CANADA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 193, 31 May 1860, Page 4

CANADA.

An agitation has been begun by the Upper Canadians for a change in the mode of Government. A Convention of the lleform party was held at Toronto last November, which was attended by 500 delegates from almost every town and village in the country, among whom were almost all the influential men. It continued its sittings fur three days, and “ discussed the position of the country with extreme moderation, and among others passed resolutions to the effect, that the existing union has resulted in a heavy public debt and burdensome taxation, ’great political abuses, and universal dissatisfaction throughout Upper Canada; and that, in their opinion, the best remedy was to be fouud in the formation of two or more local governments, to which

should be committed the rare of all local matters, and some joint authority, charged with matters common to both provinces. Since this convention, the Upper Canadians have have gradually fortifying their position and concentrating their energies for an attempt at the next Session of the Canadian Parliament to assert their rights or obtain a dissolution of the union.” What they w r ant is a more equal representation of the country in Parliament. The Eastern Province at present returns as many members as the Western — which has made great progress in population since this proportion -was established —-and resists pertinaciously any reform in the representation. The ministry, with the assistance of the Eastern members and a few of the Upper Canadians, can carry whatever measures they please, and in order to secure this assistance spend extravagant sums of money, chiefly coming from the West, on public works in Lower Canada, and multiply offices ■without end, to receive the needy relations of the few Upper Canadian members who vote as they are told to do.