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Chairman, — The merits of this bill have, here- toibre, bqen discussed so frequently and so fully, that it ia not likely any argumenta will be ofiered to the committee, which they have not heard and considered bcibrc ; at least 1 do not pretend, that I can make any observations, which, by their novelty, will reward your attention. I was willing, therefore, that the vote should be taken, wilhoiit any thing being said by me, except the few remarks which I niade when I moved for the adoption of the preamble: for I have not been dispo- sed, on the present occasion or any other, as the house will bear rac witness, to consume time by an unneces- sary debate. At the same time, sir, I '^as sincere when I declared, that, although 1 would not provoke discussion, I was notafraiil of it, but was prepared and willing to argue the snlj(M:t, as fully as any of the adversaries of the measure could desire. And, indeed, when 1 consider that it is strenuously resisted by men of great [>ower, influence and talents, and that its suc- cess a^^ainst such srrouij and formidable opposition must dej)eud on tlio force of public opinion, which can only b« forraed and kept aUve and strengthened by such clear explanations and such plain reasons as w'ill remove prujudices and convince the understand- ing, I am not sorry, that the speeches of the hon. and learned Attorney General, and Solicitor General com- pel me to repeat, at length, the arguments in favour of the bdl, for which I shall make no other excuse, how- ever tedious they may seem to those, who have heard them before, than the necessity of defending the hill which has been imposed on mo by the eloquent invec- tive of mj learned friend against it. The hon, and wrong notions that tey arc lo _^^.^^^^^^ ^^^^^ all events, as it >y«P°"^"* "'^,ious to remove eve y be corrected, and as I am ai>. , q, „, -al, to pretence lor tl'VPf.Tl kail "ive a description of [vhich I have adverted I «haU ' ^e observed that .t the bill. It may. m tl^^ h^-t P *^;, •,,,, men possess ot aces not interlcre with the rignt .^^ ^^^^^ Lposing of their property byj.l;« ^^^^^^ be not restrain tbe power ot enum ^ ^„ ^e consistent with sound P" ^^.^{^" 1^ ^y entailments, is a locked up for many ^»^^^^ ,U measure, au, question which is not laiseU t^y ^^^^ „„j ^, %^ch I shall not n°^7?'f;„' ,^; only in those cases allaffectsnchapowm t Bpp J^^^_^ ^^^^ j ^vhere no devise of the P'^V^'J -^^ ^nd eqnitable those cases it ^-''^"^^^f^-l^.^Zier our present law. rule of succession, than exl^tsn ^^^^^ ih.s We have now the Engh» «yj™ Province, but was was not, originally, the law o^On^^^ ^^^^^ E„g,,,H introduced by our §«"<''*''",' ;„ force here, which ^„,._The law was P',^;^^;^ which is very s- now prevails in Lower Canada, an. .^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ milar"n principle « *!f,.^„^' (,„t rather a restoration measure is not an '"T^^'^^ir Vm Blackstone. and of a former law. ^'~ English law are of opinion lost mnoi!. Dn,. i. f^irictioii, so unjiut, so unnalunil, ^ooitiou?. ^o rop'J.^- nmt to reason and the host Iceiinos a,ul aUcctionw ot l!ie human heart, Vv'ili bo rcmovcl by the bill, and thf. ivriiiciplc cstablishfd, tl)att.he nar-nt^ of^very intestate \v'ho leaves no children, shall inherit li-.s proi)erty, m prpibrence to any other kirikred. In the thrd plaro, n similar spirit of excln.^ion prevails in our prc-^-nt .aw, withrocard to relations ol' the half blood. Not only are the remotest kindred, of tlie whole blood, preferred to them, but thcv are like parents, abHolntcly and nnder all circumstances, excluded from the mhentfincc ; ^o that one may have the mortilication to see the nitofitat'j estate of a' halt-brother or hall-sis:.6r escheat to tlu; crown, for want of heirs, nnder om- iw-esent absurd and unjust law. These two hM modifications ot the law in ve never ])een opposed. U would be an nnpardonablc v;a.=te of your time, therefore, to enter into a serious and formal ar,<^uinent in their tavom-. These, iMr. arc the most iinnortant and prominent ictures ot tins measure ; but there are some subordinate and sub- sidiary provisions, which Imny as well perhaps not omit in its description. The iirst clause, which aboU- ^;lles primoun lalion for ihose tears, and tl.a on the co^iU-arv. uotsvithstanduig tii<^equalhzin.ir e.tect m HMch a I-i w,t!iere is a constant tendency to an 'it^oum- 1 ition of oropcrly and an ari;.tocracy ofwealtli. It, tor a^tancc^vo' look to the U.iitcd States, where tliey Lnvelon- t.-itd such law and wlierc by tne way a man v'CMld c-rtainly bo thou-ht insane who snould propo^^e t >rep.ai the law and snh.titntc f .r it th« pnuciple o ,,ripio-enituie we do not find lands FubdivLded mto S a estate, as our objectors predict wdl be the con- soqumicc ora.i. bill. On the contrary notwuhstanding the equalizin-z tendency of th:ur republican \"^t;tnt on , as well as of this law there i. quite a. ^-eat an ^^^^'^"^ to an accnnmlation of property a. is '^^"M^j^tib.c ^itU the virtue and welfare and lmppme.5 ot ths countr} The other cl iu«es of the bill provide for the registiy of the decree of the conrt ; for a sinq)le and easy ap- peal to the Court of KincrsBench; and f;'^' ? — contribution trom the heirs for the payment ot any debt of the intestate whicli may be discovered after a par- tition shall b. made-The two last provisions are ana-^ locTous to the present law regnlatin- the distnbuUono pel.oaal property. The authority given by the last ^cla.so to oni heir to su.^ his coheir, tor a ratable con- iriburion of any debt of t!ie intestate uhicb ho may be compelled to pay, cannot lead to frequent law »uits a. ^ W,m.times been objected ; tor the instances ^u^l be evtremelv r:ue. where any one wiil be so dishonest, obstinate and foolish as to refuse the payment of his V.nre especially wlion there i^ such r>ii express r..< ho- rhy Ibr its^c^ werv. Such, Mr. Chairman, is the bdl ; and I hope it wiil'appeir to be not qmte sucli a mons- tor as it has sometimes been represeuted. In my (ic- scriotion of it. I have been led incidentrdly and inad- ;^" .nt!v iiito some remarks which arc an anticipaaoii c;ui H\n\l upon this Lo (U^clnrc \d tlinl OM^ Ith. If, for \\v.vr, tlu'V ^ay a niau Id propoiiC! liuciplo of /idod into >c the con- ihstanding HHtitutionri indiuatioa itiblc with !Q country, he registry id easy ap- r a mutual of any debt after a par- ns are ana- itribution of by the last atable con- ! he may be hiw suits as stances ^vill dishonest, nient of his :>reP3 p..itho- 1, it? the bill ; ucli a mons- h\ my do- lly and inad- anticipatioii of the argumcnlf* which 1 ititondrd to ofTtrin il^ siip* port. I suppose, Hir, that this projjo^^ition will not bii disputed in this House ; nanieiyj that laws which re- gulate, not the intercourse between the government and its subjects, but, merely, transnctioiis between the diflerent members of the community, or the convcy- auce or transmission of private properly from one man to another, shoidd be such as the peo[)le desire, un- less they are incompatible with the e^alety ol' the go- vernment, or arc unjust in their principle. I do not believe any one will deny this j)roposiliun, and, there- fore. I will n )t stop to prove its truth. Il it be grant- ed, I think an irresistahk' conclusion may bcdra.wn from it, in favour of this nieasiu'c. On the other hand I will admit that a law ouis.li not to be passed, however wise and just it may be, unlijss there is some conside- rable practical e\il whicli il will rrniove, or some prac- ticable good which it will produce. In other words, it is not a sufficient reason forim ('uactmentthat it is the theoretically excellcnt,unl(^sil ispracticaly needed, For instance, however just djo princi|>le of this bill may be, andhowev(3r bejieficini its ojjeration might be fitill, if our present law produces uo serious evils, if its injustice is obviated by the practice of m.iking will, I would not urije its alteration. I fcjl it to be nece- 8ary, therefore, to shew you that t'here are and ncces" sarily must be ility to draw u will, tlirit thry aro deferring it un- til tlioycan convcMHontly obtain tlu? ussistanco of those w!.o possess the nocossary skill. And thero is n natu- ral av(3rsion iu tho hiiinaii niiml to any act wliich is ns- fiociaatnd, ijisuch a closo &, pjiinlul nmanor, with our own death as tho niiikinfr a will. For those reasons and o!:hors, perhaps, wliich ini;^ht be mentioned, wills aro often, very often ne;Ljlecte(i to bo made, where there i8 no leiral disability and whore the intestate wonid not, by any moans, be satisticul with tho order of succt;s8ion which tijo law prescribes. Upon this account rti^r-^, if there were no other reasons, I should arj^ue tliat there was a necessity for such an alteration of the present law as would provide for this general necjlect, and would 1)0 adapted to tho justice of the cases in jrener- al and the probable wishes of the ii: -state. But, in rict,tliere arc additional arguments for such a modifica- tion of the law. It 'i:i required, not only in those cases where no wills aro made, but in many where they are For they are often void entirely. Still more frequent- ly they are void in part and valid in part ; as, for in- stance, tliey may be void as to the real estate and valid as to tho porsoiml, or void as to one lot of land or as to one dLwisce, and valid as to another. There m,:iy very prob:ibly be such cases as this ; the eldest son, bein^ settled during his father's life, the home- stead is dcviscnl to the younger son, and the principal part of the personal property is bequeathed to the eldest son : the will is witnessed by only two persons, or by only two persons, besides the younger son. In this case the will is void as to the real estate and valid as to the personal. The effect will be this : the eldest son will take the personal property by virtue of the will and the whole of the real estate under the law of primogeniture. This would be a case of great in- justice, but it is not a very improbable case. There is no uncertainty in such a case, however, as to the law on the subject. But there arc many leases wlvre willa V V V, ♦ 1(1 are so dravvu as to leave room tor doubts and of coiir'^n ior disputes and law-suits, and for family quarrel.7, tho most lamentable, and at the same time the most bitter and mveterate of all quarrels. Persons accustomed to draw conveyances will admit, I am sure, that a will is an mstrument which requires more skill and care than any other to be drawn so as to preclude such doubts, ^hree is such an infinite variety of circumstances «fc contingencies to be provided for, and there are some branches of the law which apply to wills so abstruse, wo cannot be surprised to find that there arecompa- rafety ^«w law suits relating to lands, which havo not their origin in doubtful and disputed wills.— -In too many cases, unfortunately, wills are not made in health, but on a death bed, when skilful assistance cannot be procured, and when the mind is weakened by disease, and distracted and overwhelmed by gloom and terror and anxiety. At such a time it is not like- ly that the division of property will be judicious, or that the will can be drawn with suitable care and in a proper manner. But .vbere all these difficulties are avoided by care, and prudence, and skill, the inten- tion of the testator may be frustrated by other causes. A change in his circur.istances, may render his will wholly or partially void. For instance, his marrian-e and the birth of a child Operate as an impHed revoca- tion of his will : that is, after these events a will previ- ously made would become void, unless it were pub- liLihcd over again. So the death of a child or other relation, or the sale or the purchase of a lot of land niiiy throw all the arrangements of a will into dis- order, and m;iy render a new will necessary in order to adjust the division of the property upon fair and e- quitable principles. For a man cannot, bv any tt'rm he may use m his will, dispose of any other real pro- perty than what he then owns. If he afterwards pur- chases real estate, it will descend to his heir-at-iaw, unless a new will is made, notwithstanding the mo«t c^^gnsive and comprehensive terms of devise. A ^ ^. chnnjio too may ta!;,, pla.o in tl.c relative vnKcof pr..t.erry wiMcl, ,rill i„ .o„,c ,„oa.ure defeat be ?et uor.s .Mtontmn u,.le«3 provided for bva new «^| !1 In some cases, tlK> sa,„e ofiects may follow from cl at ges ml,,. eircMnstances, wl.ich arc unknown to fm H nd wh,cl. he could not therefore adapt hie a rang": t Wore, that the prt/i'l^^^.l^'Sr c'a":' oiigt to be repealed, and that there is a real ncccs^i^v ...• its a tcrafon. A law mnst be nnjust and is ce ^ tamly nnjnst which requires to be guaS n..a nsUn ^ „n ," • "^ oppressive, to retain a law, which ff c ,:i'" "^ operation, and so repugnant to 'n^tu^al a itction, and the general sentiments of the country dtfe^nt'l '°"''' """"■ if <='""I'«"led to make aw To- world t »"" V°" r^^l J"^' »^ «■«" have one tm r>u ■ 1,„ "'';''"^? '° ""' <:ondition of the counfry ai d the general w.shes of its inhabitants as to render w lis m most cases unnecessary. 1 recollect, s r, "ha on a tormer occasion, my honourable and learned friend the Sohcitor General, denonnced the bm a" „ legislative attempt to make wills for every body No„ a hough I am not so sanguine as to suppose- tktths bill, or any other measure, on this or ai y other sub ri'cTse \;f r*"' rr'' •" ""'/i-™s^arc:fo"f f ;i.::L\iti:-\i^K,;i rit'l:'iin;rr;,j^ \ou will observe. Sir, that in these remarks I bivp assumed the injustice of the present law S I have raTon i,l « . P'-'"'ogcniture might be in its opel ration, its njiisticc was obviated by the novcr of ■naking a wdl, which, it is said, (thoLlTas have •■^licwn, lu.ome meastire crron^otislVsnidO '^crri'ao 'V V2 pos«o9scs. and that there was therefore, no necessity lor tins l)ill-— I hopo r have refuted tliis objection and have proved its necessity by various considerations. llaviny uii appeal to tli3 heart of every inmi, or, at least, of eve- ry parent. Who can be fo and, that would look upon his chlldrcn,"aiid tell thttm, that he was determined, when he died, to turii them, a^ beggars, u[)on the world, in order that his eldest son might swagger in aristo- cratic pomp and haughtiness! No! Mr. Chairnmn, it is not necassary to argue the question of the law of primogeniture. It is a self-evident proposition, an in- Btinctive truth, which cannot be made plainer by rea- soning. But the most grave, and formidable and vehement objections to this bill, have been founded on the assum- ption that its tendency would be hostile to our institu- tions.^-These are serious objections certainly, if they are all well founded ; and they are peculiarly formida- ble because they enlist the prejudices and strongest feeling of our hearts in their favor. I must, therefore, ask the indulgence of the committee, while I attempt to show you that this measure is not inconsistent with they safety of the governmeiat, or the stability of its institutions, but will be conducive to the welfare of the country. The effect of the law of primogeniture is to create a landed aristocracy, or in other words, to throw the land of the Province into the hands of a few persons, and to leave the great body of the people, without any permanent interest in the country. This bill will have a direct contrary tendency. It will pro- mote an equal division of landed estates among the people of the Province. The question therefore, is, which of these effects is most favorable to the u^elfare of the country and the durability and strength of its institutions. The answer, itseemsto me, isobvious; and may be found indeed, in our statute book. That an accumulation of landed estates in the hands of a few persons is a great evil, and is inconsistent with the policy of our government; i: the fund amenta! principle. 'and l,o!dc,-s to .^.n-^ 'fj.'";' "^'^P^ li-gth'o »ro» and so i -ipurtan , i, . .i ' '^^ "" « ''"""strati,,. bcr« of another b a "l ofV.e T",""' ''"" ""^ "'«"'- proved by some of tleirnl^" k '"""■"' "^ ''^'^ "^^^n of this House, wrA.nm"T "■,'''"'■'' " '^"'nniittce for It, asainst tlieir own illy ^- "^^^f^'O". to vote Hill produce gradTa;^ J '!?'?""• ^^°'^' ""« I'i" that kw, in a 4o!47„a,tn?r^^^ Therefore, if ti.e pX^of tW i?' ''P'"^-^ '° "ff"^'- dency was co«,tiSal i. , ' ""l^,g°'^<'' if its tcn- "'at .score, can be ^ "^d « ° smT"k?."^ singular 1 t'li ik (!,»,, i """^ '^t tlio bill. Jt s ratbcr i-fsted upo ml'^V, :- "''J-'ion^ siiould have bee' of tlie assessment a" te"'"''"""''^""™''*''^ "'ill refer to En.r|and and .J "PPonents of the '"Ok at the unrivaled nkerof"^,' '^'"^ f ""''tion. to l'3.vv.rand reanom^.t to w.il ^,'"'7 ""'^ ^-^a'tf-- a'."''«''"l re- in niy opiniin, to^oH..!.?.! """='' '".^'« ^atisfactorilv. ;«nt and aetivi.';. her^ormr '"'K"' ""= "" '"vofprim^g*^^; LTelvhlcr'rh'f '^' '''''''>' "'« v.ise hive becoir " mde a' ; ^ T"' "''^"''' °""'^- 'nent wl.ich G»ea B h i, . I „ " "'? '"'' --staWish- •■orinous and prodi,7a ""Ln/ 'T"'""'-"^' '^^ "" ""- of the jrreat ari.tocmi.vT v "'" J'|"-'"S«>-I^ranches 'lave found situations ndiere , I ev r. , i \" ''"•"«■"■}•, •"Plerulor and l„„rvto v f, •! '''"J f °"'d hvc ,n the 'onto I. .S. that l^^e n^oiA ',r i- ""',' ■'"''" ""''"■^- i-iep„op,e o( Liiglaiul in n.ct. liaic IG becii heavily t.i.\crctty equally divi- ded amonc^st it's inhabitants, you increase the number of those who have property in the counrty, which they cannot remove, and an interest, therefore, in remain- ing here,, and in preserving peace and order, and in resisting foreign attacks or internal commotions, which may endanijer the institutions of the country. I re- collect that^ when this bill was lunlcr discussion la?.t year, I referred to tlie conduct of the French people during their revolution, in iiiustration of this sentiment. The history of a nation cannot present to us a greatc contrast, than we tind between the excesses and the diaboHcal brutality and fury of their tirst revolution, k their moderation and magnanimity during the last, t have no doubt that various causes contiibute to pro duce s-jcii a v.ondcrfui im|irovenicnt in tlicir cor.duet M ' inT. ''''^' l^S^ pcrsaad..!, was the abolitio., lur.ngtha reign of Napoleon, of the law of primo-el 'nture ami the adoption of the law of equal partibilTty o lande I estates. [Jnder the operation of the last in'.tioned law the great body of the people have, beco! -o freenolders. It was their interest, therefore, to c-ec.« and prevent civil war and all disorders which ^•ou ki put their property in jeopnrdy, as well as to re- sist the cowardly. faithless,and murderless tyrant who wouH iiave reduced them to a dependence upon bis arbitrary w,lL The world beheld their herioc defence ot their rights and liberties with admiration ; but they beheld them with still greater admiration conducting to the borders of the kingdom in safety, the perfidu- Z J^'^'cfy'^' ^'^'^J^'^t ^c^P«^ who had deluged the I^aT ^ }'' '^''^'^'^ '^^^^ t'l^ '^^^od of his subjects, and their dismissmg him with cool contempt. It was d nation of freeholders, who exhibited this unparallel- €d and glorious example. The lav. of equal division ot intestate real estate, contributed in my opinion, to th's extraordinary result. In order to show more Clearly how little dependence can be placed on men Who are nor freeholders, whatever their wealth may oe, I will read an extract from the writings of Adam omith:— - ° tnrpJI'/rif '^''^ ^'"'^ '' "''''"''■'^'' ^,'"'"y f-^untry by commoTce and manufac W hin '^7 P^'^'^'"-:o»«/?'d uncertain poss^^sion, till eome part of it A molh,r"rh *"»? ''''''•';'^' '" '^'^ [.er.nane... i.uprovement of L lands. 2ph» ^- 1'" «/'•ea^ "measure ii.d.ffHrent to him. from what move ^oTJiZ *'° r ''l^'- " u^ l '''y '"•'^'"^ ^'^^»«t ^^'i^' '»^'<« him re- eXr m hi H 'f'-'^' ^' '' ^'^'■"' "^*^^ 'he fic. of that conntrvr, rolrn, n? K "^' °' ^'" ?^'"^ improvement of lands. No vest.ge now mS nr^K^ » ^■'*''*^ "'*'^^"'' """^ '"'■'ive been puss.'ssed by the greater «n?r . »„ Ir^^ ^"'''•"'' ^'i^"'*^' '" ^-'^ "hs^ure histories of tiie thirteenth liltrj I T'^""''^'- ^^ '" '^^''" ""C n-tam where some of t!iem were JiTn^uV^ "''If ^°7f "' ^"'"^^ '''^ L^*'" """''« ?'v'en to some at the miniol /,? ^'■'"^'* ''"'^ bo^'innin? o*' the sixteenth centuries, greatly di- mnished the commerce and manufactures of the cities of Lo.nbanty and l!J!f iT- ^''"^,\00"»^^nes still continue to bea.r.on;; tlie most populous and ' bescHliu-atcdm Europe. The evil wars of ^Nnder.. chased away the ^eat Qommerce ot Antvverp, Ghent and Bru-.s. Dut Flanders stUl conti- nuts to be one ot the nohoet, boat cultivaled and most popnlo'js provinces 18 in Knroi)r>. T!.o ordinary rcvu!ut oii- of v^nr aiul CJovernm^i.t cnsilv dry whiN ;;;?'?"' f^^^^^^^'^h^^l-^-h aris^e from c.umnerce only. V. U whK h arwM from Uiomore«olid im„rnvt'in.;nt8ora.rric.ilture ib much inora 2^''"';h -;••■ '^' l^f J-^-y-'. l>ut by.hoso violent coavulZLi^j! tZ hor". „ , ;^''P'f'^'°''^ .T hosMle an pmv^r 80 to enlarge it, nor would this bill produce sue! an oncct. IJut that it o.ght to be extended bv multiplying the number of freeholders, and increasir-^ hem in proportion to the whole pop,,latioi., seems rZ'Z",' "?'?'"•, '" ""' "-'P'"' ''"^ '•'" '^""'d have Tb! „ ' .' '"'Tl'^ ","'• '^^"'■•''''l'' P^'i'i-^"' effect. 1 lie ope atton of ilns bill in another point of view is not iinwoithy the consideration of the committer 1 W c have a large provincial debt, and there is a fine l-rospect, I tinnk, of its g^adnally, and, I am afrakl rapidly incrcasnig. For this debt the land really is iiiedged. We may certainlv, directly or indirectlv. ax industry and labor and personal property, in order o hquida to ,t: b«t they may be ren oved, and if the burthen should be heavy, i/is likelv the; will be c! moved to other countries. But the landowners can- ot remove their property. Bv increasing their num- tl^'',l!^? '""f "-; *''«.n"'"l'e'- of th"^^e who must pay the debt, and vyhat is still more important, vou in- snechi t ""':"^" •"■ "'"''' "'''" ''^^^ - direct and debt [nT% '" r.reve'Mm^ the accumulation of a Jlebt. And, Sir, when I look at the history of our finances ami see how inconsideratelv and ir^pn"- ■l,.n-l . ^?"T •'"•'* ''^^ been contracted: and ofThl, »."" T '""■ "'^"^ inducements the members eave to . heir successor the odious task of providiw^ f o r .r " S'^eaily ^n^montM. 1 conrL I .^m in .1 "". 5 "'"'T, '•"»='"""''lo melhcd of mnhiphing ciiL'c.x> against its incrdapo. ' ^ j» ' 21 in addition to thc.so nr-umn:ifs in fcivonr of the bill, 1 niUHt ruler lo authority of no mean \v< i^ht in its HUjiport. I have already shewn the r^cnse of the gov- ernment to bo on our side in the ])ractice of^rrunt's to tlie chiidren of U. E. Loyalists. I .simll now fortify it by the tuvourable opinion of anotlier branch of the Lc- ^Mslature. Some yeard agcx, .Sir, t he Lcyit Utivc Conn- ed passed a bill exactly sinidar, in its j.rinciple, to the one on the table beture you. It ori;,ri„utLd in that House, an(.' came from a ;^(;nt!oman of the iiighest con- sideration in it. It was unfortunaK.dv lost in this House, by the casting vote of the Speaker. No one has ever suspected that honorable House of too grejit n leaning towards popular institutions, or of not being sufficiently zealous in support of aristocratic princf- ples and institutions. 1 think the attempts, therefore, unfair which have been made, to raise a hue-and-cry against this measure, as utterly subversive of our con- stitution. From such a char<^e I hope it has been vindicated by authority, as well as reason. Nevertheless as an outhority in favour of this bill I must also notice the policy of'the government of this province of giving small grants of land to emigrants and of encouraging them to resort to this country and obtain such grants. At the same time we know large grants arc uniformly and very properly reiiied. No- thing can be more opposed to tlic project of building up a landed aristocracy in this province. In this re- spect the tendency of the bill is trifling compared with this practice. The inHuence of the bill in promotinjr the wclOxre of the country may he inferred from its effect in favor of morality. I confess that it is my wish to see pro- perty pretty erpially divided in this province, from a sincere c^iviction, that such a condition is most f;i- vorable of any to vinnc and hap})ine3S. I would not, indeed, forbid the accumulation of p-operty, but I would adopt sucli lav/s as have a g •iJual tendencv, vithout interfering v.ii'i the i:^^^J^ acquirement or dib- '<>S"cry The '=M>^oL„li^ntZXC'"' '" •eta.n ,1,3 propcty whicL the la v ^ !« I ^ ;,^;""" ^'fun. good conscience a,.d nn.u^^nfl"",'^,'^ '"'•"" riiero are cases, i,crl,np8, ,v|,c,e (he l,oi, ? • t:ic support „(• |,c TZv • '■"'"■■'■',''• "'"«'"""' '•'-ij.-veveraha;u,';'^;d.,;e;:h.::^'^vf'''''",':,"'i' .-,.uvou,dvwshto\.veh..cSri,.::.t:;r .•"id locliii.rs or ll,P I,,.,.,,,' . "'^.'•"■'■■'ini.-itaiiccs. "sfac-io,, 1. , , o„t': ,,:;,.'"" """ «'^^ s*^""-'' •^»- •I'o best I. vV th- r .t '^'f ""'•'''- "'••" "•« '""o i^ ""tor o t' Pi.'^'^.h^^'j; """iO- -' •'- Slobe. ]3„t it ""y odious' in e pro e, ''TIT"""^« '^ S'''- t'lntitisso Its ,.ri, rir,! '^^ 0"<> can Wonder ;' i^ oppjod to tK; ':i r4c:ion:"^;"r-i -""^ Jif'art, whicliconstinilu ..• . ^"^"^. '^r the human Vo" 'cannot S.e' I'i';,;:^; l^™ "'t'"' f'" Jioiiorablo and learned Attr.^,. n .' ^'^^" ^^''^ '--oral se„ti,no, fo ■ f„ ' :;' i^> uZ""\"^"''"'r 1'!" " '" •' 'f- "f 1 s ojiTa!,',:. and ullimalc e/!cct. Ic to Jt I! 23 >o a duliol.uul si.m to the J' or .o7''''''V"'^^'^^' «l>londid or,';:^ ' ,^^ -^ Lord goir., lorth i„ i proud and la^ and ^M ^^T""''' r'''''''' "'* "«• twenty mi.'c^s s.,, a ^o ' lo i '' ^"'* *^* ««^ ^^^» aristocratic tendencies o'L h ."^ ^'"''^''^ ^^"' pmc. laws, nn^ru^nc tprrr' ^'^^^ ^^^ '>e .ul>le to be sent to f ota^^^^^^^^^ f >«"'*' tlacny to kill i nn.fr; i*^ t' " '^^' ^'^'^' the an- •he, do at ,.ro»,i "t ; n, rr 1i ""^ '""■•« '''"" <.v.is or ,hc law. 'u,'!, "':;;:' ;7 ^""^^'"'^ "^^ |« cially if the .rovenim t n^ . *""" '''^ase' es- ineru .huie^ an7. o, ,' bl I on' 'onn:i'7''T°^'^ ^<'"'^- Ihe land. TI,c,-o i,, ano I , r ^-Zn n " "l" '"'"" "'' »s It niav 1)0 o.xncrtod to rin (,'."'"""'' ^'^ gnovously vent,,,! (ro,n av'^i li , ' klohcs /,7T' ^ i'''' t:;:.''::,/'f "■^.''^•''•-^v. arc7„d:'l";: t:t aiiocrion and conscience, or hv il.n fon/.r , P^ ;V;-onaod,vnlo..opa,nn.on,-:;lrbXS 1 do not contend, Sir, (IiattliP f...„ ( T^TSjaawfRrrpKiw: 24 v.\\\e.} ;i[):-)ti(;) .lisiMiss iliat (Mi(\stioii : nnd f s'louM iicpi! mor;^ iiifornMiion fliati i nosst ff-', hvi'ovu I won! ! |!cu:ido i(. 'j'h.' adopiiou of such a iijcasun- iIkm-o involves vorv di;rM-(3iitcoii.-,i.Ieru{ioii9 i'vom its adop- tion ^horo. I slia'd Dolico Hoiii'j of llio distinction;.'. Jn England iUcvu U a ^;ro;U amount of w/ialtli, ex- eaijMt IVorii tlu; oi)ci'atio:> orHiL" law of priinoo;(Miitnr(^, invested in llie liinds, or ein!)ar!vod in comnierco, for lH:-r niernlianl:^ ar(3 Prince.==. In tins airrjcnlturfd co-.intry t!jL> property is diieliy roal estate ;— it it^, tlierefore, under the oj)c;ralion oi tliaL law. England i.^ ,i.n'oani)iir under a redinidant and biir- ty>nsonie j)np!dation. Tlie law of j)riiiiO(Tt>nilure is t'loui^iit !)>' political (^coriouiitfts to l)e a cireck on il.-^ increase, li] tliis country, wiicn-e we need Ia!)or, it i.^ good policy io adopt the law of ecpuil partihility : for a divi-^ioa of prop.Tty will promote marriaw's and a coiisequent iacreas;^ of population. In Enola.id there is a deep and settled veneration for the nohlo and opid:iita:Hl arscient faniilies, whicii constitute th'-'ir arislo-racv. [t i.s t'jc elloct of early impressions and lon;^ clieri^licd habits. Thoye fawi- he.s are associated uith tlie most ido: ions events and achievements iii their hisiory, i\\u\ their very names are rJ'gardcd with i-everenee! liut what kind of \e nerafhKi is lik^dy evea to he felt for our provinciid aristocracy, wh:c!i is ass.^ciued with no more sou!- srirrin:i ideas than llioso of shrewd land speculators ? la ]1ao-I;iad tlic're arc many situations under t'-ov- (UMineut whore t!)e youiifTer sons are provided ior. I hope we slia'l never resemhie tlu- parent country in t'lat respect, even if the law of primogoniiure should CMUtinue in force. ft is said that the division of properly, whic'i this hill will li,n'ea tendemw lo produce, is prejudicial to the agricuhin-al improvf^inejit of the coutilry. It caa (N'usdy he determined, whether tliis objection is weil founded, by a n.'fcrejiee to tlie other countries:. F: 2r, •/ "Ml 111,11 we linvo no c"f>i!^o for ^r'irovr.«r <■ wind, I ..eolipct ;o'l,« . ,'•,.;'.:!'' ""''■'•• '|.--<,!.,i:,:;ru:r^^li:i;;;';;:^-.-y^;;!-.i'it »lio K iir, ofpronnrtv. Tjio U^.^ ^f . 26 the r,.,.lo and violoin tinins, when ii was p.nal.l,»l,o,I. snch an ,ron despotism might Iiave been nocossarv ior the protcrt.on ot society from anaicln ; l.ut it i's inconsistent wit!, the .spirit of the af;o. Its fnn.la- mental maxims were directly opposed to the true prin- ciples ot a Iree constitution. Under the feudal sys- tem every thing was derived from the Lord, and was held during lis pleasure, and for his benefit. For his reason the estate descended to the eldest son who would be most hkely to be able to render in re- turn the unlitary services, which were the considera- tion for It, to the r.ord. But the true principle ot' a fee Sovernment is the very reverse of this sy'stcm,- 1 IS tliLS, ha every thmg is derived from the people and held tor their benefit. For their benefit the K mJ himself IS clothed with majesty and power, which he derives from them by their common tho' tacit consent In those barbarous times the only power that existed was the power of the battle-axe and the sword, the the common safety seems to require a stern and .^1- relenting disposition like the feudal system. But Sir It IS our good fortune to live in happier and mor^ ^n-' hghtened tunes, when reason and truth and pibi- opinion are exerting a lar greater power than'mer,: a s shoulcl be adapted to this different condition of thugs,— 1 hey should be reasonable and just ■ and such they must be and will be, althouo-l, t ho ci^ns ' Jiucnce may be the destruction occasioifallv oia an- tiquated principle, which is not suited to'our wa is and feeling, although it may be venerable in the eves ot some persons on account of its antiiiuity. We lind accordingly a gradual "'« '■veil in Enoland j, divided 1,1 1 ""• '"^ «*ta'e Now, tins is i„ fee, a, Si,' ?°"''' '''"'' '^''»"t'l«- law of primo^eni'.re tf-T'^" '''"'' ^•«-^"«of >lie P'inciple of this b 1 for n;^ '''""" "'■ ""= ^^'--y osta,e would descend to tlfer"'"";''™- -'"^h <■"' landed proper,,, ^rd'tl',^ od ^Iti: "ir;!/''"/'""'^ an express nurnose K„ „" ■ '" ""'' "^^^t ol vation which th^Bn-.ish pL h '""7 '"'"^"" '""o- the law of real pronertv /.'"'';'' '""^ "•Ssd "pon are snbjccted ,o proee/sVrl cnl^ "^ Jocoase.l wid,'„vs Paj'n,e„, of the d^nlHs Air Ik se '" " '"'1"'.'^ '"^ the a tendency to reduce to.'i """''"'nations have goods and cl.a,,eir4d to en ■'^ "'■"'"' "'"■"'"y "-i.h unnatural r,der'ot^CV,ZrsT;C''TT'™^^ only one, I believe of the five n -^ i ^r ■"'"' '^ '!'« I^-ovinces, where, he ,wn,-'''^°"'''^"'«" And ,here is no di o ';, L^ Pnmogenmtre prevails. oU,er colonies, ;erO™r?e";"JiLn'" ""' °'' ""^' to .PHlse of ,he practical e fee o^'l^^^ oxpertence bnt on the contrary, there is r , °'' "J'***^'" •• 't^ introduction. Tl e^ is^ t Jr'''''"S';?"'"^ '» "here it has lately bel' ,', 7"''"'^'' ^""ai'a, Parlia,nen,. 4 |/ef/co„To;"n;r'''r;' ''^ ""^ ^'^'i^l "^•'-^eorconyeS;e,':;,d'Efel/t^:£ Hon ami |>iin:o-,.„iiiiro. Ife savs. •■ 'll„. (.•,,„i;,i, 1" have nolhins to ,lo will, i,, more il,a„ ,v , V. v spcco., o(=,n«,ocracv, whiel, a i; w person. 1. I 'i'^ foumi ,0 advocate, ami ,o ,vl,iel, the ^,«• of ,n u ^emuno n,cv,tably ,e,:.I.,l. They look „ / | e lito all ui.M, tjiat I he l,rothei-.« and sixers of e ,el, >"">;.• I.all he c.,„al i„ ,|.,..i,- tiyhtH ..(-...ceess on an ; J I de.,reol parents to provide cpallvlb, t ^ nil en. in tins country, we have no con.mi.sios the arn.y or navy, „o sovernrnent patrona.ic i' "0 or younger sons."' Such is the lan|,n,^; lion A. e: dv" '■^"•"Vr '""' "'"' '" "■'■ ;i.oKas,ernT:;;lidp":u;rc:„;rt'::s;:^r;^ '« «t al under the influence of those nat nd ' , I? -ns , winch, ,t ,„aj be said, attach the inh," t uH oi i' rnch ongni to their own law... I nuotoVl t t.taMishe, charucler, ,„ favor of the law of tliat i'n, vnjce on tins sul.ieet. These opinions we ' v . , hc.foroacomnntleeoriheBri.ishllouseofC,, nm , and arc eniuled to re.pect. Why is it that we c n e' liHA c too law here ? 'I'hev enjoy it in other co' n •' whose loyal.vwewill notdispit,. an.l , hey '^ ' ,;; f nal attached to if. The peopi.; very irm- 'dlv ^'ro a Ijere. An.l if it we're a law in c"^ e "e no •nan l,vu,.^ wo.dd he so fooli.h and so pro mm ,' r a« to propose us repeal. It is „ct un ons ,mZT- ; 'V'' ".'^"•■^'^^•^"t "'ill' li'o principles of e Jri '/^iixpd tiielawot priniogniitm-o as one of ih- prn,e,p les of ourCons.itution.^ V.n they di,','-,,: h : ■"' l.-i liud: When ihey passed (ho act of constitu!: \ 2D ^'X':u;:.';:n;;:{;;;;:':y-:-:'i';i;:i..-po„.... "•••'I '■Miite w,.s ll,e,i,n. '''•','■''.''''''-' "'■■■"l'>l»l« '""• "■" ,. "-eamnc., „o, „,„';'' l"''' '"'""y 'ore- ',|,i, ll'o "tl^or l.,-an.i,-„ • ,o". 1 '"""'' '"" "'*" 'f'">' -/'"''■'■i-wneMinia; :;, :T:';37;'''''^'-y aUe, and udl asr<.|(.,;„„,i • i "''■''^' ti'e .■cason- Kven tl ,.(;,.,,,.j -,s 'V'T'' "■'■"'"■^ "'^"i"-' ••"imnuniiv >"■•■>-.■,?: co,,aini; ', ' iT iir;; "V'"-'.-"'.i" '•'. --- ""•'••I. and ,„„<-h (1, i . ,; "" . """ '-^"ii^iinal or ,«| ■ »■ '-f.t.