5104!

THE BRITISH AMERICAN

r ,i affording an outlet to our surplus popula- “tion, kc. The clear policy then with the '4, whole of these Colonies, which will some day or other become independent, is to tt repare them for independence as quick- H ]y and as cheaply as we can.”

This is the language ofa certain school of politics and economy in the United Kingdom—the pounds, shillings and pence gentry, who think that nations can he go- verned and empires held together, by in- terested motives alone.-—Thcy have blot- ted out of their vocabulary UBLIGATIO‘N and Dan, LAW and JUSTICE, and substituted the word “UTILITY,” which means what- ever they like. If a sense of national lion- or and greatness ever returns to their breasts, it is the involuntary invasion of early education and natural sentiment, out of which they have reasoned themselves long agO-

They are, however, but a small portion ofthe British Nation and Goverrunent.—- In their hands it would never have attained that rank and power to which it has reach- ed among the nationsz—“the dread and en— vy of them all”--the tamer of tyrants—- the temple of freedom—the seat of science and the arts, and of the virtues which a- dorn, elevate. and harmonize human soci— et

“\Ve will accept of none of their prepa- ration. we ‘will not be edged out of the empire to which we belong—out of our al- legiance to our sovereign—out of the pro- tection which he is bound to give us--out of the honor of the BRITISH NAME, the equal- ity of right which it gives us, and the con- sideration which it ensures to us throughout the world. The pounds shillings and pence gentry can have no idea of these things : they are neither pounds, shillings, nor pence. They may deride our taste, taunt our ignorance ; but we value them above all price. They are the fruits of ages 0

virtue, of wisdom, and the niagnaiiimous devotion of a whole people to the common weal. which no money can purchase or preserve.

'We will have none of their preparation -—none of their “insinunities’”or “exchang- es.” Have they really fancied that inde- pendent frcemen in North America are West India Negroes, or South Carolina Nulliﬁers ? .\\'e are already ‘settled inthe world,’ and ‘ setup for ourselves,’ as much as the empire of which we form a part is set up for itself. Amidst all our complaints, and we have not been sparing of them, we never complained that we were part of the empire.

men we look upon as a little better than 3 our first parents, and is likely, should it be

result. “ In the day that you shall eat "thereof then your eyes shall be opened:

“ and you shall be as god,” Sic—And they did eat ; “and the eyes of both of them “ were opened, and they knew that they “ were NAKED.”

The same paper says :—The close of the Ses- sion has left the affairs or the country in a worse state than at any time since the House of Assembly was entrusted with the voting of the supplies for the support of Government.

In less than five years after the favorable Re- port of the Canada Committee of the House of Commons on the l'ctitions of the Province, aiidin less than two years after the letter of His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, agreeing to all that was asked by the ﬂsseinbly, the hopes entertained by the friends of peace and of the public prosperity. and Constitutional Government, have com- pletely vanished.

We never for a moment doubted the sineeri. ty of the British Government in the declara. tions which gave so much satisfaction to the country and its Representative Assembly ;— the strong have indeed no temptation to resort to the meanness ofdeception. Neither do we doubt the sincerity of the public expressions in the province. at the favorable turn the affairs ofthe country had taken. Yet all parties are- now agreed that there is “nothing favorable in our present position.

What has given rise to this change ? How it happens that positive or implied engage- Incnts, made in sincerity, have not been fulfill- ed, may be a Subject of future enquiry. We shall merely at present, refer to the fact, that ever since the House of Assembly departed from the petitions ofthe people of I828, and the lcport of the Canada Committee, to at- tack ancient institutions of the country, the established Constitution, and even the exist- ence ofanother branch ofthe Legislature. ev- ery thing has been going backwards, till we have arrived at our present position, viz. an o- pen rupture between the Governor acting for the King, the Legislative Council and the As. sernbly.’.the established Consitution and the most sacred engagements conteinncd—the most important Bills lost — the Government left without the necessary pecuniary support—- and the fire ofdiscord scattered widely and recklessly among the most inflammable preju- dices ofa peaccahlc, free. and happy people.

There is certainly room to apprehend, that

The mefered independence of these' 1 Assembly during the Session——

new repetition of the giiile which ruinedl

hearkened to by us, to produce a similar

strangers to the Province, will conclude that tour Constitution of Government is not fitted [for us, or that we are not fitted for it. One thing we think, however, is certain—that a- . midst this state of disorganization of the con- istiuitiOnnl authorities, the orderly and loyal ' character of the people will acquire new lus- itre; and the spirit ofpeace and mutual good 'will among the inhabitants of the Province of 1 every description, prove stronger than the spi- irit ofdiscord. The Session has lasted from the 15th Novem- ber last, and during most of the time there )has been two sittings of the Assembly a-day. iTlie Laws actually passed are thirty-three, 5 most ofthcm ofn purely local nature, or mere toontinuntions or amendments of temporary ‘Statutes, or Bills appropriating money. Three . reserved Bills. We understand there have been before the

Bills of every description 86 Lost in the Assembly or dropt 17

V Remaining 68 Brought in tWIce 2

323 66 Four from the Council (two of which passed the assembly) 4 Bills originally sent from Assem- bly to the Council 62 Returned by the Conncil with- out amendment 29 Ditto amended and afterwards agreed to in the Assembly 4 Ditto amended and not agreed to 17 Lost in the Council 12—62

Ot’the 68 Bills passed the Assembly during theﬁScssion,——

12 were old Bills already frequently passed

by the Ilousc.

25 ofa purely local character.

“continuations.

15 chiefly amendment and alterations oftem-

porary Laws, and Hills appropriating mo- Iie '.

No n)cw Bill of any very important charac- ter has passed either Ilouse this Session.

Both Houses concluded tlicirlabours by re- fering their dissentions to the British Govern. nient; while the Upper Province, we believe, has complained to the same authority against the whole Government of Lower Canada.

QUEBEC, April 8.-—Indications of an ear- ly Spring still continue. The winter’s snow is disappearing fast ; three fourths of the fields are uncovered ; the river has been full of ﬂoating ice since yesterday, which shews that it is open above. Yester- day flocks of wild pigeons and robiiis were seen in the vicinity of the city. An open navigation it is expected, will soon give a fresh supply to the market, which has of late been unusually scanty on accouiit of the breaking up of the winter roads. The deficient supply of meat in the Quebec market this season, has been conspicuous by the inferiority of the Cattle Show on Saturday. One butcher gave lGOl- for four exen; and although the price is as high as 7 l-Qd per lb. for beef, a sufficient supply cannot be obtained even at that price.

APRIL 1‘2.—0pcning ofthe A arigalion.—- The St. Lawrence may be now said to be open for navigation from Lake Ontario to the sea. The ice of Lake St. Peter pass- ed Three Rivers on Wednesday: that which had blocked up the narrows above the mouth of the Claudiere, gave way the night before last, and a day or two will clear the river. Three of the vessels stopt below by the ice last fall have come

ip.

Free/told Estate unincumbcrcd , O \. S I .r A E.— That well known and valuable Farm with the Buildings thereon, owned and possessed by John (Justin, Lot 49, 6 miles from Charlotte- 'I‘own, comprising 285 acres more or loss, nearly one third thereof in high cultivation, yields anniiilly 33 tons Marsh Ilay, plentifnlly supplied with streams, spring water. liar and Softwood, &C.&c. 54.0. bounded on the West by Squaw Bay, where produce may be shipped with facility; and a never-fading sup- ply of manure easily obtained. This l’rupert is well known for its many other superior a vantages, which would be superﬂuous to par, tir‘ularize. Applicitioa to the Owner on the Premises. , May 11 1333'.