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    not retracted or explained away anything—he had listened most attentively . Bathe protested strongly against entering into negotiations should Austria demand it , supposing Russia makes some concession ; it will never do to be drawn into the game of protocols played with all the resources and skill of Russian diplomacy . Here ended the matter . On the following night , Mr . Latard withdrew liis notice of motion in . these words : — -

    " On Friday last , sir , I gave notice that I should , on Thursday next , submit a resolution to the notice of the House . At that time I did not pledge myself to any particular words for that resolution , but in order that there should be no misunderstanding , I stated that mj intention was to elicit the opinions of the House witli reference to certain language held by the noble earl at the head of the Government with regard to our present relations with Russia . I understand that , in consequence of that notice , the noble earl stated bis intention to make some explanations of that language , and that that explanation has been since given : and I trust that it will have the effect of removing from the public mind a very general ( what I hope may be called ) misapprehension , and of affirming that policy which has been so ably , and in such an English spirit , shadowed forth by the noble lord the President of the Council and by the noble earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs . I therefore

    think that I shall be acting most in conformity with the feelings of the House if I withdraw my notice , as it was directed against the speech which was the subject of tliat explanation . But in doing so I hope the House will allow me to express my conviction , looking to the present critical aspect of public affairs , and especially if the news received yesterday should be true , that before we separate for the recess some discussion should take place in this House on the state of our foreign relations . 1 do not wish to obtrude myself upon the House by undertaking such a duty ; hut if nobody else in this House will do so , I shall myself bring the subject forward . I shall proceed in no hostile spirit towards Tier Majesty ' Government ; but it is nay conviction , I repeat , that there ought to be some expression of opinion on the part of this House before Parliament prorogues ; and I will leave the naming of the day for that purpose to the noble IojcI the Member for London . "

    So the matter stands for the present . LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ( CASAPA ) BILL . Upon the motion in the House of Lords for goinginto committee upon this bill , the Earl of Derby moved th * at the committee be postponed for three months . Complaining that no statement of the provi sions of the bill had been made upon the first reading , and that at the second reading the papers relating to the proposed changes in the Legislative Council had not been laid before Parliament , though the Government had had them in their possession since the 11 th of July , 1853 , he contended that Parliament had not had sufficient opportunity to consider a

    question of so much importance . Alluding to the merits of the bill he said that it would convert the constitution of Canada practically , whatever it may do nominally , into a republic infinitely more democratic in its character , and guarded by infinitely fewer safeguards and infinitely fewer securities than are to "be found in the constitution of the United States , which from the wisdom its authors , and the prudence of those who live under it , has protected itself against hasty legislation , and against the preponderating 1 influence of a single legislati ve body , by precautions which are not found in this bill , and some of which , actually existing at present , this bill professes to do away with .

    It enabled the colony to legislate upon a particular question which the Imperial Parliament had hitherto deliberately reserved to itself ; and he urged' that this was a concession , destructive to imperial authority . The question of an elective council had been one of the demand s of the Radical party in Canada before the rebellion 5 but in 1837 Lord John Russell voted in favour of a nominated council . On that occasion the House of Commons divided , when 56 members voted in favour of an elective council and 318 against it . In 1840 , when the act passed for the reunion of the two provinces , tho same principle was deliberately affirmed , and Lord John Russell repeated his objections to ah elective chamber . Lord Melbourne and Lord Durham both held tho same views and were -strongly in , favour of having somebody to interpose aB a barrier against democratic influence . Having read the language used by these statesmen on several occasions , ho said the papers laid before tne iiouse

    uicl not show the slightest necessity for thus altering-the constitution of Canada . Reverting to tho bill he proceeded to show that it was democratic in its character , and wanting in provisions against hasty and imprudent legislation . Both chambers wore to be elected by the same constituoncy . True , the Legislative Council wore to be elected for six years , and tho Legislative Assembly tor only four ; but during those six years the council was certainly not a free and independent tody Uko tho Senate of tho United States because the bill eaid that if for two yoara tho council rejected , or bo amended any measure passed bv JSlM ^ r ^ Z " ^ * tho \ ssembl > could not accept it , tho council , upon the advi ™ too

    w executive minister of tho Crown , might be dwaolvod ana aont back to tho same constituency 2 rttteft " T ^ , i " deotion " No man cornel legislate in . depondon . tly under ouch a eyetem . It

    , in fact , the system of a republic , while the safeguards of age and property qualification for members of the council were inadequate and illusory . Lord Elgin , in his despatch of July 1 , had pointed out the difficulties and dangers of any attempt to combine two elective chambers with a system of government conducted on the rules of British constitutional practice ; and on the authority of the Governor-General himself , he asked how the government of Canada was to be carried on , under such circumstances , in a spirit and manner consistent with the monarchical principle ? He denied that the veto of the Crown would be sufficient in such

    a system to operate as a safeguard against rash and ill-considered legislation . Having stated several minor objections to the proposal , he asked how it was intended to be put into execution ? H ! ow was it to be carried ? He did not imagine that the Legislative Assembly alone were to adopt this change in the constitution of Canada . Then they must obtain the assent of the Legislative Council . But the Legislative Council had recorded , in plain terras , their determination not to agree to the measure ; and he called attention to the fact that the Legislative Council had existing rights which could only be got rid of by some act of comparative violence . But if this measure were applied to

    Canada , how could it be refused to the other North American colonies , to the total extinction of the monarchical principle ? I have dreamed , said his lordship- ^ -perhaps it was only a dream—that the time would come when , exercising a perfect control over their own internal affairs , Parliament abandoning its right to interfere in -their legislation , these great and important colonies , combined together , should form a monarchical government , presided over either by a permanent viceroy , or , as an independent sovereign , by one nearly and closely allied to the present royal family in this country . Ihave believed that in such a government it would be possible to uphold the monarchical principle , to establish upon

    statesman , to show that his convictions we totally opposite character . Taking a larger the question , he urged the advantage of p laci fidence in the people of Canada . All the rr hitherto passed by the British Parliaments v view had been eminently successful ; for , in rancorous hatred against the mother cou before , there was now a wholesome partj without which representative institutions coul wojked ; and the legislature in Canada was d its attention to practical measures of public 1 Lord St . Leonarps agreed with Lord D :

    his opinion as to tlie republican character of 1 and further objected to it because it chan disposition of power over the reserves of th > dian clergy provided in the last act of sessioi Earl of Haurowby was strongly of opinion t nominated council should be changed for an one ; but the election should be given not to pular vote but to property . He should vote postponement of the bill . A division the : place . The numbers were , for going into com 63 ; against it , 39 ; majority , 24 . Their loi consequently went into committee upon the b all the clauses were agreed to without anoendi

    TREATY BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND TUBKE On Thursday , in reply to questions put b ; Doodle y Stuakt , Lord John Russell sai Majesty ' s . Government , have received infor that a convention has been signed between J . and the Sublime Porte for the occupation Danubian principalities by Austrian troops case , either whether the Russian troops sha quitted the principalities or whether they sha to remain there—that is to say , if the Russiai voluntarily left the principalities , the Austrian will occupy them ; and if the Russians should to quit the principalities , the Austrian troo enter those principalities for the purpose of 1

    that great continent a monarchy free as that in this country , even freer still with regard to the popular influence exercised , but yet a monarchy worthy of the name , and not a mere empty shadow . Under such a system , I feel convinced that nothing would result for years and ages to come but mutual harmony and friendship between the colonies and the mother country , increased and cemented by mutual appreciation of the great and valuable benefits conferred by a free and regulated monarchy . But pass this bill and that dream is gone for ever , Nothing like a free and regulated monarchy could exist for a single moment under such a constitution as that

    them out . { Loud cries of " hear , hear , " and a That is the effect of the ' treaty ; but we have present an official copy of the convention whi been signed , and therefore . I cannot promise lay it upon the table of this House . With reg my noble friend ' s second question , which reh any intelligence that lias been received b Majesty ' s Government with respect to the Er of Russia having - consented to the ultimati Austria , Ihave to state that no official infori of that nature has been received by the Goveri The last time that I saw the Austrian minis informed me that no answer had yet been re at "Vienna : and T Riir » nr » sr » unless Rnlisf » nno at Vienna ; and I supposeunless subseque

    which is now proposed for Canada . From the time that yo u pass this constitution the te ndency of Canada must be perpetually toward republicanism , if anythi ng could be more really republican than this bill . The next step is an elective governor , and , after you . have passed this bill , I do not know that an elective governor would not be perfectly and absolutely unexceptionable . In that case it would matter not whether you had a governor sent out from this country , and bound to act upon the advice of his responsible councillors , or whether , as in the United States , you had a governor elected by the free suffrages of the people over whom he had to rule .

    , formation has arrived , that no answer has ye received . In reply to another Member , Lord John sai England is not a party to the convention . TUTE OXFORD UILI ,. The third reading of the Oxford Universil stood for Monday , but on a question that it b a third time , Mr ,. Hevwooo repeated the r upon which he was defeated on Thursday wool this difference that the relaxation as to oat taking degrees should apply only to bachel arts , law , and medicine , and not to masters o : He vould be satisfied with this as an insta Mr . Gtaskell seconded the resolution , deemii concession

    In conclusion , Lord Derby said he did not ask for the rejection of the bill , but only for more time for its mature consideration . The Duke of Newcastle denied that more time was required in Canada for the consideration of the question ; and contended that the powers which the Imperial Parliament had transferred to the Legislature of Canada had been attended with the greatest advantage in producing a spirit of conciliation and respeot . Speaking of the constitution of the Legislative Council , he admitted that a nominated chamber possessed , apparently , something of the form of a Mouse of Lords ; but he was prepared to maintain that nominee chambersin whatever colonies they

    at once just and politic . Mr . Nj gate rejoiced at the previous decision , and the same verdict would be repeated much emphati c ally now than before . The resolutio the same in substance' as the previous one . £ it be deemed advisable to alter the system of < tion for the benefit of Dissenters , let it bo don let new distinctions apply to the new studies ; I not let confusion bo introduced in the way prop Lord Jojin Russeil repeated his objections clause in its original shape , but in its modifiec ho had no objections to it , taking into nccoui decision of tho House upon the clause which adi Dissenters . He did not think that in its me form the proposed clause would allow JDisscnt become part of the governing body .

    , were founa , were gradually losing the respect of tho people , from the impression that they wore the mere tools of the Government of the day . ' The only alternative then waa an elective chamber , and ho contended that in thia respect the qualifications required trom tho members of the council to be elected under tho bill would ensure" the permanence of tho Conservative principle . It was naked how tho act was to be carried into effect . Ho replied that it was permissive , and it -would only bo adopted it tho people of Canada desired it . If their opinion was against tho bill , tho Legislative Council would

    Sir John Pakinqton thought ho had reas complain of the courso taken by Mr . Hevwood protested against Parliament being callod - upon 1 an hour's notice to consent to an altered reaol As a matter of Parliamentary practice , ho upon Lord John Russell not to countenance su unfair courso of action . For nil that Sir 1 akuigton know tho clause nuiy allow Dissent become part of tho governing body . Mr . UnoMMOMU deduced tho necessity of versity voform from tho fuct that tho mass <

    properly resist it ; but , if their opinion waa favourable , tho council would give effect to it . But alter all , the principle of the measure was not now , tor » fc had been extended by this country among others to tho Capo of Good Hope aud to tho co ony ot Victoria . The opinions of distinguished statesmen had been quoted against an elective chamber , lo tins ho replied that tlie opinions of public men had greatly progresaod on those subjects : and that the apprehensions felt in 1837 and 1840 had boon proved to bo entiroly groundless , Ho was however , surprised to hoar tho opinion of Lord Durham quoted in favour of a nominee body , and lie read several passages from reports written by that

    people had ccaaed to belong to tho Church of land , Under such a state of things it was nbso necessary that the university should bo re-mo to oiniblo her to fkiini her functions . Mr . N was desirous that provision should bo niado i \ entrance of all persons who could conscient partake of tho advantages of tho university . co » vict » on , however , was , that tho orudo intorfi . ot lajlmment in tho way proposed was tho likely moans of returning tho right carrying , the object . Sir Euaiumo rnjinv , in supportin clauBc , expressed hio astonishment at flndiug so intolerance in religious matters displayed ii

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    604 THE LEADER . [ Saturn

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 1, 1854, page 604, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2045/page/4/