Interesting from Canada — Rebellion of the French citizens.
The decision in the case of the re-arrested
St. Albans raiders was to be given in
Montreal on Wednesday.
It was expected they would be discharged.
An extensive organization of the
Fenian Brotherhood has been discovered in that city.
From the following extracts from
Canadian papers serious trouble seems to be brewing in that country:
Rebellion in lower Canada--the French Refuse to Serve as Militiamen--Quebec in a Ferment — the Rebels in Strong force at Montmorency — the Loyal Volunteers in arms — Strong resistance to the draft.
[from the Quebec Daily News (Government organ) December 31.
The most intense excitement prevailed in the city last evening, when intelligence reached town that the draft, which was to have taken place yesterday throughout the Province, according to the Act 27th, Vic., chapters 22 and 23, had been resisted in several of the counties in this district, and that the officers appointed to enforce it had been driven away at Chateau Richer, and their lives threatened.
Deputy
Adjutant-General De Salisbarry, acting under directions from the Executive Council, immediately ordered out four companies of the best and most effective of the volunteer active militia, viz: No. 3 Volunteer Garrison Artillery,
Captain Murray and
Lieutenant Montizambert; No. 4 Garrison Artillery,
Captain Grant and
Lieutenant W. Home;
Captain Lamontagne's field battery of artillery, (two guns), and the
Wellington Rifles, under command of
Captain Gibson.
These four companies left the armory about 8 o'clock, in cabrioles, each man provided with twenty rounds of ammunition, amidst the cheers of hundreds of spectators.
It is scarcely possible that the
habitants will attempt to resist such a force, although it was reported last night that over two hundred ship carpenters from St. Roch had gone down to cut the
Montmorency bridge and prevent the troops from proceeding to Chateau Richer.
The greatest excitement prevails in the city.
The volunteer force is not expected to return to town before evening, after the draft is completed, unless they meet with determined resistance.
The four companies are under command of
Lieutenant Colonel De Salaberry,
Mr. Justice Maguire accompanying the force in his official capacity.
We will have news from the volunteer force this afternoon, which will be communicated to our readers by extra.
The resistance to the draft in the rural districts was not unexpected, and has, therefore, not taken the authorities unawares; but that a force such as left the city last night should have been deemed necessary has taken our citizens by surprise.
Additional.
The
Journal of last evening says:--‘"We have just been informed at the instant that the Rouge party have risen at Chateau Richer against the execution of the militia law, and that the officers charged with the duty of putting it into effect have been obliged to take flight from the locality in order to save their lives.
The rioters were all armed, and many of them appeared to be under the influence of liquor.
This is sorry treatment of a law initiated by their own leader,
Mr. Dorion.
We do not know what steps the
Government intends to take under the circumstances; but, in the meantime, we cannot too strongly condemn violence and resistance to the law, from whatever side they come."’
[from the Toronto Globe of Tuesday.]
The
Detroit papers had given us reason to hope that
Mr. Seward's recent passport order would not be strictly enforced; but Saturday's proceedings told a different tale.
At
Detroit and the
Suspension bridge every man, woman and child passing into the States from
Canada, though passengers, as well as residents of the Province, were stopped and their passports demanded.
were unprovided with the needful d, and were turned back.
If system is continued, there can be doubt that the passenger traffic of Grand Trunk and Great Western will receive a serious blow, and
Canadian investments become more unpopular ever with British capitalists.
The of the passport system to individuals no inconsiderable item.
It is believed that
Mr. Cameron is now issuing twenty passports per day, for which he is allow to charge one dollar and fifty cents each.
Under the new regulation these passports must be vised by the cons agent here,
Mr. Kimball, who charge one dollar for his trouble, so that the man who wants to make a trip to
Buffalo must pay two dollars and a half in addition his railway fare.
In addition, there must be daily delays, causing considerable expense and interruption to business.
We may note here, that American citizen residing in
Canada are required to take a passport when they design to pay a visit to the
United States.
The document can only be issued by a full one of whom is stationed at
Clifton-Consular agents are not authorized issue passports, but will grant certificate of identity, An American resident
Toronto will therefore be required, if he desires to cross the bridge, to take a certificate from
Mr. Kimball, the consular agent there, and exchange it for a passport at
Clifton.
When
Mr. Thurston, who is a full consul, returns to
Toronto, he will issue passports.
We cannot help regarding the introduction of the passport system as a piece of stupidity on the part of the
Washington Government.
Mr. Seward will not be able to prevent raiders crossing the frontier by any such means.
The passport system has been abandoned in
Europe — even by
Austria and
France--it having been found utterly in operation to prevent the transit of political conspirators.
Its introduction on our frontier is utterly useless, and we hope that our Government will take immediate steps to represent the matter to the
Government at
Washington, and have it abolished.
If
Mr. Seward will not be reasonable on the subject, it will be necessary for our Government to take other steps.
We can find a score of ways of making the
Americans feel the advantage of treating us fairly.
We hope that no such warfare may arise, but that
Seward will see the propriety of abolishing negotiations which are a serious injury to our people, while they are of no be fit to their neighbors.
Our Government are doing all that lies in their power to prevent raids from our shores, and there is no reason to doubt that they will be successful.
At all events, the passport system will not help them; and we have full right to demand that, while we are doing duty in the premises, no burden some penalties shall be laid upon us.
[from the Toronto Leader, same date.]
All the effect the excessive zeal shown by a portion of the
Canadian press and police in favor of the
North has had upon
Mr. Seward, is to make him more decided in his intention to throw every possible obstruction in the way of communication between the two countries.
It only remains for Canadians, whose business may require them to visit the
North, to accept the necessity imposed upon them, and to bear in mind that subserviency will not go far to remove it. It has been stated that none but American Consuls on the frontier have power to issue passports.
This is a mistake.
The Canadian Government has appointed officers duly authorized to issue them, and no mayor, magistrate or other authority has power to grant them.
Passports require, however, to be
vised by the
Consul, and he may issue certificates which will answer, perhaps, every purpose of the passport.
But the safest plan to pursue by those who wish to avoid annoyance and delay, is to procure their passports from the duly authorized agents of the
Government, and to have them endorsed by the
American Consul.
