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AT THE OPENING OF THE ELECTlOJf JPOR THE WEST WARD OF THE 0STT or XSO|fTREA£| 6/V^ THE lUh OF JCGUST,m7, TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCFf, TO WHICti ARE ADDED The Speech of His ExcelUncif the Earl of Dalhomie^ Oovtm^r in Chief, Szc. Sec. Sic. lo the House of Assimhlt/ on Pro* roguing the Provinciat Parliament^! th March 1827, and the Address of certain Members lo their ^ Constituents in consequence of that Ipeecht Ifc. 11 ;| MONTREAL: PRINTED BY LiJDGER DUVEHNAY. At the OJiee of the Canadian Speetatort So. S, St. Jean Baptiste Street. i i %r«ii;wi',- ',->» ^;h' 'J ? ff-- '^ '^ m sa # ■ ■ . ,50Krr?^jii .Hit 7P '■ '-. 8 ?-^ jIT*!;^ ••> "^^ :^ 'tai;Y?^?>rj^,^^^^j. ^^:^^^ *^ ' »-' If ;'>s ♦ * io'*c:j ^i c:u\c\t. t^ft'^^tJC^ ♦ • -vy . i\i i\ •\kV'\ ft". ?,%' V' 5*A>.i»K>. .tis-iM «'"rt /..'r-v*/ r-T? r ■;' ,:a .n I-* *yjt\^. i^J!' ."^^^l '^i \i Afe ^vs-^jo^f P li.E F A C Ei-4 1^' '-^-^^^^ .i^i.'. :'-r«o-.«^'fj(ji', ^?Tct »fes:"l 'ivi->a'.i»-r'."»''»'* ANY Gentlemen hating expressed a desire that the (ranslatioa of Mr, Papineau's Speeches on the Hustings at the late Electipa should be printed in a form convenient for general circulation^ th« Jpresent edition lus consequently been prepared and publi8hedi> ,.^ .,q.„ ,i The co«jntry is in a crisis— it is involved in a Constitutional struggle of great moment. It is not a measure of detail or the mode of ap* plying a principle wlHch is now at issue — the f\iiidamental principle ' itself of representawire government is at stake. The Exectitive office holders want to place themselTes above con* troul. They want that the internal administration of this colony should not feel the action of the public wtU«nd opinioa of the coun* , try — to attain this they claim the discretionary application of taies paid by the country under the 14 G. 3. and coming fVom other sources. They claim the right to give these taxes^ if they please, to the Gover- nor and one, two, or three individuals— or to create new pfaices or to add to old salaries— and then to oblige the country to make up by otJier taxeS) what might be left unprovided for by the misapplication of' these funds. The country will not submit to this. It insists that, as it pays the whole of its civil government, without calling on the Mother Country for a shilling, it has a right to oontrool the expenditure of its Government. It insists abo that it is the essence of the British Con- stitution that the adminbtration should not be plaeed above the controul • of the country. ' « It is essential io good government that the administration should be under controul. The British Government'isat a distance And cannot effectually controul the provincial administration and o£Bce holders.— The only power capable of eontrouling them with effect and for th« interest of England herself, is the country itself through its Hepre- sentatives— tand the peaceable and orderly mode of exercising this con- troul is by means of the purse. Lord Dalhousie's administration has rwisted this with the greatest rancour. It lias rejected Bills !M \\\\\ til ■■ m . n V ifj :! I J|i I I I /■ f fandng luppRes - because these Billa asserted the oontroul of iLe House— and it has applied the public money withont law» and againsf the declared SiDS3 of the Representatives. It has been declared that the •ountry should hs punished by the rejection of all beneficial measure* until it was torlured into compliance — menaces have been denounced of li«mtnjf out every holder of «noffice~eTcnJt/(/jr.> on ihe Eench if theydid not support whatever the administration thought rigiit to assert.- The Reprasentativo Body met his Lordship's displ >asur(> on the Isht March last when he prorogued it with the Speech which we haveprino ted in the Appendix. A Speech more amaxing for its misfhte- ments and grievous aspersions never issued fVorh any Government. It was refuted by certain Members in the answer to their Constititents Tifhich we have also printed. This Speech was followed by a ddluge of Slander —abusive, insult from the Journals of the administration against the Representative Body and the most intelligent and abb of its Mem- bers —Lord Dalhousie brough. into aptioti old Militia Ordonnancet- long since repealed —and assuming tlie power of these Ordonnanccs used them to punish Jmen. adverse to his conduct and for attending meetings of Landholders and, freeholders to petition the King and fm- . perial Parliament. Having excited the country to the proper pitchy liord Dalhousie dissolved the House and called the El:ictors to a new ,• choice^ ,;).?K';h7V«>^!: ': 9'"li' 'X ..(■ i.tt Then followed menaeas— defamations and atrocious and most ruf-^ fisoly abuse and falsehood against the old Members; These of course were,answered~The Constituent Body became well informed. They fliMsked enthusiastically to the Poll— ■ :' sAl? .liJoiJnerj t'^u • .;.;jjioi! An.: .iim r.m- /j— .-Gi i^. 1,.- ■..■..,■ j^.^ «.f{1 hm.l:^0>fi&«i ^4l & u: -%;'>'; i«:itt«f»j stai ooijEij(ft«u:;i.i. ■. viauoiliisO hz^-^A •te'«*M»jU'iKj «fi*5.,'rf yd ,?i h'oi' y- - oul of lll« ind ngaincl red that tht il measure* enounced of ! Bench if it to assert.- on the 7(k have prin- I mrathte- )vernment. onstititents d f respect ; : and the others have been made against (he majority of the Houp* . of Assembly— vain and unjust aspersions, which have been an* ,twered already, not because (hey had any weight in themselveji, but because they carried with them the weight Of hi»h authoiii* ,ties. I have been repronch^d with having failed in the re9p«et'du« -to my fellow citizen?, the Electors of Montreal, who had don« me 'the honor of choosing me one of their Representatives in tha ): last Parliament at a time when ( did not offer myself as a Candi« . date.<— I have been considered as haviqg failed in proper eoarte,;^ to the public, becauio Idid not acknowledge this proof of ^h#tr ) Jeindnesis even with the customary address of thankt. I owe a public explanation:'! give it willingly. With th« same frankness and willipgnes^'I would have given it privately, , had it been asked of me. Between the 'tHecIors and their R** presentatives there should always exist that U*^ coiniDaoi««tiAO *irhifib Wituld preveat flifiURderitandi^^. , .,^ (i+yrn .'Uvt ,!■' i - ■it lii In 1822, ihn ponntry wns •utldcnly thrown inn of any of o'jr politictil ri;;ht3. I was not one of ths last in concert- ing with you the mriiinirn? proper !o be tnhen for preventio* tl « injuslice with which we were thrpfttcard. PiivHte conctrns were to, be neglected when such great public iutertsts were to be siiteJ. The extreme good will of my fellow citizens, the favonrablc opinion which they entertnined of nie, induced them to chnrg'e ine with a commisaion exceedingly honouriiblc indeed, l>i:t, en itc^ count of the responsibility nltendmg it, exfPcdin<(ly arduous end full of anxiety — that of conveyinj; to England nnd there support- ing your nlmost unanimous rcmonelrance Hgainf>t that impending iu\'u(ioQ of our liberties. I conronleJ to perform this duty, which, for o man who hnd never been remote from his country, trom his fumdy. from l.it friends, carried with it very painful sacrificen. After having, in consequence of thir, neglected during feveral months of that year, my private aflairs, I departed in the berl- entius 1 1 • fi concerns il9 wcie to favonrablc II to clinrjje l)i:t, cm «tr« rdnoiis and re supjiort- . impeniliri^ in ^lio bnd ly. from l.J« !r havinjsr^iit ths of ibat of JftuiiBfy, Ihs absence, le with it, 1 month!", I acverlheietf, 824 when n I me to cfTer nt tntreatif?, ne, that the • aled by rea« Id— so great, 2fthen talcea life,onght I in fusal, lo hava Electors and Parliaroeot ? as a CoDc'i- lion nf being ms and I had t havine; pre- t\t>it on at- tetvlince. Great iMiMif. q;iGstions always would linve drnwn rnn from my private ocRiipilioi, bu* lesser interest* would hnve aL lowed me {ho liherly of ab^onfin:? mysfdf from Purlinmetif. Between (he IClp.Mion an I the meetin» of I'nrliHmenl 1 was a. ble lo p'Jt my privulo nffiira inio some order. Soon afler, the vit - tiioiis and lt>;^;d ad iiinistrHtion of Sir Francis B'irlon bec^mn raoro and more ^inpnlrtr. flo hml been deceived and drawn into error on a pninl of liltlr.' motnent in it»«»lf, but on which he Hh-I deviated from the strict fO'.'.se of the Kr.v, and, with candour nrid true dignity, ho retracpd hia jtops. Power ennobles itself wlien it knows how to uckno'wlodi;c an error in order that it may f'-ibmit to tim laws. Tl>e p'lblic p;«°?ion<« rxrifcl njainst thff Repro^enliilivcs nnler the ndininisfriifiem most, if I have serve I them ^o^e9tly and fHithfidy. VVlielher I have done so or not it is for t.iem, my legitimate j'id»es, now to deciile. As to those ill grounded aspersions east upon the late Repre^ sentative? of the people by a high authority, they have been an- swered, first by the Rppre-entalives of this District and since liy the people nhohnve already reelected most of them, thereby npholdinj the maxim which vile flittercrs alone will controvert that all repatdti')nsare equally under the protectionof the law* ; that those laws would be very imperfect nnd vicious that should rest any one with the power of arraigning before the public in- nocent men, at the same time reducing these innocent men to si. lence and stripping them of their legitimate right to vindicate IhoJr honour. 1 know not the man in whom I will ncknowledge a right to calumniate me without his being justly liable to be an- swered by roe. m ! h \ i !■ ,1 ,1 t ii. r- ■)- 'B 'Or myteir I have ipoken eoough and too muab ; I muitaaw spcHk of you anil of your interests. You are aisiembled to mxer- cisc an im|)Oilant right, that of choosing frpely, with tha no}* view to your own interests, men whom you think the moat firm, ly en*np;eJ to uphold then) ; to exercife n right which for several ' cent uric.", until these Inttcr times, seemed to be the disticctivs prerogative «if Bi itii^h subjects, thnt ot chonging your Legislatora in your RepiesentHlives. I'he men of your choice cannol, it N - true, be culled LegislHtors in a strict and absolute sense, becauia they are only such jointly with other iiuthorities, which, in ibia country more than in nny other, in<;ludo too large a proportion • of men, whocoulJ never booome the objects of your choice; but as those authorities on their part can neither change your ■ laws for the better or for the worse, nor give you new laws with- out the assent of your Ileprescytlaliva, these may, in a re«lrict«i sense, V>e culled your Le;j;islators. Nothing is more certttin in our public and constitutional lair -thHu the maxim, that governmrnts are constituted only with A riew to the commonweul, tiut principally fur the advantage of the public functionaries, l^his maxim is such a predominant truth, that it is admitted even by despotic governments and by administrations which raise then selves above the Jaws; but in this case it is only an illusion, a dead letter, a cheat, productive of no real advantiige. It becomes useful, but in as much a? gov- ^^rnments or their (u1mini-trator« have multiplied and frequent relntions 'with the peo|)le, not in order to brave public opinioa ) and to sport with it, but to know the wishes and wants of the peo- ple, to acquiesce jn Ihem and provide for them. In our government those frequent relations with the mass of the people take place |!CPiodicully by means of elections, daily by that of petitions, annually through the /nediation of the Re. . prescntativcs who are au integral pitrtof the Government, aodf at the same time, for the people, an organ and a voice. They ought to be believed when they speak in the name of the. people : . excepting extraordinary and singidar cases when it should be evident that they failed io rendering the true sentiments of their • cnrstifuents. The nearer the other authoritiescome to the viewi and desires of the representative body in our constitutional Gov- ernment, so much the more exactly do they move in conformity with the laws of their nature,so much the more accurately do the/ correspond- to the end- end approach the scope of tlteirinstiti;tioo» • On the other hand, in prop<)rtiQn as they are inattentive or op- .posed to the wishes of a representative body true to their coiu atituents, the more do they swerve from the purposet of their r institution. In their eccentric couise they then threaten the po- litical world with afflictions and disorders more real than thoM vnhicb our fathers apprehended in the physical world oxx.lbe gp- t^. ' fTfrr- - — urs - .j^ mui^ Maw d to •xer- the 9o\m nott firm. lor eeveril Jislicctiv* jegislalors tmol, it N beCfiUM ch, in tbit jropnrtioD r choice ; inge your aw9 with* restrict «U ional law ly with ^a antage of edominaot ta and by i'8 ; but in jroductive ch as gov- ] frequent lie opinioa )1 thepeo- le mnss^f lOr)!*. daily >f the Re. ment, and, ce. They le people : should be ts of their the views ional GoV'< •onforDjity ly do they nstttctioo. live or op- their con* e» of their en the po« Ihan IhoM snAbe IP* I )raariin''m their di«- corl that you must juJ^e who have been hflr tyrannii-ul or fo- cipablo Piince^, that have desired to raise tbemiclvoa above the lawf. .f^otild the House of Coinomna in Knglnnd re<^eive (he Uwa from its Kingf, 'culd it ba roprim;incf^!tM«n it promises to nHlii n^ a powerful lever t> exliri'ate abiieej ; bcf^aune it afforda n poiiular cQicuciona ac- tion which penetratca into nil the parts of auminislrHliori, ami in« flueDcea, in a snlulai-y manner, all its »»entf, from the Sovereign io- the lovveit odicer, recalling them continually to their dejlination^ which ii the peace and the welfare of natioos. It seems as if re* ptiVdicanism and absolute mnnarcliy at no distant period will ex*1:,' isi for them only in the remembranccn of history; tlutt the iiu- nian race will m divided in two great classes i free mm, who will have representatives, aud slaves who shall htivo none, or whose repreacnl^tives, instead of being the Counoillors of exec- Utire power which oui^ht to receive theiradvice with deferencOf will be mn-i Jatarics of a degraded people, who would allow those that have been deputed by them, and possess their confldence, to bo insulted with impunity by men. who are paid on condition only that they ahull consult and procure the public welfare. in It is only three years since you freely made choice of R^pre* F^ntatives, who, according to the course of the law^ ought to have served you during four years, but who have been sent back cnder llie pretext of their not boing the true interpreters of yonr teotimenta. You will weigh ill grounded imputations and india* putahle facts; ybtl will consider the probability there is.that the Governor and his (Council know yoqr interests better, cherish them more dearly, than yoMr own Representatives do. According to (he jjdgment of the present Governor, the choice of the country for the last Parliament waa very bad. Fort a* liately there is an appeal from his jurisdiction to yuurs. Fortu- tutely nn authority equal to his has told you that your choicv was very good. I oppofc the judgment of the one Governor by t!»at of the other ; heon'use the jtiftice and urbanity with v.'hich Sir Francis Burton conducted himself towards your Rcpresentntive?, prove the consideration and esteem which 1)9 had. lor you V and Iho consideration an«l esteem which, ia return, wo must have foi him; while a contrary behaviour i 1.1 I : i i ' 1 i i! i 1 » I 10 , - lirservcs your censure, whatever respect jou ought (o ptd- serre for the high magistracy exercised by our Governors, t will place the one Governor in contra-dittinction to the other in order to calm a little and quiet the small band of men who have places, who desire to have places, who do not think by them- selves nor for themselves ; Who expect before they form their opinion about public men and public measures, the watch* word mud the direction of those who give places. You will see that their apparent anger is under orders, is a play of chance ; that it tkiust not trouble freemen, and that, probably, under another adminiitrntioD they will profeM other sentimerts. At the first oppo. tunity Sir Francis had of meeting Parliament he expressed himself in the following words on the lOtb January 1825. *' Although entering for the first time on the administration of the government, I have resided long enough in the Province to become personally acquainted with most of you, and it affords ine the highest gratification to declare that I have not in arty part of the King's domioions, remarked a firmer attachment to His Mnjesty's person and Government than I have observed in yoa individually ; I have therefore the best ground to rely upon your collective exertions. I trust, gentlemen, that you will cordially unite for the purpose of doing away any difficulties whioh may heretofore have arisen, and for preventing by an amicable ar- rangement of the financial concerns of this Province, the recur- rence of such difficulties in future." Here you have the open and cordial expressions of a man endow- ed with a sound judgment and good heart, the faithful servant of his King and the sincere friend of this Province. The proceed- ings of the session, the daily and intimate relations which he had with your Representatives, altered not the opinions he had thus expressed. He discharged the representatives with the follow** ing observations : *' You aie about to return to ^ur respective residences in va- nous parts of the Province, aild to'mingle with the general mass of your feliow subjects, wh6"e loyalty and good conduct, your example will servo to encourage, whose epprobntion and esteem you highly deserve, and will, I hope, universally obtain." The end of the Session was as happy and satisfactory as . its opening. With or without the advice of the council, praises were not, as usual, dealt out to the Councillors exclusively, and censures to the House of Assembly. You see at the present moment Legislative and Executive Coiinoiliors — labouring under an extraordinary and new cour- tesy for the Electors, venting an extreme rudeness of old stand- itig against the Representatives, very busy, running about, agi- tutiiig, struUing, stirring and torturing both themselves, and your- y. n raorfl. t I other in rho have >y them- rin their Ich'Word see that ice ; that ' another I rl lament I January ration of }viDce to it affords I ariy part at to His i in yea ipon your cordially lich may cable ar- te recar- a endow- lervaot of proceed- sh he had had thus I foUoir-* ces in va« eral mass uct, your I esteem I." iry as . its 1, praises ively, aud • Executive BW cour- tld staoil- out, as^i- Diod your* selves, in order to decide your choice nccording to their wishes. 'J'hose gentlemen know of the English Constitution — only the smallest portion, and the least applicable to the state of the coun- try. They invoke that part which relates to the splendour and to the privileges of Royalty and Aristocracy, though our sove. leign and his nobles are little inclined to settle amongst us ; but know nothing of the enactments upholding the privileges of the nation, although there is a people settled on these lands, a peo- ple which sees a great deal less of real distance grounded on rea- son, between the administrators and themselves, than there ex- ists in England between the administrators of the government and t he people. Well then, in England, the fiouse of Commons hav« ing declared that the interference of the Lords in elections is con- trary to principle, the people are so tenacions of their rights and careful of their Representatives, that they would resent the intrusion of the Lord^ who should take an active and open part in the Elections ; although he might indirectly do it by his friends, not being of his caste. Here the impulsion given by our great personages has been followed by the retinue of great and little, high and low officers whom they draw after them and keep in their chains. All those men so well brought op to passive obe- dience, would be under quite another discipline, if Sir Francis Burton had at this moment the direction of affairs. They would be as warm in their praises as they are now unjust in their as- persions, and in either case when they thus act out of their prqj per sphere, they must be without weight and without influence. This proposition I advance and no man who has attended to the public affairs with any care will deny it, namely, that in no other part ot the British empire is it so necessary and essential as in this Province, to find great independence and energy in the Hepresentative Body, because in that body alone can be found a counterpoise to the excesses of power concentrated in a small number of persons having for the most part iio link of permanent interests with the country. When the same persons unite the legislative, executive and Judiciary powers in themselve?, the abuses which they shall have committed in one of those capa« cities, they are endowed with sufficient means to uphold in the other ; and from sibuses to aouses the laws would soon be pow- erless, unless there be an unceasing and fearless watch over theq^ pu the part of your Representatives. I Will soon prove that, in fact, they alone have shown them- selves attentive to your desires and your requests; always sup- porting them and always witnessing their rejection elsewhere. — before, however, eumingto the parliamentary history o( the 'ate years, on different objects of public utility, which the assenjbly has endeavoured to promote but in vain, (so heavy is the couii- ^erpoijje opposed to them, not to say, the weight which oppresaes \\ ■> ■ . ' ,i I . S ' 1 u ^•1 / i ) 12 -f •:.^ rffM ^,:« ^-,. itkem) I inttst iliifcuss at go»er- fscu!9 at sofrie length ihe prcfrDs'ohh of (h( nor as to the new appropriations which it is sail!, ought not (o ( o made for a lees period than the King's life ; the right claimed b/ . the Executive of disposing, at discretion, of a portion, Hr>DUHlI/ ' variable, of the public revciiuc ; ami the just resistaoce which has been op{ 03«>d to those claims. First :—fitiifi the acknowledge* ment of the Governor, that (xirtion ot the revenue is not stiflicie>>t lo pay the objects for which it is destined. Here the house stands And says, (an '_ not degrade thepjselves by becoming accomplices of sirch an ex- ^ pendiiure of monies as they consider to be an act of dilapidation -A on the properties of iheir constituents. They give the supplc- • mentary aid asked for, ordy en the condition which they are Ht liberty tu attach to .their gift, namely, that you shall not have'tho discretionary distribution of any portion of the revenue; but that . the whole shall be distributed discreetly and under it^e au- ,,thorIty of the whole Legislature. In this manner, the Executive J, will preserve untouched its right of naming whomsoever it plea- ^ses to offices ; and the A-^^cmbly. will preserve, independipnt ly'rf I the Executive, their right of not contributing to what they shoiil 1 I consider as extravagant waste and profusion ; which wbuld in« j ereasr, without any possibility of remedying it, if the Anli-corf- .1 stit.utional and abhorred maxim of discretionary distritulipn pf 1 the public monies and of discretionary powers of any Uiud, W£ra . -lanctitmed." ^ ^, You have heard during thesj latter times the professed parf'i' . .Rus of thQ Administration, irascible adversaries of the Ass.eml ly, r blindly appealing to the practice of Great Britain in. relation to the Civil Lis/, as the only one which was reasonable, conslitu- tiuoal, from which your Representatives could not sweive with- ,out guilt and to which they ought to return, with respect to tho ^ Civil List of this Province. At this very term, Civil Lisl^ do I stop jiihem, and say, that the use and choice they make of it, prove 'i .either great ignorance, or voluntary bad faith, which, for the sake '. .of f ubtcrfuges nod cavils, necessary to a bad cjiuse, mak^s use, by preference, of improper expressions with the view of altering the true state of the question. I see myself tui rounded with men rthe go»«r- hi not to ( o claimed \>j n, xi'DUhII/ e which hat know'^tlgc- lot suflicieiit lOuje s »iixh an ex- dilapidution the sui>|)lc- I they pre Ht tiot hare tho ue; but th»t Jer llje au- e ExeculJya ever it plea- pcndentlyVf t they shc.ul i I would in- •e Aoti-corl- strilutipa of kiuJ, >i'e>o r«?ssed part'i' »e Asseml !>'» 0. relation to sle, copstilu- sweive with- respect to tho Lis/, do I stop of it, prove 1, for the salie Dukes use, by faltering the led wilhmca 13 learned iu the lanr soinQ of whom are in the employment of th« Crown, and With other public functionaries, by trade or convic- tion, the constrained defenders of every measure of the adminis- ' trution, and who at leaftt by iHe warmth, if not by the soundnen ' of their arguments, you would believe sincere in the support theyj ^i\'e it. I dare them to stake their reputation of men learned in ' the law, nr of men having pretensions to some historical know-' ledge in the tluture of English Colonial Governments, either past^ or present, by saying that, with the exoeptioo of this single rtne, - there has ever been a Colony whose admi&'stration has, with any chance of success, asked of its local Legislature the payment * ofa CivU List and pn appropriation for the Civil List during the ' ICing^s life. This word has a legal and certain sense only in ^ England, but not in its Colonies ; it has a legal and definite sense ' only with regard to the royal person, to the splendour and digni- '. tv with which the English nation has been pleased to turrounil him in tiie midst of his Peers, the Kings ot the earth : and to'' liid officers who hold directly from him their commissions and are^ qiiHlified to approach his person, to oialce n part, if we may say ,' . so, of his own family, or at least of his household. The cpoati ■ tHtion has willed that each sovereign should have the plienitude ' oi' power that the law attaches to the magistracy which he it to ^ e;cercise. It supposes, in consequence, that at the beginning oif « bis reign he choses those who will be personally devoted to him ' all the time it shall last, an«l it attaches them to bim by certaini salHries/or all the time of their engagement. In all this there is, it is true, agreat^deal of the subtleties so frequent in English laws," nevertheless they are certain Jxed roles, 'without any inconre.,' nience to England, but which, to this day, have pever be^n in-' trodjiced into its colonies; have never had any application, nor'^ ,can have any rational application therein. In England, bosidei,^ the establishment of the Civil List is a recent change in the, ancient constitution. It is the result of a commutative cootractj by which the. nation.has greatly henefited, it is the price.of lhtt[ pHtrirnunial lands and of (he her«*ditary revenues which the King^ has abandoned to it. It is, however, regarded as a gift of th^ na~; tinn which might mmlify it otherwise than it does. It is not so much above the control of Parliament but that after having,' granted it in the usuul form, it afterwards modified it under WiL^A. liam HI. and George III. The Parliament leaves no discretion-' ary power with the King in the employment he makes of it.— ; With the Exception of the fixed part which is gix'en for his per-' pnnal expenses, the surplus is applied to/orcseen, certain and de- finite servires ; the employment ot it canqot bo changed from yehr to year, as* within seven years, wo have seen done in oat country, where the List of -expenses brought against the appro^- priated revenue, was made to v<r« but that sly rejected, of his crea- ted io bar* lad become stice whep asion would Bin. It has of the West e refused it, key cotoe to during the B t^ey have the annual and by the them as in )mie, which the judges, n the time 6f their administration. This arruDgement does not flow frem positive aoDstitutional principles, but from expediency ; for there Are not two constitutional principles contradicting one another ; the one allowing annual grants for some officers, and the other forbidding thorn for some other officers. The whole must be the result of considerations of expe Jiency. The statute of 1825 by virtue of which the civil expenses of the civil government for that year have been legally paid, is a law as well as our constitutional act or as any other imperial or provincial statute. It is then a great indecency to hear at every moment, as we do, public officers, (who, to plouse the present ladh ministration, abuse that law,) exclaiming that the assembly acta unoonstittttionally, when it proposes a law similar in its principle to that statute, although the new law might differ from it^a to the amount, either more or less. Mote ^oiulJ be perhnps admis- sible ! but less would seem much ipore criminal to those gentle- men. Rational men may examine the cobveniences or iticoDVe- uienues which belonged to the offers of the House, but whoever asserts that those offers grounded as they are on an existing and a similar practice, so ancient and so frequent, are not constitutional, knows not what he says. It is only under the present Governor that flatterers have said so ; his two predecessors said otherwise. In 1810 the House of Assembly seeing that in the space of eighteen years, the expenses had been illegally raised mthout their eontehtt/rom tvcenty thousand to forty thoutmd pound$, did with .a view of putting an end to so dangerous a system, oflfer to pay, not its Civil List ; (the administration of those days certi^inly would have protested agaiust the improper Use of those words, as it quarrelled about the words by which the Imperial Parliament was incorrectly desigoated,)but offered to pay the necessary expen' tea of its Civil Oovernment ; coireet and Wise expressions, which preserved its controul over the amount of salaries to be gi anted, aooording to the nature of the duties to be performed, The ne- eiftsary expenses and nothing more, that is what it promised. From 1810 to 1818 the expenses were illegally raised unt/Aou/ the consent of the Ileuses to more than sixty thousand pounds.—* Waraud the then value ot money were the.pretexts: the motive was, that sooner or later, the offer of the Assembly would beac* oepted, and that, with the obligation of providing for the total of the expenditure, it would be necessary that they should haVe the total of the revenue, and that it would not be easy to raise the laUries above the rate at which they would have found them fixed. lo 1818 Sir John Sherbrooke, who, of all the Governors whom we have hud for twenty years, was the one of the greatest abili- ty! of the most correct notions of the nature of our mixt govern, meat, of the extent of popular privileges ; who was an enlighteb' ^ _^; ■■■■I — r ¥a ffl' tH man Wlona;ing to a vihig family i who did not ttick to lilt cA^ fice for the sake uf money ; «rho (;nrri(iil into the Civil Govern' naeot ps nuivh circuin^peclioD, froni fear of injuring in their rights way body of men, or nny individunl, as he had boroe an aliuott ubtfolulo firmae*8 in hia otilitary coinuiHod; who oiust htive hkd initructioos cuufuriDalile to the first impressions which the £u<;- Ittth Mioialry eoterlHined, before they were deceived by the so- piiisms.uf our eoionial adminitlration ; Sir John Sherbrooke,beit'.g such a mao, asked only for an annual appropriarion. There vt Uo( here present a mao who can say, that at thai f ) (ich latere vaa u single person in (lie nouotry who ventured to conceive or -at ]eaal proinulgatOf the exiravngant idea of 9a appropriation for tba Eing*a life. On the seventh January I818, n^drersing; the Assembly be said: ** I ..a^e received thecootmund of His A,oyHl Highness the Trinco Ilegea^ to call upon ibe Provincial Legislature to vote the 8Uai» necessary for the ordinary annual expenditure of the f rovince— i These commuods will, I am persuaded, receive from you that iveigbty consideration, which their importance deserves." And later iu the session r ** The Governor in Chief has direct* ed to belaid before the House of Assembly estimates of the or-' dinary permanent expenses ot the Civil Government of Lower Canada, and of the Revenue applicable to the discharge thereof for the year 1818, and from these it appears that the further sum uf40,263 pounds, eight shillings, and nine pence, will be neces- sary /on' The amuunt of these estimates may be considered as the sum which will he aniiually necessary for the support of the Civil List ; subject^ nevertheless^ from time to time, to such diminution or aiigmentalion^ as the cireumstances of the times mai/ require ; and l'i.c wixdom of the Legislafure judge expedient ; and the Governor lit Chief has no doubt but that the House will always be disposed t > make a due and respectable provision for the support of all the liiiLichcs of His iVInjesty's Government, in order that the tervioet of such persons as are best -suited lu discharge the respective Uu« tici required, may be obtained." It is impossible to have a more direct consur* of the prelen^ sions of the present administration or a more clear )\ublic servants is not unconstitutional. In the Council one uteDibcr ulone protested against the passing of the Bill, not uiledging that the salaries of public functionaries ought to be sccurod and voted during^ the King's life, (doubtless he aplirDs that opinion,) but grounding hisf y^rotest on the weighty and fair consideration that one of the three co-ordinate branches of the Legislature had not been asked to concur in the vote of those nionie». Niecessity alone, a cause unforeseen and urgent, the sudden sickness of the GifVernor, justified that departure from pHncipIe, most dnnge.- rnusly followed without any plea or reason to excuse it, by one only of the three pttwers (and that one not the House of Assem** bly> diiin|r aix of the seven years of the present administration. 1^ I I ^:^ KjSasr^Sr; - V li Then came on (hut o(M y«Hr of wliioisirHl aJministrnlion, t^^f^«o Mr. Monk, huving cnl led the PHiliatueDl (ui the Disputc-h of 6u> liaesFf diisoIvDil it befure the day he hud fixed fur its meetio;;;* itnd when Sir Ferij|;riDe Maitlnnd convened the new one bef'oe the Eleotions were closed, when consequently there was no i'ar-* liameot. The»e delays have btten injuriuus to the country. On the arrival c' the Enrl of Dalhousie, hiscouuc 1 hnti come to • new, violent and unprecedented determiDation. He h «s made'cooimon cause with them, their fnuluhnve become his, and the late dissolution of Parliament and your roeeliuo here to ilay^ are the lig^htest of the evils which ever since i^iave uut ceuscd lu harrasi the country. 1 know it it the undoubted prerop^ative.^of the Governor to dir- solve Parliament when he thinks fit. But the law tupposes that in his exemise of this power he •hall always be g^overoed by reason and justice, not by passion. It is with this preiozaiive, as with the one which leaves him the nppointment to public uthces under expectation that he shalt make good choices ; as with all others bestowed for the g^eaeral Utility, ond which will brings on him deserved censure or praise, ticcording; to the improper use he makes of them. Without yet passing; judgement on the last dissolution, the tolly or wisdom of which will'be tried by the result of the general election, oue cannot dissemble that this Province is the only one in which that vii^ent remedy has heeo so of(en resorted to en such frivol- ous ooeasions. .t^ainit the iutended purpose of those who have 80 blundered, it always has produced the happiest result in nd- vancing[ the political education of the country. The op^iurtuuity offered to call the attention of numerous assemblages ot the peu. pie to their dearest interests, produces in a country where read- log; if not yet so general as is desirable, the came good that suoa will be effected by periodical publications. Oa the other hand the waste of time so hurtful to a new country, the greater degree ttf excitement attending forced elections brought on before the usual term, are such a serioos grievance, that the friends of the country always will discouoteuanre these repeated dissolutiofjs* The unanimous cry heard in the Piovinee from county (o coun- ty, from end to end, *'• the lame, the same,'* with regard to tiie former Representatives, when they ha\e not faileu-H* their dolVf is most reasonable i policy and gratitude urge and inspire it. Ou auch ocOtsioni Representatives who feel blHoieiess, are, on their part, bound in honor to step forward and offer their services, however inclined to withdraw from public life, if 1 e ter times allowed it* After all, it is plain that our adminutration is much more formidable to the people's rigWts, that it has naucb l&ss re- gard for them, is much more diffident of them and of Ihptr Rr~ preseatatives than any other, liocc it has so frer^'ieutly resorted * i i ion, Pfh^.ti vh o( Bit- I meetiDg* ne beCo'e Its DO l'ar-> niry. iiAti come He h«a ne his, H rid ere to ilny, veuticd lu -Qor to dir- power he by passioD. es him the it be ihall he geaerat e or praise, Without yet wisdom of ection, oue i in which luch frivol- who have suit io od- •ppurtuuity ot the peu. /here read- d that 8uoi> other haod ater degree before the ends of the li88olutioiiS» ty to couD- ;ard to the their doty, pire it. bu e, on their ir services, • ter titties ion is oiucti icb 1&S8 re- r tbf u* Rr- ly re«ort(d to that measure q lUe iioustinl or of very rare recurrence in our •ister culuQ'v'Hj; to ihuf measure first devised, without any fuf therMOoe of their hes and plaus, by the advisers of Sir James Craig;, aud since copied wiih uo belter chance of success. The Eail of DulUuusie first laid claim in the session 1820 — 3t to a |ieroi4iient appropriutioa tn the following words'— ^* I shalf nUu lay beture you accounts of the expenses annwitly incurred Hi pHyuieiit ol the saUries and cuiitingeucies of the Civil Olfices |>ei-mcinently cstal)ii8hed for the service aod sup|K)rt of his :Vln* .festy's Goveruujonl in this Proviuce [.ududiog suuh oucaslonnl payments ns are utia voidable under it (charge forty-five thou- BHud'pouMtis ) I'o that I shell add a stHtement of the anuuiil product of the permuneot taxes and hereditary territorial reve- nue of the crown.'* (lleveuue tweDty..thi:ee ihuusuud pound*.). *^ From- those documents, formed upon an average of the l:ist »ix years, you will perceive that the annual permaueut revenue ij not equal to (he amount of the annual permanent uhiir<;e upon the Prnoinetat Civil List by a difficieucy of twenty two thuuauud pounds; and {have it in counnHud from His Majesty to say. that Hip VlHJory having, fiom past experitiure, the fullest cunfiieuee in yjur loyalt,', sen«>e(if duty, and attachtueul to the principles of the Coustiiuliou, does nut doubt, that you wHi make a proper aud peruiauent provision to supply t lat d\:fi>:iency, and tliereby enable him to su^lam the Civil Goveru'ueut of this rroviu;e ivith honour and with advanta^ to b:s subjects.^' This year, might be seen amongst a fev, more viole it kdK tnosily than ever against the ho tse, a^ it it were gu>lty of some very n«w and very great excess. T e fiist iiiStaut that peia. imment aid was asked, it was repelled. Three successive Purl.am.euls which have since met. bnyj found' in the Rcprcs ntaUvos, uaiformly, the dame dcterminatiu i, that of exercising an annual aiide^ficieut coutroul over the whole of the expenditure. Duriuj; the same pertud the adraiukt' atiun has iucesstotly varied its demitads, altered its plaus. It soon called for appropriations during the King's life; after which it discovered the distinction of the permanent establishment, swelU ed or contracted in various shapes every year to the present in., elusive^ by casting out or ndmitliog into tlie list now one and uext another department; nn !, ut last, it put forth an J Bsser},ed the claim te the discrdio lar^if u^e of a li)rij:e portiou of the public income whic i cuts deepsr, more or less, into the appropriated- revenue acKording to the new determinatiou of each of the Gov- ernors. When first a permanent appro,.»riation aud after f his Mnjesty's govcrnnieut, a pretoti- bion which has nothing for support but u baseless tabrio raised in the nir ; fur the apprupriHted revenue.it> in amount uncertHin ; it varios from year to year; it niuy produce much more or much less than tho j£23,000. Hence must Ihe'r.mniint uf the necesiary supplement b^ uncertain and vnribblo from year to year ; Had it will bo the more uncertain {>ince tJio«ft who have 8tnrtr;d cer- tain principlea applying to locitl cbtajilishmeuts and differing Irooi those which they apply tu permanent oital lishments, do not themselves understand what they mean ; so arbitrary and ditfer- ( ut have their classification been every yonr. The first proposi* t on of the present Governor to the Asaeml'ly opened n breach between them, which daily widens more nnd more. In 1820 in answer to the speech opening the session, the house mad^ him ucquainted with its fixed determination in the following words : ** Ufe should however hold oureelyes to be wanting in that sin* ccrity which is due to thefrai.kness of your Excellency's charac- ter, in that duty and respect which we owe to our sovereign by w.l ose commands )our Excellency has submitted the proposal of ah sdditlnuu) and permanent approj'i'iutibu which, with that al- icady made, would exceed hairthe usual amount uf the whole pfovincial rGvcnu6,wefe we not.even in this early stage of the pro- ceedingSt most humbly to represent, Viat the declared sense of our CMiHituenlt, the duty which we owe to our posterity and to that Ctnalilutionof Quternmenl which the wisdom and baoeficence of the toother country has couleri etf Upon this Province, ioge* the- with- the variable and uncertain future amouiit of that re- tenue, which, as well as our resources, depends on a trade at thii moln^ht peculiarly ubcerlain, will prevent us from making' any other than an tmnuol appropriation for the general expendi- ture Pf the Province^ conformably to the recommendatiun of hia Majesty's government as signified to the Parliament of this pro Yince by His Excellency Sir John Coape Sherbrooke late Gov ernuT in Chief, iff his speech delivered front the throne* at the' dpenieg of thi^Sesiion on the 7th January 1818." * W^e pray that your Excellency will accept our humble assn r nee of the unalterable dispositton of Ihis House to vole annually in a eorutitvlionat mminefy according to that recommendation, aad to tilt solemn offer of the Assembly in the year 1810 all M« Hi „l i piii * i «l i C M*<^ » iplemrn- revfrnno ) couIJ bs Droilucii)"^ monnrr, 1 the cf!r- Altd FlIlMt 1.0U0 may a pretori- I rnisc'd in ^rtniii; it I or much necesiary enr ; HUii fjftf-d (.er- ring; iroon I, do B')t nd difler- . |)ro))oei« H breech n 1820 in [lade biin g words : I that tin* 's charac- erciga by roposal of I that aU be whole )fthepro- ise of our nd to that meiicence ice, loge« f that re* K trade at 1 making' I expendi- iuD of hit this pro late Gov le'at the ible assn annually lendation, 10 aZ/Mc I. -21 fitniMty crpenert of Tlii J^Jajettys Civil Goiiernmeril iii thii Cohni/, in the hiMutrable and ppromoont auppnrt of which none nrn more deeply nnd sincerely interested than his iVIajebly^t loyiil cubjectt whom wo hters, and for one year only, supported by several independent members, whs at the same time supported by all the membiers leaning lu the administration (Messis. Tas- ehereau, O^dcn, Davidson, Gairden, R. Jones, Oldham, J. Joneit, &;c.> At that time though a permanent appropriatioh had hedn asked, they did not yet imagine that thtft moc^e was an unbending ct>nstitiitionul' principle, or thos'6 royal instructions so abiiolufe that a departure from them by an annual grtint would be as dall ge''ous as it is given out to be now a days. It was in the same Session that, in the council, were published in broad day the doctrine.^, the anxieties, the hopes and wishes hitherto shut up in the hearts or avoft^d only in the secret and mysterious conventicles of our place holders. They decreed that forever, or at lea^t (ill a futurity so distint that the strongest heads umong them could not foretoo its arrival (yet, by the bye, we have seen it within three yrars next after their decree)— *^ The l^egislative Coiucil will not proceed upon aoy bill of /' ■I , •/ -%. ■«% i: , t I ) ,22 •ppropriation lor th« Civil LiiU which shAll oonUia •r«oifioaliobf th«raio by ohnpter or ittoia, nor unlet* the lame ihull beg ranted dariof (he life oi hit Mejetty the King/' lo 1892 the eid wei arked to be gmnted during the King'i life ind no grant at all irai offered ,beoauie in that year aMn theprcMnt one, the Oorernor began to require the Legiilalore to provide tor part of the expenditure only, and culled but for a supplement much larger than the one required iu the present year. It was rafuied, but the refusal did not then bring on a dissolution of Parliament. It did not then raise up ayaiust the Representatives the public functionaries with soob violence as we now see them exhibit; thev really have become more and more irHsoible, but they are douotleis now saturated and have absorbed— their full of wrath — they can pbtorb no more. I'bnnks to the active eflbrts of a true and sincere friend of this country, Sir Francis Burton, the Session of IB96. saw harmony restored between the several bi'anohes of the Legislature. Was it not then a subject of general coniratulation f Those who now with fury denounce your Representatives, were they not as Uvr* ward to congratuUte you on that event, as they erenow violent in upbraiding you ? Those unfortunate dissentioos being lettled nil the onergy of the Legislature would in future be directed to (he improvement of the Country : such were the fervent hopes •nd wishes nearest (be hosrts of your Representatives. A Bill of appropriation fur that year was passed almost unanimouslyr two members of the COunoit only dissenting— Tho Chief iustloo vot- ing for iti though before seeing it, he said be would oppose it| ■ud the Attorney General, after oonsultatioot approving it. But, against this act, is alledged the existeooe of eontrery in- ftruetioos then' unknown, whion ought not and would not haTO been unknown, bad they been leA in the place of deposit, where it wa« oecesiary that they should remain. Strange instruotiona .which in the opinion of those who secret them, ought to influ* tooa the proceedings of the House to whom their oommunioatioD is denied 1 Strange instructioni, otherwise understood by the JHinister who gives them, than by those who are directed to carry (hem into execution ! The statute of 1Q86 is not censured on the ground that it cootams an annual appropriation, but under (he erroneous impreisioti given in England, that it did not ac- knowledge the axisteooe or integrity of a revenue whrob is col* looted witbout difficulty, and the appropriation of which is denied altho\ when insufficient for all the octjecls of appropriation, it cannot be distributed without the additional aid and concurrence of the Legislature. The Minister allows the sanction given to .(be biil nor does he oppose it because its appropriation is only for one year« and yet we are told iu the Colony, that no other appropriation is oooslitutitioal save what is granted dMripg tba >. «oifioat>oi)# be f ranted KiDg'* Ufa theprcMDt to provide lupplenent ir. It WIS MolutioD of etcotntivea IT lee them loible, but .their full i«od of tbif tv harmooy ure. Wm le vrho duw not •• A>r* low violent ling Mtlled directed (o vent bopei A Bill of louiljt Cwe juitloe vot- oppoie it| ngit. . opirery in- d not have totitt where inttruotioni ;ht to infla* munioRtioD ood by the .ed te carry eniared oa but UBder did not ac- hiob ii coU ah ii denied priation, it onourrcnoe )n given to tion it only at no other diiriiig the Kiiiz*> lifo* This it not round doctrine, it ia impoiiible that the tniniiters ahould have said lu, or that they will not reeant when informed. At the time that they flrit gave inftructiont on lhi« •uhjent for I^uwer Canada, they gn ve Initruotions fo / Upper Canida. If they are contradictory for the two ProyiDe««,^juit, kind, eonfonant to piiociplej fur our Sitter Colony ; unjntt, unkind, -contrary te prineiplet at to tbit province, will you order ;rour Rep* Mcotativet blindly toaubmit, or conilitutionHlly to retul.^ What hat been the prHOtice of Upper Canada, theie at ten yeHrt.' A number of (heir officers including the Goveroor, Judges, Crown officers &c. paid by England, are to paid by the unnnal votes of the House of Comment forming the ground work of anntuil imperial stalutis of appropriation. A supplementary aid has been atkcd from that Legislature annuallift itt Mouse of Asiembly it called oa to make this grant which has been annually accepted. Jo 1817 it passed an act whicbj will read, which sanoiions the principles weiavoke, which ought to reduce to silence the re bukes against our Aitembly, of any man who layt claim to the merit of being a man of teuse and a friend to thit country. la that Provinea as in this, there is a permanent, unconditional ap- propriation for the support of the Civil Government- Hare they been accused of attempting to dettroy that appropriation, when in oontequence of the additional aid thoy grant, they have in fact atiured an efficacious control over the whole expenditure f In 1817 having received the atateoient of the manner in which their gifts were distributed which in like manner with ours are given in ail of (he administrHliou of justice aod the support of the Civil Government, they declare their insufficiency, that the sums necessary amount to jgldSAl stg. that £2005 of the revenue of the Crown are applicable for those objects, that out of the nnappropriated monies levied for the uses of the Province, a further sum of £9201 shall be applied towards defraying, /(;r ,the present year, the following charges &o. The distribution ab« sorbs the two thousand pounds of appropriated crown revenue^ and the statute terminates by the following clause. »* That an account, with voucheia of all monies paid, be submitted to the inspection of Parliameut at its next session, and (hat so much of the said sum so appropriated, as may remain unexpended during the current year, shall.be subject to the future disposition of Parliament.*' This practice continued for the last ten years, is conformablat to the princi{^es we appeal to. Some of the public servants are paid by the annul/ vo/es of the House of Commons, others by the annual votes of Upper Canada, none have their aaiaries Jixed for the King's life. Ought not this fact cut short any further i^scussion.' I therefore may stand to this; though I might cull II J ( ; '•~^^~^ 24 ^ ■ Tour bttcntiou lo the extreme folly of grnntirg for » long ierU4 approprintioDS out of funds whicL ti^sy sudueuly be much reduu* ed wilhout our pRrtitipHlion. I have but a word to add. The offer of this Province lo ppy ali the necessary expences of Ihe Civil Government, is a liberal olTer niade by this Colony one of till the En<;lifh Continental American Colonies. This colony ptoved ils libernlity even so fitr, as to ag;ree to retard the lull and speedy developcment of ita trade, i«8 clearings, its industry of all kind, its internBl improve^ ments, so pressing iu a new country, by taking herself the pay- ment in full of the salaries, a large prn|ioilion of which England pays in the neighbouring colonics. That offer ought every year to call from our Governors, Judges, Councillors, the expression of their gratitude to the Assembly, who pays them much higher (•salaries than they are paid in the adjacent Provinces ; that offer is one which was made to an administration, ungrateful, diffident of the honour ol a people so anxious to keep their word, as to do much more than Was necessary to redeem their pledge. Had the LegislHture insisted on reducing Ihe expenditure to what i) was in 1810, still it had done «nough to dischnrge'its promises. Had it disallowed all increase of expenditure, ordered in the in- terval without its leave ; on the peace, bad it discontinued the increase of pay made during the war ; had it refused (ib continue those pensions formerly ailmitted by the government to4)el a just charge agaipsft tbe Empire, not against tkis Frovinee, still it would be free from blaroe. It hasi>een and must contiaue to be unbending against the giving up of prihcipke. h must not keep up, and for ever teed sinecures, but as to salaries too high in their amount which it has found thus granted, it thought, that it might expect fi'om time and opportunities the graOuel reduc- tions which the coutry fehall roquiive. As a return for its sacri- iicRs, the Province does not seek the purchase of particular pri- V!"le2;es, all she asks is not to be worse treated than Upper Ciinn- <)» i«. to have over th« revenue, raised on he^fan effectual controut Without wh^ch indeed, she has not a free birt a despotic Constitu- tion. For whoever aspires to the diccretionary distribution of a large-qportion of the public revenue, aspires by a direct arid neiiessary consequence to the di-^cretionary power of taxing the people, or eUe he understands not himself and argues nut con- sequently. These a"e my sentiroentp, which I felt bound to muke known to my fellow citizens befor \ '^'ar».(J to solicit their siiffiagias: these are my prinriples on tlis Fi-iaiice Question, the first and* main part in the conduct of your Rrpreseotatives on which you JiRve to decide before you re-elect them. I believe that those jaUo uphold the opposiia claims cf the admjuistralioii htt.v.« tip ' jch reduu- ice lo ppy s a liberol ^oDtioeotal y even tit DIPDt of'itd I improve^ f the pay- U Eiiglnnd ivery year expression ich higher (hot offer ii,d)tlident ord, as to Ige. Had to what i) > promises, in the io- inued (he b continue D -be a j(i8( «e, still it tioiie (o be tt not keep to high in ught, (hat iftl reduc> • its eacri- icutar pri- per Cana- il controul ; Const it u- ution uf a lirect arid :axing the s nut coh- ke known 811 fTi ages : e first and which yt'U that tho»c 1 huve tio 85 rtgttl to yourjbonlicletieft, 16 as to bocoine jrodr Ilepreeentatiret. judge aiul determine. Uut you have ji right to a more close and full inirestigation into (he conduct of those whom you h»ve sent to FarliHmenl. I have already tnken up so much of your tithe, that I mu»t paso lightly, out (o trespass on your kind httentinn, over the other mullers which, during the Inst three years, were diseu«sed. You shall •ee in the House of Assembly, a Inrge mnjoriiy of Members of French descent, with true honest English lieehug. A rntiorial love of fiecdtmi regulated by law ; deference to public opinion ; eagerness to promote your interests and forward your requests when you have made them known by petitions; aud stern resis- tance (<» arbitrary pnwtr aspiring to rise above the laws. Else, where shnll you see, a mnjority of Uiitutis by birth or by descent, the cons'taut condescending fawners on power, when it trampled apon the laws ; and throwing aside numerous l^ills which you desired & asked for during many years piist,& which were render- ed abortive by means uf all other parties— exce^^t your Repre* sentativcs. ( Will preface these obscrvntloo? but by one remark, which is that there is su«'h a close and intimate connexion between the Members ol one of the branches of the legislature and the Ex« eculive, that they are only difierent nanres of (he same authority. That from (he one year to the other, they hat e been sern to will or not to will one and the rnme thing, at the nod of the head of (he ndmiuistration, who hence must be.tr a ofrent share of les^ ponsibiiity, of applause or blame in the public estimHtioh, ac« cording to tlje manner in which he drives, or nccdidirig >o th# conduct of (lose who are in his immediate dependancc, lor (h#. preservation of the many lucrative ofllces they fill. You have lately read the list of Mills prepnred and passed in the House of Aseuibly. most of them slopt in the (Council, cr by tho prorogHtiou of Farliiiment on the refii«iHl made this year by the iiouse to «raut an addionni :iid of j£l2,CU0, while in for* mer yeurs IbeatiMMint of the aid demanded had been above thirty thousand pounds. The difference is not owing to the determiD« atiop of the Executive to lessen the expences, but because {formerly it had «crupIot>, as to the amount of twenty thousand rounds a year, more thtUi it has at present, ab«>ut preyi.igon ths public revenue. Most of thope useful Bills thus denied to ynu, have been repeatedly adopted by hirg'; nixjonties in the House •very yc^nr during the last rarlionicnt ; nny some of the most Useful and popular. measures have been adopted ten, llfteeTi kind eiren twen(y years ^uce. Let us glunce a (some of tbeui. For instaoeetqan any proposition be more rensohable than (e WVe a resident f r^Vinciial A^efil dear (hi iea( bt Hia Majesty^ Uovernmcol, («>ltiiik« it 6tfq>iiilA(etl wi(h tbe traectfateof t)(« \ ^ 4f. m \ ■ 26 Province. It receives the secret advices, and in many iastaiiees the incorrect infurmation of those Who, while they accuse ui, contrive to htive us judged and condemned without a hearing^. Thus was it, that Mr. Wilmot Horton, could state in PRrliameDt that he had by him the most satisfactory documents, which ena< blod him to declare that the Bill for the Union of the Legi^Iaturea of the two Canadas, would be most acceptable to the mujority > of their inhabitants. Such are the misinformations gotten f.om y those who from this Province are heard and trusted, only because > in secret they speak in.your niame, put in your mouths, what is root in your minds. This just demand was first made in 1807* . It has since been renewed at least ten times, and whiensomethino: J besides a silent refusal has come from the Council, its refusal has come grounded on the observation that the Governors were the constitutional channel of communication with his Majesty's Government. That is no answer. For though they be one of the constitutional channels of communication, they are not the only one that ought to exi?t. It is because in fact they hitherto havt been that imly channel, that so many of our just claims and petitions, sent with commentaries inimical to the text, remain unanswered. It is because most of our complaints having a ne- cessary reference to abuses arising from the acts or pretensions of pu.blic functionaries, chosen by the Governors, and the advi* sers of Governors, that they are dismissed without a sufficient knowledge of the nature of the cafe. At the same time that we asked for an Agent we did not, like those who deny us one, mean to plead our own cause tx parte. The House told the Council to make "choice for their Agent of whom they pleased : that it might enjoy for itself the same privilege which the House claims for the country, to send their memoirs to their Agent. Those who fear nothing from the publication of the truth, wish it to be fully known. We feel confident of the justice of the Edglish Government, go and show yourselves in the best light you can before it, but grant us the same power." That measure which can only draw closer the ties between the mother country and the colony can not be much longer delayed and daily becomes more urgent. At last the Provincial Administration must yield to the public discontent, but it will do it so late, with so much reluctance and with such a bad grace, that, in this instance as in aome others, it will not gain credit, or deserve gratitude, even for acta of justice. A law to cncrcase the number nl Representatives is one of the fir«t debts which the Legislature ought to pay to the country. — The population has. nearly tripled since 1792. At that time fif- _. 4een Representatives only were allowed to j[Jppe'r Canada,' wh» »' . now has fprty seven. At the. next general ETl^etion it will pr o- ^Jj^bly b^ entitled to have fifty withliitth mori tfuin afoui'Ui, (/*< .0 **. {Si i.. (... 21 iottHiices iccuie ufl, I hearing. arliameDt hich ena- sgislalares e BOHjorily olten f. om ly because 19, what 13 le ID 1807- 8otnetbiD°: its refusal irnors viere a Majesty's y be one of are not the icy hitherto t claims an«l sxt, rcfflftiu laviog a pc- pret«nsioRS udlheadvi- l a sufficient lime that we us one, mean the Council ised : that it ;^ouse claim< ;ent. Those h, wish it to ftheEdgUsh light you can easure Which r country and aily becomes D must yield nrith so much instance as ia atitude, even is ohiB of the he country. — that time fif- Can8da,'wh» m it wilt pr o- n afout'th of > ^rpopulaiion. Its first coanties have been divided and suKli- rided ; why is it that we are denied the same advantage? Why is it that mm in power, when they are not just towards us, should expect that we should be extravagantly prodigal in their favour ? ■ We call for equal laws and (he same rule towards all our fellow citizens. Let the men of the frontiers and of the townshi|is ba - rated al the samt^ but at no greater valtie than ourselves. The Representive Body ought to be increased. Though the value of lauded property is much lower in the new settlements, than it is in the lands more improved, more fertile, better situated with regard to the St. Lawrence, yet as the most valuable property of a country is the number of i's inhabitants, let the amount of - the popultttion be the standard by which to regulate and appor.. tioD the reprefcptation. This has been the fair rule adopted by the House in its unavailing efforts during the two last Parlia. Dients to increase the representation of this Fr&vince. One of th& great est evils under which the country labours re^ suits from the bad constitution of our Courts ofJustice^ from the enormous expenses and delays attending the hearing and decision of causes. They were thus constituted thirty years ago. A first step towards their improvement has been proposed several yean since. Granting effectual circuits, at le^st in the outset, for cases tried in the inferior term, would materially tend to lea. sen theexpences. The introduction amongst our farmers of the Jury Trial to which Englishmen at home are enthusiastically par. tial, would be one of the wisei^t steps we could lake toward? ad- vancing our political education, and perfecting our moral edu- cation, which last is as good as that of any other people. The English feelings of the House of Assembly have induced it to offer tJiis valuable boon to the Pro vinc&n- which, nevertheless, . enjoys it not. Natural equity, pity for misfortune and poverty, all the com- mon feelings of humanity require that the prisoner arraigned^ who till after conviction is 4o be presumed guiltless, should be allowed in cases where his life is in jeopardy, the benejit of Coun- sel to bring to his help t-he means and resources which the laws . had hetbre hand prepared for his security. A law subtlety which will have the Judge to be the prisoner's counsel, deprives him of his necessary means of protection. The most zealous and able* Advocate instantly cnlled to the defense of an innocent man cq~ tangled by mere presumptions of guilt, and many false witnesses, could not always save bis client. In such instances it could be only from personal interviews with this prisoner, that he would have gathered that strong persuasion of his innocence; have de- tected the clue to unravel a mystery of iniquity, which will in< spire him with that ardour and induce him to thoee sacrifices that •lone shall enable him to rescue £ocie(y frem the danger, from 28 tbe irreniedinble evil of Inking away (he life ofan innocent maa» That humane Taw offered by the Huofc, hainol been adopted. ^ Under the PMDCtinc of a frovinciul Uiv,\ ProUftarit dt$senler9- were more than thirty yeurs since in the eiijoys)€'nt ufacivit right conducive to iho well being of jheir f<)(iiilie8--*thb keepin«f ^ by their own minister?, of regitteri of baptiVm, nia*riag;e tiud ba« rial. The inferior Courts had interpreted the law in their f«. < voiir. The court of A|)peal a eonnlitutire portion of the Exeeu* ■ tive potter, snJilenly deprived them oflhis Hdvaotage whirh they faa.i so iot)» enjoyed. '^1 he uoid h'rotr»tant Wiit restricted in ilt menninof, as applying: exflu»ive)y to tho^eof the Protestant estttb" lished churches ; was taken in a narrow sense, as if an interpre- tion bad been required of a statute applioabk to Kn^bmd or Scotland, and to their coclesitistical etflablishments, nbcre the national churc^ies havelncttl exclusive priviiegestWbich thoydo not carry with them t)eynnu the limits of (he two bin^d«>ms.-« Could such an inlerpretiouprevail, let the dissenters remember, that by the Constitulionitl act the protestants may be held, wheil« ever the king may require it, to pay tithes for the support of a Protetft ant clergy. Alone among therr fellow subjeclr, could tho dissenters be loaded with the unequal and oppressive tax, of pay* ing salaries (o chumhes from which they would derive no ser> vice, receive no instruf.tion.' They are exposed to that calamity under the narrow interpretation of which they have complained. The country I hope will never be disgraced by that oppre^sion. With what willingness did not tbe flouise come to their help, with what tardy willin<;ne88 have they elsewhere acceded tci their prayerjt ! fu i825 the OiUpassed by tlie House in favour of tbe VVe»leyan Methodists, was so moditjed iu th^e Council that • they complained that as to them, it was contrary to freedom of conscience and to their civil rights. The Bill V)«98£d last y^ in their favour hy the Hou^e, was again modified iu the Council ii) a mannpr displeasing to them, bvt to which they deolured they would rather submit, than remain a much longer time un- der a disability, eminently hurtful to their religious and civil rights. As they were tbe parlies most ioterQsted, the House in such an instance Was to consult their wishes and abide by it, ant) 80 it did. I do not recall these circumstances to win their sup- port ; far from me auoh an artifice. The House did its duty to them, :tnd they will do their duty to the community, (f under the {leisuasiun that the House has failed in its duly iu many ollmr respects^ they will vote against those members, who though they bad done them justice on one particular occasion, should on ma> uy occasions have fiiiled U» do it to the society at large. I recall these oiroum^tatines onljff to declare my unallerabh creed that men are accountable for their faith und worship to their maker only, and not to the cttil powers i that diversity of religious o{»^^ )ii» ■i.~ V'-'i nft ntaa* on >sr« calninity niplaiucd. pprejsion. heir help, cceded to in favour tuncil that ' eedoBi of Hsi y«4r i<* Council in ared they time un- i »ind civil > H^iisc in by it, HnO their sup« s duly to If under naoy other lough Ihey iild oo naa« rabh ent.d Iheir iwofccr igious oy^^ . 29 ipions tvhich createi no reaistanca to the IsWt, ouglit not to bo luboiitted to the oppression of laws eoacted merely to prohihil and punish it ; that the tame freedom ia that respect, which I claim fur myself, for my countrymen, for those who have the •ame belief with them, I allow to those whose belief is difiereut ; that persuasion, teaching;, the practis,e of virtues, the weight of good examples are the legitimate means of free converiject as are those with which jus- tices of the peace are invested, -ehould be restrained, if by a per- version of the means of public safety entrusted to their hands, tbcy might employ them to the pcrsecutiun of any subject. A C* M I; 30 ■ • ^U'liflcatioD grounded on the posreMion or property which in ea^es of evil doings or gross misconduct, would secure tn indem- nify to the party aggrieved, is the remedy which the wisdom and experience of England have adopted. This remedy the house han copied — but you enjoy it not. Judges independent in their course from un^ influence save the action of the lawa and their conscience ; secured in the discharge of the sacred functions of their august ministry and enabled im- partially to sit in judgment between the King and the suV'jectf the strong and the weak, the rich and the poor, the oppressor and bis victim, without fear, without hope, without any other pastipp h}){ the one of ministering equal justice to all, were the judges whom the Flouse was anxious to see appointed over you. In favoui of that jclao of public functionaries, it agreed to depart fr9pi ibe rule of annually vpting their salaries, under the only condition that Ihey would be freed from the many connexions and bonds which chain them to so many other offices, where they must fall under the sway of other passions, other studies, other views than these which exclusively ought to govern then: who accept judicial dignitie;. The unple'lisant idea of seeing th^ Judges depend for their salaries, on the annual votes of the House, has been with many superficial observers the mairi cir> ctimstance which gave a plausible colouring to the exaggerated claims of our administration. But is not the idea much more alarming of seeing the Judges depend, not once a year, but every day of every year^ on the pleasure 'of every Oovernor in turn ? ]!)6es not that idea become appalling— if it is the free discussion of the Legislative Councillor, the virtuous resistance of the Ex- ecutive Councillor, the independence of the Commissioner, which may bring with it the removal of the Judge ? Is it a vain theory which may lend to the fear that an Executive might so trespass pigainst them, as io require their ex parte opinions on subjects which might atterwards become the subject of trial and discus^ lion before them— as to cause the Judges to complain that the opinions they had given in secret had been made public, learning at lasti but too late, and teaching the people, that they ougbt to have given none; that they would do enough for the good of the society when they should pass sound judgments, without aU lowing theniiselves to be drawn in to give bad advice on matters of administration .' As long as the-y thus willingly submit to the greater evil, they need not fear the lesser and more distant one, y ought to be good of ivilhoot aU on matters bmit to the distant one, itive body. >rsBnt with nited States against the ehalf of the 8 who can- 31 not become political partistns, let them not unite officps incoi^< patible with their integrity ; let (hem not be all at once judges, and legislators, and administrators ; let there be no chance for them to earn more, by the trade of farming courtiers, (ban by that of impregnable expounders and interpretors of (he laws, and we shall makf them independent of the annual votes of our Asseniblies. But since you are willing that they should hold their commissions during pleasure, and not during good behavi- our, do not find fiiult if against the danger of seein«; them uom< bining and leagui.ig with bad Governora to oppress us, we pre- terve (he means of punishing, by not paying them.** Th« snunc{ness of these doctrines is at present admitted on all hands, but some continue to quarrrl about more money, and exceptions in favour of our present judges, as if as soon bs such a great evil it admitted to exist, it ought not to cease. Is not an act to regulate the vtffice vfthe Rereiver General most necessary ? We hnvo been told that owing (o the good character und large fortune of the gentleman at present doin^ the duty of that office no security had teen required from him. That can* not be the reason. For tu all public offices no other but inen of good character ought to be chosen, which offers much greater security than (he property real or imaginary which they might possess, and, nevertheless, law and wisdom require that »11 p'lb- lie accountants should give security proportionate to their res- ponsibility. The true reason is, that in the deplorable situa- tion of the country, no prudent he^d of a family otight to become security for the Receiver General ; since the deposit entrusted to his hands has been daily violated; since the laws, (he sentry posted at his doors, his vaults and hi6 strong bars have all proved unavailing, against orders which have laid prostrate all those barriers. No security can any longer bis required when (or so many years there have been so many large sums, reserved for the disposition of the Legislature, tchich haxe been triihdraien from thetr deposit to spile of ihe Legislature. The taking away of those monies against law was a very great evil, the public im- , morality which it proved, is a much greater calamity. The House declared it held the Receiver General personally answer, able for what he should pay without legal authority. Was it in this age and in a civilized coiintry that such a self evident pro- position could give offence? Tes, it was in 1826, in Lower Canada. It was averted that it was usurpation for the Ai>seoi- biy to declare that every man must submit to the authority of law rather than to any other authority, and it is frightful (o think that it w^^BS the Legislative Council, including Judges and Exe- eutive Councillors in large numbers who proclaimed a doctrine subversive of the authority of the laws, in order to raise abovi| them one, or sevej-al men. I Hi 3a A Bill (o empower the purefiatera of real preperltfBtEhen&t. S«lei to keep in their haoUk the adjudication price, and j[;iving; tecunty to pay it to the eoverni creditors at any time the Court*, ihould order, tvould be fur their advantage us well aa that of the debtor. Thus a larger number of bidders would ensure a higher price— instead of leaving; iu the Sheriffs' hands an unproductive capital to be dtirreased by their comaiiision, it would carry inter* est for the good of ail parties conrerDed, but the Sheriffs. Hi- therto the cause which the Sheriffs have lust in the Assembly, they have won in the Council; and the public^s cause gained in the Mouse is lost in the Council. Kuch is a very coinl! proportion of the good prrpnred every year duriog the IhsI Purliamcnt and in former yrais by your Re- pre$et)tati\e^ If these measures prove in them, correct notions of Legisliilion, vigilanl care to promote your best interests, you will vote tor those who have upheld, who will continue to uphold these mk:Hfurc8. U you believe that those who have clieckcd their progress undeislatid lielter aud consult moie the public Tveal, you will vote for men of their choice and against thoset who, like nie, are disposed, with redoubled energy following the same eouise, to promote your welfare; wliu yre disposed to raise their voices in complaint trioro loud, nnJ i,Q accusations mure free agniijst the men and means employed to prevent its advancement ; against all those refusals to wliich I have advert- ed ; against so many other glaring abuses upon whirli I could' not animadvert without detaining yon duriog as much and more time, OS you liave already kiudly given to me. I refrain ; I thank you ; I haveemlcd; unless some unfair uggrcssion..agaiul the IJuuse of Assembly or myself, requires an answer. SPEECH OF LOUIS JOSEPH PAPINEAU, ESQUIRE, In reply to the Speech of Peter McGill^ Esqr^ one of the candidates. Welcome be the malevolent aspersions from that mnn whom you have just heard ! They unmask him and unmask the party »hich pushes him forward and to which he is chained ; a party p)oulded of the most ignoble prejudices and plunged into a vo-. luntaty inextricable ignorance of the measures most interesting to your country. Their outrageous revilings prove that those men have mado their choice ; that they mean to live ns strangers HoioDgBt us ; that they delight iu fabricating caliimpics against us, X 5 i. .1 >} 33 t Sheriffs, nd j^iving; le Court*, at of the e a higher roUuctive rrj inter* iflii. Hi. Issemblpr, gHiued ID ed ererx your R«- ct notion! est?, you o uphold 3 checked le public ifist Ihoset futlowic"; sjiosed to^ ciisnliooa revent iti e nUvcrt- h I caul4 and more efinin ; I >n»agaiut IRE, I Esgr^ in whom the porty ; a pnrty nlo a vu". iteresting^ bat those stranger^ £:aiii8t u^f in order (o have a pretext whe>: no to feed that hatred whicb they bear lownrds u'b. Such are their thlei to your luffragee i If there be one cIhsi iti thia coaiiounily which onore than dOQ« Iherouj^ht, with the utnio.->t dilij'>i)ce, to atuJy public trau*ao« tions in or>ler lo save them from ihe nioit ludicrous blunders, in order that they mny lenrn with exuclncsa and repeat with truth whatever has lie^n »aid and done by all and each of the conititut* ed auihuriliea— -il is that cIh.«s which is composed of those among the Ruropeims, who separate themselves from us, who on all sides trumpet forth their pretended great knowledge and their pretended Dtfghty capital;*, which, they would have us believe, should render Ihcm all important in thia our infant country, where they giv£ themselvea out as such great men ; who are re proHchinj^ m iDces-tanlly with ignorance and intlifferenoe respect* ing qtiestions of »(ivernment aud fjogitlation. How mortifying to them would it be, to find that they are far in the rear of liiose for whom they are exhuusliug themselves in such pathetic eahur tationsi. As for me who have had views suiHciently close of those whom they call Ihe best amongst themselves iu this Pro viuo0,,I ki)ow that there are very many of my countrymen who nury^^eli walk l)y any of them without lowering their head.-^ ThJO^'man whom you huvc just now heard, is one of their beat sooiples ; the nnitetl c(r. But itoften happens that this is only to change the livery and the colnrt^.BDd that in spite of that trafic of the e/d name, no greatgi' fespectability is obtaioed under the new. I have read but a few days since, under I do not recollect what newspaper signature, the very same personal attacks against me, in which the new candidate deals with so much complacency. I rejoice that I have now one to whom I can reply ; \ would have disdained answering one unkrown. We at last have found out the father uf this numerous illegitimate progeny, whose defor-r mity and iiglmess, had to this day preven'.ed them from being openly embraced in the |iateruHl arms. Tjiose rickety oast.off bastards, hitherto a SiMndal and a charge on our community, tnuit qu longer remain upder its ca^e, since be it found, who at I V- h I !. \ \ i: i u 34 • ifl« oonaenti to aoknowledg* hii o0«priD|^4 the ft uitr of his ia«oif< tioency. Let him tupport (hem at his own cost and sl.«me. They are all hi», or if he be too weak to have engendered them all ; if it is above the strength of ooe mao, so to multiply himself iu so numerous n ftrugeny ; he must however have found in them all a likeness with whiuhlie Is so taken, that it has induceiV him tu become their adopted father; to associate thorn to the gVory< the illustriousnus of his name and family, by the legal means (r( adoptioa. One must sftare the sensibility of a convalescent by not dragging to the light belorc him and portraying in their true colours and native hideousness all thof>e dearx>bjeuts of his love. It is enough to answer to his diatribes ( f this day, that he ought to blush and retract. And first of all, gentlemen, that man who preaches to others . consistency with so much fervour, gives you a most singular proof of his own inconsistency. Ho is oue of those zealots, who preach so much of whutis evil. At a recent period after the fHults with which he upbraids me; a few days after that Sesssion of Parliament in which in his eyes 1 became guilty of such great politi«:al inconsistencies, he came to the Pull and voted for me. 'I'hree years after that open approval of my public conduct hn comes most virulently to cenbure it, for acts done prior to hia approval. I really pity him, if he has during three years^ feii the pangs of remorse, for having contributed to give you a Re presentative, deserving less than himself, that high distinctiorB. liut no, his repentance is of more recent date ; hia virtue becomet austere and splenetic on the day of Election, when he is person ally interested and slaoJs a candidate At the last Poll he knew as well as at this day, those heavy miadeeds of -his Representative unless he acknowledges himself for a man so frivolous, so inatlen tive, so much a stranger to public concerns, that he truly deserve; that you should judge him undeserving of ever bmog called to manage them.— Or again, unless, he teUs you with a captivating nrtless innocence, that he then thought too lightly of my offence, that circumstances are no longer the same ; that he then felt concern for your interests alone, while now he feels for his own vanity; and, as he has just now stated, with the oharaaterestic elevation of his joul, that charity begins at home. It must have been distressing for so well bred, polished a gen tieman as Mr. jyi'Gill, no doubt, pretends to be — to find, when attacking an adversary who has sat twentj years in Parliament, that charges against him of public misconduct were so difficult to be devised, that be could not spare that imputation breathing hatred and low personality, which he lays to my charge. That g^-ossly erroneous imputation represents me to be influenced in my vole respecting the Speaker's salary. First, by a feeling of envy towards Mr. Valli^rcs, and next by dirty self interest. If » hii iaeoii' nd 9l.«nifl. ereil them ily himself nd ID thetn Juceil hran the glory t I meaos of ileaceDt by their true r hii love. I he ought fl to otheri st singular lalots, who I after the Sesssion of uch great ed for roe. :oDduct hA 'lor to hia yearBy feli you a Re diatinction. le becomes I ia peraoD II he knew resentative so inattea ly deserve; ^ called to aptivatiug ly oflfenccf , i theu felt ir his own kraelerestic ihed a gen ind, when Parliament, difficult to breathing rge. That fluenced in n feeling of ■ Qtereit. If I have been gnilly of such degrading conduct, I am ^e mennoif of men. Dut if the imputation be without grounds, it ir the indiscreet and inuonsiderete man who has brought such au accu- sation and cannot make it good, that yuu will bold in contempt. Let us weigh the charge. Mr. MoGill learnv, and learns no more, from th« journals of the House of Assembly, that in IQ24 I waa in common with the mHJority, active in obtaining a reduction of twenty five per cent on Mr. Vallierea sulary. It would be less shameful for Mr McGill not to be able to lead at all, than to be able to read and tu ren'd with such singular partiality. In the middle of many printed pages which it waw necessary for him to read and von9i- der well, that he' might become acquainted with a Biitjcct no which he meaut to speak in public, he has bad the clHverne»?, lor his intended attack on me, to tumble, and lay his finger on the only five lines, which he thinks make far him, because he docs not understand them ; and he never troubles himself in the least, with what precede and what follows those lines. Is there any good faith, delicacy, justice, or even prudence in 9U«h super. ficAal reading? Well ; he has done still worse than that, he ha» not opened the book. It is most likely that he has confined his studies to the hnsty perusal of tale» published in some mercenary gazettes, and then comes gravely to narrate >n you, as the disco very of his deep researches, and the conviction forced on liis mind by close ultention, the unguarded fulsificHt inns or willful walumniesof newspnpers. Isit likely that Mi*. MuGilL would hove come foiward with such foul aspersions, would have given thoni to you as true, without having consulted with some (rlnih ; not at all, by their advice, with their consent, niul aoknowlcJ^ement has he uttered them. And yet hs moves- in the circles of those who pronounce themselves to be the first, the I est society ; who aeem to have the amplest mean9supportnews| tectors. What is really the fact ? That in 1824 the recent ' bankruptcy of the Receiver Generalj the depressed state of trade i !l ■I :}■ ■ , ••■: ■ •■ ; ■«« . .-....• - ^. %hieh raiwd npprehenfioils nf n (liminutinn io the n^rnnne, thi nreetflity for the firM tinifl Io o|»eii h pultliu loiin, iii«lu«-e«l th« Afiembly (o adopt the reinlutioo Io reduce, hy twenty five per cent, hII lulHripS higher than two hutiUied ii ypHr. Thiil rlila WR8 uitirttrm and the Mine for ail tiil\vtrp. In (in li rirroniflitnrci what inaliciout feeiinjc can have irtdured Mr. McCill, tft tea in my vote any thin;;; lervonn), any Ihiny; envjfxiii loiVHi*t» >jr. VhI< lidrcR? That Gentleman of the brightest l)ilenti> and mn»l Iran- •cendant abilities will ahine, in whntf-ver theatre he rray le em. ployed in or out of the Province. CHnndian^, with any flf>v»tinn of mind, will ne\'rr be jealont of one arothrr. 'j he ouilHndirli ■dmini»trHtioD of I^ower Cnnnda may ne^let-: li.e tulrnta which oar ooiintry produres when it doe» not | er!)ei:nte tltein. That injustice we hare alrendy rttrn. I do not rliare in tlie );nilt. The reduction voted in I8'24 reached the r>in(diii))cnt* o| the Governor, of the Judges, of olher public functlonuriea. If lh«>to bf the Speaker of the [Jou^e, hnd not, at ih» mmo tim(>, bera reduced in the same proportion, with whut connifncc. hnw iri« limphaDtly would now Mr. McGdland his fririds, mid all tliery* cophant flullerers of the adtninisilrntiori come forwiirii uiih a charffe the very opiio.ite to that whii;h thpy now bring ? ♦» Whnt •heckins; partiality, woidd lliey my, did yoiT, Hlun:; wi'h the other llepresentativef, evince when you Htlruiptnl to rrdiice the salaries of all othrrs and rpared that of the S| eiiker ?'' Ami I tell, jou, Gentlemen, beware o( tho^e who thti ♦» Whnt n"r wi'li lh« In rnUice I lie ler ?" An.l I ill (he >uiri« of their pas- 1 ViBvinjr hppn e the snlnrirt iiif(irm»(i'»n ? ^ Mr. M. Gill )ecnm« in hii ti ill h's first ? c8 nf the Aa. lent, he once e liiiei relnt- jirecf ileil and luid he would (Iiiceil in thnt I) rnch (hifig*. ovio}rh<«'le®P he moreover inesty require, jt to have de* pe»lcer, while h voice which chence to tit ia the Houie and Ihtt (here thoald come • question in whieli he Tfoald bare ■ peraoool peoaniery inlerept, decency ought to cn> ^asfe him to retire from the debate, durinf that diicuMioo. IT Ite knew not how to do to ot his own accord, he would lOon be taught that he shnotd do it. With much greater reaioo will the man whom the House hoanort with its ooofidence, thus show hi* reepect for it and for himself. Never at any time, sever either privately or publioly have I. as Representative, spoken a word, or moved a step through the desire to please or the (ear !o offend* with • view to w^ own personal advantage. If io 1825, there ware anydebotest oi. the vote for the salary of the Speaker, I was bound to be mnte if in the chair, I was l)ound to withdraw if io a committee. If noy one, friend or foe, cao piovo that I efer uttered a word to any mna in my own favour ns to the salary to be granted to me as Speaker, let him ascpnd the II list- ings and overwhelm me with disgrace, and I ransl then s;o dowa fur ever dishonoured. If no one can say so, let him who in nl tempting to deceive you has insulted you, moke Ms apology to you. As to the salary of the Speaker as well ns ot all ntbers, the House is to be governed by general cnasideration% indepen- dent of any feelings of ill or good will to the occupants. It mu?t give more, or less, or nnlhios:! nrrortling es thn public good may require. I will only add, that I shall not fall into the nbsurdlty into which the ndministrntion blindly runs, and Mr. McGili blindly after it, contending as they do that the Coostitutioo, which OD their own admission allows the Assembly aDnually tu fit the amount of the salaries of the Speaker nnd a few more functionaries of the Civil Government, would be nolated, if it exercised the same right ns to those of the Governor ami some other officers of the Civil Govern meol. The second great offence which it seems, has made mc unworthy of the eontinttanceof the favour with which good Ilr. McGiU was so kind aj to contribute to honour me in 1824, is my vote io 1823 on the Canada Act. The Parliament of Great Britain, says Mr. McGill, ha^ violated our Constitution. Yet it it the doty of the Colonial AdmiDiftrntion to enforce enactmentc -whioh the IVfinieters have adopted at its suggestions. No doubt iQ order that you may be reinstated in yonr rights— you require ngfliost the administration, undaunted rhampions, such as he is likely to show himself incompany with the colleague with whom he associates ! It is very easy matter for Gentlemen so indepeo- aient as these arc, to oijpose, without fear of the consequences, an Act of the Imperial Parliament, by a few well arranged phras«>i that shall be followed by nothing else, provided they redeem tlieinse! i from the fearful hazards to be apprehended from tha( excessive; temerity, by ercessire praises in honor of a Governor, vilhin reach of fiearing them. A warm day of Election wili D it I II.- S8 frequcotly blow up a ho?t of bucU br«»e defenders ;ht?, who sco the skies oil sunay, bcautifnl und serene, »hvo cne samll speck at the moat distaat point of the horiaon and vvha a few boura after, see it transfoi med iuto thick black cioudii overshadowing the bright face of the heiivens, louded with fiery •)ea*enls of devastatiou, lowering; on a derotcd country in tliMu" der and ruin, and sweeping away ila inhabitants to certain des. truction.^ Such are the apphlliug; evils whitb await you, raja the terrified, and terrifying^ Mr. McGiU, in consequence of tb« inconsiderate resistance of your Representatives, to the will of your Governor, bucked by Colouiul OtHcers who share with hi»a in your Revenue, nuder the sanction of a niinisler, who has no Uiore ri{jht to give, than they to receive it, independently of the Provincial Legislature. Yet it is the very same man who repre- sents to you our resistance to ibe meaner power, as pregnant with so many evils, as a most inconsiderate temerity — who rises in array to fi*ht it, when in alliance with ther greater power. He has spokea to yon only of his debilitated body ; he might, with reference to this suljeot, buve spoken of sonic other dt- bihly. lie accuses Die of having subot.tled to an act of the Imperial Parliament, which that same E2s.ecutive must cniry into execu- tion, that at this crisis must be supported, say those who with fl^s own consel, brinjj forward iVIr. McGill ! here then whs an iiistaaee in which I liave acted in that wiiy which mast hava been satisfactory to the udm>uistration, and (or this solitary mis^ conduct nie you to punish me so unmercilully as Mr. McGill vishes.' Ye?, you should doubtless do so, if even in one solitary instance 1 should ant in a manner the least injurious to your in- terest.«, with the motive of pleasing the aduiiaislraficn. The alledged vote so much censured is true, and it is not the only ono ■which might be adduced io prove that I have never e&erciiied a blin^l, passion-ate, perpetual, systematic opposition to the views of the administration. Would to God, it was often in the right ! with pleusure would I support it. But in the alledged instanco J thought it right to &tur ior a while with nn eril which 1 could not prevent. The Canada //•arfc oc/ infringes on our rights, nojuslly modi- fias our Constitutional act wilhoDt our couoent, yet I refused to join wiih others in importuning Parliament with complaints a- gainst it, at a time when I strcmgly felt and knew, that they would be unproductive of any good; ihongh I declarej, as I still dc- chtre, that I shall be leady to remonstrate al any time when I may loresee any chance or even faint hope of redress. To meet the necessities of war we had encreased the taxe?, aiding, with «II our power and all our zeal, to repel the enemy ; on the return v( peace we deemed tho^e tuxes unnecessary for the public — ■•'•' 77iis alludsj to a bjmbaslir pastoge in Mr, M'G ill's rpetch. 'Vi S9 ,e people'* cne, sw^o J mill wha ck cloud* with fiery y iit n»«u- ertaiu des- t you, »aj« jQce ot" lbs Ihe will «»f e witb bim vho has uo mily of the who repre- as pregnant who riats ater power. ; he might, e ulher Ut- the Imperial iulo execu- ie who with then Wh9 an h mast haya solilory mis* Mr. McGill u one solitaiy us to your iii- Iration. The )t the or.ly ono if exercised a lo the views Q in the right I jcVred instttiaeo 'vThich 1 could iiDJ'Jslly n^"^'- t 1 refused to 1 compl»int9 a- hiit they would J, ns 1 etiU de- uie when I may To noeet the jJing, with ill ; on the retJiiu for the pub»i« "syanls of the Province aoJ hartful to its trade, and we disroi- tinned then). They have been rovived by the Purliament of Great Britain wherein we are not represented, and which had Bolemnly pledged itself not lo tax the Colonies. Wa are uo. gratefully maltreated, and so long as that enacimeut subsists we have a rightful cause of complaint. To that effect did I speak to his Majesty's Minister and to some of those distinguished mem- bers of tl»e House of Commons who had protested against his imfair Union Bill, still commended by Mr. McGill and by which Lower Canada was thrown under suhjcction to Upper Canada, ma far more degrading degree Ihan it is by the Canada trade act. In thU3 remonstrating with them I have done much more towards itsiepeal than Mr. McGill does by hislurtile t«lk, pre- pared for show on a day like this, and as a nostrum to cure you of the injury inflicted by th»t act, for which I grieve more than he does. But when I had lournt from the mouths of Ministers and Members that, as to that measure, they were not dispo.-ed lu retrace their steps ; that they did not consider they had broken their plighted faith not to tax the Colonic?, but bad prevented the return of difficulties between the two I'roviuccs ; that sucli a power must be ''csted in the supreme authority of the Empire ; and that it was reserved, when, for their mutual advantage, they had divided in two portions, one territory, which continued, af- ter a useful political separation, to huve multiplied ties and con- nections established by nature, had it not been a miserable mad- ness in me, to rush headlong against an adamantine rock. I see in futurity interests more powerful than the eloquence of Mr. McGill — which is not demosthentic or magical — that shall act in concert to call for the repeal of that law? I wait for the day when thair voices united to our?, shall rise in efficncioiis prayers. After all, under what circumstances was it, that those taxes were revived ? in the hope that they would be continued. Up- per Canada had assumed the rngasjen 41 parti can* l as judge er Caottda ; tvbieb it )Ower may unfair in a coiDmoa ors. The let. If in- called for ired thetn lught upoo )e8 of their er reveauo her territo« nueh more 8 li revenue ght raise it atioDS from of difficulty imeut. She Merest to b« itaent undet junda, at the ett or twelve risk of beiug ec BO advaox le more early Bttt day whea at, iosiead of ly ivould ioe- wilh the Re- k for war, for wishes of the vo Proviocef, ity of success, stance to that 1 hope it will I be either ur- Aol ; it would )m only one ol by your Re- lose exertions er grievances, ne those who tnid thai, for a time, we ought to bear it in silence. I had snid 8o before the last Election, vet you re-elected me. Mr. McGill supported me, he say?, in that Election ; having; become a can. didate himself, he is become much more sharp sighted as to my misdeeds. Let him shift as olten he pleases ; let him talk about what be does not understand ; the unfounded dssertions with which he ventured to attack his adversary are confuted, and will not change your mind. ( respectfully solicit your suffrages aud I confidently expect your support. Ih SPEEOH pent of havia or THE EARL OF DALHOUSIE, On proroguing the Provincial Parlianunt of Lower Canada^ 1th March 1827. GenlUmtnof the Legislative Council, Had G erillemen of the Assembly. I come to close this Session of the Provincial Parliament, con- vinced, by the state of your proceedings, that nothing likely t» promote the public interest can be now expeoted from your de- liberations. To you, Geutlemen of the Legislative Council, who have at- tended your duties in this Session, I offer my thanks on the part of His Majesty, as an acknowledgement of the regard which, by your presence, you have shewn to the welfare of your Country, and also of that proper respect which you have manifested for the Sovereign from whom your honors are derived. Gentlemen of the Assembly, It is painful to me, that I cannot speak my sentiments to you in terms of approbation and thanks. The proceedings of this Session impose upoq me a duly, of which, however unpleasant, I will acquit myself as a faithtnl Servant ol'the King, and a sin. cere friend of the Province. Many years of continued discussion on forms and accounts have proved unavailing to clear up and set at rest a dispute, which moderation and reason might have speedily terminated. It is lamentable to see, that no efforts or concessions of His Majesty's Government have succeeded in reconciling those differeaces of opinion in the Legislature ; but it is infinitely more so, thnt dif- ferences on one subject should cause a rejection of every other measure which His Majesty's Government recommends to your consideration. D* / - - i I 42 Tiie duties expected of jou in lliis Se'jsinii were not difficiiM ; Among the first Was an examination of the Publio Accounts of last year, and a rejiort upon thetn, whether of afjiroval or other- wise : has that duty been dune so that ihc coanlry can know the result ? Have you considered the Estimated Expenditure for the cur- rent year, and granted the supply required in flis Majesty's name f or liave reasons been assigned for the refugal of .Ih^oi, that can be known and understood by the country ? Have ihe Messages from his Majesty's ReprescDtative been duly acknov.'ledged, and answered according to tl e rules and forms of Parliament, or according with the respect which is due by each branch of the Legislature to the others ? - Have the Rules or Orders of proceedings ip the House of As- sembly been duly atteaded to, in so far as they affect and recog^ nize the Prerogative Rights of the Crown ? These are questions, Gentlemen, which you are now to ask yourselves individually, and answer to y«ur consUtuents on jour return to them. These are questions which you are to answer to y«ur own consciences, as men who are bound by Oaths ef fidelity to your Country and to your King la ray administration of this Government, I have seen sevrn years pass away without any conclusite adjustment of the pub- lic accounts ; thus accumulating a mass for future investigaiion, which must lead to confusion and misunderstandiog. In the same years I have seen the measures of Government directly applicable to the wants of the Province, throwu aside without attention and without any reason being assigned. I have seen the forms of Parliament utterly disregarded and in this Session a positive assumption of Executive authority, instead of tliat of Legislative, which last is alone your share in the con&tilution o( tke State. The results of yocir proceedings in this Session have been, the refusal of the Supplies necessary for the ordinary cxfetises of Government, the lo9s of lYtt Militia Bill, the failure of ell pro. visions for the maintenance of Prisoners in your GaoI^& Houses of Correction, for the support of Insane and FoundiiujE*;, and for the establishments of Education and Charity, and a tot»l obstruc- tion of local and public improvement. In this state of things, and with this experience of past years, it is now no longer consistent with a proper discharge of the high trust committed to me, to entertain hopes of a return io better reason in the representative branch of this Parliament ; but it is still my duty to call upon yoa as public men, and to call upon the country, as deeply interested in the result, to consider serious- ly the couiec^uences of persercrcnce io such a course. J ''I th % M! iftlcv.U ; Dts uf last ir other- n know the cur- Mbjesty'a of IhsoJ, tivc been olea Biul ch is due ise of As- lud recog- ;o%» to ask ts on your yvr own ty lo your seen sevrn f the pob- I'estigH'.ion, lo the ut directly ^le without I bare seen his Session d of tliat of i&titutioQ of re been, the cxjienses of 5 of oil pro. ih Si Houses u{B5, and for )t»l obslruc- f past year?, e of the high rn to belter [went ; but it to call upon sider serious- e. 4n I ("HmI! conduct tbis Government with the means in my |iow9»', Rnd with nn undiminished desire tu do good ; but while I must »ubmit ujyself to the inferrU|ition of all public improvement, under the luifhority tif the Civil Government, I will deelare my dnpp regret at surh h state of thing;s : I ihitik it right to rnnvey Vi th« Country, ii free and unreserved expression of my senti- ments upon these public raiffortune?, and I will leave no doubt on the public uiir J of my determination to persevere firmly in thft path ol my duty, with a faithful regjard to the Iliglits of my Sovereign, with whit h are also combined the best interests of the Frovinne. It only remains far me now, compelled by esi.«fin» eircum- atanccs, to Proro»;i3e this Peiliament, "«halever raaybe the ineon- venicLue resulliu^ (rom suoh a measure. TO OUR GO^BTTIWSiSin:^. We the Uoderdigned, Membe.s of the IIoue last year, for not having approved, or disapproved them by such a report as would cQable the public to judge of the result. We have given to those Accounts a suitable attention. We huve been delayed m our invesligution by multiplied difficulties 'Rhich different public functionaries made (o answer the questions ol the special Jommitlee without the permission of His Escel- celleney. 1 he special Committee having proposed some ques- ticiis to Messrs. Perceval aiid Gore, the principal Officers of the Customs, received as the only ans'ner, that these Gentlemen had Eubmitltd the questions of the Commitlee to His Excellency the Governcr in Chief. The Committee, by that alone, was pre- vented from reporting on that part. But, in spite of all these ob^iar'.c.B, ii did report: Ihe report is printed, end every per- foii cun bbvecogBizance of it. His EKcclleccy a^ks us if we have ronsidered the estimates for the present year and graoted the supplies required in His Majes> ty'c name, flod if our refusal has been accompanied by reasons that can be known and ouderstood by the Country ? His Excellency seems to desire very much that the public and our Constituents should be infornied of what has taken place in rarbanietit ; 7 bis desire we share with frankness end honesty. We examiced these documents; we viere immediately convinced that I hey were in direct opposition to the principles which the House has followed ever siuce 1818 ; that they were upposed ta the essential rights of our Constituents ; that free men worthy of •Djoyirg the benefits 'and advantages of a Constitution modelled ou that of England could not accede to them without eecrificing; i t has tub- ing which ere passed, d not have y Gov«rn- uocil were ivate uUli- supiort by e accuracy House to icy should I Prcroga- it time to or which ded by His elleDcy hat 1 a suitable uol having uulJ £Qable 'BtioD. We d difficulties the queetioDS His Escel- sonae ques- fficers of the tDtlemenhad KcellcDcy the le, was pre- of all these d every per- esti mates for io His Majes- d by reasons he public and taken place in •od honesty, elf convinced lies which the ere opposed ta mea worthy of jtion modelled out sKcrificins 45 their dearest rights : The Represeotativea of such men were ia duty bound to refoa* laoh demands ; they have done so ; and, in order that the public might be enabled to know their reasons, they have declared that they would persist in the resolutions and addresses made and passed by the House on this subject* as they are recorded in their Journals. Electors ! it is for you to judge if the reiterated demand of an unjust tbiD<; can constitate a right to obtain it. H 3 Excellency asks if we have giren a proper attention toth« Messages of His Majesty^s Representative ; if we have received them, if we have answered them, according to the rules and forms of Parliament, or according; to the respect which each branch of the Legislature is bound lo observe towards the others. His Excelleooy admits that there ought to exist a mutual res- pect amoBg the different branches of the Legislature : The Speech of His Excellency, whilst it admits the principle, does not in onr opinion, seem a very convincing; instance of its application. These questions are too general ; it appears to as that it wonld have been of more avail to direct our attention or rather that of the public to such or such a particular Alessage, in order lo give us the opportunity for explaining ourselves. Far from neglectiojj; such Messages in general we have even proceeded on Messages of former Sessions, and if we have not taken them into considera« tion, it must not be forgotten that His Excellency ia the sol* Judge respecting the duration of Parliament, and that to him alone it belongs to terminate its Session when such is his pleasure. Plis Excelleuoy found it proper to prorogue the Parliament after a Session of some week?, at a time when there was still before it a great deal of busiuoss »nd when the House of Assembly still counted near forty members present. But if this reproach refer to our not having voted an address of thanks to His Exnellency for each of those Messages, we avow the fact: but it is the usage of the House not to lessen the merit of those Addresses by multiplying them withoat necessity ; they are reserved for important occasions which require the expres- eion of public thanks. If the House have not more frequently voted snch Addressee, it is, unfortunately, because an opportunity for doing so has not been afforded ; it is not exactly its fault. His Excellency tells us: These are the questions which you are to answer to your own consciences, as men who are bound by oaths of fidelity to their Country and to their King. As for the oath of fidelity to the King; there is not a person in this Province, be his situation what it may, who would dare to say of any Member of that Assembly, that he failed in it. The people of this Province, the Electors^ know too well what, loyalty is, they have given too many conviuciog proofs of it, lo permit .) > I I ) ■ f^ f * .»».,».—. 46 lueuis, wo appeal wiib cuuiidcuco to Iho proceedings of tbo House of Assembly. *■ ll has voted ubuut £15,000 fur EdMcalioQ ; if the Bills tlinC were to curry into exccutiun those vulcs liiivo not been pusjoJ^ if Ihcy have remained willuiut etfcct in tlio Le<;ii!lutivc Couucil, if it was not possible to perfect them in the Assembly, is it the fdult of that House P It has doae all that was iu its power, and it would be supremely unjust to render it tespuusible fur ILu acts of the other branches of the Legislature. Let those in fault bear the biirlhea bBtivecu them, they will dimitish the weight by dividiug it. Aa fur charitable estaljlish- mcDls the House has not neglected them either. It proT'ided with libccMlity for fuundliuj^, fur the ias-aue, for the sick and llio infirm io the different Di;?liiclp, fur the support of Ihe Hospital fur Emigrants at Qiiebec, fur the (Jetkcrul Hos[)itul at iV]outreu\ kc. and, we caouut too often repeat if, the tluuse is nut tu blame if these votes hdve not been carried iuto execution. We have been reproached for not hai'ing a< ttled the puMio Accounts durin* seven years. If recourse be hud to the Journals of the House, it will be found that these accounts have been sallied as far as depended on us in 1823, and in us cumpleio u maoner as we thun had it iu our power to do. Kleotors! Of our coudiicl we have considered it a duty to give you this exjKisitioa which^ at the same time, is a refutuliou «»( His Excellency'-j Speech. We have not sought the occusiou, it has been offered to us : nay, we have been compelled to this step, by the attempt tu destroy us in the opiuiou of the [jublic nud in that of our Constituent?. That public opinion is in itself u power to which the j^reatest functionaries are ameuabld in all cases, even when the Laws, in their ordinary course, carmot reach thcui. Those who appeal to it a<^ainst us arc uot aboro its reach ; iu the present case, we respect it without fearin;,' it. L. J. PAPINEAU, HUGUES HExNEY, J. LESLIE, JOSEPH VALOIS, JOSEPH PERIIAULT, AUSTIN CUVILLlEll, J. M. RAY.VJOxND, F. A. QUE3NEL. Ls. BOURDAGES, ROCK DE ST. OURS, . JACQUES DELIGNY, ' PIERRE AMIOT. JEAN DESSAULES, ". : r. O. TURGEON. J. B. R. H. DE ROUVILLE. From Keilson^s Quebec Gaztttt of March 1827. TiJB LATK l£iaiOCf OF THE PRGVINCIAI, PARLIAAIBJIT. A Stnlemeot of tbo Bills iolrodaced ami passed at the late Sessioa of the Provincial Parliaaaout will be found iu thi« J^y's \ 1'^ V* \ I % % % \ 48 Cazet(e. It oppean, by (be reeapitalation thereto exuiesedi (hat in 37 gitting days, aeventy one bills were introduced in (he Aatembly, wliich were either pnssed or mostly in n ilate of for- wnrdoess at the prorogntiout and that eight were received from the Legitlative Council, making 8eveDty«nine io all. There were besides 87 special committees appointed ; S3 of which had not yet reported, and several resolatioos io committees of the whole, upon most of which bills wookl have been introduced. Among the latter, a bill for applying the vote of jClO,(X)0 for the encouragement of education throughout the Province ; (he aids recommended for opening roads to facilitate new setllemeDts ; jt)30,00(^for Schools under Royal lostitution, &o. So far the session bad been one of uncommon labour and pro> fnise, on the part ot a Body composed of only 60 members, 45 of which however io the course of the session attended to their dutyt without pay, at a heavy loss of their time and disbursements. A multiplicity of legislative enactments is frequently a great evil. 'The presumption however is, that of the 71 bills introduced in the Assembly, by far the greater part of them, were generally desired by the inhabitants of the country whom the Assemblv represent, and whose wants and wishes are likely to be well known to the members. Of the measures still before the Tom- mittees, and on which the House had come to no decision, the fame cannot be said, with equal certainty. The most striking feature in the proceedings of the Session, is the oomparatively small number of bills ^eight) sent down to the Assembly by the Legislative Cotmcil, about fifteen members only of which oat of twenty attended, and the great number of thirty bills sent up to (he Council by the Assembly which failed io that Body ; nuiny of them being money bills not returned, or rejected by the nnparliamentary course of amendments. Among the for. mer were the bills granting aids to the Catholic District School, the British and Canadian School and National School, Quebec, and the Britirii and Canadian and National Scfauql, Montreal, for the improTeoient of the River Chambly, for the New Gaol Rt Hontreal, the Emigrant Hospital, Quebec, and the JVlontreiil General Hospital. Among the latter was the Vill providing: for the eick, the infirm, insane and foundlings in the three districtp. The bill was sent down to the Assembly amended, by the Caoo- nil, and consequently, according to parliamentary usage, rejtct • ed. The Assembly, however, adopted the nmendments io n new bill; and the hiU,Rs previously passed by the Coancil, is re. ported to have been lost on an equal division io Committee of the whole, several Exeetitire Conneillors and sotne Eieeutire Officers voting against it. FINIS. . XJL. led in th* te of for- ived from . There rhicb bad ees of the itrodueed. 00 for the ; the aids ItlemeDts ; r end pro- ben, 45 of their datjt lementf. ly a great introduced ) generally 1 Assembly to be well ! the rom- cisioD, the Session, if loivo to the mbera only ler of thirty J led in that , or rejected ong the {