n IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // // '9/ ^m ^^ ^ M% :/- Kc fA 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^1 28 150 ™^^ 1^ 1^ 25 1.4 M 1.6 ■ Photographic _Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 { ' to ; 372-4503 m iV iV '% V % v^ «F^.J^> <^ . to bott J^ousw of f arliamrnt bn crommanU of ^tx ittajratji, MAY 1849. LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET, FOK HEn MAJESTY'S STATIONERV OFFICE. 1849. u f nfxk ^"^''^'•^'^- •' ''^^'^^""^"■"■'"''''iiiiffir"... t [ 3 ] PAPERS BELATIVE TO THE AFFAIRS OF CANADA. From Governor-General the Right Hon. the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine to Earl Grey. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine to Earl Grey. Government House, Montreal, j^ J April 30, 1849. MY LORD, (Received May 15, 1849.) I REGRET to state that rioting, attended with some consequences much to be regretted, though happily with no injury to life, or, except in one instance, to person, has taken place in the city of Montreal during the last few days. I hasten to furnish your Lordship with an account of what has actually occurred, lest you should be misled by exaggerated reports conveyed through the United States. 2. In consequence of the unexpected arrival of vessels with merchandize at the Port of Quebec, it became necessary for me to proceed, on a short notice, to Parliament, on Wednesday last, in order to give the Royal Assent to a Customs Bill whicli had that day passed the Legislative Council ; and I con- sidered that, as this necessity had arisen, it would not be expedient to keep the public mind in suspense by omitting to dispose, at the same time;, of the other Acts in which the two branches of the local Parliament had at an earlier period of the session concurred, and which still awaited my decision. Among these was the Act to provide for the indemnification of parties in Lower Canada whose property was destroyed during the Rebellion in 1837 and 1838, witli respect to which, as your Lordship is aware, much excitement has unhappily been stirred, 3. I herewith enclose, for your Lordship's perusal, a printed copy of the Act in question, and I shall not fail by the first mail to furnish you with full ' mformation respecting its character and objects, the circumstances which led to Its introduction, and the grounds on which I resolved, after much reflection, to sanction it. No money can be paid under it as indemnity for a considerable period, so that Her Majesty's powe/ of disallowance can be exercised with effect, should Her Majesty be so advised, notwithstanding the course which I have taken. As I am writing this Despatch in haste, with a view to its trans- mission by v.ay of New York, I sliall confine myself for the present tu a state- ment of the proceedings by which the peace of the city has been disturbed. 4. In order, however, to render this narrative intelligible, I must premise that for some time past the House of Assembly, as at present constituted, has been the object of bitter denunciation, and not unfrequently of reckless menace, on the part of a certain portion of the press of the province, and more espe- cially ot that of Montreal. Your Lordship will probably recollect that the body in question is the product of a general election which took place about 18 months ago, under the auspices of the political party now in opposition, and after a dissolution, to which I had recourse on their advice, for the pur- pose of strengthening them in their position as a Goveinment. The result of tins measure was in the last degree unfavourable to those who had recom- mended It ; not, however, so much so in Lower Canada, where the complexion ol the representation was little affected by the dissolution, as in the Upper Pro- vince, Avhere several constituencies, among which were some of the most popu- B 2 CANADA. No. 1 , page 7 \ CANADA. 4 PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE lous rejected conservative in favour of liberal candidates. On a question of confidence raised at the commencement of the session, immediately after the general election, the Administration was defeated by a majority of more than *^? ^P!^*-'' *"" * cliange of Government, as a matter of course, ensued o. Ihis- alteration lu the political complexion of thd Assembly, and the change oi Government consequent upon it, were therefore clearly and dis- tinctly tracea1)Ie to u revulsion of sentiment in the British constituencies of Upper Canada. In Lowe- Canada nothing had occurred to account for either 1 his circumstaijco has, however, failed to secure for the decisions of the popular representativ(! body either forbearance or respect li-om a certain section of those who profess to be emphatically tlie supporters of British interests. To denounce the Parliament as French in its composition, and the Government as subject to 1 rench influences, has been their constant object, and the wildest doctrines have been broached with respect to the right which belongs to a British minority of redressing by violence any indignity to which it may be subjected from such a source. I have now before me an article that appeared ill one oi the principal English newspapers of Montreal at a very early period the session, of which I transcribe the concluding paragraph, as illustrative 01 tfie temper and language in which, even at that time, and before the public mind had been excited by the discussion of the Bebellion Losses Bill, a portion ol tlie press ventured to criticise the proceedings of the local Parliament The article treats ol o, measure afTecting the townships, to which, I believe, no great objection was raised in Parliament. It terminates, however, in the words— We are very glad of it— the sooner the cloven foot is made visible the better- the obvious intention of that majority, composed of Frenchmen, aided by traitorous British Canadians, is to force French institutions still further upon the British minority in Lower Canada. The intention is obvious, as we said aiid we are glad that it is openly shown. We trust that the i)arty of the Government will succeed in every one of their obnoxious measures. When 1< rench ty^i-anny becomes i:isupportable we shall find our Cromwell. Shef- field, in the olden times, used to be famous for its keen and well-tempered whettles; wel tliey make bayonets there now, just as sharp and just as well- tempered. Wlien we can stand tyranny no longer, it will be seen whether good bayonets m Saxon hands will not be more than a match for a mace " and a majority. 6. To persons accustomed to the working of constitutional government in weJl-ordered communities, it may seem incredible that such language should be employed by the organs of any respectable party in reference to a body compris- ing the freely-chosen representatives of a constituency, formed on a most poijular basis; but the cause of the anomaly is apparent enough to all who are acquainted with the history of Canada. For a series of years the popular renresentative l)ody and the Executive, sui)ported by the Legislative Council, were, in the Lower Provmce especially, in a condition of almost constant antagonism. To revile the one was the surest test of patriotism; to denounce the other, of loyalty. In a society singularly democratic in its structure, where diversities ot race supplied special elements of confusion, and where consequently it was most important that constituted authority should be respected, the moral in- fluence of law and Government was enfeebled by the existence of perpetual strife between the powers that ought to have afforded to each other a mutual support. No state of affan-s could be imagined less favourable to the extinction ol national animosities, and to the firm establishment of the gentle and beni"-- nant control of those liberal institutions which it is England's pride and privdege to bestow upon her children. 7. I am not without hope that a steady adherence to the princijdes of con- stitutional Government, and the continuance of harmony between tlie co-ordi- nate branches of the Legislature, may lead in process of time to the correction oi these evils; meanwhile, however, I mast ascribe mainly to the cause which 1 have assigned the tone of arrogant defiance with which the resolutions, not of the Government only, but also of the Parliament, are treated by parties who happen ior the moment to be uiial)le to make their views prevail with either, and the acts of violence to which this inflammatory language has in the present instance led. 8. That many persons conscientiously disapprove of the measure respecting rebellion losses in Lower Canada which has been introduced by the Goveru- AFFAIRS OF CANADA. 5 ment, and whicli the local Parliament has passed by large majorities, and that m the minds of others it stirs national antipathies and recollections oi' former conflicts which designing politicians seek to improve to their own selfish ends, cannot I fear be doubted. It is therefore emphatically a measure which should have been approached with calmness and caution, by all at least who are not directly interested in the issue. Unfortunately, however, this has been by no means the case. Not only have appeals to passion of the most reckless descrip- tion proceeded from the local press, but they have received encouragement from quarters Irom which they had little right to look for it. Passages such as the following in which a London journal of influence treats of the British population as affected by the measure in question :—" They are tolerably able .. u ^^^°'''t''I themselves, and we very much misconstrue the tone adopted by the English press and P^nglish public in the province if they do not find ^^ some means ol ^resisting the heavy blow and great discouragement which is aimed at them are read with avidity, and construed to mean that sympathy will be extended from influential quarters at home to those who seek 'to annul the obnoxious decision of the local Legislature, whatever be the means to which they resort lor the attainment of that end 9. The scenes by w'.ich the city of Montreal has been lately disgraced, are the natural fruits of an agitation of this character, operating on a people of excitable temper, who have been fraught to believe that a race which they desinse and over which they have been wont to exercise dominion, has obtained through the operation ol a constitutional system an authority which it could not otherwise have acquired. Hence, more especially, their vehement indig- nation against me personally, and the conviction, in many cases I doubt not perfectly smcere. that I have been guilty of a serious dereliction of duty because 1 have not as my predecessors have often done before me, consented to place mysell 111 the front oi an agitation to counteract the policy of Parliament. The nature of the constitutional doctrines which practically obtain in this section of if t^ rTk^ ^' '' """«"« y exemplified by the fact, that it is not the passage 01 the Bill by an overwhelming majority of the representatives of the peoi)le, or the acquiescence of the Council, but the consent of the Governor which lurnishes the pretext lor an exhibition of popular violence «pv!!!;i^^i? \^^^* ^^!^\^T'' ''^' P'^J-liament after giving the Royal Assent to several Bills to which I have referred, I was received with mingled cheers and hootings by a crowd by no means numerous which surrounded the entrance to the building. A small knot of individuals consisting, it has since been ascer allied, of j,ersons of a respectable class in society pelted the carriage with missiles whicli they must have brought with them U the purpose. Within an hour alter this occurrence a notice, of which I enclose a copy, issued from TnZi *^ newspaper offices, calling a meeting in the open air. At the meeting inflammatory speeches were made. On a sudden, whether under the effect of momentary excitement, or ii, pursuance of a plan arranged beforehand, the Sn^'n't'^ K '''fi ^^""^'^ ^^ Parliament whore the members were still sitting and brealcing the windows set fire to the building and burned it to the ground. By this wanton act public property of considerable value, includn' tvvo excellent libraries, has been utterly destroyed. Having achieved thdr object the crowd dispersed, apparently satisfied witli what they" had done The members were permitted to retire unmolested, and no resistance was offered ^ the military who appeared on the ground after a brief interval, to rest^^ order, and aid m extmguisbing the flames. During the two follow'ing days a pood deal of excitement prevailed in tlie streets, and some further^acJJ of incendiarism were perpetrated. Since then the military force has been "eS tii^b fSl^^^^^^^^^ of the disaffected party have shoL a d?spo:Ln to res rail then followers, and to direct their energies towards the more consti- the obnoxSn?R^lf '' Tr'"«^ '^^^^"^'"^ ''' "^^ ''''~'^^^' ^^^ ^^e disallowance of the obnoxious Bill. The proceedings of the House of Assembly will also tend r.'rd fuiS" T^^ ' ''''''' «--^Ti,^^ *^^^ P-- «^ «- -ty will not be ag. n distuibed. The newspapers which I enclose contain full, and I believe pretty accurate, accounts of all that has occurred since Wednesday last. these d^saste'Js^'StT T'^ ^'''' "°* ^^vingmade adequate provision against bpflfnn T 'li-n ^7. ¥' "" "''-'^"' expected that the hostility to the Re- bel ion Losses Bill ^yould have displayed itself in the outrages which have tiorw^Z:TS br^ *'f 'f '"^ '^y^ ^^ ^'^^•^^"^- P-hapf sufficSatt^ tion was not paid by them to the menaces of the opposition press. It must be CANAD.\." No. 2, page 9. No. 5, page 22. PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE CANADA. admitted, howevor, that their position was one of confiidcrable difficulty. The ril^i w?l ^^^»t'-^?l-a ^ity containing abont 50.000 i.ihabitants of different , Zl^. I . "* T'"*"" ''"^^ ?*''"•■ '^Seu^'en of mischief in constant activity-f) consiflts ol two policemen under the authority of the Government, and 70 1 Scothl.Ih''' ^'"-I'^"-"^'""- To oppose, therefore, effectual resiLta.l to a y couMderab e mob, recourse must be had in all cases either to the military or to a force ol civilians enrolled for the occasion. Grave objections how- ever, presented themselves in the present instance to the adoption of eilher of hesecouisesuntil the disposition to tumult on the part of the popukceuu happ.Iy maniit>sted itself in overt acts. More especially was it of iLportance to avoid any measure which might liave had a tendency to produce a collision Tl le 'S-irfol-H"" ^ ^"''*'"" ''" which their feelings were so strongly excited, lilt itsultoi tiio course pursued is, that there has been no bloodshed, and. except m the case of some of the ministers themselves, no destruction of pril Viiie property. ^ No 3 pace 9 rnnv J'''' P!;«ceodings in the Assembly have been important. I enclose the _No^.paKe9. copy ol an address which has been voted to me by a majority of 3G to IG, ex- niltrn^?.' "ni'T% *" ^''' Q"ee», and approval of my just and impartial admi- instiation ol the Government with my late as well as my present advisers. No 4 pa.o, 1, o, nnJr-„U •;''''''' ^^'^'' ^' ''^'^'"''' ^''''^ ^^'^^ «P^'««'»^« «^" Messrs. Wilson N^:i^Rou 1-03^ and Gait, ol whicli reports are given in the newspapers which I enclose. Mr MrT.!!' '"" ">""^*"t';!^ •"^™''«'- «^' the Upper Canada conservative party, and Ml. Gaits views are the more important, because he has been returned to Par- llTl . T^ %, !• .^^^'' "^" ^^ * ^^«^^^'' Canadian constituency which com- iise. a large British population. Generally, however, as the amendments eWes rr:'v? '': ^'^^.^^^^T ^'^"^■' '^''^ "^^'"^ *« -^^'^^ committing t^m S 1 M'V ? ^°'f 1 • ^^^ ^'''^' 'Sainst the Address may be thus classed: »ii A. M Na, and lus party ; my late ministers and their i)arty ; and Mr. M,?' T'f • r 'u ""^ "'^'^ J'^''^"'"'^ consistency in voting as he has done on this question; for he has always contended that government conducted on nl'! T lllll"'"''/ ' '' "usmted to Canada. The course of the second class is less nl elhg blc; lor. un il the day on which they resigned their offices into my hands, tliey unilormly expressed approval of the principles on which my con- duct as Governor-General was guided; and these, as your Lordship well knows, Iiave undergone no change with the change of administration Mr Papiueaus vote conveys a useful lesson which will not, I trust, be lost on Der- sons who had been induced to believe that the persecution of which I am now the object is really attributal)le to my having sliown undue lenity to those who were led by Inni into rebellion. J ^ >vii" 1.3. I have now furnished your Lordship with as clear a statement of tliese important occurrences as I can give, and I can conclude by assuring you that the city IS perfectly trmiquil, and that there is no present likelihood of a reiunyal ol disturbances. A few days will show what echo the proceedings of the vioent party awaken in Upper Canada, and to what extent they are^fol- owed by rc-action Meanwliile it is my firm conviction that if this dictation be submitted to, the government of this province by constitutional means will he impossible, and that the struggle between overbearing minorities, backed by iorce, and majorities resting on legality and established forms, which has so long proved the bane of Canada, driving capital from the province, and pro- ducing a state of chronic discontent, will be perpetuated. At the same time I tliink that it I am unable to recover that position of dignified neutrality be- tween contending parties which it has been my unremitting study to maintain and Irom which I would appear to have been for the moment driven— not, a^ 1 hrmly believe, through any iault of my own, but by the unreasoning violence ol laction— it may be a question with your Lordship whether it would not be or the interests of Her Majesty's service that I should be removed from my Jiigh office to make way for one who should not indeed hold views at variance witli mine with respect to the duties of a constitutional Governor, but who should have the advantage of being personally unobnoxious to any section of Her Majesty s subjects within the province. I have. &c.. (Signed) ELGIN AND KINCARDINE. ^i The Right Hon. Earl Grey, ? &c. &c. &c. ■■^. AFFAIRS OF CANADA. Enclomird 1. An Act to provide for the Indemnification of Parties in Lower Canada whoso Property was dostroyed during the B.!bolliou in the years 1837 aiul 1838. Received and Read a Firrt Time, Tiieiuhitj, February '27, 1849. Second Reading, Friday, March 2, 1849. n I . iT'^.u""/ °" ,"'•*■ '-^a"" '^"y. "'" ^"^"•"''ry' ^845, an humble address was unanimously miopted bv th.. Legislmve Assembly of tin* province, and by them presented to the R.ght Honourable CharU^ Ihecphdus Huron Metcalfe, the then bovernor-Goneral of the same, praymg -that his Excell.-nev would be pleased to cause proper measures to be adopted in order to insure to the .nhaUants of that part of this p»ovince, forniorly Lower Canada, indemnity for iu»tlogsP8 by them sustained during the Rebellion of \H^7 wA 1838;" aid whereas on the 24th day of November, 1845, u Commission of five persons was, by hb Excellency the said Governor-General, duly appointed to inquire into suet, lossc-s arising from and glowing out of the saul rebellion ; andwhereas.it appears by the Report of the said Commissioners, dated the 18th day of April, 1846, that " tliVwant of power to procee-I to a stnrt and regular investigation of thelo.ses in question left the Commissioners no other resource than to trust to the allegations of the claimants as to the amounts and nature of their ttr/ .''"''/'''"i^f • '" «'-.''<-''• '» '•^^•'■'n ']"' Pl'-'dge given to the sufferers of such losses, or their Jwm/J^ creditors assigns, or ayard-droit, as well by the said Address of the said Logis- at.ve Assembly, and the appointment of the said Commission, as by the letter address,xl V Mui^r F-if CnSf 7'.^"'^ "'^ 'h ^'•'""^'' ''y,°[^" °^ "''' ^^ Honourable Charles Muirny, Earl Cathcar the hen A^dmiiiistrator of the Government of the same, to the said Comnmsioners, on the 27tli dav of Februajy, 1846. it is necessary and just that the particulars of such losses not yet paid and satisfied, should form the subject of more minute inquiry under legislative authority, and that the same, so far only as they may have arisen from the Lai o partial, unjust, unnecessary or wanton destruction of the dwellings, buildings, property, and lT^^JV"ut"^''-T-r'^ ^'T.'^'' ''^'' "'''"« «•• «"-^y"'g away If tLifproper y convfS ;f rl 1 P""' "n'^ 'f'^t' r"'^"'^ '^''' "°"« of theVrsons who have beeJ convicted of high treason, alleged to have been committed in that pirt of this province for- merly the Province of Lower dnada since the 1st day of Novemb^er. 1837. or who having been charged with high treason or other offences of a treasonable na ure. and hav°nff bieS SrJnd de'aVurtTn^ M -'".^'"f " '\^'''' '' *^°"'^''^'' ^"'^"""-l tllseTvesV Se will and pleasure of Her Majesty, and were thereupon transported to Her Majesty's Islands of Bermuda, shall be entitled to any indemnity for losses sustained during or^afteMhe said rebellion, or m consequence thereof. Be it therefore enacted &c shalrbe lawM t^r.T'^ ^^ '^- ''f''''^^ °^ '^"u*^™"' *'^"'' '"'"• *''« P"T°^^ «'■ 'hi« Act, it shall be lawful for the Governor m Council to authorize the issue of debentures payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of this province, at or within 20 years after tl le latrthereof respectively, and bearmg interest at the rate of 6 per cent., payable out of the sS fu^d on sucfi day in each year as shall be therein specified, providW the total am un of the sa"3 debentures shall not exceed the sum hereinafter mentioned o i am urn oi me saiU II. And be It enacted that the said debentures may be issued in such form and for sueh separate sums respectively as the Governor in Council shall deem expeS and m4 be issued eitlier to such partes as shall be willing to advanre mnL,. fnt .v. ^ ' "^ ® whom money shall bl awarded for comJ^nSi^tCs^ri r^^ l^^Acl^rTh:;^^^^^ thern in exchange for debentures of like amount issued under the Act he ehiafte! n en io'iS payment of certain Rebe Hon Losses in tS:C^it:Tt'^,^^iX "Z!^:^ Marriage License Fund, 'may, on any day on which the interest on sLhdebentrrekmv ble have he same exchanged for a debenture for a like amount to be issued uSr this Act 'and Consolidated Revenue Fund, and the proceeds of so mT,/.h .^f «>,ot '.• <• V », . were., ot .„), u„»cl,a„ged debenture, shall fo™ par? of fc .Wc^rfdaKKe™ tkoK u"ued "uldToSr" T I"" '''i",."',"' """' "'"'"■ '^ ^ct A.ll be diMmguished from t For Secretary's Letter, 27th February, 1846,' nV^ dilt'u, p?ge 42. CANADA. Enclofun I. Proamlile. Hecital. Addresi of Feb. 28, 1843. Heport of Com- iDiuionem, April IS, 1846.* Secretary'* lottar, Feb. '.^7, l»46.t Governor in* Council may authorize issue of ilebentmes for jjiirposea of this Act. Debenture"! may be issued in such form us the Governor in Council may deem expedient. Holders of de- bentures under 9 Vic., c. f)5, may have them ex- changed fur deben- tures under this .Act, foro like amount. Governor may at any time lequire all the debentures issued under this Act, to be pre- sented for payment in full. Debentures under this Act to be di»- tnjjuished from those issued under other Acts, &c. 8 PAPERS REIjATIVE TO THE CANADA. Oovernor mty appoint Cummit- •ionitri undar this Aot. Oath to b« fnken hy Comniiiiionen. Hit oath. Amount of deben- ture*, &c , not to txceed IOU,ouo/. currency. Duty of Com- miiiionerg. Powers vp^ted in CoDimissionem ■hall extend in certain easen. of tho piin,, of the £h Col'±Z.^ta ^^^1^^} "« ""'«-'' ''" ^« ""-- Aelerk mavbe ap- anno" a dork fo thl ""To" "'•' " ''^'" H" I"'"''"' ^°'- ''»'' ""'""O"- '"^"'n •!•»« to time to pointed to the .aid ^^^2 , '^'''7/°/,*"^ «°'i' Comm.ssionors. and tl.e same to remove, and in case of anvTuoh CQinmi.,ioner.. "-Pn'oyal, or of death or of resignation of oflRce of the said clerk to amJnt Rnnth^r ?n )7^ i and to Commissioners and tLr clerk shall receive for tSirs^rvi Tu iTtS^Act aSfe tho.r necessary expenses and disbursements, such compensation us shall bo allowed bvth« 9mLorJZr\ f ^■^^"'- e"'-7'«'y''^h-h -'m shall also include the sum of X A A u" ? by l,', nml o^ at such lime, and divisions respectively, as the Governor ii Council shall from timp Ut v °^^^\^^"'^°"^^ p.aoe,. Governor them tl..^^^^^ Pom J '"I'ke manner be required to ^ive ; and at such meetings any three of^he safd Commissioners stial be a quorum, and any re,,ort, award, or proceeding in whicluhree of th» Commissioners shall concur, shall be deemed to be made Iv done b^ thrComm Sone provided always that no sitting of the said Commissioners shall be held after 1^^ of September. 1850, and no claim shall be received by them after the 1st day of Xj. XIII. And be it enacted, that the said Commissioners shall have full power and aulhoritv exnmlne upon oath tZTfoTLTeS''''' ""'^ "'^ °"' '^'" ''''""■ -"X ^''-ini^ter) aSy person wo shS prions appearing ^PP'^' before them e-her as a claimant or as a witness for or against any claim, or for the before thim. ** '^''"e'^ iiformation of the Commissioners concerning the same- and sha'l have fVU rTrnvol > authority to summon before them any person or party whornN hey ty deem exCi'.to examine touching any claim, and to require him to bring with him, and produrrnv book paper, .ns rument document, or thing mentioned in the summon , and^ ™se fo be necessary to he determination of any such claim; and if any person 'or partyTsummoned shal after due notice, refuse or neglect to attend before them, or beingSo summoneTand onlof'th" m ?r '" ""?'"■ 7^ ^^^f"' 1"^^^'°" P"' *° l^i'" by the CommisslnTis o any ™I- '.?' ° ^""vf nf P[°*^"'' "">' ^°°^' P^P'^'-' instrument! document, or thinc^ h Z possession which ! e shall, by the summons, have been required to bring with 1 im and ^roducT ILX f7""f ""^-^^-^Y^cause such person or party, if not alrc^ady before the^ to be apprehended and brought before he:n, and may, in their discretion, co-^ mit hini o th^ Wiftil false state- common gaol of the district, for a period not exceeding three months ; and any per on ma W men.s to be perju^.. any wilfully false statement on oath before the said'commissioners'or any on J o tlcm shal! a.lowed upon he oath of the claimant, unless he shall be corroborated in all the in po an? pari.culars by indifferent and unsusnected witnesses or other testimony. •mportant sr^=^ se^eL,^;l8^.'i4Sie?;i:.sji^rs^^^ mo^te?^/^;, '-' ^ „,„ 1 ' total amount of the sums so allowed, and the said sum of 9,986/. 7*. 2d., and the expenses IJis^'Tel "b n l\^T- ^^'", Tt"^ '•", ^""^ '^ ^O^'OOO^- ^l^-' ^he expenses incurreclSe this Act shall be first provided for. and secondly the said sum of 9,986/. 7». 2d and ?he remaining sum shall be d^tributed among the claimants in proportion to the sumfa lo ed to them respectively, by the Commissioners, or any three of them. Proviso. Commissioners to have power to 1830. ^^^^St-r?9dBK44 '"**' fri"i'tfrr --'lir' lint five perrons to iny of them, and [ning office. i.nt«ring upon the lowing oath : — y, f«ar, favour, or t,' &c. [i/uert tfte neither more nor to the true intent ed on the minute!) 1 time to time to aae of any such her in his place ; Ills Act, and for allowed by the ch compensation under this Act, onern and clerk, ludo the sum of ntioned. irs faithfully and nentioned in the nd to report the 8 said Commis- itrued to extend residents within ids which have 1, or damage of I, or by violence the suppression IS arising under esfy's naval or and exceptions ihall hold their ather territorial t and notify to ' said meetings iree of the said ch three of the ommissioners ; the 1st day of day of May, and authority son who shall lim, or for the liill poiver and it expedient to uce any book, pposed to be so summoned nmmoned and lioners, or any • thing in his and produce, ' them, to be him to the ;i-son making )f them, shall aim shall be lie important e 1st day of ally the sum ; and if the the expenses mrred under 2(1., and the IS allowed to Tlie AFFAIRS OF CANADA. F!ncloiiure 2. Extract from the '< Montreal Gaiette," dated April 25, 1849. The Disgrace of Great Britain accomplished! Canada Hold and Given Away! Rebellion Losses Bill Passed. The Governor pelted with Rotten Eggs ! .L^Hn """'"T •' T '^'""""y """•""■*"' "' '"»"' "'e Governor-General would proceed to t^s^tsi:'i:7S;r:' -''»'"«'"'' ^- - — « -pp-i '"-^-beuion feehni"Tll f!/ ''"' 't T7 ''^T 'Z M' *"^ '''^'''"'^ '« '"^"^ « '"^'•'=»» "P«" »he public It ?vlA V ',';*'' T^"^ ''''7'. '" ""■ """^ "" '"""• "'^•''- '•'« 'i"!" appoint..!, and after a.t;i^r;;;s^^:;sS """' ""' ""'^ ""'""^"•^'•' ''- '^'"''^ ''''' ^"^ -* '•"•" ^'-^ '" The Rebellion Loneg'Bill ! And to the eternal and damnable disgrace of Great Britain,'' Rebellion is the Lata of the Land t The annonncement was receive.l with groans and stampin? of feet. There were several other B.ils ,0 be a.«o,ue,l t„ afterwards ; but the galleries, ii, disgust, rushed from ttm Co unci Qmmber, " muttering curses both loud and deep?-_curses whicS will bear effect some otS ho|p:!i™:t^"^i:E^or:^^^ '-' ^— •»'"- *- ^^"«. hoot.ngs „„d groans. He was pelted with rotten eggs; he and his aide-.le Im ns S Sst:l:uhtur"s- 'ru = ""' "" "'"'r --':«----» with ther;rst'y ™ntZ 0^;: eggs ana witti mud. \\hen the eggs were exhausted stones were made u-e of to salute the hirr,;;r;:''' "' '^ "" '""" °"" "^ -^ "^"'^ ^''""p --'^^^ ♦•"' »-^-g« aiVcu"! s- The End has ber/un. ♦r„^1?°"^''T'' y"?,'""*' 'r,'' f"^ ""• '""ture. Your blood and race will now be supreme if true to yourselves You will be English " at the expense of not ! n^ British " VoThom and what ,s your allegiance now ? Answer each man' for himself. ° the peojir'' '" ^"^'""^ '"'"' ^ '■''"""''' °'' '''■'^'^" "'''-y ^y '''« ""■'^«'^'»1 cont^'ipt of W^Lthertf "^'' ' ^"''^ °" "'" P'"*^" J'A.me.this evening at ^o'clock. Ando- ^axons to the struggle, now is your time. ""1,10 CANADA. Enclutura 3. Enclosure 3. Votes and Phoci-kdinos of the LKOisrvriVK AsstMBLv. Bonsccours Hall, Friday, April 27, 1849. The Orders of the Day were postponed until to-morrow. 1 he House then adjourned until 10 o'clock, a.m., to-morrow. Saturday, April 28, 1849. Hon. Mr. Boulton moved the following address to his Exoelleiicy :_ May it rLEA.sE youh Excellency, assombii;; jia"",£:?d\'s;tit o7i "''*"'^' "" ?'^"',™ ^' ^^""^•'^ '" p-'---"* to the policy ol either ^ '" '^^ "'"'^ ^' y^"" P""'''^™' ^'l^'^^''^' ^''"'""^ '"'"-'•ence it rdu,:;;::Sm^^t?^ tn;!':: 0^"'''^ r '7'" ^'^ '^ r^^ «"''^^'-''""y -'-'•• - ^^-^ lency mav find it necSr7to ake U •>,"' '"'"'^'"^ "-'''P"''!. ° ""^ '"^^^'"•^' ^^■'"^'' y"'"" E^'^^l" ourselves'to make S /..v oxionl 1 ' P'^^f^'-^/'on of the public peace, and we pledge .etfind it nece..^^i SnSX'I^qiS-IlTKri^^ ''""" '^ "^^^^^^^^' ^ '"^ Mr. fh/..on moved, ,n an.end.nont. That an liumble Address be presented to his Excellencv C Enclosure 3. 10 PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE CANADA to express that,— Wo, the Commons of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg to assure his i-xcellency of our undiminisiied devotion and attachment to our Most Gi-icious Sovoroian -md the Crown of Groat Britain, and of the respect due to Her Majesty's Representative fn this portion of Her Majesty's dominions. That this city lins been the scone of violence and outrage of a most deplorabio and friehtful character; the public records of tiio province and the parliament buildings have been burned by lawless men, private property destroyed, and se^.ous injuries inflicted on several neaceab'e anu loyal citizens. ' That this House desires to express unanimously its abiiorrence and indi<^nation at such out- ra^ous and lawless acts, destruction to tlie peace of society, order, and good government 1 hat this House is prepared by every constitutional means to aid the Government in the suppression ol violence, tlie restoration of order, and to assert the supremacy of the iaw T^T xT*/~il*T'''; S'^^'sley. Boulton of Toronto, Cayley, Christie, Gait, Gugv, Sir Allan N MacNab Malloch, McConnell, Papineau. Robinson, Seymour, Sherwood of Brockviile bherwood of Toronto, Suiitli of Frontenac, Stevenson, and Wilson.— 17. ' Nays .-—Messrs. Arnislrong, Attorney-General Baldwin, Beaubien, Bell, Bolton of Norfolk Boutillier, Burritt, Catneron of Kent, C- ier, Cauchon, Chauveau, Davignon De Witt' IJuchesnay, Dumas, Fergusson, Flint, Fortier, Fournier, Fourquin, Guillet, Holmes. La lerriere, Launn, i^emieux, Marquis. McFariand, Merritt, Methot, Morrison, Nelson Not- man, 1 olctte. Price, Sauvageau, Smith of Durham, Smith of Wentworth, Tache, Thompson Viger, Watts, and Wctenhall. — 42. * ' Hon. AFr. Sherwood moved, That the further consideration of the main motion be nostnoned until Monday ne.xt. ' ' A,r ^f'^V'Tr^'.^""''- '^^•'SW. Boulton of Toronto, Christie, Gait, Gugy, Sir Allan N. MacNab Malloch, iMcConiiell, Robinson, Seymour, Sherwood of Brockviile, Sherwood of Toronto Smith of Frontenac, and Stevenson.— 14. Naijs :—Mossrs. Attorney- General Baldwin, Beaubien, Bell, Solicitor-General Blake. Boulton of Norfolk. BoutiUier, Cameron of Kent, Cartier, Chabot, Chauveau, Davi ^ lotT, Mr. Gait moved, in amendment to the main motion. That this House have viewed with the most profound regrut the disturbance ot the public peace in the citvof Montreal during the last hree days, and which has resulted in the destruction of the Parliament building, with the archives and library, the destruction of much private property, and injury to the persons of Her Majesty s subjects. i i ./ j j v That this House considers it their first duty to tender to the Government their assurance that nothing shall be wanting on their part to restore public tranquillity, and that they are '"'^t/ ^'iY'- r>"0^is'0'' for any measures jndged necessary to protect the lives and property of Her Majesty's subjects. ^ *^ ^ Tiiat whilst this House are of opinion that the restoration of peace is the first object to be achieved, they consider that they sliould be wanting in their duty to 'he country if^hey did not express their opinion, that to the advice of the present Executive Government, in recom- mending his Excellency to assent to the Rebellion Losses Bill, and to the manner in which that assent was given, is to be attributed the disturbances which have resulted so disastrously for the honour and prosperity of tliis province ; and that this House, lull" recognisin>» tlie consti- tutional principle that the Administration are to be lield responsible for all "acts of the Government, desire to express to his Excellency their sincere regret that his advisers should have taken that course wliicli has ciiused insults to be ollered to the representative of Her Most Gracious Majesty in this province, as well as to this House, which are calculated to diminish the respect of the people for the constitution under which they live. Yeas .-—Messrs. Badgley, Boulton of Toronto, Christie, Gait, Gugy, Sir Allan N. MacNab Malloch, McConnell, Robinson, Seymour, Sherwood of Brockviile, Sherwood of Toronto' Smith of Frontenac, and Stevenson. — 14. ' iVays .-—Messrs. Attorney- General Baldwin, Beaubien, Bell, Solicitor-General Blake Boulton of Norfolk, BoutiUier, Cameion of Kent, Cartier, Cauchon, Chabot, Chauveau, Da- vignon, Do Witt, Solicitor-Gencral Drummond, Duchesnay, Dumas, Forgusson, Fournier Fourquin, Hincks, Holmes, La Terriere, Lemieux, Marquis, McFariand, Merritt, Nelson,' Notman, Papineau, Polette, Price, Smith of Wentworth, Tache, I'hompson, Viger, Watts and' Wetenhall. — 37. ' The question being then put upon the t.iain motion, the House divlued thereon, and it was carrieil in the affirmative. Yeas .-—Messrs. Attorney-General Balchvin, Beaubien, Bell, Solicitor-General Blake, Boulton of Norfolk, BoutiUier, Cai.ieron of Kent, Cartier, Cauchon, Chabot, Chauveau' Davignon, De Witt, Solicitor-General Drummond, Duchesnay, Dumas, Fergusson, Fournier! Fourquin, Hincks, Holmes, La Terriere, Lemieux, Marquis, McFariand, Merritt, Nelson! Notman, Polette, Price, Smith of Wentworth, Tache, Thompson, Vi ? He (Mr. Boulton) would, as long as he stood upon the floor of the House, express his opinion learlessly and openly, through evil report and through good report, whatever mi' -'^' 'Attachment of ,: people . t Canada to the person and Government of our beloved Sovcei-n, and of their earnest desire to preserve the connexion with the Parent State We further beg leave to express to your Excellency our tleep sense of the justice and im- partiality wliK . has uniformly characterized the constitutional goVernment of yiir ExceUetlcy, CANADA. 14 PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE CANADA. t^';"; pS;?fVitr""^ °'^""'" '"'"" ^ """ ^ y°"^ P'-'^^"^ ^^^'--' -"-^^ -fere„ce it , " / "'*' " u '"'*^ of tranquillity, when only last night two men were shot and wounded in the streets He was prepared to go all lengths to aid the Government in restoiung peace, but he could not vote for a motion like this, and he objected to it as beTn^oS T/ie SpeahcT said that it was ti-ue that there was a rule requiring a day's no'ico, but that it KdvSle.' """''"' '^"''" '''^' """^'-^ '' ^'^P*^"^^ "•'^•' '^'^' ->« ^h«" ^hey had thought Mr. G«^i' contrasted the conduct of the Attorney-General, in withdrawing his motion to £,3 ?,im ?M;"r "' ^ "h ""■ '" ^°f l'''^ -'^l--. -i'h the manner f„ whirl;; had intemipttd h m (Mr. Gugy) on the previous day. He was also prepared to go to all len-^ths n . nh '""'"'"'"•."^ "^'^'^ ''"d tranquillity, but he could not consent to an address brought foiS coilct ofTh7Mr't"''"TL' '". """P.!^'*- "°"^^ '"'^ ^" ^'^P--'- "f approbation the Z^ \ \^\ '"'^^'y- The honourable member talke«™'^« ' «••. if they were guilty, to have them fully committed. JUr mison smd that every honourable member in the House knew that ho had from the hrst deprecated the unfortunate occurrence of a former evening, and he had spoken his senti- mentsonti • occasion advisedly ; he had held no communication with any person whatever • he had retired from the excitement that prevailed, and had looked at this as a great constitu! tiona question apart from the excitement of the moment. He had declared at once that he wouW array himself on the side of peace and order, and the honourable members on his side of the House had all declared the same thing. He had r.cted on this principle up to the present moment; he had spoken to hardly an individual in the Hous. or in the city; L had secluded hmiself and looked calmly on at what was passing, and he s;.oke and acted not as being in the presence of the population of Montreal, but as in the presence of all time to come, lie «as opposed to responsible government in the first instance, because he did not suppose that we were yet, ht lor lesponsible government; he was sincere in that belief, and he opposed responsible government as warmly as he could oppose anything which could come before the House. But when that system of government was conceded, he must as sincerely and deter- rZ\J, u ^^^'•'•y'"^ .'to-t. He had not thought that a mere transc ipt of the British Constitution could be applied to this province in Its present state, yet when that prin ciple was conceded ho -as prepared to cany it out and wished now to carry it out, and he ment Tf^hrTiV'" '^'^ ^ T- r"'"t' V^'' ?"^^*'°"- According to responsible govern- ment, if the elections were fairly conducted, and he believed there was no charge that thev were unfairly carried at tne last election, because the gentlemen who were now the opposition had the power in their own hands at the time the elections took place. The elections were earned fairly enough, and the opinion of the country was fairly taken on all the questions submitted. He (Mr. Wilson was surprised at the result of the elections, but neverthelest the power had been constitutionally placed in the hands of the gemlemen opposite. If S sponsible government was to be carried out in its spirit, the Governor-General was, in all oood feuh, pledged to be advised by the gentlemen opposite, so long as they had the po^er and were supported as they were by the country. They had, in virtue of that support. the\ight to clr^ on the Government, and to advise his Excellency to give his asseiU to any mfasure tS lv.l .n'l^t ' '"^^" .^^'^'^"'^y '^-^ l^°""J »o follow their advice, constitutionally fn^l ,h H "''"T^^ ^" "^•'^ '" ^ <=o"«*i»"tional way in accordance with that advij and the House and the ccuntry were bound to submit to it until their principles and conduct should meet with the disapprobation of the majority of the peop e. sS Zs his Idea of responsible government. Now, he would apply ^this principle to the p e^n case Here was a measure which, whether expedient or i/expedie'nt, wL introducedTnto the House and earned by the House after it had been fully and fairly debated • it vva, hen carried to the other House, and passed that House also. Now he (Mr Wi son? held that his Excellency was bound to give his assent to a measure which had U. us passed both Houses withou any reference to the Government at home, if he thought prope'^^^ to do so When he assented to it, that moment it became law. and that moment it" became the du^v of every man quietly to submit to it, so long as it existed as a law. To oppose it after it bcJame law by force, as a pnnc.ple, was rebellion ; to oppose it by a resort to v-iolencD as a popSr demonstration, was madness But let honourable gentlemen look at it ia another pofnt of view Suppose there should be a change, and the pLent opposition should come intoTwer as It was to be expected they would some time or other ; was it anything more than fusT to t!!Ji'r SLp"^'"' s'^ '*"' I"' t^:f^'^' ''^^y^^°"^'l «''P'^'="'-- themselves^r. they oc upied heir places? Suppose the Bntis i party came into power-and he did not use the te m m any offensive s.gnificat.on-ai,d that some of their measures should be exceedl^iJlv offeT sive o the French population of Canada, would they have a right to say that the Gov^mo; hould not give h,s assent if he pleased to a measure passed by large ma or itL h bS hohMt''t b ' ''^•''"'"'■'i' ^^■°"'^' '^iy '^''"^'J'"- '^-'^ right Lurs^e? N?! tS y wouj S^.r:hi%=f r an^ c£:e;:Si;:!i'ti!:i 'r-$^:^iS hoard be oRered to heir measures ; and if they introduced bad measure, the counU v wo dd urn them out of their places in due time, and for that time the minoSy o gh, I" alt He the honour, integrity, and civilization of the country. He had said before tfaTthe occurrence! CANADA. 16 PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE CANADA.' °hev thit'S 7hTJ "'T ?'* '"T.T "" '''^. '"'•"'•y "•■ ""• P^°^i'"=^- »"'» "'« longer trity thought .( it, the more deeply would they perceive and feel the s ain. He would not sav a word to exote warm feeling, because he dVpan^ated it. He was since-e when he a d ,S I'm «t'e''Ts' "k''" 'I' '''^'^ f^r' ""• "^''"•- "'^ ''°P-' honourable member , a h^m uere as sincere when they made the same .ieclaration. He thought if ail honourable now He fori w.th as much sincerity as he ,lid, peace woul.l havl iu-en res.S So ^ th^ c iT ' V^ """'" ,'" *''" •'«''»'"°"« "tanner thev had been, but it would be a Ja o veTLr;:/" T f :r' •'"' " ""^T' '^''-^^ -"''•-^t.-iued by .he con" le at Uast of a jet bel er class, who, .1 there was anything in their iirofe^sions. should have shown a as not to be able to proceed with the business of the country. There were some measures of .ft e importance winch ought to be put off"; but the great n.easures by which tirn.Srv were to stand or fall ought to be proceeded with, so that d.e country could judge of the Colab e gentlemen opposite by their measures, and say whether or not they should fet^iin hri laces He should not longer detain the House, but it'was due to the couiitry to explain the principles' thL 71 ;. ''"Fd that members on botli sides of the house were in favour of peace and he hough there would be no oi,jec.ion to an address simply in favour of peace mKlfiai'in ill ijv keP^n„"^f ?'^ ""i''' "'»S»''^'-''.^v«'' "0 honourable member more desirous than himself of keeping peace and more determine.l not to be prevented from the open and fearless ex," ess on a Lr;rc"erfl";Li'-'"'f'T "^ ""••^*- ^l-e honourable me'mber for SheTbrSr ),, V; . 7. indiv.Juals who were m confinement; he (Mr. B.) must sti.te distincflv hat he thought the detention of these gentlemen in confinOment was most in.polit c and nms^ fiable ; the sitting magistrate declare.l that there was sufficient in the affi,"aS to justi E ■UtrTf P'T":''' '"^ ''^ "'^''^ 'h""-''"'-'^' '» •'"- ^■°'"""««'l them I eb ievS o-S their^ r- r °'^'^'«'^''.""""«"<-^, Of the disturbance was the detention of these men wi^i out their having been committed. The honourable member for Norfolk complained o the presence of the soldiers in the building; but who put them there? Who aTk d " or 1 1 em? I «d any member been prevented from the performance of his duty so a» o render nece3v .presence o bayonets? I, was true some members of the House had been .^ro slyltiS by a crowd collected in front of the government house ; but why were not theCeople H? eu aw.y and prevented from assembling. The law gave sufficient power to thrautlHes vhv hfcal fh "^T"" 'T'°^'"f • }'^^^''- "•) '•■'"•^•' ""' '■- "-t''' or for bo 1 irof arm" mei^ he came there to perform liis duty, and he would perform it fearlessly and boldly Tho honoiirable member for Norfolk .J that it was uncon':ti.„tiona: lo pS th Que i/' ' j^/ri?o«/p„ denied that he had said it was unconstitutional: he 'had said tlm they had a givenlmri:;."""' '"^ '" ''"' ^^'^'^'^ '^ '^ ^^^ ""^ tacitly destroying the system of respCiii: Mr. Badgley continued.-Did the honourable member mean to deny that it was the riaht and privilege of every subject to address his Queen, when the occasion Called foiT in a Wr aTne r.o tl^^' V /%^' '° ' 'Y *'" '"''^''"''"'^ "^ " ^''^'^^ province had t a riT o appeal to he British Sovereign for protection. He believed the honourable member wo ik no^ X R 'f l"'\'"""°"' "'"'.'^ "''1^ '^'^ '"^"" '» "'^' «"»i^'> population of the pro i ce He i ; of htj HnSTs"' •" .loanything to risk his life' if^ieed be-in mSintaiidng the' peace Of ttie city, and was prepared to give the Government every assistance with his heirf and hand; but he would not be cajoled into the expression of an^piirilkethivi Lou Mr Baldwin ro,e to explain why he did not object to this resolutioit whilst he had obSed to the honourable member for Sherbrooke speaking on the preceding morning. He depre- cated yesterday, and he still deprecated, any discussion for the present of the ?;cent calami tons occun^nces. When the proper time arrived he should, he hoped, be able to ustSv Un course the Government had adopted; but this ad.lress expressed, and was intend ,1 o exm- ' o op.n.ou concerning the conduct of die Government, 'it was simply a declaration oth; determination of the House to support the h-.d of the Governmei t 'in the ,ise vatbu of the public order. The honourable member f.,r Sherbrooke had read certain ette"^ and a luded to the treatment of the parties who had been arrested. He was not ava e of -tny attempt to deal wiih those parties contrary to the or.iinary course of the admii i tratkn 7f justice : there was not and could not be any such desire on the part of the Govl « uvs not, of course minutely acquainted with the steps taken by the niagistraJ s Any dehv m the examination had been cause.l by the excited state of th/town yesterday biU t he p m ceedings were in progress, and he doubted not that the accused were by this t me e tie ■ 'is' charged or committed. ^ <-•■" nmu eiuici uis. Sir Allan MacNah desired to assure the honourable member of his readiness to support Her Ma estys ministers ,n an assurance to his Mxcellency the Governor-General tlmt "^rH-^^se woukl unite with the Government and himself in any measure for the seen i'ty of t e m c peace Lvery member of the House, he lelt sure, was prepared to vote for it He 's ir A A woul.l be proud of an opportunity of seconding such an addivss ; but if the ho lou, U.l'Xnttnnn ' supposed that they were to be drawn iuto the^uloption of an ad.hvss like tha mom^ ed wi C might, doubtless, have their view, of tiie unfortunate ocainvnces which they ail deplored so AFFAIRS OF CANADA. 17 inii(5ji,b.iitthoy must allow the opposition to hold different opinions, and give ihem time to express them. ITiey might be prepared to charge the Government with great neglect— with being the cause of all this.-and wiiy shoidd they not have an opportunity of doing if ? But. at the same time, If the Government desired their support to maintain peace and tranquillity in tliis city, and '"k- u.r"'""u''^' 'u y ''®'"'' prepared to give it, but would oppose them upon those points on wtJich they thought they were wrong by every constitutional means. The honourable and gallant Knight then read the proposed address, and commented on it. He denied that at the time this occurrence took place, the province was in a state of " profound peace and tranquillity " 1 he greatest excitement prevailed at the time ; the province was shaken to its very centre • the province never was in such a state of excitement. Let them strike out that clause if 'they wished tlie address to be unanimous. In their attachnumt to the British Crown they must ail agree. He (Sir Allan) treated with the most profound contempt tlio idea that "had been mdustriously circulated throughout this country of annexalioii to the United States He was prepared to lay down his life on the scaffold or on the field to maintain the connexion with Great aritain. (Mr. Notman.— How about the Hamilton " Spectator ?) What had he to do witii the Hamilton "Spectator ? The articles on annexation in the « Spectator" emanated from a man who entertained the same opinions as the honourable member himself, (Name name ) Did any honourable member mean to say that he (Sir Allan) adopted the opinion of any man who wrote in the Hamilton " Spectator" in favour of annexation ? Had not the sai'.e opinions been advanced in the ■' Journal and Express," and other papers throughout the province ? But ho would state publicly, and before the country, that he had no community of feelinjr with the men who entertained those opinions. The whole course of his life showed his attachment to Uritish connexion, and he -vas prepared at all times and in every place, to unite with every good man in putting down such opinions, and defending our connexion with the Mother t-ouiitry. He had been warm during the present session, and he had reason to be warm but he knew of no vote that he had ever given in the House that he would not give a^ain ■ he ilehed honourable members to point to a single vote recorded that they could brinc/'up that he would not readily give again, neither had he siiid anything offensive of any honourable member; he had only repelled attacks made upon himself. He objected to the expression of unbounded confidence in his Excellency; he (Sir Allan) had not such an exalted opinion 01 his Excellency, with whom he had but very slight personal acquaintance, and he did not think he Government ought to ask them to commit themselves. All they had a ri<^ht to ask was, that they should unite for the preservation of peace and order, and they coukrnot point to any constitutional mode of doing that in which the opposition would not concur but thev ivere not prepared to go as far as the Ministry wished. They might have acted according to the dictates of their conscience, but he (Sir Allan) had his own opinion of their conduct " It was absurd to say that the peace of the city was restored. Good God ! were they prepared \o say that peace was restored when bayonets were bristling at every corner, when arnled mobs were parading the streets, when there had been assemblages of the people last eveninland again he was told at seven o'clock this morning, and when only last evenhig Uvo men had been wounded with shot I He thought, too, they ought to be more giaarded i^ the powers , ley gave to the Governor; he would do a great deal, but he was not prepared to go as far as the address proposed. If the address was restricted so as merely to assure the Governor of their determination to support the Government in maintaining the peace and tranquillity of the country, he was prepared to vote for it; but if it was to be pressed with the objectionable tt™K"ot'ti:Hou?r' "" "P°"''' ^P"''"' '° P"'"' *'"-' minority by^nforcing Mr Notman said that^he had great difficulty in rising to address the House. No man living ZtZ ^^^, Pf ^"^'-J" °f t'^'' British flag could have anticipated that an outrage so atrSous 3 unparallelled could be committed in the province of Canada, and in a city of such intelLence wealth, and libera hty. We could no longer point the finger of derision to a neiahErinc: l.wW. L r"'"f ' r^u ''""^'^ H" '''■"V^^* ""^'"^* "^' '^'^^here the majesty of the iol 1 • TJT '^"""^ that protection which England extends to the meaiest of her subjects, denied to tile representatives of the people. Where before, in a British colony had t^^'f wr^'T .°V^" representative of Her Majesty been insulted by hootii^ and hissings ? Where had the representatives of the people been compelled to debate uncfer the protection of an armed soldiery, and been insuhed and outraged in t leir persons ? How could the honourable member for Missisquoi ask if any honourable member oHhe Ilousf Inul been insuhed or prevented from attending to hi.s dutii? If the honourable memb rTad niove the protection to which every British subject had a right, members on his (Mr. Notman ")S ?o, r L""" We havo' the """' '[ ';™l,»>.-\^-» S^-ly --l^ed within the last U inly! lour houis. ^\e ha^e the essence ot the British constitution at last conceded to us after a sfiugglo of many years on the part of those with whom he acted; even their opponems ha "Tvi^drhTd ;:;;,! "' A? -'•rr-t''^™"'"'^ '^ Z^"^ '^ °"^ = ^"^ becauseT it .s „ ™ T ' f J '''^'t "^"^ "•"' ''""'^ '"'^^ f'l*^ approbation of the minority, these SiTed £ou°irbri r, ^'f "'\Z ''^r.- , ^^ ^-JJ -^ if thafbiU was not constitutioiSly op- posed tl rougii both bninches of the legislature, and after being well and fully debated -md re ceiving the sanction of both Houses, it became constitutionally. accordin<."o^the "ystem o f ou^ government, the aw of the and ? and were they to be told that because This Bill '/ave di«s.t acionto a portion of the inhabilants of Montreal, they were to arrogate to hem'evee" ower of setting all law at defiance ? was the House to be insulted, "the people of Caia la suited, aye the very constitutio.i in which we gloried to be trampled under ootbylloo ho ,vere iinworfhv to live under the British constitution? He (Mr.\-otman had not s Ja word on the Rebellion Losses Rill ; ho ba^l i;=,te-d to 'he -Uh-- { V\ -V • - > — i.u„ 1..,!! ,„ ,1 10 die aeOuiL- on both sides, and lie caaia CANADA. 18 PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE CANADA. 1. to the conclusion that the Bill was one that ought to be supported ; he did not regret the vote he gave upon that occasion, beranse he thought it was just/and proper and equitlwe tha ttl 1 ctJl TT"^ J"st losses in Lo^er danada nhU\ be paid as well?, t ho e in Up^ fh "n? 1 / ?Cr*""M °^ '^'V'"'""'^''"^" *" 183^' ^^hen the connexion with Gre^rB ntaK th eatened, he Mr. Notman) tnmed ont un,.er the gallant knight from IlamiitoTfor rpur- po,e of rnamtamnig ,h»t connexion, and whenever thi question of separation shoS ar seVth s country, he wouhAe found as in 1836 and 1837, deddodly oppoid to it He had no wish 2^.h"Anrii l5""'°" "' U ^"" '^^ Ministry should have JroSSed agairlst the events of the n;:inl. In ^.""f,'^""'^' ha.^ supposed that an attack of that kM was to bo made on le m,e2^n^f '"•^' r^'^^" ^'^•=^'^'■8'' °^'^'''' ''"fy- A'l ''«'» »he right to exercise he liberty of opuuon ; but none to carry it to the extent of open violence against the law, an.l to the destruction of property. ' He felt that those who had coimtenaSd th«e acts would, when they had leisure, deeply repent them, and feel that the disgrace infliS on the city was one that time could never efrace. Why charge Ministers Sh neale ?? The occurrem-e was the work of a moment : ten minutes only had honourab e member left .he building ,vhen that building was in flames, before it was possible trobS nrlr ^''"\'^%''':^ °r ^^^^^^^^y force. Had any man previously moved an adlm- t^ld that Twer.'! " '^--S^r he wouhl have been laugW at, and would havj be7n old that «e uero living under the protection of British laws. Did the House suppose hat that meeting was composed of the low rabble-of the scum of the cty? ffi! tunatoly there was reason to fear that it was got un by inducements fom higher quarters, where such conduct was not looked for ; from persons who nem intended such a calamity ; L... who got up the excitement nnder which that act was ImSd which mus be deplored by all well-ordered minds to the last moment of theTr ves J Inn " "f '"'"''" 'V'"''' *'"'■ h°"°"'-«ble member for Hamilton of any adhesbi to S principles of annexation ; but ,t was certain that papers published in the interest of he honourable membci s party had argued in favour of it ; and that the letters wh A had appeared m the "Hamilton Spectator" were written by a Mr. W. B Wilson a gentleman who always belonged to the Conservative party. ^ If such aims could be accomplished, the colony would have passed from greLt to greater evils We would be under a system of taxation that would be most burdensome ; our influence wo bebutasaspeck.mstead of being as now a great colony favoured by England aboe a ras«e -'i; d'ehl^ T l" . 7'" '" ^"'^'''' ""'' ^'''^'' *'"^ ""^^ bickerings which might have passul in debate. The hrst business was to restore order; enough had a?readv been done to nun the credit of the province, and to destroy our character as a p"eople, and this ju t a tl e conimencemen of a bright year, when the opening of the c^nals\leveloped the moit extensive navigation in the world, and when it was hoped that free navigation would bring t'.e vesse" of the e prospects, to remember that the streets of Montreal had been deluged in blood when a united effort wouh have advanced the colony to the highest pitch of pro.^erity nllnw "tlf "^-^ ^ .•^' Attorno-General West if it were the intention of the ^Government to alow the examination of the prisoners to proceed to its legitimate end? He spoke under a full sense 01 the responsibility which belonged to the declaration ; but he thought he could take on lumsell to say that the peace of the city would be restored if the prisoner^ were e'fher committed to trial or admitted to bail. Let the officer charged with their^xaminaSn devoL us entire attention to this business ; and then, in the course "of the day, the parties wo Id be habeas CO t!l °"' "'" '° '""^'^^ *° the justices of the Court of Queen's Bench for a Mr. Baldicin assured the honourable member that every endeavour would be used to expedite these proceedings. ^ • lu »v5^' ^"w ' ''"'" •'^''I''^ ^^''\ ^^^ 'P°''^^ constables who had been armed the precedin.^ e\ening had been again disarmed. ' » «n,5'";v^T.'7ir"\ i'"' '^•■'''^^^f'"" ^^ ^oth statements, and his firm belief that these mea- suips woiiid be dlowed by a speedy return of the city to its usual tranquil condition. 31r. JJoulton (Toronto) continuing the debate on the business before the House declared his opinion, that the doctrines of responsible Government must be carried out in this colony bu when a Government assumed the broad ground that treason was to be paid, and rebellion llst,?rr.ri?"l ' I " 1 '""'Lf''' °[ ^°«>'ty "-^^ overturned, it was not to be wondered at if oto 01 confidence; it v.^as rather their duty to attempt to restore the security of life and property ™7n?lLl f '•^^P'''^!,"''"'^ t.J'e citizens ought to feel for themselves. He knew that the honourable member for Hamilton desir.d this enthusiastically ; for he had seen him on the night of the 2,^nh mamtaan his place ,i, the House of Parliament when it was no longer tenable, Ind knew that he had repeatedly thrown himself into the showers of stor.es, in order to attempt to exercise h,s influence with the crowd. After some further observations from the honourable member, unanimous ^''P'^''*"' "" ''"P^ **'^' '''« ™'« ^'o"''' be so arranged that it might be f>r^''tl^'"'TT ^g''«^'^7''b the honourable member for St. Maurice i-i the opinion that the fMirL. '^11 *i ^"'^"^"1, *? was the re-establishment of order. He believed that for this S!lr ^T'' ?^',^'' State would work harmoniously-the Civil Government, the Military Government, and all honest men. If the Military Government wo-.dd not do its duty It would be a new fact in English history. ^' Mr. Ilinchs. m some short observations, endeavoured to show that nothing had occurred prev^usto the nigk of the 25th which could afford iust ground for serious Apprehension to nently lojal ; yet there as violent language had been used with regard to the Rate-in-Aid Bill as had been ased ,n Montreal; the measure being one intended to°tax property for the support d the poor. Yet no one would deny that the co°untry was in a state of profound tranZC merely on account of this constitutional agitation. The Karl of Londonderry, the largest proprietor.n that country, was strongly opposed to this measure, as was also the Earf of itouen. Were the honourable member read some very violent language of the Earl of Roden and concluded by asking whether there had been anything in Canada^o calculated to exS alarm as language such as that ? "" Mr. Mcrritt said that measures had now been taken to secure tranquillity, and he thought there was no fear of further riot. ^ "jougm 3fr. H J Boultoii. in order to meet the views of the other side of the House, proposed to change the form of the address nearly as follows :-We, the Commons of Canati beg leave humbly to approach your Lxcdiency, and to assure your Excellency of our attachmen! to the person and government of our Most Gracious Sovereign and the British Crown, and of our respect for Her Majesty's representative. For three days this city has been die scene of violence and outrage of a deplorable cimracter, the Houses of Pa/liament and the public records have been destroyed by hiwless men ; life, too, has been jeopardized and serious njury done to the private property of Her Majesty's loyal subjects. This House, therefore, desires to express its utter abhorrence of these lawless acts, so disturbing to the peace of society and IS prepared to aid the Government in every constitutional manner, in suppressin nnint feel at the in.nlt which^ h^ bm. offmXo the Chief Magutrate and through him to the niaio.ty of the law ITiu vote was then taken on the amendment. r«M;-MeMr». BadKlev, Uoiilton of Toronto. Christie. Gah, Cugy, Sir Allan N MacNab S?of .^'l?'"'"^"' ?f "-"• Seyn-our. Slu-rwood of Uro^kvilg Sherwo^ of Toront amitli ol rrontenac, and Stevenson. — 14. xuiumu, n'^?*"'7i^7n- ^ltonH.y-«e>,eral Baldwin. Dcaubien. Bell, Solicitor-General Blake Boulton of Norfolk. Boutillier. Cameron of Kent. Carti^r, Cauchon, Chabot C L"v^au Dav,.r,v,n. De VV.tt. Sohcitor-Generul Drunimond. Dnchesnay, Damas, FerKus^n F "un ier' Fourqum HnK:k.. Holmes La Terriero, Lemienx. Marqui , McFa land.^Stt So, ' WcSl^""' ■ '^'"'' ^"'"' "'•^^■-•'-"h.Tal, Thompon, Viger: w'a.u. and car'^s ?;.';r":a.i!'" p"' "''•" "" "^^ ■"°'''^"' ^''^ "°"'« ^^'^''^^'^ ^'— . '^--i ^^ wa, nn^u'"''TvTn ^""'•"••y-<^«"eral Bul.hvin, Beaubicn, Bell. Solicitor-General Blake Boulton of Norfolk Bou.-llier. Cameron of Kent. Cartier, Cauchon. Chabol Clmuveau Da' v,gnon. DeW.t. Solicitor-General Drummond. Ducho«nay. Dumks. Fe'gursoT Fo .'rnier Pourqu.n.n,nck« Holme,. La Terriere, Lemieux, Marquis. McFarla. ,f Mer ,t Si.-Sg. ' ' '"' °^^''"'*°"''. 'i^^el"'^ Thomp;on. Viger. WaUs.Tm M^N^V'Tf^'i?*?- Pi'^s'^'y',^""!'"" of Toronto, Cayley, Christie. Gait. Gugy, Sir Allan N wcS of t1" ^Smm^^^^^^^^ r^P""""; 5«'>'''-". H"— •. Sherwood of £ctvilf' Sher-' Hoou oi loronfo. Smiitli of iMontoiiac, and Steveuaoi:.— IG. The House then adjourned. ilaon, fen- Enclosure 5. Extract from the " Pilot and Journal of Commerce." dated Montreal. April 30. 1849. The Late RioU. Now that pace and tranquillity have been, it may be hoped, quite restored it mnv »>« proper that the public both here ami in England, shoul.fbe put'^in pJsse^sbn of all he .Lu connected with a very .hsgraceful riot which is calculut.Kl ,o injure the creui of the p oviSce to destroy the prospect of obtaining English capital to con. uct our railwavs and fo^nr^I^ Sv"""'w""h"'i[*''''l"' "'"'=' ''• ^h ^"^J*^'^^ "^^ "- Majesty o^ht iff; lien anSrt" allay. We shall endeavour to treat the «.tire subject with calmness and moderatior We have no desi.-e to mflame and irritate the angry passions of men capable of comSe such outrages as those which have disgraced this city. We do not even deem it .Zswv ft pre sent to defend the course taken by the Administration with regard to the IndenTtv Si* Sve are ar more anxious to maintain the great cause of constitutLal government anfl to defend the honoured representative of our beloved Sovereign, who has been most sl.ameully vilified for carrying into effect the wishes of the two Houses of the Cmmdian Pari rraenr Al Ca nadian politicians profess their adhesion to the principles of constitmioi 1 govirnmem and hose principles, we need scarcely inform our readers, require the Sovereign a,^,] TSuJse the representative of the Sovereign, to assent to all Bills which have been sa.^ toS b v 4e wo Houses of Parliament Let us not be misunderstood. In England, as in Canada the Sown can exercise the Koyal prerogative of refusing to assent to a Bill , but in piactr^his conl nev.r ^.sorted to, (or the simple reason, that'if the Cro,vn ha, determL^rtrwit d lo" sent, the time fo'' annouacmg such determination would naturally be before, and .X ?he passingof the Bill. Why, lor instance, should the whole country have been inflamed and distracted with t ns Indemnity Bill, and the time of Parliament wasted, if all was o come to naught by the refusal of the Governor's assent? It would obviously have bee a , JbsuXy on he part of the A, mimst ration to introduce such a mr , ,„.v. „ad to undergo all the censure of their opponents, ,f hey had nut the means of carrying it iu^o eff.xt. One arc „„ 'nt alZcan be used agamsl the foregoing view of the case, vi^', 1 ,. ^ . , , estion wa/ J/1S2 How can such a proposition be maintained for a mouu-iii : The Bill proposes an Sir a' tion of the money of .he Canadian people for a Canadian object. VVhrsrouldTL pSe ol" England interfere, unless to support a minority against a majority? But, it is "aid nublfc opinion IS against the measure. The answer to this is, that in the city of Mont.ear whe^e t e greatest excitement prevails the presetit members were returned by large ma joritkrandi-e defy our opponents to give the names of fif,y of their supporters who disapprove othd, vols on this particular measure. The truth is, that both in Lower and Upper Canada the oppo! nl %t ^'" '"' '""'" "" '""'°"' «"•-' "" "'« V^rt of the minority ^ ^^ the as'e^fiir'th.T'.t^''^ TT''^ "'"'" "'^"'.l^-'" "^ British cngin, which entirely disproves the as^eifion tliat the question has^any connection with national dislincticns. Th/ adminis- tration has a majority from Upper Canada as well as from Lower Canada, and in the forn^r province there ,s not a single French Cm.a.iian representative. The Bill not iinl an irnpera question in anv way, the (iovernor-Geneial having oeen called upon very suddenfy to saEn the Customs Bill m consequence of the arrival of two vessels at Quebec, proceeded to die Par" lieroon, and it was April 30, 1849. AFFAIRS OF CANADA. m llament House on Wedne«rav. the 25f h instant, and gave the Royal aM«nt to all tho Bills which had ptswl both HouK-s, and bei-n rrporlwl upon. This was fho usual, and obviously tho corr.Mn course. Had any other bcOT u.l„ptcd there woul.l hare bwn just cause for complaint. The lime had evidently arrived when his Excoll.mcv was called upon either to assent to the Bill or to reserve it. As the representative of the Queen of a country governed on constitutional prin- ciples, hrough a Parljament.one Hou.o ..f which is freely elected by the people, his cour4 was plain. He acted on the advice of Pttriiument and of his ministers, an.l «si.v,tod to (he Bill Immediately a slight disturbance ensued in the Legislative Council Chamber, -.'he disnnpointe,! faction wa. excited, and symptoms of disappn.bation were manifested, which were further exhi- bited by renewed insult as h,s Kxcellency left the Parliament House, though, as we n.entione«l oil a former occasion, the rioters were in a minority. The assent was given to the Bill about . "';?*''* ' ' ""• "*■«"'"»' '"^"^ immediately after means were tak-n to get up u public meet- in,r The fire-e,mnes were got out, and the bell, were rung in every direction. A most intlammalory and l,oas,.nable hand-bill was circulate.l from the ofRc. of th.« leading opposi- tion paper and a meeting was in a few li<..u-s organize.l. which was a.M. i-ssed by in.liv duals prommently connected with the Conservative party. We have no hesitadon in affirming our belief tliat these parries are responsible morally, ifnot legally, for all th» consequents which ensued, although they o course disclaim all intent!,,., of tninsgressi„g the bounds of const Im" tional op,K,s.tion. As their conduct is likely to be the subject of h'gal inquiry, we .shall at present say no more regarding it; but from that meeting a portion of the mob of whicti it was composed, hurried to the Parju.ment House, where the Assembly was in session, smashed the windows with stones and before the troo,« co.ild be brought on {he gro.ind, applied ihe torch to the buddmg, which was entirely consumed, with the valuable librarts of the two houses, and ti^ilnJr TV ■".Tu'*"- J\'' «l'l'08ition say that the Government should have foreseen this ?"trage and should have had troops on the groun.l to proent it. But the same parties admit that they themselves never contemplated the possibility of such an act of Vamlulism, and had the troops been on the ground, they would have assertefl that the ministry desired to « m- press the legitimate expression of public opinion against one of their measures. The fact Is that there can be no security, under any Government, against the sudden violence of a mob It IS grat.ving to know that the ringleaders of the incendiaries are afraid to acknowledge or to justify their acts, and while acts of violence are committed which no person of influence will assume the responsibility of.justifyi,,^-, it is obvious that although much mischief may be com- mitted, there is no danger ot any very serious consequences. On Thursday morning all apiH^ared for some time to be tranquil, but the prompt ar.est at u.^ early hour ot the orators of the night before renewed the excitement. The accused weiv sent to gaol under a stxong escort, and in the afternoon their friends gathered again in numbers about the Parliament House, offering insults of all kinds to the magPstratcs, aiul others passing iJffH' ^ lorbearanco was manifested; so much so, ;bat both the friends and oppo- nents of the Government have charged it with ,vant of vigour. xVo doubt the party in oppo- sition would, on ono-tenth of the provocation, have deluged the streets with bfood But wo believe that it is a consolation to the Government that not a life has been lost durin.r the late tumult. After some time Uie mob dispersed, as was supposed --t the time, but news sCou came that the rioters had gone off to the suburbs. Here they co,.imitte.l some wanton outra-^es.! hrstatthe dw^l.ng. house of the Inspector-General, Mr. Hincks, and the adjoh.in