Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 654 pages of information about Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin.

Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 654 pages of information about Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin.
on the hypothesis that the Colonial existence is one with which the Colonists ought to rest satisfied, then, I think, you are entitled to denounce, without reserve or measure, those who propose for some secondary object to substitute the Stars and Stripes for the Union Jack.  But if, on the contrary, you assume that it is a provisional state, which admits of but a stunted and partial growth, and out of which all communities ought in the course of nature to strive to pass, how can you refuse to permit your Colonies here, when they have arrived at the proper stage in their existence, to place themselves in a condition which is at once most favourable to their security and to their perfect national development?  What reasons can you assign for the refusal, except such as are founded on selfishness, and are, therefore, morally worthless?  If you say that your great lubberly boy is too big for the nursery, and that you have no other room for him in your house, how can you decline to allow him to lodge with his elder brethren over the way, when the attempt to keep up an establishment for himself would seriously embarrass him?

* * * * *

    To the Earl Grey.

    Toronto:  November 1, 1850.

     Sir H. Bulwer spent four days with us, and for many reasons I am glad
    that he has been here.  He leaves us knowing more of Canada than he did
    when he came.  I think too that both he and Sir E. Head return to their
    homes re-assured on many points of our internal policy, on which they
    felt doubtful before, and much enlightened as to the real position of
    men and things in this province.

[Sidenote:  Self-government not republican.]

With one important truth 1 have laboured to impress them, and I hope successfully.  It is this:  that the faithful carrying out of the principles of Constitutional Government is a departure from the American model, not an approximation to it, and, therefore, a departure from republicanism in its only workable shape.  Of the soundness of this view of our case I entertain no doubt whatever; and though I meet with few persons to whom it seems to have occurred (for the common belief of superficial observers is that we are republicanising the colonies), I seldom fail in bringing it borne to the understanding of any intelligent person with whom I have occasion to discuss it.  The fact is, that the American system is our old Colonial system with, in certain cases, the principle of popular election substituted for that of nomination by the Crown.  Mr. Filmore stands to his Congress very much in the same relation in which I stood to my Assembly in Jamaica.  There is the same absence of effective responsibility in the conduct of legislation, the same want of concurrent action between the parts of the political machine.  The whole business of legislation in the American Congress, as well as in the State Legislatures, is conducted
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Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.