The Provincial Revenue Is Derived From Customs
Duties, Public Works, Crown Lands, Excise, And Bank Impost.
The customs
duties last year came to 1,100,000l., the revenue from public works to
123,000l., from
Lands about the same sum, from excise about 40,000l.,
and from the tax on the current notes of the banks 30,000l. Every
county, township, town, or incorporated village, elects its own council;
and all local objects are provided for by direct taxation through these
bodies. In these municipalities the levying of the local taxes is vested,
and they administer the monies collected for roads, bridges, schools, and
improvements, and the local administration of public justice.
According to the census taken in 1851, the population of Upper Canada was
952,000 souls, being an increase since 1842 of 465,945. That of Lower
Canada amounted to 890,000, making a total of 1,842,000; but if to this we
add the number of persons who have immigrated within the last four years,
we have a population of 2,012,134.
Of the population of Lower Canada, 669,000 are of French origin. These
people speak the French language, and profess the Romish faith. The land
is divided into seigneuries; there are feudal customs and antiquated
privileges, and the laws are based upon the model of those of old France.
The progress of Lower Canada is very tardy. The French have never made
good colonists, and the Romish religion acts as a drag upon social and
national progress.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 318 of 478
Words from 86465 to 86718
of 129941
