SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1850. CANADA AND ITS GOVERNOR.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 389, 5 January 1850, Page 2

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1850. CANADA AND ITS GOVERNOR.

The importance of the recent movements in Canada, not merely from their immediate bearing on the condition and prospects of that Colony itself, but also from their indirect relation to various questions affecting the colonies generally, entitles them to grave and watchful consideration. Our information respecting them, comes down to the beginning of August; and a somewhat copious summary of it may be the more acceptable to our readers just now, as Canadian affairs have happened within the last few days to engage more than the usual &hare of attention allotted to them here. A Convention of delegates from the various sections of the " British American League " met at Kingston on the 25th of July, under the presidency of the Hon. G. Moffat, a respectable merchant of Montreal. It was expected that about two hundred and fifty would be present, but the number in attendance does not sec 'ii to have exceeded ninety. The Body was u. ilmtood to represent parties, who, while they were all opposed to the rebel-compensating scheme, were divided among themselves into the following classes: — " 1. Those who desi -c the annexation of Canada to the United Spates ; — 2. Those who dream of the independence of Canada ; — 3. Those who wish a legislative union of all the North American colonies \— 4. Those who favour a federal union of the same colonies ; — 5. Those who wish England to make some changes in her commercial policy favourable to Canadian interests ;—; — 6. Those who wish to get rid of responsible government as it now exists, and desire to see the Governor and the Legislative Council elective, and a great reduction made in the public expenditure ;- and 7, Those who are for keeping things as they are, — men who do not desire any organic changes, but some reforms in the government, and the mode of administering it ; for which purpose, they wish to re -organise the Conservative or English party, and promulgate a programme for their future guidance, as a political creed." We have no report of the proceedings, but the Spectator says, " It is evident that very heated language had passed." At the close of the sittings an ' Address to the Inhabitants of Canada; adopted

in General Convention" was agreed to, in which the outline of future agitation is sketched, which is to be carried forward by branch Leagues, which it is proposed to organize in every township, village, and city, with presidents, vice-presidents, executive committees, &c. The Kingston Chronicle gives this succint statemenct of the aims and doings of the delegates :—: — The Contention adjourned last evening, to meet again when called together by the Central League. The League, hitherto wi'hout any definite organisation, and without a definite object, now presents both to the people of this country Protection to home industry with the view of encouraging the establishment of domestic manufactures ; retrenchment in the expenditure of the governmpnt, or the better appointment of that expenditure to the existing means of the province ; and extension of our home market and the c nsolidatiot! of Bri ish interests by the union of the colonies— 'hese present objects worthy the employment of the highest efforts for their attainment. The most nignificant movement thus far, and that most big with the future, is the recommendation of a union of all the North American provinces in one legislature. This would toon grow into independence— or annexation with the United Mates. The (London) Morning Chronicle of August 22, referring to the Convention, says, — "As to the resources and eventual prospects of an agitation which ptofessedly includes some aims of real utility, as well as others of preposterous absurdity, and which is aided, moreover, by the extraordinary feebleness and incompetence of the Queen's represent ttive, we do not undertake to offer any confident opinion." We may observe that what our contemporary here specially condemns as "preposterously absurd," is the demand for " protection to native industry." This claim, the Chronicle (now well | known to be the thoroughly party organ of the Peel-Lincoln free-traders) lashes with merciless severity. We need not say, however, a p .werful class in England will approve and support it. Lord Elgin had rpgaiued no popularity; on the contrary, the opponents of the Rebellion Losses Compensation Bill had increased in hostility to him since the approval of that measure by the Home authorities, — an approval which they be'ieve was obtained by gross misrepresentations in the Governor's despatches. His Excellency had been residing at Monklands, a secluded country seat, three or four miles from Montreal, — afraid, it was alleged, to venture into the town. A correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, who writes at great length, under date " Montreal, July 30," and who is evidently able and well informed, but as evidently vehemently opposed both to Lord Elgin's person and policy, says, amongst many similar observations: — " The feelings of the loyal part of the population are excite i to a state of settled and bitter hostility to His Excellency. It is no longer by any means certain, according to my appreciation of public sentiment, that he could pass through the town without exposing himself to great personal danger, unless effi< iently protected by the troops. Tbat he would be grossly insulted, nay violently mobbed, I entertain no doubts whatever; and I know it is the earnest wish of many moderate men opposed to his administration, that his lordship should remain quietly where he U, until s une event may have either softened the asperity or changed the current of popular irritation.'" In a subsequent patt of the same communication, with reference to the probabilities of Lord Elgin's retention of his post, it is observed, — " Indeed, under the circumstances, it does appear strange that Lord Grey should persist in d< siring his Excellency to remain here. It is perfectly cleir, unless something very unforeseen occur, that he mu^t either cause the seat of government to be removed from Montreal, or leave the colony ere long, wi.h his name injured and his hopes perilled. It is quite impossible that his lordship can do any good in Canada now * * * Surely, under these cir umstances, for his own sake, and in the intereit of the co ! ony and the publ.c service, he should be suspended or allowed to resign." \ Although, as we have said, this is obviously the language of a strong opponent, and should therefore be received with caution, we have no doubt it expresses with substantial correctness the sentiments ot indignation with which the loyalists condemn (as we think justly)—the measure by which the people of Canada are to be taxed to compensate the rebels of 1837 and 1838 for the losses brought upon them by their own traitorous conduct. In antagonism, however, to the demand for Lord j Elgin's recall, and to hii own declaration of a wish to resign, we have to place Earl Grey's despatch to his Lordship after the outbreak,* in which, in terms more strong than we usually find in official documents, he is urged to retain 1 ? his position, and assured that, it 1 was the Queen's <( anxious wish " that he ! should not retire from an office in which his services had " merited her entire approbation." At all events, up to the latest dates that have reached us, there was no authentic announcement of Lord Elgin's removal from, — or relinquishment of — his governorship ;—; — still less could there be any solid foundation for speculations as to his probable successor. * See New Zealander of Not. 10.