IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) Mil 1.0 I.I 11.25 liilliM IIIII2.5 12.2 ys — 1^ 1^ 12.0 1.4 == I 1= 1.6 1 ^ #// ^1 u "1 Ta & /a / ^ > ./ ^ > /^ y •V Hiotographic 0*JtJllL.t3£ Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WeBSTcR, N.y. 145SC (716) 872-4503 % ^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection tie microfiches Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques I Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes tschniquas et bibliographiquas The Institute has attempted to ottair the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may bo bcbliographicaJiy unique, which may alter any of the imoges in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. n n n D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I } Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde □ Covers restored and/or la.Tiinated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pellicul^e □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes giogrsphiques en couleur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre quo bleue ou noire) r~~1 Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches at/ou illustrations an couleur Bound Wkth other material/ Relii avec d'autres docjments Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure dlank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches a> lutimt, iors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque ce ."; itait possibla. ces pages n'ont pas 4t6 filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires: L'lnstitut a microfilm^ le meilleur nxemplalre qu'il lui a iti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet axemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage sent indiqu4is ci-dessous. r~n Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damrsged/ Pages endommagies □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pellicuides r~~KPages discoloured, stained or foxed/ \Jl} Pages dicolor^es, tachet^es ou piqudes □ Pages detached/ Pages ddtachdes r~/|' Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Qualiti inigale de I'impressicn Includes supplementary materii Comprend du matiriel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible r~n Quality of print varies/ |~~> Includes supplementary material/ r~~| Only edition available/ D Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ruf limed to ensure the best possole image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont it6 film^es d nouveau de fapon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de r^ruction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Metropolitan Toronto Library Canadian History Departmert L'exemplaire 1Vm6 fut reproduit grdce A la g6n6ro8it6 de; Metropolitan Toronto Library Canadian History Department The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avac le plus grand soin, compte tanu de la condition et de la netteti de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimic/ sont filmis en commenpant par le premier plat et en term'nant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon ie cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmis en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impressioi* ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol ^^- (meaning "CON- TINUED"), ot the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symboie -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V sicnifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, Htc. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les r jrtes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmis d des tau.y de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document ' trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seu' >. t6, il est fitmd d partir de Tangle supdrieMi .che, de gauche d droite, et de haiit en bas, en prenant ie nombre d'images n^cassaire. Les diagrammed suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 '^^-imrn^ :jmmm ^mr^' Cj s T T i« ■■«■■,.» mmrnmr KJESIGNATION f'v//'^^.?v OP THK V CANADIAN IINISTKY tit SEPTEMBER, 1854. SPKiCH OF THE HONORABLE INSPECTOR GeNERAX, HiNCKS IN THE LlJGISLATlVK ASSE.UELY, ON FRIDAY, THK 8T« (SePTKMBER, QUEBEC ^•«-'«!5?j's-;5:Jii^_ i : \M &1^(ffS JUL 7 1934 • \m^:'^ HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, ' RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTRY. ^ After the presentation and reading of sundry petitions INSPECTOR GENEIIAL HINCKS rose and said, Mr. Speaker, I am aboi> to move that the Orders of the Day be postponed until Monday next, and in submitting that motion, it is my duty to state to the House, what is probably already known to a great many honorable gentlemen,— that I felt it my duty this day, in conjunction with my honorable colleague, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, (Mr. Morin,) to tender our resignation to His Excellency the Governor General, that His Excellency has been pleased to accept our resignation, and that we now only hold ollice until our successors shall be ap- pointed. I desire, Sir, to trespass on the time of the House for a few moments while I brie/iy assign the reasons that have led to our taking this step. I shall not, Sir, go back— for I deem it unnecessary to do so~ to any matters connected with the formation of the administra- tion that preceded the present one, and of which I had the honor to be a member. But I «lmll nontPnt myself with stating that after that admmistration had been some time in office, after we had carried, by very considerable majorities, measures which have been received, I believe, with very great satisfaction by the country at large— measures that we shall always be proud • 4 ■ — .Have 0. na^es idenUaea wUh a^d -hj^- ^f r^ ceded on the Statute Book ° . ''^* f;"7;^,ent-dutmg ^* "~^T it; rharrh^ildel^f .he disc, the .S7°"/f;"„ Upper Canada by whose support 'T?rdenc ve'" d beefenabled to conduct the affa.rs and conadence we i ^^ Session, my honor- of the Province, hat at a late pen ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ able and learned friend the then A torn y Canada, (Mr. Baldwin) was ""'I''' ^^^^Has since felt it his resignation. I was then, as Mr- Baldwin necessary to explain, although :-";^'^te Government, time, most anxious to retire with '""^ J~ ,,^„^, fo, ,ue Mr. Baldwin strongly «g«' »P- J^^**- "v' the honor of interests of the great P-^'y .^'* "''^^f/ He conceived that being connected, of not taking that step. He c L measure on which -J^— iylt: l^ "^"teTX~h : rA^Uneral 'of the Province, was one with wiucn ; and for which he was more was more particulajy --"Jf^'.^^^ ;,„, ,,,, , should be ^TfillXimy-i neii at that time. I. isperfectly '"' n u ™ hat tTe hlorable and learned gentleman who is the wellknmvntotteho^^^^^^ 'j;:enhl"oftheaaminis^^^^^^^ Jlinee, and in reference to whom it is -"--^ " Tsay now, for I have often had an OPP--^; ^^^^^^ before, that I have always looked up to him w h eg Lpect and admiration, had then announced hi. " " :;Li.awingatthe close c.f.at^^^^^^ =""':uirpS: -"l:^^^ onthepubUc b„si. rj:;lTolryauringthefcwdaysthath^^^^^^^^^ the close of the session, and to '^^'g"='';"'„t^;^ „„^„e.vadmi. HisExccUencycouldhavcanoppoit«nityoffom«g- aistration. When my Uouorablo and learned fuciid, 6 y are re- ot think -during e disor- support e affairs y honor- r Upper endering ice felt it ic at the eminent, ce for the honor of ;ived that as Upper majority, Province, was more should be s perfectly who is the- :),andwha ition of tho iry for me f doing so Lhe highest intention of lie life alto- best course ublic busi- lapse before nomcntthat a new aclmi- , Mr. Laion- taine, tendered his resignation, His Excellency the Governor Ge- neral did me the lionor to send for me in conjunction witli my hono- rable friend the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. Morin), to consult with us in regard to the formation of a new administra- tion. Upon one point my honorable friend and I have always been agreed, and that is, that it is most important to ihe interests of this country that the administration should, if possible, command the confidence of both sections of the Province (hear, hear.) I do not mean to say that it is always possible, bui I think every honor- able member will admit that it is, at all events, exceedingly desirable. (Hear, hear.) I felt at that time that I could, in conjunction with my honorable and learned friend, form an administration which would command tbe general confidence of the country. It is my particular desire on the present occasion, in making this short statement of facts, to avoid any thing at all like con- troversy. I will not therefore refer to certain charges made in legard to combinations, more particularly by the honorable member for Lanibton (Mr. Brown,) but I shall take an oppor- tunity on some other occasion of vindicating the course I fol- lowed at that period. It is sufficient fo- me now to say that I felt at that time that it was exceedingly desirable, with a ^ view to preserve the integrity of the Reform party in Upper Canada with which I had always been idemified, to seek for the support of those who enjoyed the confidence of that section of the party which had for some time been in strong opposition to the administration of which I had been a mem- ber, if it could be done v/ithout any compromise of prin- ciple on my part. I avail myself of this opportunity of referring publicly to the most important circumstance in connection with the formation of that administration and which perhaps led to the dilHcuUies which have existed and which are existing even at this moment. I desire now to state what were my views at the time that administration was for- med. While I was most anxious as a member of the Re- ^ / i If form party to use my utmost exertions to bring to the .support of tile Government thi; assistance of gontiemen CvJinmanding the confidence of tliat section of the party which liad opposed me, I felt that I siionld be disho'iorcd as a public man if I did so by the sacrifice of those men who had taithl'iilly adhered to the adminislratioii of vvhicl\ i had l)ccii a member, and who had at all times consistently supported Mr. iJaldwin find myself wiicn in ollic*'. Prtuninent anioni;- the ij:('ntk'men who stood ill that jiositiou \Yas my ')onor'.d)lc and learned friend, IVLr. Justice RichiM-ds, llicn member of Parliament for the Comity of Leeds. Mr. Richards had alv/avs ^iven a cordial and consistent support to our Government. I i'elt that if, in conjunction with my honorable friend Mr. Morris, the Speaker of the Legislative Coimcil. and the honorable memlun' for Glengary (Mr. McDonald), who was then Solicitor General, \ had invited Gentlemen belonging to what might be called the Opposition into our Government, and had entirely excluded Gentlemen who had always adhered to us, on the plea of maintaining the integrity of the party, my character as a public man would have been compromised. Well, Sir, I opened negociations with a view to the formation of an adminis- tration. Prior to that I believe a great deal of conversation had taken place with regard to the manner in which that administration was to be formed. The honorable and learned member for Glengary will allow me to say, without meaning any reproach, that I believe he is rather fond of making combinations before being properly authorized to do so (hear, hear). At all events, it had been indus- triously given out, although perhaps not by him that my honorable friend, Mr. Cameron, the present Post Master General, was to be a member of the administration as well as my hono- rable and venerable friend the meuiber for Norfolk, Dr. Rolph, and such was the public expectation. I invited the honorable member for Norfolk to join the administration and assist in car- rying it on, informing him at the time of doing so, that it was J^r^ ipporf; of d'lttu; the opposed linn If I aiilifiilly member, Ijiildwin 'iitlcmen learned lit for the L cordial at it', in Speaker i\\)o.Y lor General, ailed the excluded plea of I 0, public opened adminis- versation II which able and , without her fond uthorized n indus- that my r General, my hono- ur. Rolph, lionorablc ist in car- lat it was iny intention to ofler the Attorney Generalship for Upper Canada to Mr. Rieliards, The honorable member, after some cor- rcspondc -e, laneet* : he said he could not accept olliee without the assistance in the admiiiislratiou of Mr. Cameron. The hono- rable Member for (jlengary at that juncture had refused to accej)! the Ollice of Commissioner of Crown Lands which was oflered Jiirn, and I was lliu> i-nabled lo do whai I could not otherwise have done — place ii depailiiient at the disposal of INIr Came- ron. The administration was then formed which has with sliglil niodificatiou continued ti; the present time. \V( have cH'Tied through a number ol measures. I will not refer to '?m at all in detail, because, as I said in reference to the .suresoflhe preceding administration, they arc upon the te Book of the eounlry, and I am quite willing that the iry shall judgr- whether they have been measures of progress and generally acceptable to the people. The adminstra- tion was oi)posed, I believe at the very outset, in the most stre- nuous manner by the Honorable member for^ Lambton (Mr. Browu)whohad been a distinguishedmember of the liberalparty, and in adverting to the Honorable Gentleman, I must do him the justice to say that there is one thing I like about him, and it is that he has always been straight forward in his opposition, (Hear, hear). There is no misunderstanding Aim at all events. He took his course — he was determined to destroy the Government, (Mr. Brown, hear, hear). I wish not to disparage my opponents. I wish, to believe that the course they take is the one which they 'onsidcr best calculated to promote the interests ot the country. I am willing to give the honorable member for Lambton the same credit which I trust lie would accord tome. I am willing to believe that l:c thought he would promote tiie best interests of the country by obstruciinglhe progress of the Administration. He at all events took that course at the beginning and has persevered in it ever since. Well, Sir, by degrees an opposition sprang up in the ranks of the Liberal Party, and the result was (' •• -- T I H 1 < i that at the last Sossion of Parliament, the dissafTection was so great that the Administration was left in a minority. Now what I more particularly desire to call the attention oJ the House to is this— that throughout all these proceedings my honorpMc and learned friend beside me (Mr. Moriu) has re- ccived a cordial support from a parliamentary majority from Lower Canada (hear, hea* ) not composed of men of any par- ticular origin ; for I am sure my honorable friend knows as well af' I do, that some of orr firmest and most unwavering supporters from Lower Canada have been of English origin, and we feel towards them Mie same affection and gratitude that we do for a'l our other supporters. (Hear, hear.) My honorable friend lias throughout received a cordial support from his friends, and I may be permitted to say, now when we have gone out of office, and are little likely again to return to power, that no man in this House better deserves such support than my honorable friend (hear, hear). Of him and his colleagues from Lower Canada I can hardly trust myself to speak lest my feelings should overpower me in attempting to express my esteem for them. They have thr( ughout received that cordial and unwavering support without which, I maintain, it is utterly impossible for any Government to carry on the business of this or any other country. When Parliament met some months ago, it was'evident that diere v/as a very strong opposition to the administration from Upper Canada. That oppo- sition proceeded from various causes and from different sections. A majority of the House having concurred in a vote which we considered as equivalent to a vote of want of con- fidence, we believed it to be our duty, in the interest of the party with which we were connected, and to secure the carrying ' out of the great measures before the country, to advise His Excellency the Governor General to dissolve the existing Par- liament with a view to an appeal to the people. Mr. Speaker, I shall never regret that course. It was taken with a great deal of deliberation. The policy v,'hich ;\. ion was so ttcntion o) cdings my in) has re- jo I'll y from )i any par- knows as nwavering ish origin, ititude that ' honorable t from his 1 wc have n to power, pport than colleagues speak lest express my fiat cordial it is utterly iiess of this [Tie months opposition rhat oppo- n differeni id in a vote ;ant of con- terest of the the carrying advise His xisting Par- G. It wa» ;licy v^'hicli to come extent caused the necessity of that di^«solution— the policy of postponing the settlement of tlic great question.-* then pending with regard to the Clergy Reserves and the Sei- gniorial Tenure until a new parliamcr.t should be elected, is one which I am perfectly certain the public opinion of this coun- try will sustain when all the present contentions are over, and I believe that nothing will have a greater tendency to secure a satisfactory adjustment of those questions than the course of the administr ', o,; at that time. The dissolution of Parliament took place. TiiC result was precisely what we had anticipated. A very large majority of the members elected were in favor of those measures and especiallv of the one in relation to the Clergy Reserves which was brought most prominently before the country. His Excellency has been advised to state in the speech from the throne that the opinion of the country has been expressed upon that question in no equivocal terms. I am sure honorable members on all sides of the house will admit that there can be no doubt about that. Well, Sir, we met Parliament ; up to that time we had every reason to believe that the government would be sustained. The first question which arose, as a matter of course, was the election of a Speaker, f may be permitted to say, now that it is all over, that I had a very strong opinion upon that subject, and I shall state that opinion without any reservation. That opinion was that if we were beaten on the Speakership, the Government could not last a week. I say this becj.ase certain I^iembers of this House pro- fessing to be friends of the Aaminislration but who pride them- selves on not being " party men," thought the question of the Spealiership one of no importance whatever to ihe country, and determined to vote for whoever they pleased. Well, the election for SpeaKcr took place, and the Government was beaten by a majority of three. From the time that division took place we nave had indications every day— aye every hour, that gentlemen whom we had reason to expect were friends of the Administration did noi intend to support it. 10 1 1 h (Hear, hear.) In reference to the Speakership, I must mention that the Government Candidate for that office was supported by a very i;iir majority from Lower Canada. (Hear, hear.) My honorable friend from Vercheres (Mr. Cartier), the defeated candidate for Speaker, has, at all events, the satisfaction of knowing that the Rejiresentatives uf Lower Canada, where lie is best known, gave him a good majority of votes (Ministerial Cheers). But the Administration was defeated on the Spealcer- ship by a jnajority of 12 from Upper Canada. Honorable members who miderstand the position of public men v>411 be- lieve tliat this was a cause of very great embarrassment to me in the position that I oeeupie<]. In eiideavorincr to sustain mv honorable colleague (Mr. Morin), I expected to be able to bring to his support the conlidence of a majority of the Representa- tives of that portion of die Province to v/hich I more particularly belong, so as to enable us conjointly to carry on the Govern- ment. The vote on the Speakership plainly indicated liiat I should not be able to do that, hnmcdiately after that vote I fully made up my m.ind that it was utterly impossible for me to con- tinue to conduct the government of the country with any sort of satisfaction, even if we should happen to have a majority on the Adcb-ess in unswer to the Speech from the Throne. 1 was perfectly certain that the majority, if any, could not be more than two or three, and that there would be a majority against us from Upper Canada. I felt that I should not be justified in remaining in m Administration with my Colleagues from Lower Canada when I could not command the confidence of the section of the Province to which I belong. I determined however to let the debate on the address come on in the House and be carried to a vote and tiien take my own course after- wards. But yesterday evening a question of privilege aflfecting the seat of an Hon. Member of this House came up unexpect- edly by me. Some gentlemen may not regard it as a question of very material importance, but I and my honorab"le Colleagues take a different view of the subject. For myself I can only say that I ist mention i supported ear, hear.) 10 defeated isfactlon of , wliere lie Ministerial le Speaker- Honorable en will be- ;nt to me in ^usta'.n mv le to bring -epresenta- larticularly le Govern- ited ill at I i'-ote I fully me to con- any sort of lajority on le. 1 was 3t be more Lty against ustified in ^ues from ifidence of etermined the House irse afler- B affecting unexpect- a question !5olle agues lysaytiiat 1 did not know until I came into the House yesterday evening- that such a question was likely to arise. I found that the honorable Attorney General for Lower Canada wished to liave twenty-four hours to consider the course tliat should be taken in regard to it. I certainly do not think the demand was an unreasonable one (Hear, hear). I think it desirable that before action is taken upon such questions some time should be allowed for consideration. Jlowcvcir the Govern- ment was unable to get a postponement of the question and we were exposed to taunts ofv.-hichlda not complain, for they wore well deserved and well ap})lied. We wore told by the honorable and learned member for TonuJo (?vlr. Cameron), that we were placed in a jjosilion where important proceed- ings were going on and we were not a])le to direct them. This was true and we W(}re certainly placed in a very embar- rassing position. Feeling this strongly, I considered it my duty not to lose any further time in pursuing the course which I had determined on. Accordingly I communicated in the course of the debate last night, with my honorable friend (Mr. Morin) and told him that it was my determination to tender my resignation. My Honorable Colleague, feeling, I am sure, that the course I proposed to take was a proper one, under the circumstances, joined with me in it. This morning we tendered our resignations to His Excellency and those Resignations as I have already informed the House have been accepted. Mr. Speaker, there is one other point which I must crave the indulgence of the House to allude to. In the course of dis- cussions here and elsewhere certain charges personal to myself have been made. I do trust Honorable Gentlemen opposite will do me the justice to believe that I have no desire to avoid a full investigation into those charges. (Hear hear) I stated during the late session that it was my anxious desire that such an investigation should take place, (Mr. Macken/:ie hear, hear.) f am anxious now that it shall take place. I am anxious a * t'.HUlm: i ■ 12 to submit to the judgment of the House any charges that can possibly be brought against me (Mr. Mackenzie Hear, hear). With regard to the atlacks which have been made upon me and which I do not desire now lo characterize, all that I have to say is, that I can afford to forgive the authors of them. (Loud cries of hear, hear.) When I hear the honorable gentleman opposite (Mr. Mackenzie) cry "hear, hear" I cannot help being reminded of one fact at all events that will be a consolation to me whatever may happen hereafter. That honorable gentleman who cries " hear, hear " threatened over and over again during the last session, as honorable gentlemen must well recollect, that he would turn me out of the County of Oxford. (Loud cries of hear, hear.) He told the House again and again that it was through his influence that I sat as the member for the County of Oxford. (Renewed cries of hear, hear.) ■" Mr. MACKENZIE, no, no. The Inspector General I say yes, yes. The honorable member came up to the County of Oxford with which I had been connected for many years, and the confidence of the people of which I had received many proofs of possessing. He came to my meetings. He advanced all his charges. He spoke for hours on various occasions. He circulated all kinds of hand- bills. Message extras. Globe extras, Examiner extras, North American extras and how many votes did his candidate get ^ (Loud cries of hear, hear.) Why just 23 ! (Renewed cries of " hear, hear " from both sides of the House), and I was elected by a majority of above 350, a larger majority than I had ever received before. (Loud cheers) And not only that, but I had the gratification of being also returned for the County of Renfrew, a County into whicli I had never been, where I had never solicited a vote, and intc, which I did not enter during the election, (re- newed cheers.) I bhall conclude — only occupying the time of the House to read an extract from a speech of the late lamented Sir Robert Peel, wliich I feci is not inapplicable to my situation. \ ges that can Hear, hear). Don me and ivc to say is, oud cries of an opposite g reminded tion to me gentleman ^ain during 11 recollect, •rd. (Loud igain that it iber for the ; honorable irhich I had f the people He came to spoke for Is of hand- tras, North didate get ? ed cries of yas elected L I had ever it I had the Renfrew, a er solicited lection, (re- he time of te lamented ble to my (( (( " They (the ministry) felt that being in possession of the entire " confidence of the King, and having received from His Majesty " the most cordial and unremitting suppoirt — looking to the pre- " sent position of affairs and the present state of political par t4 ties — looking to the strength not only the numerical but the " moral strength of that great party, by which they had had the " honor of being supported, they felt it vos their dutv, under existing circumstances, to continue the attempt of adminis- tering public affairs, as responsible advisers of the Crown to " the latest moment th'.t was consistent with the interests of the '< public service, and with the honor and character of public men. " (Cheers.) When he did not hesitate to avow the reluctance *♦ with which they had tendered their resignations, he believed " he should have credit (much cheering, both sides the House) " that that reluctance arose from public considerations alone » (renewed cheering), and was wholly unconnected with every- ** thing of a personal nature. (Hear, hear, and much cheering, '' particularly from the opposition.) He had a strong impression, <' that when a public man at a crisis of great importance under- " took the public task of administering the affairs of the country " he incurred an obligation to persevere in the administration " of those affairs, as long as it was possible to do so consistently «' vnth his honor. (Hear, hear.) No indifference to public " life, no disgust with the labors which it imposed, no per- " sonal mortifications, no deference to pri^-ate feeling could sanction a public man in withdrawing on light grounds from the post in which the confidence of his Sovereign had placed " him (Much cheoiing.) But at the same time there was " an evil in exhibiting to the country, a want on the part of " the government, of that support in the House of Commons » which could enable it satisfactorily to conduct the public " affairs and which could enable it to exercise a control ''over the proceedings of the House, a legitimate and "necessary control conferred upon it by the ])OSse-sioil "of confidence (Hear, hear.) There was an evil in (( u • «?«» -^'■' .;y#9'^*" #-■-♦ ^ B: I I' ' 14 '*F.nch an exhlbiiion of weakness to which limits must be " placed, and he must say in reviewing all that had oc- « curred since the commencement of the session— look' ng to " the Uttle progress tlie government liad been able to make in I* the business of the country-looking at what had occurred on each of the last four nights, to tne fact that ministers had on each of the four nights to be left in a minority, consider- « ing that that minority was smaller in relation to the majority " than the minorities they had been in at the commencement of the session— adverting also to the fact that they had received *^ the support of those who, not having general and unlimited ^^ confidence in the government, yet had given to the govern- ment a cordial and honorable support (cheers) on every oc- " casion in which it was consistent with their public prin- ciples to give it-adverting to all these considerations he must say that, in his opinion, the time was come when it was " incumbent on ministers of the Crown to withdraw from the " responsibilities which office under such circumstances im- *• posed on them." I desire to add nothing, continued Mr. Hincks, to these re- marks of Sir Robert Peel. Nor shall I trespass much longer on the time of the hou^e Havmg tendered my resignation I am now like any other member upon this floor, and know nothing at all of what is gomg forward. But I desire to say that at this crisis in the aflairs of the country-and I look upon it as an important crisis-I do trust public men will be influenced, not by selfish considerations, but by a patriotic desire to carry out those great measures which the interests of the country demand hear hear). For my own part, for the present at all events, I am desirous of taking my seat by my honorable friend the member for the County of Lincoln fMr. Merritt), who has been described rather wittily by a newspaper in the City In tLTr '' ^ " ^-''^^^--'^^ impossibility" (Laughter.) In thus retmng from Officml life, it would of course be absurd 'A 5 must be t had oc- ■looking to to make in 1 occurred isters had consider- e majority icement of i received unlimited le govern- every oc- blic prin- ations he len it was from the mces im- thcse re- e house, ny other what is iis in the mportant )y selfish •ut those demand I events, e friend who has he City ughter.) 3 absurd "1 for me to say that I have no enemies ; for I am under the mi- pression that I have a great many. But it is most gratifying to me to know that at all events, I have a great many friends (hear, hear,) and they are not altogether confined to my own county, where the honorable member for Lambton stated that I owed my election altogether to my success in making friends. I have the satisfaction of feeling that in this House a very large number of the members have honored me with their personal friendship (Hear, hear.) I am referring at this moment more particularly to those with whom I have acted in public life. I feel more especially grateful for the support they hnve given me, but I do trust that there are a great many also in llie ranks of the opposition with whom I am on terms of friendship and with whom I shall at all events be able to continue on those terms when I no longer occupy a seat upon these benches. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I now move that the orders of the day be postponed until Monday next. The motion was agreed to, and then on motion by Mr. HiNCKS, the House adjourned until Monday.