 117 36 320 40 40 32 80 30 30 60 20 80 210 110 85 320 28 130 220 220 600 450 600 450 600 l.>5 2000 2000 1.300 700 175 80 20 60 140 40 ■9 o o . I" a o Is CD o eg U .9 2 ni 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 60 110 150 150 300 150 400 150 60 20 80 120 100 100 200 70 70 30 60 80 25 100 80 80 70 60 • 80 80 100 200 300 130 150 250 130 400 130 1000 700 700 500 1500 10 700 1300 400 400 300 600 600 850 a I 1 ■si « m s i ^ a 50 SO 100 160 20 15 15 20 30 30 20 40 100 55 30 20 15 25 20 40 15 20 25 5 30 20 130 100 150 50 50 40 240 20 240 u S >' III m o a a a 500 200 130 1.50 250 200 120 100 00 30 220 50 70 110 90 500 65 90 40 60 40 60 30 100 SS §•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 70 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 I 1 100 15 15 80 30 ' 70 f TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL CAPITAL CITIES IN THE WORD. SIIEWI 'i m 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, M0 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 70 200 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 1( 70 a 70 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 50 Q 120 Moil Ounlral City or Town. Liverpool, Uirniinijitain, I'lirlh, Athlonc, Hoiir^'c'it, Miidiid, Coiinliru, Itonii', Nupltii, V'cronii, Flornnce, Lucurue, 15 Bruun, 20 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 30 1000 1000 700 COO 150 100 CO 200 60 Diarbekir, KirenHk, Lantcheou, Kingtchoufou, .leddo, Allahabad, Pegu, jOitiei in thn order of 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. ■ i II ESSBSS^8E3^9BBHiV 1 itancii 1 r I Onpita 1 > tihii m. Buan f i((atioi ' other 1 r 1 ' Ohief OitiM Most Oenlral Oitiea in the order U i4 ■2S City or Town. of thoir Oentrality. i Statu. ) 4 i 1 •nd Towni. • 00 1' i li' C 1 H 1 » Dublin. C2( Liverpool, Throe liivcri, J Canada, 1 1 u Maiicheitor, •JOI llirniinghain, Inilinnupiiliii, i Imliana, U. 8., 1 Olaigow, iiU I'orth, DoviT, a Delaware, V. U., i u Cork, 12( Athlonr, Mnn Jiiy;u, a Chili, Lyon«, kj: li()iir^>c«, Montreal, a Canada, 1 nnrcnlona, li!( Miulnil, Itiiino, « Italy, Uporto, 8( Coiiiiltra, Toronto, e Upper Canada, Nanloi, I'ali08u, 17 Breuiun, 40 Cliuquisaca, 17 Bolivia, Kirklioim, Caboul, 17 Afi^'hanJMtnn, Loipnick. 41 OcoHilou, Athens, 18 Greece (mod) Manhoini. Si; Italian, Now Guatimala, 18 Guatinmla, Antwerp, 70 Louvnin, Charlotte Town, 18 Prmco Ed. Island, liottoi'dam. 7i Doventor, Amsterdam, 19 Holland, i Altona, 2(1 Colding, Berlin, le Prussia, (New.) | Gotteiiburg, 24 Vandalia, 19 Illinois, U. S. , *- Milan, 140 Uuda, I'ekin, 10 Chinese Emp. Tost, CI Budn, Columbus, 19 Ohio, U. 8. 1 Dantzick, 61 i'inska, Constantinople, 20 Turkish Emp. Hreslaw, 90 Posuu, II Lncerne, 20 Switzerland, ^ Millcdgeville, 20 rJeorgia, U. 8. 5 Tallahassee, 20 Klorida, U. S. i Adrianople, 120 Sophia, Kelat, -20 Souloochistan, Moscow, 250 Moscow, Kingston, St. Pctersburgh, 20 Clannda, 20 Russia (Bur.) Annapolis, 21 ^laryland, U. 8. Montpelicr, 2J Vermont, do. Adrianople, 120 Konieh, Columbia, 21 S. Carolina do. VIoicow, 250 robolik, Frankfort, Gondar, Raloighr Mecca, Lisbon, Teheran, 22 22 i 221 23 i 24 24 1 Centucky, do. Abyssinia, ^. Carolina, U. 8. Lrabia, 'ortugal, 'ersia. )uma8cui, 200 liarbekir, Calcutta, 25 iindostan, [rkoutsk, 30 {irensk, Copenhagen, 26 >emmark, Jinguanfou, 000 iantoheou, Augusta, Jeiferson City, 261 Waino, U. 8. Singuanfoa, 000 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}flhenem>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 an overw iiadu del llms rol'a prinoij-)l(! fH)tic'ally rejioal of l:aivc A ing of an 17 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 iii.|iii!iry privalioiiM ol'a nir./i', fhc Hiitiyli p«'tinrr\tM Would bo (ioaling from tlie "woocjcii walls 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'//* . 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. Th |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- perly, and —it must be admitted, very m;ignaiiimously negatived by an ovouii- 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 20 ;i ■ 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.«*iili 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 (' 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(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 iiidin 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 ' 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 23 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 21 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( 85 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) it huvo tho inisfortuno to onoountor im niivcrne vote from the nmiority of tliople. 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 28 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 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 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,— - Young, " —1. (24) . 32 DIVISIONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY I 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 1 i 1 1 I ..... 1 1 1 1 .... 1 ..... "i"' 1 AlU'Vii ............... ..... i Boll I Bellini?hiLin . ....... Ui&ifai* - 1 1 ..... ..... ..... 1 ..... ..... ..... 1 1 i ..... 1 1 ..... ..... ..... 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 Dournasu. ........ .... 1 ..... 1 ..... Dowos -- -. --- ...... 1 .... ..... 1 ..... 1 r r ..... 1 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 Brodeur ...... ............. 1 i 1 i" ..... 1 ..... 1 I 1 1 1 .... 1 1 1 ..... 1 I l .... .... 1 1 1 l' 1 1 1 1 1 ..... I 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 i ..... .... i 1 Brown. 1 1 Bureau 1 1 Burton. ................... 1 namoron ...... ...... ...... 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 ..... I 1 1 1 I 1 ..... 1 1 ..... 1 1 I C'lrticr 1 1 Casault. 1 1 1 1 1 Cauchon... .. Cayley .... 1 nhabnt Chiipais. . Cbisholm Chrvstie. 1 ..... ..... ..... 1 1 Church 1 1 1 Clarke 1 1 1 I 1 Conger 1 Cook 1 1 Cooke 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I 1 1 1 1 1 Crawford 1 Crysler. . ......... 1 1 Daly 1 1 1 1 1 1 Daougt, C.......... .... 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 ..... 1 i 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 ... Daougt, J. B Darche Delonc. . ... 1 Dcsaulnierg .... 1 1 1 1 1 1 De Witt 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 .... Dionne ....... . 1 Dorion, A. A. 1 1 1 1 1. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Dorion, J. B. E Dostaler Drummoud 1 Dufresno ... .... i 1 1 1 1 1 Egan Evanturel 1 1 1 1 i ..... 1 ..... 1 .... ..... 1 ..... 1 Felton 1 1 Fersugson Ferrcg 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Ferrie 1 Foley ^ 1 1 ..... 1 ..... 1 1 1 Fortier, 0. C 1 1 1 1 Fovtier, Thos ; . 1 1 Fournier ! 1 "l Frazer 1 I Freeman Gait 1 i" I ..... 1 1 1 1 Gamble I 1 Gill 1 1 Gould 1 1 1 I ..... 1 i" 1 1 1 i ..... 1 ..... .... ..... ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 Guevremont 1 .... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Hartraan 1 1 Holton 1 1 1 I Huot Jackson 1 Jobin 1 1 1 1 1 I I 1 1 Labello Laberge ..... For ..... Agt 1 .... ..... i ..... ..... 1 1 i 1 i .... ..... I 1 I 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 '] I 1 1 1 ..... .... 1 1 1 1 1 .... i 1 33 SSEMBLY ><< 10 Aprl '5C. Qiiobco agt n. Toronto. «t For Agt 1 I 1 ..... I 1 •• 1 ..... , . 1 I i ... 1 I i I 1 1 ■ > ■ 1 ■ • • 1 I i ■ « • 1 1 ... I 1 i 1 1 ... 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 . . . 1 ... 1 1 1 ... 1 1 ... i . . . 1 ... 1 ... 1 ... 1 ..... ... 1 i ... 1 . . . >^ • « - 1 ... 1 ... 1 ... 1 1 i 1 1 1 I ■ - • 1 • • . 1 ... 1 1 i 1 1 ... i I i 1 1 1 1 . . . . 1 1 i . B ■ * 1 » . • • 1 i " . • . ■ 1 ■ . ■ ■ 1 . . . 1 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 on £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 1 1 1 ...... i ..... 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 ..... "i 1 ..„. 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 'l 1 1 1 1 i 1 ...... ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 i I ..... 1 I 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 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 1 1 1 1 1 ..... ] ..... I 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 "i 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 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 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 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 I 1 1 1 1 ;;;;:■ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 ..... i 1 1 i I 1 ..... 1 1 ..... ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 "'i' 1 1 ..... I 1 'i' 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 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 ..... 1 ..... "i' 1 1 1 I 1 ....... 1 1 1 .... . ..... "l" 1 1 ..... 1 i ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 1 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 34 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. il 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 . ................. 1 "l ..... ..... 1 ..... 1 i' 1 "i" "V ..... 1 ..... r 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 1 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 "i" 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Le Bouthillier .. ..... 1 1 TjOrani/er ^. ............ 1 1 TjUTTiftuen ...... ...... ...... 1 Lvon ( Fellows) ..*. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Macdonald, Atty. Gen 1 1 1 1 1 1 Macdonald. R..... ..... i "l" 1 1 1 1 Murchildon.. .............. 1 1 "i" 1 1 .... 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 MasBon. ... ............. Mathiesou ............ -. 1 1 Mattice.... 1 McCuDu ................... ..... i 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 I Meagher 1 1 Morritt ..... 1 ..... 1 1 Munsenais .. .. ... Morrison, A 1 1 1 Morrison. J. 0. .. Miiiiro ...-,« 1 M u I'lie y ..-•.. ............. 1 Nilrs 1 1 I 1 1 O'Fairell 1 1 .... ..... 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 Papiii .............. .... 1 1 1 1 1 1 Patrick 1 Polelte 1 . . . • . 1 PoulJn 1 ..... 1 ..... 1 1 1 Pouliot 1 1 1 I 1 1 Powell. 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 Prevost. ................ Pi-ice 1 Rankin 1 1 Rhodes. 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 I 1 ..... 1 Robinson i ..... "i 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..... .... 1 1 RoLbin 1 Rulph 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 1 . . . . . ..... 1 ..... 1 2 Ross, Sol. Gen Ross, Jas Sanborn 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Scutcherd 1 1 Shaw 1 1 1 Smith, Sol. Gen 1 1 1 1 1 Suiith, Jas Smith, Sid .... Somerville ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 Southwick, 1 1 1 ..... Sponce 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Slevouson 1 Supple 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Tachd 1 ..... 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 Terrill Thibaudeau Tiircotte 1 1 Valois Whitney 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 Wilson 1 1 - .... * 1 1 1 1 Wright Yeilding. .... 1 1 ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 Young 53 62 ' 63 58 1 53 65 64 54 1 70 46 71 50 1 1 67 96 SSEMBLY ON THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. 5(!. c )n gi .... i 1 1 1 .... 1 1 .... 1 .... 1 .... .... .... 1 1 1 16 Aprl "56. Quebec Bgt Toronto. For Agt 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..... ..... 1 ..... 1 1 1 I ..... 1 ..... ..... 1 1 1 ..... ..... 1 i 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 46 71 50 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 on £50,000. For Agt For Agt For Agt For Agt For 1 1 1 1 1 Agt For Agt For Agt For Agt 1 1 "i" 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 1 1 ..... I 1 1 I 1 1 ..... 1 1 r 1 I 1 ..... i' 1 "i 1 ..... .... 1 1 1 I ..... "i" 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..... 1 ..... 1 ..... ..... ..... 1 1 1 "l 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 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..... "l 1 1 ....... 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 1 1 1 1 ....... 1 ....... I 1 1 1 1 1 ..... ..... 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 i 1 1 1 ..... ..... ..... I 1 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 ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ' l .... 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 1 1 1 I 1 1 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 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 ..... t 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 ..... i 1 1 1 1 I 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 1 1 1 1 1 .... ..... 1 ..... 1 .... . i I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 67 r^4