tion to detect the evils of the present Government, to see that they themselves derive no benefit therefrom; they are therefore opposed to the present Government, and from this opposition are considered persons of liberal feelings. Existing evils pressing upon ourselves, though they make us join with true philanthropists, by no means make us philanthropists ourselves. The desire to benefit the country by opposition, and the desire to benefit our own individual interests, may lead to conduct in some cases similar, while opposition is alone concerned; but when remedies are to be proposed, when, after having pulled down, we are called upon to build up, the plans and behaviour of the merely selfish opposer, and his truly liberal compeer becomes widely different. Among his first class of opposers are to be numbered the party in Canada I have just mentioned; among the second class come the second party above alluded to, viz. such persons who are opposed to the Government, because they deem it injurious to the general welfare. Two parties thus existing-two parties having such different ends in view, though the means adopted by them have hitherto been the same, it is not to be wondered at, that their plans of reform should be widely dissimilar. The first party propose so to regulate the representation of the country, that a large portion of the members should be returned by persons connected with themselves in feelings and interests; the second party propose, that the representation of the country should, in fact, represent the whole people; and, as a means to this end, they propose, that of the population the greater number should have the greatest weight; that regulating the representation by the population, the French Canadians must of necessity be, from their numbers, the persons having the greatest sway in the House of Assembly. Nine-tenths of the people are French Canadians; and it is monstrous, say this second party, to give the last tenth an equal, or more than equal, share in the Government of the country. English interests, meaning thereby the interest of persons speaking English in the colony, ought not, say they, to be dominant; the first party exclaim against this assertion, and when called upon to explain why they oppose so reasonable an opinion, they are obliged to confess, that they believe the English, that is, their own interests, to be of more worth than those of the remaining population; in other words, one-tenth of the population, possessing one-tenth of the whole property of the community, is to be set over and considered of more importance than the other nine-tenths. To state this monstruous proposition is to refute it. What then, I may be asked, is the reform most desirable? My answer is, to make the representation of the people an hourly increasing representation; increasing with the increase of the population, and in precise proportion to that increase. Let this be done without reference to any party, to any sect, to any language. If ever it should happen that the majority of the people should be of English extraction, the same principles which now render it just for the French Canadians, being the majority, to be the dominant section, would then render it just that the English Canadians should possess the chief sway. Principles do not change, though our circumstances may; but men are too apt to use a just principle so long as it accords with their interests, and discard it so soon as it becomes inconvenient: and it is to be feared that many who now insist on the propriety of the major part of the interests of a country being the subject of major consideration, would, under different circumstances, turn round and desert their principle. I beseech my countrymen to let no man lead them into this error. That which is just for them to-day, will, under the same circumstances, be just for their neighbour to-morrow. The same principle which ought to govern the representation of the country now, ought to govern it a century hence: the greater number of interests ought to be the subject of greater consideration. They, however, who would induce the people to believe that the population, because differently descended, have different interests-are enemies to the people-are blind or dishonest guides. My countryman, who dwells in the township of Godmanchester, has the same interest in good government that I have, who dwell upon the seigneurie of. He, like myself, wants justice cheap; wants perfect protection for his person and his property. He, like me, wants good schools and good roads; wise and frugal representatives. In short, he wants a good government-so do I. In what then do we differ? He, being an honest man, does not desire to plunder my house: I have no desire to plunder his. He does not wish to disturb me while worshipping according to my religion; I have no wish to interrupt his prayers. He, if honest, has no desire to make me his slave, to rule over me: I want not to rule over him. All I want, all he wants is, to be peaceful and undisturbed in our honest vocations. Let him not believe that deceitful, treacherous, pretended friend who would teach him any other doctrine. Let him live in good fellowship with his neighbour; and whether that neighbour be a French or Anglo-Canadian, so long as he is one of the people, let him be assured they both have precisely the same interests in common; that they are, in truth, members of the same community. The House of Assembly last year acted upon this principle; and the reader, by turning to the Appendix (No. XV.), will there learn, that a fair representation was by them proposed, and the Bill, with few amendments from the Legislative Council, has passed through both Houses, and is one of those left for the approbation of His Majesty.* To the House I would say, persevere in this honest course, and eventually you must succeed. A perfect representation is essential to the happiness of the great majority of the nation; and, as that nation's representatives, it is your duty to strive stedfastly for its attainment. To the government of England I say,-Abolish the Legislative Council, and you will have done all that is needed of you towards providing for the welfare of Canada. * It has since received the sanction of His Majesty. |