The Accommodation Also For
The Ministers Of The Government And For Members Of The Two Houses
Has Been Insufficient.
Hotels, lodgings, and furnished houses
could not be provided to the extent required, seeing that they
would be left
Nearly empty for every alternate space of four years.
Indeed, it needs but little argument to prove that the plan adopted
must have been a thoroughly uncomfortable plan, and the wonder is
that it should have been adopted. Lower Canada had undertaken to
make all her leading citizens wretched, providing Upper Canada
would treat hers with equal severity. This has now gone on for
some twelve years, and as the system was found to be an unendurable
nuisance, it has been at last admitted that some steps must be
taken toward selecting one capital for the country.
I should here, in justice to the Canadians, state a remark made to
me on this matter by one of the present leading politicians of the
colony. I cannot think that the migratory scheme was good but he
defended it, asserting that it had done very much to amalgamate the
people of the two provinces; that it had brought Lower Canadians
into Upper Canada, and Upper Canadians into Lower Canada, teaching
English to those who spoke only French before, and making each
pleasantly acquainted with the other. I have no doubt that
something - perhaps much - has been done in this way; but valuable as
the result may have been, I cannot think it worth the cost of the
means employed. The best answer to the above argument consists in
the undoubted fact that a migratory government would never have
been established for such a reason. It was so established because
Montreal, the central town, had given offense, and because the
jealousy of the provinces against each other would not admit of the
government being placed entirely at Quebec, or entirely at Toronto.
But it was necessary that some step should be taken; and as it was
found to be unlikely that any resolution should be reached by the
joint provinces themselves, it was loyally and wisely determined to
refer the matter to the Queen. That Her Majesty has
constitutionally the power to call the Parliament of Canada at any
town of Canada which she may select, admits, I conceive, of no
doubt. It is, I imagine, within her prerogative to call the
Parliament of England where she may please within that realm,
though her lieges would be somewhat startled if it were called
otherwhere than in London. It was therefore well done to ask Her
Majesty to act as arbiter in the matter. But there are not wanting
those in Canada who say that in referring the matter to the Queen
it was in truth referring it to those by whom very many of the
Canadians were least willing to be guided in the matter; to the
Governor-General namely, and the Colonial Secretary. Many indeed
in Canada now declare that the decision simply placed the matter in
the hands of the Governor-General.
Be that as it may, I do not think that any unbiased traveler will
doubt that the best possible selection has been made, presuming
always, as we may presume in the discussion, that Montreal could
not be selected. I take for granted that the rejection of Montreal
was regarded as a sine qua non in the decision. To me it appears
grievous that this should have been so. It is a great thing for
any country to have a large, leading, world-known city, and I think
that the government should combine with the commerce of the country
in carrying out this object. But commerce can do a great deal more
for government than government can do for commerce. Government has
selected Ottawa as the capital of Canada; but commerce has already
made Montreal the capital, and Montreal will be the chief city of
Canada, let government do what it may to foster the other town.
The idea of spiting a town because there has been a row in it seems
to me to be preposterous. The row was not the work of those who
have made Montreal rich and respectable. Montreal is more
centrical than Ottawa - nay, it is as nearly centrical as any town
can be. It is easier to get to Montreal from Toronto than to
Ottawa; and if from Toronto, then from all that distant portion of
Upper Canada back of Toronto. To all Lower Canada Montreal is, as
a matter of course, much easier of access than Ottawa. But having
said so much in favor of Montreal, I will again admit that, putting
aside Montreal, the best possible selection has been made.
When Ottawa was named, no time was lost in setting to work to
prepare for the new migration. In 1859 the Parliament was removed
to Quebec, with the understanding that it should remain there till
the new buildings should be completed. These buildings were
absolutely commenced in April, 1860, and it was, and I believe
still is, expected that they will be completed in 1863. I am now
writing in the winter of 1861; and, as is necessary in Canadian
winters, the works are suspended. But unfortunately they were
suspended in the early part of October - on the first of October -
whereas they might have been continued, as far as the season is
concerned, up to the end of November. We reached Ottawa on the
third of October, and more than a thousand men had then been just
dismissed. All the money in hand had been expended, and the
government - so it was said - could give no more money till
Parliament should meet again. This was most unfortunate. In the
first place the suspension was against the contract as made with
the contractors for the building; in the next place there was the
delay; and then, worst of all, the question again became agitated
whether the colonial legislature were really in earnest with
reference to Ottawa.
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