nd unless the
flour of Upper Canada should be admitted into the English market on
terms of greater favor, the imports from Great Britain would entirely
cease. The Upper Canadians wished the repeal of the corn bill. They
wanted the monopoly of the supply of the West Indies. They desired a
corn bill for themselves. And they did not know precisely what they
desired for the riddance of their distress. It was at this season that
the "Canada Trade Act" came into force, and that the propriety of
uniting the two provinces was to be considered by the people. In Lower
Canada the contemplated re-union of the provinces was not relished.
Upper Canada was indifferent and perhaps rather in favor than opposed
to the scheme. To Lower Canada it forboded the loss of caste, usages,
and religion, while to Upper Canada it indicated only a more extended
sphere of legislative action, and the direct control of the general
revenue for improvements. The Union Bill was well conceived. The
Governor was to have erected the townships, previously unrepresented,
into counties, of six townships each, with a member for every county.
The qualification for a seat in the Assembly was to be the unincumbered
possession of landed property to the value of L500 sterling. The House
was to consist of not more than one hundred and twenty members, and of
not more than sixty members for either province. Four ministers were to
have seats in the House and to have the liberty of speech without the
right of votes, in the shape of two members from each of the Executive
Councils of Upper Canada and of Lower Canada. The duration of the
parliament was to be five years. There was to be no power of
imprisonment for alleged contempts given to either House. The
proceedings of both Houses were to be recorded in the English language,
and in fifteen years afterwards, the English language only was to be
made use of in debate. The free exercise of the Roman Catholic religion
was to be respected, subject to the king's supremacy, and to the
collation or induction into cures--a privilege until then enjoyed by
the Bishop superintending the Romish Church in Canada. Here was Mr.
Ryland's scheme to the letter. It gave evidence of some ability. It was
the scheme of a lifetime, of one zealous in the cause of the Church of
England. How the Lower Canadians were to have been induced to consent,
is not easily guessed at. It is true Mr. Ryland intimates that the
Bishop's salary could be withdrawn,