Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

FROM UPPER CANADA.

Kingston, (U.C) Oct.

Just and liberal policy of this province towards the United States.

Heretofore the bills of the banks of the U. States were counterfeited in Canada with impunity, there being no law for punishing the counterfeiting of bills of any foreign banks. Advantage was taken of this freedom from punishment, and hence the states were inundated with counterfeits, to the great opprobrium of our government as was lately observed by a learned judge of our court of king's bench. But at the last session of our provincial legislature, an act was passed on the subject; and on one of its sections, two persons were indicted and were convicted, at the late assizes in this district for having in their possession counterfeit bills of some of the banks in the state of New York, knowing them to be such, and without any lawful excuse. They were sentenced to six months imprisonment, and are now suffering their punishment in the gaol in this town.

This salutary law, and the spirit with which it is and will doubtless continue to be carried into execution, is at once a measure of sound policy, and liberal justice towards the states; in most of which, it is said, laws are already provided for punishing the counterfeiting of bills of other countries ; and in states where such provision does not yet exist, it is to be hoped it will soon be made, in imitation of our example. How much more conducive to mutual prosperity are such instances of the reciprocation of acts of justice and liberality, than a state of legislative counteraction and hostility!