olitical Annals of
Canada
' : . :a •:». K:-.
Presented to the
LIBRARY of the
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
by
ESTATE OF THE LATE
PROFESSOR J.R.
COCKBURN
POLITICAL ANNALS
OF CANADA
A Condensed Record of Govern-
ments from the time of Samuel
de Champlain in 1608 down to
the time of Earl Grey in 1905
With Appendices containing a copy of the
British North America Act, establishing the
Dominion in 1867 ; also a list of the First
Members of the Dominion ands Provincial
Parliaments under Confederation, and a table
of Important Canadian Historical Events
BY
A. P. COCKBURN
Ex-Member of the First Parliament of Ontario, and of the Second,
Third, Fourth and Fifth Parliaments of the Dominion
TORONTO
WILLIAM BRIGGS
1905
F
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada,|in|the year
one thousand nine hundred and five, by EDWARD HENRY BARNFIKLD, at
the Department of Agriculture.
1054647
TO THE
Canadian people
OF EVERY
ORIGIN AND RELIGION AND
POLITICAL CREED
PREFACE.
modest qualifications which the author
claims for undertaking a task of the magni-
tude which the title of this volume assumes
are based chiefly upon his own personal experience in
the political arena, and on having carefully studied
all the published Canadian and British-American his-
tories, of which there are not a few.
His recollections of political events date from read-
ing and hearing, at the age of twelve years, of the
burning of the Parliament Buildings, and the mob-
bing of Lord Elgin, in Montreal, in 1849. He is
prompted by a sincere desire to provide a reliable
and impartial book of reference, embracing a period
from the year 1608 down to the present time, with
the hope that the book, despite imperfections inci-
dental to a work of this kind, will prove a useful and
interesting contribution to the political literature of
our country, and at the same time aid in the com-
mendable promotion of dignity and amenity in poli-
tics. The proper and impartial study of politics is
a duty incumbent on the patriotic citizens of all
countries, who should also at the same time remem-
ber the sound proverb, that " righteousness exalte th
a nation."
The f ollowingx pages of this work will, at least, give
an outline of the various phases, systems, and vicis-
situdes of government through which our country
and its chief actors have passed, and which have
eventually culminated in our present admirable
6 PREFACE.
political constitution — the happy creation of the
leaders of both political parties — under whose aegis
civil and religious liberty and opportunities are free
to all.
Our country is blessed and endowed with sur-
passingly great heritages, not only in the matter of
vast territorial and other advantages, but also in
respect of free and enlightened institutions in every
department of life. If Canadians, therefore, are true
to themselves — of which there exists no doubt — Can-
ada will take a very high place not only within the
grand Empire of which she is proud to form a part,
but also among the advanced nations of the earth.
The author wishes to gratefully acknowledge the
kind courtesies extended to him during the prepara-
tion of this work by Mr. James Bain, D.C.L., Chief
Librarian of the Public Library, Toronto; to Mr. A.
Pardoe, Librarian of the Ontario Parliament; and
to Mr. M. J. Griffin, Librarian of the Dominion
Parliament.
Eeaders who may desire fuller information con-
cerning personages and public questions than is sup-
plied by this work, can be aided in their researches
by reference to Morgan's " Biography of Celebrated
Canadians" (1862), and his subsequent works; to
Mr. Bibaud's "Pantheon Canadien," and his other
works; to the "Parliamentary Companion," the
"Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portraits
of Eminent and Self -Made Men" (1880), and "The
Newspaper Reference Book of Canada " (1903) . The
debates in the Dominion Parliament will be found in
Hansard, the publication of which has been continuous
since and including the session of 1875. The debates
of the Senate are also published in annual volumes.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
I. New France 9
II. Acadia . 35
III. New France— 1758-1763 . .... . 41
IV. Quebec— 1763-1791 . . . ... .45
V. Lower Canada— 1791-1796 . . ... . 56
VI. Upper Canada— 1791-1799 .... . .60
VII. Sketches of the Political History of Lower Canada from
1796 to 1840 . .'..:.... 67
VIII. Upper Canada . . . '. . . . .192
IX. Nova Scotia . . , ... . . . 235
X. New Brunswick . . u . ; . . . . . 279
XI. Prince Edward Island . . ...... .293
XII. Province of Canada . . \ . . . . . 311
XIII. The Dominion of Canada . . . . . .386
Appendix A . . . . V . . ... 533
Appendix B . . . . . . .. . . 537
Appendix C . ... . . . 569
POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA
CHAPTER I.
NEW FRANCE.
EARLY GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM OF CANADA.
DURING the greater portion of the seventeenth
century the French governments were wont
to delegate all the affairs of the Canadian
colony to trading companies, with a monopoly of
trade, on condition of transporting colonists from
France to Canada and of providing for the conversion
of the natives to Christianity. This policy, as might
have been expected, was unsuccessful as a colonization
scheme.
The title of Lieutenant-General of North American
territory, between latitudes 40 and 46 north, was con-
ferred upon the chief official of the trading company.
It was as an attache of a trading company that the
justly renowned Samuel de Champlain made his first
voyage up the noble St. Lawrence Kiver in 1603, and
he at once evinced a greater interest in the future of
the colony than had been manifested by his chiefs.
It was on the 3rd of July, 1608, that Champlain
selected the site of and founded the now grand old
historic City of Quebec. Four years later, his chief
10 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
having retired, the Prince of Conde was created vice-
roy of New France and appointed Champlain as his
lieutenant; the latter was now virtually recognized
as the first resident governor of Canada, as he was
also certainly its earliest friend.
The Prince of Conde having retired in favor of the
Duke of Montmorency, in 1620, the latter confirmed
Champlain in his post as lieutenant-general. The
king also, at the same time, favored him with royal
letters expressing approval of his appointment as
" Governeur et Lieutenant General en Canada, Acadie,
Isle de Terre Neuve et autres pays de la France
Septentrionale. "
The instructions to Champlain and succeeding
governors, until the establishment of royal govern-
ment in 1663, clothed them with absolute power, sub-
ject only, of course, to the pleasure of the home govern-
ment. The Canadian governors were at liberty to
avail themselves of the advice of prudent and capable
persons in the colony, but they do not seem ever to
have organized a council of any kind, presumably
owing to the fewness of inhabitants to be governed.
Being now regularly commissioned by the direct man-
date of the King of France, Champlain entered
enthusiastically upon the duty of improving the
defences, exploring and settling the country, and also
of aiding in the conversion of the natives. Meanwhile
the KScollet Fathers had, five years previously, sent
out the pioneer missionaries of Canada, despite the
preferences of the then premier of France, Cardinal
Kichelieu, in favor of sending out Jesuit missionaries
instead. Champlain, whatever may have been his
private theological predilections, resolved, as a matter
NEW FRANCE. 11
of wise policy, to submit but one form of religious com-
munion to the natives, which meant, of course, the
state religion of France. Ten years later the Recollet
Fathers were followed by a contingent of missionaries
from the mysterious and devoted Society of Jesuits.
Twenty-two years later the highly distinguished
ecclesiastic, M. Laval, assumed charge of the religious
affairs of the colony, under the title of Vicar Apos-
tolic, with the episcopal rank of Bishop of Petrea, and
was subsequently installed as Bishop of Quebec in
1674.
Champlain continued to govern wisely and heroi-
cally amid the most trying and difficult circumstances
during an incumbency of fifteen years, less the barren
three years' occupancy of Quebec by the English, until
its restoration to France under the treaty of St.
Germain-en-Laye, in 1632, when Champlain resumed
the governorship until his lamented death, three
years later, in October of 1635.
Champlain's early alliance with the Huron tribe of
Indians against the more powerful nations of Iroquois
was fraught with the most disastrous consequences
to the early settlers of Canada, including some of the
clergy. He was, no doubt, actuated largely by the
exigencies and circumstances of the time in joining
with the Hurons.
Taking Champlain as an all-round pioneer gover-
nor, he ranks easily as one of the most able, just,
generous, and patriotic of the early governors of
Canada. He was a thorough Canadian by adoption,
whose name will be revered by all Canadians, regard-
less of race or creed, and it is a source of sincere grati-
fication that a monument has recently been erected to
his memory in the city which was founded by himself.
12 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Upon the death of Chainplain, H. Chateaufort pre-
sided as provisional governor for some months pend-
ing the arrival of the Governor-General, M. de Mont-
inagny, in May, 1636. The new governor at' once
became popular by his ready, patronizing, prudent,
and sagacious manner. He strove, in conjunction
with the Trading Company, to carry out the policy of
his predecessor, Charuplain.
He also gave his support to the clergy in their mis-
sion to convert the Indians, and in the successful
endeavors to exclude the Huguenots, but was unsuc-
cessful in his attempts to suppress the incursions of
the Iroquois, solely through lack of support from the
Mother Country.
It was during de Montmagny's regime that Montreal
was ceremoniously founded under the auspices of the
celebrated Maisonneuve, in May of 1642, who also
became its first local governor, and to whose memory
a monument has been lately erected in the great com-
mercial city of his founding. Maisonneuve would
appear to be somewhat of an aggressive character,
seeing he gave offence not only to the amiable gover-
nor-general of that day, but also to a succeeding
governor. It must be said, however, that he was an
energetic, brave, and gallant defender of the great
Island of Montreal, and all its interests, where a man
of his stamp was much needed.
M. de Montmagny presided over the colony as
Governor-General for the very considerable period of
twelve years, and was then succeeded by M. D'Aille-
boust as governor, in 1648, whose term lasted but three
years. He was an excellent military officer and a very
NEW FRANCE. 13
kind gentleman. He, however, experienced the same
difficulty as his predecessor with the Iroquois, and
was no better supported by the home government
than they were for the suppressing of the persistent
foe.
A feeling of sectional rivalry was already springing
up between the embryo cities of Montreal and Quebec.
Maisonneuve, who was naturally the enthusiastic
champion of Montreal, did not hesitate to provoke the
jealousy or resentment of the officials at Quebec, the
capital.
The French governors appear to have made com-
mendable overtures to the English governors of New
England for a better understanding, particularly as to
the dealings with Indians, and sent ambassadors to
promote a treaty for the mutual advantage of each
colony. The ambassadors were well received, but un-
fortunately no definite action w^as taken. The Indians
therefore, were left with a free hand to carry on desul-
tory attacks pro and con upon the settlers of the two
colonies, in which, however, New France suffered the
most severely by these incursions. At this time
(1651) M. de Lauzon, an influential member of
the Trading Company of One Hundred Associates,
was anxious to try his hand in the gubernatorial chair
and was accorded the opportunity; but he apparently
made matters worse instead of better by obvious
blundering in his Indian policy and in other affairs.
He was also reputed to be indolent, undignified, and
partial in his administration as regards localities.
Realizing his unpopularity he voluntarily left the
governorship in the hands of his son until the return
of M. D'Ailleboust, 1657. The latter remained in office
14 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
about one year, pending the arrival of Governor
D'Argenson, who was appointed in 1657, but did not
arrive until 1658. The new governor was a man of
about thirty-two years of age, courageous and of good
parts. He was, however, unduly harassed in his
regime, chiefly by the chronic aggressions of the
Indians, which he could not repel or repress for want
of succor from the home government. It was said
that the King Louis XIV., the so-called " Grand
Monarque," was at this particular time so occupied
with f£tes that he had little leisure to concern him-
self about an obscure colony. The liquor traffic and
questions of official precedence were also frequent
sources of trouble, causing much friction in the work-
ing of government.
M. Laval, the great ecclesiastic, was a resident of
the country in 1659, and his influence somewhat over-
shadowed that of the governor. These several causes
told severely upon the governor's health, and con-
strained him to apply for a release from the governor-
ship. He was succeeded by Baron D'Avaugour, a
brave old soldier, whose term only lasted two years,
partly owing to the new governmental system desig-
nated the Royal Government, which went into effect
in 1663. The duration of the baron's regime, though
short, was somewhat eventful, as by the exercise of
much personal energy in making tours of the different
posts, he was able to report authoritatively upon the
state of the colony. While he was greatly impressed
with the natural resources of the country, and especi-
ally of the value of the magnificent St. Lawrence
River and the Great Lakes for opening up and
developing the country, he, on the other hand, was
NEW FKANCE. 15
quite pessimistic as to the condition of the colony,
which he found to be in a critical condition, owing
largely to the suffering of the inhabitants from the
cruel incursions of the Iroquois, who had regularly
decimated the heads of families by massacres from
the early beginning of the settlements.
Governor D'Avaugour, though a man of personal
courage and energy, was destitute of a force at com-
mand of men and means to strike a decisive blow at
the savage foe. Under these galling conditions he so
lost control of his temper that he could not deal
judiciously with the civil business of the colony. His
conduct in the liquor traffic with the Indians appeared
to be both inconsistent and hysterical, which was
attended with deplorable results, of which one of the
clergy, in deep anguish of soul, wrote thus, in 1661,
concerning the effect of liquor upon the Indians:
" Every bad trait of their character was intensified.
The effect of it brought them to nakedness, and their
families to beggary; they went so far as to sell their
children to procure liquor. I cannot describe the evils
caused to the infant church. My ink is not black
enough to paint them in proper colors; it would
require the blood of a dragon to express the bitterness
experienced. We lose in one month the toil and
labors of thirty years."
Knowing, as we do, the evils of the traffic, even in
a milder form, upon the white race at the present day,
one can readily realize the distress felt by the reverend
father in the Canada of the seventeenth century. The
clergy had for years striven against the sale of liquor
to Indians and endeavored to hold the respective
governors responsible for the grievous curse.
16 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
Governor D'Avaugour did enact a prohibitory liquor
law as regards the sale to Indians, but could not
effectually enforce the law, even though he had three
offenders shot for the violation of the liquor law. The
governor at the same time reproached the Jesuit mis-
sionaries with inconsistency, in having pleaded for
mercy on behalf of some convicted parties, whereupon
he capriciously threw open the traffic again. It was
quite natural and pardonable that a clergyman might
intercede, even for the life of a being guilty of so grave
an offence. The humane feelings of a clergyman
surely did not furnish a sufficient pretext for the
repeal of the liquor law upon the part of the governor.
The colony had made but little progress since the
days of Champlain. The entire population of French
origin at this time (1663) was but three thousand
souls.
A short-sighted and negligent colonization policy,
the ravages of the Iroquois, and the afflictions of
scourges and plagues at intervals will account for the
contemptible showing in the way of the material
development of the country. Complaints have even
been made that the governors and officials participated
pecuniarily in trade to augment the slender salaries
paid them by the home government of France. Of
the so-called " fur governors," D'Avaugour was the
last.
As regards the apless inhabitants themselves, all
historians unite in bearing testimony to their fine
qualities of physique, to their honesty and energy.
Ship-owners and captains of vessels would pay
twenty-five per cent, higher wages to Canadians than
to the laborers of Old France. However, on the other
NEW FRANCE. 17
hand, a portion of the young men unfortunately
became associated with the Indians as traders and
trappers, to the entire neglect of industrial and other
civilized pursuits ; this class of people were designated
" coureurs de bois." Subsequent action, with good
results, was taken by the government to prohibit the
prolonged absence of men in the unsettled portions of
the country, with a view to check the uncivilized ten-
dencies of certain young French-Canadians, who were
so averse to the pursuit of agriculture. It may not be
out of place to remark here, by way of contrast, that
the colonization of the vast American territory lying
between the French and Spanish possessions in North
America, then known as Virginia, was begun by the
British in about the same period as the colonization
upon the St. Lawrence was commenced by the French ;
with this difference, however, in the form of govern-
ment: that an educational system and representative
institutions were conferred upon the few inhabitants
of the British colony as early as 1619, only a few
years subsequent to its settlement. The first elected
assembly in North America met in a little wooden
church at Jamestown, Virginia, that year. The
original Virginia frontier has since been subdivided
into ten Atlantic States. The early representative
institutions had a tendency to promote intelligent,
progressive, and self-reliant .communities, 4he benefit
of which was subsequently lost i : the British Mother
Country through the unjust, narrow, and obstinate
attitude of an administration whose policy was
moulded largely by the honest, but stubborn, old Tory
King George III., whose intellect besides was clouded
by an intermittent mental disorder.
18 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
ROYAL GOVERNMENT.
The King Louis XIV., being at length thoroughly
convinced that a radical change in the governmental
system and polity, which had subsisted in conjunction
with the trading companies, must now take place in
order to ameliorate the condition of the colony, M.
Colbert, one of the most enlightened statesmen of his
time, being now the first Minister of France, it was
therefore wisely resolved by the home government
to dispense with the aid of trading companies as a
factor in the colonization of New France.
Consequently, in 1663, the before-mentioned change
of system, known as Royal Government, was now in-
stituted, and the government was placed under the
control of a " Supreme Council," like the Parliament
of Paris, responsible to the king and appointed by
him. The Supreme Council subsequently designated
the Superior Council, to be comprised of the governor,
the bishop, the royal intendant, five councillors, an
attorney-general and a chief clerk.
The governor, representing the king, was to have
absolute control of the military force, and to have
special charge of the external relations of the colony.
The bishop, as head of the Church, was to govern in
all matters spiritual and ecclesiastical.
The royal intendant to be charged with the regula-
tions and conduct of affairs appertaining to finance,
police and justice, and to be a quasi-spy upon /the
governor, and also to keep an eye upon the bishop as
well, and report to the home government. The last-
named duties must certainly have been an undesir-
able and undignified function for him to perform.
NEW FRANCE. 19
The five councillors to be chosen annually, or to be
continued in office, as might be deemed expedient by
the governor and bishop. The duties of the councillors
was to see that the ordinances of the Superior Court
were duly executed and to act as judges in petty cases
which, by the way, was not a sinecure, as the inhabi-
tants were said to be somewhat litigiously inclined.
The Superior Council was finally increased to
twelve members with enlarged powers, which em-
braced practically everything, to be the highest legal
tribunal and court of appeal and to dispose of the
revenues of the country, etc.
The lands were held in feudal tenure, making the
king the owner, who in turn made grants to seigneurs.
The actual settlers, not being freeholders, paid a small
consideration annually to the seigneurs.
M. Colbert favored a further advance by giving the
people a certain control of local affairs, somewhat
approaching a municipal system, but the king insisted
in having everything on a monarchical basis, and the
retention of all power in his own hands.
Under the new order of affairs a forward movement
in the material development and improvement in the
condition of the colony was confidently anticipated.
The first council was comprised of the new gover-
nor, Saff ray de Mezy ; Bishop Laval, Eoyal Intendant
Eobert (who, however, did not come to Canada, M.
Talon coming later in his stead) ; the five councillors,
Louis Eouer Sieur de Villeray, Jean Juchereau
Sieur de Ferte, Denis Joseph Ruette, Dauteuil Sieur
de Monceaux, and Charles de Garder Matthew
Damours; attorney-general, M. Bourdon; secretary,
Peuvret de Mesna.
20 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
This system of government prevailed for upwards
of ninety years, until the conquest of Canada by Great
Britain. The proceedings of the Superior Council
appeared to be conducted in methodical order, and its
deliberations carefully recorded. The minutes of
council fill a volume of more than one thousand pages,
a copy of which can be seen in the Parliamentary
Library at Ottawa.
Governor de Mezy, though not lacking in abilities
of a certain kind was not successful, he having treated
the friendly advances of the Iroquois with indiffer-
ence, the impolicy of which soon became apparent by
the renewal of hostilities on the part of these old
adversaries, resulting in more scalping of the white
inhabitants and in the martyrdom of missionaries. He
also erred in not taking the bishop more into his con-
fidence than he was wont to do, which was a grievous
disappointment to the latter, and all the more galling
as the governor really owed his position to the in-
fluence of the bishop.
The bishop therefore formulated a complaint
against the administration of the governor ; no inves-
tigation, however, took place, as de M6zy died shortly
after being impeached.
M. Laval, the bishop referred to in the foregoing
reference to de Mezy, was a man of brilliant parts, and
of an indomitable will. His name is indelibly and
favorably associated with the early history of Canada,
and a great university of learning bears his honored
name.
M. Talon, the royal intendant, was also an excep-
tionally estimable, amiable, and distinguished official,
who has not been inaptly designated the Colbert of
€anada.
NEW FRANCE. 21
During the Mezy regime the Superior Council had
made various local appointments, and took steps for
the establishing of inferior courts. Maisonneuve was
reappointed governor of the Island of Montreal, and
Boucher as commandant at Three Rivers; de Mezy
had, however, subsequently compelled Maisonneuve,
the respected governor of Montreal, as well as two of
his deposed councillors at Quebec, to quit the colony.
The Marquis de Tracy, recently appointed over the
colonial possessions of France in America, was ordered
to proceed to Canada in 1665, and examine into the
disturbed conditions of the colony. A new local gover-
nor, M. de Courcelle, had been appointed to supersede
de Mezy. Some regular troops arrived in advance of
the viceroy, who with those which he subsequently
brought out, comprised the famous Carignan regi-
ment, thirteen hundred strong, and commanded
chiefly by officers belonging to the nobility of France,
many of whom remained permanently in Canada. The
arrival of these soldiers greatly cheered the inhabit-
ants for the time being, and also proved to be a
valuable and lasting acquisition to the population of
Canada.
The viceroy and governor, after having made their
debut in the most magnificent state and pageantry
possible under existing circumstances, lost no time in
severely punishing the Iroquois, driving them to the
most distant part of their cantonment. The colony
now entered upon a career of prosperity hitherto un-
known. The king became most enthusiastic in his
policy of development and expansion; settlers were
encouraged to emigrate, and liberally assisted to make
a start in their new homes. As there was scarcity
22 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
of the gentler sex in the colony, good wives were sent
out for all the single men from eighteen years of age
and upwards, and all bachelors were enjoined under
penalty to become benedicts without delay; bounties
were given for large families, and the younger the
parentage the larger the bounty. Under these con-
ditions the population speedily doubled and trebled,
agriculture flourished, home-made cloth and other
domestic articles were produced, and an export trade
begun. These bright prospects were, however, marred
by the inconceivable folly of the home government in
again admitting the participation of a trading com-
pany into the affairs of the colony. A new trading
corporation, styled the West Indian Company, was
chartered with extraordinary privileges. The local
representative of the company was to have a seat in
the council, with rank next the royal intendant. The
inhabitants, except at Tadousac, were not excluded as
formerly from trading with the Indians, but were to
pay a duty of one-fourth its value upon the purchase
or capture of every beaver, and one-tenth upon some
other animals, for the company's benefit. Fortu-
nately, the company's charter was revoked after a
seven years' trial.
The farmers or inhabitants did not, as before stated,
possess freehold titles to lands. The proprietors of
the lands were seigneurs, who allowed the habitants
the use of the lands for a very small share of the farm
products. The seigneurs, upon their part, provided
grist mills and other improvements, and were not, as
a class, inclined to be oppressive ; but the system was
poorly adapted for the promotion of an industrious,
self-reliant, and progressive community, and proved
NEW FRANCE. 23
to be a bone of contention for many long years, until
the system was finally terminated, after much agita-
tion, by the parliament of Old Canada in 1854.
Salutary laws were enacted by the Superior
Council for the suppression of the liquor traffic with
Indians, making it a penal offence.
Meanwhile, the gallant de Tracy returned to France,
after having fulfilled his mission of punishing the
Iroquois most thoroughly, annexing the vast terri-
tory westward as far as the Mississippi River and
southward to the junction of the Alleghany and Ohio
Rivers. He had the same confirmed by treaty with
the interested Indian tribes at Sault Ste. Marie, and
placed the colony on a satisfactory footing.
The very energetic and rather outspoken Courcelle
was left in charge of New France as governor, and
was, on the whole, much esteemed by the inhabitants,
as was also Royal Intendant Talon, whom we met
before, and whose good reputation for ability, in-
tegrity, and enterprise had not abated, but rather
increased. It would have been well for New France
if all the succeeding intendants had emulated Talon's
noble example.
The health of Governor Courcelle having suffered
from fatigue and the hardships incidental to expedi-
tions for strengthening the defences of the country;
he therefore determined to resign. The royal inten-
dant, M. Talon, also resigned about the same time.
Both were relieved of their arduous duties about five
months afterwards, and embarked together for France,
their departure being greatly regretted by the
colonists.
M. de Frontenac, one of the most determined and
24 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
remarkable men of his time, was appointed by the
home government in 1672, together with M. Duches-
neau, as royal intendant. Bishop Laval, who had
already out-reigned four governors, still occupied the
second place in the administration. Governor Fron-
tenac was somewhat prone to resent the bishop's
participation in secular affairs, and also ignored the
royal intendant to some extent. He was also sus-
pected of leaning towards the Eecollet Fathers as
against the Jesuits. This condition of affairs brought
about dissensions, which endured during his term of
office. Apart from this, Frontenac manifested a com-
mendable desire to pursue the wise policy of Courcelle
and Talon in the exploration and material develop-
ment of the great domain over which he presided.
He was the most successful of all the governors in his
methods of dealing with the Indians. On account of
his firmness and justice he was held in friendly re-
spect both by the friendly tribes of Canada and the
hostile bands of Iroquois. In his councils with the
natives he adopted their peculiar style of oratory ; and
on the occasion of a great tribal gathering at Mon-
treal he is said to have even joined with the Indians
in a war dance.
Meanwhile the dissensions between the three princi-
pal heads of the council were increasing rather than
abating. The governor, instead of conciliating the
bishop, perpetrated the unpardonable freak of having
the bishop's religious ceremonies burlesqued in an
amateur comedy performed by his retainers. In con-
sequence of this unseemly contempt of the bishop's
sacred function, together with other divergences,
caused the recall of both governor and intendant.
NEW FKANCE. 25
During these times that class of vigorous young
men already designated coureurs de bois acquired
in a great degree the shiftless habit of penetrat-
ing the haunts of remote Indian tribes for the
purposes of traffic, and absenting themselves for very
long periods. The number of these wanderers had in-
creased to five per cent, of the entire population,
thereby seriously affecting both the industrial pro-
gress and the defences of the colony. The clergy also
complained that the association of these white men
with red men debased the former race instead of
elevating the latter. The Superior Council resolved,
therefore, to put an end to this very unsatisfactory
habit by passing a law prohibiting the absence of a
Frenchman in the woods longer than twenty-four
hours without the express permission of the governor.
Such a law, as might be expected, was evaded by this
roving class of individuals, and the evils continued
for some considerable time.
Frontenac was succeeded by M. de la Barre as
governor, and M. Duchesneau, the royal intendant, by
M. de Meuble. M. de la Barre was a man of good
reputation; his term of office, however, was neither
lengthy nor pleasant. The Iroquois became embold-
ened after the retirement of Frontenac, instigated, it
is said, by the impious English governor (Dongan, a
nephew of Lord Tyrconnel) of the then Province of
New York. The Canadian governor resorted to some
novel expedients in his dealings with the Indians. He
first tried conciliation and diplomacy, next made
preparation for war and invaded their territory, and
finally concluded an inglorious peace with them. His
policy and actions were disapproved of both by the
26 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
king and the military officers, who had hoped that the
Iroquois would have been thoroughly chastised. The
governor was consequently superseded, and M. de
Denonville was appointed in his stead, with M. de
Meules as royal intendant. The distinguished eccle-
siatic Bishop Laval now resigned both his bishopric
and his seat in the Superior Council, after thirty years
of active life. He continued to reside in Quebec, now
a city, until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-
six years. He was reputed to be a haughty, eccentric,
and self-willed personage, but withal a very kind-
hearted and forgiving man ; his ability and many good
parts have already been noticed. M. de St. Vallier
succeeded M. Laval as bishop and member of the
Superior Council.
Governor de Denonville (1685) was instructed to see
that the Canadian Indians abandoned their savage life
and adopted French habits. He was to support the
French allies in the West and to carry war into the
territory of the Iroquois, humiliate them, and
endeavor to secure the alliance of Illinois and
Ottawas. As to the first part of his instructions he
found it impossible to convert the Huron and Algon-
quin Canadian Indians to civilization. He reported
that the savages did not become French, but the
French who associated with the Indians became sav-
ages, and as to the second part of his instructions he
found great difficulty in either suppressing or pacify-
ing the Iroquois, owing to the encouragement given
to that ferocious tribe by the English governor to the
south of New France, and also to the duplicity and
treachery of a Huron chief who attacked and slaugh-
tered the Iroquois in a time of supposed peace, falsely
NEW FRANCE. 27
representing at the same time that the French had
induced him to commit the cruel and impolitic act.
The Iroquois, in a spirit of. revenge, organized a force
of fourteen hundred warriors for a stealthy invasion
of the Island of Montreal, which they attacked by
night, and massacred several hundred of the white
inhabitants, surpassing themselves in atrocity on this
horrible occasion.
It has been stated that Governor de Denonville went
about almost constantly with the Psalms of David in
his hands, and appealed 'upon religious grounds to the
worldly Governor Dongan. This not having the
desired effect he reproached the latter with the crime
of supplying rum to the Indians. Dongan rejoined
that rum was more wholesome for the Indians than
the brandy with which de Denonville himself supplied
to the Indians.
As a remedy for these interminable Iroquois raids
M. de Callieres, the commandant at Montreal, formu-
lated a project of making a conquest of the English
provinces to the south, and of utilizing the fine harbor
of New York as a Canadian winter port. Command-
ant Callieres volunteered to undertake the enterprise
with a specified force. The court of France approved
the project, but failed to send the necessary aid. The
troubles of the hapless colonists were further
increased by a series of epidemics, which carried off
as many as fourteen hundred persons in one year;
added to this the refusal or inability of the home gov-
ernment to assist with troops in the protection of the
country occasioned the most gloomy forebodings. It
must be said, however, as a measure of justice to the
home government that there is no record of a request
28 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
for money having ever been refused, and the applica-
tions for cash advances were certainly quite frequent.
The gallant but unsuccessful governor was recalled
to his native land, and the doughty old veteran Count
Frontenac was sent out again, in 1687, for another
term, to the great joy of the Canadian people.
Bishop St. Valliere and Koyal Intendant Beauharnois
were his chief colleagues in the Superior Council. No
time was lost by the valiant old governor in taking
steps to relieve the greatly perturbed colonists of all
apprehensions for their personal safety. Hostile In-
dians were speedily made to feel that there were to be
no half measures with Frontenac. In addition to the
arduous undertaking of successfully suppressing the
Indians he was confronted by the appearance of a con-
siderable hostile English fleet, with the usual military
accompaniments, having for its object the conquest of
Quebec. A demand for its surrender was formally
made, and a written reply requested. The old govern-
or's response will be anticipated : " The answer will
be sent from the cannon's mouth," was the brave old
man's reply. The city was then bombarded by the
ships, and some, skirmishing took place upon land.
The attacking party were, however, discomfited, and
retired down the river. During these unhappy times
the governors of both New France and New England
inhumanly utilized the Indians for the mutual injury
of the respective colonies. At one time overtures for
a better understanding between the French and Eng-
lish colonies in North America were exchanged, but
never consummated. The negotiations only resulted
in a controversy, of which Frontenac did not see the
end, he having died in November, 1698, after a few
NEW FEANCE. 29
days' illness, in his seventy-eighth year, retaining his
faculties until the last moment. Notwithstanding
some eccentricities Frontenac is regarded as the great-
est of the governors who ruled Canada from the time
of Champlain until the time it ceased to be a French
colony.
M. de Callieres, commandant at Montreal, suc-
ceeded Count Frontenac as governor. The new gov-
ernor^ term lasted five years, until his death in 1703.
His chief colleagues in the Superior Council were
Bishop St. Valliere and Koyal Intendant Bodot. De
Callieres was a man of wide experience in both civil
and military affairs, he having already rendered val-
uable public service to the colony in several capacities.
On assuming the responsibility of the general govern-
ment he adhered to Frontenac's policy. The usual
and interminable round of Indian treaties and
attempted pacifications between the various tribes
occupied the governor's attention almost constantly.
The opening year of the eighteenth century was a
gloomy one, owing to the general scarcity of food. The
inhabitants were obliged to subsist partially on wild
roots, many suffering the pangs of starvation. While
the colony did not actually decrease in population,
its general progress had become very slow since
the halcyon days of Talon and de Tracy. The
religious orders and ecclesiastics appeared to be the
only community in comfortable circumstances, which
constrained the governor to procure an edict from the
Crown to limit the acquisition of property by the
hierarchy. The governor's reputation was that of a
prudent, honorable, and courageous man.
M. de Vaudreuil, who had succeeded de Callieres as
30 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
commandant at Montreal, now succeeded the same
gentleman as governor, and presided in that capacity
for the long term of twenty-two years, until his death
in 1725. His chief colleagues in the council were
Bishop St. Vallieres and Intendant Begon. The post-
office system was regularly established during his
regime.
He proved to be a useful and popular governor, and
made the most of the trying position in which he was
placed. The chronic intrigues of the respective
Indian allies of New England and New France still
worried the governor and people. The narrow and
oppressive commercial policy of the home government
hampered the inhabitants ; every advantage being con-
ferred upon the industries of the Mother Country as
against those of the colony. All business intercourse
on the part of the inhabitants with other countries
was prohibited ; any surplus of beaver skins or other
articles of export, beyond the fixed quantity required
by the Mother Country, was to be destroyed. The
prices of all commodities to be bought or sold by the
inhabitants was fixed by the royal intendant. It was
little wonder, then, that the country made such slow
progress under such a blighting policy, or that some
of its inhabitants became idle and dissipated. Despite
all these serious disadvantages the City of Quebec
now alone contained about seven thousand inhabit-
ants, comprising for the most part a fine class of
worthy and agreeable citizens. Montreal then con-
tained about three thousand inhabitants, who were
also mainly a good class of citizens.
The population of the colony had reached twenty-
five thousand souls. Koads were constructed, parishes
laid out, matters of police and finance were improved,
NEW FRANCE. 31
and the old wooden fortifications at Quebec and Mont-
real were replaced by stone structures. The monetary
arrangements of the colony were, however, very
defective, no coin being in circulation, the only cur-
rency in the country approaching money were little
billets or cartes, resembling the shin plasters of more
modern times.
The colony was now> however, upon the eve of
enjoying the longest period of peace it had ever
known from 1713 to 1744. Upon the death of de Vau-
dreuil, M. de Beauharnois, a brother of the past royal
intendant of that name, succeeded as governor, with
Bishop de Morny and Royal Intendant Chazel and
Dupuy.
The new governor pursued the vigilant policy of his
predecessors in observing the movements of the Brit-
ish and Iroquois to the south, and also of the trend
of the internal affairs of the colony. Considerable
progress had been made during the long interval of
peace. The population had now reached fifty thousand
inhabitants; nearly all the departments and institu-
tions incidental to an important community were now
established and satisfactorily administered by the
respective functionaries. Discoveries were carried
on. De la Verendrye had discovered the great North-
West and Rocky Mountains. The encroachment of
the British American colonists northward to Lake
Ontario, and westward to the Alleghanies, was duly
protested against. And in this connection it is a ser-
ious loss to Canada that the original French boundar-
ies were not maintained by the British in the subse-
quent treaty of peace, signed with the United States
at Paris in 1783 ; but it was ever thus in the dealings
between the off-handed and unsuspecting British, and
32 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the shrewd, bargaining American diplomats. De
Beauharnois proved to be a faithful, accomplished
and locally popular governor, but did not stand in
high favor with the home government — it is alleged
for not having prevented the falling of Louisbourg
into the hands of the British. In consequence of this
he was recalled to France.
M. de la Jonquiere was appointed to succeed de
Beauharnois as governor. He left France for Quebec
with thirty-six ships laden with troops and supplies.
He had the design of retaking Louisbourg on his way
out, but was himself taken prisoner at sea by the
British.
M. de Galissonniere assumed the governorship pend-
ing the release of de Jonquiere. Galissonniere had for
his chief colleagues, Bishop Desquot and Eoyal Inten-
dant Hocquart. He lost no time in becoming
acquainted with the affairs and resources of the col-
ony, and suggested plans based upon his observations
for the strengthening of French power in North
America. One of his proposals was to establish ten
thousand French peasants south of Lake Erie and
Lake Michigan, at the same time urging the Court to
provide him with means to prevent the British intru-
sions from the south. But the French Government
turned a deaf ear to his importunities for aid to pro-
mote French interests throughout the territories
claimed as part of New France. He suggested the
establishment of printing presses in Canada, which
was also unheeded. The home government, however,
signified their confidence in Galissonniere by naming
him one of the four commissioners for settling the
boundaries.
NEW FRANCE. 33
M. de Jonquiere, in the meantime having been set
free by the British, assumed the governorship of Can-
ada for the succeeding three years, with Bishop La
Kiviere and M. Bigot, the last and worst of all the
royal intendants, as his chief colleagues. While de
Jonquiere gave considerable attention to the security
of numerous posts, he was nevertheless reproached by
the home government for not carrying out Galisson-
niere's plans with sufficient energy.
The spirit of mutual territorial encroachment on
the part of the French and British prevailed con-
tinuously.
The French claimed by right of discovery and by
treaty with Indians, the territory as far south as the
confluence of the Alleghany and Ohio rivers, where a
post was established, known as Fort Duquesne, prob-
ably so named in honor of a governor of New France
of that name. A British force under General Brad-
dock made an incautious attempt to capture the Fort,
but was repulsed by French and Indians with the loss
of the general and a considerable number of men. A
second attempt, however, by the British was easily
accomplished. The fort was renamed Pittsburgh, in
honor of the then British premier, Pitt the elder.
Fourteen years after the conquest of New France the
Quebec Act was passed by the Imperial Parliament,
defining the boundaries of Canada as above; but
when American independence was acknowledged, the
terms of which were arranged by the Treaty of Paris
in 1783, Canada's southern and westerly boundaries
were moved a long distance northward and eastward,
to the aggrandisement of the new Republic of North
America, henceforth to be known as the United States
of America.
3
34 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
But to return to Governor de Jonquiere, now
strongly suspected of not only conniving at the dis-
honesty of government officials, but also of participat-
ing in ill-gotten gains himself. The suspicions
appeared to be well founded, owing to the fact that
upon a salary of fourteen hundred dollars per annum
he amassed the large sum of two hundred thousand
dollars in three years, with no opportunity of making
a sudden fortune by stock gambling, as sometimes
accidentally happens in the present day. Complaints
were formulated against the governor, which were
about to be investigated, when he offered to resign;
his career was now, however, cut short by death.
Baron de Longeuil became administrator until the
arrival of M. Duquesne as governor-general, who had
for chief colleagues Bishop Pontbriand, the last
bishop under French rule, and the unspeakable Bigot
as royal intendant.
Governor Duquesne was not long in discovering
that the affairs of the colony had fallen into a very
unsatisfactory condition. The commandants at many
posts were more concerned in private speculations
than in the discharge of their duties. Both the civil
and military branches of the service were, almost hope-
lessly demoralized. He did what he could to remedy
the evils, but was unable to root out many of the
abuses. He was, however, successful in reorganizing
and drilling the militia, which comprised the very
respectable force of fifteen thousand men. M.
Duquesne, having presided for three years, was suc-
ceeded by M. de Vaudreuil, a son of the former gover-
nor-general of that name, and a native of the colony,
whom we shall meet again.
CHAPTER II.
ACADIA.
WE must now take leave of the river and lake
colony in New France for a comparatively
short interval, and devote some attention to
the important maritime colony of Acadia, comprising
at this time Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape
Breton, Prince Edward Island and part of Massa-
chusetts, a territory which in its early history experi-
enced many changes and vicissitudes.
The first settlement was formed by the French at
Port Koyal — the name of which was subsequently
changed to Annapolis by the British. The colony, or
at least a portion of it, was taken from the French by
the British in 1613.
King James I. of England and VI. of Scotland, in
a generous moment granted to a Scotch knight, Sir
William Alexander, a vast domain upon which the
grantee bestowed the permanent name of Nova Scotia
— New Scotland — in keeping with the naming of
other transatlantic colonies, such as New England
and New France. An attempt in the same direction
was made in later times to affix the name of New Ire-
land to the colony of Prince Edward Island, but the
Imperial authorities disallowed the proposal.
The first experience in permanently colonizing
Nova Scotia by English-speaking people was not suc-
cessful. The fortress of Quebec was meanwhile taken
35
36 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
from the French by the English, which, however, was,
along with Acadia or Nova Scotia, restored to the
French by King Charles I. of England, an unfortu-
nate transaction for the English, resulting in a long
train of calamities to Great Britain and her colonies.
Nova Scotia was again taken from the French by the
English in 1654, and restored in 1667. It was taken
again from France by New Englanders in 1690, and
restored to France in 1696. Meanwhile the French
commenced the colonization of Cape Breton in 1708,
with M. Constable as governor, and M. St. Ovid, as
lieutenant-governor. The English again captured the
country in 1710. By a treaty in 1713 the French
ceded Nova Scotia to Great Britain, but retained Cape
Breton, with headquarters at Louisbourg, which was
now strongly fortified.
A British American Government was formed in
Nova Scotia the following year at Port Koyal, now
renamed Annapolis in honor of Queen Anne, the first
sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great 'Britain —
England and Scotland having recently entered into
a political and territorial union, and to be henceforth
known as Great Britain, and its government, army
and navy to be designated British, and not either
English or Scotch.
General Nicholson, the commander-in-chief, may be
considered as the first governor of Nova Scotia,
although no council was formed until Governor Phil-
lips succeeded him as governor, whereupon a council
was constituted, comprised of John Doucet, Lawrence
Armstrong, Paul Mascerine, Cyprian Southick, John
Harrison, Arthur Savage, John Adams, Hibbert New-
ton, William Skee, William Sheriff, Peter Boudrie
ACADIA. 37
and Gillam Phillips. Few British families had set-
tled in the province at this time, and the Acadians
having refused to take the oath of allegiance, the
council, with the exception of Mr. Adams, was com-
posed of the officers of the garrison and public depart-
ments.
In 1745 some New Englanders — British Yankees —
aided, somewhat reluctantly at first, by the British
Admiral Warren, gallantly captured the French
stronghold of Louisbourg. The plan of attack, it is
said, was prepared by a New England lawyer, and
carried into effect by New England farmers and mer-
chants, all of whom manifested unmistakable bravery
and skill. Two years later the government of Great
Britain repeated the blunder of restoring Cape Breton
to France, thereby creating most intense dissatisfac-
tion throughout New England, whose people had made
heavy sacrifices to secure strategic and other advan-
tages for the British Empire, which the latter was
slow to properly appreciate.
However, apart from the diplomatic blunder of
restoring Cape Breton to the French, and of the long
neglect of the garrison and post at Annapolis, the
British Government two years later inaugurated a
vigorous policy of colonization in Nova Scotia proper.
The Honorable Edward Cornwallis was sent out with
a large and well-equipped expedition to commence the
chief settlement at Chebucto, which he renamed Hali-
fax, in honor of one of His Majesty's ministers.
Eapid progress was made in clearing land and erect-
ing buildings. In a comparatively short time Halifax
was fixed upon as the seat of government. Paul Mas-
cerine, with a quorum of his council was sent for.
38 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Cornwallis thereupon invited the following gentlemen
on board the transport Beaufort, and had them sworn
in as members of His Majesty's council, viz., Paul
Mascerine, Edward Howe, John Gorham, Benjamin
Green, John Salisbury and Hugh Davidson. Gover-
nor Cornwallis having executed the trust reposed in
him, returned to Britain, and was succeeded in the
oversight of the province by Peregrine Thomas Hop-
son in 1752.
As there was something repugnant to the feelings
of Britishers over the system of government temporar-
ily adopted, only the most pressing laws and ordi-
nances were enacted for the preservation of peace and
good order until the inhabitants were sufficiently
numerous for the establishment of representative
government.
The judiciary system, barring some slight defects,
worked fairly well. The progress of the Halifax
colony was quite active, despite some drawbacks
occasioned by Indian reprisals, which it is supposed
were connived at by the French. It is alleged, in par-
ticular, that a certain Father la Loutre was a very
l)ad specimen of political priest, who persistently gave
the British all the trouble he possibly could. He also
proved to be an ill-adviser of the Acadians in urging
them not to take the oath of allegiance. Governor
Hopson had presided but one year when failing health
compelled him to resign. He was succeeded in the
governorship by Major Charles Lawrence in 1753,
whose name, barring the expulsion of the Acadians, is
favorably connected with the history of Nova Scotia.
The peculiar situation of the Acadians embarrassed
the local government of the province, who were for a
ACADIA. 39
long time at a loss to determine the most expedient
course to pursue towards them. They were not Brit-
ish subjects, inasmuch as they declined to take an
unconditional oath of allegiance, and at the same time
could not be designated rebels. They were not prison-
ers of war, because they held their possessions for
nearly half a century, and were a quiet, happy, pros-
perous people. They wished to pose as neutrals
between France and Great Britain, consequently, if
sent out of the country, it could not expediently be
to France it was said. The local government, being
apprehensive that they could not trust the Acadians
in the event of not improbable future hostilities
between France and Great Britain, resolved upon the
most deplorable and painful expediency of a whole-
sale expatriation of the comparatively large and im-
portant community of Acadians to the then British
provinces of Pennsylvania, Georgia, and other of the
colonies. This fatal decision was abruptly put in
force without giving the victims an opportunity to
arrange any of their personal or domestic affairs, or
of making any provision for their future welfare
among strangers of a different language, religion and
habits, thereby exposing them to the most cruel hard-
ships and inconveniences. Making due allowance for
the dilemma in which the local authorities were placed
in consequence of the Acadians ill-advisedly not agree-
ing to become British subjects as their compatriots in
Canada under similar circumstances wisely did, yet
some more humane policy might surely have been
safely devised than that of ruthlessly deporting them
so harshly and unceremoniously.
The council, in the meantime, after a good deal of
40 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
deliberation decided upon an important constitu-
tional change, which brought into existence the first
parliament ever established in Canada, consisting of
twenty-two elected members, sixteen of whom were
elected from the province at large, four from
Halifax township, and two from Lunenburg. The
franchise was based upon freehold property, and
Eoman Catholics, in keeping with the narrow policy
of the Mother Country, were disgracefully debarred
from voting. The first parliament met on October
2nd, 1758, and elected Robert Sanderson as Speaker.
This, however, was only a partial step towards the
full enjoyment of representative institutions, as the
system of responsible government had not yet been
conceded, consequently more or less friction between
the assembly and the council naturally resulted. In
these primitive times the sittings of the House were
proclaimed by the ringing of a bell.
CHAPTER III.
NEW FRANCE.
1758-1763.
WE shall leave the maritime colony now in the
possession of Great Britain, and return to
the river and lake colony, still in the posses-
sion of France, but not destined to remain much
longer under the French flag.
When we took leave of the river and lake colony,
then better known under the appellation of New
France, its temporal affairs were administered by the
second Vaudreuil as governor-in-chief, and the dishon-
est and avaricious Intendant Bigot. Its spiritual
affairs were presided over by Bishop Pontbriand, who
was also a member of the Superior Council. Vau-
dreuil was far from an ideal governor, and Bigot was
a thorough-going rascal, consequently the affairs of
the colony were getting into a most deplorable condi-
tion. The inhabitants and the home government were
alike systematically robbed by Bigot and his confed-
erates. The relations between the civil governor,
Vaudreuil, and the commander of the regular forces,
the gallant General Montcalm, were greatly strained,
and no mutual confidence or sympathy subsisted be-
tween the civil and military authorities. It was at
this critical period that the great British statesman,
Wm. Pitt the elder, afterwards Lord Chatham,
41
42 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
premier of Great Britain, was pursuing a vigorous
and aggressive campaign against France in North
America for the expulsion of that power from Cape
Breton and New France, now Canada, all of which
was accomplished by the capture of Louisbourg in
1758, Quebec in 1759, and Montreal and the West in
1760, resulting in the ceding to Great Britain, by
France, of the whole of Canada. The victors gener-
ously and happily accorded the most honorable terms
to the vanquished, which have ever been highly appre-
ciated by French-Canadians. The articles of capitu-
lation at Quebec were signed by General Townsend
and Admiral Saunders on behalf of Great Britain,
and by M. de Kamsay on behalf of France, the chief
commanders of the respective armies, Wolfe and Mont-
calm, having both fallen in battle. One of the Brit-
ish generals, Murray, who was present at the taking
of Quebec, was made governor, and proved to have
been well fitted for the trying position in which he
was placed. On the capitulation of Montreal, in the
following year, the generous terms of surrender were
signed by Governor Vaudreuil, on behalf of France,
and General Amherst on behalf of Great Britain. The
French general, de Levis, declined to sign the articles
of treaty, which he considered not sufficiently liberal.
As Great Britain and France were still at war with
each other in the Old World the ultimate lot of Can-
ada could not be finally settled by the terms of the
capitulation. It was, however, settled three years
later by the Treaty of Paris, to which reference will
be made later on.
Meanwhile, the commander-in-chief, General Am-
herst, established a military system of government, in
virtue of which the affairs of the colony were placed
NEW FRANCE. 43
under the control of councils of military officers
appointed for the districts of Quebec, Three Rivers,
and Montreal. General Murray, as chief ruler, was
placed over the Quebec district, General Gage at
Montreal, and Colonel Burton at Three Rivers,
respectively. It was provided that the local affairs
of the inhabitants and the adjustment of differences
among themselves should be deputed, as far as
practicable, to the charge of the Canadian captains of
militia. The commander-in-chief of the British forces
now withdrew from Canada. The two and a half
years' interval between the capitulation of Montreal
and the Treaty of Paris, was a comparatively happy
period for the down-trodden inhabitants, numbering
about sixty-five thousand souls, who had endured the
greatest of hardships and privations inflicted upon
them, under the fortunes of war, during the struggle
by both of the contending parties. No more pathetic
history is recorded than that of the inoffensive and
industrious early Canadian and Acadian people, who
suffered so severely, through no fault pf their own,
in many ways through the varying vicissitudes inci-
dental to the repeated struggles through which the
Franco-American colonies had passed.
(The population had now, in 1763, accepted with
good grace the altered situation, and were as con:
tented as could be expected under the rule of officials
alien to them in nationality, religion, language and
manners, who were, however, otherwise very properly
just and humane towards the new subjects.
By Article 4 of the Treaty of Paris the King of
France renounced in favor of Great Britain, all pre-
tensions and rights to Canada, Nova Scotia (Acadia),
the Island of Cape Breton, and all other islands and
44 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
coasts in the Gulf and Kiver St. Lawrence, and every-
thing that depended upon said countries. His Britan-
nic Majesty, on his part, agreed to grant the liberty of
the Koman Catholic religion to the inhabitants of Can-
ada. He consequently gave the most explicit orders
that his new Koman Catholic subjects may profess
the worship of their religion, according to the rites
of the Koman Church, as far as the laws of Great
Britain would permit.
His Britannic Majesty also agreed that the French
inhabitants, or others, who had been subjects of the
French king in New France, may retire with safety
and freedom whenever they shall think proper, and
may sell their estates, provided it be to subjects of
His Britannic Majesty, or to bring away their effects
as well as their persons without being restrained in
their emigration, the term limited for this emigra-
tion to be eighteen months, to be computed from the
date of the ratification of the treaty.
By Article 5 liberty is granted to the French for
fishing and drying on parts of the coast of Cape
Breton and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to a distance
not nearer than three miles of the coasts of the islands
and continent. Fishing on the coast of Nova Scotia
to be regulated by former treaties.
Article 6 concedes to the King of France the
islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon in full right to
serve as shelter for fishermen, but not to fortify and
build on them, and to have a guard of only fifty men
for police. The ratification of the last two articles
proved to be a diplomatic blunder on the part of the
British, the evil effects of which are still felt most
seriously in Newfoundland.
CHAPTER IV.
QUEBEC.
1763-1791.
ENEKAL MURRAY remained in office as gov-
ernor of the Province of Quebec until 1768.
The Test Act being still in force the French-
speaking people could not serve in his council without
abjuring the doctrine of transubstantiation ; this they
refused to do. The test was shortly after abolished,
and the simple oath of allegiance adopted under the
Quebec Act. His report upon the condition of the
colony was much more flattering to the natives of the
province tha nto the British emigrants and retired
soldiers of those days. Some of the French inhabitants
returned to France, but were mostly of the official
class. The vast majority o fthe people, however, re-
mained in Canada.
Sir Guy Carleton (afterwards Lord Dorchester)
succeeded General Murray in 1768, and ever
proved to be a most efficient governor. Meanwhile the
seventy-five thousand natives were enjoying .peace and
contentment under the commendable and magnani-
mous treatment which was meted out to them by the
new rulers. On the other hand the four hundred
inhabitants of British origin were already clamoring
and petitioning for the immediate fulfilment of the
proclamation of 1763, which intimated that repre-
45
46 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
sentative institutions would follow. The chief aim of
the small minority was evidently to rule the large
majority, who had not yet been enfranchised. The
existing form of government was carried on by the
governor-general, the lieut. -governors of Three Kivers
and Montreal, and eight councillors appointed by the
governor-general. Only one of the councillors was of
French origin — certainly an inadequate representa-
tion of the majority. This mode of government was
established by an order of council of the Imperial
Government, and continued for eleven years, until the
passing by the Imperial Parliament of the historical
Quebec Act of 1774. The provisions of the Quebec
Act, while satisfactory to the native majority,
was adversely criticised by the English-speaking peo-
ple, both in the colony of Great Britain, and in the
New England colonies, and not without some reasons
from their standpoint, as some French laws and
usages were adopted. The preamble of the Quebec
Act repealed all portions of the Koyal Proclamation of
1763, establishing civil government, and revoked the
commissions of the judges and civil officers appointed
under the proclamation. It then defined the boundar-
ies of the province, which reached from Labrador to-
the head of the Ohio Kiver, and to the east side of the
Mississippi Kiver. The exercise of the Roman
Catholic religion was declared free, and the clergy
maintained in their own right the tithes, but only
from those of their own church. All His Majesty's-
subjects were secured in full possession of their pro-
perty. The English criminal and the French civil
laws were adopted, but subject to amendment by the
governor and Legislative Council, the council to be
QUEBEC. 47
appointed by the Crown, and to consist of not less
than seventeen members, or more than twenty-three
members. Its general powers were limited, and all
ordinances were to be submitted for royal assent
within six months after enactment. All right of
external taxation or levying duties on imports were
reserved for the British Crown, with the exception of
customs duties on spirits and molasses, which, how-
ever, did not produce sufficient revenue for the ex-
penses of government. The deficiency was therefore
supplied from the Imperial treasury. This measure,
familiarly known as the Quebec Act, was popular
among the French-speaking inhabitants, but proved to
be not only distasteful to the English-speaking people
of Canada, but also aroused much dissatisfaction in
the British provinces to the south, which now forms
the great American Republic. It is alleged that the
provisions of the Quebec Act added greatly to the
growing discontent, which in a few years subse-
quently culminated in the revolt and final indepen-
dence of said provinces. It is worthy of remark that,
incidental to the bloody and unnatural struggle which
ensued between the American provinces and the
Mother Country, Canada was invaded by the Ameri-
cans, who appealed earnestly but unsuccessfully to
lure the French-speaking people into joining them in
the revolution against Great Britain.
Governor Carleton having at this time only two
small regiments and a few militia at his disposal for
the defence of Canada could not therefore prevent the
falling of Montreal, Chambly and St. Johns into the
hands of the Americans, but he successfully defended
the grand old capital, repulsing the Americans with
48 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
considerable loss, including their general, Montgom-
ery, who received his death wound while attempting
to scale the heights of Cape Diamond. After these
events the government of the colony went on success-
fully. Important and useful laws were enacted which
received the Royal assent. The Legislative Council
was now (in 1777) composed of twenty-three mem-
bers, of whom eight were Koman Catholics. The Privy
Council consisted of Messrs. Collins, Dunn, Finlay
and Mabane, who were also members of the Legis-
lative Council. The chief justice, M. Livius, an alleged
leader of the British party, attempted to assail the
constitutionality of Governor Carleton's policy, and
thereby compassed his own dismissal.
Governor Carleton now retired from office, carrying
with him the affection and good- will of all the inhabi-
tants, and more especially of the French-Canadians.
Major-General Frederick Haldimand succeeded Sir
Guy Carleton as governor, in 1777, and has been char-
acterized by some authors as a most tyrannical and
meddling ruler.
It was during Haldimand's term that the province
received a large and valuable addition to its popula-
tion through the influx of a most desirable class of
settlers, known as the United Empire Loyalists, who
refused to remain under the Stars and Stripes after
the Treaty of Paris, w^hich confirmed the indepen-
dence of the United States, and which also took from
Canada a large area lying to the south of the Great
Lakes and east of the Mississippi River; all this
valuable territory, as before stated, was included
within .the boundary of Canada, as defined by the
Quebec Act of 1774.
QUEBEC. 49
Surveys were commenced in the summer of 1783,
and townships laid out westward of the French set-
tlements on Lake St. Francis. Settlements followed
immediately along the St. Lawrence River, and as far
west as the river Trent, and soon afterwards at
Niagara and Amherstburgh. A census of the white
population of the province was taken about this time,
and was found to number 113,012 souls. The Indian
population nearly at the same time also received a
large accession by the emigration of a body of Iro-
quois to a reservation on the Grand River in Canada,
the said Indians having incurred the displeasure of
the Americans by their fealty to the British flag. The
Imperial Government becoming convinced of the
unsuitability of General Haldimand as a civil gover-
nor recalled him at his own request.
Sir Henry Hamilton was appointed to succeed Gen-
eral Haldimand as governor. The new governor lost
no time in convening a meeting of the council, and
submitted the propriety and expediency of introduc-
ing the Habeas Corpus Act, the advisability of which
had been determined upon by the British Privy Coun-
cil as a protection for the subject against arbitrary
rulers, such as Haldimand had proved to be, in the
matter of making arrests. The proposition was car-
ried out, and met with general approval. Mr. Hamil-
ton's term as governor lasted but one year. He was
succeeded for a brief period by Mr. Henry Hope, under
whose governorship nothing of importance transpired.
The agitation for representative government was
again resumed by the English-speaking element. The
movement was greatly strengthened at this time by
the advent of the United Empire Loyalists. Canadian
4
50 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
affairs thus again occupied the attention of the Brit-
ish parliament, and in June, 1780, Sir Guy Carleton,
now raised to the peerage as Lord Dorchester, was
appointed governor-general of Canada and the Mari-
time Provinces, and also commander-in-chief of all the
forces in British America. His arrival in Quebec
was hailed most joyfully, especially by the French-
Canadians. The governor-general at once convened a
meeting of the council, and laid before them certain
suggestions with regard to ascertaining the exact con-
dition of the colony. The council was divided into
committees to inquire into the various branches of the
public service. The members of the committees were
most assiduous and painstaking in their researches
before making their respective reports, the results of
which showed an unsatisfactory state of matters.
Charges were made against the judges of drunkenness,
incompetency and partiality. The English judges fol-
lowed English law, and the French judges followed
French law. One judge, who apparently understood
no law at all, gave his decision on the equity of the
case, without any respect to either French or English
law.
Trade was in a bad condition, education at a low
ebb. There were no public schools, and few private
ones outside of Montreal and Quebec. The committee
suggested the establishment of elementary schools in
all the parishes, district schools for the higher
branches, also a university, and that the Jesuits
estates and a portion of the public lands should be set
apart for the maintenance of the large and commend-
able scheme of general education. These reports were
forwarded by the governor-general to the home gov-
QUEBEC. 51
ernment, but some time elapsed before action was
taken upon them. The agitation for representative
government continued, however, in the meantime.
The territory now forming the Province of Ontario
was chiefly assigned for the future homes of a large
section of the United Empire Loyalists, and was in
July, 1788, divided into four districts, named Lunen-
burg, Mecklenburg, Nassau and Hesse, and formed
part of the district of Montreal. English laws, to be
administered by a court of general quarter sessions,
were permitted in these districts, as the inhabitants
knew nothing of the French language. A further
effort on the part of the English-speaking element in
1790 for obtaining representative government was
more successful. Mr. Adam Lymburner, a leading
merchant of Quebec City, visited London and urged
the views of the English-speaking party, which he
represented so successfully that a bill was prepared
by Mr. Grenville, the then colonial secretary, and
submitted for approval to Lord Dorchester the gover-
nor-general of what is now known as Canada, after
which it was presented to the British House of Com-
mons by Mr. Pitt in the spring of 1791. The bill car-
ried out an idea which probably originated, owing to
the circumstance of the recent settlement of the
United Empire Loyalists, in the western part of the-
province of keeping the two races separate and dis-
tinct, by dividing the Province of Quebec into two*
provinces, to be designated respectively Upper and
Lower Canada. Mr. Fox took an opposite view, and
argued that the two races should be more closely
drawn together. Mr. Pitt, however, persisted in. his-
opinion that it would give greater satisfaction to both
52 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the English and French-speaking people to have the
province divided. The English-speaking minority in
the proposed province of Lower Canada, represented
by Mr. Lymburner and others, were strongly opposed
to the division of the province, and subsequent results
proved the wisdom of their contention. Despite all
remonstrances against it the division of the province
was carried into effect, and the provinces of Upper
and Lower Canada continued as distinct colonies for
about half a century when they were happily reunited
under the name of the Province of Canada instead of
Quebec, as formerly.
By the above-mentioned Constitutional Act of Mr.
Pitt, legislative councils and assemblies were author-
ized in each province. Low^er Canada with its much
greater population was allowed an elective assembly
of not less than fifty members and a legislative coun-
cil of not less than fifteen members, who were to be
appointed by the Crown for life.
Upper Canada was to have not less than sixteen
members in the elective assembly, and not less than
seven members in the Legislative Council, to be ap-
pointed by the Crown for life. Legislative council-
lors and clergymen were debarred from holding seats
in the Assembly.
The qualification of voters in the country parts was
a freehold, or holding of the value of forty shillings a
year, over and above all rents and charges payable out
of or in respect of same. Sessions of parliament
were to be held yearly. The powers of the House of
Assembly were more limited than that of the Imper-
ial House of Commons, nor were the principles of
responsible government adopted, which was a source
QUEBEC. 53
of much subsequent bickering between the Assembly
and the Council. The Assembly was also hampered
by the council in dealing with matters of finance and
trade, subjects which ought to have been delegated to
the popular branch of the legislature, but were not.
The government, probably for the precautionary
defence of the country, was carried on chiefly by a suc-
cession of military governor-generals, who were up-
right and honorable men in their own professions, but
knew little of constitutional statecraft or political
ethics. It is not, therefore, to be wondered that the
new constitution did not continue very long to work
quite harmoniously, and that intermittent friction
and deadlocks ensued, finally resulting in the sus-
pension of the constitution of Lower Canada some
forty years later.
By proclamation, dated 18th November, 1791, at
the castle of St. Louis, which was the official resi-
dence of the former French and succeeding British
governors, the lieutenant-governor, Alured Clarke,
Esq., in the absence of Lord Dorchester, governor-in-
chief, declared that the Constitutional Act should
take effect in both provinces of Lower and Upper Can-
ada on the 26th December, 1791. The dividing line of
the tw^o new provinces commenced at a stone monu-
ment on the north bank of Lake St. Francis, at the
cove wrest of the Pointe au Baudet on the boundary
between the township of Lancaster, and the seigniory
of New Longueuil, running along the said boundary in
the direction of north thirty-four degrees west, to the
westernmost angle of the said seigniory of New
Longueuil, thence along the north-west boundary of
the seigniory of Vaudreuil, running north twenty-five
54 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
degrees until it strikes the Ottawa River to Lake
Temiscamingue, and from the head of said lake by a
line drawn due north until it strikes the boundary line
of Hudson Bay, including all the territory to the
westward and southward of the said line to the
utmost extent of the country commonly called
Canada.
The event was celebrated in the town of Quebec by
great rejoicings, and it was mutually agreed that all
distinctions between the old and new subjects should
hereafter cease, and that they should be united in one
body, as the only means of promoting the happiness
and the prosperity of the whole. These were wise,
noble, and patriotic resolves. Happy would it have
been had these sentiments been earnestly and practi-
cally carried out in after years; but unfortunately the
high resolves then taken were forgotten all too soon
by a coterie of mutually unpatriotic politicians of the
two races, and as regards the French-speaking ele-
ment, the prime agitators of it were not men gener-
ally hailing from the district of Quebec, but rather
from a comparatively small area at a point farther
west in the province.
CHAPTER V.
LOWER CANADA.
1791-1796.
LOWER CANADA at this period was the largest
and most populous of the British- American
provinces, and in its capital the governor-in-
chief made his official residence. Consequently that
province will naturally engross a very large share of
attention in the succeeding narrative of the respective
provinces. Upper Canada at this time contained a
population of only about 10,000 souls.
By proclamation, dated at the Castle of St. Louis,
Quebec, 7th May, 1792, Lower Canada was divided
into electoral districts, comprising counties, cities and
towns, and the limits of each defined. The counties
were Gaspe, Cornwallis, Devon, Hertford, Dorchester,
Buckinghamshire, Richelieu, Bedford, Surrey, Kent,
Huntingdon, York, Montreal, Effingham, Leinster,
Warwick, St. Maurice, Hampshire, Quebec, Northum-
berland and Orleans. Twenty-one counties in all,
besides the cities and towns of Quebec and Montreal,
and the boroughs of Three Rivers and William Henry
(now Sorel). These counties were each to return
two representatives to the Assembly, with the excep-
tion of Gaspe, Bedford and Orleans, which were to
return but one representative each. The towns of
Quebec and Montreal were to return four representa-
55
56 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
tives each, Three Elvers two, and William Henry one,
in all fifty representatives.
The writs for the elections, bore date of 24th May
and were returnable on the 10th of July. The elec-
tions took place in June, and were warmly contested,
and on the whole a good selection was made, the best,,
some will have it, which was made during the exist-
ence of Lower Canada as a province. His Eoyal
Highness Prince Edward, father of our much beloved
late Queen Victoria, was stationed in the City of Que-
bec during the election, and hearing of undue excite-
ment at the Charlesbourg polling place in the county
of Quebec, repaired to the spot and averted the hos-
tilities w^hich were about to break out, by appealing
to their better natures. His Eoyal Highness, being
universally popular, mounted an eminence, and gave
the command for silence ; he then addressed the crowd
by urging peace and unity, and was cheered to the
echo by both factions. His concluding words were,.
" Let me hear no more of the odious distinctions, Eng-
lish and French; you are all his Britannic Majesty's
Canadian subjects." The tumult ceased; menace,
rage and fury gave place to language of admiration
and applause.
The general election resulted as follows: Gaspe,
Edward O'Hara. Cornwallis, P. L. Panet and Jean
Dige. Devon, F. Dambourges and J. Todd. Hert-
ford, P. Marcoux and L. Daniere. Dorchester, J. E.
Taschereau and L. de Salberry. Buckinghamshire, A.
J. Duchenay and J. M. Tonnancour. William Henry,
John Barnes. Eichelieu, Pierre Guerant and B. Cher-
rier. Bedford, J. B. M. H. de Eouville. Surrey, P.
Eochblave and F. Malhoit. Kent, Eene Boileau and
LOWEE CANADA. 57
P. L. Pierville. Huntingdon, H. S. Dupre and G. C.
Lorimer. York, M. G. C. de Lotbiniere and P. S. de
Bonne. Montreal City, West Ward, James McGill
and J. B. Durocher; East Ward, J. Frobisher and I.
Richardson. Montreal County, Joseph Papineau and
James Walker. Effingham, J. Jordan and Joseph
Lacroix. Leinster, F. A. Laroque and B. Panet.
Warwick, E. P. M. Lavaltrie and L. Olivier. St.
Maurice, T. Coffin and A. Eivard. Three Eivers, J,
Lees and N. St. Martin. Hampshire, M. McNider and
J. Baudreau. Quebec City, Upper Town, J. A. Panet
and Wr. Grant ; Lower Town, E. Lester and J. Young.
Quebec County, L. de Salabery and D. Lynd. Nor-
thumberland, Pierre Bedard and J. Dufaure.
Orleans, N. Boisseau. Fifteen members of British
and thirty-five of French origin — certainly a large
proportion for the former according to their numbers.
The members received no indemnity or sessional
allowance for their services and travelling expenses,
which must have been very inconvenient for many
members.
The Legislative Council was composed of J. G.
Chausegros de Lery, Hugh Finlay, Picotte de
Belestre, Thomas Dunn, Paul Eoc de St. Ours, Ed-
ward Harrison, Francois Baby, John Collins, Wil-
liam Smith, Joseph de Longueuil, Charles de Lanan-
diere, George Pownal, E. A. de Boucherville, John
Fraser. The receiver-general, Henry Caldwell, was
soon afterwards added to the council.
Parliament met for the first time on the 17th
December, 1792, in the old Bishop's Palace.
The House of Assembly elected for its Speaker Mr.
J. A. Panet, an eminent lawyer and member for
58 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Upper Town, Quebec, and William Smith was ap-
pointed Speaker of the Legislative Council by the
Crowrn. The old Executive Council appears to have
been continued in office for the time being.
The lieutenant-governor's speech, for which he wras
himself responsible, unlike the governor's speeches
from the throne of to-day, for which the ministry of
the day are now responsible, was most felicitous and
appropriate to the great occasion, and drew most cor-
dial responses from both houses in reply to the speech
from the throne.
The House of Assembly settled down to work in
framing a variety of standing rules relating to the
proceedings of the House and mode of enacting laws,
etc. The militia laws and educational matters were
dealt with. It was resolved to assist Great Britain
against France in any military struggles which might
ensue, and it was agreed after full discussion to
employ both the English and French languages in the
conduct of parliamentary business. The session
lasted about seven months, and was prorogued on the
9th May, 1793.
Parliament met again for a second session on 9th
November, 1793, and was opened in person by Lord
Dorchester, who had returned to Canada. Lieuten-
ant-Governor Clarke went back to England, bearing
with him the best wishes of the people.
Lord Dorchester's speech from the throne, as might
be expected, was both clear and important, and much
appreciated by the Assembly.
The expenditures vastly exceeded the revenue, but
the government of Great Britain cheerfully supplied
the deficiency until means could be supplied to render
LOWER CANADA. 59
the sources of revenue more productive. Five bills
were passed. Mr. Speaker Panet having been ap-
pointed to a judgeship, M. de Lotbiniere succeeded to
the speakership in his stead.
Power was taken to appoint commissioners to treat
with commissioners from Upper Canada, to regulate
the customs duties or drawbacks to be allowed that
province on importations through Lower Canada.
Parliament met again on 5th January, 1795. Lord
Dorchester delivered the speech from the throne, ex-
pressing much satisfaction with the Assembly, and at
the same time tendering some excellent and acceptable
advice; and so matters went on very harmoniously
between the Assembly and His Excellency.
Parliament met again on the 20th November, 1795,
being the last session of the first parliament. Every-
thing in the way of government was going on satis-
factorily as usual. The only depressing experience of
the times was due to a general deficiency in the har-
vests of both Europe and Canada ; under these excep-
tional circumstances the provincial administration
deemed it expedient to prohibit the export of wheat
and breadstuffs for a short fixed period.
His Excellency Lord Dorchester prorogued parlia-
ment on the 7th May, 1796, in a most happy and
reassuring speech. He having decided to leave Can-
ada on the 9th July following, many addresses
couched in sincere and endearing language were
addressed to him by all classes on the eve of his final
departure from Canada.
CHAPTER VI.
UPPER CANADA.
1791-1799.
GOVERNMENT OP COL. JOHN GRAVES SIMCOE, Ex-M.P.
THE first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada
was a gentleman of "experience, being a soldier
and parliamentarian; he having served in the
army, and also sat in the British House of Commons.
He organized his executive council at Kingston, after
which a proclamation and writs were issued for the
election of sixteen members to the Assembly, to be
elected upon a freehold or leasehold franchise — in
counties of a clear value of forty shillings a year — in
towns upon a house and lot of the yearly value of five
pounds sterling. Clergymen and legislative council-
lors were not- eligible to sit in the Assembly.
The following representatives* were returned at the
polls: Glengarry, First Eiding, Hugh McDouell;
Second Riding, John McDonell. Stormont, Jeremiah
French. Dundas, Alex. Campbell. Grenville, Eph-
raim Jones. Leeds and Frontenac, John White. On-
tario and Addington, Joshua Booth. Northumber-
* A most interesting sketch of the lives of the above named members
will be found in " The First Legislators of Upper Canada," by Mr. C. C.
James, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Toronto.
60
UPPER CANADA. 61
land and Prince Edward, Philip Borland. Lennox
and Hastings, Hazelton Spencer. York and Lincoln,
First Riding, Nathaniel Pettit. Lincoln, Second
Riding, Benjamin Pauling. Lincoln, Third Riding,
Isaac Swaze. Lincoln and Norfolk, Fourth Riding,
Parshall Terry. Suffolk and Essex, David W. Smith.
Kent, William McComb and Francis Baby.
Mr. Doriand, being a Quaker, refused to take the
oath, causing a new writ to be issued, and the election
of Peter Van Alstine resulted in his stead.
The choice of members was evidently a good one,
judging by the useful legislation which followed their
deliberations.
The first session of the first parliament met at
Newark, now Niagara-upon-the-Lake, on the 17th
September, 1792, and elected John McDonell, mem-
ber for the Second Riding of Glengarry, as Speaker.
Mr. McDonell, being a Roman Catholic, would prob-
ably not have been eligible outside of Upper and
Lower Canada within the British Empire, under the
then existing Test Act, happily since abolished
throughout the Empire.
The Legislative Council was comprised of Robert
Hamilton, Richard Cartwright, John Munroe, Wil-
liam Osgoode, James Baby, Alex. Grant and Peter
Russell, who were on the whole good, reliable men.
William Osgoode was appointed Speaker of the Legis-
lative Council by the Crown.
The Executive Council was as follows: William
Osgoode, William Ro'bertson, James Baby, Alex.
Grant and Peter Russell. It will be observed that
the House of Assembly had no representative in the
Executive Council, which soon caused trouble. How
62 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
different this was from administrations of the present
time, where the great majority of executive council-
lors are now chosen from the popular chamber!
The heads of the departments were as follows:
Attorney-General, John White; Secretary of the Pro-
vince, William Jarvis; Solicitor-General, R. I. D.
Gray; Receiver-General, Peter Russell; Surveyor-
General, D. W. Smith ; Indian Department, Col. John
Butler; Military Secretary, Major Little Hale; Aide-
de-Camp, Col. Thos. Talbot.
Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe ushered into life the
new parliamentary system with all the pageantry and
eclat available in those primitive times. The speech
from the throne was appropriate and prophetic. The
session lasted nearly one month, during which eight
useful Acts were passed. Among these were enact-
ments for the making more effective the government
of Upper Canada in North America; the introduction
of the British laws; for trial by jury; for the easier
collection of small debts ; for the regulation of tolls to
be taken in grist mills.
The names of the districts of Lunenburg, Mecklen-
burg, Nassau and Hesse were changed to the Eastern,
the Midland, the Home, and Western, and provision
was made for building a jail and court-house in each
of them.
Unfortunately before the division of the provinces
had taken place the government of the original Pro-
vince of Quebec had prodigally awarded large grants
of lands to private individuals in the territory which
subsequently became Upper Canada. The granting
also by the Imperial Government, after the formation
of the province, of one-seventh of all the lands far
UPPER CANADA. 63
church purposes was another error of judgment, apart
from the mistaken pretensions of the Church of Eng-
land to claim the whole grant for its particular com-
munion, a claim which Governor Simcoe inadvisedly
encouraged, but which Mr. Eichard Cartwright,
M.L.C., although himself a member of the Church of
England, stoutly combatted as a gross injustice, see-
ing that the Church of England people only numbered
a small proportion of the population. Mr. Cart-
wright also fought successfully against the contention
of some of the ecclesiastics of his own church, who
averred that no Protestant marriages were legal out-
side the Anglican Church. Apart from this display
of ecclesiastical bias and his dislike of Americans,
Governor Simcoe was an enthusiastic and successful
friend of the infant province.
The total annual revenue of the province was then
$4,300, out of which was paid the salaries of the
Speaker and the secretaries.
The second session of parliament met at Newark on
the 30th May, 1793, and passed thirteen bills during
its sittings. One of the most noted of these enact-
ments was the immediate curtailment of slavery, look-
ing to its early abolition. Thus Upper Canada occu-
pied the proud distinction of having set the first noble
example of absolute human freedom to the whole
world. Lower Canada did likewise during its first
session of its second parliament; Great Britain forty-
one years later; the United States seventy-two years
later, and Brazil seventy-eight years later — all follow-
ing the example of the infant parliament of Upper
Canada.
64 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Governor Sinicoe now resolved upon changing the
seat of government, owing to the proximity of New-
ark to the American .frontier. He thought very fav-
orably of the present site of London for the capital,
but finally decided upon York, now Toronto, which
then became the capital. Meantime the governor's
undisguised prejudice and unguarded language
against the Americans, particularly in the presence of
Indians, brought about his recall. He was, however,
subsequently appointed to the governorship of St.
Domingo, where he discharged his duties satisfac-
torily. On the departure of Col. Simcoe, the Honor-
able Peter Russell, senior member of the Executive
Council, assumed temporary charge of the lieutenant-
governorship.
The journals of the parliament of Upper Canada
between the years 1793 and 1797 are nowhere to be
found. It is supposed that they were either burned
by the American army, who captured York in the War
of 1812-13, or were otherwise captured at sea by a
privateer. Fortunately, however, the statutes of that
period are extant, and contain a record of the very
useful and necessary acts which were passed during
the few sessions of that period, in which provision was
made for the nomination and appointment of parish
and town officers ; for collecting assessments ; for lay-
ing out and repairing highways ; to confirm and make
valid certain marriages ; for the holding of courts and
law of probate ; respecting returning officers ; for rais-
ing the rate of liquor licenses, the funds to be used
for the payment of a sessional allowance for the mem-
bers; an Act respecting jurors; to establish superior
and small courts, courts of appeal, etc.; to prevent
UPPER CANADA. 65
cattle, horses, pigs, etc., from running at large; to
build jails and court-houses in each district; to regu-
late the duty on stills; for the registration of deeds
•and wills ; for the destruction of wolves ; for the hold-
ing of courts, and selecting of juries; for the appoint-
ment of customs commissioners ; respecting trade with
the United States, and for dealing with felons coming
into the province from other parts.
The journals for the second session and ensuing par-
liaments have been preserved, and represent that par-
liament opened at York on the 1st June, 1797.
Seventeen bills were passed during the session. The
most important measure was for the better defence
and security of the province against the king's
enemies. A session was held in 1798, during which
seven useful Acts were passed. A session was held
in 1799, and five useful Acts were passed. It is re-
gretful, however, to find that despite the passing of
good legislation during this period that it was other-
wise a land-grabbing era, to the disadvantage of the
actual settler, in which the lieutenant-governor him-
self participated. Mr. Russell's inglorious regime as
lieutenant-governor terminated by the arrival of
Major-General Peter Hunter at Toronto the same year.
The great Dominion of Canada being a federation
t)f British-American provinces, united under the pro-
visions of the British North America Act of 1867,
'each province having previously had a history of its
own, it is, therefore, deemed expedient to adopt the
following order of historical divisions :
Lower Canada from 1796 until union with Upper
•Canada, 1840.
5
66 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Upper Canada from 1800 until union with Lower
Canada, 1840.
Nova Scotia from 1758 until it formed part of the
Dominion of Canada in 1867.
New Brunswick from 1784 until it formed part of
the Dominion of Canada in 1867.
Prince Edward Island from 1770 until it formed
part of the Dominion of Canada in 1873.
Province of Canada, from the union of Upper and
Lower Canada into one province in 1840, until the
formation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867.
Dominion of Canada from its formation in 1867
down to the present time.
British Columbia from its earliest political history
until it became part of the Dominion of Canada in
1871.
Manitoba and the North- West from 1870 down to
the present time.
The North-West Territories from 1875 until the
present time.
Yukon from 1897 until the present time.
Newfoundland from 1832 to the present time.
CHAPTER VII.
SKETCHES OF THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF
LOWER CANADA FROM 1796-1SJ,0.
GOVERNMENT OF MAJOR-GENERAL ROBERT PRESCOTT,
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF LOWER CANADA.
HT^HE general election for the second parliament
took place during the months of June and
July, 1796, and resulted in the return of only
thirteen members of the previous parliament, and of
the fifty members elected thirty-six were of French
and fourteen of British origin. And it is worthy of
remark that the English-speaking element have not
since been able to further increase their proportion
during the past one hundred years.
The new parliament met on the 14th January, 1797,
and chose Mr. Panet again as Speaker of the House
of Assembly.
The speech from the throne contained a reference
to a recent treaty of amity, commerce and naviga-
tion favorable to the province, which had been con-
cluded by His Majesty's government and the govern-
ment of the United States. It stated that France,
under the archusurper Napoleon Bonaparte, was
still keeping up a desultory warfare among the
nations, and that emissaries of that country were dis-
67
tf8 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
persed everywhere, holding out delusive prospects to
the people in order to disturb the quiet of all settled
governments, and that an attempt of that nature
having been recently made in this province, it was
•expedient that the alien bill soon to expire should be
prolonged.
The response to the speech from the throne by the
Assembly was most cordial, and evinced a most com-
mendable disposition to aid the lieutenant-governor
in the preservation of His Majesty's government to
ithe full extent of their power.
The lieutenant-governor having been promoted to
the status of governor-general received the hearty con-
gratulations of the House thereupon. Six important
*bills were passed during the session, of which one was
to regulate the trade with the neighboring states;
^another ratified the provisional agreement with Upper
'Canada relative to custom duties; a third bill made
more effectual provisions for the pilotage in the St.
Lawrence Kiver between Quebec and the Island of
Bic ; and, finally, an Act relating to returning officers
at elections. Mr. Wm. Grant, member for Upper
Town, Quebec, attempted to get the House committed
to the establishment of a university on liberal prin-
ciples, but his resolution was defeated by a majority
of fifteen members. His Excellency assented to
the bills which were passed during the session
in most commendatory terms. The revenue of the
previous year (1796) was £18,975, of which £1,040
belonged to Upper Canada for its share of duties col-
lected. The expenses of government were £26,185,
leaving a deficit of £7,110, which would have to be
LOWER CANADA. 6£
borne by the Imperial Government. The revenue,
however, continued to improve subsequently.
His Excellency General Prescott met parliament
again on the 28th February, 1798, and again on the
29th March, 1799, for the last time. Only a very
moderate amount of legislation took place during the
last two sessions. The most noteworthy was the reap-
pointment of an excellent commission to adjust the
customs duties and drawbacks in a manner acceptable
to Upper Canada. Matters seemed to have gone on
smoothly and satisfactorily during Governor Pres-
cott's regime, consequently he enjoyed the universal
esteem 'of the inhabitants, who regretted his depart-
ure, and manifested the most gratifying proof of their
high estimation of his conduct in the administration
of the affairs of the province by a public acknowledg-
ment of his valuable services.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR ROBERT SHORE MILNES, 17991
Governor-General Prescott was succeeded by Lieu-
tenant-Governor Milnes, who did not meet parliament
until the 5th March, 1800. The speech from the
throne contained nothing of especial interest, beyond
commendation of the loyalty and patriotism mani-
fested by the Canadian people towards the Mother
Country, Great Britain, and also an expression of
gratification over the intercourse happily subsisting
between His Majesty's subjects and the citizens of the
United States, which he hoped might long endure.
The Assembly replied to the speech, in most felicitous
terms. A resolution was passed declaring the ex-
pediency of further encouraging the culture of hemp..
70 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Charles Baptiste Bouc, member for Effingham, was
expelled for having compounded an illegal act of one
Etienne Drouin, who sold soaked wheat to Bouc for
the purpose of increasing its weight. The latter, in-
stead of prosecuting Drouin in a court of law, fright-
ened him into the granting of his note for £75.
Drouin afterwards laid the matter before the law
officers of the Crown, who proceeded against Bouc for
compounding a felony, for which expulsion from the
House followed. Bouc was re-elected more than once,
but was finally disqualified by Act of Parliament, and
was cast into prison, which was certainly excessive
punishment — pushed on, it is said, by a vindictive
coterie, who had some personal pique against him.
Considerable discussion now arose over the decision
of the government to take possession of the celebrated
Jesuits' estates in the name of, and as the property of,
His Majesty, the last member of the order, the Kev.
Jean Joseph Casot, having died that year. Mr.
Plante, member for Hampshire, moved a resolution,
which was carried, asking for all papers and docu-
ments in connection with the case. This attempt at
delay did not, however, affect the final result, the
government having carried out their decision to take
possession of the property for the purposes of the
Crown. The Jesuits' Estates question, however, did
not permanently rest here, and became a lively issue
afterwards, which we shall meet again.
The system of granting a sessional allowance and
mileage as an indemnity to meet the outlay for travel-
ling and hotel expenses while attending the session
had not yet been adopted in the parliament of Lower
Canada, which must, therefore, have been a hardship
LOWER CANADA. 71
to many members, particularly during the long ses-
sions. It is little wonder, therefore, that thinly
attended sessions of members frequently resulted.
The following salaries were paid to the chief officials
in the public service :
The salary of the governor-general, £2,000, lately
increased to £2,500 ; members of the Executive Coun-
cil, £100 each; the clerk (Mr. By land), £400; chief
justice at Quebec, £1,200; chief justice at Montreal,
£900; each of the other judges, £500; the judges at
Three Rivers, £300; the judge at Gaspe, £200; vice-
admiralty judge, £200; secretary and registrar
(George Pownall), £400; the attorney-general (Jona-
than Sewell), £300, besides fees; the solicitor-general
(M. Foucher), £200; receiver-general (Mr. Caldwell),
£400; surveyor-general of lands (Mr. Holland), £300;
surveyor-general of woods, a sinecure, (John Coffin),
£200; inspector-general of public accounts (T. A.
Coffin), £365; French translator (de Lamadiere),
£200; grand voyer of the province (C. de Lamadiere),
a sinecure, £500. The officials alone took £669 more
than the revenue amounted to, without having ex-
pended anything for public improvements.
The members of the Executive Council at this time
were Chief Justice Osgoode, Bishop Mountain, P. B.
de St. Ours, Hugh Finlay, Francois Baby, Thomas
Dunn, Joseph de Longueuil, Pierre Panet, Adam
Lymburner, James McGill, Chief Justice James Monk,
P. A. de Bonne, John Lees, A. J. Duchesney and John
Young — certainly rather a large cabinet for the popu-
lation and resources of the province. It is not sur-
prising, then, that the members of the Assembly soon
became discontented.
72 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The legislative councillors at this time were
Bishop Mountain, Hugh Finlay, Thos. Dunn, P. K.
de St. Ours, Francois Baby, Joseph de Longueuil,
Charles de Lanaudiere, Sir George Pownall, R. A. de
Boucherville, Henry Caldwell, Chief Justice Monk,
Sir John Johnston, Chartier de Lotbiniere, Gad Et
Taschereau, Chief Justice Osgoode, Speaker.
Before the dissolution of parliament took place the
salaries of some of the judges were materially in-
creased as well as other expenditures, causing even a
greater deficit than that of the previous year. The
second parliament being now ended writs were issued
for a general election, which was warmly contested.
Some changes in the personnel of the House took
place, but the proportion of French and English-
speaking members remained about the same, with the
addition of a German by birth, Mr. Wm. Vondenvel-
don, who was elected for Gaspe.
Parliament met on the 8th of January, 1801, and
Mr. Panet was again chosen Speaker. The speech
from the throne and the reply thereto were quite
harmonious.
Free schools, to be supported by grants of land,
were authorized. Bills for licensing billiard tables
and for the imposition of duty upon tobacco and snuff
were passed; another bill permitted the demolishing
of the walls round the city of Montreal, which had
now become a nuisance. The House was prorogued
on the 8th April in a harmonious but commonplace
speech by the lieutenant-governor.
Parliament met again on llth January, 1802.
Lieutenant-Governor Milnes congratulated the two
Houses upon the return 'of peace recently concluded
LOWER CANADA 73
between Great Britain and France. An appropria-
tion of £1,200 was voted for the encouragement of
hemp culture, which ' however was not a success, the
inhabitants preferring to grow wheat, a decision
perhaps pleasing to the clergy, as hemp was not sub-
ject to tithes. The Eastern Townships were now
being opened for settlement, but progress was some-
what retarded for want of roads and from the past
improvident land policy in the granting of large
blocks of land to favorites and speculators. The
session closed on April 5th.
Another session of parliament was convened on 8th
February, 1803. The lieutenant-governor recom-
mended the renewal of the militia law, and the taking
of steps to remedy the insufficiency of the jails at
Montreal and Quebec, and tendered congratulation
upon the increase of the revenue. Six bills were
passed, and then parliament was prorogued by
the lieutenant-governor in a speech expressive of
satisfaction.
A special session was called in August of the same
year, consequent upon the breaking out of hostilities
between Great Britain and France. The Alien Act
and the Act for the better preservation of His
Majesty's government had been allowed to expire on
the advent of peace; it now became expedient to
renew these laws. These duties were not only
promptly but cheerfully performed, the session last-
ing but ten days. The utmost feeling of sympathy
and loyalty towards Great Britain as against France
prevailed in all quarters, which was most creditable
to the French-speaking people, whose sense of justice
and propriety at all times outweighed the ties of
74 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
blood. They were also out of sympathy with the arch-
usurper Bonaparte.
Parliament was again convened on the 10th Feb-
ruary, 1804. This was the last session of the third
parliament. Some thirteen bills were passed, one of
which provided for the care of the insane. The mem-
bers parted with the executive on the best of terms,
and returned to their constituents with the approba-
tion of the lieutenant-governor, and with the con-
scientiousness of having discharged their duty.
The general election took place in July, 1804, for
the fourth parliament, and the legislature met in July
of the following year, 1805. Mr. Panet was again
chosen Speaker. Much of the time of the session was
occupied in inquiries relating to contested elections.
The important question of improving inland navi-
gation engaged the attention of parliament for the
first time. A policy on those lines was affirmed by a
resolution, and £1,000 voted for that object; that
sum, however, proved to be ridiculously inadequate
for the contemplated object, but the desire to facili-
tate intercourse with Upper Canada was naturally so
strong that the Assembly were convinced that nothing
short of the construction of a canal would attain the
object sought for.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to get the
seigneurs to compound their feudal rights and dues
with their censitaires. An unjust measure was
unfortunately passed, chiefly by votes of country
members, for the taxing of trade exclusively to defray
the cost of erecting common jails in Quebec and
Montreal. A bill was passed; for the better regulation
of pilots and shipping, and the establishing of the
LOWER CANADA. 75
Trinity House, and conferring upon the same import-
ant .powers relating to navigation, licensing pilots,
etc. One of the incidents of the session was the slight
friction between the lieutenant-governor and the
Assembly over a proposal to increase the salary of the
French translator, to which the lieutenant-governor
would not agree. The Assembly took umbrage at this
and were about to record their displeasure when
black rod summoned them to the council chamber for
prorogation. This was the first instance since the
establishment of the constitution that there had been
any shadow of misunderstanding between the Execu-
tive and the Assembly, an unfortunate state of things
which in later years nearly became chronic, and for
which the governors were largely responsible.
The cost of the last general election was £545. The
mail service to and from Great Britain during these
times was fortnightly, direct in summer, and but
monthly in winter, via Halifax. The mails for Upper
€anada were forwarded on the following days after
the arrival of the British mails at Quebec. The total
arrival of ships at Quebec in 1805 were 146.
The lieutenant-governor sailed for England on the
5th August, leaving Mr. Dunn, as senior executive
councillor, in charge as administrator. His Honor
received a complimentary address from the citizens of
Quebec on his departure; nevertheless he was not
popular. The general estimate of him was that he
was an easy, well-meaning man with but ordinary
ability and little self-confidence, and easily influenced
t)y the irresponsibles about him, to whom he looked
for advice.
76 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF THE HON. THOMAS DUNN, 1805.
Mr. Dunn assumed the government as president of
the council and administrator on 31st July, 1805, and
convened parliament on the 22nd February, 1806.
He congratulated the House especially on Nelson's
great victory off Cape Trafalgar.
The jail bills, to which reference has already been
made, whereby the mercantile community wrere alone
taxed for the building of jails, caused so much dissat-
isfaction in commercial circles that the Imperial
government had been petitioned to disallow the Act,
but declined to interfere. At a complimentary din-
ner given by merchants in Montreal to the town and
county of Montreal members, according to the report
of speeches, which appeared in the Gazette newspaper,
some unpalatable criticisms were indulged in against
the country members generally for their part in vot-
ing for the unjust Jail Act. Thereupon a majority of
the members of the Assembly deemed the editor of the
Gazette, Mr. Edwards, guilty of a high breach of the
privileges of the House, and unwisely sent the
sergeant-at-arms to arrest him, but the editor success-
fully eluded the officer. Meanwhile the Quebec
Mercury newspaper uttered some comments upon the
crusade against the freedom of the press, whereupon
the Assembly repeated the unwise act again of med-
dling with the liberty of the press, by arresting Editor
Carey of the Mercury, who, however, apologized, and
was set free.
Shortly after the transpiring of the Gazette and
Mercury episodes a journal, Le Canadien, published
in the French language, appeared. The enterprise
LOWER CANADA. 77
might easily have been a great power for good, but it
is feared that the aim of the promoters was to sin in
the same direction as did the English press, by incit-
ing the prejudices of its readers in highly colored
tales of wrongs toward the French-speaking race, to
which its compatriots were advised and harangued to
no longer submit. That the French-speaking people
had grievances no one can deny, and it was doubtless
too much to expect of ordinary human nature that a
majority would submit very long to the control of the
minority. Be that as it may, it is to be suspected that
Le Canadien did not pursue a patriotic policy of con-
ciliation towards its supposed adversaries. Its edi-
tors, like too many others of that calling, were forget-
ful of the divine precept delivered during the sermon
on the mount, " Blessed are the peacemakers." It is
greatly to be regretted that some estrangement be-
tween the two races was so soon to be engendered and
intensified by the tone of the press, and by the officious
acts of certain English-speaking functionaries, who
were only too willing to trample upon the majority.
Mr. Dunn, the administrator, prorogued parliament
•on the 19th April with some expressions of dissatis-
faction over the incompletion of the necessary busi-
ness, which he was of the opinion resulted through so
many members declining to give their customary
attendance. He, however, thanked them for what had
been accomplished. It is just possible that some of
the members could not afford to remain very long at
the capital without any remuneration in the way of a
sessional allowance to cover hotel and other expenses.
The revenue had considerably increased, and the
arrivals as well as the construction of ships had also
increased to a considerable extent.
78 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
Mr. Dunn still being unrelieved of the adminis-
tratorship met the legislature on the 31st January,.
1807, and made a patriotic appeal to the members to
stand by him in upholding and working out success-
fully the invaluable constitution of the province, to-
which the Assembly responded nobly and sincerely.
The administrator congratulated them upon the
further brilliant successes of the British arms.
An unsuccessful attempt was made by a large
minority of the House for an allowance to defray the
expenses of members of the Assembly who resided at
a distance from Quebec. This very reasonable and
proper proposal was shelved by the small majority of
two votes. An unsuccessful proposal was also made
for the appointment of an authorized resident agent
in Great Britain, which shared the same fate as the
other attempt.
Mr. Lees, one of the members for Three Rivers,
dying during the session, Mr. Hart, a prominent mer-
chant, and an old and respected resident, was duly
elected, but was not allowed to sit in parliament on
account of his Jewish faith, the intolerant members-
of the Assembly taking exception to his religion. A
bill to disqualify him was introduced, and underwent
two readings. However the absurd rule was subse-
quently abolished during the reign of William IV.
About this time the amicable feelings which had sub-
sisted between Great Britain and the United States
of America were unfortunately greatly strained. Our
American neighbors talked of walking into Canada,
expecting to be gladly received by the inhabitants, and
that an easy conquest would result, an expectation
in which they were woefully disappointed.
LOWER CANADA. 79
The administrator, Mr. Dunn, determined to test
the public pulse in Canada on this subject, and accord-
ingly gave directions for drafting by ballot or other-
wise the fifth part of the whole militia of the province,
with orders to hold themselves in readiness to march
whenever it be found expedient. The command was
no sooner given than executed. Never was an order
obeyed with more cheerfulness and patriotism every-
where by all classes of the community. The French-
Canadians outvying the inhabitants of British origin
in enthusiasm and promptitude. The loyal and
patriotic pastoral of the Koman Catholic Bishop
Plessis, which was read in all the churches, followed
by the singing of the Te Deuni, was scarcely required
to stimulate the loyal gallantry displayed by the
French-Canadian people on that occasion, the spirit
of which still pervades the descendants of the men of
1807, despite the hot-headed course of a small minor-
ity of the people thirty years later, to which subse-
quent reference must be made. The pro-English
newspaper Mercury spoke in the highest terms of
praise of the zeal and promptitude of the French-
Canadians in not only responding to the draft, but
also of volunteering with so much enthusiasm. The
adjutant-general was filled with gratification at the
hearty response, and the administrator placed on
record a declaration : " That a more ardent devotion
to His Majesty's person and government has never
been witnessed in any part of the British Dominions,
and that he would avail himself of the earliest oppor-
tunity to transmit an account of their conduct to the
Imperial Secretary of State for the information of
his most Gracious Sovereign, that it was the highest
SO POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
happiness of his life to have had an opportunity to do
justice to the zeal, loyalty and public spirit of His
Majesty's subjects in this province." The absentee
governor-general and lieutenant-governor continued
to unjustly draw their salaries, in all £3,500, for sev-
eral years, while the administrator received only his
ordinary allowance as one of the judges of the Court
of King's Bench for Quebec. He, however, on being
relieved of the government by General Sir James
Henry Craig, was justly the recipient of a substantial
honorarium and a pension of £500 a year.
GOVERNMENT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JOHN HENRY
CRAIG, 1807.
The new governor-general was a good soldier, and
personally an excellent character in all respects, but
was no adept in statecraft for the conciliation and
harmonizing of discordant elements, and being sur-
rounded by a clique of officials chiefly taken from the
ranks of a small minority who feasted upon the means
of the country, and who desired nothing better than
the privilege of tyrannizing it over the majority, and
however personally obsequious to His Excellency in
appearance, they were nevertheless his virtual mas-
ters. The executive was, in fact, a bureaucracy, and
the people were looked upon and treated as serfs and
vassals of the officials lords. The secretary of the
Executive Council, Mr. H. W. Kyland, seems never to
havq been kept in his proper place as a mere secretary,
but, on the contrary, assumed the roll of meddler and
dictator, striving always to ignore the rights of the
majority, and in conjunction with a small coterie
LOWER CANADA. 81
endeavored to run the government generally. Such
then were the surroundings of His Excellency during
the four years of his regime. It will not, therefore,
be surprising to find that the comparative harmony
which had hitherto subsisted between the House of
Assembly and the other branches of the legislature
would soon receive a rude shock.
Parliament was convened on the 29th January,
1808, the governor-general going down to the House
of Parliament in great state to open it, and was
cheered by the assembled crowd. The speech from
the throne was rather an able and acceptable one, and
the reply to it was of a like character.
His Excellency warned the people against foreign
emissaries who would doubtless strive to mislead the
young and ignorant ; at the same time he expressed a
fervent wish that the British and United States gov-
ernments might still arrive at some amicable under-
standing, and deplored the possibility of actual hos-
tilities arising between the two kindred peoples.
Thirty-five bills were passed during the session, one
of which, the Gaspe Jails' Bill, was reserved, but
afterwards sanctioned; and an appropriation was
made for much needed repairs to government house,
Castle of St. Louis, wrhich had been the official resi-
dence of many past governors, both from France and
Great Britain. The Assembly passed a very proper
bill tq render ineligible judges from sitting and voting
in the Assembly, which the Legislative Council very
unjustly threw out, greatly to the annoyance of the
members of the Assembly.
The business being over the Houses were prorogued
on the 14th April, the governor-general delivering a
6
82 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
very appropriate speech. Thus terminated the fourth
session of the fourth parliament of Lower Canada in
apparent harmony with the executive, although signs
were not wanting of gathering clouds in the distance
with some indications of an approaching storm.
The general elections took place in May, and passed
oft' in apparent tranquility, but with some changes of
personnel in the representatives which are always
incidental to general elections, and it is to be re-
marked that the English-speaking people were not
numerically gaining ground in the elections. The
Speaker, Mr. Panet, was defeated by Mr. Denecheau
in his former constituency of Upper Town, Quebec,
through the influence of the executive officials and
military class ; but having been nominated and elected
for Huntingdon by his shrewd friends, who antici-
pated the design of his adversaries in Upper Town,
was again elected to the speakership, much to the
chagrin of the governor-general, who confirmed the
choice in the coolest possible manner. The objection
to Mr. Panet was owing to his alleged connection with
Le Canadien newspaper. Among the new members
was Mr. L. J. Papineau, elected for Kent, whose name
hereafter figures largely in the history of the province.
Mr. Papineau's father, it will be remembered, was in
the first parliament, being one of the members for the
county of Montreal, and again elected at the recent
election for the East Ward of Montreal.
Parliament met on the 9th April, 1809, and expec-
tation was on tiptoe as to the speakership, as Mr.
Panet had been dismissed as lieut.-colonel in the
militia, owing to his alleged connection with Le
Canadien newspaper. It was surmised, therefore,
LOWER CANADA. 8S
that he might not be re-elected Speaker; but it, how-
ever, resulted without the anticipated excitement in
the choice of Mr. Panet.
The style of the speech from the throne was some-
what injudicious ; members were lectured rather than
propitiated, and reading between the lines of the reply
to the speech from the throne indications were appar-
ent that the governor-general's speech was not relished
by the Assembly.
The House again took up the question of disquali-
fying judges from sitting and voting in the Assembly ,
and seemed to deliberate rather too long over that and
another kindred question to suit the governor-gen-
eral's military ideas. The House had been but
twenty-three days in session when His Excellency
inadvisedly swooped down in state upon parliament,
and in a scolding humor dissolved the House which
had been almost freshly elected by the people — cer-
tainly a most extraordinary stretch of his prerogative.
The new elections took place in October, and a
stronger opposition than ever was elected, as might
have been anticipated from the rash treatment meted
out to the members. Of the new House thirty-seven?
members were of French and thirteen of British
origin.
The new parliament met on the 29th January, 1810,.
and re-elected Mr. Panet Speaker, to which His Excel-
lency assented with rather better grace than upon the
former occasion. In his speech he adverted to the
unfavorable disposition of the United States towards
Great Britain, and of the success of the British arms
over those of France, and among other matters he
referred to the past proposal of the Assembly to ex-
84 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
elude judges from membership in that House, and that
he would request His Majesty's royal assent to any
such proper bill in which the two houses might con-
cur. Here the Assembly unfortunately lost an
opportunity of winning His Excellency's good-will, as
instead of thanking him for his good intentions they
blindly passed a resolution resenting his well-meant
declaration on that question.
The Assembly then voted an address to King George
III., congratulating him on the fiftieth year of his
prosperous reign. The province was now getting to
be very prosperous, the trade and revenue having
greatly increased. The Assembly, therefore, resolved
that the province was now able to pay all its own
expenses without the usual grant from the Mother
Country, and would in future bear all expenses Of
government, and expressed its gratitude for the past
financial assistance which had been rendered by the
home government. His Excellency, while pointing
out the irregularity and unconstitutionally of the
proceeding, on the ground that recommendations for
money grants should originate with the Crown, he,
however, acknowledged the good intention of the
Assembly, and promised to forward a report of the
same to His Majesty. The abrupt prorogation which
shortly followed prevented the Assembly from giving
effect to their commendable proposal in that behalf.
A bill was again passed by the Assembly for the
exclusion of judges from sitting and voting in the
Assembly. The Legislative Council amended the bill
by inserting a somewhat reasonable clause postpon-
ing the operation of the bill until the expiration of the
present parliament, The Assembly was unfortu-
LOWER CANADA. 85
nately in a refractory mood, and at once passed a
resolution expelling the Hon. Judge de Bonne, one of
the members elected by the people for Quebec County.
This regrettable proceeding brought on a crisis. Had
a responsible system of government then existed these
rash proceedings would probably have been avoided
on both sides.
His Excellency went down the following day and
very capriciously dissolved the House, a course which
was unfortunately applauded by many English-speak-
ing persons. The excitement ran very high through-
out the province, and all sorts of extravagant and
preposterous reports were set afloat. The press
teemed with diatribes. The two English papers on
one side, and the French paper on the other side,
aroused the worst possible race prejudices. An
absurd rumor was circulated that the French ambas-
sador at Washington was supplying large sums in
gold to assist the French candidates, whose election
would mean rebellion. This agitation unfortunately
divided the population into a French and British
party most bitterly hostile to each other. It may be
safely asserted that the French candidates were in no
need of a bribery fund to secure their election under
the existing race feeling.
The elections were now approaching and the execu-
tive determined to strike a blow that would surprise
the people and silence their leaders. On the 17th
March, 1810, a party of soldiers, headed by a magis-
trate and two constables, proceeded in a most high-
handed manner to the Le Canadien printing office in
Quebec, under sanction of the executive, and forcibly
seized the press and the contents of the office, and
86 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
locked up the same in the vault of the court-house.
The printer was imprisoned, and two days later
Messrs. Bedard, Blanchet and Taschereau, respect-
able, loyal and prominent members of parliament,
were also cast into prison upon an unfounded sus-
picion of sedition. These gentlemen were anxious
for a summary trial, which was not granted them.
Some persons were also imprisoned in Montreal and
otherwise ill-treated upon the same unfounded charge
of disloyalty to the Crown.
On the strength of some rabid articles which had
appeared in Le Canadien the executive went to the
uncalled-for extremity of issuing a proclamation to
the people of the province, warning the population
against the teachings of the supposed disloyal lead-
ers, and commanding all magistrates, captains of
militia, peace officers and others of His Majesty's good
subjects to make diligent inquiry and search for the
discovery of the authors, publishers and dispensers of
wicked, seditious and traitorous writings. The pro-
clamation was an insulting and mischievous docu-
ment. There has not to this hour been found the
slightest proof that any design on the part of the said
French party ever existed at that time for the sub-
version of government. The clamor of the people
was merely against the abuses which they felt were
being perpetrated by the executive of the province.
Chief Justice Sewell, at the March criminal
sessions, called attention of the court to the above
occurrences. The level-headed grand jury, however,
in answer to his lordship, expressed their displeasure
at the tone of both the French and English press,
which had wantonly created prejudices and distrust
LOWER CANADA. 87
between His Majesty's subjects of different origin
which could not now be easily allayed. Meanwhile
the imprisoned members got no trial. During July
one of them became ill, and was released in the follow-
ing month ; another became ill and was also released,
and then the printer was let out; but Mr. Bedard
was still kept confined and stoutly insisted upon the
integrity of his conduct, and demanded a trial which
was not granted, a course certainly not in harmony
with British justice and fair play.
The general elections took place in April following,
and the former members for the most part were re-
elected, including Mr. Bedard, notwithstanding his
continued imprisonment.
His Excellency, despite his arbitrary attitude to-
wards the House of Assembly, evinced a readiness to
promote the material development of the province,
which was manifested in the construction of a wagon
road on the south side of the St. Lawrence Kiver, util-
izing the troops for that purpose. This important
highway is still familiarly known as Craig's road.
The new parliament, the seventh of Lower Canada,
met at Quebec on 12th December, 1810, and re-elected
the former Speaker. His Excellency manifested a
desire for the renewal of the unpopular measure con-
stituting a partial suspension of the Habeas Corpus
Act, prejudicial to the liberty of the subject. The Act
was reluctantly renewed, but not without an inter-
change of some sarcastic correspondence.
An address was passed by the Assembly praying
for the liberation of Mr. Bedard, and a committee
appointed to present the same to the governor, but it
appears that the too apprehensive committee would
88 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
not risk a possible snub from the haughty governor,
and therefore timidly failed to wait upon him, which
might otherwise have proved an agreeable surprise to-
them had they approached him in a confident manner.
Several acts of importance were passed this session.
The erection of a parliament house was decided upon
at a cost of £50,000, but the work was not proceeded
with, as the funds were then required for purposes of
defence in the expected war with the United States, a
contingency which was not long delayed. The Alien
Act, the Militia Act, #nd the bill for the disqualifica-
tion of the judges from sitting and voting in the
Assembly passed both houses and received the royal
sanction. The session ended with more cordial-
ity between the executive and the popular branch
than might have been anticipated. The governor-
generaFs prorogation speech was both lengthy and
remarkable. Mr. Bedard was then liberated from his;
undeserved confinement. His Excellency had for
some, time previously been anxious for release from his;
uncongenial duties, and was permitted to leave Can-
ada in June of 1811. He is said to have remarked
when departing that he had experienced more decep-
tion, injustice and human imperfections in Canada
than in his wrhole previous life. These remarks were
probably intended for both opposing factions in the
country. Had His Excellency been an old politician
instead of a military man his surprise at the way-
wardness of politics would not have been so keenly
felt. The poor general survived his departure from
Canada only six months.
Lieutenant-General Sir James H. Craig was to all
appearances an upright man, with many excellent
LOWER CANADA. 89>
traits of private character. However, either his lack
of statesmanship or the defects of the then govern-
mental system, was the cause of much discord. While
he managed to please the British party he unfortu-
nately did not stand well with the French element.
It is said that Genet, an agent of Old France, had
circulated a pamphlet among French-Canadians at
great expense to cause dissatisfaction, and to make
the people obstinate or worse. The circumstance
may have contributed to the groundless suspicions
which His Excellency entertained as regards the loy-
alty of a few of the French-Canadian leaders of the
time.
The Hon. Mr. Dunn was again left temporarily in
charge of the civil government, and Lieutenant-Gen-
eral Drummond was given charge of the military
forces, until the arrival in September of Sir George
Prevost, who had just been the popular lieutenant-
governor of Nova Scotia, but now promoted to the
governor-generalship of British North America with
the usual headquarters at Quebec.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR GEORGE PREVOST, 1811.
Soon after His Excellency's arrival Major-General
Isaac Brock wras appointed president-administrator of
the government of Upper Canada, instead of Lieut. -
Governor Gore, who had recently retired. His Ex-
cellency made a tour of the defences just before the
opening of parliament, which was assembled on the
20th February, 1812. In. opening parliament he ex-
plained that although duly appointed governor-gen-
eral his commission had not yet arrived; he was there-
90 POLITICAL ANXALS OF CANADA.
fore administering the government under a provis-
ional authority. He recommended an increased and
unremitting care and vigilance in securing the colony
from either open invasion or insidious aggression. It
seems that all the governors of those times were appre-
hensive of " Uncle Sam's " seductive ways in still-
hunting as well as of his fighting qualities in open
warfare.
The Assembly responded to His Excellency with
unequivocal assurances that they would give strict
attention to all precautions for public safety, but
could not let an opportunity pass without having a
covert fling at the preceding administration. The
governor in his reply deemed it inexpedient to revert
to these proceedings. The Assembly were, however,
bent upon reviewing the late administration of Sir J.
H. Craig, and appointed a committee of inquiry,
which met secretly; but its uncalled-for researches,
as might have been anticipated, were never made
public. The proposal of appointing an agent in
Britain was again brought forward, but not deter-
mined upon.
The expediency of paying a sessional indemnity to
the members was again before the House, but failed,
as formerly, to come to anything. The modesty and
patriotism of the majority of members of those days
is quite in contrast with the more worldly-minded
representatives upon this continent of the present
time.
The militia of the province was being better organ-
ized, and money appropriated for drilling and train-
ing the local militia. Governor Prevost, unlike Gov-
ernor Craig, pursued a policy of conciliation and
LOWER CANADA. 91
good-will towards the French-speaking people. Dur-
ing this period a ferment arose in the neighboring
Eepublic over what was known as the discovery of the
Henry Plot, as it was called. A man named John
Henry, not succeeding in the United States to the
extent of his wishes, migrated to Montreal, where he
ingratiated himself with some prominent persons, by
representing that there was a considerable contingent
of the population in the Eastern States desiring to
form a political connection with Great Britain.
Henry's plausibility and feigned sincerity gained over
the governor's secretary, Mr. H. W. Ryland, an irre-
pressible letter writer, who started him on a mission
to the Eastern States to promote the object above
named, which resulted in nothing; Henry, however,
made a demand upon the British Government for com-
pensation in the way of a position worth £500 per
annum. The Minister would not recognize him as a
British agent. Chagrined with disappointment
Henry immediately made his way to the United States
and sold to the Madison government for f 50,000 cer-
tain correspondence. Said government was then in
a grievance-hunting mood against Great Britain. The
traitor then left the United States for Canada. The
Congress of the United States, upon some pretext of
a frivolous nature, declared war against Great
Britain on the 18th June, which naturally caused
some excitement. The province was, however, in
some measure prepared for defence. All American
citizens were notified to leave within a very few
weeks, an embargo was laid upon the shipping in
port, and a session of parliament called which met on
the 16th July, and unanimously voted not only all the
92 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
money on hand for the defence of the country, but
indemnified the governor in the issue of army bills to
the extent of a million dollars. All classes flocked to
the defence of the country, excepting some young men
at Pointe Claire, who not having been well informed
upon the state of matters, gave a little trouble, and
had to be temporarily punished by fine and imprison-
ment, which a timely explanation would probably
have avoided.
Among the regiments then raised was Col. Sala-
berry's famous French-Canadian Voltigeurs, who dis-
tinguished themselves under their gallant leader at
Chateauguay and elsewhere. However, Lower Can-
ada suffered very little from the war in comparison
with Upper Canada, which formed the chief battle-
ground during that wicked and unnatural war. The
legislature of Lower Canada assembled again on the
29th December. The governor-general most heartily
thanked the House for its splendid support in those
trying times. He remarked that the successes
against the enemy in Upper Canada were subjects of
sincere congratulation, though clouded by the death
in the hour of victory of the gallant and much
lamented Major-General Brock, president of the gov-
ernment of Upper Canada, and concluded by urging
the necessity of despatch in conducting the public
business. The reply of the Assembly was all that
could be desired, which His Excellency acknowledged
in the following gracious words : " The sentiments
contained in your address are worthy of the repre-
sentatives of a loyal, brave and enlightened people."
Mr James Stuart, a prominent member from Mont-
real, who had been dismissed from the sol ici tor-gen er-
LOWER CANADA. 93
alship by Sir J. H. Craig, took the executive officials
to task during the session for their remissness in
unduly delaying the publication of the laws. The
question of appointing an agent to Great Britain was
resumed and postponed. To help support the war the
Assembly introduced a bill to tax the official salaries
from five to fifteen per cent., in proportion to the
amount of salary received, but the bill was thrown
out by the Legislative Council. The indemnity for
the issue of army bills by the government was in-
creased to two million dollars, and other sums were
voted towards the support of the war, for hospitals,
for the militia and to facilitate the communication
between Upper Canada and Lower Canada.
A duty of two and a half per cent, was imposed
upon all merchandise, except provisions imported into
the province, and an additional two and a half per
cent, on all merchandise imported into the province
by persons not resident six months previous to such
importation ; this was also for the support of the war.
A vote of thanks was passed to Colonel Proctor, his
officers and his men for their skill and intrepidity on
the Detroit frontier, and in this connection it is
regrettable to think of the inglorious ending of
Proctor's subsequent military career. Mr. Lee, one
of the members for Northumberland, made a motion
to render the judges ineligible to sit in the Legislative
Council, but the consideration of the question was
postponed indefinitely.
The Assembly made another absurd attack upon the
liberty of the press by ordering the arrest of their old
acquaintance, Mr. Carey of the Mercury, for some
strictures upon members, which appeared in his
94 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
paper. Mr. Carey, however, got out of the way until
the session was over, and then paid his respects to the
Assembly again in rather a bantering but pleasing
manner.
The shipping industry continued to increase very
satisfactorily.
The session now being over His Excellency left
Quebec on a visit to Upper Canada, and was also
much occupied with military matters during the
succeeding eleven months.
Parliament met again for the despatch of general
business on the 13th January, 1814. His Excellency,
after congratulating parliament upon the defeat of the
enemy at Chateauguay in Lower Canada by a handful
of brave Canadians and also upon the brilliant vic-
tory achieved by a comparatively small corps of
observation on the banks of the St. Lawrence at
Crysler's Farm in Upper Canada, repeated the usual
remarks as to the necessity of further vigilance in not
only defending the province against the invaders, but
also for its material progress, and expressed his un-
bounded confidence in the parliament and people of
the province. The reply of the Assembly was
mutually felicitous.
His Excellency supplemented the speech from the
throne by a secret and confidential message to the
House of Assembly, informing them of the inadequacy
of the amount of the authorized army bill issue, and
recommended prompt and serious consideration as to
the expediency of extending the provisions of the Act.
They accordingly responded by extending the issue of
army bills to the large sum of six million dollars.
A bill for the disqualification of judges from sit-
LOWER CANADA. 95
ting in the Legislative Council was again introduced
in the Assembly, but met its usual fate in the Upper
Chamber, as did another bill to tax the salaries of the
officials in aid of the Avar fund of the province ; a bill
also for the appointment of an agent in Great Britain
met the same fate.
The House passed a vote of thanks to Col. de Sala-
berry and his little army for the distinguished services
at Chateauguay, and also a similar vote to Colonel
Morrison of the 89th regiment and his little corps
for their signal victory at Crysler's Farm. The effect
of these gallant actions undoubtedly prevented the
capture of the City of Montreal by the American
army.
Mr. James Stuart proceeded to investigate the rules
and practices of the several courts, which it was
alleged had been abused under the regime of Sir J. H.
Craig, and the proceedings were followed up by the
impeachment of Chief Justice Sewell of Quebec and
Chief Justice Monk of Montreal. Seventeen distinct
charges were formulated against Justice Sewell, who
was not only chief justice of the province, but also
Speaker of the Legislative Council and chairman of
the Executive Council. Mr. Stuart charged him with
being the instigator of all the tyranny practised by
the former governor-general; that he subverted the
laws of the country wherever it suited the purposes of
himself and friends; that he made trouble both for
the Imperial Government and for Canada, by having
five years previously entered into a base and wicked
conspiracy with the traitor Henry, whereby the
hitherto amicable relations with the United States
was greatly aggravated. Eight charges of much
$6 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
milder nature were made against Chief Justice Monk
of Montreal. Mr. Stuart's motion for the impeach-
ments was seconded by Mr. L. J. Papineau, which was
carried in the Assembly, and an appropriation of
£2,000 was attached to the supply bill to defray Mr.
Stuart's expenses in prosecuting the impeachments
before the home government. The Legislative Coun-
cil, however, amended the supply bill by cutting
off that particular appropriation. The House of
Assembly, with their Speaker, then proceeded to gov-
ernment house and presented the address to the gov-
ernor-general, praying him to transmit the address
with the articles of accusation, and also to suspend
the chief justices in the meantime; but he cautiously
and properly declined to suspend them upon an
address from only one branch of the legislature. The
House of Assembly took umbrage at His Excellency's
decision and unjustly declared that he had violated
their constitutional rights and privileges. Four days
later, however, the House in its cooler moments, re-
solved that it had not in any respect altered the opin-
ion it had entertained of the wisdom of His Excel-
lency's personal administration, but still insisted that
an impeachment of the chief justices was well
founded, and would be persevered in. To repel these
charges Chief Justice Sewell proceeded to England
armed with addresses highly approving his conduct
from both the Legislative Council and the executive,
of which he was himself a member. It does not ap-
pear that the accused was at all an unworthy char-
acter, but his then legal but unwise connection with
politics exposed him to suspicions of scheming and
LOWER CANADA. 97
seeming partizanship for which the defective govern-
mental usages of the time were mostly to blame.
The Assembly again passed a bill for the appoint-
ment of an agent in Great Britain, in which the Legis-
lative Council did not absolutely refuse to concur, but
called the attention of the Assembly to some irregular-
ity in its routine, and here the matter rested for the
present.
The House drew up an address to the Prince Regent
on the state of the province, which; was to be presented
by a gentleman to be named for that purpose. His
Excellency acquiesced, but the proposal was not car-
ried out, owing to a disagreement between the two
houses. During the session an embassy of chiefs of
nine different tribes of Indians, some from very dis-
tant parts, waited upon the governor-general asking
for assistance and other considerations. His Excel-
lency replied in kindly terms, promising that they
would not be forgotten. He also greatly regretted
the death of Chief Tecumseh, killed in battle, and
loaded them with presents.
This, the last session of the seventh parliament, was
prorogued on the 17th March, 1814. The Assembly
were rather disappointed in the tone of the proroga-
tion speech from the throne. A dissolution was fore-
shadowed with the very unusual request that the sev-
eral candidates would give their constituents a true
idea of the nature and the value of the constitution
which they possessed, an injunction which, it may
be assumed, was indifferently obeyed judging by
the chronic friction which subsisted between the
Assembly and the other branches of the governmental
system.
98 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Hostilities with the Americans still continued, and
strong reinforcements were en route from the regular
army of Great Britain. A battalion of the 8th regi-
ment, and two hundred and twenty seamen for the
lakes, marched through the woods from Fredericton>
N.B., to the St. Lawrence in the month of February.
The legislature of New Brunswick and the city of St.
John kindly and opportunely voted £300 each to
defray the expense of carrying them on sleighs as far
as the nature of the woods permitted.
The miscarriage of the assault upon Plattsburg,
where a combined and simultaneous attack by the
land and marine forces was to have been made,
resulted not only in a disastrous affair for the British
arms, but also in having forever disturbed the peace
of mind of the governor-general, who had the direc-
tion of the land forces. The naval commander, Sir
James Yeo, in his despatches, blamed the land forces
for not co-operating as agreed, and His Excellency,
the commander of the land forces, on the other hand,
blamed the precipitancy of the naval commander for
the disaster where victory ought otherwise to have
been easily assured had the combined attack been
properly timed. The controversy which ensued has
never yet been cleared up.
The new House of Assembly met on the 21st Jan-
uary, 1815. The late Speaker, Mr. Panet, having been
called to the Legislative Council, Mr. L. J. Papineau
was elected Speaker of the Assembly.
The Militia Act was amended so as to admit substi-
tutes for persons who could not conveniently serve in
person.
New duties upon tea, strong spirits, and on goods
sold by auction were imposed.
LOWER CANADA. 99
One thousand pounds currency was appropriated
for the encouragement of vaccine inoculation. Up-
wards of eight thousand pounds currency Avere appro-
priated for the internal communication of the pro-
vince, and a further sum of twenty-five thousand
pounds for the purpose of opening a canal from Mont-
real to Lachine. A bill was introduced to grant sal-
aries to the speakers of the two houses, which was
subsequently granted, but to the Speaker of the
Assembly only, presumably as the Speaker of the
Legislative Council already held offices to which sal-
aries were attached.
A bill was again passed by the Assembly for the
appointment of an agent to Great Britain, but the
Legislative Council repeated its refusal to concur.
The desire on the part of the Assembly for an agent in
the Mother Country was owing to a natural apprehen-
sion that their motives and aspirations might be preju-
diced by possible misrepresentations of the executive,
who through the governors had the ear of the Imper-
ial authorities.
The Assembly also adopted certain resolutions
anent the impeachment of the chief justices in the
previous session.
While these matters were engaging the attention of
the legislature news of the treaty of peace with the
United States was officially announced by a message
from His Excellency.
The embodied militia wras then disbanded and some
compensation made to them for their services. A
small gratuity was also provided for the widows and
children of those who had been killed during the late
war.
100 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA
The Assembly, as a mark of respect for the char-
acter of the governor-in-chief, Sir George Prevost, in a
generous mood voted £5,000 for the purchase of a ser-
vice of plate, but the Legislative Council refused to
concur in the proposal. ' It was very properly
proposed to grant pecuniary compensation to ex-
Speaker Panet for his long and meritorious ser-
vices as Speaker, but Mr. Pauet dying just about that
time, a pension was granted his widow. A commen-
dable grant of £500 was made to Surveyor-General
Bauchette to assist in publishing his geographical
and topographical maps of Lower and Upper Canada.
Among the bills of the session was one for the
appointment of commissioners to examine the
accounts of the Receiver-General, Mr. Caldwell, and
for the counting of the cash in the treasury; iriean-
while that officer petitioned the Assembly, complain-
ing of the insufficiency of his salary.
The governor-general then prorogued parliament in
a speech of a most pleasing character, not only to the
Assembly, but also to the inhabitants generally.
After the mismanaged Plattsburgh affair the vio-
lence of the press towards His Excellency, particu-
larly in Montreal, knew no bounds. He, however,
received several flattering addresses on his departure
for Britain, via St. John, N.B., which took place in
April, 1815. His Excellency was anxious to meet the
charges formulated by Sir James Yeo before a court-
martial, which was to have taken place on the 10th
January, 1816. He, however, died in London on the
5th of the same month, leaving a disconsolate family
to regret his loss, rendered doubly grievous by the re-
flections to which his memory had been exposed, from
LOWER CANADA. 101
his not having had an opportunity of clearing up his
conduct at Plattsburg. His relatives requested an
investigation into his conduct after his death, but the
judge advocate was of the opinion that such an
inquiry could not properly be made under the circum-
stances. Lady Prevost, feeling greatly distressed
over the injustice to her husband's memory, appealed
to the Prince Regent, who was graciously pleased, to
express publicly the high sense he entertained of the
distinguished services of Sir George Prevost, confer-
ring at the same time, as a mark of approbation, addi-
tional armorial bearings on the escutcheon of the
family. It can be said with truth that Sir George
Prevost was an excellent governor-general in his civil
capacity, and, furthermore, it is only just to give his
memory the benefit of any doubts over the Plattsburg
affair. No doubt he acted on the sane principle of
not exposing his men in a hopeless cause after the too
hurried and miserable fight made by the naval
squadron against the better manceuvrings of the
American naval commander.
GOVERNMENT OF LIEUT.-GENERAL DRUMMOND.
Lieutenant-General Drummond, a native of Quebec
City, assumed the governorship on the 5th April,
1815, as administrator-in-chief, but parliament did
not meet until 26th January, 1816.
Meantime a proclamation had been published to the
effect that the army bills would be paid in cash at par
with interest added, which naturally created perfect
satisfaction to all concerned.
In the administrator's opening speech a reference
102 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
was politely made to the clouded intellect of the sov-
ereign, King George III., and to the happy over-
throw and final exile of the arch-agitator Napoleon
Bonaparte L, and the restoration of the rightful
heirs, the Bourbon family, to the throne of France.
The reply of the Assembly was, for some unstated
cause, rather cold and somewhat guarded in tone.
The administration transmitted a message inform-
ing the House that the Imperial Government declined
to interfere with the two impeached chief justices,
Sewell and Monk. This communication threw the
House into a ferment. The message was referred to a
committee of the whole that day, and a special com-
mittee was appointed to prepare an humble representa-
tion and petition that the Commons be heard. Where-
upon the administrator, somewhat capriciously,
swooped down upon parliament before any measures
were matured, and amid the discharge of artillery pro-
rogued the House in a scolding speech for presuming
to enter upon a discussion of the impeachment of the
judges after His Koyal Highness the Prince Kegent
had given his decision, and then declared his intention
to dissolve parliament. It is said that the adminis-
trator adopted this high-handed procedure in pur-
suance of instructions from the British Minister to
take that course if the Assembly again meddled with
the judges. If so, the British minister was not much
of a statesman. The Assembly, in pursuance of a
resolution adopted at the last session, had just passed
a bill to purchase a testimonial for presentation to
Sir George Prevost, the late governor-general-in-chief,
as a mark of affection and respect for his character,
and in grateful recognition for the great services
LOWER CANADA. 103
which he had rendered the province. The bill, how-
ever, was again rejected by the Legislative Council.
The elections for the new Assembly took place in
March, and did not result in any advantage for the
executive. The conduct of members being endorsed
as usual by the electors.
In the meantime the administrator received noti-
fication of the appointment of Sir John Cope Sher-
brooke, late lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, as
governor-in-chief, and sailed for Britain on the 21st
May, leaving Major-General Wilson as temporary
administrator. The new governor-in-chief arrived on
the 21st July, 1816, from Halifax.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR JOHN COPE SHERBROOKE, 1816.
One of the first acts of His Excellency was a
humane one in the taking of steps for the relief of
some distress caused by the failure from early frosts
of the wheat crop in the lower parts of the district of
Quebec.
His Excellency doubtless felt considerable anxiety
over the burning question which divided the adminis-
tration and the Assembly in the matter of the im-
peachment of the judges. After a thorough inquiry
throughout the province he ascertained that a deep
feeling did actually exist against the judges. Here
was a quandary, the Prince Kegent being determined
to uphold the judges, while the inhabitants were un-
mistakably against them. He deemed it, therefore,
inexpedient to resort to the extreme policy of disso-
lution as practised by his predecessor.
The new parliament was called together on the 15th
POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
January, 1817, and Mr. L. J. Papineau was again
chosen Speaker. The Assembly appointed the usual
grand committee upon grievances, of agriculture, and
of commerce, and also a committee of five members to
keep up good correspondence between the two houses,
which was reciprocated by the Legislative Council.
His Excellency announced that the Prince Regent had
been pleased to assent to the bill granting a salary of
£1,000 a year to the Speaker of the House during the
late parliament.
The House confirmed the action of the governor-
general in making the advances to the distressed par-
ishes before the meeting of parliament.
Another judge, Mr. Justice Foucher, was im-
peached on the motion of Mr. Cuivillier, and the
charges were sustained by a special committee of the
House. Mr. Stuart at the same time, in a masterly
effort, strove to reopen the case against the chief
justices, but found to his intense disgust that a small
majority of the members had inconsistently allowed
themselves to be won over by the kindly disposition of
the governor in favor of a policy of delay, and of
finally dropping the proceedings in the case of the
judges. Mr. Stuart felt the desertion of his friends:
so keenly that he withdrew entirely from parliament
for several years.
Comparatively liberal appropriations were voted
for the Improvement of internal communication, and
for the purchase of library books.
The first general banking institution in Canada, the
Banji of Montreal, wras started this year, and the
establishment of the Quebec Bank soon followed. A
company was incorporated to open a navigable canal
LOWEE CANADA. 105
between Chambly and St. John's; an Act was also
passed to empower the appointment of commissioners
for the improvement of water communication with
Upper Canada. Another attempt was made during
the session to secure an allowance in the way of an
indemnity to the members for their attendance in
parliament, but again failed.
His Excellency was too ill to go down to the Legis-
lative Council to prorogue parliament, consequently
the members of both houses waited upon him at the
castle for that purpose. The legislative assiduity of
the members Avas acknowledged by him. Ill-health
constrained him to request his recall from the govern-
ment of Canada, but likewise he made no secret of his
dislike of the position, and of the disagreeable work
expected of him.
His Excellency's administration of affairs was most
successful, and on his retirement carried with him the
good wishes of all classes. He was succeeded by no
less a personage than the Duke of Richmond.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DUKE OF RICHMOND, 1818.
His Grace the Duke of Richmond assumed the
administration of affairs on the 29th July, 1818. He
was accompanied by his son-in-law, Sir Peregrine
Maitland, lately appointed lieut.-governor of Upper
Canada.
The legislature met on the 12th January, 1819, but
in the meantime intelligence of the death of the
Queen on the 16th November previous having arrived,
His Grace made the somewhat unreasonable request
for the comparatively long adjournment of the House
for a space of ten days out of respect for the memory
106 POLITICAL ANXALS OF CANADA.
of the deceased Queen. At the end of ten days His
Grace accordingly delivered the speech from the
throne, couched in appropriate and comprehensive
language, to which the Assembly replied in a most
^complimentary address.
The Assembly proceeded very properly to vote the
supplies, item by item, in the manner of the present
time, after which the supply bill was sent to the
Legislative Council for concurrence, where it was
roughly received and immediately rejected, a most
unwise and improper proceeding on the part of the
council, fraught, as might have been expected, with
much subsequent harm.
Judge Pierre Bedard was impeached by Mr. C. E.
Ogden, member for Three Kivers. It has been re-
marked on good authority that vices in the judicature
liad been a subject of complaint for a long time, yet
no redress had ever been allowed. His Grace how-
ever now recommended that the matter should be
looked into, but there appeared to be no proper and
independent tribunal in the province as yet to deal
with such very important questions. A committee of
five members was named to prepare a statement of re-
ceipts and expenditures of the province from the date
of the constitution of 1791 down to the present time,
1819.
His Grace very properly urged that the Eastern
townships were being put to very great inconvenience
for want of local jurisdiction, etc., but the Assembly,
as usual, were very tardy in giving attention to the
wants of that newly settled and valuable portion of
the province. The cost of civil government having
materially increased under the present administration
naturally gave rise to some criticism in the House.
LOWER CANADA. 107
The Assembly having despatched all the business
they intended to transact during the session, His
Grace prorogued the session accordingly on the 24th
April, 1819, with expressions of dissatisfaction as
regards the House of Assembly, on a par with that of
former governor Sir J. H. Craig, which produced a
like effect in arousing resentment and bad blood.
His Grace made a tour of inspection of Upper Can-
ada, contemplating, it is said, important improve-
ments to the internal communication between the two
provinces, and also of the military defences of the
same, and had nearly completed his tour when he took
ill and died after a few hours of excruciating suffer-
ing, it is alleged from hydrophobia caused by a bite
upon his hand from a pet fox. The government then
devolved upon Mr. Monk, the senior member of the
Executive Council, who issued a proclamation, notify-
ing his assumption of the government. He was,
however, shortly after superseded by Sir Peregrine
Maitland, the lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada,
until the arrival of the Earl of Dalhousie, promoted
from the lieutenant-governorship of Nova Scotia.
Meanwhile Sir Peregrine Maitland arrived with his
family at Quebec on July 7th, 1820, but immediately
departed for Upper Canada again to meet the legis-
lature of that province, which was summoned for the
21st of the same month, leaving Mr. Monk in charge
of the affairs of Lower Canada. Lord Dalhousie, pre-
vious to his knowledge of the appointment of Sir Pere-
grine Maitland, had by proclamation appointed the
20th February for the assembling of parliament.
This arrangement was changed after the arrival
of the administrator-in-chief, and on the day of
108 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Lieut.-Governor Maitland's departure for Upper Can-
ada, 9th, February, 1820, Mr. Monk issued a proclama-
tion dissolving parliament, and made the writs,
returnable on the 10th April ensuing, excepting that
for Gaspe, which was made returnable on 1st June.
This unexpected and impolitic proceeding was, of
course, annoying to the members of the Assembly, and
the result at the polls was, as usual, unfavorable to
the administration.
Sir Peregrine Maitland leaving after a short ses-
sion, prorogued the parliament of Upper Canada,
returned to Quebec on the 17th March, 1820, and re-
lieved Mr. Monk of the government. The new parlia-
ment was summoned to meet on the llth of April, the
day after the writs were all returnable, excepting in
the case of Gaspe. When the legislature met it re-
elected Mr. Papineau as Speaker, but as the House was-
not complete, owing to the pending election in Gaspe,
the House could not proceed to business, and as
twelve months from the end of the previous session
would elapse before the Gaspe election could take
place, the lieutenant-governor was, therefore, in an
awkward dilemma. The members of the Assembly
.having been irritated by so many capricious dissolu-
tions, it is little wonder that they were ready to place
the lieut. -governor in a corner. In this state of self-
alleged incompetency the Assembly remained inactive
until the 24th of the month, when official news arrived
of the death of His Majesty George III., which accord-
ing to the constitutional usages of the times (since
annulled) dissolved the House. George IV. was
proclaimed king with elaborate ceremonies and
formalities.
LOWEE CANADA. 109
GOVERNMENT OF THE EARL OF DALHOUSIE, 1820.
The Earl of Dalhousie now relieved Sir Peregrine
Maitland of the government of Lower Canada on the
18th June, 1820.
The general election in consequence of the demise
of the Crown took place during June and July. Mr.
Papineau delivered some very able, statesmanlike and
patriotic speeches during the campaign, which called
forth the admiration of all classes of the people. Mr.
Papineau at that period was without a peer in Can-
ada, both as regards ability and influence. As might
have been expected the result of the elections was not
any more favorable to the executive than the previous
ones. Parliament was assembled on the 14th Decem-
ber, 1820, and Mr. Papineau was again elected
Speaker.
The governor, in his speech, after paying tribute to
the memory of the late king, and in affectionate terms
also to his deceased predecessor, the Duke of Rich-
mond, called the attention of the Assembly to the pub-
lic accounts, and said he would lay before them the
receipts and expenditures of the past six years, by
which they could strike an average which would
show that the annual revenue was not equal to
the annual permanent fixed charges upon the provin-
cial list by about £22,000, and that he had it in com-
mand from His Majesty to state that he relied upon
the Assembly to make a proper and permanent pro-
vision to supply the deficiency. In this connection
he would recommend an enactment of permanent
revenue laws for at least such a period as would give
stability to all commercial interests. He recom-
110 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
mended the renewal and improvement of any expiring:
militia laws which had been found so very satisfac-
tory in the late war, and also a scheme for opening up
and settling the waste lands of the province. He also
called the attention of the Assembly to the expediency
of establishing courts of law in the province upon the
lines proposed by the late Duke of Richmond at a
former session, and concluded with the observation
that he had made himself somewhat acquainted with
the country, and had no sectional partialities; hi&
only object was to serve the best interests of the
country.
The Assembly, in reply, assured His Excellency that
they would endeavor to place the finances on a proper
footing, while they at the same time felt, and with
justice, that some salaries might be abolished, par-
ticularly for non-resident officials. A lieutenant-
governor for Lower Canada, living in England, wha
never even visited Canada, was drawing £1,500 per
annum; a lieutenant-governor of Gaspe (a sinecure),
costing £300 per annum ; an absentee secretary of the
province, costing £400 ; a quasi agent of the province
in London, costing £200 per annum, but not appointed
by the Canadian government. And as to the customs
tariff it could not be adjusted permanently, but that
they wrould adopt every means in their power ta
inspire confidence into all His Majesty's subjects, and
especially of the mercantile classes.
The Assembly, judged by the usages of to-day,
appears to have had rather unconstitutional ideas
about the introduction of a supply bill, as the
recommendation for expenditure should first be sub-
mitted to the governor. The governor and Legislative
LOWEK CANADA. Ill
Council were also out of order in objecting to the As-
sembly's mode of passing the supply bill item by item.
However, the Assembly at this session, in the hope
of reconciling the Legislative Council, changed the
mode of voting of the last session, and now voted the
money by chapters, or clauses, including the pension
list. This style of supply bill gave offence to the
governor, and the Assembly were accused of seeking
their own aggrandisement rather than the stability of
the government. The Legislative Council accord-
ingly threw out the bill — a very arbitrary and indis-
creet proceeding on their part, well calculated to
foster the future troubles which actually followed.
As to the consideration of that part of His Excel-
lency's speech with reference to the settlement of the
Crown lands, a special committee wras appointed, and
conducted with great ability by its chairman, Mr.
Andrew Stuart, member for Upper Town, Quebec.
The committee found that enormous abuses had pre-
vailed by the improvident and prodigal grants of
Crown lands to favorites in the province. A large
mass of conclusive evidence was compiled and
recorded in the journals of the Assembly.
Some uneasiness was felt by the public over the
placing of all the funds of the province in the hands
of a gentleman, Mr. Caldwell, receiver-general, who
was actively and extensively engaged in the then
precarious business of the lumber trade.
A bill to establish a tribunal of impeachment, to be
styled the High Court of parliament, was introduced
in the Assembly. It was provided in the bill that
joint action of the two houses would be requisite to
give effect to the proposal. But as the Legislative
112 POLITICAL AXNALS OF CANADA.
Council was chiefly comprised of paid officials and
irresponsibles, however respectable they may have
been in private life, the bill was not, therefore,
relished by that body, and it had to be withdrawn.
Another bill for the appointment of an agent in
Great Britain shared the same fate in the Legislative
Council as the former proposed bills for the same
object.
Reference was made to the late Duke of Rich-
mond's speech, which upheld the Legislative Council
in rejecting the supply bill of the previous session,
and upon the motion of Mr. Xeilson, member for
Quebec County, it was declared by an almost unanim-
ous vote that the House had kept within its rights,
the late Duke's opinion to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, whose course of action it was alleged was not con-
ducive to the peace, welfare and good government of
this province.
The Assembly found fault with a judge holding the
two positions of judge of the Vice- Admiralty Court
and judge of the King's Bench, and the taking of fees
from suitors in the Vice-Admiralty Court besides the
regular salary. Also of a judge holding both the
positions of judge of the King's Bench and French
translator; and also of a judge of the King's Bench
holding the position of auditor of public accounts as
well.
These were some of the public grievances laid before
His Excellency.
The province took 'the construction of the Lachine
Canal out of the hands of an inactive company on the
Tth July, and proceeded with the work enthusiasti-
cally as a government undertaking. The step was a
most popular one.
LOWER CANADA. 113
Amid other transactions some of the members
repeated the effort, but unsuccessfully, to obtain a
sessional indemnity, the withholding of which must
have entailed a serious sacrifice and hardship to many
of the members.
The House was prorogued on the 17th March, 1821.
His Excellency giving rather a qualified expression as
to his approbation of the manner in which the session
had been conducted.
Mr. Papineau, Speaker of the Assembly, had been
called to a seat in the Executive Council during the
session, as had been hinted at some time previously
by His Excellency Governor Sherbrooke. Mr. Hale,
a member of the Legislative Council, and Colonel
Ready, civil secretary of the governor-in-chief, were
also called to the Executive Council. The admission
of the latter to the Executive Council seemed to be
rather out of place; under the circumstances his
claims of eligibility for the position were certainly
not apparent.
The population of the province had nearly doubled
in the last twenty years, and the country was pros-
perous in material welfare, having emerged from the
war with honor, and resources unimpaired. The
great increase of crime consequent upon immigration
from abroad and general increase of population was
a source of regret. The growth of party spirit and
race prejudice had also unfortunately increased, for
which the minority, particularly of the executive and
Legislative Council, were in the first place greatly to
blame by resorting to frequent dissolutions of parlia-
ment, and for ignoring the majority, who in turn
naturally became quite refractory and wrong-headed.
8
114 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Governor Dalhousie again opened parliament on the
llth December, 1821, and made the financial affairs of
the province the chief topic in his speech, appealing
to the Assembly to consider the civil list appropria-
tions as standing and fixed charges, and requested the
passing of a bill affirming that principle on the
ground of a special or old class of Imperial revenues
which had been in vogue prior to the passing of the
Constitutional Act of 1791. It was at the same time
gently hinted that unless this was done no other bill
would receive the royal assent. The Assembly did
not refuse point blank to act upon the suggestion of
His Excellency, but they however politely evaded the
question by indefinite delays.
His Excellency had been obliged more than once to
draw money from the receiver-general on his
own responsibility to meet urgent payments. The
Assembly endeavored to thwart this by threatening
the receiver-general that he would be held responsible
for any monies paid out which was not authorized by
a supply bill. Some resolutions breathing loyal and
good intentions were passed by a substantial majority
for the purpose of glossing and smoothing over the
persistent determination of having their own way
about the finances. His Excellency was loth to con-
tinue paying out of the ordinary revenues upon his
own responsibility. He, therefore, was wont to draw
upon a fund which was derived from some sources
belonging to the Imperial Government, which had
been surrendered, by the King of France at the time of
conquest. The Assembly essayed to appoint Mr.
Marryatt, a member of the British House of Com-
mons, as their agent, but the Legislative Council not
LOWER CANADA. 115
concurring, Mr. Marryatt would not accept the
appointment under those circumstances. A storm
arose in the Assembly over an unfair and bitter
attack made upon it by Mr. Kichardson, a member of
the Legislative Council, which the Assembly resented
with great warmth, demanding the expulsion of Mr.
Kichardson. It should be stated here that there was
a small minority in the Legislative Council who sym-
pathized with the majority in the Assembly in these
disputes. A misunderstanding had arisen with
Upper Canada over the apportionment of the customs
revenues, which resulted in a disagreement. The
treaty provided that one-fifth of the revenue, after
deducting expenses, was to go to Upper Canada. A
greater proportion was now claimed by that province,
besides arrears amounting to £3,000, which the com-
missioners from Lower Canada refused to pay. The
legislature of Upper Canada appealed to the Imperial
government and appointed an agent to proceed to
Great Britain to personally advocate the claim. The
result of all these disputes and difficulties was a deter-
mination to arrange a legislative union between the
two provinces, and a bill for that purpose was accord-
ingly introduced in the British House of Commons,
providing an equal representation in each province,
the members to have a property qualification. Four
members of the Executive Council were to have seats
in the Assembly, and the parliaments were to last five
years. All written proceedings were to be in the
English language, and after fifteen years all
debates were to be in the. English language.
The Eoman Catholic religion was to be re-
spected, subject to the King's supremacy. The
116 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
proposal raised a tremendous furore in Lower Can-
ada, which did not subside for a considerable time.
Messrs. Neilson and Papineau were delegated to
Great Britain by the majority in the Assembly to
oppose the measure, while Mr. James Stuart was sent
by the minority to support it. The bill was warmly
opposed in the British House of Commons upon the
grounds of uncalled-for interference with both pro-
vinces, and consequently dwindled down to what was
afterwards known as the Canada Trades Act. By it
every essential claim of Upper Canada was awarded,
and also secured against the future caprice of the
jarring legislation of Lower Canada in the matter of
the customs tariff, which could not now be changed
without the consent of Upper Canada. The Trades
Act also introduced the thin edge of the wedge for the
future abolition of the seigniorial tenure, a relic of the
old time French regime.
A responsible executive comprised of strong, pat-
riotic and conciliatory statesmen was now sorely
needed at the helm of state to calm the prejudices and
passions which had gradually risen, primarily
through the jealousies and thirst for power which
existed between the Executive and Legislative Coun-
cils on the one side, and House of Assembly on the
other side. The functions of each body were either
not properly defined or otherwise not fully under-
stood by either contending parties. The system was
certainly not adapted for popular government as we
liave it to-day.
The House met on the 10th January, 1823. Mr.
Papineau, the Speaker, being in Great Britain oppos-
ing the proposed Legislative Union Act between
LOWEE CANADA. 117
Lower and Upper Canada, it was therefore incumbent
upon the House to elect a new Speaker. Mr. Val-
lieres, member for Upper Town, Quebec, although a
junior member, proved to be the winning dark horse
in the contest for the speakership. Messrs. Viger
and Bourdages, experienced and able members, were
candidates, but neither of them could secure the
necessary votes for election to the speakership. His
Excellency confirmed the choice of Speaker, and in-
formed the House of the passing of the Canada
Trades Act by the Imperial parliament, which regu-
lated the trade of Canada with the United States, and
also the intercourse between Lower and Upper Can-
ada. The question of the proposed larger scheme of
union between the two provinces was thoroughly
debated, and then negatived in both the Lords and
Commons.
The Assembly at length essayed to do some justice
to the Eastern Townships, and erected the judicial
district of St. Francis with a resident judge. The
Assembly also proposed to give the Eastern Town-
ships representation in the Assembly by increasing:
the total number of representatives in the House, but
the proposal on such conditions was rejected by the
Legislative Council, that body shrewdly suspecting
that the majority of the Assembly were not actuated
solely by motives of justice towards the Eastern
Townships.
The mode of voting the supplies again caused fric-
tion between the two houses, but the Legislative
Council however yielded certain points under protest
rather than cause the distress and embarrassment
which the rejection of the bill would entail. But the
118 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
seeming complacence of the Legislative Council was
of but short duration; it soon assumed its former
antagonistic stand on some financial questions.
The receiver-general, Mr. Caldwell, an appointee
of the Imperial government, was in default for the
very large sum of £100,000, which afforded the
Assembly a reasonable ground for dissatisfaction,
which they were not slow to manifest. The govern-
ment subsequently recovered about two-fifths of the
amount by taking over Mr. Caldwell's seigniory of
Lauzon.
The Assembly was asked to deal with an appar-
ently just claim of tipper Canada, under the
provisions of the Canada Trades Act, which they
promised to take into consideration, but finally laid
the question over without alleging a sufficient reason
for the delay. Several unusual appropriations were
made during the session, comprising a grant of £800
to the Montreal General Hospital, and £2,000 to the
ladies of the Hotel Dieu, Quebec, to aid in certain im-
provements of the hospital, and also £2,000 to
encourage agriculture.
The session closed very harmoniously on the 22nd
March, 1823. His Excellency sailed for Halifax in
June on a visit to Nova Scotia, where he was received
with great demonstrations of respect by the inhabi-
tants, he having been at one time a most popular
lieutenant-governor of that province. He returned to
Quebec on the King's birthday, 12th August, in time
to review the troops in the garrison, and to take part
generally in the celebrations.
The Quebec Gazette, published by Mr. Samuel
LOWER CANADA. 119
*
Neilson, one of the ablest men of his day, had been
the recognized official organ of the province, but now
the governor probably took the impolitic step of
dropping Mr. Neilson and his paper and importing
from New York a Mr. Fisher to take charge of a new
government organ to be established and supported by
the government, thus arraying a powerful man
against himself in the person of Mr. Neilson.
The legislature met again on the 25th November,
1823, being the last session of that parliament. The
governor informed the House that it was painful to
meet the House each succeeding year with statements
of difficulties in financial affairs, but as they still
existed it was incumbent on him to bring them for-
ward in the fullest detail, and that it was for that
especial purpose that he had summoned parlia-
ment so early. His speech otherwise was short
and conciliatory.
An attempt was made by the House to appropriate
a sum equal to the amount formerly proposed
(£5,000) for the purchase of plate for Sir George
Prevost, now deceased; but now it was proposed to
expend that sum in the erection of an equestrian
statue to his memory in a proper situation; but the
matter fell through.
The smuggling of tea from the United States had
been going on for several years, as no direct import-
ing facilities from China and India had yet been
established. The attention of the home government
being called to the matter ships soon commenced
to bring a full supply of tea direct from Canton to
Quebec.
120 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
A vote of thanks was passed to Sir James Mclntosh
of the Imperial parliament for his powerful aid in
causing the proposed Union Act to be abandoned.
The Canada Trades Act was criticised adversely,
but nothing resulted from the discussion further
than a trial of debating strength pro and con between
the late and the present Speaker.
The Assembly sat upwards of two and a half
months before the estimates were prepared, which was
partly due to the remissness or misunderstanding of
some of the officers whose duty it was to prepare the
necessary papers. When the items of appropriation
were finally classified and prepared some severe
strictures were passed upon the executive for alleged
prodigality and illegal use of the public money, and
the salaries of every official from His Excellency
downward were ruthlessly cut down by twenty-five
per cent, in a detailed supply bill sent up to the Legis-
lative Council for concurrence, but which it will be
anticipated was promptly thrown out by that body at
its first reading. The Legislative Council at the same
time passed several resolutions on the financial sub-
ject, addressing His Majesty with an entreaty that he
will take into his royal consideration the evils which
must inevitably ensue from the existing state of mat-
ters, to the end that legislative provision be made to
remedy the evils and to adopt such other means as he
should see fit to put an end to the recurring conflicts
between the two different branches of parliament.
It may be here remarked that the colonial minister,
Earl Bathurst, invariably sided with the Legislative
and Executive Councils, which was a source of great
irritation to the Assembly.
LOWER CANADA. 121
The debates in the Assembly on the civil expendi-
tures were most acrimonious. The Speaker, Mr.
Papineau, when out of the chair, set the worst
example of any member of the House, for which it is
said His Excellency called that gentleman to account
privately, and made him apologize.
Cognizance was taken of a message of the
President of the United States to Congress claim-
ing free navigation of the St. Lawrence from the
territory bordering upon it to the sea. The House
addressed His Excellency upon the subject, depre-
cating such a concession on the part of the
British Government. The Legislative Council
concurred in the address, and also regretted the
award under the late Treaty of Ghent, whereby
Barnhart Island, above Cornwall, in Upper Canada,
was ceded to the United States, securing to that
country the easiest channel in the Long Sault rapids,
and requested that reciprocal rights with the United
States might now be obtained for the navigation of
the several internal channels of the St. Lawrence.
The Legislative Council asked the concurrence of the
Assembly in the foregoing, which could do no harm,
but the Assembly declined to express an opinion, some
of its members averring that the Legislative Council
were needlessly alarmed over the matter.
His Excellency laid before the Assembly certain
resolutions of the Upper Canada parliament relating
to losses sustained by the inhabitants of that province
during the war of 1812-14, from pillage of their pro-
perty and general devastation by the enemy. The
British government had consented that a loan of
£100,000 should be effected, and for which it would
122 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
guarantee half the annual interest, £2,500 per annum,
the province providing for the remainder. This
Upper Canada of itself could not effect, and asked
Lower Canada to impose new duties at Quebec on
wines and sugar, and an ad valorem duty on merchan-
dise to aid in meeting the interest, stating that
although a separate colony yet it was distinctly iden-
tified with Upper Canada in the issue of the late
contest with the United States of America, and was
in a great measure preserved from the dangers and
devastations of the war by the successful resistance
made to the enemy in Upper Canada, and therefore,
appealed to the sympathy and justice of Lower
Canada.
In answer to this application it was resolved by the
Assembly that both provinces had suffered and em-
ployed all their resources for the defence of the coun-
try; that it sympathized with the people of Upper
Canada in their sufferings from the ravages of the
war. They regretted, however, that the very unfavor-
able state of the commerce of the province renders
impossible for the present the imposition of new
taxes.
While it is true that Lower Canada taxed herself
heavily for war purposes it must also be remarked
that she apparently never displayed much generosity
towards her young sister province.
The Assembly addressed His Majesty in favor of
allowing the Presbyterians and other Protestants to
participate in the land endowments, which were now
monopolized by the Church of England, and which
they believed was not so intended by the Constitu-
tional Act of 1791. This righteous address gave
LOWER CANADA. 123
great offence to the Anglican community, who were
wont in the early days to ignore all other Protestant
denominations.
The governor-general sent down a message to the
Assembly informing them that the arbitration upon
the financial affairs between the two provinces
had awarded Upper Canada £12,220 17s. 6d., and
requested that provision be made for its payment.
The Assembly replied that the executive ought to
have paid the claim out of the funds which were paid
prematurely for salaries.
The formation of the Literary and Historical
Society of Quebec took place this year, of which body
His Excellency was an enthusiastic member. The
purposes of the society were for investigation on
points of history immediately connected with the
Canadas, and to discover and rescue from the unspar-
ing hand of time the records which yet remain of the
earliest history of Canada.
The governor-general prorogued the legislature on
9th March, 1824, in a speech which clearly pointed out
the difficulties caused by one branch of the legislature
claiming the unlimited right to appropriate the
whole revenue of the province according to its
pleasure, including not only the part of it heretofore
granted to His Majesty, and which is allotted by Act
of the provincial parliament for its specific purposes
and subject to distribution as the king may see fit, but
even that portion; also of the revenue which was raised
by authority of the Imperial parliament to defray the
expenses of the administration of justice, and of His
Majesty's civil government in the province, and
directed by an Act passed in the Imperial parliament
124 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
long before the establishment of the present constitu-
tion of Lower Canada, to be applied under the author-
ity of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's
treasury. The claim set up by the Assembly for the
right to control the above fund in common with all
other revenues was stoutly denied by the other two
branches of the provincial parliament, this divergence
of opinion caused incalculable mischief to the pro-
vince by leaving it struggling under difficulties
through the maintenance of a double-headed treasury.
The country, despite these unseemly parliamentary
conflicts, was progressing very materially, but the
progress would have been very much greater had har-
mony and united action prevailed, and also if the
improvements had been carried out which His
Excellency suggested.
Unfortunately the Assembly and the governor-gen-
eral finally parted without having made the least pro-
gress during the four years in adjusting the difficul-
ties which beset the administration of the affairs of
the province; in fact, the Assembly and His Excel-
lency seemed to be drifting further apart. His
Excellency, however, was not capricious like several
of his predecessors in the matter of inflicting the dis-
solution penalty upon the members of the Assembly.
Lord Dalhousie and family sailed for Britain on
the 6th June. Previous to his embarkation he was
the recipient of many complimentary addresses. The
government during his absence devolved upon the
lieutenant-governor, Sir Francis N. Burton, in 1824.
The general elections took place in July, and
although there were some changes the representation
was rather more anti-ministerial than ever. The
LOWER CANADA. 125
House met on the 8th January, 1825, and again elected
Mr. Papineau as Speaker. The lieutenant-governor's
speech was very conciliatory, characterized in some
quarters as fulsome. It, however, had a good effect,
and a better feeling was created than had existed
during the previous parliament.
The attorney-general, Mr. Uniacke, member for
William Henry (now Sorel), was persuaded to accept
a judgeship to make room for Mr. James Stuart, who
stepped into Mr. Uniacke's place both as attorney-
general and member for the latter's late constituency.
The Assembly moved for the institution of a
tribunal for the impeachment of derelict public func-
tionaries, and proposed that the Legislative Council
do constitute the proposed tribunal, coupled with the
condition rendering judges ineligible for seats in
either the Executive or Legislative Council; nothing
very conclusive was, however, reached on the subject.
Several addresses to the lieutenant-governor for
copies of Imperial instructions were voted, but he
could not respond, as the only document of this kind
in his possession was of a private nature. The supply
bill for the session was a sort of a compromise, and
received the sanction of a majority of the Legislative
Council, and likewise of the executive, who it is sup-
posed were rather outwitted by the Assembly on this
occasion. The colonial minister expressed his serious
dissatisfaction with the form of the supply bill, and
forbade all arrangements that had any tendency to
compromise the revenue known by name of the
permanent revenue.
An address was voted to His Majesty, praying that
he would be pleased to order that the estates of the
126 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
late order of Jesuits be applied, according to their
original intention, for the instruction of the youth of
the country, and that they should be placed at the dis-
posal of the legislature of the province for that
purpose.
The sum of £1,500 was appropriated as a subsidy
for the encouragement of a steamship service between
Quebec and Halifax, which was supplemented by a
vote of £750 in the legislature of Nova Scotia for the
same purpose, but which unfortunately did not result
in a permanent success.
A Census Enumeration Act was now passed for the
first time under the present constitution. The session
was then prorogued in the most harmonious mood,
and it was hoped that the difficulties over the mode of
dealing with the finances, if not set entirely at rest,
would now be easily adjusted in the future; but it
turned out differently, however.
The administration of Lieut. -Governor Burton ter-
minated on the return of Lord Dalhousie, the gover-
nor-in-chief, on 16th September, 1825. The lieutenant-
governor then sailed for Great Britain, bearing with
him the good-will of the people of the province.
On the 7th October occurred the great bush fire of
Miramichi in New Brunswick, the most disastrous
fire of the kind on record. Liberal subscriptions were
made for the relief of the stricken districts. His
Excellency advanced from the treasury, on his own
responsibility, £2,243. This timely grant was cor-
dially and unanimously approved by a vote of the
Assembly. A ship was despatched with £6,000 worth
of clothing and provisions from the military stores for
the relief of the distressed.
LOWER CANADA. 127
The death of Bishop Mountain, the first Protestant
bishop in Canada, took place this year, and the death
also of the Koman Catholic bishop, Mr. Plesses, in the
same year. Both were revered and eminent prelates,
and were also members of the Legislative Council.
His Excellency with his staff very thoughtfully
attended both funerals. The Koman Catholic clergy
sent an address to His Excellency thanking him for
this mark of respect to the memory of their beloved
bishop. The latter deserved well of the English-
speaking subjects for his wise and patriotic counsels
to his compatriots, which had an excellent effect
throughout his diocese.
The discriminating fees collected by the customs
officers from the merchants in addition to the regular
duties, which had formed a long-standing grievance
to the trade, were now very justly abolished.
His Excellency opened the legislature on the 21st
of January, 1826, in a very able and comprehensive
speech, giving many valuable suggestions as to needed
public improvements and useful legislation, but the
old bone of contention, the supply bill controversy,
loomed up again in the tenor of his speech.
The reply -of the Assembly in answer to the speech
was as favorable as could be desired, and on its pre-
sentation His Excellency said that it was highly grati-
fying to find that their sentiments so fully coincided
with his own and he anticipated the happiest results
from " our mutual labors for the public good."
Never, it is said, could he have been more in error in
his anticipations.
Shortly after the opening of parliament His Excel-
lency informed the Assembly by message that the Im-
128 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
perial government would approve of the appointment
of judges in the province upon the same footing as the
British judges, provided the legislature should make
provision for their retirement according to the scale
adopted in the Mother Country. An address of
thanks was voted to the governor for the above infor-
mation, but no further action seems to have been
taken.
To the previous application for Imperial aid to
open up a highway between Lower Canada and New
Brunswick the reply from the home government was
that they would loan money for that or any similar
purpose at a rate of three per cent., if a sinking fund
were provided for the partial liquidation of the loan,
The apparently advantageous offer of the Imperial
government does not appear to have been accepted.
It was now somewhat indirectly intimated that the
colonial minister disapproved of the acceptance of the
supply bill of 1825 by the acting governor, Sir Fran-
cis N. Burton, in the modified form; but he was not
disposed, however, to make any trouble over it on this
occasion, but forbade a repetition of the practice in
future. The Assembly, however, persisted in their
former course and sent up the supply bill in the
Assembly's usual form, which was amended by the
Legislative Council, and which of course secured its
quietus for the time being.
The ministerial party in the Assembly had mean-
time become very feeble. Mr. Attorney-General
Stuart by taking office lost nearly all his influence
with the members. Mr. Neilson was for the time
being in the ascendant and constituted the real popu-
lar leader; he was not, however, friendly disposed
LOWER CANADA. 129
towards His Excellency, particularly over the official
Gazette transaction previously referred to.
A complimentary address was voted by the
Assembly to Sir Francis N. Burton, the previous
acting governor, which was an act of doubtful pro-
priety and policy, as it might be construed into the
making of an invidious comparison between His Ex-
cellency and the acting predecessor, Sir F. N. Burton.
A resolution was adopted with reference to the
seigniorial tenure, the effect of which, if carried out,
would strip from the Canada Trades Act all the
intended advantages of that necessary measure.
A judicature bill and another relating to the pro-
vince were passed, but sent rather late to the Legis-
lative Council. The former was amended and post-
poned, and the latter bill rejected.
Thirty-nine bills were passed, six of which were
reserved by His Excellency for the time being ; five of
the bills were, however, subsequently assented to by
His Majesty in Council.
The result of the census taking showed the very
considerable population of 423,630 souls.
All business being at an end for the want of a
quorum, prorogation took place. His Excellency
stated that the Assembly, notwithstanding its early
assurance, had disappointed him in the most
important subjects which he had presented for their
consideration.
Parliament met again on the 23rd January, 1827.
The governor-in-chief adverted to the depression in
the British manufacturing districts, and also to the
universal drought and bush fires of the last summer;
but he was glad, however, although the season did not
9
130 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
prove favorable to grain, yet there was an abundance
of the necessaries of life. He regretted the undue
increase of crime, which was attributable chiefly to the
rapid increase of population, and recommended a
more extensive and active system of police. He
assured them of his best and unwearied exertions for
the advantage of the province, and gave the usual
promise that a statement of the revenue and expendi-
ture account for the past year would be laid before
them, also the estimates of the supplies required to
be voted to the public service.
The Assembly, in reply, thanked His Excellency for
his suggestions and promises, declaring at the same
time their anxious desire to co-operate with him in all
measures calculated to promote the public interests.
The Assembly then appointed a committee of five
members to keep up a good correspondence between
the two houses, to which the Legislative Council
mutually responded by appointing a committee of
three members for a like purpose.
His Excellency on the 31st January informed the
Assembly that His Majesty's government had disap-
proved of the form of supply bill which had been
accepted by Sir Francis N. Burton while acting as
governor, but as the same Sir Francis N. Burton was
not in possession of instruction on that particular
question he stood entirely acquitted of blame. His
Excellency on the same day also informed the
Assembly that the lords of the treasury did not con-
sider that the Imperial treasury could be held respon-
sible for the sums due by the receiver-general.
A few days after the above communication an
address was presented to His Excellency asking .for
LOWER CANADA. 131
copies of the despatches, which were politely refused,
and the reason given was that it was inexpedient to
comply under existing circumstances.
The public accounts and estimates were laid before
the Assembly on the 6th February. The form of esti-
mates was slightly different from that ordinarily
made, but still in a form to displease the Assembly.
A committee of seven members, comprising five
opposition and only two government members, was
appointed to report upon the estimates. The result
of such deliberations can therefore easily be antici-
pated. In the meantime His Excellency sent down
several messages to furnish important work for the
Assembly, all of which were referred to the same
committee.
The Assembly inquired of His Excellency as to His
Majesty's reply about the Jesuits' Estates with a view
to applying the revenue thereof for education in the
province, the address upon the same subject two years
ago not having been yet answered.
His Excellency replied that he had not yet received
any communication on the subject; but at any rate he
had no permission to communicate these despatches
to the legislature.
In the matter of the estimates the Assembly on the
6th March finally decided to adhere to the stand
which it had previously taken as recorded on the
journals, thus bringing matters to the verge of a
serious crisis.
His Excellency prorogued the House on the follow-
ing day, after assenting to twenty-one bills, none of
which were of great importance. One bill was to
remove all doubts as to the legality of marriage and
132 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
registration by Presbyterian ministers, which had
been questioned in some quarters.
His Excellency, in relieving the Assembly of its
duties, administered some very plain talk to the mem-
bers over their remissness and perverseness. He
charged them not only with obstruction and neglect,
but also with a violation of the rules and forms of
parliament. His lecture of the Assembly elicited the
presentation to His Excellency of addresses of sym-
pathy and approval from many parts of the province.
On the other hand many of the extreme members and
their leading friends represented His Excellency to
the habitants as the most odious and oppressive of
tyrants; that he plundered the treasury for himself
and his satellites; that he hated their language, and
that he was trying to enslave them. The habitants
for the most part were only too credulous, and much
harm was done in arousing prejudices. After the
prorogation it is alleged that Messrs. Papineau,
Heney, Leslie, Valois, Perrault, Cuivillier, Kaymond
and Quesnel issued a public manifesto on public
matters, attacking His Excellency personally. Mr.
Papineau, in particular, was charged with haranguing
his constituents with such a disrespectful tirade to-
wards His Excellency that it was thought next to
impossible that the affront would be overlooked by
him, and meanwhile some militia officers were dis-
missed for publicly sympathizing with the abuse of
His Excellency. Some magistrates shared a similar
fate for the same cause. The militia of the City of
Quebec was hitherto comprised of two French and one
English-speaking battalion. His Excellency now
LOWEB CANADA. 133
ordered these to be fused, and no distinction of lan-
guage or religion to be considered in the make up of
the militia in future.
Parliament was prematurely dissolved in July,
1827, it is said in pursuance of instructions from the
Imperial government. The result at the polls was
not any more favorable to the executive than in the
previous elections.
His Excellency from his first arrival in the country
had conceived the happy idea of the erection of a suit-
able monument in Quebec to the memory of both
Wolfe and Montcalm by subscription. The proposal
was duly carried out with much enthusiasm by the
citizens and military forces.
The new parliament, the thirteenth of Lower Can-
ada, was summoned on 20th of November, 1827, and
Mr. Papineau was again elected Speaker of the
Assembly, but His Excellency inadvisedly refused to
accept the choice of the House, thus causing great
excitement throughout the province. Three days
later His Excellency prorogued parliament by pro-
clamation, and the members returned home, but little
satisfied with the meeting. The acrimonious discus-
sions in the press at this time produced a crop of libel
suits.
The construction of the Eideau Canal at the
expense of the Imperial government was commenced
this year — it is said at the suggestion of His Excel-
lency, who laid the foundation stone of the lower lock.
A Crown Lands Department was established this year
with Mr. Felton, a member of the Legislative Council,
as commissioner. The towns or cities of Quebec and
134 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Montreal having hitherto been governed by magis-
trates were now applying for incorporation to enable
them to provide for their own municipal government.
The British judges announced that the Presbyter-
ian Church, under the constitution, was entitled to a
share in the benefit of the Clergy Reserves, which had
been denied them by the Church of England.
In the meantime Messrs. Viger, Neilson and Cuivil-
lier were delegated to Great Britain with a petition,
signed by seven or eight thousand of the inhabitants
of the province asking the interposition of the home
government to relieve the people of the province from
the many abuses, tyranny and glaring injustices which
were being inflicted by the governor and his executive
upon the people, all of which was set forth at great
length in the strong wording of the petition. Mean-
time, before the bearers of the petition had reached the
Mother Country, Lord Dalhousie received notice that
he was to succeed Lord Combermere as commander of
the forces in India.
The unsettled and complicated state of affairs in
•Canada, and the petitions received, determined the
home government to submit the whole to parliament.
Accordingly, Mr. Huskison, on the 2nd May, 1828,
moved in the House of Commons for a select com-
mittee of twenty-one members to be appointed for
inquiry into the state of the civil government of Can-
ada, and to report their observations and opinions
thereupon to the House. In his motion Mr. Huski-
son deprecated the pretensions of the Lower Canada
Assembly to take the whole management of the monies
into its own hands, a proceeding, he said, founded
upon neither law nor practice, and which had provoked
LOWER CANADA. 135
the controversy between the executive and legislative
body of Canada. The consequence of the agitation of
such a question as this, in which both parties have
stood upon their extreme rights, has been most unfor-
tunate, and such as all who look dispassionately at the
subject could not but deeply regret. One of the
unfortunate consequences had been that the repre-
sentative of the king has found himself under the
necessity of appropriating money for the necessary
service of the colony without the sanction of the
colonial legislature. He somewhat belittled the huge
petitions with so large a proportion of the names
merely signed by marks, which he thought clear proof
that Lower Canada had not yet been governed by the
best possible legislature.
The select committee of the House of Commons
appointed to inquire into the state of the civil gov-
ernment of Canada, also the several petitions from
Lower Canada pro and con, respecting its adminis-
tration, after very painstaking inquiry and delibera-
tions were able to submit a very comprehensive report
on 22nd July, 1828. The substance of it is as follows :
" On the question of money your committee must
conclude, from the expressed opinion of the law offi-
cers of the Crown, that the legal right of appropriat-
ing the revenues arising from the Act of 1774 is vested
in the Crown. They are, however, prepared to say
that the real interests of the province would be best
promoted by placing the receipts and expenditures of
the whole public revenues under the superintendence
and control of the House of Assembly. At the same
time, while making such a concession on the part of
the Crown, the salaries of the governors, members of
136 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the Executive Council and judges be made permanent
and not subject to discussion in the Assembly at each
session ; but it is not, in the opinion of your committee,
necessary to include so large a number on the per-
manent list as has been the custom. Your commit-
tee deprecates the conduct of the executive in the past
in having for a series of years, in a British colony,
appropriated as much as £140,000 annually, inde-
pendent of the people's representatives without mak-
ing communication or reference to the British par-
liament on the subject.
" As regards the defalcation of the receiver-general
your committee finds that he was improperly con-
tinued in office for a considerable period after he was
known to be in default; it is recommended that suffi-
cient security be hereafter taken from such officials,
with a regular audit, and also the same rule to apply
to the sheriffs, some of whom it was found have also
been in default. They also find that the original
arrangement of the electoral districts in Lower Can-
ada was not properly based under the government of
Sir Alured Clarke. That of Upper Canada, which was
founded on a compound basis of territory and popu-
lation, is a much better system, which it would be well
for Lower Canada to copy. Your committee strongly
recommend that the Legislative Council should be
composed entirely of members of more independent
character; many of the present members in both pro-
vinces are holding offices at the pleasure of the
Crown; also that the judges should refrain from sit-
ting in the Legislative Council, unless it be perhaps
the chief justice, whose presence on particular occa-
sions might be necessary. The large grants of land
LOWER CANADA. 137
to individuals is disapproved of, also the land reserva-
tion for the support of the clergy cannot be com-
mended. However, the opinion of your committee is
that the pecuniary benefit derived from these reserves
should be conferred upon all Protestant denomina-
tions. A better form of deed or land title should be
adopted; the English system would be a great im-
provement upon the present Lower Canada form of
conveyancing.
" As regard^ Jesuits' Estates your committee lament
that they have not full information on the subject,
but it appears to them desirable that the proceeds
should be applied to the purpose of education. The
Assemblies of both provinces should be permitted to
appoint agents to represent them in Great Britain.
As regards the great question of the union of the Can-
adas your committee is not prepared to recommend it
at present, nevertheless it is highly desirable that
some satisfactory arrangement should be effected be-
tween the provinces with regard to the imposition
and distribution of the customs collected in the St.
Lawrence. They trust, however, that when the
heats which so unfortunately exist shall have sub-
sided that such an arrangement may be amicably
effected. They have no doubtj that many of the unfor-
tunate disputes which have arisen between the
Assembly and the other branches of the legislature are
due to some serious defect in the systems of law and
constitution which ought to be remedied without
delay.
" They fully admit that the task of governing these
provinces is not an easy one; at the same time there
has been some real cause for discontent and friction
138 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
which cannot be removed unless a conciliating and
constitutional system of administration be adopted in
these loyal and important colonies.
" Your committee, in conclusion, feel bound to urge
upon His Majesty's government in the most especial
manner their opinion that it is necessary that a strict
and instant inquiry should take place in all the cir-
cumstances with a view of giving such instruction to
the colonial administration, as shall be consistent
with justice and policy."
The reports were adopted by the Imperial parlia-
ment after a hot debate. The above able and impar-
tial deliverance was upon the whole favorable to the
contention of the Houses of Assembly in both pro-
vinces. Lord Dalhousie, as may be supposed, was
greatly displeased with the tone of the report.
Lieutenant-General Sir James Kempt, who had
been on Sir J. H. Craig's staff, but now lieut. -governor
of Nova Scotia, came up from Halifax in June, and
accompanied Lord Dalhousie to By town (now
Ottawa) on a tour of inspection of the construction
work going forward upon the . Kideau Canal. He
returned to Halifax in July, and then back to Quebec
in September to assume the government of Canada
after the departure of Lord Dalhousie under the title
of administrator-in-chief.
A grand complimentary entertainment was given
to the Earl and Countess Dalhousie a few days before
their departure for Britain by the civil and military
society of Quebec. He had been previously enter-
tained at a complimentary dinner in Montreal by its
principal citizens.
He was also the recipient of many complimentary
LOWER CANADA. 139
addresses from government sympathizers in different
parts of the province.
The French-speaking population were unfortu-
nately disaffected towards His Excellency, and held
aloof from all friendly demonstrations in his favor.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR JAMES KEMPT, 1828.
The administration of Sir James Kempt convoked
the provincial parliament on the 21st November, 1828,
and confirmed Mr. Papineau as Speaker, who had
been rejected the year previously by Lord Dalhousie.
The opening speech of the administrator was a con-
ciliatory one. The Assembly's reply was most cor-
dial and reassuring. However, it has been remarked
that while conciliation was on the lip, resentment, it
was evident, still governed the hearts of those to whom
the olive branch was tendered. Impeachments, peti-
tions and deputations upon past grievances, some real
and some imaginary, were rather encouraged by the
dominant party in the Assembly, which resulted not
only in much ill feeling but also in considerable
expense.
Mr. Christie, member for Gaspe, was expelled from
the House of Assembly upon a charge of having,
while an attache of Lord Dalhousie, given advice pre-
judicial to some magisterial friends of the dominant
party. The old difficulty over the mode of granting
the supply was barely averted in the Legislative
Council at this time by the votes of the chief justice
and Bishop Stuart, each of whom patriotically
deemed it politic to humor the Assembly for peace
sake.
140 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The restoration of the Jesuits' Estates to their
original purpose was again the subject of an address ;
also another address was based upon an unfounded
rumor that the estates of the St. Sulpicians were also
to be secularized, which have, however, never been
interfered with.
Some seventy-two bills, several of first importance,
were passed, among which was an Act for redistribu-
tion of seats in the Assembly, which were now in-
creased from fifty to eighty-four, and the greater part
of the English names of counties were abolished, and
French names substituted. The expediency of this
course does not seem to be recorded anywhere. In
most counties there was but one polling-place, and in
no county were more than two polling places allowed,
the elections lasting for days. The Eastern Town-
ships, including Beauharnois, were then allowed for
the first time to elect, in all, nine members at bye-
elections for that purpose.
Another Act removed certain disabilities from the
members of the Jewish faith, and still another Act
was passed to remove all barriers out of the way of the
Wesleyan Methodists in the matter of the register-
ing of baptisms, marriages and burials. Provision
was also wisely made for the erection of lighthouses
and the improvement of internal communication. The
trade of the country was in a prosperous condition.
The legislature was prorogued on the 4th March,
1829, and reassembled on the 22nd January, 1830,
with the addition of the aforesaid nine newly elected
members from the counties of Missisquoi, Sherbrooke,
Drummond, Stanstead, Shefford and Beauharnois,
the Eastern Townships having been hitherto long and
LOWER CANADA. 141
unjustly deprived of representation in the Assembly
by the deliberate inaction of the majority of the
House.
The administrator's speech contained the usual
recommendation for local improvements ; for a tax on
non-resident lands; for some legislation on the cur-
rency question, and for some further provision
respecting the criminal law.
Mr. Christie, member for Gaspe, having been re-
elected since last session, was again expelled on the
same frivolous charge upon which he had been pre-
viously ejected, after which the Assembly replied
to the speech from the throne in gracious terms. Still
the penchant for resurrecting the not altogether
unfounded grievances was evidently as strong as
ever, despite all pacific assurances to the contrary.
Addresses were voted asking His Excellency for
copies of the Imperial despatches dating back for a
considerable period. These were not furnished, pre-
sumably upon the grounds of either not being in his
possession, or were of a confidential nature for his
own guidance. Some very liberal appropriations were
made during the session, viz., for the construction of
the magnificent stone wharves at Montreal; for the
erection of more lighthouses and court-houses; a
marine hospital and customs house at Quebec; also
large sums for the construction of roads, grants for
education, arts and science — going to extremes in the
latter for objects in some instances quite unworthy of
patronage.
After some fifty-four useful bills were passed pro-
rogation took place in March.
Meanwhile the published opinions of the governors
142 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
of Lower and Upper Canada, Kempt and Colborne, in
response to the inquiries of Colonial Minister Sir
George Murray, upon the constitution of the executive
of the Legislative Council, which although honestly
and fairly expressed, gave a pretext for some dissat-
isfaction on the part of the dominant party in the
Assembly, to which expression was given by the pass-
ing of resolutions both in the House and in the coun-
try parts. From this time the administration
despaired of success in maintaining a proper feeling
between the three branches of the legislature. His
Excellency had gone out of his way to propitiate the
dominant party; but his wonted play at expediency
and conciliation were not likely to fare much better
than the frank, even if impolitic, course of Lord
Dalhousie. The administrator thereupon pleaded
with the home government for his own recall after an
incumbency of but two years.
The death of King George IV., on the 26th June,
1830, resulted in the dissolution of the House, which
was still a constitutional custom in those times. A
dissolution of parliament in those times always
resulted throughout the empire; upon the demise of the
Crown.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD AYLMER, 1830.
The arrival of Lord Aylmer at Quebec, on the 13th
October, relieved Sir James Kempt of a government
whereof it is believed he was heartily tired. The gen-
eral elections took place in October, when eighty-four
members were returned instead of fifty, the number
so long returned at past general elections. The Legis-
LOWER CANADA. 143
lative Council consisted of twenty-four members,
shortly afterwards increased to twenty-nine members.
The Executive Council was comprised of Chief Jus-
tice Sewell, Bishop Stuart, and Messrs. Kerr, Smith,
Kichardson, Percival, Hall, Delerey, John Stuart,
Cochrane and James Stuart.
The legislature was convoked on the 23rd January,
1831, and Mr. Papineau again elected Speaker. His
Excellency's speech was scarcely a model one; it was
intended to flatter the Assembly, but rather missed
its mark. Mr. Christie, member for Gaspe, having
been cruelly re-expelled on the same old frivolous
charge, the House then replied to the governor's
speech in its usual style.
Eleven standing committees were appointed, some
of which were entirely different from the parliamen-
tary standing committee of to-day. For instance,
committees on grievances, on courts of justice, on edu-
cation and schools, on trade, on roads and public im-
provements, on engrossed bills, were added to the
ordinary committees of the present time. Thus
organized the House went to work, determined on
business, and particularly on reform.
The attorney-general, James Stuart, was vigor-
ously impeached for alleged gross improprieties in the
administration of his important office, and also for his
alleged misconduct as a candidate in the William
Henry election. The governor-general was requested
to suspend him, and acceded to the request after some
hesitation. Judges Fletcher and Kerr were also im-
peached, but suspension did not follow in these cases.
A very proper bill was finally passed after much
opposition, by a majority of only seven, to grant for
144 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the first time an indemnity to members for their
attendance in parliament, the payment to be ten shil-
lings per day. A large minority of members con-
tended that the payment of members would result in
the election of agitators, demagogues, and the scum
of the country to the legislature. These apprehensions
proved to be unreal.
The governor-general informed the House that the
Imperial government would concede the largest part
of the revenue, which had been in dispute, to the
Assembly, reserving two of the original sources of
revenue, amounting annually to about £7,000. But the
House was still dissatisfied about the financial mode ;
more papers were asked for and violent resolutions
introduced, a considerable minority of members con-
ducting themselves in a very hostile and excited man-
ner. It was provided for the future that no judge,
excepting the chief justice, would be eligible to sit in
either the Legislative Council or Assembly. A pro-
posal to make the Legislative Council elective was
proposed by Mr. Lee and seconded by Mr. Martin, but
which did not carry, however. Other resolutions
were introduced for the purpose of making application
to the Imperial parliament for the repeal of the Can-
ada Trades Act, and the Revenue Act of George III.
Liberal appropriations for useful public improve-
ments were, however, made during the session.
Some fifty thousand emigrants arrived at Quebec
annually during the season of navigation, many of
whom were destitute and sick, causing a considerable
burden upon the residents of Lower Canada. The
majority of these emigrants were destined for Upper
Canada and the United States. More than one
LOWER CANADA. 145
thousand ships now crossed the ocean annually to the
St. Lawrence River at Quebec. The very large towns
of Quebec and Montreal were incorporated as cities
<during the session.
The "Koyal William," of 1,370 tons, the first
steamer to cross the Atlantic, was built this year at
Quebec, to run from there to Halifax, touching at
Miramichi, and wa£ subsidized by the government ; but
as the venture was not a financial success the route
was finally abandoned.
The French journal Le Canadien, which wras sup-
pressed by Governor Craig in 1810, re-appeared, and
again commenced fanning the embers of discord until
the outbreak in 1837.
Some uneasiness and resentment was aroused at
this time over the serious proposal of the Upper Cana-
dians to annex the Island of Montreal to their pro-
vince in order to give Upper Canada a seaport.
Parliament was prorogued on 31st March, 1830, in
rather a concise speech from the governor-general, and
was again convoked by the same high functionary on
15th November, 1830. The speech from the throne
was regarded as a sentimental and clap-trap effusion,
the members eyeing and smiling at each other during
Its delivery.
The Assembly replied to the speech from the
throne in honeyed terms as usual. Mr. Christie,
member for Gaspe, having been re-elected was re-ex-
pelled from the House in pursuance of its previous
action in this matter. His Excellency laid despatches
before the House from the Imperial government, indi-
cating a most liberal and conciliatory policy towards
the parliament of Lower Canada, whereby it was pro-
10
146 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
posed to concede to it nearly the whole of the old
Imperial revenue, and also to sanction such legisla-
tion as would promote the independence of both the
bench and parliament. These gracious overtures on
the part of the home government do not appear to
have been met in a reciprocal spirit by the Assembly,
judging by its subsequent course. The chronic dis-
agreement between the Assembly and the executive as
to the mode of preparing the supply bill still existed,
and came to a deadlock again during the session. The
Assembly had always been profuse of well-worded
addresses and resolutions, but at the same time an in-
grained determination seemed to pervade the leading
spirits of the Assembly to hold out for nothing short
of absolute control of both the finances and legisla-
tion, under the impression that these powers doubt-
lessly were delegated to them by the votes of an over-
whelming majority of the electors, whereas the Legis-
lative Council was an irresponsible body comprised at
this time chiefly of men of but indifferent status.
Mr. P. Panet, member for Montmorency, was taken
into the Executive Council during the session as a
medium between the government and the Assembly.
The expected advantages from this arrangement were
not, however, realized. Had the idea taken form
twenty years earlier it would probably have had a
very good effect.
In other respects the province was in a prosperous
condition, with ample revenues, which were wisely ex-
pended in the development and promotion of the
general welfare of all the people.
A tax of one dollar per head was imposed on each
immigrant arriving in the colony who held the sano
LOWER CANADA. 147
tion of the Imperial government for embarking, and
without this sanction the tax was two dollars per
head. This tax caused much indignation in Upper
Canada, being prejudicial to the desirable settlement
of the vast area of unoccupied good lands of that
province.
The session was prorogued on 25th February, 1831,
after sanctioning sixty-three bills, and reserving nine
more Acts for His Majesty's pleasure, of which one
was the supply bill, and another for disqualifying of
judges from sitting and voting in the Legislative and
Executive Councils. His Excellency, in the proroga-
tion speech, remarked that the favorable expectations
which he had entertained in the earlier part of the
session had been disappointed despite the very liberal
concessions of the Imperial parliament, made in order
to propitiate the Assembly.
The census returns of the previous year gave Lowrer
Canada a population of 504,598, and the return to the
legislature of Upper Canada for the same year gave a
population to the latter province of 235,064.
Meanwhile the anti-government press, particularly
those published in the French language, continued to
descant with unabated fury upon the alleged griev-
ances and upon the abuse of power by the Executive
and Legislative Councils. At the same time a commit-
tee of the Legislative Council,, reporting upon the state
of the government, pronounced among many other
observations upon the conduct of the Assembly as
follows :
" That the Assembly should be plainly told that
unless they provide permanently for the ordinary-
cm! list, the colony must be governed in another man-
148 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
ner, and that the Assembly was under the guidance
of two or three leaders, who have anything in view
but the public good. That no governor-general can,
consistently with the constitution, possibly get along
with them ; that no constitution can stand long against
the assaults to which it is exposed under such a sys-
tem as that pursued by the Assembly."
These were prophetic words irrespective of which
branch of the legislature was most to blame for bring-
ing about the unfortunate trouble which followed a
few years later.
An unhappy occurrence took place about this time
during a late election in Montreal. Dr. Tracy, a
newspaper editor, was the candidate of the French-
speaking electors, and Mr. Bagg, a merchant, was the
candidate of the other party. The open voting con-
test lasted three weeks. Tracy was two or three votes
ahead of his opponent near the close of the poll. The
excitement was intense, and the animosity so bitter
between the two parties that the police were unable
to preserve order, and a sanguinary conflict between
the two parties seemed inevitable. It was, therefore,
deemed necessary to have in readiness a small mili-
tary force in case of emergency. The 15th Regiment
of Foot, under Col. Macintosh, was then in barracks
at Montreal. A detachment in charge of Captain
Temple was sent to the neighborhood of the hustings
to be in readiness, if required, but no pains were to be
spared to avert the dire necessity of taking action ; but
it is alleged that the Tracy party set everything at
defiance, and pelted the other party, as well as the
soldiers, with brick-bats and stones. Remonstrance
with the Tracy party was in vain; finally the order
LOWEK CANADA. 149
was reluctantly given the troops to fire. The crowd
then immediately dispersed, but unfortunately leav-
ing on the spot three killed and two severely wounded,
Dr. Tracy was declared elected by a majority of three.
This unfortunate affair created an extraordinary
sensation. A coroner's inquest was held upon the
victims, and the magistrates who called out the
soldiers, with Colonel Macintosh and Captain Temple,
were indicted for murder; but the grand jury at the
following criminal assizes threw out the indictment.
Mr. Papineau, of Montreal, the Speaker of the House
of Assembly, had the assurance, probably in the
excitement of the times, to write the governor-general,
Lord Aylmer, requesting him to come up in person
and bring Messrs. Neilson and Panet with him to
investigate and assist in the inquiry. His Excellency
did not reply to Mr. Papineau's letter, which wounded
the susceptibilities of the latter. Notwithstanding
the presumptuous note of Speaker Papineau it would
have been advisable of the governor-general to have
replied, expressing his sincere regret for the occur-
rence, but that it would be infra dig for him to inter-
fere personally, seeing that the case was already in
the hands of the proper legal authorities.
The occurrence, however, was a proper subject for
parliamentary inquiry. A precedent is to be found
in the Jamaica case, in 1808, where Major-General
Carmichael," commander of the forces, was compelled
to submit to the legislature in somewhat similar 'cir-
cumstances to that of the Lower Canada affair.
Asiatic cholera having made its appearance in
Britain during the late winter, the home government
advised His Excellency to make preparations against
150 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
it in Canada. Consequently thorough precautions
were taken for quarantine regulations at Grosse Isle,
thirty miles below the City of Quebec.
As had been anticipated, the fearful cholera scourge
was now at hand. An emigrant ship arrived on 8th
June, 1831, with one hundred and thirty-three pas-
sengers on board, fifty-nine having died of cholera
during the passage. The prevailing north-east wind
evidently having carried the epidemic intoj the city, the
day following the arrival of the ship fifteen persons
were attacked with the dreadful plague. From Quebec
it bounded up the St. Lawrence, breaking out on the
10th at Montreal with great violence; a day or two
later in Kingston, then at Toronto, and westward
through the towns and villages of Upper Canada.
Before the end of September more than three thousand
deaths took place in the City of Quebec. Among
those who died of cholera in Montreal was the newly
elected member, Dr. Tracy. While the pestilence was
scourging the province the scourge of political agita-
tion was also doing its insidious work. Grievance
meetings were being held. The unfortunate election
riot, already referred to, in Montreal, with loss of
life, formed one of the exciting topics. Both the
magistrate and military were designated murderers,
and collections were taken up in the churches for
the support of the widows and children of the three
killed, and also something for the wounded. The
Mother Country was severely blamed for having per-
mitted the cholera emigration, and that also of a
destitute class of emigrants, and for meddling by
legislation with the internal affairs of the colony.
The composition of the Legislative Council came in
LOWER CANADA. 151
for some well-merited criticism, and an immediate
assembly of parliament was demanded. Counter
meetings were held in which resolutions were passed
deploring and deprecating the excitement which was
being produced by some disaffected persons, whereby
the mass of the people were being misled, causing a
deplorable estrangement and alienation of so many
of the people. While the meetings did not entirely
approve the composition of the Legislative and Execu-
tive Councils, and admitting that a few of its mem-
bers were not thoroughly independent — which, how-
ever, was not a sufficient cause, it was alleged, for the
mischievous and uncalled-for agitation which was so
industriously carried on by a few leaders.
The Kideau Canal, between By town (now Ottawa)
and Kingston, was now completed by the Imperial
government in a very expeditious and satisfactory
manner, under the superintendence of Col. By, who
justly received many marks ' of appreciation from
the people of Canada before leaving for England. The
above work was completed long in advance of the St.
Lawrence canals.
Lord Aylmer made a tour of portions of Lower
Canada this year with a view of ascertaining its capa-
bilities for settlement. He first visited the Eastern
Townships as far as the Vermont boundary, and esti-
mated that 500,000 inhabitants might be added to the
existing population, the country being most eligible
for settlement, the soil fertile and abounding in forest
trees of the finest growth. He then visited the Ottawa
River as far as By town, and reported an eligible dis-
trict with capacity of 100,000 inhabitants on the
Lower Canada side of the river.
152 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Parliament met on the 15th November, 1831. Mr.
Christie was again expelled for the fifth time. Mr.
Bourdages, member for Nicolet, one of Mr. Papineau's.
active lieutenants, conducted the proceedings against
Mr. Christie.
The governor-general's speech in opening the session
touched on a good many current topics, and concluded
with an ardent hope that the labors of the session
might be productive of measures calculated to advance
the substantial interests of the colony.
The Assembly proceeded immediately after the de-
livering of His Excellency's speech to censure his pro-
rogation speech at the last session.
On the following day His Excellency sent down by
message the views of His Majesty's government on the
supply bill of the previous session which had been
reserved by himself, but now sanctioned by the home
government, with a request that in future the supply
bill be made out in detail, showing the precise amount
and object on which each item is appropriated, other-
wise the governor-general will in future have ta
decline the acceptance of supply bills in any other
form. Another despatch from the home government
was sent to the Assembly at the same time, dis-
approving of the expulsion of Robert Christie, mem-
ber for Gaspe. These communications threw the
House into a fever and produced a string of resolu-
tions expressive of its indignation.
A vacancy having occurred in the bench at Quebec
by the decease of Justice Taschereau, Mr. Phillip
Panet, member for Montmorency, was appointed to
the vacant judgeship, which caused a vacancy in the
Executive Council and Assembly. His place in the
LOWER CANADA. 15S
Executive Council was filled by Mr. Dominique Mon-
delet, a promising young member from the County of
Montreal, who was not, however, acceptable to the
Assembly on the grounds of his brief parliamentary
experience.
The Assembly, therefore, decided that Mr. Mon-
delet must go back to his county for re-election,
although this had not been required of Mr. Panet
under similar circumstances. The Assembly accord-
ingly declared Mr. Mondelet's seat vacant and issued
a writ for a new election. The governor-general did
not, however, give effect to the wTrit, but referred the
case to the home government for advice. Mr. Mon-
delet contended, with some reason, that as no salary
was attached to the office of executive councillor -a
new election was not required by law.
The Assembly, by an address, called for the suspen-
sion of Mr. Justice Kerr, to which the governor-gen-
eral withheld his consent, and referred the matter to
the home government. The refusal to accede to the
Assembly's address was approved; but the grounds
stated by the governor-general for his action were not
approved of by the home government.
A very acrimonious debate ensued over the Mont-
real election riot already referred to, the majority
of members holding that Colonel Macintosh, of the
15th Regiment, who was about to leave the province,
was wrongly acquitted of murder by the judges ; this
affair, with a multitude of grievances, was referred to
a committee of inquiry.
A despatch from the home government disapproving
in part of the bill for disqualifying the judges as mem-
bers of the House was laid before the Assembly ; at the
154 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
same time the governor-general was instructed to not
appoint any more judges to the Legislative Council
-except the chief justice.
The Assembly, by an humble address, asked His
Excellency if he had recommended an increase in the
number of legislative councillors since last session,
and if so, the names of the persons so appointed, to
which His Excellency replied that he could not con-
rsenj; to give the House any information on this point,
to which it would appear he might reasonably have
complied without embarrassment to anyone.
The governor-general sent down the estimates, re-
quiring $273,000 to be voted for the current year.
The House passed a resolution by a vote of 34 yeas to
26 nays that the composition of the Legislative
€ouncil for the last forty years was not calcu-
lated to secure contentment, good government,
the development of resources and industry of the
province, and appointed a committee of nine to
consider what changes and alterations should be made
in its constitution. The committee appointed Mr.
Bedard, member for Saguenay, as chairman, and after
nearly a month's deliberation, a most elaborate report
recommending that the members of the Legislative
Council be elected by the people, was adopted by the
close vote of 31 yeas to 29 nays.
The report was a very able and comprehensive
•document, proposing many valuable features, safe-
guards, and conditions to distinguish the Legislative
Council from the Assembly.
Difficulties had arisen between the respective com-
missioners of Lower and Upper Canada with respect
to the apportionment of the customs dues between the
LOWER CANADA. 155
iwo provinces, consequently the Upper Canadians
revived the proposal to annex the counties of Mont-
real and Vaudreuil to Upper Canada, which naturally
-called forth a most vigorous protest on the part of the
Assembly of Lower Canada.
The majority in the Assembly Avere now greatly
elated upon hearing that their impeachment of Attor-
ney-General James Stuart had resulted in his removal
from office by the governor-general with the sanc-
tion of the home government. Mr. Stuart, although
temporarily disgraced, was looked on as a most tal-
ented gentleman, and the undoubted peer of the
Lower Canada bar. Mr. Justice Kerr was also re-
moved from office in the same way, but did not receive
the same sympathy as was meted out to Mr. Stuart.
The Assembly again reverted to the unfortunate
election riot in Montreal, to which His5 Excellency now
replied, exonerating Col. Macintosh of the 15th
Regiment of improper conduct in the lamentable
occurrence.
The Legislative Council had in the meantime
addressed the King in a strong attack upon the
Assembly, impugning the motives of a majority of the
members, and warning the King against its sinister
designs. To this address the King, in his reply, made
use of the following sharp words of rebuke.
" He cannot but wish that they had abstained from
using language less temperate in its tone than is con-
sistent with their own dignity when speaking of the
•other branch of the legislature; more especially he
laments the introduction of any words which should
have the appearance of ascribing to a class of one
•origin views at variance with the allegiance that they
156 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
owe. On all classes alike he relies for a cheerful and
willing obedience to the law. To all classes he will
ever extend his fraternal protection."
His Majesty at the same time decided adversely to*
the claims of the Speaker of the Legislative Council
for double voting, he to be allowed only the casting,
vote when the votes of the other members are even.
During the discussion in committee upon the Land
Company, which had been formed in London for the
purchasing of lands in the Eastern Townships, Mr.
Speaker Papineau was accused of alluding in an
uncomplimentary manner to the Eastern Townships'
representatives, who were chiefly of American origin,
while speaking in the French language, which those
members did not understand at the moment, but to*
which Mr. Taylor, of Missisquoi subsequently rejoined
in a caustic letter in the Quebec Mercury newspaper.
This action was voted by the House a malicious libel
against the Speaker and the liberty of its debates, for
which Mr. Taylor was imprudently committed to jail
for twenty-four hours, the effect of which only tended
to raise his popularity.
The attention of His Excellency was now called to
the vacancy in the representation of the County of
Montreal to replace Mr. Mondelet, for which a writ of
election had been issued by the Speaker of the
Assembly three months previously, but had not been
acted upon by His Excellency, who now reported that
he had referred the matter to the home secretary, from
whom he expected instructions ere long. This reply
was referred immediately to the standing committee*
upon elections, which in evidently bad temper re-
ported that His Excellency's conduct was a violation*
LOWER CANADA. 157
of the constitution and laws of the province and an
infringement of the privileges of the House, and that
such conduct must put an end to every feeling of good
understanding between His Excellency the Governor-
in-Chief and the House of Assembly, and that the
House ought perhaps to suspend all further proceed-
ings and all communications whatsoever with His
Excellency until he has made reparation for breach
of its rights and privileges. The only circumstances
which may induce them to defer the communication
of such a determination to His Excellency is the indis-
pensable necessity of passing a bill with the view of
preventing, as far as human means may permit, by a
proper system of quarantine the return of cholera
morbus.
The supply bill for the current year finally engaged
the attention of the Assembly. The amount asked for
was reduced by $35,000, consequently the bill was
rejected by the Legislative Council.
The Assembly complained that the governor-in-chief
was withholding information and documents which
he was constitutionally bound to lay before them, to
the detriment of the good government of His Majesty
in this province and of his faithful subjects therein.
At this period the Post-Office Department was still
tinder the direct control of the Imperial government ;
it was therefore most opportunely resolved by the
Assembly that the Imperial government be memorial-
ized for a transfer of its control to the colonial legis-
lature. It would appear that among the causes of
dissatisfaction with the existing postal system was a
custom of exacting burdensome rates from newspaper
publishers, the whole proceeds of which were pocketed
by the official as perquisites.
158 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Parliament, after a very long but comparatively
fruitless session, was finally prorogued in a courteous
speech from the throne, which, however, betrayed
a feeling of disappointment on the part of His
Excellency.
A public meeting was held in the Exchange in the
City of Quebec disapproving of the attitude of the
Assembly, and at the same time unfortunately arous-
ing a feeling of discord between the races, which sub-
sequently culminated in regrettable hostility.
The bills incorporating the cities of Quebec and
Montreal, the sanction of which had been for some
inexplicable reason reserved for the royal pleasure,
having been finally sanctioned, Mr. Elzear Bedard
was chosen mayor of Quebec and Mr. Jacques Viger
mayor of Montreal. In the case of the City Council of
Quebec it was unfortunate that a narrow-minded
attempt was made to confine the conduct of the city
affairs entirely in the French language. The minor-
ity were obliged to invoke the intervention of the
Court of King's Bench to secure the use of the Eng-
lish language as well as the French. The incident
created considerable noise, and also produced a bad
effect.
Parliament again assembled on 7th January, 1832.
The speech from the throne foreshadowed consider-
able important business ; but it is surmised that the
Assembly was bent upon doing little or no business,
and even declined to appoint the usual committee of
good correspondence with the Legislative Council.
On the 13th day of the month His Excellency com-
municated two despatches from the Imperial govern-
ment: one of which approved in a qualified manner
of His Excellency's course for not endorsing the writ
LOWER CANADA. 159>
for a new election in Mr. Mondelet's constituency, on
the ground that no salary was attached to the office ;,
the other message related to the non-concurrence in
the proposal of the Assembly to make the Legislative.
Council elective, but suggested that the personnel of
the council should be made as unobjectionable as
possible.
The Act for the imposition of taxes on emigrants
would expire on the first of May next, and as the said
Act had aroused the greatest dissatisfaction in
Upper Canada His Excellency intimated to the
Assembly that he could not approve of a continuation
of any Act which imposed taxes on emigrants arriving
in this country.
The Assembly had expended over $35,000 upon the
persistent and fruitless investigation into the afore-
mentioned Montreal election riot of 1832, and now
requested His Excellency to issue his warrant in favor
of the clerk of the House for that amount. This
opened up the question of supply, in which the
Assembly themselves had been so obstinate in the past,
and in order to obtain the $35,000 for the House con-
tingencies the Assembly was confronted with its own
past conduct in refusing to vote the sum in fulL neces-
sary to pay the salaries for the public service, conse-
quently there could exist no good understanding upon
the financial question under such circumstances,
which had been hitherto a continuous cause of embar-
rassment and inconvenience.
During the session the ancient Castle of St. Louis
in Quebec, the residence of both the former French
and British governors, was unfortunately totally
destroyed by fire despite the great exertions of both
the military and civilians to save it.
160 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
A bill was introduced by Mr. A. Stuart for the pur-
pose of placing the Executive Council on a different
footing. The bill passed both houses, but was reserved
for the royal pleasure and never heard of again. It
is not known whether the principle of responsible
government was suggested in the bill proposed or not.
The House went into committee to consider the
state of the province, the sittings of which lasted for
several days, during which the famous ninety-two
resolutions were adopted by a vote of 56 to 24, every
member of the House having voted, a most unusual
experience of parliamentary attendance. Some of the
planks of the proposed platform were good ones, but
many others were totally inadmissible, in the way of
resolutions, for the time, and it is surprising that
responsible government was not proposed in the reso-
lutions. His Excellency was requested, and consented,
to transmit the proposals to His Majesty, although
•dissenting from the contents of the said resolutions.
The Legislative Council also sent counter resolutions
and a number of respectable Quebec merchants
addressed His Excellency as well, in disapprobation
of the ninety-two resolutions.
Forty-two bills passed both houses, of which His
Excellency reserved eleven for the royal pleasure,
and rejected one himself.
Mr. A. R. Hamel, a lawyer, was taken into the cus-
tody of the sergeant-at-arms, and admonished at the
tar of the House for giving alleged improper advice
to a client in the matter of a contested election in the
'County of Stanstead, which certainly was a strange
proceeding on the part of the Assembly. The bar-
LOWER CANADA. 161
risters at Quebec and Montreal, at a meeting convoked
for the purpose, protested against the action of the
Assembly as an undue exercise of power, and a sub-
version of the independence of the bar.
A formal despatch from Lord Goderich, secretary of
state for the colonies, was laid upon the table disap-
proving of the grounds upon which Mr. Christie,
member for Gaspe, had been repeatedly expelled from
the House. His Excellency prorogued parliament in
rather a dissatisfied mood, and expressed a hope that
the next session would be more satisfactory than the
two preceding sessions proved to have been.
Meanwhile the petitions, representations and com-
plaints pro and con from the colony, again engaged
the attention of the Imperial parliament. Mr. J. A.
Eoebuck, a gentleman who championed the cause of
the House of Assembly in the capacity of paid agent
and advisor, moved for the appointment of a com-
mittee to inquire into the means of remedying the
evils which prevailed in the form of government now
existing in Lower and Upper Canada. The motion
was superseded by Mr. Stanley, the colonial minister,
who moved for a select committee as follows :
" To inquire into and report to the House how far
the grievances complained of in the year 1828 on the
part of certain inhabitants of Lower Canada had been
redressed, and the recommendations of the committee
of the House which sat thereupon have been complied
with on the part of His Majesty's government, and to
inquire into the matter of certain other grievances
not then brought under the consideration of this
House, but now set forth in the resolution of the
House of Assembly of Lower Canada in the present
11
162 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
session, and to report their opinion thereon to the
House."
A good committee of twenty-eight members was
accordingly appointed, some of whom had served on
the former committee six years previously. The com-
mittee, after the most thorough investigation, brought
in the following cautious report :
" Your committee consider it their duty to declare
their opinion that a most earnest desire has existed on
the part of the home government to carry into execu-
tion the suggestions of the select committee of 1828,
and that the endeavors of the government to that end
have been unremitting and guided by an anxiety in all
cases to promote the interests of the colony ; and your
committee have observed with much satisfaction that
in several important particulars these endeavors have
been successful. It is, however, with deep regret that
your committee perceive that in others they have
not been attended with that success which might have
been anticipated, heats and animosities having unfor-
tunately arisen, and differences continuing to prevail
between the branches of the colonial legislatures as
well as between the House of Assembly and His
Majesty's government. Those unhappy differences
appear to your committee no less intended to check
the progress of improvement in one of the most im-
portant of our colonial possessions than to affect most
injuriously the interests of the British Empire. Your
committee believe that they will best discharge their
duty by withholding any further opinion on the
points in dispute. It appears to them that some
unnatural misconceptions have prevailed, and when
your committee consider the extreme importance that
LOWER CANADA. 163
a perfect reconciliation of these differences should
take place, they express the earnest hope that these
misconceptions being removed many of the present
difficulties will no longer exist or will be amicably
adjusted, and that the practical measures for the
future administration of Lower Canada may best be
left to the mature consideration of the government
responsible for their adoption and execution."
Neither the evidence submitted nor the documents-
examined "were submitted with the report. A very '
sensible report indeed, so far as it goes, but no definite
or practical remedy is suggested in it to avert an im-
pending crisis. The report merely exonerates the
home government, but declares that the difficulty still
remains. The continuance of agitation in Lower
Canada was not reassuring for the hopeful anticipa-
tions of Lord Aylmer. The intemperate and indis-
creet language of the press supporting the House of
Assembly aroused strong opposition, chiefly on the
part of the English-speaking portion of the commun-
ity, who presented addresses to His Excellency
couched in condemnatory language upon the attitude
of a large majority of the members of the Assembly,
and at the same time warning the government against
the menacing and1 revolutionary tone of the press. On
the other hand the supporters of the Assembly held a
convention in Montreal in which resolutions were
adopted condemnatory of the Imperial Parliamentary
Committee for withholding the publication of the evi-
dence of witnesses and documents which came before
them. The Imperial administration and also the
present and some previous governor-generals were
censured.
164 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The parliamentary term having now expired, the
general elections, the last election under the constitu-
tion of Lower Canada, took place in October and No-
vember, 1835, and resulted, as anticipated, in nearly a
complete route of the English-speaking party. Messrs.
Neilson and Stuart, who had for a considerable time
acted with a majority of the Assembly, having began
to counsel a more moderate and compromising spirit,
were both defeated at the polls. Mr. Papineau, who
at that period could be elected for almost any con-
stituency in the province, persisted in standing for
the West Ward of Montreal, which comprised a large
English-speaking element, thereby incurring a very
hard fight, but was, with Robert Nelson, declared
elected before all the votes were polled, though more
voters were at hand desiring to vote. The returning
officer, Mr. C. A. Lusignan proclaimed that it was
impossible to continue the election with safety, and
declared the two candidates then at the head of the
poll as duly elected.
When the elections were over the defeated party,
self-styled the constitutionalists, comprising largely
the leading merchants of both cities, met in conven-
tion, and adopted resolutions declaratory of danger
to British connection, judging, they alleged, by the
leaders in the Assembly. The new parliament, the
last of Lower Canada as a separate province, met in
February of 1835, Mr. Papineau again being chosen
Speaker.
His Excellency, Governor-General Aylmer, ex-
plained that recent changes in His Majesty's councils
had delayed some important communications which
had not been received. He had, however, received
LOWER CANADA. 165
intimation that the Imperial government had already
introduced legislation relating to the Post-Office De-
partment in His Majesty's dominions in North Amer-
ica. A draft of said bill would be submitted for the
consideration of the Assembly at an early period. He
furthermore informed the Assembly that he had,
previous to the opening of navigation last year, re-
established the quarantine station at Grosse Isle,
and that owing to the failure of the supply bill last
session he had tided over the public service by taking
$155,000 out of the Imperial military chest, which he
trusted the Assembly would repay in addition to the
supplies for the ensuing year, and earnestly recom-
mended that the Assembly would now proceed with
diligence in the discharge of their important duty as
legislators, and hoped that this parliament would be
distinguished for the benefit conferred by it upon the
province.
The Assembly, before proceeding to reply to the
recent speech from the throne, attacked the proroga-
tion speech made by His Excellency at the end of the
previous session, and resolved that the said speech be
expunged from the journals of the House. This being
done the House took into consideration the opening
speech of the present session in a somewhat moderate
tone, but revived the old claim for making the Legis-
lative Council elective, and for the removal of certains
grievances which it was alleged would act as a pan-
acea for all the existing evils.
A lengthy address to the king on the state of the
province was agreed upon, asking for redress to griev-
ances, to which was added a complaint against His
Excellency of illegal, unjust and unconstitutional
166 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
conduct, and also of the executive's assumption of the
rights of the people; but still no mention was yet
made of the principles of responsible government.
Some communication now ensued between the
Assembly and His Excellency on the financial ques-
tion, as both parties were feeling the embarrassment
induced by mutual obstinacy, but no good understand-
ing was yet arrived at. The colonial secretary about
this time detected a serious anomaly in the practice
of controlling the expenditures. The Legislative
Council and Assembly exercised a vigilant control
•over the expenditures of the executive branch of the
legislature, but the Executive Council and Assembly
exercised no control over the expenditure in the Legis-
lative Council. In this particular system the prin-
ciple of cheques and balance which constitute the
most admirable feature of the British constitution
was altogether lost sight of in the constitution of
Lower Canada, a defect which was doubtless provoca-
tive of much of the; dissatisfaction with the Legislative
Council.
The Assembly having for several days successively
adjourned for want of a quorum, and it being obvious
that no further business would be attended to, His
Excellency prorogued the legislature on the 18th
March, sanctioning but one bill, the only Act passed
In the session of twenty-five days.
His Excellency regretted that the Assembly had
failed to apply itself to those measures of relief in
relation to the permanent difficulties of the province,
and furthermore regretted that the shortness of the
session prevented his laying before them expected
communications of importance from the home govern-
LOWEK CANADA. 167
anent of vital interest to the province, which he had
reason to believe were near at hand.
During these times Mr. Jessop, collector of cus-
toms at Quebec, was committed to prison for an
alleged contempt of the Assembly in not making a
return asked for by it of all vessels entered at said
port, with full particulars as to passengers, etc. Mr.
Jessop's cause of refusal was that the order did not
emanate from His Excellency, which appears to be a
valid reason. The collector was, however, confined
in prison until the prorogation.
A change of colonial officials having taken place in
the Imperial government, Lord Aberdeen was now
in charge of the colonial office, and addressed a
despatch to His Excellency Lord Aylmer, couched in
kindly and commendatory terms, but pointed out at
the same time that the exigencies of the occasion ren-
dered a change in the governor-generalship necessary,
•seeing that no progress had been made in promoting
harmony between the different branches of the legis-
lature. The government had resolved upon the
appointment of a high commissioner of Canada. The
post was offered first to Viscount Canterbury, and
then to Lord Amherst, but both found excuses for
declining the appointment. The Earl of Gosford was
finally selected as high commissioner with Sir Charles
Grey and Sir George Gipps as assistants. It is
worthy of mention that in the interim Lord Aylmer
was the recipient of an approving letter from Lord
Olenelg, who had now succeeded Lord Aberdeen in
the colonial office. He, however, allowed the polite
recall of Lord Aylmer by his predecessor to go into
effect.
168 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
A general feeling of regret prevailed, at least among
the English-speaking people, that Lord Aylmer had
been harshly treated. Flattering addresses from var-
ious parts were presented to him, and a farewell
banquet was tendered His Lordship and Lady Aylmer
by the principal citizens of Quebec on the eve of their
departure. His Excellency had during his sojourn in
Quebec caused a marble slab to be placed in the
Ursuline Convent to the memory of Montcalm, and
also had a monument erected to the memory of Wolfe
on the Plains of Abraham — all at his own personal
expense.
GOVERNMENT OF THE EARL OF GOSFORD.
The new governor or commissioner, Earl of Gos-
ford, and his assistants, arrived at Quebec on the 23rd
August, 1835, and the following day issued his pro-
clamation notifying his assumption of the government,
and summoned the legislature for the despatch of
business for 27th October. Meantime the new gover-
nor tried to propitiate the leaders of the Assembly dur-
ing the short interval before the House met. He was
visited by Messrs. Papineau and Debartzch immed-
iately after his arrival in Quebec, and a caucus of the
members of the Assembly and their sympathizers was
held at Three Eivers to determine upon the course
most proper to be adopted towards the new governor-
general, and in particular towards the commission of
which he was the chief. It was contended, chiefly by
Dr. O'Collaghan, the firebrand member for Yamaska,
and publisher of the Vindicator newspaper, that no
business should be entered upon by the Assembly
until a sufficient sum to cover its contingencies was
LOWER CANADA. 169
advanced, and that unconditionally at the discretion
of the House. Others suggested that the authority of
the commission might be challenged as having only
been appointed by the king without the concurrence of
the British parliament.
The constitutional association of Quebec, rather too
officiously, on the other hand, essayed to head off Dr.
O'Collaghan's proposal as regards the contingent
fund by resolutions and an address, which they pre-
sented the day before the meeting of parliament, by
which it was urged that monies should only be appro-
priated in the regular way by bill approved of by the
three branches of the legislature, to which His Ex-
cellency very properly replied, in effect, that he knew
himself what to do in the premises.
His Excellency opened the session of parliament in
a most reassuring and lengthy speech, evincing a dis-
position to consider and remedy every grievance
within his power. He poured oil on the troubled
waters most lavishly, appealing to both branches of
the legislature for harmonious and united action.
Every topic was touched upon except the constitution
of the Legislative Council. He stated that he would
know no race or religion; that all would be equal
upon their merits. He did not like to hear the words
" French " or " English " — all are Canadians, or Brit-
ish. His commendable attitude certainly deserved a
more gracious appreciation from the Assembly than it
received ; but, as will be seen, one or two of the head-
strong leaders in the Assembly were determined
against any compromise, consequently the olive
branch was held out in vain.
A bill was introduced immediately after the deliv-
170 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
ery of the speech for the appointment of an agent of
the province in Great Britain, as if to signalize their
disregard of the commission just announced from the
throne. Dr. O'Collaghan carried an address to inter-
rogate His Excellency respecting the complaint
against Justice Gale, whereupon Mr. Van Felson,
member for Lower Town, Quebec, remonstrated
against these proceedings before the reply to the
.speech from the throne was adopted. The question
was discussed by several members pro and con. Dr.
O'Collaghan's motion was adopted, however, by a
large majority.
The committee appointed to draft the reply to the
speech from the throne omitted all reference to the
commissioners, whereupon an amendment was offered
expressing gratification to His Majesty for the wis-
dom and magnanimity in having appointed a commis-
sion of such ability, which cannot fail to be of un-
doubted service to the well-being of the province. The
amendment was, however, unfortunately lost. Mr.
Papineau, with doubtful propriety, spoke against it
at length.
The financial difficulties appear to have been got
over smoothly to the satisfaction of all parties, but
the Legislative Council having rejected the Agents'
Bill for the appointment of Mr. Roebuck, M.P., with
salary and contingent expenses, the Assembly
speedily experienced a relapse, in which Mr. Papineau
is said to have unwisely given expression to some
republican ideas. The standing committee on griev-
ances was renewed this session, and on motion of Dr.
O'Collaghan it was instructed to inquire into the pro-
ceedings adopted by either houses of the Imperial
LOWER CANADA. 171
parliament relative to the petitions addressed by this
House, in 1834, on the state of the province, framed
upon the celebrated ninety-two resolutions. The con-
duct of the Assembly was regarded by its opponents
as being most menacing and alarming, particularly in
the district of Montreal, evoking the spontaneous
formation of a volunteer rifle corp, which was tendered
His Excellency, but was declined by him on the
grounds both of illegality and inexpediency. The
members of the corp, however, dissented from His
Excellency's opinion and declared, on the contrary,
that there was real danger of an outbreak, and,
furthermore, that revolutionary characters were
holding positions in the regular militia. A memorial
was also addressed to His Excellency by the leading
merchants and others of Montreal dissenting from
the feelings of safety which he had expressed, assert-
ing that machinations were now in progress danger-
ous to British connection. The vacancy in the King's
Bench by the removal of Justice Kerr not having
been filled, Lord Gosford appointed Mr. Bedard, the
mover of the ninety-two resolutions, to the vacancy.
The appointment was very unpopular with the
English-speaking population ; it was, however, a good
appointment as regards the personal qualifications
of Mr. Bedard.
Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Colborne, in open-
ing the parliament of Upper Canada in January of
1836, made some allusion to the dissensions in Lower
Canada, which he alleged were injurious to the cause
of the influx of emigration and capital to both
provinces.
The Lower Canada Assembly, being very sensitive,
172 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
it was resolved, on motion of Dr. O'Collaghan to take
into consideration the speech of Sir John Colborne,
lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada. However,
circumstances and delays transpired causing the
motion to lie over, and meanwhile Sir John Colborne
retired from the lieutenant-governorship of Upper
Canada, and was succeeded by Sir Francis Bond
Head.
The new lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada sent
down to the Assembly of that province a copy of the
ministers' instructions to the commissioners for their
guidance. Speaker Bidwell, of Upper Canada, per-
ceiving discrepancies between those instructions and
Lord Gosford's speech at the opening of the Lower
Canada session, acted the mischievous busy-body by
forwarding extracts from them to Speaker Papineau,
for the information of the body over which he pre-
sided, and who no doubt gladly laid them before the
House. From this moment it became certain that
Lord Gosford's mission was a failure. His Excel-
lency, however, in consequence of this exposure, now
sent down copies in full of all instructions, contend-
ing at the. same time there had been no discrepancy
in the former extracts given; this, however, did not
re-establish the confidence which the revelation of
His Excellency's instructions in the manner men-
tioned had spoken.
The speech of ex-Lieutenant-Governor Colborne of
Upper Canada, to which former reference has been
made, was now taken into consideration, and said
speech repudiated in a series of resolutions, copies of
which the Speaker was authorized to transmit to the
speakers of both houses in Upper Canada. Mr.
LOWER CANADA. 173
Papineau also, in a very able, but in part an injudici-
ous, letter addressed to Speaker Bidwell of the Upper
Canada Assembly, descanted upon the state of the
two provinces. The communication was, however,
very properly resented by the parliament of Upper
Canada.
The Assembly now resolved itself into a committee
of the whole on the public accounts and state of the
province and decided to vote the supplies for six
months only, clamoring again for the adoption of the
-elective system in the constitution of the Legislative
Council. Justifiable charges of impropriety were laid
against Mr. Felton, commissioner of Crown lands;
charges were also made against Judges Bowen and
Thompson, as also against several officials of minor
rank. A demand was also made that the deputy
postmaster-general, Mr. T. A. Stayner, be compelled
to reimburse the sum of £9,550 5s. 2d., alleged to have
been wrongfully pocketed for the transmission of
newspapers. It was ascertained, however, that the
reflection cast upon Mr. Stayner was unjust; that
these perquisites had been regularly allowed by the
Imperial authorities, and therefore, the deputy post-
master-general was within his rights. The incident
is only mentioned to show what was transpiring in
the political arena. Other matters were reviewed by
the Assembly which did not result in anything of
importance. In the matter of legislation a bill was
passed authorizing the construction of a railway
from the St. Lawrence River to the province line;
but, strange to say, His Excellency blindly reserved
the bill for the royal pleasure, on the grounds that
the railway would traverse waste lands of the Crown,
174 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
which was surely a very antiquated idea for a pro-
gressive individual to entertain. This was the last
of constitutional legislation in the Parliament of
Lower Canada. Although the House met twice sub-
sequently, previous to the suspension of the con-
stitution, no acts whatever were passed.
The House abdicated its functions, as will be seen,,
until changes at their dictation should be made in
the constitution of the province, which the British
government deemed at that time incompatible with
the British constitution, and, therefore, inadmissible..
Lord Gosford prorogued parliament on the 26th
March, with strong expressions of regret, and re-
ported his ill success to the home government.
Meanwhile, the so-called constitutionalists were
actively avowing, in lengthy addresses and resolu-
tions, to the effect that if there were any grievances-
to complain of by any one, that they themselves had
more cause of complaint than had the agitators,,
whose alleged grievances were more imaginary than
real — a statement which the constitutionalists were
not warranted in making, as some grievances did cer-
tainly exist.
The assistant commissioners, Sir Charles Grey and
Sir George Gipps, were assiduous in investigating:
the causes of dissensions, but withheld all information
pending their report to the Imperial parliament..
However, it may be significant that an increased
representation of French-speaking members was now
made in both the Executive and Legislative Councils,,
which ought to have been done years previously.
His Excellency summoned a meeting of parliament
in September, and made an appeal to the Assembly
LOWER CANADA. 175
for the discharge of the usual parliamentary duties,
to which the Assembly replied that their labors were
usually rendered abortive in consequence of the
systematic rejection by the Legislative Council of all
the projects of law calculated to remedy the past, to
protect the people in future, to enlighten them, and
to advance their moral welfare, to improve their
social and physical condition, and to entrust them
with those powers and influence in the constitution,
the administration of laws, and the management of
local affairs, to which they are entitled by the very
principles of government. The system now in
practice was designated a vicious one, and an appeal
was made to His Excellency for a remedy, which
meant, of course, among other things, a change in
the constitution of the Legislative and Executive
Councils.
To this deliverance His Excellency replied with
thanks, and promptly carried out the promise pre-
viously made of laying before them the reply to their
previous address by their most gracious sovereign,
which was forwarded by the colonial minister, Lord
Glenelg, and which was as follows:
" The king, William IV., expressed with deep
regret the ill success of His Majesty's efforts to re-
move from the mind of the representatives of the
people of Lower Canada those distrusts and jeal-
ousies with which they appear unfortunately to have
been affected, conscious, however, that his measures
had been dictated by an earnest solicitude for the
welfare of all classes of his Canadian subjects, un-
mixed with any motive of a less just and liberal
character. His Majesty awaits with tranquility the
17G POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
results of this long and painful discussion, assured
that when the misconceptions of the moment shall
have passed away his labors for the prosperity of
Lower Canada will be repaid by the confidence of
the inhabitants of that province, of whatever class
or origin/'
The despatch continued at length in a pacific
and encouraging tone, stating, among other things,
that the commissioners were instructed to inquire
as to the most effectual means that could be taken
for securing such a Legislative Council as shall
enjoy at once a due share of public confidence and a
full exercise of an enlightened and independent
judgment on all matters submitted to its considera-
tion.
A spirit of wrong-headedness or strong-headedness
— according to the sympathies of the reader — per-
vaded the Assembly, and nothing short of the
radical changes in the constitution proposed in
the famous ninety-two resolutions would satisfy
them; no compromise would be entertained by them.
The high commissioners sent out by His Majesty to
inquire into the state of the province on the spot
were completely ignored. His Excellency was, how-
ever, personally treated with due respect.
As regards the non-provision of the supplies the
Assembly laid the blame entirely upon the conduct
of the Legislative Council, and intimated its decision
never to resume its functions under the existing con-
stitution. This declaration was carried by a vote of
58 to 6. The session lasted but thirteen days and
passed no legislation. His Excellency then prorogued
the session in a most regretful speech. The legisla-
LOWEE CANADA. 177
ture of Upper Canada at this time, very inopportunely
for the tranquility of the Lower Canada Assembly,
again voted an address for the annexation to that pro-
vince of the City and County of Montreal.
Lord John Russell, in the Imperial parliament,
had brought up the subject of the unsatisfactory state
of the government in Lower Canada, but even he did
not advise making the Legislative Council an elective
body. The receipt of this intelligence gave an
impetus to the agitation in the press and upon the
platform. Already Dr. O'Collaghan's paper, The
Vindicatory published in the English language, in-
dulged especially in an incendiary tone. Large
public meetings in denunciation of the constitution
and of the legislature were held chiefly in the district
of Montreal, and the idea of a republic was hinted
at by some of the more extreme agitators, who also
proposed that no more British goods should be con-
sumed by them in Lower Canada. It is, however,
but fair to state that some of the speakers were most
able and worthy men, who in the subsequent days
of tranquility occupied most prominent and dis-
tinguished positions in the public service, revered as
loyal, true and able statesmen by all classes of the
united provinces of Upper and Lower Canada ; a few
of them even survived long enough to give a loyal
and helping hand in the great scheme for the confed-
eration of the several British-American provinces
into the present vast Dominion of Canada.
Counter meetings were held by the friends of the
existing constitution of a very non-conciliatory
character, which only tended to intensify the hostile
attitude of the revolutionary party, thereby making
12
178 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
matters worse instead of better, and which finally
culminated in the great calamity which constitutes
the darkest page in Canadian history.
King William IV. died on the 20th June, 1837, but
the event was not known in those days of sailing
vessels in Canada until the 31st July. Queen
Victoria was proclaimed as sovereign in Quebec on
the following day, August 1st. Appropriate resolu-
tions upon these events were adopted at a public
meeting.
His Excellency now felt constrained to dismiss
several militia officers as participators in the hostile
agitation which was going forward. Among these
was Mr. Speaker Papineau, major of the 3rd Bat-
talion of Lower Canada.
Meanwhile the governor-general received instruc-
tions from the home government to try another
session of the Assembly, which he accordingly con-
vened for the 18th of August. Owing to the demise
of the former sovereign the members were res worn,
demurring at first, but finally went through the form
most reluctantly. Several of the leading members
and professional men made themselves ridiculous by
attiring themselves in homespun apparel from head
to foot in token of their determination not to patron-
ize British trade, through feelings of revenge upon
the home government for having refused certain
constitutional changes.
His Excellency, after referring in affectionate
terms to the memory of the late king, communicated
the decision of the home government on the state of
the province, based upon the report of the commis-
sioners, which in effect was a direct refusal to accede
LOWEE CANADA. 179
to the direct demands and proposals of the Assembly
as regards reconstituting the Legislative Council. It
was only proposed to make some popular change in
its composition, but not to make it elective, and
united action on the part of the legislatures of Upper
and Lower Canada on the question of trade and
commerce was suggested.
The terms of this Imperial despatch, as might be
anticipated, was not acceptable to the Assembly in
its present mood, consequently that body reaffirmed
its decision to reabandon entirely all their functions
in a legislative capacity. His Excellency then pro-
rogued the House, which never met again.
Agitation and preparation ,for actual hostilities
was in progress between the adherents of the As-
sembly on the one side and those of the Legislative
and Executive Councils on the other side.
His Excellency, who had been hoping for concilia-
tion and was therefore loth to take any steps to stem
the agitation for which he has probably been unjustly
blamed in some quarters, now issued a proclamation
to the inhabitants of Lower Canada, setting forth
that all grievances were either being now or would
be redressed, and warned the people against being
misled by agitation. The bishops and clergy gener-
ally called upon their flocks to desist from these
agitations.
Immediately after the appearance of this proclama-
tion Messrs. Leslie and Papineau waited upon His
Excellency at Quebec to suggest the expediency of an
immediate convocation of parliament, but the gover-
nor-general most unfortunately declined the experi-
ment to summon another parliament, upon the rea-
180 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
sonable presumption that it would be useless in the
light of his recent experiences with that refractory
body. It will never be known what the effect of
another session might have been. There is no doubt,
however, that Mr. Papineau, if so disposed, and he
was probably so disposed, would, owing to his great
influence, have effected a compromise between His
Excellency and the Assembly even at the eleventh
hour; but he was unfortunately not afforded the
opportunity to try his hand at conciliation. Mr.
Leslie returned to Montreal and Mr. Papineau pro-
ceeded to Europe via the Kennebec road, no doubt
regretting the rising of the storm, which in his hot-
headedness he helped to raise. A rising was now
imminent, and His Excellency issued another pro-
clamation placing the district of Montreal under
martial law, and offering a reward of f 4,000 for the
arrest of Mr. Papineau, and also a reward of f 2,000
each for the arrest of Messrs. O'Collaghan, Cote,
Scott, Girouard, Eodier and Trolet, and of $400 each
for the arrest of some private citizens.
A considerable panic now ensued, and the military
and volunteer militia were brought into requisition.
The farcical rebellion was speedily suppressed,
l)ut not without a regrettable loss of life; many
prisoners were taken, which overflowed the jails.
An outbreak of minor proportions had also taken
place in Upper Canada for somewhat similar cause,
to which reference will be made when dealing with
the administrative history of that province. These
high-handed disturbances in Lower and Upper Can-
ada were condemned by all parties in the provinces
of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Qualified
LOWER CANADA. 181
expressions to that end were given at public meetings
in those provinces.
Lord Gosford was despairing of all hope of con-
ciliating the hostile factions, or of even restoring
tranquility, and suggested his own recall, a suspen-
sion of the constitution, and the placing of the affairs
of the province in other hands not pledged as he was
to a mild and conciliatory policy. These wise sug-
gestions were approved, and Sir John Colborne, as
the senior military officer of the forces in Lower and
Upper Canada, and who so promptly and effectively
put down the rebellion, was appointed to assume the
reins of government, and issued a salutary proclama-
tion to the inhabitants of the province, enjoining all
who had any part in the unfortunate rising to deliver
up all arms in their possession to the nearest magis-
trate within one month.
He organized a temporary government by means of
a special council comprised of twenty-two members,
equally of French and English-speaking gentlemen,
as follows:
District of Quebec. — Messrs. De Lerey, Stuart,
Neilson, Walker, Dionne, Casgrain and Leterrier.
District of Montreal. — Messrs. Pothier, McGill,
Kocheblanc, Gerrard, Quesnel, Christie, Penn, Mol-
son, Cuthbert, Joliette, Smith, Knowlton and
Fairbault.
District of Three Rivers. — Messrs. Dionne and
Mayrand.
The volunteer militia were meanwhile disbanded.
News reached Canada early in March of the
suspension of the constitution, and the appointment
of John George Lambton, M.P., Earl of Durham, as
182 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
high commissioner and governor-general, for the
adjustment of certain important affairs affecting the
provinces of Lower and Upper Canada, and also of
the approval of the home government of the conduct
of both Lord Gosford and Sir John Colborne.
The new governor-general, Lord Durham, was a
statesman of marked ability. His characteristics
were, however, rather a strange mixture, he being at
one and the same time a haughty aristocrat, and a
pronounced radical; he was also reputed to be some-
what arbitrary and domineering in manner before
coming here, and thereby incurred the enmity, it is
said, of some of his peers in the political arena of
the Mother Country.
His appointment to the government of the Can-
adas was universally hailed with delight, at least
on this side of the Atlantic, and he would most
probably have proved to be the right man in the right
place had he been loyally supported by the very men
who were responsible for his appointment ; but he was
not so supported. He was to have had a free hand for
at least five years to cope with the almost insuperable
difficulties, but he only remained in Canada five
months owing to the meddlesome conduct and criti-
cisms of members of the Imperial houses of parlia-
ment as to his doings in Canada. But to return to a
narrative of his brief but useful career, and recom-
mendations as administrator.
He arrived at Quebec in great state on the 29th
May, 1838, in Her Majesty's ship " Hastings," and
was met at the landing by Sir John Colborne and the
whole military staff, and a vast concourse of the
inhabitants, who repeatedly cheered his lordship.
LOWER CANADA. 183
After being sworn into office he issued an important
proclamation to the people of Lower Canada, citing at
length his mission to restore harmony, and to en-
deavor to re-establish constitutional government
on a satisfactory basis. He said : " If you on
your side will abjure all party and sectarian animosi-
ties and unite with me in the blessed work of peace
and harmony, I feel assured that I can lay the founda-
tion of such a system of government as will protect
the rights and interests of all classes, allay all dis-
sensions, and permanently establish under Divine
Providence the wealth, greatness and prosperity of
which such inexhaustible elements are to be found in
these fertile countries."
The next act of His Excellency was to require from
the attorney -general without delay a return of • the
names and number of persons in confinement in the
jails and also of warrants still in the hands of magis-
trates for the part they had taken in the late troubles.
A circular, in courteous terms, was addressed to the
several members of the Executive Council acquainting
them that for the present their services would not be
required, and the special council was also by let-
ters patent dissolved. The expediency of dispensing
with the services of every officer and member of
these councils may be open to doubt.
His Excellency then called the following gentlemen,
chiefly of his own staff, to constitute his Executive
Council, Charles Buller, his chief secretary; Mr. Tur-
ton, his own secretary; Colonel Cooper, military sec-
retary; Mr. Daly, provincial secretary; Mr. Kouth,
commissary-general; Sir John Dorritt, inspector of
hospitals ; Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, of the 71st
184 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Begiment, was appointed attache to the high commis-
sioner. It has been stated in the Mother Country
that the appointment of Mr. Turton and Mr. Wake-
field for employment by His Excellency was for some
particular reason a mistake.
The citizens of Quebec waited upon His Excellency
with a congratulatory address, with which he was
much pleased. In the course of his reply he enun-
ciated a policy of justice and mercy toward the guilty
and mercy toward the misguided.
He appointed a committee to inquire into the pres-
ent mode of disposing of the Crown lands in Lower
Canada, and some practices inimicable to actual set-
tlers were detected. He also appointed other useful
commissioners to inquire into educational, judicial,
commercial and other matters. He recommended
responsible parliamentary government, and the estab-
lishment of municipal government, the building of
a trunk line of railway from the seaboard of the
Maritime Provinces to Lake Huron, the union of
the provinces, and finally a larger scheme of union to
embrace in one confederation all of the British-Amer-
ican provinces, to be designated British America, and
not Canada. His report is a statesmanlike and mas-
terly document, filling several hundred pages of a
blue book. All departments and interests received
minute and careful attention, and most of his sug-
gestions and recommendations have since been carried
out. While he personally took a general oversight of
all reports and researches, it is said that Mr. Edward
Gibbons Wakefield and Mr. Adam Thorn had very
much to do with the report upon the condition of
Lower Canada affairs, the tenor of which was not
LOWER CANADA. 185
pleasing generally to the French-speaking people. It
was alleged that many of the difficulties were not a
question of party politics in Lower Canada, but
rather a mutual case of anti-French and anti-English.
Mr. Buller has been credited with being largely
responsible for the report upon the condition of
Upper Canada, the contents of which were 'adversely
criticised by Sir Francis Bond Head and W. H.
Draper, as being too pessimistic as regards the
finances of the province, and also as being unduly
partial to the Eeformers of Upper Canada, where it
was really, the report asserts, a case of party politics
and not of races, as in the other province. The source
of His Excellency's unhappiness in Canada emanated
from the Mother Country, and arose from the difficult
task of dealing with the case of prisoners who were
charged with participation in the unfortunate rising
familiarly known as the Papineau rebellion. It was
found to be next to impossible to find a jury in Mont-
real willing to convict political prisoners. His Ex-
cellency, therefore, finally decided upon a novel, and
what they deemed in the simplicity of their hearts to
be a rational and common-sense mode yet unknown to
the criminal code of disposing of prisoners. To begin
with, the following prominent and otherwise respect-
able prisoners, confined in the Montreal jail, were
charged with high treason, namely, Messrs. Bouchette,
Wolfred Nelson, Des Rivieres, Masson, Gauvin,
Marchessault, Godin and B. Viger. These men
were privately approached by some person in the
interest of the government with a suggestion that it
would be to their interest to plead guilty as a matter
of policy. The prisoners took a short time to consider
18(5 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the overture, and under the natural supposition that
they would be either set free or dealt with leniently,
acquiesced in the suggestion. But judge of the sur-
prise and disappointment of these gentlemen to find
that they were summarily sentenced by the executive
to transportation to Bermuda, upon pain of death
without trial should any return without permission.
As to some thirteen other gentlemen, including the
distinguished statesman of later times, Sir George
Etienne Cartier, who had absconded from Canada, it
was decreed also that if any of them returned with-
out permission, death penalties would be incurred.
His Excellency was evidently now out of his element
in posing as a dispenser of criminal justice.
When the news of these most extraordinary pro-
ceedings reached the Mother Country, Lord Durham's
old antagonists were evidently delighted at the oppor-
tunity of humbling the proud spirit of the haughty
earl, and made all the fuss they possibly could over
the transaction.
The first step taken by the Imperial government in
the embarrassing situation was to disallow the ordi-
nance, and to pass an Act of indemnity and amnesty.
It is not stated who apologized to the governor of Ber-
muda for the liberty taken with that dependency in
sending prisoners there without permission, which
made His Excellency and his advisers feel very fool-
ish. The several speakers in both the Lords and
Commons in the debates over the irregular and illegal
transactions did not spare the feelings and the reputa-
tion of the proud nobleman, who was not present to
defend himself, and had very few friends in parlia-
LOWER CANADA. 187
ment save Lord John Kussell and one or two more
bold enough to defend him. Nearly all the subse-
quent despatches from the home government to His
Excellency were generally of a disagreeable nature,
which told severely upon his proud and sensitive
nature, from which he never fully recovered.
His Excellency, with the Countess of Durham, fam-
ily and suite, paid a visit to the principal places in
Upper Canada, enjoying the tour very much, and
received a continuous ovation during a tour of nearly
a month. He was a princely entertainer, and lost no
opportunity of promoting good-will between the
people of the United States whom he chanced to meet
near the border, and the people of his own country.
Meantime His Excellency had invited Sir John
Harvey, lieu t. -governor of New Brunswick; Sir Colin
Campbell, lieut. -governor of Nova Scotia; and Sir C.
Fitzroy, lieut. -governor of Prince Edward Island, to
visit him at Quebec to discuss the expediency of a con-
federation of the provinces. These gentlemen kindly
responded to the invitation. The delegates from
Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island appeared to
favor the idea of union, but those from New Bruns-
wick were reported to be unfavorable. During an
interview with these gentlemen the painful topic of
the disallowance of his ordinances in the matter of the
prisoners chanced to be touched upon, which caused
His Excellency to be quite overcome with emotion, for
which he apologized to his guests, who were them-
selves also deeply affected over the pathetic scene.
No secret was now made of His Excellency's deter-
mination to return to Britain as early as possible.
188 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Complimentary addresses from all parts of Canada,
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward
Island poured in upon him.
A few prisoners, not included in aforementioned
lists were subsequently tried in the civil courts for
treason, and acquitted by the jurors, thus confirming
the anticipation of His Excellency in the belief that
no conviction could have been obtained in the civil
courts.
Several ordinances for the establishment of a much
needed police system in the cities of Montreal and
Quebec, and for other needed purposes, were passed
by the council.
Before leaving Canada His Excellency performed a
gracious act of justice towards Mr. James Stuart, by
restoring him to the bench from which he had been
removed by Lord Aylmer, it is said, as a sacrifice to
propitiate an ungrateful majority in the Assembly
who were opposed to Mr. Stuart.
His Excellency was a true friend of Canada. In a
moment of deep distress of mind he was heard to say
that the Canadians at any rate will do justice to my
memory, a prophecy which has been all along and will
continue to be fulfilled until the end of time.
His Excellency sailed for Britain with his family in
November, leaving Sir John Colborne in charge of the
government.
Every demonstration was shown Lord Durham on
the eve of his departure, nor did any man in his situa-
tion ever leave Canada more deeply or universally
regretted than did this gentleman. His services to
Canada did not end with his departure from its
shores. He, however, did not very long survive his
return to Britain.
LOWEK CANADA. 189
GOVERNMENT OF SIR JOHN COLBORNE.
Sir John Colborne having again assumed the gov-
ernment, in November, 1838, summoned, with two
exceptions, the former members of the special council
to his assistance.
Unfortunately a second insurrection4 was now pro-
pagated by some fugitive so-called patriots, who had
taken refuge in the neighboring States of New York
and Vermont, and who were aided by American sym-
pathizers with the object of invading Canada at var-
ious points in both provinces. The departure of Lord
Durham seems to have been agreed upon as the period
for commencing operations, first at Beauharnois, in
the district of Montreal.
Sir John Colborne declared, by proclamation, mar-
tial law to be in force in that district, and a number
of arrests of prominent men were made. The insur-
rection was speedily suppressed by Sir John Col-
borne, but not without some unfortunate loss of life
and the wanton destruction of much property belong-
ing in many cases to innocent persons. Twelve
prisoners, taken with arms, were tried by court-mar-
tial, and suffered the extreme penalty. Others were
transported to New South Wales, and pardoned at the
end of five years. As regards the political prisoners
who were to be tried in the regular court of justice,
Sir John Colborne had doubts of getting a conviction,
and after some legal subtleties had arisen the prison-
ers finally got free. The acting governor-general,
however, by an act of military power, suspended
Judges Valliers, Panet and Bedard, for declaring the
writs issued upon hearing evidence to be ultra vires.
These judges appealed to the home government, and
190 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
were reinstated two years later", with their salaries
allowed during suspension, thus demonstrating,
according to these judges, that the valiant Sir John
Colborne was not a much better lawyer than the
chivalrous Lord Durham.
In January, Sir John Colborne received a commis-
sion appointing him governor-general. The special
council had been in session two months, and passed
sixty-seven ordinances, a portion of which were im-
portant and beneficial amendments to previous laws.
Lord John Eussell now gave notice in the House of
Commons of certain resolutions relating to the pro-
posed union of the Canadas. He, however, upon the
suggestion of Sir Eobert Peel, introduced a bill at
once; but a strong protest against the union having
come from Upper Canada, it is supposed from the
chief justice of that province, Sir J. B. Robinson, the
bill was discussed and favorably received, but allowed
to stand over until the next session. The legislature
of Upper Canada had meanwhile declared strongly
in favor of the proposed union, which they wisely said
would place Canada in that elevated position con-
templated by Lord Durham with the least delay and
difficulty.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD SYDENHAM (POULETT
THOMPSON).
The Eight Hon. Poulett Thompson, president of the
Board of Trade, having been appointed governor-gen-
eral of Canada, arrived at Quebec in October, 1839,
Sir John Colborne taking his departure by the return
of the same ship. The retiring governor was highly
esteemed, both in Canada and Britain, and was at
UPPER CANADA. 191
once raised to the peerage under the title of Lord
Seaton.
The timber merchants of Quebec had some misgiv-
ings about the appointment of Mr. Thompson, who was
pecuniarily interested in the Baltic timber trade, and
might, it was surmised, have a leaning towards the
Kaltic timber interests. However, he was tendered a
most hearty welcome on account of the important mis-
sion of uniting the two Canadas, and a plea was put
in the address by the citizens of Quebec claiming that
city to be the most suitable capital of Canada. The
special council at this time held its meetings in
Montreal.
His Excellency made but a short stay in Quebec,
proceeding to Montreal to lay the union schemes
before the council, by which it was approved. After
placing the government of Lower Canada temporarily
in charge of Sir E. D. Jackson, chief commander of
the forces, His Excellency proceeded to Toronto,
Upper Canada, and superseded Sir George Arthur
temporarily. Some pleasant functions and ceremon-
ies of a preliminary character took place. The legis-
lature was opened by the governor-general on 3rd of
December, 1839, in a very solicitous speech, during
which the union of the Canadas was the chief topic.
The speech was well received and favorably responded
to by the Assembly, which had already pledged itself
to the proposed union.
A narrative of the proceedings and deliberations in
connection with the proposed union of Lower and
Upper Canada will follow in the closing chapters of
the political history of Upper Canada.
CHAPTER VIII.
UPPER CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL HUNTER, 1799,
WE resume a somewhat condensed outline of
administration in Upper Canada, now under
Major-General Hunter, as lieutenant-gover-
nor, during whose regime some very useful legislation
was passed, establishing several ports of entry for the
collection of custom dues, encouraging the culture of
hemp, improving the defences of the country, etc.
His Honor was but an indifferent statesman, and the
inhabitants were too much occupied with the initial
struggles of pioneer settlement to take much interest
in politics, more especially as there was no newspaper
excepting the official Gazette at that time published
in the province; and, moreover, the people were very
lightly taxed, consequently the budding oligarchy
were having it all their own way. Under this condi-
tion of affairs many abuses crept into the administra-
tion of the public service, notwithstanding the per-
sonal respectability of the members of the executive,
which continued unchallenged for years ; finally, when
some inquiring minds began to call attention to these
abuses the executive resented any interference with
their imaginary rights of doing as they pleased;
critics with too inquiring minds were sometimes
rewarded with the hospitality of the common jails.
192
UPPER CANADA. 193
His Honor died in his fifty-ninth year, during his
gubernatorial term, while out on a military inspection
tour in 1805, his physical constitution having been
impaired by severe military service in his earlier days.
Alexander Grant, the senior member of the Execu-
tive Council, assumed charge of the administration,
and opened the session in February, 1806. Seven
useful Acts were passed during the session, and $6,400
was appropriated for the construction of roads and
bridges. Provision was made for the appointment of
parish and township officers, and for the assessment
and collection of municipal rates.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR FRANCIS GORE, 1806.
Meanwhile the Honorable Francis Gore was sent
out from the Mother Country to assume the govern-
ment of the province. Sir Francis was a gentleman of
high personal worth, but knew nothing of the country
or its wants. He consequently soon fell under the
influence of the oligarchy. One of the first critics of
the administration was Justice Thorpe, a respectable
lawyer, sent out by the Imperial government as one of
the judges of the King's Bench.
The judge soon became very popular with the peo-
ple, but was an object of dislike to the executive party,
who did all in their power to prejudice the lieut. -gov-
ernor against him. Judges at this time were eligible
to sit in the House of Assembly, and Thorpe being
invited by the electors of the Home district to become
a candidate, committed the mistake of entering into
politics. The executive made every possible effort to
defeat him at the polls, but he was triumphantly
13
194 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
elected, which infuriated the oligarchy, who vin-
dictively dismissed all Thorpe's sympathizers from
office. The solitary government newspaper de-
nounced the judge in the most abusive manner, which
led to the establishment of an, independent newspaper,
the Upper Canada Guardian. So the war between the
rival parties now commenced. Mr. Willcocks, a man
of respectable Irish parentage, who was dismissed
from the shrievalty of the Home district for support-
ing Justice Thorpe, became editor of the new paper.
Willcocks was shortly afterward elected to parlia-
ment, and was speedily thrust into jail — a miserable
log hut — by the oligarchy for making too free criti-
cism of its affairs. The imprisonment made him
more popular than ever. He was a leading member
of the Assembly when the war of 1812 was declared
between the United States and Great Britain. He
shouldered his musket as a volunteer in the British
service at Queenston; still the government treated
him harshly, which goaded him into committing the
unpardonable mistake of deserting to the enemy. As
to Justice Thorpe he was, at the instance of the lieut.-
governor recalled by the home government. He sued
the lieut. -governor for libel, and obtained a verdict for
a small sum. The oligarchy had now got rid of two
troublesome critics in the persons of Thorpe and
Willcocks.
His Honor Lieut. -Governor Gore's first session of
parliament was satisfactory to all concerned. Liberal
grants, considering these early times, were made for
education, roads, bridges, etc. Some good legislation,
including a bill to increase the number of members in
the Assembly from sixteen to twenty-five, was enacted.
UPPEK CANADA. 195
The province continued to prosper, both in the in-
crease of population and commerce. A very low rate
of customs duties produced $28,000, chiefly upon
groceries, as the bulk of the inhabitants manufac-
tured their own wearing apparel.
During the year 1811 His Honor requested leave of
absence to visit England, which was granted. The
gallant General Isaac Brock was appointed adminis-
trator during the lieut. -governor's temporary absence.
Meanwhile the relations between Great Britain and
the Democratic government of the United States was
unfortunately straining to the breaking point, which
finally culminated in the wicked and foolish declara-
tion of war on the part of the United States Congress,
a course which apparently did not represent the feel-
ings of a majority of the better class of Americans.
General Brock called the legislature together early
in February, 1812, and requested a suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act, and the passing of a supplemen-
tary Military Act. This the Assembly were loth to do,,
under the natural supposition that Congress would
not resort to the extreme length of declaring war;
but as soon as matters appeared more serious the
legislation asked for was cheerfully passed, and
$20,000 voted for the training of the militia. Still
the heroic Brock was most scantily supplied with
arms and ammunition to cope with a well-equipped
army, numbering twenty-seven to one of the Cana-
dians. The Americans followed up the declaration
of war against Great Britain by a speedy invasion of
Upper Canada. The administrator, General Brock,
promptly took the field to oppose the progress of the
enemy, losing his own valuable life at the battle of
196 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Queenston, greatly to the regret of the Canadian
people.
The legislature was convoked the following year,
1813, by General Sheaffe as president, and several
necessary bills were passed, such as the legalizing of
the army bills issued in Lower Canada, the temporary
prohibition of the exportation and distilling of grain,
lest an undue scarcity of food might ensue, etc.
Pensions were granted to the widows and orphans
of militiamen killed in the war, and a wise enactment
passed, prohibiting the sale of liquor to Indians.
York, now Toronto, being left in a comparatively
defenceless position, owing to the scarcity of troops,
was sacked by some armed vessels and troops of the
enemy.
The legislature met in York on the 15th February,
1814, and enacted several useful and necessary meas-
ures, amongst which was a very effective militia bill,
a bill to authorize the issue of government notes for
one year. The very liberal appropriation of $24,000
was made in the supply bill for the repairing of roads
and bridges. Energetic efforts were made for the
maintenance of the struggle at arms with the Ameri-
cans. The public affairs of the province were at this
juncture directed for a short period by Generals Mur-
ray and Eobinson, pending the return of Lieut. -Gov-
ernor Gore, who arrived shortly afterwards.
The home government had during the early part of
the year offered strong inducements to a superior
class of emigrants to settle in Canada, which resulted
in the acquisition of a valuable addition to the popu-
lation of the province. It is to be regretted, however,
on the other hand, that settlers from the United
UPPER CANADA. 197
States were not permitted to either acquire lands or
take the oath of allegiance in Upper Canada for some
time after the blessings of peace had been restored
between the two countries, and at a time when the
country greatly needed more settlers, of which the
United States would have furnished a progressive
class. The government, in view of the comparatively
recent hostilities with our neighbors to the south,
deemed it expedient to exclude them as citizens, a
policy which has happily long since passed away.
The legislature was convened early in June, 1816,
by Sir Francis Gore, who had returned to Canada.
The province already feeling in many respects the
beneficent effects of peace, made a forward movement,
through its legislature, in the matter of a fairly lib-
eral appropriation for a parliamentary library, for
common school education, for the encouragement of
hemp culture, and for the self-support of the civil
service, which had hitherto been borne by the Imperial
government. At the same time some dulness of
trade was naturally experienced consequent upon
the cessation of the military expenditures and
employments.
The legislature met again in 1817. The members
of the Assembly were now assuming a more inquisi-
tive state of mind, much dissatisfaction having been
felt during the recess with the administration of
affairs throughout the province. After the ordinary
business of the session was completed, the Assembly,
pursuant to notice, went into committee of the whole
to take into consideration the state of the province as
regards: Firstly, the impolicy of checking immigra-
tion from the United States; secondly, the alleged
198 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
inefficiency of the post-office system; thirdly, the
unsatisfactory land policy. Eleven resolutions of a
reasonable nature were based upon these questions,
whereupon the lieut. -governor capriciously prorogued
parliament, to the great astonishment of the repre-
sentatives and their constituents, and thereby pro-
voked a genuine grievance throughout the province.
About this time the celebrated Kobert Gourlay
became prominently identified with the agitation for
reform, and while he was rather indiscreet in some of
the expressions made use of in his interesting book,
styled, " Statistical Accounts of Upper Canada," he
was nevertheless justified in a great measure by actual
facts in his somewhat energetic criticism of public
transactions, for which the government, chief justice,
and certain magistrates of Upper Canada persecuted
him in the most cruel, tyrannical and illegal manner,
which was varied only by reimprisonments and ban-
ishments, until a physical and mental wreck was made
of a man once possessed of an unusually strong body
and clear mind. A Mr. Ferguson, publisher of the
Niagara Spectator newspaper, was imprisoned, pil-
loried, heavily fined and financially ruined by the
government for the publication during his absence of
a signed letter criticising the government.
In consequence of the notorious public dissatisfac-
tion with the government, Sir Francis Gore was now
recalled, and General Sir Peregrine Maitland suc-
ceeded him as lieut-governor of Upper Canada. In
the interim, pending the arrival of General Maitland,
the Honorable Samuel Smith, a worthy gentleman,
acted as administrator.
UPPER CANADA. 199
GOVERNMENT OF SIR PEREGRINE MAITLAND, 1818.
Lieutenant-Governor Maitland opened parliament
in October of 1818. He, like some of his predecessors,
was too much under the thumb of the oligarchy to be
popular generally with the electors. The executive
ruled that the holding of any convention whatever
was illegal, and acting under powers granted during
the Hunter administration in 1804 to the head of the
government, to the Executive and Legislative Coun-
cils, and also to the superior court judges, arrests
were easily made of any disagreeable individuals, who
could also be summarily ordered to depart the
country.
The legislature met in June, 1819. The lieut. -gov-
ernor announced that the home government requested
a change of policy in the administration, but that he
would take the responsibility of refusing grants of
lands to the critics of the government. This stand of
His Honor provoked a long debate, and the address
was only carried by the casting vote of the Speaker.
A feeling of resentment was thus aroused throughout
the electorate with a determination to send a hostile
majority of members against the government at the
next election.
The legislature met again in February of 1820, and
passed some popular measures, such as a bill for the
taxation of wild lands held for speculation, and re-
moved the restrictions against the holding of conven-
tions, also an Act to regulate commercial inter-
course with the United States. Acts .were passed to
increase the number of members from time to time
until the representation totalled fifty-eight members
before the union.
200 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The House dissolved in March, and writs were
issued for a new election. Five new members, in-
cluding Bishop Strachan, were called to the Legis-
lative Council. The Bishop had been two years pre-
viously appointed an honorary member to both the
Executive and Legislative Councils. The result of
the election was not very decisive either for or
against the government; some good independent men
were, however, elected.
The eighth parliament of Canada met on the last
day of January, 1821, and elected L. P. Sherwood, of
Brockville, for Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Chief Justice Powell was appointed to the executive
as Speaker of the Legislative Council. His Honor's
speech was brief and formal. It was shown that
forty new townships had been surveyed within the
past two years, which were rapidly filling up with
actual settlers. The public finances were, however,
in a very depressed condition. An Act was passed to
make the currency of the province uniform, and
another enacting most wisely that no tithes or eccles-
iastical rates should ever be levied in Upper Canada.
The Church of Scotland in Canada applied for a
share of the government endowment set apart for the
use of the Protestant church of Canada, which the
clergy of the Church of England, headed by Bishop
Strachan, persisted in entirely monopolizing for them-
selves, a claim which Kichard Cartwright, uncle of
Senator Sir Kichard Cartwright, although an Episco-
palian himself, stoutly combatted as being most
unjust. The home government decided against the
contention of Bishop Strachan. At this unenlight-
ened period in Canada marriages by the clergy of the
UPPEE CANADA. 201
Methodist Church were completely ignored and
declared illegal.
The legislature met again in November, 1821. His
Honor referred to unsatisfactory divisions of customs
dues between Lower and Upper Canada, which was
detrimental to the public works of the province then
in progress. A bye-election occurred in Lennox and
Addington in which Barnabas Bidwell, who had been
a resident of Massachusetts, was returned, but ex-
pelled from the House by a majority of one vote on
the grounds of being an alien and of an alleged
shadowy reputation before coming to Canada. A new
election was ordered, and a Mr. Clark was elected.
Mr. Barnabas BidwelPs son, Marshal Spring Bidwell,
offered as a candidate, but was ruled out on the
ground of being an alien. The real objection to these
men was said to be their sympathy with Kobert Gour-
lay. An Act was now passed to disqualify all Ameri-
cans who had held any principal public office in the
United States. This was specially aimed at Mr.
Bidwell who had been an attorney-general in Massa-
chusetts. This enactment was subsequently deemed
to be too severe and was amended, making it only
necessary for an American ex-official to reside con-
tinuously in Canada for seven years and to take the
oath of allegiance in order to become a British subject.
The very liberal sum of $8,000 was voted to send the
attorney-general to England to press the claim of
Upper Canada for a larger share of the customs
revenue. A high tax and a lax revenue department
had led to much smuggling from the United States,
which had a demoralizing effect in some of the trad-
ing communities. The scarcity of Canadian currency
202 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
had the effect of letting in a large amount of spurious
American bills, the circulation of which often proved
to be a great loss, more particularly to the agricul-
tural classes, as farm produce did not then bring
remunerative prices.
The proposed union by the Imperial parliament of
the provinces caused some agitation ; one clause of the
bill was particularly objectionable — which provided
to increase the property qualification of members
from £80 to £500, which, if carried into effect, it is
said, would have disqualified one-fourth of the sitting
members. The opposition to the proposed union
emanated chiefly from Lower Canada, and caused the
bill to dwindle down to the Canada Trades Act,
which merely adjusted the customs difficulty between
the two provinces.
The legislature met again in January of 1823. His
Honor's speech announced, among other affairs, the
success of the attorney-general's mission to England
in the matter of the customs regulations with Lower
Canada.
A largely signed petition of the electors of Lennox
and Addington was presented to the House, represent-
ing that Mr. Bidwell the younger was not an alien,
and that his candidature had been illegally prevented.
The petition was sustained, and a new election
ordered, which was contested by Bidwell and Ham.
The latter was declared elected before the hour for
closing the polls, after a close contest, aided by all the
power of the executive.
The project for the construction of the Welland
Canal was now brought before the public by the
enterprising Mr. W. H. Merritt.
UPPER CANADA. 203
His Honor, during the recess, made some excur-
sions to different parts of the province, drawing upon
the receiver-general for all his expenses.
The public mind was now occupied by the approach-
ing general election, and it was manifest that the
Eeform party would make a strong effort to carry
the country, as the feeling was setting in against both
the so-called oligarchy and the lieutenant-governor.
The opposition press, however, had to keep compara-
tively quiet under the censorship of the government,
as free criticism of the powers would likely involve
the pain of arrest and confiscation.
The last session of the existing parliament
assembled in November. His Honor's opening speech
indicated a tranquil state of society both within and
without the legislature, and that the country was
emerging from the reaction caused by the termination
of the war ; but that the revenue was still in rather a
depressed condition. The addresses in reply were
expressed in the usual stereotyped complimentary
style.
A bill passed the Assembly allowing Methodist min-
isters to solemnize marriages, but was most shame-
fully rejected in the Legislative Council. An unsuc-
cessful attempt was made on the part of the
oligarchical wing of the legislature to suppress
Orange processions, as Mr. Ogle B. Gowan, the Grand
Master and founder of the Canadian branch of the
order, was not then in high favor with the executive,
he having disapproved of the administrative methods
pursued by the executive. Mr. Gowan was, however,
mainly instrumental in frustrating the design of pro-
hibiting the processions.
204 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The management of the banks of Upper Canada at
this time apparently catered more for the smiles of
the " powers that be " than for the accommodation of
legitimate trade and enterprise; consequently the
Bank of Kingston failed this year, and the Bank of
Upper Canada also commenced to lay the foundation
of its future failure by not adhering strictly to the
sound banking principles of to-day by assisting only
legitimate commerce.
The writs for a general election were issued in June,
1824, and made returnable in August, and a very keen
contest ensued, resulting in favor of the Reform party
by a small majority, and which included some very
able men, such as Dr. John Rolph, M. S. Bidwell, Dr.
W. W. Baldwin (who died in 1824 greatly lamented),
Capt. Matthews, of Middlesex, and the redoubtable
William Lyon Mackenzie. It was during this year
that the home government perpetrated the impolicy
of chartering the Canada Land Company, a corpora-
tion which became a huge land monopoly, comprised
of private speculators. Even although conducted, as it
was, by highly respectable officers, it nevertheless
dealt a heavy blow at the sound policy of " the land
for the settler ; and the price, if any, be exacted for the
public treasury."
The opening of the new year was signalized by a
public disaster in the accidental burning down of the
modest parliament buildings at Toronto. The library
and furniture were, however, fortunately saved.
On the llth of January, 1825, parliament met in the
old General Hospital until the new buildings were
erected. Parliament had on a previous occasion met
in the ball-room of Jordan's Hotel, and the members
UPPER CANADA. 205
felt well pleased with the palatial accommodation
which this afforded them. The Reformers elected one
of their number, John Wilson, of Wentworth, as
Speaker, by a majority of two votes. The Speaker was
a farmer possessed of a good stock of common sense.
His Honor doubtless did not inwardly relish this
turn in the fortunes of the oligarchy^ and was not very
gracious at the Assembly. The sound principles of
responsible government unfortunately not yet having
been conceded to Canada, His Honor, therefore, inde-
pendently retained his former Executive Council, who
represented the minority in the popular chamber.
The Reform majority in the House, it is alleged,
conducted themselves in a cordial, dignified and
respectful manner towards His Honor who, however,
seemed to feel approaching trouble.
The irresistible Mackenzie controlled a news-
paper, the Colonist Advocate, which indulged in
severe, though at first cautious strictures upon
alleged governmental abuses, packed juries, etc. It
now unpleasantly dawned upon the executive that
another prying Scotchman of the Gourlay stamp had
come to disturb their peace of mind.
The debates in the Assembly were unusually pro-
tracted, owing to the criticism chiefly of alleged finan-
cial abuses. The attorney-general, for instance, not
being content with his fixed stipend, was wont, im-
properly, to make a bill of extras for legal advice to
His Honor, etc. Such items were now properly
struck out of the estimates by the dominant party in
the Assembly, which, however, resulted in the
capricious rejection of the supply bill by the Legis-
lative Council in Lower Canada fashion, with possibly
206 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
less excuse than had the latter body, seeing that the
finances of Upper Canada were in a depressed condi-
tion. Only seven bills were passed during an un-
usually long session. The executive party made some
capital very fairly against the Reformers over the
costliness of the unduly prolonged session.
Parliament met again in November, 1825, when His
Honor's speech and the reply thereto of the Assembly
were unusually copious and mutually felicitous. His
Honor, pursuant to instructions from the colonial
office, recommended a more liberal provision to be
made for the naturalization of all foreigners. A bill
to this end was passed in the Assembly only to be
thrown out by a jingoist majority of the Legislative
Council.
Resolutions were adopted declaring the expediency
of excluding judges from the Executive Council, and
rendering them independent of the government by
appointment during good conduct, the same as in the
Mother Country. This address was sent to the King.
Thirty-one Acts were passed during the session,
besides eighteen other bills thrown out by the Legis-
lative Council, one of which was for repealing the
arbitrary Sedition Act, in order to prevent persecu-
tions such as Gourlay had been subjected to. A
bounty of five hundred dollars to any paper mills
established in the province was authorized.
The favored compact still, in 1826, continued to-
control both the Executive and Legislative Councils,
although in a decided minority in the Assembly. Such
a state of matters in the present day would create a
tremendous furore among all political parties.
Meanwhile the finances of the country had im-
UPPER CANADA. 207
proved. The receipts were $144,240, and the expendi-
ture $121,412, thus leaving a balance on, the right side.
The province was, therefore, now in a condition, by
exercising reasonable economy, to pay all charges and
to relieve the Mother Country of all future expenses
of civil government.
The legislature was prorogued about the end of
January, 1826, after which His Honor made a tour of
a portion of the province, and was well received.
Flattering addresses were presented, the wording of
which, it is said, was supplied ready-made by the
" powers that be/' and were certainly not original or
spontaneous, and therefore could not properly repre-
sent the real feeling of the community. Still the
people were patient and industrious, trusting to con-
stitutional means for the redress of governmental
abuses. The press at this juncture did not greatly in-
fluence the public mind, not many newspapers being
published. The postal facilities were both deficient
and expensive; even when the postal facilities ren-
dered the weekly newspaper available for subscribers,
the postage was four shillings per annum, payable
quarterly in advance. The postmasters were, besides,
exceedingly lax in their duties. Little wonder then
that the newspaper circulation was very restricted.
Mackenzie's newspaper, having meanwhile become
more openly violent in its denunciations of the execu-
tive, some young off-shoots of the official party broke
into the printing office during a temporary absence of
Mackenzie, and completely wrecked the office, and
threw the type into the lake. His Honor, who was
absent at the time, strongly disapproved of the out-
rage, and at once dismissed one of the clerks, Captain
208 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
Lyons, for taking part in the mean and cowardly
affair. Mackenzie's direct and indirect losses were
computed at f 8,000, for which he sued the aggressors,
but only obtained a verdict for f 2,500, which amount
was raised by a subscription collected by Colonel
FitzGibbon, who was then appointed clerk of the
Assembly, to the great disgust of the Keform members
in the House. The dismissed clerk Lyons was made
registrar of the Niagara district, and Mr. J — , the
alleged chief ringleader of the mob, and others were
provided with good situations. As these appoint-
ments could not be made without the sanction of His
Honor, his reputation for impartiality and propriety
as an administrator suffered greatly.
Mackenzie re-established his newspaper, but unfor-
tunately was as rabid and hot-headed as ever, which
eventually proved disastrous to himself and to sev-
eral other good men. While he in all sincerity advo-
cated a righteous cause, and while the government
really deserved severe censure, more moderation
would have served a better purpose for all concerned ;
but poor Mackenzie's temperament was not consti-
tuted like that of Mr. Baldwin, and some other Ke-
f ormers, who did not go to the same dangerous lengths
for the redressing of the grievances to which Mac-
kenzie finally resorted. It is only justice, however,
to say that no other Reformer since the days of Gour-
lay was so greatly persecuted as Mackenzie.
Parliament was again called for December, 1826.
His Honor's opening speech referred to the satisfac-
tory progress in public improvement, and the con-
tented condition of the people which he had personally
witnessed during his recent tour. The majority in the
UPPER CANADA. 209
Assembly, in the face of more or less public griev-
ances, could not agree with His Honor's statement
regarding the alleged perfect contentment of the peo-
ple, and while they did not flatly contradict His
Honor's statement on this point, they, however,
directly censured his conduct in receiving and reply-
ing to addresses during that very tour, which reflected
upon the Assembly. His Honor retorted that the con-
duct of the Assembly in this particular matter was
both unprecedented and discourteous, and maintained
the propriety of his conduct during the tour. The
incident was doubtless a surprise to His Honor, as no
Assembly in Upper Canada had hitherto had the pre-
sumption to criticise the public etiquette of a lieuten-
ant-governor. Some permanent friction was natur-
ally engendered over this squabble. The lieutenant-
governor was certainly within his right in receiving
and replying to ordinary addresses; but if the ad-
dresses contained a reflection upon the Assembly,
which appears to have been the case, it was His
Honor's bounden duty to resent that portion of the
addresses, which he apparently did not do.
Several bills were enacted, and discussions entered
into upon the naturalization laws, and the clergy
reserves, etc. Some excitement arose over the right
to a small strip of water frontage at Niagara Falls,
which the proprietor of the front lots claimed as part
of his holding and which he enclosed with his other
property. It appeared, however, that the Crown had
reserved one chain in width along the river bank in
the usual way. Captain Philpotts, the engineer in
charge of that district was ordered by the executive
to see that the space was kept open. The owner of
14
210 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the land next the river refused to remove the fence,
whereupon Capt. Philpotts had it forcibly pulled
down. This military violence was condemned by the
Reform press, which was now apparently only too
eager to prejudice the action of the executive in not
having taken legal steps instead of violent proceed-
ings in the case. The contention of the press was con-
curred in by the home government in a despatch to
the lieutenant-governor. As much discord and ill-
feeling had been aroused over the case it rather per-
sistently became a subject of investigation by a
special committee of the House, who proceeded to
summon two officers of the civil service as witnesses.
His Honor directed the witnesses not to give evidence,
whereupon the Assembly committed the witnesses to
jail, and reported in favor of compensation to the land-
owner for the loss of crops and the destruction of his
fence, with an unfavorable comment upon His Honor's
arbitrary conduct.
Party spirit was now (1827) unfortunately be-
coming more intense. His Honor seemed an adept
at making enemies, as the following instance will
show : A vacancy having occurred in the position of
King's Printer, a well-qualified and excellent young
man named Collins applied for the vacant position,
which was in the gift of the lieutenant-governor. He
was curtly told, however, by His Honor that the office
would only be conferred upon a gentleman. Collins,
up to this time, had taken no part in politics. He now
succeeded in founding the Freeman newspaper, which
became a veritable thorn in the flesh of His Honor
and the attorney-general. It was at length resolved
by the executive to crush him. He had a printing
UPPEE CANADA. 211
account against the Assembly for $454, which was cer-
tified to by that body ; but His Honor would not allow
payment, and Collins, being poor, with a family to sup-
port, could not well afford to do without the money.
In despair he vented his anger against His Honor,
going rather too far in his denunciations, for all of
which he was tried in the King's Bench and fined $200
with a year's imprisonment. His friends paid the
fine and petitioned King George IV. for his release
from jail, as His Honor would do nothing. The king
acceded to their petition with an order for a refund
of the fine; but these trials told so severely upon the
physical and mental condition of Collins that he
never regained his pristine vigor. He died of cholera
five years later and his paper, the Freeman, died with
him. A newly arrived judge, Mr. Willis, sent out
from England, having sympathized with Collins, and
being otherwise at variance with the chief justice, in-
curred the hostility of the executive, and was trans-
ferred to a judgeship in Demerara.
The home government was at length convinced that
His Honor's usefulness in Upper Canada was gone,
and decided to transfer him to the lieutenant-gover-
norship of Nova Scotia.
The supply bill having been voted the legislature
was prorogued in March, 1828. The general elec-
tions took place in the autumn, the Eeformers sweep-
ing the province from end to end, a very pronounced
refutation of His Honor's recent declaration that the
people were quite content with the existing state of
matters. His regime in Upper Canada closed in a
state of unpopularity in the estimation of a large
majority of the people.
212 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR JOHN COLBORNE, 1829.
Major-General Sir John Colborne assumed the gov-
ernment in November. He having declared that his
instructions were to govern upon a liberal policy,
much was therefore expected of him.
The new parliament was convened in January of
1829, and Mr. M. S. Bidwell was chosen Speaker of
the Assembly by a majority of three over Mr. Wilson,
the former Speaker, and of the same political party,
a very unusual occurrence, which could not have
taken place under the system of responsible govern-
ment, where the Speaker is proposed by the Premier,
and the government must stand or fall by its nominee.
The speech from the throne was very guarded and
non-committal. In the reply of the Assembly, the
executive, apart from His Honor personally, came IL
for a complete overhauling, upon which His Honor
remarked : " That it was less difficult to discover the
traces of political dissensions and local jealousies in
the colony than to efface them." Beading between the
lines it will be seen that complaints of -the above
nature were unwelcome to him.
The House then settled down to business and many
bills were passed, twenty-one of which were thrown
out by the Legislative Council. No restraint could be
imposed by the Assembly upon that body in the mat-
ter of supplies, as the particular funds immediately
under the control of the executive had increased suffi-
ciently to pay the salaries of all office-holders inde-
pendent of the Assembly. The latter body, however,
passed strong resolutions claiming control of all the
funds ; but under the existing system of government,
UPPER CANADA. 213
and exceptional circumstances, the executive was
master of the situation.
About this time Lord Stanley presented a petition
to the Imperial authorities on behalf of 3,110 inhabi-
tants of Toronto, praying that the judges in Upper
Canada might be placed on the same permanent foot-
ing as in the Mother Country. In the same petition
a hope was also opportunely expressed that the pro-
vince might now have the blessing of a responsible
system of government extended to Upper Canada,
Thus for the first time in Canada the responsible sys-
tem of administration loomed up.
In Lower Canada the agitation instead was for
making the Legislative Council elective, as a panacea
for all evils. In this respect the younger. community
of Upper Canada was greatly in advance of the much
older one of Lower Canada. Parliament prorogued
in March.
Attorney-General Robinson having accepted the
chief justiceship of the province, a vacancy occurred
in the representation of York. Mr. Robert Bald-
win— whom we shall meet again in the capacity of a
prominent, capable and upright statesman — then
twenty-five years of age, successfully contested the
election, polling ninety-two votes to his opponent's
(Mr. Small) fifty-one. Mark the contrast in the num-
ber of parliamentary votes now polled in Toronto,
which in the provincial election of 1902 totalled about
thirty thousand votes.
Mr. Mackenzie by his intemperate opposition to Mr.
Small got himself into a libel suit.
His Honor made a tour of the province during the
summer, and was the recipient of many addresses, but
214 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
being more of a soldier than a talker, merely replied,
" I receive your address with satisfaction, and thank
you for congratulations " — certainly a safe response
to make ; but what a contrast to the elaborate and elo-
quent speeches of Lords Elgin, Dufferin and other
governor-generals, who have since so ably presided
over Canada.
The Keverend Egerton Eyerson about this time
founded the Christian Guardian newspaper, a journal
which has achieved marvellous success, and is still full
of vigor and usefulness, as the chief organ of the
great Canadian Methodist Church.
The Welland Canal, constructed through Canadian
enterprise, was opened for traffic near the close of the
season, which marked a most important epoch in the
history of the province, and proved to be a most bene-
ficial public work for both provinces and as well
for the northern portion of several states of the great
Union. The completion of the Eideau Canal by the
Imperial government soon followed, which afforded
an uninterrupted, although circuitous, water route to
the seaboard for small vessels without breaking bulk.
The legislature met in January of 1830, when His
Honor informed, the House that the revenue at the dis-
posal of the executive exceeded the sum required to
pay all the salaries in the public service. The
Assembly, in reply, again claimed the right to dispose
of the revenue, and at the same time coolly expressed
a strong desire for a purer administration of justice,
and for the dismissal of the Executive Council, to
which His Honor merely replied : " I thank you for
your address." Which certainly was as satisfactory a
reply as they deserved.
UPPEE CANADA. 215
The Assembly essayed a very considerable amount
of legislation, which was thrown out wholesale by the
Legislative Council; still several useful bills were
concurred in — one Act in particular provided re-
muneration for the war losses. A loan was granted
for the Welland Canal, to repair some locks which
had given away.
The inhabitants of the rural districts were mean-
while deeply engrossed in agricultural pursuits and
improvements in connection therewith, thereby add-
ing to the solid wealth of the province.
The death of George IV. having occurred, a disso-
lution followed in accordance with the constitutional
usages of the time, and a general election now ensued.
Party lines were now being tightly drawn. A small
Conservative party had been evolved in the ranks of
the Assembly, which now joined hands with the
executive party. This union constituted a somewhat
formidable body, the members of which held every
office of emolument and influence in the province, and
also controlled the pocket boroughs. Many of the
government or Conservative party candidates were
office-holders, such as collectors of customs, sheriffs,
registrars, revenue commissioners, inspectors of
taverns, and distillery licensees, postmasters, clerks of
the Crown^ etc. No holders of such offices would now
be eligible for election, and some of the positions
would disqualify the holders from even voting.
The electorate had largely increased since the pre-
vious general election by new arrivals. With these
decided advantages in their favor the Conservatives
carried the country. The legislature met in January
of 1831, and elected Archibald McLean, Speaker of
216 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the House. He held also at the same time the office
of clerk of the Crown at Cornwall. Mr. McLean was
otherwise personally a talented, upright, and highly
respectable gentleman of commanding presence. He
subsequently filled the high position of chief justice
of the province, and was greatly revered for his dis-
tinguished ability, dignity and lofty character.
The defeated party were in no mood to allow the
accidents and circumstances of the recent general
election to pass unopposed. Mr. W. L. Mac-
kenzie in moving for a special committee to inquire
into the state of legislative representation, stated that
more than one member represented constituencies
with less than thirty votes; that his colleague in the
riding, with himself, and the member for Lanark,
represented a larger number of electors than fifteen
other members of the Assembly. The speaker made
a savage attack upon the dominant party, accusing
them of abuse of power, corruption and all manner of
improprieties, including the alleged mismanagement
of the Bank of Upper Canada. His denunciations
and his fiery invectives in the House were echoed in
his newspaper. Meetings were held throughout the
country at which resolutions were passed in condem-
nation of the executive. The dominant party in the
meantime were scrutinizing Mr. Mackenzie's conduct
for an opportunity of expelling him from the House.
Finally it was supposed that the time had arrived,
and a motion to that end found a majority in the
Assembly, and Mackenzie was expelled accordingly,
but was re-elected triumphantly. This series of pro-
ceedings was repeated five times, evoking great sym-
pathy for Mackenzie, both in his constituency and
UPPEE CANADA. 217
throughout the country. His constituency presented
him with a gold medal, valued at £60. The one side
of the medal was ornamented with a rose, thistle and
shamrock, encircled by the words : " His Majesty
King William IV., the people's friend." On the re-
verse side : "Presented to William L. Mackenzie, Esq.,
by his constituents of York, U.C., as a token of their
appreciation of his political career. Jan. 2nd, 1832."
The proceedings against Mackenzie aroused more
public demonstrations in favor of the liberty of the
press, and secured many new adherents to his cause.
It is on record that the colonial minister intimated
to Mr. Mackenzie at one time that it might be
arranged for the latter to participate in the post-office
revenue of the country, then under control of the Im-
perial government; but Mr. Mackenzie declined the
kind offer. The postal revenue of the province was
then |60,000 annually. The revenue of Toronto post-
office alone is now $1,000,000 annually.
His Honor was petitioned to dissolve a body
tainted, as it was said to be, with the worst vices of
judicial partiality. Nearly one thousand petitioners
waited upon His Honor at Government House for a
reply, to which he. curtly responded : " Gentlemen, I
have received the petition of the inhabitants." The
crowd then departed peacefully from Government
House, but hooted the parliament house; cheered
Mackenzie's dwelling and the Guardian newspaper
office. Dr. Ryerson was a warm supporter of Mr.
Mackenzie until the latter went too far on the road to
revolution.
A large public meeting was now convened in
Toronto, at which petitions were signed asking the
218 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
home government for the removal of His Honor and
certain members of the Executive Council; that the
Legislative Council be made elective; that the con-
stituencies be equalized ; that education be promoted ;
that the Crown Lands Department be reformed, and
other needed reforms were enumerated. It was also
resolved to depute Mackenzie as the bearer of these
petitions direct to the Imperial government. Mac-
kenzie, after a narrow escape from being murdered,
sailed for Britain, where he met with partial success.
His expulsion from the House was condemned, and
the dismissal of both the attorney-general and solici-
tor-general was ordered. The other prayers of the
petition were not acceded to. The solicitor-general
followed Mackenzie to England in self defence, and
succeeded by his explanation in getting himself rein-
stated. The attorney-general was not, however, per-
mitted to return to his office, but was appointed to a
judgeship in Newfoundland, where he got into trouble
and was dismissed from all government employment.
All these proceedings, as may be supposed, were
provocative of considerable excitement and party
feeling. Some wholesome legislation was enacted
whereby the judiciary was placed upon its present
sound and independent basis. Immigration to the
province continued very heavy during the season of
navigation, and was chiefly of a desirable class. As
an instance, three hundred thousand sovereigns were
deposited by these people in the Bank of Upper Can-
ada in one summer. However, there were exceptions
to this gratifying addition to the population in the
cholera year, which resulted not only in the death
of many of the immigrants themselves, but also in
UPPEB CANADA. 219
introducing the terrible epidemic among the healthy
residents and natives of the province, causing many
deaths, until the cool weather of the fall set in. His
Honor called a session of the legislature for October,
1833, and alluded to the completion of the Rideau
Canal, to the rapid increase of population, and to the
almost complete disappearance of the cholera.
The town of York in March, 1834, was incorpor-
ated into a city, and the name changed to Toronto.
Mackenzie was chosen its first mayor, and Dr. Eolph
elected as an alderman, but did not sit. It is not on
record that Mackenzie was especially well adapted
for municipal life, but rather the reverse, and about
this time he did a very indiscreet and improper act in
publishing a private letter which he received from
that radical and religious sceptic, Joseph Hume, a
member of the Imperial parliament. The publica-
tion of this letter cost Mackenzie the loss of a host of
sympathizers. Many of his Reform associates wisely
and promptly repudiated his ill-advised correspond-
ence with Hume.
An exciting general election now took place in
October of 1834. The executive party, though dis-
credited in the country, based strong hopes that the
Mackenzie-Hume correspondence would defeat the
Reformers, who, however, carried the province by a
majority of ten in a House of fifty-eight members.
The legislature met in January of 1835, and elected
Mr. Bidwell as Speaker, and adopted the famous
report known as a Seventh Grievance Report, which
recommended, among other good reforms, the adop-
tion of a responsible system of government.
The executive was beginning to realize that the
220 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
halcyon days of oligarchical government was doomed
in the near future, and proceeded while they yet had
power to make liberal provision for the future wants
of the Church of England — then a comparatively
small body in the province — by setting apart fifty-
seven rectories from the clergy reserves, and put in
possession of clergymen, many of whom were practi-
cally without congregations, lest they might be ousted
by any subsequent legal enactment. This game of
grab, as may be anticipated, produced a sensation and
evoked ill feeling towards His Honor and the
Executive Council.
The Assembly again agreed upon a memorial to the
Home Government, setting forth the arbitrary con-
duct of the Executive Council. The home govern-
ment had become convinced that there was some real
ground for the contention of the Reform party; that
His Honor allowed himself to be led too much by the
chief justice and bishop. It was, therefore, deter-
mined to recall Sir John Colborne, particularly as he
himself desired to be relieved.
It was now a period in the history of Upper Can-
ada when the selection on the part of the home gov-
ernment of an experienced statesman possessing tact,
moderation and independence, was most imperative.
No such good selection however, was made in the
choice of a successor to Sir John Colborne. So little
heed was then given to the critical state of matters
in Upper Canada that the commission was, by an
oversight, made out to the wrong man, and unfortu-
nately to the one having the least administrative
experience; the two men were cousins with the same
surname — Head. It was intended that Sir Edmund
UPPEK CANADA. 221
Walker Head should have been appointed, but the
commission went to Sir Francis Bond Head, an
assistant poor law commissioner, who has himself
said that he was very much surprised to receive the
appointment.
Somehow an unfounded rumor preceded the new
lieutenant-governor that he was an advanced old
Liberal, whereupon Mackenzie committed the grave
impropriety of heralding the lieutenant-governor's
coming in large posters describing him as a tried Re-
former. Judge of His Honor's surprise at seeing the
posters, upon which he declared that he had never
joined any political party, never attended a political
meeting, never voted or took any part in an election.
His Honor evidently had been in military and civil
service from early life, and had therefore keep aloof
from politics. This disavowal of political knowledge
was no recommendation to himself as an adminis-
trator, as one needs to understand politics before be-
coming a statesman ; just as it is necessary to be a law-
yer before becoming a judge. It is probably unfor-
tunate that two extreme men like Bidwell and Mac-
kenzie were the first members of the Reform party to
secure the ear of His Honor. Had men belonging to
the party of the Baldwin stamp, who really repre-
sented the mass of the Reform party, met His Honor
instead of the more democratic pair above mentioned,
it would probably have been much to the advantage
both of His Honor and of the country, as the sequel
will show. As it happened, His Honor, like too many
ill-informed and prejudiced people even at the pres-
ent day, formed an erroneous impression from his
interview with Mackenzie and Bidwell, as regards the
222 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
genuine loyalty and obedience to rational and consti-
tutional methods, which has ever characterized the
great body of Keformers, even in the face of the most
glaring abuses and tyranny.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR FRANCIS BOND HEAD,, 1836.
Parliament, which had been duly opened by his pre-
decessor, was in session when His Honor arrived.
Instead of simply announcing his appointment and
authority he summoned the Assembly and delivered
a rambling speech. He furthermore intimated that
he had a communication — alluding to his own instruc-
tions— to make to them which he would submit in the
form of a message. This message came after his
singular speech, and instead of giving only the sub-
stance of the instructions, which could be safely com-
municated, he imprudently laid before it the complete
document, which caused no little embarrassment to
the colonial office; to Lord Gosford, the governor-
general at Quebec, and to the Assembly of Lower
Canada. The colonial office thought seriously of re-
calling His Honor at once, but unfortunately found
difficulty just then in securing a suitable successor,
which was certainly a great misfortune at that period
of chronic bickerings in the public affairs of the pro-
vince. The unsatisfactory portion of the message
was the disclosure of the intention of the home gov-
ernment to concede neither responsible government,
nor an elective Legislative Council; otherwise the
message gave satisfactory assurances that the abuses
and grievances complained of would be redressed.
Although the Keformers in the Assembly had criti-
cised His Honor's peculiar conduct, while the execu-
UPPEE CANADA. 223
tive party endeavored to ingratiate themselves with
him, he, however, for the time being kept himself
free from the trammels of any coterie, and made a
real effort to keep parties balanced in the executive,
by offering portfolios to Messrs. Baldwin, Kolph and
Dunn. These gentlemen at first declined to take
office unless certain of the Tory ministers retired;
finally, at the urgent solicitation of His Honor, Mr.
Baldwin and his two friends were sworn in as mem-
bers of the Executive Council. His Honor had now
a fairly good government to advise him. This pro-
mising state of matters was, however, of short dura-
tion, as owing to his own lack of constitutional
knowledge, and the sinister advice of the chief
justice,* he relapsed into the old idea of personal
government, and entirely ignored his advisers in the
matter of making appointments. His Executive
Council advised and remonstrated with him
over his unconstitutional course; but influenced
as he was, it is said, by the high authority
of the chief justice (a gentleman who, apart from
his early political notions, was possessed of high
character and ability), he gave the Executive Coun-
cil to understand that he still intended to make
appointments without consulting them, which was a
most unwise and disastrous stand to take. This left
self-respecting and statesmanlike cabinet ministers
of the Baldwin type no choice but resignation. Four
new executive councillors were immediately nomi-
nated and accepted office upon His Honor's own
terms, and so an oligarchy once more reigned
supreme.
* McMullen's History, Vol. II., p. 107.
224 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
His Honor's arbitrary course was almost unanim-
ously condemned by a direct vote of the Assembly.
Conservatives and Eeformers alike voting together in
the furtherance of both a sound constitutional and
responsible system of government.
The public excitement now became very great. A
contest of addresses and replies took place between
His Honor and the Assembly. The1 former, however, by
a skilful distortion of facts, and the issue of proclama-
tions to suit his own one-sided view of public affairs,
succeeded in largely enlisting the sympathies of the
people, who did not yet comprehend the fine points of
responsible government, and besides were naturally
inclined to give the king's representative the benefit
of any doubt. Herein lay His Honor's chief advantage.
He has also been reputed to have been no mean adept
at the game of party politics, and also an excellent
actor in rousing party enthusiasm, by which methods
he began to achieve considerable popularity through-
out the province, particularly after Speaker Bidwell
had imprudently communicated an unofficial letter
which he had received from the disaffected Speaker
Papineau of Lower Canada, a most mischievous and
irregular proceeding on the part of the Upper Can-
ada Speaker. This incident, in connection with the
heated conduct of Mackenzie, Dr. Morrison, and a
few others in the Assembly, who having petulantly re-
fused to vote the supplies of the government, greatly
prejudiced the Reform cause, a state of matters which
His Honor was not slow to take advantage of, and re-
fused to assent to the Assembly's expense bills, pro-
rogued parliament and sent the members away with-
out their sessional allowance, which must have been
UPPER CANADA. 225
inconvenient for them, particularly in the face of an
approaching election contest with six days of polling
instead of one day as at present. He made dramatic
appeals to the electorate against the present As-
sembly, which, with the incipient rebellion in Lower
Canada, partly from the same cause of discontent
which existed in Upper Canada, with the addition of
unfortunate race prejudices in the former case,
these cumulative factors in loyal Upper Canada
would in any case tell heavily against the Keform
party, notwithstanding their undoubted and inherent
loyalty to the British Crown as a party.
His Honor being ready for the campaign dissolved
the House, and took the stump himself, and advised
the electorate not to vote against their own bread
and butter. Deeds of land were hurriedly issued to
voters favorable to the oligarchy to enable them to
vote, while Reformers entitled to their deeds were
compelled to wait for them until after the general
election took place. The influence of office-holders
throughout the province was also brought into play.
Under these circumstances the defeat of the Reform
and Independent Conservative party at the polls was
a foregone conclusion. Such prominent men as Mac-
kenzie, Bidwell and Perry, were defeated. Mackenzie
particularly took the defeat severely to heart, and
petitioned against the return of his opponent, Mr.
Thompson. The petition was, however, thrown out
upon some technicality, which further enraged Mac-
kenzie who, now despairing of getting any fair play
or justice under the existing state of matters, lost
all patience, and accordingly became desperate, in-
stead of biding his time in a philosophical manner.
15
226 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
At a meeting of the Constitutional Keform Society, of
which Dr. Baldwin, father of Eobert Baldwin, was
president, His Honor's unseemly and partizan conduct
was severely and justly denounced. His Honor
thereupon immediately dismissed Messrs. Baldwin,
Bidwell and Small from some positions held by them.
In the rural districts many farmers, despairing of the
future prospects for obtaining free and responsible
government, sold their properties for whatever they
would bring and removed to the United States — a
most sad commentary upon the conduct of Sir Francis
Bond Head and his executive.
The home government disapproved of the partisan
conduct of His Honor, and now agreed to accede to
the request of both the legislature of New Brunswick
and of Upper Canada for the inauguration of the
responsible system of government, similar to that of
the Mother Country. Both lieutenant-governors of
the respective provinces, however, tendered their resig-
nations rather than give effect to the proposed new
system which would have curtailed their power. The
resignation of the New Brunswick lieutenant-gover-
nor was accepted, but in the critical state of matters
in Upper Canada the home government unfortunately
deemed it inexpedient to accept Sir F. B. Head's
resignation at once. The delay was a fatal one. A
change of lieutenant-governors with the advent of
responsible government would certainly have pre-
vented a rupture of the peace which ensued, even
although in the new House, as then constituted, the
Conservatives would have been legitimately en-
titled to the seals of office at the time, and for so long
afterwards as they controlled the majority in the
UPPER CANADA. 227
popular branch of the legislature. Mackenzie and his
friends would, in all probability, have been pro-
pitiated by the changes proposed by the home govern-
ment had they been carried out.
Dr. Duncombe, member for Middlesex, proceeded
to England to urge the prompt consummation of the
proposed changes, but could not induce any immed-
iate action on the part of the home government.
The new legislature met in November, 1837, and
elected Mr. Archibald McLean as Speaker, who
shortly afterwards accepted a judgeship. Mr. Allan
Napier McNab was then elected to the vacant
Speakership.
The banking policy of the country had to be now
seriously considered, owing to the repudiation of
specie payment on the part of many banks in the
United States and Lower Canada. The banks in
Upper Canada contrived to redeem their notes with
specie, but curtailed their discounts, much to the
inconvenience of the commercial community, for the
time being, and which was also very trying to the
banks as well, but in the end proved satisfactory to»
all concerned.
Mackenzie having been stung to the quick through
a series of the most vigorous persecutions and disap-
pointments which had been inflicted upon him by the
ruling party, now decided upon the extreme and sui-
cidal course, aided by a few kindred spirits, of organ-
izing physical force for the displacement of His Honor
and the Executive Council. Mackenzie's motives were
doubtless patriotic, and not actuated by any desire
for personal aggrandisement, as his programme, if
successful, would have made Dr. Eolph and not him-
228 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
self president of the provisional government, after
ousting by force the existing government at Toronto.
His Honor was timely warned of Mackenzie's move-
ments, but affected to disregard such an improbable
contingency, until a hostile body of men were advanc-
ing upon the city, and which, if acting in concert and
properly commanded were quite sufficient to have
captured the city and the government, with two thou-
sand stand of arms stored in the armory. Providen-
tially the insurgents, through a misunderstanding
among themselves as to the time fixed for the attack
delayed carrying out the intended coup until His
Honor was prepared to make a defence, followed by
an aggressive movement, which speedily scattered the
insurgents ; not, however, until the lamentable loss of
two or three lives had occurred. Mackenzie and
Kolph escaped to the United States, and for their
apprehension large rewards were offered. Two other-
wise good citizens, Lount and Matthews, unfortu-
nately suffered the extreme penalty of death ( for tak-
ing part with Mackenzie) after the departure of Sir
F. B. Head from the country. It is to be regretted
that his successor did not act mercifully towards the
condemned men — a course which would have been
pleasing to the home government, a fact which was
ascertained too late in those days of slow postal com-
munication to have prevented the execution of the
above mentioned persons. Many other offenders,
including Mackenzie and Bolph, were subsequently
pardoned.
Meanwhile His Honor, Sir F. B. Head, had been
finally recalled, and prorogued the legislature in
March, 1838. He had many misgivings about getting
UPPER CANADA. 229
safely off this continent, as his reputation was ex-
travagantly exaggerated as being a tyrannical mon-
ster. He reached New York in a fugitive state of
mind, and was coolly received by the home govern-
ment, and was never afterwards entrusted with any
governmental position. Sir Francis Bond Head was
personally a respectable and well-meaning man out-
side of politics, but was totally unsuited for the pecul-
iar and important duties of an administrator of a
constitutional and representative government.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR GEORGE ARTHUR.
Sir George Arthur, recently governor of Van Die-
men's Land (probably not a good graduating school
for a constitutional governor), was appointed to suc-
ceed Sir F. B. Head as lieutenant-governor.
The jails in Hamilton and Toronto were at this
time crowded with political prisoners. Petitions for
mercy were presented to His Honor, who, however,
declined to mitigate the sentences. However, all the
other prisoners were more fortunate than poor Lount
and Matthews in having a little later trial than the
last named. The recommendations of clemency from
the Home Government had arrived before the fury of
the executive was vented upon their heads, otherwise
more executions would certainly have taken place. It
is much to be regretted that some members of the oli-
garchy were not severely censured in some way for
their large responsibility in bringing about the lamen-
table insurrection through the vicious and unconsti-
tutional advice tendered Sir F. B. Head, and other
lieutenant-governors of the province.
The legislature was convened in February of 1839
230 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
in a lengthy speech by His Honor commenting upon
the depressed state of the province, owing to the rebel-
lion troubles. The finances especially were in a
deplorable condition, which was not surprising under
the exceptionally heavy militia expenditure unneces-
sarily incurred for fuss and feathers after the insur-
rection had been so effectually put down. Trade and
general industry was naturally much disturbed, owing
to the political agitation and the persistent calling
out of the yeomanry to meet an imaginary foe after
Mackenzie had crossed the border into a foreign coun-
try, where he received no* respectable sympathy beyond
a few filibusters at Navy Island. The government
of the United States, acting in a proper spirit, gave
Mackenzie clearly to understand that he would not be
permitted to plan any hostilities against Canada
while a refugee in that country.
Meanwhile Lord Durham, of happy memory, was in
Canada personally collecting information for his
masterly and statesmanlike report upon the state of
the two Canadas, with a most valuable recommenda-
tion of a future policy, which has, for the most part,
finally been carried out, to the great mutual advantage
of all the provinces of British North America — New-
foundland, still outside the union, excepted.
The Earl of Durham was followed by Mr. Poulett
Thompson, a very energetic, common-sense business
man, who came upon a mission to reunite the two
provinces, and at the same time to establish respon-
sible government, and afterwards to assume the gover-
nor-generalship of the provinces. The success of his
mission before the special council of Lower Canada
has already been alluded to. He arrived in Upper
UPPEE CANADA. 231
Canada, and temporarily succeeded Sir George
Arthur, for the purpose of launching the union
scheme before the legislature. An Act was intro-
duced in the Assembly to give effect to the proposed
union. The measure was freely discussed for some
days, and a series of amendments were proposed, de-
bated and voted down. One amendment proposed
that the English language alone should be used in the
legislature, and that the capital be located in Upper
Canada. Another amendment very unfairly proposed
that Upper Canada should be allowed to retain its
present representation of fifty-eight members, and a
representation of only fifty members be given the
more prosperous province of Lower Canada. The
representation provided by the Bill for the Assembly
of the united provinces was eighty-four members, to
be equally divided between what was to be henceforth
designated, for convenience sake, as Canada East and
Canada West. The Bill was finally adopted in the
Assembly by a fair majority. The Legislative Coun-
cil was much less favorable to the union scheme than
the Assembly, but finally acquiesced through His
Excellency's powerful influence.
The last parliament of Upper Canada, unlike that
of the sister province in 1839, was finally dissolved in
a happy mood to meet again, happily and unexpect-
edly, at the end of thirty-eight years as a parliament,
and with the large representation of eighty-two mem-
bers, separate from Lower Canada, now Quebec, but,
however, under the new name of Ontario.
(Sir George Arthur's term being the last of the
office of lieutenant-governor in Upper Canada until
the appointment in 1867 of Major-General Stisted as
lieutenant-governor of Ontario.)
232 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD SYDENHAM.
[Mr. Charles Poulett Thompson, now created Baron
Sydenham and Toronto, a title well earned by his dis-
play of tact and ability in bringing about so promptly
the happy reunion of the provinces.]
Writs were issued for a general election. Eighty-
four members in all were to be returned in the now
united provinces, and Kingston was selected as the
new capital, presumably as being more central than
either of the late capitals, Quebec or Toronto, or than
any of the other cities in Upper Canada at the time.
The election contest in Lower Canada was unfortu-
nately very bitter and riotous, chiefly owing to the
fact that the union was consummated by the special
council, while the French-Canadian phalanx was com-
paratively disorganized and powerless to make them-
selves heard, if so inclined, as a legislative body
against the union scheme, owing to the suspension
of the constitution of the province, a bad state of
matters, the bringing about of which they themselves
contributed so largely by finally refusing to perform
the regular functions of a legislature while they had
the opportunity to do so.
The result of the general election on the whole was
favorable to the action of His Excellency, Mr. Poulett
Thompson (Lord Sydenham). The new Assembly
was comprised of the following mejnbers:
Beauharnois, Dunscomb and Wakefield; Belle-
chasse, Kuel and Turgeon ; Berthier, Armstrong ; Bon-
aventure, Hamilton; Brockville, Sherwood; Bytown,
Derbyshire; Carleton, Johnston; Chambly, Yule and
Lacoste; Champlain, Kimber and Judah; Cornwall,
UPPER CANADA. 233
Chesley; Dorchester, Taschereau; Drummond, Watt;
Dundas, Cook; Durham, Williams; Gaspe, Christie;
Glengarry, J. S. Macdonald ; Grenville, Crane ; Haldi-
mand, Thompson; Hal ton (E.R.), Hopkins; Halton
(W.E.), Durand; Hamilton, McNab; Hastings,
R. Baldwin and Murney ; Huntingdon, Cuvillier ;
Huron, Strachan and Dunlop; Kainouraska, Bertho-
let; Kent, Wood; Kingston, Manahan and Harrison;
Lanark, M. Cameron ; Leeds, J. Morris ; Leinster, Ray-
mond and DeWitt ; Lennox and Addington, J. S. Cart-
wright; Lincoln, W. H. Merritt; Lincoln, S. K. Thor-
burn; L'Islet, Tache; London, Killaly; Lotbiniere,
Noel; Megan tic, Daly; Middlesex, Parke; Missisquoi,
Jones ; Montmorency, Quesnel ; Montreal City, M off at,
Holmes and Beaubien; Montreal County, Delisle and
Jobin; Niagara Town, Campbell and Boulton; Nico-
let, A. N. Morin and L. M. Viger ; Norfolk, Powell ;
Northumberland (E.R.), Boswell; Northumberland
(W.R.), Gilchrist; Ottawa County, Day and D. B.
Papineau; Oxford, Hincks; Portneuf, Aylwin; Pres-
cott, D. Macdonald; Prince Edward, Roblin; Quebec
City, Burnet, Black and Chabot; Quebec County, J.
Neilson; Richelieu, D. B. Viger; Rimouski, Borne and
R. Baldwin; Rouville, de Salaberry, Walker and
Franchere; Russell, W. H. Draper and Stuart;
Saguenay, Parent and A. N. Morin ; Shefford, Foster ;
Sherbrooke Town, Hale; Sherbrooke County, Moore.
The Legislative Council was composed of the fol-
lowing gentlemen: Bruneau, Caron, Crooks, de
Blaquere, Ferguson, Ferrie, A. Fraser, J. Fraser,
Hamilton, Macaulay, J. Macdonald, P. McGill, T.
McKay, Jamieson, Joliette, Knowlton, Moore, Mor-
ris, Neilson, Pemberton, Quesnel, Roy, Sullivan, J.
234 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA. .
B. Tache. A few others were appointed who did not
seem to retain their seats.
The new Cabinet was comprised of Messrs. Dunn,
Daly, Harrison, Ogden, Draper, Baldwin and Killaly.
For some unaccountable reason no French-Canadian
was appointed to the Cabinet. The legislature was
called for the 14th of June, 1841. The Kingstonians
were naturally in high glee over their good fortune in
having the seat of government in their midst. Very
happily Mr. Cuvillier, a French-Canadian was chosen
Speaker. Mr. Baldwin, true to his characteristic high
notions of fairness, had already resigned his seat in
the Cabinet on finding that the French-Canadians,
who comprised such a very numerous body, were to be
ignored in the matter of portfolios. Mr. Hincks,
though not a member of the government, righteously
found fault with the same omission.
CHAPTER XI.
NOVA SCOTIA.
WE will now return to the chief maritime pro-
vince of Nova Scotia, with its representative
system of government minus responsible
government, which was destined to be yet a long dis-
tance in the future.
Governor Lawrence died in 1760, after a short ill-
ness, induced by a cold which he contracted at a gov-
ernment house ball. He was an excellent, progressive
and successful administrator, whose death was much
regretted. His harsh and summary treatment of
the peaceful and industrious but misguided Acadians,
for their not wishing to take the oath of allegiance in
the prescribed form, is the possible only shade upon
his memory.
GOVERNMENT OF JONATHAN BELCHER.
Governor Lawrence was succeeded by the Honor-
able Jonathan Belcher, as governor, who opened par-
liament in an elaborate, comprehensive and encour-
aging report upon the state of the province. The
death of George II. caused a new election. The
representation was now increased from twenty -two to
twenty-four members.
The next parliament lasted for a term of fourteen
years, and was known as the long parliament of Nova
235
236 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Scotia. The same Speaker, William Nesbitt, presided
for the whole term, excepting in the year 1774. The
members magnanimously decided to still give their
services without any sessional indemnity or remunera-
tion.
During the session of 1761 a treaty was entered into
with the Indians, and a real hatchet appears to have
been formally buried upon this eventful occasion. An
attack from a hostile French fleet appeared imminent,
and preparation for a defence was made, during
which the loyalty of some remaining Acadians being
doubted, a portion of these unfortunate people were
again subjected to very serious molestations.
Mr. Belcher retired from the lieutenant-governor-
ship in 1763, and was succeeded by Colonel Wilmot,
who died in 1776, and was succeeded by Michael
Franklin as lieutenant-governor. In the following
year the islands of St. John (now Prince Edward
Island) and Isle Koyal (now Cape Breton) were
annexed to Nova Scotia.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD WILLIAM CAMPBELL.
Lord William Campbell was appointed governor-in-
chief of the now enlarged Nova Scotia in 1776, where
he continued until his appointment as governor of the
province of South Carolina in 1778.
Lord Campbell was then succeeded by Francis
Legge as governor-in-chief of Nova Scotia.
GOVERNMENT OF FRANCIS LEGGE.
It was during these times that the home govern-
ment of that period were unfortunately pursuing a be-
nighted colonial policy which was rapidly alienating
NOVA SCOTIA. 237
the affections and good-will of her very worthy sub-
jects in the Anglo-American provinces, a course which
was deeply deplored by many of the most prominent
British statesmen, who unluckily were not then at the
helm of state. Among these was the great commoner,
Pitt the elder — afterwards Lord Chatham — then in
his bed too ill to be carried to the House to enter his
personal protest against the mischievous policy of
taxing the colonists without giving them representa-
tion, besides inflicting other oppressions upon them.
Mr. Pitt was much grieved and greatly agitated over
the mad course of George III. and his ministers.
Nova Scotia was affected in precisely the same man-
ner as the New England provinces, and efforts were
made by the House of Representatives of Massachu-
setts to induce Nova Scotia to make common cause
with them against the designs of the Mother Country,
and a circular to that end was addressed to the Nova
Scotia Assembly by the Massachusetts legislature,
but by a pardonable little exercise of unconstitutional
practice, the lieutenant-governor and Speaker sup-
pressed the incendiary document, not that they feared
any revolt upon the part of the comparatively weak
community of Nova Scotia, but they deemed it as well
to keep down all excitement, particularly as the
patience of the Nova Scotians was sorely tried by an
Imperial policy which prohibited the working of the
coal deposits, and which also discouraged native
factories. However, the people patiently submitted
to these injustices, confident in the hope that relief
would come at no very distant day, in which they
were not disappointed.
The lieutenant-governor warned the Home authori-
ties of what was transpiring in Massachusetts, which
238 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
had the effect of considerably moderating the policy
of the Mother Country towards the American pro-
vinces. Other concessions would have followed, but
the spirit of conciliation came too late ; the breach was
widening, and finally culminated in bloodshed in the
year 1775. After this unfortunate incident His
Honor issued a proclamation prohibiting any corre-
spondence with the rebels in New England, and the
exportation, except by license from the governor, of
arms and ammunition was prohibited by an Act of
the Assembly.
The Americans, now in open revolt, made some
reprisals in Nova Scotia at St. John Kiver, but were
driven off by the British Admiral Graves. Other
reprisals followed, but the peace of 1783 ended these
troubles.
The lieutenant-governor, Mr. Legge, finding that the
province was twenty thousand pounds in debt, scruti-
nized the finances, and discovered grave irregularities
in their management, and instituted action against
two officials, and secured verdicts for a considerable
sum, but only a portion of the same was actually
recovered for the treasury. Governor Legge does not
seem to have been much thanked for his persistent
investigation; he not being popular in other respects
— nearly all the duties having been performed by a
series of lieutenant-governors, while the governor-in-
chief drew the salary.
GOVERNMENT OF JOHN PARR.
John Parr assumed the government as governor-in-
chief in 1782, and presided for nine consecutive years.
He was called upon to write Lord North, the British
NOVA SCOTIA. 239
minister, in September of 1783, to say that about thir-
teen thousand despoiled refugees, afterwards known
as United Empire Loyalists, had arrived from the
United States rather suddenly at Halifax, Annapolis,
Port Koseway, the St. John Eiver and Cumberland.
Preparations had not been made for so large and unex-
pected an accession of these deserving people, con-
sequently much suffering ensued.
The Assembly had already entertained just and
enlightened notions as to the full civil and religious
rights of their Koman Catholic fellow-citizens by
passing an Act in 1783 removing certain disabilities
under which they had so long unfairly labored, thus
setting a good example to the Mother Country which,
however, was unfortunately not followed until the
year 1829, much to the discredit of the Imperial
government, or rather to the head of it, King George
III., who would not consent to the repeal of the unjust
old statute; to do so, he absurdly persisted, would be
a violation of his coronation oath.
In the following year, 1784, the province of New
Brunswick was detached and a government of its own
constituted, with Thomas Carleton — brother of Sir
Guy Carleton — as its first governor. The settlers on
the St. John Eiver appeared glad of a deliverance
from what they termed the " annoyance of tyranny,"
which they had suffered while constituting part of
Nova Scotia.
The year 1786 was made memorable by the first
visit of the " Sailor Prince," afterwards King Wil-
liam IV. Halifax was en fete for three weeks. His
Eoyal Highness made two more happy visits to Hali-
fax. On one occasion the House of Assembly lavishly
240 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
voted £700 for a dinner and ball in honor of His
Boyal Highness.
The public were somewhat startled this year by
charges of maladministration of the law against
Supreme Court Judges Deschamps and Brenton. The
principal accusers were Attorneys Sterns and Taylor.
The matter was brought under the notice of the
Assembly by Major Millege, member for Digby, upon
which a very able debate followed, thus already giving
promise of that forensic talent which has continued to
distinguish the public men of Nova Scotia. It is sup-
posed that the governor was much inclined to shield
the accused judges.
GOVERNMENT OF JOHN WENTWORTH.
Governor Parr retired in 1792, and was succeeded
by John Wentworth, a former governor of New Hamp-
shire, a gentleman who had also for many years filled
the position of commissioner of woods and forests in
America.
Among the first official steps of the new governor
was to dissolve the House of Assembly, which had
lasted for the considerable term of seven years. The
elections passed off without much excitement, and a
good selection of members appears to have been made
by the electorate.
War having again been declared between France
and Britain in the following year, the province was
placed in a state of defence. The militia responded
With alacrity as usual. It having been reported that
a French fleet was at New York preparing for sea, and
that Halifax might be its destination, the militia from
NOVA SCOTIA. 241
all parts of the province started for the capital, with
all possible speed; one company, in particular, from
Granville averaged the unprecedented speed of four
miles per hour in a march of thirty-four hours7 dura-
tion to Halifax, a distance of one hundred and thirty-
five miles. Better stuff than these men is nowhere
recorded in either ancient or modern history. About
four thousand men assembled for the protection of the
towns, which the governor deemed sufficient, other-
wise, he declared, that half as many more were ready
to come on very short notice. The attention to drill,
sobriety and soldierly bearing of the assembled
militiamen were most favorably commented upon in
all quarters.
In 1794 Nova Scotians were again gratified by the
arrival of another member of the Eoyal Family, in
the person of the gallant soldier Prince Edward,
Duke of Kent, father of Her Most Gracious Majesty
Queen Victoria. His Eoyal Highness resided in Hali-
fax for a considerable time, and was extremely popu-
lar with the inhabitants on account of his own ex-
emplary bearing, and also for having successfully
striven to improve the habits of the army then gar-
risoned at Halifax. The legislature presented him
with a star at a cost of five hundred guineas.
In the year 1796 five hundred Maroons, colored
people from Jamaica, were sent to Halifax as a rid-
dance from that island. The legislature of Jamaica
assisted for a time in the temporary support of these
strange people while in Halifax, but finally abandoned
them. The Nova Scotians treated them kindly, and
set apart the township of Preston for them, but the
climate was too severe for them in winter, and they
16
242 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
were becoming a burden to the province, which the
British government relieved by carrying the Maroons
to Sierra Leone, where they remained almost for a gen-
eration. The majority of them, however, finally re-
turned to Jamaica.
Governor Wentworth presided over the govern-
ment of the province with moderate success for four-
teen years, during which time the colony prospered
steadily. He was, however, an extreme Tory and dis-
liked public discussions and seemed to take unpro-
voked aversion to the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr.
Collenham Tonge, a man of more than average ability,
whose reputation the governor tried to ruin in a
covert manner. Failing in his secret designs, he finally
refused to confirm Mr. Tonga's election as Speaker in
1806, and another Speaker was appointed. Despite
the governor's failings, the Assembly, with character-
istic liberality, granted him a pension of five hundred
pounds per annum. The attitude of the Lower Cana-
dian Assembly towards its governors was in striking
contrast to the above generous proceedings. It is
quite possible, however, that both Assemblies erred
slightly in opposite directions.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR GEORGE PREVOST.
Mr. Wentworth was succeeded by Sir George Pre-
vost, who made a tour of the province before the meet-
ing of Parliament, which then assembled.
His Excellency informed the Assembly and Legis-
lative Council that he had found much to congratulate
them upon, and that he was now able fully to estimate
the effects of the embargo laid by the United States
NOVA SCOTIA. 243
government on trade for a sinister purpose, which had
fortunately failed in its object; new sources had been
resorted to, and the result was an increase of both
exports and imports. The crops were abundant; the
fishery and timber interests were proving to be val-
uable industries; the revenue was improving, and
above all, the sense and intelligence of the people
enabled them to appreciate the blessings of British
connections under His Majesty's present truly pater-
nal government — certainly a very gratifying state of
matters.
His Excellency laid the foundation stones of the
fine provincial building on the 12th August, 1811, with
great eclat.
Sir George Prevost, like the average governors of
Nova Scotia, found the Assembly to be occasionally a
little intractable, it being jealous of its rights, but
always loyal and patriotic in its motives, despite some
misrepresentation to the contrary against a few able
and patriotic sons of Nova Scotia.
His Excellency having been appointed to the gover-
nor-generalship of Canada was succeeded in the
governorship of Nova Scotia by Sir John Cooke Sher-
brooke, who arrived in Halifax in October, 1811.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR JOHN C. SHERBROOKE.
War having been declared by the United States
against Great Britain in June following, in conse-
quence of which the Assembly met in July, and voted
eight thousand pounds additional for general defence ;
letters of marque and commissions to privateers were
granted by the governor. The prizes taken by the
244 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
British were generally brought into the port of Hali-
fax, which temporarily increased trade. The brave
and skilful Captain Lawrence and his lieutenant of
the American frigate Chesapeake were buried in the
city with full military honors by all the navy captains
in port as well as by the citizens. The remains of
these two officers were afterwards removed to Boston.
The unnatural war between Great Britain and the
United States was terminated by the Treaty of Ghent
in 1815. The downfall of the first Napoleon at
Waterloo in the same year was celebrated by a public
dinner presided over by the attorney-general.
A patriotic subscription list for the widows and
orphans of the men who fell in the late war was
opened, and £3,800 at once subscribed in Halifax.
Other places throughout the province also contributed
liberally.
Sir John Cooke Sherbrooke, having been appointed
in 1816 to the governor-generalship of Canada, was
entertained before his departure at a complimentary
dinner, and the Assembly testified their appreciation
of his services during the war by voting £1,000 for the
purchase of a piece of plate, with which he was pre-
sented. Major-General George Tracy Smith was
appointed administrator until the arrival of the Earl
of Dalhousie in October.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD DALHOUSIE.
Lord Dalhousie met the legislature in the splendid
new parliament buildings, and felicitated the mem-
bers upon the public spirit which had accomplished
the erection of an edifice so honorable and useful to
NOVA SCOTIA. 245
the province. His Lordship also referred to the
prosperous condition of the province generally, and
said that Halifax was about to attain still greater
prestige as an important seaport. He intimated that
he had some recommendations to make during the
session. He, in particular, foreshadowed the establish-
ment of a non-denominational institution for higher
education, the so-called dissenters having been ex-
cluded from Windsor College by the English Church.
The admirable letters of Mr. John Young — a most
able and estimable citizen — upon agriculture and kin-
dred topics, attracted the attention of His Lordship
and others, which resulted in a vigorous forward
movement in the founding of agricultural societies,
and a system of drainage.
The Kev. Thomas McCulloch managed to found an
academy at Pictou for the higher branches of educa-
tion, open to all denominations, the founder being
possessed of such varied gifts and perseverance that
enabled him personally to teach thoroughly any
branch included in the faculty of arts and theology
with a good smattering of chemistry and natural his-
tory thrown in, besides attending to some pastoral
duties. It is not surprising, then, that he was success-
ful in carrying on the academy unaided by endow-
ments. Meanwhile the Assembly had passed an Act
for the establishment of eleven grammar schools in
as many counties and districts. An Act was also*
passed to aid and encourage the said system of gram-
mar schools.
During the American war, Castine, in the State of
Maine, had been captured by the British forces and
held for a considerable time. The revenues derived
246 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
from customs duties at that point netted clear £10,750.
Of this sum His Lordship proposed that £1,000 should
be set apart for a garrison library and £3,000 for
building a college, leaving £6,750 for the endowment
of the same. As trustees he proposed the lieutenant-
governor, the chief justice, the bishop of Nova Scotia,
the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the provincial
treasurer and the minister of the Church of Scotland
in Halifax. After the building was completed £8,000
remained on interest. Before the college could be put
into operation, Lord Dalhousie had left to assume the
governor-generalship of Canada. Several unsuccess-
ful attempts with a view both to economy and har-
mony were made to unite Dalhousie and King's Col-
leges, but owing to the exclusiveness of the ecclesias-
tical heads of King's College no union has yet been
effected.
The matter of road construction and surveys,
hitherto sadly neglected, was now brought before the
attention of the Assembly, but which, however, did not
receive the attention it deserved. Other recommen-
dations of His Lordship were also, for some reason,
entirely neglected. One must come to the conclusion
that the Assembly at this time was somewhat remiss
in the matter of developing the interior of the country,
while they were evidently more magnanimous in the
less useful expenditure for costly presentations to dis-
tinguished officials, instead of pushing on surveys and
constructing roads which were so much needed.
Before the departure of His Lordship to Canada,
the legislature voted him a complimentary address,
accompanied with a star and sword. The latter
articles, much to his credit, were declined with thanks,
NOVA SCOTIA. 247
owing to his displeasure at their dilatoriness in not
performing the duties assigned them in his several
messages, to which no replies were sent. The
Assembly, it would appear, was greatly lacking
in both courtesy and spirit at this time. In-
stead of taking umbrage at His Honor's re-
buffs they, however, three years later, assisted the
citizens in according His Lordship a rousing recep-
tion, including a public dinner and ball, on the occa-
sion of a short visit which he made to Halifax. Lord
Dalhousie has generally been considered one of the
ablest and most useful governors that presided over
the government of Nova Scotia.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR JAMES KEMPT.
Lieutenant-General Sir James Kempt assumed the
government of the province on June 1st, 1820, and
made himself tolerably well acquainted with the pro-
vince by considerable touring throughout the country.
The British government, having for economical and
other reasons, wisely resolved to annex the Island of
Cape Breton to Nova Scotia, despite the expressed
wish of the islanders to the contrary, its president,
General Ainsley, was instructed to give effect to His
Majesty's wishes by dissolving the council of Cape
Breton, and the appointing of one of the mem-
bers of the dissolved council to the Legislative Council
of Nova Scotia, and to issue writs for the election of
two members to the Assembly of Nova Scotia. The
laws of Nova Scotia were to be made applicable to the
island. The office of customs, the naval officers, the
surveyor-general and the superintendent of mines were
retained, but the services of the judges and some other
248 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
subordinate officers were dispensed with. Allowances
were, however, granted in some cases, and in other in-
stances situations of some kind were found for the
former Cape Breton office-holders.
Boards of location were established in various coun-
ties of the province for the purpose of more conven-
iently granting lands to settlers, thereby sparing in-
tending locatees the time and expense of going to Hali-
fax. The modern system of local Crown lands' agents
would appear to be a further improvement upon the
boards of location. However allowances must be
made for the methods of these primitive times. His
Honor urged a vigorous and more efficient policy in
the matter of making and repairing the public roads.
The sympathies of the people were at this time evoked
over calamitous bush fires, the first of which occurred
in the western part of the province, causing much dis-
tress. A government vessel was despatched to the
scene of desolation with provisions and other neces-
sary articles. Liberal subscriptions were also made*
in other sections of the province. Then came the un-
paralleled bush fire of Miramichi in the adjoining
province of New Brunswick. A district extending one
hundred miles in length was quickly devastated, and
one hundred and sixty lives were lost. One million
dollars in cash was promptly subscribed by private
individuals in Nova Scotia towards the relief of the
sufferers.
Mr. Lawrence Cavanagh, a Koman Catholic gentle-
man, was returned as one of the members from Cape
Breton in 1827, but the form of oath was at that
period such that a consistent Koman Catholic could
not subscribe to it. To the credit of the legislature,
NOVA SCOTIA. 249
however, an address, on the motion of Mr. Uniacke,
seconded by Mr. Haliburton, in eloquent speeches, was
promptly sent to the home government, requesting
authority to eliminate the objectionable portion of the
oath, assuring His Majesty at the same time that the
Koman Catholics of Nova Scotia were second to none
in their loyalty and attachment to British interests.
The assent of His Majesty George IV. was promptly
forthcoming, although at variance with his late
father's domestic or home policy towards the Koman
Catholics of Great Britain and Ireland, a policy
which was happily reversed most completely in the
British parliament in the following year, after twenty-
five years of persistent advocacy in the House of Com-
mons, but which had been just as persistently opposed
by a majority in the House of Lords during that
period.
Sir James Kempt, having presided over the govern-
ment of Nova Scotia most efficiently and successfully
for eight years, was in the year 1828 promoted to the
governor-generalship of Canada, and left the govern-
ment of Nova Scotia temporarily in the hands of the
Hon. Mr. Wallace.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR PEREGRINE MAITLAND.
Sir Peregrine Maitland succeeded Sir James Kempt
as lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, and summoned
parliament for February, 1829. The speech from the
throne was an assurance that he would keep in touch
from time to time with the legislature for the general
well-being and interest of the province. The equa-
nimity of the parliament was greatly perturbed dur-
250 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
ing the session by some exciting experiences in the
matter of parliamentary rules and discipline, which
arose through the suspension of Mr. Barry, member
for Shelburne, who had a wordy altercation with
another member during a sitting of the House. Both
members were ordered to retire, when the House
dictated an apology for Mr. Barry to sign before he
could resume his seat. He refused to sign it, and as the
House would only suspend and not expel Mr. Barry,
his constituents petitioned for either a new election
or a removal of the suspension ; but the House took no
action. Two newspaper editors, Messrs. Holland and
Ward, for having sympathized with the suspended
member, were summoned to the bar of the House and
reprimanded by the Speaker. Mr. Howe, editor of
the Nova Scotian, though approving of the general
conduct of the Assembly, warned that body at the
same time not to interfere too readily with the
liberty of the press by bringing them before the bar
of the House, as the press could retaliate by bringing
the Assembly before the bar of the public.
The navigation and customs laws which, as origin-
ally arranged by the home government, had been
hampering the shipping, warehousing and mercantile
interests, were now with the consent of the Imperial
government amended very much in the interest of the
province.
Another relic of primitive polity was swept away
in the matter of quit-rents. In the year 1754 Gov-
ernor Lawrence made all land conditions subject
to a yearly rental of one shilling for every fifty acres.
The impost was not a heavy one, but the legislature
during the session declared it expedient to abolish
NOVA SCOTIA. 251
the rent entirely, which was doubtless a popular step,
at least in the rural districts.
Towards the close of the session of 1830 the
Assembly and Legislative Council came into violent
collision upon an important constitutional question.
The Assembly had occasion to correct a misapprehen-
sion which arose in the customs law as regards the
duty on brandy, which was intended to be one shilling
and fourpence per gallon, but through some miscon-
ception only one shilling had been collected. The
Assembly now merely amended the customs law to
meet the particular case, and requested the concur-
rence of the council. The council, instead of comply-
ing, stipulated for a reduction of the tariff on a
variety of articles, which was certainly an unheard-of
proceeding. A very exhaustive and able debate fol-
lowed in the Assembly, the members of which were
practically unanimous in their stand against the
unparliamentary course of the council, whose action
in sending back the revenue bill, it is said, caused a
financial loss to the country of twenty-five thousand
pounds. Brandy must have been a popular beverage
in Nova Scotia in those days, as £25,000 would repre-
sent a million and a half gallons at fourpence per
gallon, a seemingly large supply for the then popula-
tion of that province. However, a considerable por-
tion of it may have been re-exported. At any rate the
Assembly were justified in their endeavor to make
the article of brandy a good revenue-producing
commodity.
Sir Peregrine Maitland being ill during the session,
Mr. Wallace again acted as administrator, and sent a
message to the House commanding their presence in
252 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the council chamber, and in rather a lecturing speech
prorogued parliament. The feeling of the country
was with the Assembly, the conduct of its members
being unmistakably endorsed at the ensuing general
election, which took place in consequence of the death
of King George IV. The new parliament met and
again elected Mr. S. G. Archibald, Speaker.
His Honor, the lieutenant-governor, in his gracious
opening speech, expressed regret that his severe illness
compelled his absence during the previous session. He
counselled harmony in all branches of the legislature,
which seems to have had the desired effect. A
revenue bill was passed reducing the duty on sugar,
and placing coffee and molasses on the free list, but
still righteously adhered to the higher duty on brandy.
The debates upon the tariff were spirited but con-
ciliatory, which resulted in the hearty co-operation of
the Legislative Council, thus happily healing over the
serious breach which took place in the previous
session, each body probably feeling that they had car-
ried their point.
The population of the province was now rapidly
increasing, chiefly from the Highlands of Scotland.
Temperance societies were formed, also the first
Mechanics' Institute established, and steam for pump-
ing water out of coal mines and for the propelling of
vessels was introduced.
The reports of the discussions in the Imperial par-
liament upon the Eeform Bill of 1832 were published
in the Nova Scotian newspapers and eagerly perused
by the people of the province.
Sir Peregrine Maitland's term of office came to a
close in 1832. He was said to be an agreeable person
NOVA SCOTIA. 253
but utterly wanting in decision of character. Mr.
Howe's paper, the Nova Scotian, said of him : " We
wish him a safe and speedy passage home to his native
country, and — if they are not abolished before he gets
there — we could almost find it in our heart, for his
amiable lady's sake, to wish him one of the many snug
sinecures with which Old England abounds." Upon
the retirement of Sir Peregrine Maitland the Honor-
able T. N. Jeffrey became administrator of the govern-
ment for a period of eighteen months, and summoned
parliament early in February of 1832. He congratu-
lated the House upon the increased representation
from Cape Breton, and on the extension of the free
warehousing to the ports of Liverpool and Yarmouth,
N.S., and on the immunity from the cholera scourge,
and at the same time complimented the Board of
Health upon their great efficiency.
Copies of a despatch from Lord Goderich, secretary
of state for the colonies, was laid before the legisla-
ture, in which it was intimated that the salaries paid
the judges were inadequate, and recommending an
increase. Mr. Stewart moved that it was expedient
to accede to these recommendations. The solicitor-
general subsequently moved a resolution for an in-
crease of nearly fifty per cent, in the salaries of judges,
which, however, was an unpopular proposal both in
the House and country, consequently the considera-
tion of the resolution, after an exceptionally able
debate, was deferred until the next session.
The banking system about this time received some
salutary attention. Trade was very depressed and
some serious bankruptcies took place, and the gloom
was now intensified by the appearance of the cholera,
resulting in an alarming number of deaths.
254 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR COLIN CAMPBELL.
Major-General Sir Colin Campbell arrived in July
of 1834, and assumed the government, whereupon the
Honorable Mr. Jeffrey retired. The new governor
met the Assembly and delivered an opening speech of
unusual length, during which he recommended the
adoption of a financial arrangement between the pro-
vince and home government, which had been a bone
of contention. This the legislature acceded to, thus
happily ending the friction which had long prevailed.
Mr. Howe's newspaper had been stirring up the
magistracy, who at this time governed the City of
Halifax and, together with the police, were charged
with the wholesale pocketing of ill-gotten gains from
the poor. A prosecution was instituted upon a
charge laid by the magistrates for libel by the attor-
ney-general, Mr. Archibald. Mr. Howe conducted his
own defence with his usual marked ability, and was
acquitted by the jury without hesitation, to the great
delight of the general public.
Education was still receiving deserved attention,
which was bearing good fruit. The government grant
of $27,200 for education was nobly supplemented by
voluntary subscriptions, amounting to $49,600.
The parliamentary term having expired a general
election took place in November of 1836. Mr. Joseph
Howe, coming forward for the first time, was returned
as one of the members for Halifax County, on the
popular platform of remedying abuses, such as the
exorbitant salaries of the government officials, irre-
sponsibility of the magistrates, and the secrecy of the
proceedings of the Legislative Council. Such promi-
NOVA SCOTIA. 255
nent men as Archibald, Huntington, Stewart,
Uniacke, Wilkins, Annand Doyle, Howe, John Young
and William Young were returned at this general
election.
Early in the first session Mr. Doyle, a gentleman
noted for ready wit and humor, moved a resolution
in denunciation of the practice of the Legislative
Council of sitting with closed doors. This resolution
occasioned a warm debate and the passing of further
resolutions in both chambers, during which it tran-
spired that the Legislative Council, like that of its
prototype in Upper Canada, was largely a family
compact.
The Protestant Episcopal Church, being the
smallest denomination in point of numbers, held
eight seats, including the bishop, comprising two-
thirds of the seats in the Legislative Council; of the
other four seats, three were held by Presbyterians and
one by a Eoman Catholic — the latter a comparatively
numerous body, while the Methodists and Baptists
were completely ignored. Two family connections
held five of the seats in the council, and five others
had been partners in one mercantile firm ; another of
the councillors was the chief justice. The council
claimed the right of meddling with the revenue and
commercial matters without the consent of the peo-
ple's representatives. The Assembly voted an address
to the home government, complaining of these usurp-
ing tendencies and irresponsibility of the Legislative
Council. The latter voted a counter address, giving
their version of matters. The governor in an impar-
tial manner forwarded both addresses to the secretary
of state for the colonies. In the meantime the agita-
256 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
tion apparently had had some effect upon the council,
as the doors of the council chambers were now opened
to the public during the debates and proceedings in
that chamber.
During the following session the fishermen of the
province had cause of complaint over the infringe-
ment of their fishery treaty by the citizens of other
nations, particularly those of the United States and
France. The Assembly took prompt action by voting
$2,000 for the arming of small vessels to protect the
fishery interests of their own people, and at the same
time represented the grievance to His Majesty's gov-
ernment for further protection.
The alleged illegal exaction of certain fees by the
chief justice and puisne judges again came up for dis-
cussion in the Assembly, which reaffirmed the charge
of judges taking illegal fees. An enthusiastic public
meeting was held for the purpose of asking the legis-
lature for an Act of Incorporation for the town of
Halifax, the revenue of the town having hitherto been
managed by appointees of the government. Bousing
speeches in opposition to the existing system were
delivered by Messrs. Forester, Ball, Tobin, Howe,
Mackenzie, Lawson, G. B. Young and Jennings
(1837). The Act of Incorporation was, however,
delayed from time to time, but finally passed in 1841 ;
but not then, strange to say, by a unanimous vote.
The following year was one of great commotion in
both Lower and Upper Canada over the unsuccessful
clamor for constitutional changes by a vast majority
of the people, and which culminated in open rebellion
primarily against the Executive and Legislative Coun-
cils in both provinces, and finally against the Crown.
NOVA SCOTIA. 257
This violent action of the " would-be revolutionists "
in Canada was justly and strongly condemned by all
political parties in the Maritime Provinces, the major-
ity of whom, though dissatisfied themselves with some
features of the present governmental system, were
nevertheless content to patiently persevere in a con-
stitutional agitation for a redress of grievances, which
was finally brought about without any disturbance.
The Assembly, in anticipation of at least some conces-
sions being granted, wisely rescinded some ill-tem-
pered resolutions which had been passed by it upon
the state of the province ; nor were they disappointed
in their expectations, as the Imperial government now
decided that all judges must be excluded from the
legislatures, and also that the Assembly was to have
full control of all the public revenues arising in the
province from all sources, and that the membership
of the Legislative Council was to be reconstituted.
Here was a great triumph for the Assembly. The
governor was, however, very loth to carry out his
instructions, which were practically to make a sweep-
ing change in the composition of the Legislative Coun-
cil, a course evaded by him as much as possible by his
retaining some members which the Imperial govern-
ment intended should go.
The Assembly had deliberately expressed the sound
opinion that there should be two councils instead of
one, viz., a Legislative and an Executive Council. The
home government assented to the proposal, and the
lieutenant-governor was instructed to send to the Im-
perial government a list of men best qualified to com-
pose the said councils. The lieutenant-governor sug-
gested that the members of the present Legislative
17
258 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Council should be appointed to one or other of these
councils. The Imperial government dissented from
the proposal, and reinstructed the lieutenant-governor
to make selections from the different parts of the pro-
vince in such a manner as to avoid all suspicion of
partiality and favoritism. These judicious instruc-
tions do not appear to have been faithfully carried
out. Mr. Howe called attention to the violation of
instructions by the governor, and said if no other
member called public attention to the lieutenant-
governor's seeming partiality he would do so himself.
The suppression of the insurrection in the Canadas,
and the death of William IV. was referred to in the
governor's opening address of the session, which had
been convened for January, 1838.
The coal mining industry not being placed upon a
proper footing in the interests of the province, called
forth the attention of the Assembly.
The lieutenant-governor essayed to vindicate him-
self from the suspicion of partiality in selecting the
councillors, and intimated, by way of extenuation,
that the members of the Legislative Council did not
receive a sessional allowance equal to that* of the
members of the Assembly, and sometimes nothing, for
their services. It is quite probable, however, that the
Legislative Councillors gave much less time to their
duties than did the members of the Assembly.
In the meantime Lord Durham had been appointed
governor-general and high commissioner of all the
British provinces, with headquarters at Quebec. A
committee headed by Mr. Johnston was appointed to
wait upon His Lordship for the purpose of conferring
in reference to matters affecting the prosperity of the
NOVA SCOTIA. 259
province. In referring during the interview, to his
treatment by the British government, which had
ungratefully deserted him over some well-meant
irregularities, on his part, he was so overcome by his
feelings that he retired to a distant part of the room
for a moment to compose himself.
The grievances which the delegation wished to lay
before His Lordship were with reference to the admin-
istration of the Crown lands ; the systematic encroach-
ment of the Americans upon the fisheries ; the expense
of the customs' establishment; the excessive salaries
of officials — the secretary of the province receiving
£1,000 sterling per annum, besides holding the lucra-
tive office of registrar of deeds. The personnel of the
Executive and Legislative Councils was also com-
plained of.
During the sitting of the Assembly intelligence was
received that New Brunswick was invaded from the
State of Maine, whereupon great excitement ensued.
The business of the House was instantly suspended,
and all parties united in taking prompt steps for the
defence of the sister province. A large committee
was appointed to frame resolutions, the House
adjourning for a few hours. The House on resuming
voted £100,000, and placed 8,000 of the militia at the
disposal of the commander-in-chief to meet the emer-
gency. Multitudes of the citizens congregated about
the parliament buildings and cheered the resolutions
most lustily.
The threatened war between Great Britain and the
United States, caused by the action simply of a state
governor, and not by the United States government,
was, however, happily averted, as a war between these
260 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
two nations would have been criminally calamitous,
and it is to be hoped that such a possibility will never
arise.
During the session of 1839 the Assembly appointed
Messrs. Huntington and William Young as delegates
to the Imperial government to advocate certain con-
stitutional reforms. The Legislative Council there-
upon appointed Messrs. Stewart and Wilkins as a
counter delegation to oppose the proposed reforms.
The representatives of the Assembly, however,
achieved considerable success in the matter of the
customs excise and postal matters and also in getting
the price of the land for the actual settlers fixed as
low as one shilling per acre.
Lord Durham's report — already characterized as a
most valuable and historic state paper — was pub-
lished, whereupon the Legislative Council adopted a
series of resolutions in its condemnation, one in par-
ticular embodying some strange reasons against the
proposed federation of the provinces. It was alleged
that such a step would be dangerous to the interests of
the Mother Country, as well as to the colonies. These
councillors were surely narrow-minded, and short-
sighted prophets in the light of the existing happy
conditions of the grand Dominion. A successful effort
was made this year to secure a transatlantic steam-
ship service between Halifax and Great Britain, which
was consummated through the remarkable and suc-
cessful enterprise of Mr. Cunard, of Halifax. This en-
terprise was followed by the successful development
of the St. Lawrence route, which was achieved by the
enterprising Allan Brothers, after a very trying begin-
ning, owing to the loss of several ships ; but the initial
NOVA SCOTIA. 261
difficulties were soon successfully overcome by the
indomitable perseverance of its founders.
The first piece of railway line in the province was
put into operation between the Albion Mines and the
coaling ground near New Glasgow. The event was
enthusiastically celebrated. It is said that almost
every fiddler and bag-piper in the province was
brought into requisition for the occasion.
The home government had already expressed its
concurrence in the proposal of the Assembly to in-
augurate the system of responsible government, but
the lieutenant-governor was still bent upon frustrat-
ing the wishes of the people's representatives. The
most peremptory instructions were sent him, directing
that the new system be carried out; still the lieuten-
ant-governor would not make a move.
The Assembly, in a very mild and respectful, but
firm, address to the home government, asked for the
recall of His Honor, Sir Colin Campbell. His friends
called a mass meeting of electors to uphold his con-
duct. His opponents attended the meeting in force,
and the discussions lasted for seven hours, but no vote
could be taken, owing to the excitement and con-
fusion. His Honor was, however, recalled and Vis-
count Falkland took his place.
Sir Colin Campbell was personally a man of high
integrity, but did not possess the attributes of a mod-
ern statesman, or he would not have hesitated so
doggedly about applying the principles of responsible
government.
The Eight Honorable Charles Poulett Thompson,
governor-general, visited Halifax, and made himself
acquainted with its affairs, and doubtless would in
262 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
due course have established responsible government
in Nova Scotia, but for his premature and melancholy
death at Kingston in Upper Canada.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD FALKLAND.
Lord Falkland, shortly after his arrival, sent for
Messrs. Jeffrey, Collins, Cogswell and Tobin of the
Executive Council, whom he requested to retire, and
appointed Messrs. Howe and McNab instead. A gen-
eral election followed, in which the Liberals held their
former majority of fourteen, and celebrated their
victory at a public dinner, in which Mr. Stairs pro-
posed the British Constitution, in the following apt
simile :
" It rose like the coral islands by slow degrees,
amid storms of human intellect and passion — time but
extends its borders, develops its beauties and
increases its strength."
The new House met in February of 1841, when Mr.
Howe was elected Speaker over Mr. Uniacke by two
votes. Mr. Archibald, the former Speaker, being now
a Crown officer, was not eligible for re-election as
Speaker. Lord Falkland delivered a lengthy opening
address upon educational topics. The Assembly did
not, however, agree with His Honor's proposed policy.
The bill for the incorporation of the town of Hali-
fax was finally passed, which, it is said, put an end to
a long system of local misrule.
The following session of parliament passed over
without any questions of exciting interest. A
measure for the consolidation of criminal statutes
was passed, also an Act to ameliorate the condition of
.
NOVA SCOTIA. 263
the Indians. It is worthy of note that the Assembly
received a visit during the session from Charles Dick-
ens, the justly celebrated English writer.
When the House met again in 1843 Mr. Howe
resigned the Speakership to take charge of the depart-
ment of customs. Both Mr. William Young and Mr.
Huntington were proposed for the vacant Speaker-
ship, which went to Mr. Young by a majority of two
votes. Mr. Annand moved a series of resolutions
upon the education question, supported by an able
speech, in which he declared that one good college,
free from ecclesiastic control, would be better than the
four colleges now drawing upon the revenues of the
province. Mr. Fairbanks moved an amendment in
favor of maintaining the old system. The proceed-
ings appeared to be so distasteful to Lord Falkland
that he resorted to the petty and capricious expedient
of dissolving the Assembly, while the Liberals were
rather disorganized over Mr. Howe's unpopular
acceptance of office. The result of the election was
a small majority for the Conservatives, under the able
leadership of Mr. Johnston, whom we shall meet
again.
The governor, having appointed Mr. M. B. Almon
to seats in both the Legislative and Executive Coun-
cils, apparently upon his own responsibility, Messrs.
Howe, Uniacke and McNab very properly tendered
their resignations, a proceeding which rather sur-
prised His Honor, who was apparently not yet fully
imbued with the doctrines of responsible government.
The new parliament met in February, 1844, and
elected the Honorable William Young as Speaker of
the Assembly.
264 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
His Honor in the speech from the throne expressed
his desire and motive for the advancement of the best
interests of the province, but defined his unfavorable
attitude to the system of party or responsible govern-
ment, and declared his intention to resist any invasion
of the royal prerogative, which meant that he would
ignore the popular voice at his own sweet will.
A very large minority of the House took exception
to His Honor's principles, and debated the address for
a fortnight. The chief speakers on the opposition
side were Messrs. Howe, Huntington, Doyle and G.
E. Young. The address was only carried by a major-
ity of three. Mr. Howe subsequently moved a want
of confidence motion, which was voted down by a like
majority.
His Honor, despite what transpired, again offered
portfolios to Messrs. Howe, McNab and Uniacke, on
condition that the existing principles of government
would be continued ; but these gentlemen declined the
appointments upon such conditions, after which Mr.
Howe devoted himself vigorously to journalism, mak-
ing His Honor the victim of some humorous satires,
which annoyed him greatly. His Honor made an
unsuccessful attempt at detaching Mr. Howe's follow-
ers from him by offering portfolios to Messrs. McNab,
Huntington, Uniacke, Tobin and Brennan, which were
declined. His Honor also complained of Howe to the
home government, stating that either he should be
recalled or Howe be suppressed.
The attorney-general drew the attention of the
House to these unseemly attacks made upon the lieu-
tenant-governor, which, however, had no restraining
effect upon Howe's facile pen.
NOVA SCOTIA. 265
Lord Falkland, in order to strengthen his govern-
ment, made a tour of the most populous counties,
which was not reassuring to His Honor, as he found
the current of public opinion running strongly with
Howe. The feeling against irresponsible government
being now strong in Upper Canada, and also in New
Brunswick as well, His Honor did not, therefore,
experience a very enjoyable time of it.
Lord Falkland, like many others of the early and
unsuccessful governors, was personally a well mean-
ing man, and had some able defenders and friends in
Nova Scotia. He was, however, glad to get away, and
was succeeded by Sir John Harvey, late governor of
Newfoundland.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR JOHN HARVEY.
The policy of His Honor favored a coalition execu-
tive rather than a strictly party government, and in
furtherance of his ideas, offered to make room for
at least two leading Liberals in the composition of
the Cabinet. The well-intended proposition was,
however, respectfully declined by the Liberals, who
would favor nothing short of the responsible system
of government by party majorities.
In opening the session of 1847 His Honor urged
several useful local improvements, such as changes in
the management of road construction, etc. A general
election took place in the autumn of the same year,
the result being unfavorable to the executive, which
could not command a sufficient vote to elect their
nominee as Speaker, whereupon all the members of
the executive honorably resigned their portfolios, and
a new government was formed, comprising Messrs.
266 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Uniacke, Howe, Tobin, Bell, McNab, G. E. Young,
Huntington, Des Barres and Doyle, all being oppon-
ents of the former administration, thus inaugurating
in Nova Scotia, for the first time, an actual responsible
government. It is to be presumed that the new Min-
isters went back to their constituents for re-election
otherwise the very full system of responsible govern-
ment had not yet been quite accomplished.
The Assembly of Newfoundland, which had been
vainly seeking to have the principles of responsible
government established in that province, congratu-
lated Nova Scotia, through its Speaker, upon the
attainment of the constitution for which they had con-
tended. In answer the Assembly replied that it
would rejoice to see the same sound and enlightened
principles extended to Newfoundland.
The new government gave much attention to the
matter of education, for which liberal appropriations
were made. Money was also voted for the construc-
tion of a line of telegraph.
Mr. Johnston, the leader of the Opposition, moved
resolutions looking to a reduction of the proportion
of the lieutenant-governor's salary to be borne by the
province, which was then |15,000, and now but
$10,000, which is paid by the Dominion. It would
seem that Mr. Johnston's proposal to reduce the
province's proportion to £1,000, had some ground
for consideration. Mr. Johnston also coupled with
the above resolution a proposal to render the Legis-
lative Council elective for a limited period, which
was probably a bid for popular favor.
The coal mining regulations again received some
favorable attention from the Assembly. An enter-
NOVA SCOTIA. 267
prising movement was entered upon for interprovin-
cial railway extension to connect Halifax with Can-
ada and the United States, and Mr. Howe was sent as
a delegate to the Imperial government to solicit aid
for the project, but did not meet with the encourage-
ment which the very important scheme deserved,
chiefly owing to indecision as to the most expedient
route to be selected. However, Major Robinson was
sent out to examine the country, and reported for
military reasons in favor of the present circuitous
route of the Intercolonial Railway, the construction
of which became a settled policy upon the union of the
provinces in 1867.
The consolidation and revision of the statutes was
authorized and carried out in a most satisfactory
manner.
Lady Harvey, the most estimable wife of the lieu-
tenant-governor, died at Halifax this year greatly re-
gretted. Her death and other bereavements, together
with an attack of illness, soon hastened the early
departure from this world also of His Honor, who was
laid in the tomb beside his wife, who had so recently
preceded him. Lieutenant-General Sir John Harvey
was a gallant soldier and no mean statesman, pos-
sessed of fine personal appearance, many noble traits
and accomplishments; he, therefore, commanded the
respect and confidence of all who knew him. He had
been an acceptable and successful governor-general of
several other colonies before coming to Nova Scotia.
Colonel Bazalgette was appointed administrator
until the arrival of Sir John Gaspard le Marchant,
who had been appointed as lieutenant-governor.
268 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR GASPARD LE MARCHANT.
Some apprehensions were entertained that the Im-
perial government might agree to a threatened fishery
treaty prejudicial to the interests of Nova Scotia.
This feeling found expression in a large public meet-
ing, at which resolutions were adopted protesting
against the granting of further favors to American
fishermen.
A forward movement in the matter of provincial
and local railway extension now took place, and Mr.
Howe was appointed chairman of the board, giving up
his portfolio as provincial secretary. A reconstruc-
tion of the administration then took place, Mr.
Young, the Speaker, becoming premier, and associated
with him in the Cabinet were Messrs. Henry, Uniacke
and Wilkins — who had lately deserted the Conserva-
tive party — all of whom were returned at the
respective bye-elections. Mr. Young's announced
railway and other policies were apparently looked
upon with general favor throughout the province.
The historic reciprocity treaty, so very acceptable
to the other provinces, was correspondingly unpopular
in Nova Scotia. The administration, however, some-
what reluctantly ratified the treaty rather than em-
barrass the negotiations elsewhere, and when its chief
author, the talented statesman Lord Elgin, governor-
general, visited Halifax with his lady, a daughter of
Lord Durham, in the following year, he was tendered
a most cordial reception. A most successful indus-
trial exhibition was opened at Halifax this year with
great eclat and enthusiasm.
A prohibiting liquor law bill was introduced by Mr.
Johnston. The proposal was unmercifully ridiculed
NOVA SCOTIA. 269
by Mr. Howe and failed to pass. The appalling evils
of the liquor traffic were admitted, but the impossi-
bility of enforcing a prohibitory law, where it had
been tried so often, influenced a majority of the House
against the extreme measure of prohibition, who pre-
ferred to see the evils remedied by educatory efforts,
and argumentative moral suasion, backed by a good
license law to regulate the traffic.
The Russian or Crimean war was progressing at
this period (1855), and evoked much public interest,
more especially as two of Nova Scotia's gallant sons
were active and prominent participants in the
struggle in the persons of General Williams — hero of
Kars — and Inglis.
A general election took place this year ( 1855 ) , one
of the chief features of which was the exciting
political duel in Cumberland County between Howe
and Dr. Tupper — whom we shall frequently meet
again. Howe was defeated by Tupper, which dealt a
deadly blow at the Liberal party, Howe having indis-
creetly attacked some of the doctrines of the Roman
Catholic Church, which he did in an open manner,
and thereby wrecked his party in about the same way
and time that a certain Liberal leader and journalist
wrecked his party in Upper Canada. The leaders on
the other side did not approve a whit more of the par-
ticular doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church than
did the Liberal leaders, but were more politic, and
wisely and properly concealed their private opinions
from the public, and thereby deservedly reaped the
reward of golden silence.
Mr. Howe and his party, being in a minority, were
voted out of power, and Mr. Johnston, leader of the
Opposition, was requested by His Honor to form a
270 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
government, in which he succeeded. Dr. Tupper and
other prominent men were taken into the new Cabinet,
all of whom were re-elected upon going back to their
constituents for endorsation.
The new administration rendered valuable services
in dealing with education, mining and other im-
portant interests and questions.
Lieutenant-Governor le Marchant now retired, and
was succeeded by the Earl of Mulgrave.
GOVERNMENT OF THE EARL OF MULGRAVE.
The solicitor-general, Wilkins, retired from the
administration on the ground of the executive dispos-
ing by orders-in-council, of certain matters which
belonged solely to the functions of the legisla-
ture. A general election took place, resulting in
favor of the Liberals by a narrow majority. The
minority party still held on to the seals of office until
the regular meeting of parliament, when it failed to
elect its candidate, Mr. Wade, for Speaker. The
Liberals elected their candidate, Mr. Stewart Camp-
bell, by a majority of three votes ; still the government
most improperly and unconstitutionally refused to
resign, upon the ground that some members of the
other party were disqualified. His Honor was
strangely requested by the defeated administration to
purge the House in some way of the alleged disquali-
fied members. His Honor applied to the home gov-
ernment for instructions. The reply thereto was as
might be anticipated : For the House to purge itself if
it needed purging. The Johnston-Tupper govern-
ment then, as a last expedient, had the effrontery to
request His Honor to dissolve the newly elected
NOVA SCOTIA. 271
House. This His Honor, as a constitutional gover-
nor, was naturally loth to do. The administration,
not having a peg left upon which to hang an argu-
ment, then resigned.
Mr. William Young was again called upon to form
a government, in which he succeeded. His colleagues
were comprised of such well-known public men as
Howe, Archibald, McCully and Annand.
His Honor was officially informed of the intended
visit of His Koyal Highness the Prince of Wales,
which caused great rejoicing. The legislature voted
a liberal sum for the reception and entertainment of
the illustrious1 visitor, which was largely supplemented
by private generosity, Halifax surpassing itself in
magnificence, cordiality and enthusiasm during the
royal visit.
In the following year the death of His Royal High-
ness Prince Albert, the most estimable husband of
Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and father of the above-
mentioned prince, caused genuine regret.
Halifax, the capital of the province, has had its
share of serious conflagrations, with the attendant
losses and inconveniences incidental to all such
visitations.
The province was well represented by exhibits at
the second great international exhibition in London
in 1862.
A general election took place in 1863, which
resulted in the defeat and resignation of the Liberal
administration and the return of the Johnston-Tupper
regime.
The Earl of Mulgrave having retired from the lieu-
tenant-governorship parliament was opened by
272 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
Major-General Doyle as administrator, and Mr. Wade
elected Speaker. The provincial secretary, Dr.
Charles Tupper, introduced and carried through a
very important and useful education bill. The
Opposition, while approving of the measure generally,
pointed out one feature of the bill as objectionable,
whereby the Executive Council was to constitute the
Council of Public Instruction, which was calculated
to give the government undue influence in the work-
ing out of the system — an apprehension which was
probably unfounded.
The government was now reconstructed. The
premier and attorney-general, Mr. Johnston, retired
to fill a vacancy in the judgeship of the Supreme
Equity Court. Dr. Tupper succeeded to the premier-
ship, and Mr. Henry to the attorney -generalship.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR KICHARD GRAVES MACDONELL.
Sir Eichard Graves Macdonell was appointed
to the lieutenant-governorship in June of 1864.
Dr. Tupper, ever a good Unionist, introduced
a resolution in the Assembly upon the com-
mendable question of reunion of the Maritime
Provinces. Resolutions to the same effect were
adopted by the legislature of New Brunswick and
Prince Edward Island. The outcome of these pro-
ceedings was the appointment of a conference to meet
in Charlottetown in September. Meantime, the lieu-
tenant-governors of the Maritime Provinces were
asked by the governor-general of Canada, whether the
conference at Charlottetown would be willing to re-
ceive a deputation from the Canadian government,
who desired to submit a larger scheme of union.
NOVA SCOTIA. 273
The respective maritime governments agreed to
receive the proposed deputation, consequently a dele-
gation was sent from Canada, consisting of John A.
Macdonald, George Brown, G. E. Cartier, A. T. Gait,
T. D. Magee, H. L. Langevin, William Macdougall
and Alexander Campbell.
After hearing addresses from the Canadian delega-
tion, the conference adjourned to meet in Quebec on
the 10th of October, where the following named
thirty-three able and representative delegates from
the five provinces assembled. The deliberations
lasted until the 28th of October, and resulted most
happily. A basis of federal union, subject to the
approval of the provincial legislatures, and of the
Imperial government, was agreed upon. The dele-
gates from Canada were: Premier Tache, J. A. Mac-
donald, Brown, Cartier, Gait, Campbell, Macdougall,
Magee, Langevin, J. Cockburn, Mowat and Chapais.
From Nova Scotia : Tupper, Henry, Dickey, Archi-
bald and McCully.
From New Brunswick: Tilly, J. M. Johnston,
Chandler, Gray, Fisher, Mitchell and Steeves.
From Prince Edward Island: A. A. Macdonald,
Haviland, Gray, Palmer, W. H. Pope, Coles and
Whelan.
From Newfoundland: Carter and Shea.
The noble and patriot scheme was most favorably
received by the people of Canada, and ratified by a
large majority in the Canadian parliament. It was
also ratified by the parliament of Nova Scotia,
although, unfortunately, very strong opposition was
apparent throughout the county. One of the chief
causes alleged against the proposal was for not hav-
18
274 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
ing submitted the question to a popular vote. Some
objections were also urged against the financial terms,
but the latent feeling was probably owing to a pardon-
able, or it might be said, praiseworthy pride and
national sentiment. Nova Scotians having been the
leaders of representative government among the
negotiating provinces, and had also achieved a some-
what glorious and historic fame as a nation within a
nation, and to now enter into a union under the name
of Canada would to them appear something like self-
effacement. Nova Scotians and the other maritime
people need not fear, however, that their grand old
history and prestige will pass into oblivion. The
inhabitants ot the Upper Provinces are only too happy
to share in the glory of the Maritime Provinces, and
will always take an especial pride and pleasure in the
perpetuation of respect, and interest in their history
during the period of their existence as separate pro-
vinces, and also of their subsequent history — as most
important members of the great confederation.
The majority of the people of New Brunswick
seemed at first even more hostile than those of Nova
Scotia. They, however, became reconciled much
sooner than those of the last-named province.
The province of Prince Edward Island did not
enter into actual union until six years after the
entrance of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick into the
union.
The province of Newfoundland still stands aloof,
but it is fondly hoped that she will soon cast in her lot
as did the other provinces of the Dominion, where
she will be treated with respect and liberality. It is
to be regretted that Newfoundland labors under a
treaty disadvantage through no fault of *ts own peo-
NOVA SCOTIA. 275
pie. We refer to certain fishing privileges which were
accorded to France, as affecting the western portion
of the shores of the province. It is the old story of
too much generosity on the part of British diplomat-
ists, in so far at any rate as British American inter-
ests were concerned. It is to be hoped, in the case of
Newfoundland, that the Imperial government will
spare no effort to arrange in some equitable way, by
exchange or otherwise, with France for a complete
withdrawal of any vested rights, as affecting that
important and interesting province, and also for the
acquisition by Newfoundland of the adjacent islands
of St. Pierre and Miquelon, which now belong to
France.*
Lieutenant-Governor Sir K. G. Macdonell was re-
tired to Hong Kong after proroguing the House
and expressing his gratification over confederation
prospects. He was succeeded in the government by
no less a native Nova Scotian than the gallant Sir
Fenwick Williams, the before-mentioned hero of
Kars.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR FENWICK WILLIAMS.
The general election for both Dominion and provin-
cial members took place in September of 1867. Nova
Scotia was assigned nineteen members to the House
of Commons at Ottawa, and the former provincial
representation was reduced from fifty-five to thirty-
eight members, and ten senators were appointed to
the Senate at Ottawa.
Owing to the bitter anti-confederation feeling
* Since the above was written King Edward has fortunately made a
treaty with France which practically relieves the situation, upon which
Newfoundland is to be congratulated.
276 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
which was engendered, eighteen of the nineteen mem-
bers elected to the House of Commons, and thirty-six
of the thirty-eight elected members of the provincial
Assembly were opposed to the union which had
already taken place.
The provincial premier, Dr. Tupper, having entered
the federal arena, was succeeded by Mr. Blanchard
as premier and attorney-general, who with his
colleagues carried on the government until the
result of the election was known, after which they
resigned and Mr. Annand formed an anti-confedera-
tion government, which met the House in January of
1868, and elected Mr. Marshall, member for Guys-
boro', as Speaker. During the session Attorney-Gen-
eral Wilkins proposed a resolution looking to a repeal
of the union of the recently united provinces so far
as Nova Scotia was concerned. The resolution was of
course carried by a large majority, and Messrs. Howe,
Annand, Troop and Smith were appointed as dele-
gates to the Imperial government to urge a repeal of
the union. Dr. Tupper also proceeded to the same
tribunal to present the other side of the case. The
agitation for repeal unfortunately continued for a
long period, but has finally subsided, and Nova Scotia
now takes an important, respected and harmonious
position in the family membership of Canada, where
she will doubtless ever continue to be an influential
:and prosperous member.
CAPE BKETON.
The historic former Island Province of Cape
Breton, though finally merged into Nova Scotia more
than eighty years ago, deserves at least some separate
mention among the early provinces.
NOVA SCOTIA. 277
The island continued to be a French colony for a
few years after Nova Scotia permanently became a
British colony. French rule having ended, Cape
Breton was annexed to Nova Scotia in 1763, with a
representation of two members in the Nova Scotian
Assembly, the population of the island then being
about four thousand souls. During the French
regime, Louisbourg was its principal town. After
twenty-one years of union with Nova Scotia it became
a separate colony, with Sydney as the capital. It has
had its series of councils and lieutenant-governors,
attorney-generals, judges and all the paraphernalia of
officials for a large colony, and it was no fault of its
inhabitants that it did not have a parliament as well,
which had been duly applied and pressed for by the
inhabitants; but the Imperial government evidently
deemed the proposal a preposterous one for so few
people, and advised them to cast in their lot with Nova
Scotia again. Government was carried on by lieuten-
ant-governors, councils, and a large staff of officiate
for thirty-four years, with all the bickering and official
wrangling incidental to unruly empire. The expense
of the government in the way of salaries, if the people
had it to pay, would have amounted to about f 7 for
every man, woman and child, without a dollar for
public improvement. It is not surprising that the
ambitious little province was again merged into Nova
Scotia. This event, which happened in 1820, resulted
in a representation of two members from Cape Breton
to the Nova Scotian Assembly. The satisfactory dis-
posal of the officials has already been adverted to
under the head of Nova Scotia.
Cape Breton had commenced to fill up rapidly with
a good hardy population, chiefly from the Highlands
278 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
of Scotland, and possessed four well-settled and
prosperous counties. It has most valuable coal and
agricultural lands, important fisheries and other re-
sources ; and it is destined to be among the richest dis-
tricts of the Dominion, which justifies largely the very
sanguine anticipations of its early inhabitants. And
who knows but that the request of this handful of
people for a parliament of their own, nearly one hun-
dred years ago, was for the purpose of obtaining a
more smooth-working government than that obtained
by a semi-military council and other official nabobs
who ruled the little province.
CHAPTER X.
NEW BRUNSWICK.
GOVERNMENT OF COLONEL THOMAS CARLETON.
NEW BRUNSWICK, formerly a part of Acadia
and Nova Scotia, was now a province with
representative government; the first governor
being Colonel Thomas Carleton, brother of Sir Guy
Carleton (Lord Dorchester), whose name is so favor-
ably met with in the history of Lower Canada.
The legislature consisted of a nominated Council of
twelve members who were vested with both legislative
and executive functions, and a House of Assembly of
twenty-six members elected by the inhabitants in the
autumn of 1785. The first session of parliament was
held at St. John, January, 1786. The first members
of the Legislative and Executive Councils were as fol-
lows: D. Ludlow, Putnam, Williard, G. G. Ludlow,
Hazen, Odell, Studholm, Winslow, Upham, D. Bliss,
Beverly Robinson, jr., Leonard Saunders, Sproule, J.
M. Bliss, Wetmore, J. R. Robinson, Black, Hoiles,
Street, Lock wood, Stone, Jarvis, W. Botsford, Baillie,
Hurd, the Bishop of Nova Scotia, Peters, F. P. Robin-
son, Simonds.
The first members of the Assembly were, for the
city and county of St. John : Bliss, Chipman, Billops,
Williams, Pagan, Hazard and McGeorge; Westmore-
279
280 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
land, Amos Botsford; Charlotte, Paine, Campbell,
Pagan and Clynch; Kings, J. Coffin and E. Foster;
Queens, Dickenson and Yeamans; York, Murray,
Atwood, Lyman and Steele; Sunbury, Hubbard,
Vanderburgh; Northumberland, Hardy.
His Honor opened the first parliament in the fol-
lowing excellent speech, which is worth quoting in
full:
" Gentlemen of the Council and Gentlemen of the
Assembly:
-"A meeting of the several branches of the legis-
lature, for the first time in this new province, is an
event of so great importance, and must prove so con-
ducive to its stability and prosperity, that I feel the
highest satisfaction at feeling His Majesty's endeav-
ors to procure the inhabitants every protection of free
government, in so fair a way of being finally
successful.
" The preceding winter was necessarily spent in
guarding the people against those numerous wants
incident to their peculiar situation, and the summer
has been employed as well in the prosecution of this
essential business, as in dividing the province and
establishing the several offices and courts of justice
requisite for the security of the farmer, while engaged
in raising a support for his family. And now that the
season of the year renders travelling commodious, and
allows you leisure to attend the public business with-
out interruption to your private affairs, I have called
you together in compliance with the royal instruc-
tions, that you may put a finishing hand to the
arduous task of organizing the province, by re-enact-
NEW BRUNSWICK. 281
ing such of the Nova Scotia laws as are applicable to
our situation, and passing such bills as you shall
judge best calculated to maintain our rapid advance
towards a complete establishment in this country.
" Gentlemen of the Council:
" That branch of the laws of the old province which
relates to crimes and misdemeanors I would recom-
mend to your first consideration; they are for the
most part, if not altogether, extracted from the statute
law of England, and will become our best security for
the quiet and permanent enjoyment of private liberty
and property. As it may in some instance perhaps
admit of a doubt what part of those laws extend to
this province, and which are lost by the erecting of the
distinct administration, it will be most eligible, by-
renewing them, to leave no possibility of uncertainty
in a matter so nearly affecting the happiness of indi-
viduals and peace of the community. Those laws
also which relate to the execution of justice, civil and
criminal, make another important object of your
attention ; and as the assistance of the judges will be
required in forming or reviewing them, they will of
course, I suppose, originate with you.
" Gentlemen of the Assembly:
" Among the numerous subjects which will fall
under your consideration, after you have adopted such
acts of the province of Nova Scotia as you may find
necessary or proper, I would particularly point out a
bill providing for the election of members to serve in
the General Assembly, and for the regulating of all
such elections, as well as determining the qualification
of electors. A law for registering anew all grants of
282 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
lands, lying within the province, and made before our
division from Nova Scotia, is necessary for ascertain-
ing titles to estates, and will prove of the greatest use
in their preservation. I am, therefore, instructed to
recommend it.
" Gentlemen of the Council and Gentlemen of the
Assembly :
" I shall decline entering further into the particu-
lar objects that may be proper for your consideration
in the course of the present session, but shall leave
them to be occasionally communicated by message ; in
the meantime I have the fullest confidence, that you
will enter on the public business with a hearty dis-
position to join me in whatever may tend to the wel-
fare of this infant colony.
" The liberality of the British government to the
unfortunate Loyalists in general, and the peculiar
munificence and parental care of our most Gracious
Sovereign to those of them settled in New Brunswick,
call loudly for every return that an affectionate and
favored people can make; and I am persuaded you
cannot better show your gratitude on this behalf for
the many unexampled instances of national and royal
bounty, than by promoting sobriety, industry, and the
practice of religion, by discouraging all party dis-
tinctions amongst us, and inculcating the utmost har-
mony between the newly arrived loyalists and those
of His Majesty's subjects formerly resident in the pro-
vince. And gentlemen, it is with real pleasure I
declare that our prospects are so favorable that your
exertions for those beneficial purposes can scarcely
fail to render this asylum of loyalty the envy of the
NEW BRUNSWICK. 283
%
neighboring states, and that, by exercising the arts of
peace, they who have taken refuge here will not only
be abundantly recompensed for their losses, but be
enabled to enjoy their connection with the parent
state and retain their allegiance for the best of kings,
which their conduct has proved they prize above all
considerations. "
The seat of government was removed to St. Ann's
(now Fredericton) , in 1786. The first council was com-
prised almost exclusively of United Empire Loyalists
and members of the English Church, and it has been
remarked that New Brunswick was kept much longer
under the sway of the oligarchy than any of the other
provinces. As an instance : the Honorable and Rever-
end Jonathan Odell and his son held the offices of the
provincial secretary, registrar and clerk of the coun-
cil for more than sixty years. Several other members
of the Council held office for prolonged periods,
shrewdly making it a point to always keep on good
terms with the governors and presidents to the ex-
clusion as much as possible of the assemblymen.
His Honor Governor Carleton presided over the
province directly for the long term of nineteen years,
and indirectly for fourteen years longer by means of
substitutes, designated presidents. No real successor
to Carleton was appointed until the year 1817. Dur-
ing this period the Assembly, owing to the non-exist-
ence of the responsible system of government, were, as
usual in such cases, largely ignored by the Council.
The New Brunswick assemblymen were, however,
more successful — but not without a struggle — in
obtaining a sessional allowance than the more modest
Lower Canada members, some of whom really needed
284 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
9
an allowance, but received none whatever. In the
first parliament the Assembly passed a bill
authorizing the very moderate per diem allowance of
a dollar and a half. The bill was thrown out by the
Council. The Assembly, not to be outdone by the
Council, shrewdly tacked an appropriation for their
services in the general appropriation bill. The Coun-
cil continued obdurate for three years, during which
no supply bill was passed. Finally the Council
yielded, and the members got their allowances, after
which harmony ensued for a time. Meantime the
new province continued to develop and prosper. The
fiscal policy of the Imperial government, which ad-
mitted colonial timber free, and taxed the Baltic
timber heavily, gave a great impetus to the New
Brunswick timber trade.
The declaration of war by the) United States against
Great Britain in 1812 evoked much loyalty and sym-
pathy towards the Mother Country. A local regi-
ment was formed, to be known as the King's Regiment
of New Brunswick, and the legislature adopted pat-
riotic resolutions, and performed other encouraging
acts towards the volunteers.
The legislature petitioned the home government
repeatedly for an appointment of a regular lieutenant-
governor instead of the series of presidents who
presided after the departure of Colonel Carleton.
Finally, Major-General George Steacy Smyth wa&
appointed governor in 1818.
GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL GEORGE STEACY SMYTH.
The Council and Assembly had again disagreed very
seriously about the disposal of the revenues. The
new lieutenant-governor sided with the Council, and
NEW BRUNSWICK. 285
dissolved parliament. Another dissolution ensued
two years later, owing to the death of King George
III. These dissolutions did not, however, have the
effect of allaying the friction between the two
branches of the legislature. Meanwhile, His Honor
Lieutenant-Governor Smyth died. A scramble then
arose between Judge Chipman and the Hon. Christo-
pher Billop, for the position of administrator, which
the latter claimed by virtue of seniority, and issued a
proclamation to that effect. His claim was, however,
ignored upon the irreverent plea of his great age, he
being then in his eighty-eighth year.
Judge Chipman was sworn in as administrator and
opened parliament, but died suddenly while the House
was in session. He was succeeded by the Hon. J. M.
Bliss, who presided until the arrival of Lieutenant-
Governor Sir Howard Douglas in 1824. Lumbering
at this time seemed to be the chief pursuit of the New
Brunswickers, to the neglect of agriculture.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR HOWARD DOUGLAS.
His Honor Governor Douglas met parliament
early in 1825, and urged greater attention to agricul-
ture and the construction of colonization roads, both
of which had been apparently neglected owing to the
increasing timber trade of the province so largely en-
grossing the attention of the inhabitants.
During this year the Miramichi bush fire of un-
paralleled severity occurred. The loss of life was
appalling, and the destruction of property was esti-
mated at one million dollars, and the loss in timber
was past calculation, all of which was a crushing
blow to the young province. Much sympathy of a
286 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
tangible kind was extended by the sister provinces and
the Mother Country, yet the damage and prostration
incurred by the fire was long felt.
The unsettled boundary question between New
Brunswick and the State of Maine caused some un-
easiness and disturbance until the affair was settled
by a mutual reference of the dispute to the King of
the Netherlands.
The trade policy of the home government, tending
towards free trade, alarmed the timber interests of
the province by admitting Baltic and other timber
upon an equal footing with colonial timber, which the
legislature of the province petitioned earnestly
against.
His Honor having taken such strong ground with
the people of the province against the fiscal policy of
the home government, felt it his duty to resign, greatly
to the sorrow of the people of New Brunswick. His
conduct in this matter was unique in the history of
colonial governors. The legislature manifested its
appreciation of the retiring governor by the presenta-
tion of a handsome service of plate.
The Honorable William Black assumed the govern-
ment as administrator in 1827, pending the arrival of
Sir Archibald Campbell in 1831.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL.
The struggle for responsible government which had
agitated the other provinces now extended to New
Brunswick. The province, as already stated, had its
oligarchy, consequently abuses and monopolies natur-
ally crept into the then irresponsible department of
the Crown lands and finance.
NEW BKUNSWICK. 287
The Keform party was ably led by Lemeul Allan
Wilmot, who with his followers succeeded, after a pro-
tracted struggle, in securing a sound system of gov-
ernment despite the counter tenacity of the oligarchy,
backed up by an ultra Tory governor, which resulted
in the sending by the opposition of delegates upon
two occasions to the Mother Country for the purpose
of submitting a report upon the state of the province,
with proposed reforms.
The home government, in 1832, acceded to all the
propositions of the Keform delegates with some slight
modifications, but on the whole the concessions were
quite satisfactory and practically conceded the prin-
ciples of executive responsibility. The Legislative
Council was to discontinue to perform the functions of
both an Executive and Legislative Council. An Ex-
ecutive Council was to be formed, which enjoyed the
confidence of the majority in the Assembly.
The governor was, however, determined against
carrying out the proposed reforms, and essayed to
frustrate the will of both the Assembly and the home
government, which caused tremendous political ex-
citement. His Honor was so persistent in his stub-
born and disobedient course as to send the Hon. G. F.
Street on a secret mission to the home government
with a proposal and arguments to secure, if possible,
a reversal of the proposed responsible system of gov-
ernment. Mr. Street's mission having failed, His
Honor resigned, and Sir John Harvey succeeded to
the government, after which everything went on
smoothly.
288 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR JOHN HARVEY.
The Assembly, out of gratitude to the home govern-
ment, requested the colonial minister, Lord Glenelg,
to allow a full-length portrait of himself to be painted.
The picture now hangs at the back of the Speaker's
chair in the House of Assembly, Fredericton.
Sir John Harvey's regime was eminently satis-
factory to the province. He had his troubles, but
not with his own people. The difficulty arose chiefly
over the renewal of .the Maine boundary trouble.
It is alleged that, although the King of the Nether-
lands awarded the Americans the lion's share of the
disputed territory, still the latter would not abide by
the award, as it did not give them all they claimed.
In the meantime some lawless persons from New
Brunswick went into the disputed territory and cut
timber, whereupon Governor Fairfield, of Maine, sent
a large party of constables to expel the intruders and
seize the timber. A fight ensued, which resulted in a
mutual capture. The British warden was carried off
to Augusta, and the American land agent was carried
off to Fredericton. The people of both New Bruns-
wick and Maine became terribly excited and intem-
perate in their mutual denunciations. Governor
Fairfield sent two thousand men to hold the disputed
territory. Sir John Harvey issued a proclamation
claiming the disputed territory as British, and called
upon Governor Fairfield to withdraw his troops, to
which the Maine governor responded by calling out
ten thousand state militia. Sir John Harvey there-
upon despatched two British regiments, the 36th and
60th, and a train of artillery to the upper St. John
NEW BKUNSWICK. 289
Kiver to watch the movements of the American
militia. The people of New Brunswick supported the
regular soldiers most enthusiastically; volunteering
took place in great numbers. The sister province of
Nova Scotia, as before stated, tendered large aid in
both men and money.
President Van Buren at Washington, to his credit
be it said, took a rational view of the matter, and sent
General Winfield Scott to confer with Sir John Har-
vey in a friendly manner, which was duly recipro-
cated. The result was a withdrawal of troops on
both sides. An unsuccessful attempt was made to
settle the question by fresh surveys, but each party of
engineers made out clear cases in favor of the con-
tention of the respective countries. Finally, a com-
mission was appointed to settle the difficulty. The
Americans appointed the famous Daniel Webster, a
good choice for them; the British government ap-
pointed Lord Ashburton, a very amiable old gentle-
man, who let Webster have nearly all his own way, by
which New Brunswick was despoiled of nearly 7,000
square miles of well timbered and agricultural lands,
which the New Brunswickers honestly believe belong
by right to their province. A glance at the map of
Maine, with its inconsistent and protruding looking
northern boundary line certainly seems like a
palpable encroachment on the part of Maine. These
aggravating facts are not stated for the purpose of
exciting ill-feeling between the two kindred peoples
of Canada and the United States, but merely to show
how much more alive to the interests of their own
country were the American diplomatists than were
the British commissioners, who evidently did not real-
19
290 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
ize or appreciate what they were good-naturedly
giving away on that and similar occasions.
Sir John Harvey continued to administer the affairs
of New Brunswick most satisfactorily until he re-
signed in 1841, owing to a slight difference between
Lord Sydenham, the governor-general, and himself.
He was succeeded by Sir William Colebrooke.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR WILLIAM COLEBROOKE.
The Assembly had now triumphed; but as fre-
quently happens in similar cases in both politics and
religion, the victorious party rushed to extremes.
Such proved to be the case with the Liberals in the
New Brunswick Assembly in the matter of expendi-
ture, who were so lavish that the surplus of six hun-
dred thousand dollars was soon all spent, and a debt
incurred, besides impairing the credit of the province,
making it expedient to resort to borrowing. The pro-
digality of the first responsible Cabinet rather dis-
credited the new system instead of otherwise render-
ing it popular, which might have otherwise been
accomplished by a due observance of sound financial
principles. The tension was further aggravated from
the fact that the country was on the eve of a most
serious general depression.
At the next general election the contest was most
bitter and violent, resulting in the overthrow of the
new system, and the triumph of the old methods for
a time ; but even its supporters in the Assembly soon
objected to the working of the old system, under
which the governor took the appointments entirely in
his own hands,, and the Crown lands and other depart-
ments were now mismanaged. Finally, through the
efforts of Messrs. L. A. Wilmot and Charles Fisher,
PKINCE EDWAKD ISLAND. 291
the system of responsible government became firmly
established by a large majority of the votes of both
political parties.
Sir William Colebrooke retired from the governor-
ship in 1842, and was succeeded by Sir Edmund
Walker Head, the first regularly appointed civilian
governor of the province, and who subsequently
became governor-general of Canada.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR EDMUND WALKER HEAD.
Matters went on passably well under Governor
Head. The chief topic of discussion was the trade
question. High protection for manufacturers, and a
bounty for fishermen and growers of hemp, were advo-
cated by a majority in the Assembly.
The home government looked upon the proposed
fiscal policy with disfavor, which the Assembly disre-
garded, and proceeded with bills upon the lines of
protection in a spirit of enthusiasm, which, however,,
was cut short by the action of the Legislative Council
in rejecting the bills.
Sir Edmund Head having presided for six years,,
was succeeded by Sir J. H. T. Manners Sutton in
1854, who remained eight years.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR MANNERS SUTTON.
It was during Sir Manners Sutton's regime that
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales visited the
province, and received a most enthusiastic welcome.
The " Trent " affair, which caused a great commo-
tion for a short period in the early part of the Ameri-
can Civil War, also occurred during His Honor's
term. Matters now went on in a regular way, varied
292 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
only by visions of future enterprises. Party spirit,
however, became more intense about the year 1855,
chiefly over a movement for retrenchment, the princi-
pal point of attack being the judges' salaries, which
the latter naturally resented, and in which they were
supported by the home government.
The question of free trade and protection was also
a live issue, in which the Imperial government again
interfered, causing a commotion in both the legisla-
ture and the country.
The next very important question was that of the
great scheme in 1864 for the confederation of the Brit-
ish North America provinces, a subject which keenly
enlisted popular attention. The Intercolonial Eail-
way and its route also attracted much interest.
Mr. A. J. Smith, afterwards Sir Albert Smith, a"
high-minded statesman led the anti-confederates,
while Mr. S. L. Tilley, afterwards Sir Leonard Tilley,
also an able, exemplary and much respected states-
man, led the union party.
The session of 1866 is said to have been one of the
most exciting for many years. The electors had pro-
nounced strongly against confederation, and the
premier, Mr. A. J. Smith, was at the head of a formid-
able anti-confederate government, but the Legislative
Council and Lieutenant-Governor Gordon, were so
strongly in favor of the union scheme that a reaction
took place. Mr. Smith finally resigned, and Mr.
Tilley, then a Liberal in New Brunswick politics, was
called upon to form a government. A new election
was held, resulting decidedly in favor of confederation.
The province, therefore, in due course, happily became
an important member of the great confederated
Dominion of Canada.
CHAPTER XL
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. >
GOVERNMENT OF WALTER PATTERSON, 1736.
^T "HE beautiful and fertile island province of
Prince Edward Island was known for a consid-
erable time by the name of St. John, both while
under the French and British regime.
Little or no government history appears to have
been made while it remained a French possession.
It became permanently British as early as 1763,
the population then not exceeding 4,000 souls,
mostly Acadians, many of whom withdrew from the
province consequent upon the change of sovereignty.
The island formed part of Nova Scotia for about
seven years, until 1770, after which it became a
separate province, and three years later, in 1773,
representative government was established with Wal-
ter Patterson, one of the land monopolists of the
island, as governor. The legislature consisted of a
Council, which was both legislative and executive in
its functions, and an elected Assembly of eighteen
members.
Although the land was both fertile and compara-
tively accessible, actual settlement was somewhat
tardy, owing to a bad land policy, which placed the
island originally in the hands of quasi proprietors,
293
294 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
mostly absentees, a state of things which subsequently
caused very great dissatisfaction, as will be seen.
In 1774 financial stringency was experienced. The
chief source of revenue was from what was known as
quit-rents, which were grudgingly, irregularly, and in
some instances not paid at all, and at times insuffi-
cient to pay the fixed salaries, including one clergy-
man. The Assembly had accumulated £3,000 for the
erection of public buildings, but which now had to be
used for the payment of salaries instead.
The exclusiveness of the Church of England,* it is
said, was also partly to blame for the slow progress of
settlement, in not allowing Koman Catholics to settle
in the province.
The legislature appears to have had a resident
agent-general, Mr. Stuart, to represent it in the
Mother Country, which was of advantage to the per-
manent settlers in the making known of their feelings.
During the American revolution, two privateers
swooped down upon defenceless Charlottetown while
Lieutenant-Governor Patterson was absent, and car-
ried off Mr. Colebeck with some other prisoners, and
also whatever booty they could lay hands upon. This
hostile act was, however, denounced by General Wash-
ington, who ordered the release of the prisoners and
the restoration of the booty. After this outrage the
Imperial government stationed the man-of-war Hun-
ter at the island for its protection.
The Assembly, in 1777, endeavored ineffectually to
•deal with the complicated land question, which was
rendered all the more difficult, owing to the lieutenant-
governor himself being pecuniarily interested. The
* Tuttle's History, Vol. I., p. 474.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 295
discontent finally led to his removal, but not before
many subsequent struggles took place. Some lands
were sold for taxes which suddenly became valuable.
The original owners then set up a claim to redeem the
lands by having the Tax Sale Act set aside. The
governor did not appear to advantage in these pro-
ceedings. He essayed repeatedly to get control of the
Assembly by capricious dissolutions and other devices
—in all of which he failed — until finally, through the
influx of United Empire Loyalists he secured a major-
ity in the House, which, however, did not avail him
greatly, as the home government had been all along
disapproving of his conduct, a fact which he con-
cealed until it became notorious.
The Imperial government instructed Colonel Fan-
ning to replace Patterson, but the latter would not
leave. The islanders were therefore treated to the
novel spectacle of having for months two rival gover-
nors at the same time. Peremptory orders having
again reached Patterson to vacate the position per-
manently, he then returned to England where he was
apparently soon deserted by both friends and fortune.
As regards the controversy over the land tax-sale
question, eleven years having elapsed during these
struggles of legislation and disallowances, the
tangled subject was meanwhile permitted to drift and
to remain in abeyance.
GOVERNMENT OF COLONEL FANNING.
Governor Fanning (1798) presided over the pro-
vince as governor for eighteen years. It was during
his regime that the name of the province was changed
from St. John to Prince Edward Island. The legis-
296 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
lature had adopted the name of New Ireland, which,
however, was disallowed by the Imperial government ;
the original name of St. John then stood for some
time longer, until His Koyal Highness Prince Edward,
Duke of Kent, then commander-in-chief of the forces
in North America, ordered the harbor of Charlotte-
town to be fortified and new barracks to be built. This
action so pleased the inhabitants that the legislature,
in 1798, happily adopted the present aristocratic name
— Prince Edward — in compliment to him.
The settlement of the province went on very slowly
under the proprietary system, a fact which constrained
the Assembly to petition the king, praying that the
proprietors should be at least compelled to fulfil the
easy conditions upon which the land had been granted
to them, or otherwise have the lands escheated to the
Crown. At this period nearly half the island was un-
settled. The petition of the Assembly finally received
some attention on the part of the home government,
and Governor Fanning was instructed by it to allow
legislative action to be taken. The legislature gladly
acted upon the instructions and passed a bill in fur-
therance of this petition, but to the amazement of the
provincial authorities the Imperial government incon-
sistently disallowed the bill, probably through the
representations and pleadings of that portion of the
proprietors resident in the Mother Country. The
Legislature were greatly irritated over this unfair
treatment, and drew up strong remonstrances which
were forwarded to the home government by Lieu ten-
ant-Governor Fanning, and although seemingly un-
heeded probably resulted in some good, as sales and
commutations soon followed, resulting in a great im-
PKINCE EDWAKD ISLAND. 297
petus to actual settlement, which was accelerated
three years later by a large influx of Highlanders
under the auspices of the Earl of Selkirk. When the
census was now taken it was found that one-third of
the population had " Mac " in the first syllable of their
surnames. Only ten families in the whole province
unitedly representing the common names of Smith,
Brown, Kobinson and Jones.
The population in 1804 was doubled, but still did
not exceed 10,000 souls.
Colonel Fanning resigned the lieutenant-governor-
ship in 1804, and was succeeded by Colonel de Barres,
formerly of Cape Breton, in 1805.
GOVERNMENT OF COLONEL DE BARRES.
Nothing of very unusual moment occurred during
the eight years' incumbency of de Barres. The
Assembly was, however, in a pretty dissatisfied mood
over the fickle or indifferent conduct of the home gov-
ernment in the matter of the disallowance of the
Escheats Bill, after having suggested the enactment
of the bill.
Colonel de Barres was succeeded in 1813 by Mr.
Charles Douglas Smith, a brother of the celebrated
Sydney Smith, evidently a most unsuitable person for
the position.
GOVERNMENT OF CHARLES DOUGLAS SMITH.
Mr. Smith tyrannized over the Assembly and the
people in the most heartless manner by a series of
dissolutions and dismissals for the long term of eleven
298 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
years. He treated some of the inhabitants so harshly
and cavalierly as to almost drive them to despera-
tion.* Periods of upwards of three years were
illegally allowed to lapse without calling the legis-
lature together.
• The first newspaper, the Register, appeared in 1823,
and the editor was soon placed in the toils by Gover-
nor Smith, for publishing the proceedings of the
public meetings. This tyrannical bully was at
length recalled in 1824, to the intense relief of the
inhabitants.
GOVERNMENT OF COLONEL READY.
Colonel Heady succeeded to the lieutenant-governor-
ship, and was welcomed with transports of joy. His
Honor called a meeting of the House for January,
1825. John Stewart was elected Speaker, and the
House busied itself with the passing of several im-
portant bills relating to the departments of justice,
finance, education, and the fisheries, etc.
The' following session was equally useful and har-
monious. The Roman Catholics petitioned for a re-
moval of their political disabilities. The Imperial
parliament moreover had not yet disposed of that
question, therefore no immediate action was taken.
The annual imports now reached the very respect-
able sum of |400,000, and the exports |450,000. One
item of imports did not indicate that total abstinence
was much in evidence at that period, as the quantity of
strong drink entered for consumption was equal to
* Campbell's History ; Tuttle's History, Vol. I., p. 474.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 299
two gallons and a half for every man, woman and
child in the province.
His Honor, on his return from England, met parlia-
ment in March, 1827, and congratulated the province
upon the great internal improvement which had taken
place. Roads had been surveyed and constructed.
The formation of an agricultural association, and
arrangements for the taking of the census were en-
tered upon. A vote was now taken in the Assembly
upon the question of removing the political disabili-
ties of the Roman Catholics, which ought to have been
unanimous, but resulted in an even vote, the Speaker
giving his casting vote in favor of further delay. A
bill was, however, finally passed in 1830, removing
every disability from Roman Catholics. Some fric-
tion now took place between the Assembly and Coun-
cil over the money appropriation bill, which was a
contingency always likely to arise in the absence of a
responsible system of government.
A bill was passed providing for the establishment of
a non-sectarian college, and the province was now
being rapidly developed by a good class of actual
settlers.
Colonel Ready's term as lieutenant-governor was
brought to a termination by the Imperial government
in 1831, greatly to the regret of all the people, he
having done much to improve the material condition
of the province. He had also endeavored to estab-
lish peace and contentment among all classes so far as
the land regulations would permit, thereby earning
the love and admiration of a grateful people during
his seven years' term of office.
300 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF COLONEL A. W. YOUNG.
Colonel Ready was succeeded by Colonel A. W.
Young, who arrived in 1831, and met parliament in
January, 1832. Several useful Acts were passed at
this session, which included a subsidy of £300 an-
nually for a bi-weekly mail service by steamer between
Charlottetown and Pictou, N.S.
The parliamentary term was now shortened from
seven years to four years. The census of the province
was taken in 1833, which showed a population of
32,000 souls, a very satisfactory increase on the pre-
vious decade. His Honor visited England in 1854,
and was rewarded with a knighthood. A general
election was held on his return the same year, and
parliament met in the following January.
The Council and Assembly got at variance over the
appropriation bill, and no supplies were voted by the
legislature.
His Honor, despite serious indisposition, saga-
ciously effected a conciliation between the discordant
bodies in an extra session, which he was, however, too
ill to prorogue in person, and died the same year at
the age of fifty -eight years, after an active and useful
life in the public service in various parts of the world,
the duties of which he discharged with perfect satis-
faction to all concerned.
The Honorable George Wright was sworn in as
administrator until the arrival of Sir John Harvey in
February of 1836. The last-named only remained in
the province for one year, when he was transferred to
New Brunswick.
Sir Charles Augustus Fitz-Koy was appointed to
succeed Sir John Harvey, and arrived in June, 1837.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 301
GOVERNMENT OF SIR CHARLES AUGUSTUS FITZ-ROY.
His Honor was not long in finding out the crying
injustice to which the farmers were subjected under
the original land policy. He issued a circular to the
land proprietors advising them to sell the lands to the
tenants at a moderate price, and upon easy terms of
payment, or otherwise pay the tenants for their im-
provements, in order that they might acquire lands
in fee simple elsewhere.
The Assembly enacted a law providing for the
assessment on all lands in the province, which the
proprietors opposed. A report was prepared by
Messrs. Haviland and Hodgson, and other members
of the Assembly, which showed that of the sum of
£107,603 expended in improvements during the pre-
vious ten years, the proprietors only contributed
£7,413.
Lord Durham also made an able and exhaustive
report upon the state of the province, in which his
views were all decidedly in favor of the claims ad-
vanced by the actual settlers, and also of the conten-
tion of the legislature as against the monopoly of the
proprietors. He advised the home government to end
the present system without delay, a timely advice
which the Imperial government accepted, but still
deliberated upon a mode of procedure. The provin-
cial legislature then made a three-fold proposition,
viz., the establishment of a Court of Escheats; the
resumption by the Crown of the rights of the pro-
prietors, or a heavy penalty on wild lands. The Im-
perial government would not, however, accede to such
a drastic mode, but recommended instead another
basis of settlement.
302 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The council was now remodelled by separating the
executive and legislative branches. The Executive
Council was now to be composed of twelve members,
exclusive of the chief justice, who now retired. Some
educationary and literary advances were made in the
way of establishing a mechanics' institute, and
courses of lectures, all of which proved to be very
acceptable to the community.
His Honor Lieutenant-Governor Fitz-Koy having
been appointed to a governorship in the West Indies,
was succeeded by Sir Henry Vere Huntley, who
arrived in 1841, and presided for six years, during
which nothing very eventful in the way of legislation
occurred.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR HENRY VERE HUNTLEY.
A regrettable disturbance occurred in King's
County in 1843, caused by the legal ejectment of a
farmer named Haney, whose friends forcibly rein-
stated him, after burning the proprietor's house. The
corner-stone of the new colonial building was laid by
His Honor in 1843, amid much enthusiasm. The
buildings were ready for the session in January of
1847. His Honor, however, did not greatly enjoy the
event; his temper was so ruffled by the refusal of the
legislature to enlarge and improve the government
house at the same time. He, therefore, petulantly
withdrew his name as patron of the Agriculture So-
ciety. His Koyal Highness the Prince Consort
Albert was then requested to become the patron of
the society and complied immediately, much to the
gratification of the executive.
PKINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 303
A controversy arose between His Honor and Mr.
Joseph Pope, Speaker of the House, and also a mem-
ber of the Executive Council. His Honor requested
that his salary be raised, which Mr. Pope opposed on
the ground of economy. Whereupon His Honor dis-
missed Mr. Pope without consulting the council,
otherwise that body would doubtless have supported
Mr. Pope. Mr. Gladstone, who was then colonial
secretary, informed His Honor that he had exceeded
his powers, and must reinstate Mr. Pope, who, how-
ever, did not wish to be reinstated, but started a suc-
cessful agitation against the reappointment of His
Honor for another term, which the latter seemed
anxious to obtain.
A most unfortunate election riot now occurred, in
1847, between the hot-headed Scotch and Irish fac-
tions in the Belfast district, in which four persons
were killed and between eighty and one hundred
others wounded.
The currency of the province now received much
needed attention; several theories were propounded
for an improved system, resulting in a favorable
policy being adopted.
A series of resolutions in favor of the responsible
system of government were adopted and embodied in
an address to Her Majesty, praying that she would be
graciously pleased to give effect to their request.
His Honor Governor Huntley was succeeded by
Sir Donald Campbell in 1847, greatly to the delight
of the Highland population of the province, who aided
most enthusiastically in extending a cordial welcome
to their countryman.
304 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR DONALD CAMPBELL.
The legislature wisely passed an Act during the
session of 1849 fixing all the elections for the same day
throughout the province, which largely frustrated the
gathering of the mob element.
A reply to the address, asking for the authorization
of the responsible system of government was received
from the colonial secretary, in which it was pointed
out that the population was yet too small for the
effective working of that system, but that the
Assembly should now have chief control of the
finances.
A general election took place in 1850, and respon-
sible government was made the main issue at the polls.
The result was strongly in favor of that system of
government.
The new House met in March, and was so deter-
minedly in favor of the proposed new system of gov-
ernment that they would vote the supplies only upon
the condition of complete independence of the coun-
cils in the matter of the finances. His Honor tried
to temporarize, and offered three seats in the Execu-
tive Council to members of the Assembly, but the offer
was declined. The Assembly became so very obsti-
nate that His Honor was finally forced to dismiss the
House with a reprimand.
His Honor forwarded a very able despatch to the
colonial secretary on the condition, resources and
prospects of the province, which had the effect of con-
ceding, on the part of the home government the re-
sponsible system of government, but His Honor Sir
Donald Campbell did not live to see the new system
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 305
put into operation, he having died in October of the
same year.
The Honorable Ambrose Lane acted as adminis-
trator until the arrival of Sir Alexander Bannerman,
by ice-boat, in March, 1851.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR ALEXANDER BANNERMAN.
The legislature met on the 25th of the same month,
when His Honor officially announced the welcome
news that responsible government would be estab-
lished forthwith, on condition that pensions would be
provided for the retiring officials. To this the House
readily assented, and a Cabinet was formed, com-
prised of Messrs. Coles, Joseph Pope, Charles Young
and Warburton.
The House passed the necessary legislation to place
all the departments in effectual working order. The
rate of postage was reduced; educational interests
which had hitherto been at a comparatively low ebb,
were greatly improved by the adoption of a free
school system.
Some agitation took place in favor of liquor prohi-
bition, which, however, took no practical form. An
Act was passed to establish universal suffrage, which
resulted — as in similar instances elsewhere — in the
overthrow, at the subsequent general election, of its
apparently worthy authors. So much for public
gratitude and consistency.
Sir Alexander Bannerman, having been appointed
governor of the Bahama Islands in 1854, was suc-
ceeded by Sir Dominick Daly, a former member of the
Canadian government.
20
306 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR DOMINICK DALY.
Parliament met in September, and ratified the reci-
procity treaty. A policy of land purchase from the
original proprietors was wisely adopted. The gov-
ernment purchased as largely as the public finances
would permit, and applied to the Imperial government
for a guarantee of its bonds to the extent of $100,000
to complete the purchases.
In the following year Charlottetown was incorpor-
ated as a city, and the Bank of Prince Edward Island
established. Ten thousand dollars was contributed
to the widows' and orphans' fund of those who fell in
the Crimean War. A normal school was established.
Two Acts rather prejudicial to the original land pro-
prietors were passed.
At the opening of parliament in 1856 His Honor
informed the House, to their great displeasure, that
both of the Land Acts had been disallowed by the Im-
perial government upon the ground of a tendency to
sacrifice certain vested rights of the proprietors. The
expediency of compulsory Bible reading in the Central
Academy and Normal School formed a warm subject
for debate, which resulted in a close vote adversely to
the use of the Bible in mixed schools.
A general election took place in 1858, the result of
which was so equally balanced that neither party
could elect a Speaker, whereupon another general
election took place, which resulted in the defeat of the
government. A new ministry was formed under the
leadership of Mr. Palmer and Colonel Gray.
A reply was received from the home government
declining to guarantee $100,000 for the purpose of
purchasing more lands from the original proprietors.
PRINCE EDWAKD ISLAND. 307
An address was then voted requesting Her Majesty to
appoint some disinterested persons to inquire into the
existing difficulties between tenants and proprietors.
An important question was now raised between the
Legislative Council and the Assembly as to the com-
position of the Executive Council. The Legislative
Council claimed that the principle of responsible gov-
ernment had not been carried out, alleging that the
heads of the departments who were members of the
Assembly had not gone back to their constituents for
re-election, after assuming office, and complained also
that no member of the Legislative Council, nor any
member of the Roman Catholic faith was admitted to
the Executive Council. Upon these grounds the
Legislative Council appealed to Her Majesty, praying
for an interference with the alleged wrong-doing. The
Assembly sent a counter appeal to Her Majesty in con-
tradiction of the allegations of the Legislative Coun-
cil, and claimed to have carried out the instructions
of 1857, and that their course had been endorsed by
the electors at the last election.
His Honor Sir Dominick Daly prorogued parlia-
ment in May, 1859, in a farewell address, he having
been appointed to another governorship.
Mr. Charles Young was sworn in as administrator
until the arrival of Mr. George Dundas, M.P., mem-
ber for Linlithgow, who regularly assumed the gov-
ernment.
GOVERNMENT OF GEORGE DUNDAS.
The Legislative Council and Assembly, as we have
seen, were not acting harmoniously together. His
Honor, therefore, called five new members to the
308 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
Legislative Council, who were favorable to the
Assembly, thereby securing a working majority in
both branches of the legislature.
Successful negotiations were now entered upon for
securing a tribunal to adjust the differences on the
land question. A commission was appointed, com-
prised of Mr. Joseph Howe, for the tenants; J. W.
Kitchie, for the proprietors, and Mr. J. H. Gray, for
the Crown. Each interest was represented by able
council, and Mr. de Brisbay was appointed clerk. The
commissioners were most painstaking and did not
make their report until the following year.
The prospective visit of His Eoyal Highness the
Prince of Wales evoked much enthusiasm, and served
to allay all bickerings for the time being. The royal
visit proved to be a most happy one. The reception
and welcome to the heir-apparent on the part of the
Prince Edward Islanders could not have been more
hearty or cordial than it was.
Quite a commotion was aroused over the threatened
hostilities between Great Britain and the United
States, consequent upon the high-handed and illegal
conduct of Captain Wilkes of the American frigate
" San Jacinto," in stopping the British West India
mail steamer " Trent," upon the high\ seas and forcibly
removing two of the passengers, Mason and Slidell, of
the Confederate States. The danger was, however,
averted through the common-sense statesmanship of
the great and good President Lincoln, who manfully
ordered the release of the two gentlemen, notwith-
standing his bombastic and blustering environment of
noisy people, who persisted in lionizing Captain
Wilkes over his impudent and imprudent act. Had
a collision unfortunately taken place between these
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 309
two great kindred powers, Prince Edward Island
would have been ready to do her part in aid of the
Mother Country.
The province was rapidly advancing in material
progress, the several industries being in a flourishing
condition. A most creditable display was made at
the World's Fair in London in 1862. The Prince of
Wales College wras established in commemoration of
the royal visit. The use of the Bible in public schools
was legalized by parliamentary enactment.
The intelligence of the lamented death of His Koyal
Highness the Prince Consort caused wide-spread
regret, which found official expression in the sincere
resolutions of condolence by the legislature.
The able and exhaustive report of the land commis-
sioners was now laid before parliament, and the
recommendations which it contained were confirmed
by the legislature; but the proprietors, on the other
hand, were too dissatisfied with the report to admit of
any immediate solution of the difficulty, and the burn-
ing question was. therefore allowed to stand unad-
justed for eleven years longer.
The Legislative Council having now been made
elective, a dissolution of parliament ensued. The
award of the commissioners was made an issue of the
election campaign, and was ratified at the polls.
Messrs. Palmer and W. H. Pope were sent as delegates
to the home government for the purpose of endeavor-
ing to secure an adjustment of the land question on
the lines laid down by the commissioners, but were
unsuccessful in their mission.
The proposed union of the Maritime Provinces now
occupied public attention, and a meeting of delegates
from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick with those of
310 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the island province had been arranged for the first of
September at Charlottetown. Meantime the gover-
nor-general of Canada requested permission, as has
already been elsewhere stated, to send a number of
delegates to the same convention with a proposal for
a larger scheme of union embracing all the British
North American colonies under the sway of His Ex-
cellency as governor-in-chief. The permission was
readily granted by the respective lieutenant-governors.
The meeting took place accordingly, and after some
discussion it was ultimately agreed to adjourn the
convention, and to reassemble in Quebec on the 10th
of October.
The feeling in this province was for a time averse
to a union with Canada upon the common basis, which
was not exactly suited to the exceptional circum-
stances of the province. Mr. W. H. Pope was a strong
supporter while his brother, Mr. J. C. Pope, was an
equally strong opponent of the scheme. Later on,
however, the little province was apprehensive that the
much-needed railway system now under construction,
and the means for the proposed extinction of the
claim of the land proprietors, would press unduly
upon the resources of the province, even although it
was free of debt ; therefore negotiations were renewed
in 1873, and after the exercise of considerable diplo-
macy satisfactory conditions were happily reached,
and the province entered the Dominion with a repre-
sentation in the House of Commons of six members
and in the Senate of three members. Representatives
in accordance with these terms took their seats at
Ottawa in October of 1873, where they were warmly
welcomed on all hands.
CHAPTER XII.
PROVINCE OF CANADA.
From the union of Upper and Lower Canada in 1841 until the larger
union of the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswic
with the Province of Canada in 1867.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD SYDENHAM.
r I "HE duties of His Excellency in consummating
the complete union of the Canadas had already
been somewhat arduous, but the responsibilities
still before him were fraught with even greater anxiety
and labor than that already experienced by him. The
larger province (Lower Canada) now entering the
union was comprised chiefly of people of a different
language, race and religion from the people of the
other province, and which had, moreover, been in a
most disorganized condition for the preceding few
years, and was not supposed or expected to be in gen-
eral sympathy with the recent union, in which they
practically had no voice, owing to the suspension of the
constitution two years previously. Fresh measures
for the practical and smooth working of the new con-
stitution had to be devised and prepared chiefly by
himself. The elections in eighty-four constituencies
had to be arranged for, and a return of a majority of
candidates favorable to the union secured, if possible,
311
312 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
by legitimate means, after which the harmonious
working of the Executive Council and the two
branches of the legislature had to be accomplished,
which was no easy task amid the jarring environ-
ments. All this excessive toil and anxiety devolved
upon His Excellency while suffering from chronic ill-
health. It is little wonder that he expressed a desire
to relinquish his responsibility the moment his mis-
sion was properly fulfilled, and " that he would not
care," he said, " to continue in office even if he were
made Duke of Canada with other titles thrown in."
He seemed anxious to return to his native home with
as little delay as possible, but which he was never
destined to reach.
The first parliament of the united Province of Can-
ada, as already stated in a previous chapter, met at
Kingston on the 14th of June in a fairly commodious
building, which had been formerly used as a hospital.
The speech from the throne was very explicit and
practical, so far as it went. One of its strongest
points was in the intimation that the Imperial gov-
ernment were determined to defend the British pro-
vinces to the utmost as an integral portion of the'
Empire, and besides were willing to pledge the credit
of the Mother Country to the extent of seven and a half
millions of dollars for the improvement of the inter-
nal highways of the Province of Canada. Several
useful bills were foreshadowed, but no reference was
made to the question of responsible government. The
reply to the speech from the throne lasted several
days. The leaders of the Liberal party were
determined to elicit a declaration upon the subject of
PKOVmCE OF CANADA. 313
the promised concession of the responsible system of
government. His Excellency evaded the question
until tightly cornered, then admitted that the full
measure of responsible government was not yet to be
conceded by the Imperial government, which rendered
His Excellency the virtual prime minister as well as
governor, which was a mistaken policy, besides adding
unduly to the labors of His Excellency, who was
already overworked. Had the chief responsibility
been thrown upon the leaders of the majority in the
House it would have saved him an infinite amount of
labor and worry. Under the existing system His Ex-
cellency declared that he breathed, ate, drank and
slept upon politics, while attempting to assimilate the
heterogeneous elements which comprised the two
branches of the legislature.
One hundred and two useful and solid bills were
passed during the session. His Excellency, now very
weary and in poor health, applied to the home govern-
ment to be relieved. He unfortunately shortly after-
wards met with a severe accident by the falling of his
horse, while out riding, and was now confined to his
room. The session being over he was physically
unable to prorogue parliament in person. The duties
were therefore performed by General Clithero on the
18th of September. While on his death-bed, near his
end, permission to retire, with the intimation of higher
honors being conferred upon him, reached the dying
man. His death took place on the day following the
prorogation. He was greatly mourned by all people,
and was buried in Kingston on the 24th of September.
314 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR CHARLES BAGOT.
Sir Charles Bagot was appointed governor-general
of Canada in October, and reached his destination
near the end of December. He belonged to the
opposite political party from Lord Sydenham in the
Mother Country, but like his predecessor was strictly
neutral in Canadian politics, and endeavored to har-
monize and satisfy all interests in the most impartial
manner. Sir Charles was a man of fine personal
physique, and although not of an aggressive tempera-
ment he was nevertheless possessed of intelligence,
firmness, experience and sound common-sense, and
Lady Bagot, his wife, was a charming and popular
woman.
One of His Excellency's early administrative steps,
in the filling up of the portfolio of inspector-general
by Francis Hincks, called down the unjustifiable
wrath of the ultra-Conservatives. Mr. Hincks was a
Reformer, and specially qualified for the post, a
department analogous to that of finance minister of
later times.
His Excellency's course was quite consistent, he
having found a coalition ministry in office when he
arrived, and was only continuing the system which
had prevailed. Some ultra-Reformers, too, found
fault with Mr. Hincks, on the other hand, for entering
into a cabinet with Conservatives, and accused him
of selling himself for office.
The discontent of the Conservatives, incited by the
party press, seemed to increase rather than abate as
time went on ; such, then, was the state of the political
barometer when parliament met in September.
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 315
His Excellency's opening speech was comprehensive
.and well-suited to the occasion. The address in reply
was promptly adopted by the Legislative Council, but
the Assembly deferred its consideration for a week,
pending the preliminaries for the formation of a
cabinet strictly upon the lines of the responsible sys-
tem of government. The outcome of .these formalities
was the formation of the first Lafontaine-Baldwin
administration.
The premier, Mr. Lafontaine, was an able, self-
reliant lawyer and statesman. He had, however, in
his earlier days sympathized, but only to a limited
-extent, with the Papineau party. He was now at any
rate a gentleman of undoubted loyalty to the British
Crown, and the envied great popular leader of his
•compatriots in Lower Canada, and now sat for North
York, owing to his defeat in Terrebonne through an
improperly held election. His colleague, Mr. Bald-
win, the Upper Canada leader, was well known to be
a moderate, prudent and loyal statesman. He now sat
for Eimouski, in Lower Canada, he having been
defeated during a most riotous election in Hastings.
Much credit, therefore, was due the electors of both
Uimouski and North York for their tolerant,
reciprocal and enlightened conduct in providing the
above-named statesmen with seats.
The ministry was comprised of Messrs. Lafontaine,
Baldwin, Sullivan, Harrison, Killaly, Hincks, Small,
Dunn, Daly, Aylwin and A. N. Morin, some of whom
were Conservatives.
The Conservatives now raised a furious and insult-
ing outcry against His Excellency over the alleged
disloyal antecedents of Messrs. Baldwin and Morin.
316 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
These persistent and unjust hollow cries unfortu-
nately found an echo in the Mother Country, and
tended greatly to the perturbation of His Excellency,
who had only acted constitutionally, consistently and
in good faith, and was quite justified in relying with
implicit confidence on the loyalty and patriotism of
his ministers. The ministers under the new system
all returned to their constituents for endorsation and
were re-elected.
The session was a comparatively short one, only
some thirty Acts of a useful and urgent character
were passed. One much needed bill provided for
greater freedom and better regulations of elections.
A vote was taken during the session upon the seat of
government question, which was adverse to Kingston
as a permanent capital, and as no public buildings
had yet been erected specially for parliamentary pur-
poses, it was therefore quite feasible to withdraw
from Kingston on short notice, if parliament so
determined.
His Excellency's health was now greatly impaired.
The unjust suspicion cast upon the loyalty of the lead-
ing members of his administration on both sides of
the Atlantic were not by any means conducive to the
recuperation of his health, he consequently continued
to grow so weak in body that he was not equal to the
opening of parliament, and applied for an immediate
recall, intending to return to England forthwith ; but
his illness became so serious that he was compelled to
remain in his bedroom, where he held his last cabinet
meeting, bidding his ministers a cordial and tender
farewell, accompanied with a request that they would
defend his memory. The scene was a most pathetic
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 317
one, all present being moved to tears. His Excellency
was assured by his ministers that the duty of defend-
ing his memory would be a righteous, easy and pleas-
ant task. Time has already vindicated and justified
the confidence which His Excellency placed in his
ministers, a confidence which has never been abused.
It can be truthfully said that Sir Charles Bagot set
a wise example of tolerance and neutrality such as
had not always been observed by Canadian governors
until in more recent times.
Sir Charles Metcalfe was appointed to succeed His
Excellency as governor-general, and arrived on the
30th of March. Sir Charles Bagot lingered until the
19th May, when he was relieved of his sufferings by
death. His remains were taken to England for inter-
ment. Lady Bagot never recovered from the loss of
her estimable husband, whom she survived less than
two years. The death of their Excellencies was
greatly lamented, especially by the French-Canadians.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR CHARLES METCALFE.
The new governor-general, Sir Charles Metcalfe, an
English Liberal in politics, was personally of an
upright, generous hearted, courteous, and kindly dis-
position. He had been a successful acting governor
of India and a governor of Jamaica, and was most
popular with the inhabitants of said countries. It
was upon this record that the Imperial government
injudiciously selected him for the government of
Canada, where the circumstances were totally differ-
ent from those of India and Jamaica. There is good
reason to believe that, furthermore, the instructions
318 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
to him by the colonial secretary, Lord Stanley, were
not calculated to give loyal effect to the system of
responsible government now adopted in Canada, a
system which Sir Charles Metcalfe evidently did not
fully understand, thereby causing his administration
to be a great failure and a source of much violence
and bitterness among the people of Canada, as we
shall see.
His Excellency was not long in Canada when it
transpired that he was not friendly to the system of
responsible government which had already been
regularly established and put in operation by Imper-
ial authority; neither was he loyal to his sworn
advisers, as it was notorious that he was guilty of the
impropriety of conferring with members of the Oppo-
sition, and persisted in making appointments to office
without consulting his sworn advisers, who enjoyed
the confidence and support of three-fourths of the
Assembly, and also of a good majority in the Legis-
lative Council as well.
The ministry courteously remonstrated with him,
but to their great surprise he held tenaciously to the
old doctrine of being virtually premier and cabinet
himself as well as governor-general. Under these
circumstances there was nothing left but the very
commendable course of resignation, therefore nine
ministers out of the ten resigned. Mr. Daly, whose
only politics were always the sweets of office, did not
resign. The Assembly passed a resolution approving
of the action of the ministers. The Opposition, how-
ever, were willing to sacrifice the principles of respon-
sible government, but were too weak to form a new
cabinet. Mr. Daly was His Excellency's only min-
PKOVINCE OF CANADA. 319
ister who, with His Excellency's secretary, Captain
Higginson, kept matters going for a few days.
Finally, Mr. Draper, who held a seat in the Legis-
lative Council, took charge of the attorney -general's
department for both west and east. His Excellency
offered the attorney-generalship to six different per-
sons, but all declined. The Opposition, led by Sir
Allan McNab sympathized thoroughly with His
Excellency in his unconstitutional course.
A tremendous uproar and excitement now ensued,
the inhabitants of the province being ranged against
each other in bitter and violent hostility. Some parti-
sans were condemning His Excellency, while others
were applauding him just as strongly. Addresses
were presented to him, some of which ignorantly ad-
vised the dismissal of Lafontaine and Baldwin, who,
as we have seen, had voluntarily resigned.
Months passed by, still His Excellency, notwith-
standing great efforts, was unable to form a ministry.
Finally, he succeeded in getting Mr. D. B. Viger to
join the cabinet, greatly to the surprise and disgust
of Mr. Lafontaine. This was followed by the en-
trance into the cabinet of Mr. D. B. Papineau, a
brother of Mr. L. J. Papineau, but these men could
not draw any following. As regards Mr. Viger, it
was said that he was jealous of the overshadowing
fame of his former law student, Mr. Lafontaine. His
Excellency was successful in his seventh attempt to
get an attorney for the east in the person of Mr.
James Smith, of Montreal, a gentleman who had
never been in parliament.
Mr. William Morris, of Perth, a most respectable
gentleman, also consented to accept a portfolio. His
320 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Excellency, now at the end of nine months, was able
to fill six-tenths of the cabinet offices, but it was use-
less for him to meet parliament with the present
representation. He, therefore, with the assistance of
the Opposition, prepared for a general election, and
when all the plans were advantageously laid, a dis-
solution took place and writs were issued for a gen-
eral election, resulting in one of the fiercest and most
violent contests upon record. Bloodshed and rioting
was a common occurrence, and the most unblushing
bribery wras practised by His Excellency's supporters.
Some moderate Keformers, fearing a state of anarchy
and not clearly understanding the principles at stake,
voted in the wrong. The Rev. Egerton Kyerson, of
whom better things might have been expected, came
out as a strong supporter and apologist upon the
wrong side of the question, and was not afterwards
forgotten by His Excellency. The polling in Mont-
real and elsewhere was arranged to the disadvantage
of the Eeformers. Under all the circumstances it is
not surprising that Sir Charles Metcalfe and his
friends carried the country by a very small majority.
Mr. Hincks was defeated by Conservatives in Oxford.
Messrs. Viger and Cuvillier, who sympathized with
His Excellency, were defeated in Lower Canada.
Parliament assembled at Montreal in November,
and His Excellency's party were enabled to elect Mr.
Allan McNab as Speaker by a majority of three votes.
Among the new members elected was John A Mac-
donald, destined to become altogether the most promi-
nent figure yet in Canadian politics. He was not,
however, responsible for any previous party misdeeds.
Ogle E. Gowan, the hot-headed grand master of the
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 321
Orange Order, was also elected. He had done much
to arouse recent race and religious antipathies. Mr.
John Neilson, of Quebec, and Mr. James Morris, of
Brockville, were called to the Legislative Council;
both were excellent appointments.
The speech from the throne was lengthy, and con-
tained some damaging admissions in the matter of the
delay in assembling parliament, and of the formation
of a ministry. Upon a division it was found that the
government could only count on a majority of six in
a full house, and what was less reassuring for His
Excellency was in the fact that there was no unanim-
ity of sentiment or principles in his cabinet. Minis-
ters frequently disagreed among themselves, which
was a source of grave anxiety to him, there being no
regular leader in the Assembly until Mr. Draper
found a seat in London, after which the Conservative
party were for a time successfully led by that able and
upright gentleman.
The session lasted four months, during which much
useful legislation took place, including the removal of
all restrictions upon the official use of the French
language.
A most calamitous fire occurred in the City of Que-
bec, rendering twenty-four thousand people homeless.
Contributions for the relief of the sufferers w^ere sent
forward from various parts, but in nothing like the
generous volume of aid such as is usually sent for-
ward to localities in similar cases at the present time.
Mr. William Cayley became inspector-general dur-
ing the year. The proposed principle of a double
parliamentary majority system, found a considerable
number of strong advocates, who desired to lay down
21
322 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the condition that any measure affecting a particular
province must be supported by a majority of members
from that province. The principle, however, was not
deemed to be applicable in the majority of cases.
His Excellency, who had been suffering from a can-
cerous sore upon his face, now getting worse,
requested his recall, which was acceded to in a cour-
teous message of approval of his services in Canada.
The colonial secretary could not do less than approve
of His Excellency's conduct, seeing that he was him-
self probably the chief cause, through bad instruc-
tions, of the serious frictions which occurred in the
governmental machine, resulting, as we have seen, in
the most violent discussions throughout the province,
which took a long time to heal.
The Keform press, regardless of the amenities due
to his position, cruelly assailed His Excellency most
virulently upon the eve of his departure, despite his
known illness, which resulted in death in less than a
year from his resignation, such was the bitter ani-
mosity of the period.
On the other hand His Excellency's administration
has found warm defenders among several writers, who
were probably actuated by a high appreciation of Met-
calfe's fine personal attributes.
Sir Charles Metcalfe was the last governor to
attempt a personal government in Canada. His con-
duct in ignoring the responsible system of government
after its authorization by the Imperial government
and adoption by his predecessor, Sir Charles Bagot,
cannot be defended, as his retrograde policy did an
infinite amount of harm ; but it may be to some extent
extenuated, owing to the sinister conduct of the col-
PKOVINCE OF CANADA. 323
onial secretary in the matter of the ill-advised instruc-
tions given His Excellency, neither of whom seemed
to realize that Canada, even at that early day,
possessed most able and practical men to govern the
country in an enlightened manner.
GOVERNMENT OF THE EARL OF CATHCART.
The Earl of Cathcart, a prominent and successful
military man, now succeeded to the governor-general-
ship, and met parliament in March. His Excellency
at once manifested a lack of statesmanship in allow-
ing his ministers to use him for partisan purposes in
the wording of the speech from the throne, which con-
tained complimentary references to the administra-
tion of his predecessor. Such an uncalled-for pro-
ceeding under the circumstances could not fail to
arouse legitimate criticism in the ranks of the Opposi-
tion in both branches of the legislature.
A militia bill was passed during the session. The
civil list, being now a permanent list, was then, with
the approbation of the home government, placed under
the control of the Assembly, thus confirming the
sound contention of Mr. Hincks in the first union
parliament.
The anti-Corn Law movement in the Mother Coun-
try at this time caused grave apprehension in Can-
ada, as under the old system the colonies enjoyed
some preferential advantages in the markets of the
Mother Country, which would now be swept away
under free trade. This disadvantageous change to
Canada might have been mitigated to some extent by
the repeal of the navigation laws which closed the St.
324 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Lawrence Eiver to the ships of foreign countries, but
this boon was not yet to be granted to Canada. Thus
at a single blow very great depression of trade was,
temporarily at least, inflicted upon the people of Can-
ada by Imperial legislation, which was most sensibly
felt in the farm produce markets of the province for
a considerable time.
In the midst of this wide-spread commercial depres-
sion, a revival of the burning question of the payment
of losses caused to individuals incidental to the rebel-
lion of 1837-8, was somewhat embarrassing. There
was no difference of opinion as to compensation for
losses sustained by loyal inhabitants, therefore very
little difficulty was experienced in adjusting these
losses in Upper Canada. But it was found that the
difficulty of discriminating among the claimants in
Lower Canada was attended with much difficulty; in
fact, the feeling of many of the English-speaking
people of Lower Canada was against any compensa-
tion whatever to the inhabitants of that province.
The Draper administration, however, had appointed
six commissioners the year previously to inquire into
the validity of the claims preferred by loyal subjects.
The claims of those who had participated in the rebel-
lion were not to be entertained. The total claims sub-
mitted aggregated £241,965, but the commission
recommended that an appropriation of £100,000 was,
in their opinion, sufficient to cover the losses of loyal
claimants.
Mr. Draper introduced a bill to carry out the recom-
mendation of the commissioners, but did not for some
reason press it to a conclusion, and allowed the ques-
tion to stand over as a troublesome legacy for his
successors.
PBOVINCE OF CANADA. 325
Parliament Avas prorogued in June. Some uneasi-
ness was felt during the recess over the boundary
questions between Great Britain and the United
States. Peace was, however, happily preserved, even
although by the one-sided Oregon treaty, the Ameri-
cans, as usual, shrewdly getting rather the best of the
bargain.
A successor to His Excellency had now been
selected in no less a personage than the eminent
statesman, the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, son-in-
law of Lord Durham, but of different party politics
from his father-in-law, who was a Liberal in the
Mother Country, while Lord Elgin was a Conservative.
The Duke of Wellington, now commander-in-chief
of the forces of the Empire, desired Lord Cathcart to
remain as commander-in-chief of the forces in Canada,
but he felt slighted by his deposition from the gov-
ernor-generalship so soon, and declined to remain
longer in Canada.
The home government now began to realize that
more care should be exercised in the selection of the
governor-general of Canada; that only exper-
ienced and constitutional governors, who understood
the workings of responsible government in its entirety,
should now be appointed, particularly as some grave
difficulties for solution were now looming up on the
political horizon of Canada.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD ELGIN.
Lord Elgin was sworn in as governor-general at
Montreal in January of 1847, and was the recipient of
the usual addresses of welcome, to which he replied
in exceptionally able and happy terms, and at once
326 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
became popular with the public. He was quite cog-
nizant from his father-in-law's report upon Canada,
and also from various other sources, of the bitter
political and racial schisms which unfortunately
existed in the province ; he therefore wisely resolved
to meet all difficulties by pursuing a neutral and con-
stitutional course by lending his best efforts and coun-
sel to aid his ministers, no matter to what political
party they belonged, so long as they commanded a
majority in the popular branch of the legislature.
His first mission was to promote the welfare of, and
harmony between, all classes of Her Majesty's Cana-
dian subjects.
The vicious party feeling manifested in the Mont-
real municipal election, which took place within a
month after His Excellency's arrival, was not, how-
ever, very reassuring for harmony in that city.
His Excellency found rather a weak Conservative
government in power upon his arrival, which was
gradually growing weaker; both Attorney-General
Smith and Draper retired to the bench. Mr. H.
Sherwood succeeded Mr. Draper as attorney-general
and premier, and John A. Macdonald was given a
•cabinet position — his first — as receiver-general.
Parliament met at Montreal in June, when His Ex-
cellency delivered a most acceptable speech, for which
his cabinet were entitled to the credit, save for that
portion of it which conveyed the intimation of the Im-
perial government of the surrender to Canada of the
full control of the post-office department, and also to
confer upon the Canadian legislature the authority
to repeal the different duties in favor of the manufac-
tures of the Mother Country. Several internal im-
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 327
provements were foreshadowed in the speech, such as
the shipping, railway and other interests. In all,
something over one hundred useful bills were passed
during the session.
An excessive immigration of a destitute class,
drawn from the famine-stricken districts of the old
land, was now pouring into Canada. Ninety thou-
sand souls arrived via the St. Lawrence River in one
season of navigation, thereby causing a most serious
burden to fall upon the Canadian people. This over-
whelming influx of emaciated and poverty stricken
people, caused a grave sensation throughout the pro-
vince, and for a time lulled the political elements.
Meantime the ministry were getting so weak that they
did not feel like facing another session, consequently
another dissolution of the House took place in De-
cember, resulting in the rout of the government party
at the polls. The government, however, with great
impropriety clung to office for more than two months
after their decisive defeat at the polls.
The new parliament met at the end of February.
The discredited government proposed Mr. Allan Mc-
Nab for Speaker. Mr. Baldwin proposed in amend-
ment A. N. Morin, who was elected by nearly a two-
thirds vote.
His Excellency's speech from the throne was an
acceptable one, and promised on behalf of the Imper-
ial government that such a heavy emigration of un-
suitable persons would not be again permitted to
reach Canada.
The Sherwood government, despairing of carrying
the address in reply to the speech from the throne,
resigned. It will be seen that His Excellency had
328 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
unduly indulged the government by permitting them
to remain in office for an unusually long time after
their defeat at the polls ; it will be observed later how
much gratitude these same gentlemen and their fol-
lowers manifested towards His Excellency during the
succeeding years of his administration.
The leader of the Opposition, Mr. Lafontaine, was
now summoned by His Excellency, and charged with
the responsibility of forming a government, which he
speedily accomplished with the assistance of his first
lieutenant, Mr. Robert Baldwin, the leader of the
Upper Canada Reform contingent. The members of
the cabinet, which was said to be the ablest yet en-
rolled in the Province of Canada, were Lafon-
taine, attorney -general (East) ; Leslie, president
of the Council; R. E. Caron, Speaker of the
Legislative Council; E. P. Tache, commissioner
of public works; Aylwin, solicitor-general (East) ;
L. M. Viger, receiver-general; Baldwin, attor-
ney-general (West) ; Sullivan, provincial secretary;
Hincks, inspector-general; Price, commissioner of
Crown lands; W. H. Blake, solicitor-general (West) ;
Malcolm Cameron, assistant commissioner of public
works, all of whom were re-elected on appealing to
their constituents.
Canada now assumed a more dignified and inde-
pendent position than ever before as a completely self-
governing community. Ministers applied themselves
assiduously to the affairs of their respective depart-
ments when not attending the sittings of the House.
The session did not last long; the chief legislation
was in the regulation of immigration and the sani-
tary matters in connection therewith.
PKOVINCE OF CANADA. 329
The politics of Europe were greatly disturbed this
year, and practically all the thrones of the continent,
except those of Great Britain and Belgium, were tot-
tering ; upon the thrones of the last-named sat, respec-
tively, the good young Queen Victoria and her excel-
lent uncle, King Leopold, both largely of the Bruns-
wick royal line.
In Canada matters were fairly tranquil, with the
exception of some agitation which Mr. L. J. Papineau,
now a sort of political Ishmaelite, tried rather unsuc-
cessfully to foment in Lower Canada. He was only
countenanced by a few young men — the eldest of his
would-be followers, it is said, being but twenty-two
years of age.
Trade was still much depressed and the navigation
laws were yet unrepealed, although the British House
of Commons did its part in passing an Act for the re-
peal of said law ; but the Lords did not concur in the
same until a year later. All these unsatisfactory con-
ditions were unfairly laid at the door of the Lafon-
taine-Baldwin government by the merchants and
capitalists, who, it is said, at that time chiefly be-
longed to the Conservative party — or it would be
fairer, perhaps, to say to the English-speaking party —
although it must have been patent to all reasonable
people that the Canadian government could not have
averted the change in the fiscal policy of the Mother
Country or to prevent the delay in the repeal of the
navigation laws, which were the generally acknowl-
edged cause of the depression of trade in the province.
Parliament met again in January of 1849. His
Excellency delivered the speech from the throne in
both the English and French languages, a proceeding
330 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
which was now authorized by the Imperial authori-
ties, through the amending of a restrictive clause in
the Union Act for that purpose, a step highly gratify-
ing to the French-Canadians, who naturally cherished
a very warm feeling for their polite mother tongue.
It was announced in the speech, that the navigation
laws were being repealed by the Mother Country, and
that the St. Lawrence canals were almost completed;
That Her Majesty announced her purpose to grant a
general amnesty to all who had been concerned in the
rebellion of 1837-8 ;
That King's College was to be made non-sectarian,
under the title of the University of Toronto.
The reply to His Excellency's speech was carried
after a long debate, and by a large majority.
The Court of Chancery Act was passed which, it is
said, owed most of its provisions to Mr. Baldwin. Sev-
eral railway bills were passed ; then the vexed and
burning question of the rebellion losses claims — a
legacy from the previous government — was taken up
in the shape of preliminary resolutions introduced by
Mr. Lafontaine, which were adopted amid some excite-
ment. A bill founded upon the said resolutions was
then introduced, the provisions of which authorized
the payment of a sum not exceeding $400,000, being
the amount recommended by the commissioners who
had investigated the claims, payment to be made only
to the sufferers who had not participated in the said
rebellion.
The Opposition, fancying that an opportunity now
presented itself of making some party capital over
the question, therefore lost no time in setting the pace
for violent agitation against the measure, both inside
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 331
and outside of parliament, by declamation, petitions
to His Excellency, and otherwise.
The bill finally passed through its several stages,
and as navigation had opened early that year, His
Excellency was requested to come down to parliament
and give the royal sanction to a customs' bill, on the
26th April. His Excellency came down accordingly
escorted by a troop of cavalry, and assented to the
Rebellion Losses Bill at the same time. This constitu-
tional function on his part was at once made the pre^
text for a series of the most disgraceful riots and out-
rages on the part of the Conservatives and their sym-
pathizers of Montreal, thereby casting an indelible
blot upon the fair fame of Canada.
His Excellency was subjected to personal violence
and to the grossest insults, upon more than one occa-
sion, by persons who professed to be gentlemen. The
outrages did not cease with the riotous and brutal
attacks upon His Excellency and staff. The parlia-
ment buildings were set on fire and destroyed by the
same gentry, thereby causing an irreparable loss in
the destruction of records, besides a direct money loss
in property of over half a million dollars, to say noth-
ing of the confusion and inconveniences engendered
thereby. The private dwellings of the cabinet min-
isters and their supporters in Montreal were wrecked,
also the Pilot newspaper office; the residences of
Messrs. Blake, Rolph, Baldwin and Brown, of the
Globe, in Toronto, were attacked, and Baldwin and
Blake were burned in effigy.
The parliament buildings being now out of exist-
ence, the legislature met for a few days in the great
hall of Bonsecours market, and from thence removed
to a building on Dalhousie Square.
332 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
It was now resolved to make the cities of Toronto
and Quebec, alternately, the capitals of Canada, Mont-
real being irrevocably punished for the niad and un-
pardonable outrage committed by so many of its Eng-
lish-speaking citizens, who appear to have lost their
Jieads, and to have given free reins to frenzy.
The legislature passed an address of sympathy with,
and confidence in, His Excellency, which was followed
by similar addresses of sympathy and confidence from
various parts of the province.
Meanwhile, His Excellency, as a result of these in-
dignities and tumults, had tendered his resignation to
the home government, but the Queen and her cabinet
expressed their entire approval of his conduct and
urgently requested him to retain his position.
Messrs. McNab and Cayley left for England upon
the foolish errand of stirring up hostile feelings
against the Kebellion Losses Bill, with the design of
procuring its disallowance. Mr. Hincks needlessly fol-
lowed these two gentlemen for the opposite purpose,
seeing that there was not the slightest probability of
the bill being disallowed.
The political upheavals of the times and the con-
tinued depression of trade, constrained some citizens
of Montreal to prepare an annexation manifesto, de-
claring for political union with the United States,
which was signed by three hundred and twenty-five
prominent persons of both political parties, such as
D. L. Macpherson, J. J. C. Abbott and L. H. Holton,
etc. Mr. John A. Macdonald shrewdly declined to
append his name to the manifesto, although invited to
do so. Other remedies for the unsatisfactory state of
the province were proposed by irresponsible parties.
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 333
The ministers themselves, however, had devised the
most helpful policy in the proposed Reciprocity
Treaty with the United States for the free inter-
change of the natural products of the two countries.
His Excellency now paid a visit to Upper Canada
with the two-fold object of making himself acquainted
with the country, and to meet with President Tyler, of
the United States, who was visiting at Niagara Falls,
to discuss together the question of reciprocity.
His Excellency, notwithstanding the recent public
excitement, travelled with no other escort than his
aide-de-camp. His tour was most pleasant, with the
exception of one or two little episodes, which, how-
ever, did not greatly perturb him. Ogle R. Gowan
saluted him with a black flag on the steamboat wharf
at Brockville, and a few missiles were hurled at him
in Toronto. He was kindly welcomed at Kingston
by the mayor and corporation, and also throughout
the Niagara district.
Some changes in the ministry took place. Mr. W.
H. Blake accepted the chancellorship and was suc-
ceeded by John Sandfield Macdonald in the solicitor-
generalship. Malcolm Cameron retired from the gov-
ernment on some personal grounds. Mr. Viger also
retired and was succeeded by Mr. Tache.
The Reform party in Upper Canada was now be-
coming disunited. One section was led by Baldwin
and Hincks, with the Globe as its organ; the other
section was led by Rolph, Macdougall, Perry and
Malcolm Cameron, with the Examiner as its organ.
The Globe dubbed the last-named party " Clear
Grits," a soubriquet which is yet occasionally applied
by some of their opponents to the whole Liberal party
as the antithesis of Toryism.
334 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Mr. L. J. Papineau had also a small following in
Lower Canada, designated the Parti Rouge. The
Parti Bleu, or Conservative party, at that time was
very weak, but subsequently became, for half a cen-
tury, the strongest of the political parties in the pro-
vince, but has of late again grown as weak as it was
in its primitive days.
A Conservative league was also organized to give
a systematic opposition to the government and,
although then numerically weak, it soon made its
power felt, owing chiefly to the political tact of some
of its newer members in recruiting support from their
opponents, one of whom was soon destined to be the
most adroit political leader yet known to Canadian
history. It is needless to say that person was Mr. J,
A. Macdonald, member for Kingston.
The public securities of the province, which had
been unfavorably affected by the recent serious politi-
cal dissensions, began to improve, still outside
capitalists were chary about investing freely in the
province. An agent of the province had meanwhile
been despatched to Washington to promote reci-
procity negotiations in conjunction with the British
minister at the American capital.
Trade began to revive in 1850 quite perceptibly,
owing to the repeal of the navigation laws, to the
bountiful harvest, and to the calming down of the
agitation over the rebellion losses affair.
The next session of parliament was held in Toronto,
to the great delight of its inhabitants, who scarcely
anticipated the prospect of their important city being
again chosen as one of the two capitals of the pro-
vince so soon after the closing up of the old Upper
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 335
Canada parliament to enter the union, nine years
previously. The legislature assembled on the 14th
May in the parliament building on Front Street,
formerly used by the legislature of Upper Canada, but
now deserted since the recent erection, at very mod-
erate cost, of the commodious pile of public buildings
in the Queen's Park, which from an architectural
standpoint are probably the best arranged, internally
at least, of any public buildings upon the continent of
North America, and are also probably the best value
for their cost of any legislative buildings on the
continent.
The weather being fine the opening ceremonies were
attended with great eclat and enthusiasm. The
streets were crowded with people in their holiday
attire from both the city and country parts. The
speech from the throne prudently avoided any refer-
ence to the exciting topics of the previous year, or of
the events which had caused the unexpected meeting
of parliament in Toronto. The beneficial changes in-
duced by the repeal of the navigation laws were
referred to, also the great desirability of securing
reciprocity with the United States and an increased
interprovincial trade with the other provinces as well.
No reference was made to the Clergy Reserves ques-
tion, shortly to become a very exciting issue. The
Reform press, though still supporting the government,
could not disguise its disappointment and dissatisfac-
tion over the omission of that topic from the speech
from the throne.
The Opposition forces at this time were divided into
several camps, with nothing in common in the
way of associations or principles, but yet were allied,
336 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
although from different motives, in their united hos-
tility to the government. The Conservative wing was
led by Messrs. McNab, Macdonald and Sherwood.
The half dozen " Clear Grits " by Cameron and Perry,
and the few Rouges by L. J. Papineau, and two or
three independent Conservatives by Colonel Prince.
During the debate upon the address, Colonel Prince
presented a petition from certain inhabitants praying
that the province might be made an independent
nation by severance from the Mother Country.
Mr. Baldwin opposed the reception of the petition,
which he characterized as treasonable, and only the
outcome of the temporary irritation, caused chiefly by
the late commercial depression, and political commo-
tion, which was rapidly passing away. A vote was
taken upon the reception of the petition, which only
found seven supporters, which included Cameron,
Papineau and Prince.
Mr. Papineau aired his old contention for an
elective Legislative Council in such an acrimonious
speech as to alienate nearly all his small following in
the House.
The majority of Upper Canada Keformers, espec-
ially outside of parliament, now led by George Brown,
would not let the Clergy Reserves question rest, and
were determined, regardless of consequences, to force
the hands of the government. Mr. Baldwin, the
leader of the party in the House, did not wish at pre-
sent to deal further with the question, which had
undergone some changes ten years previously, and
moreover he contended truly that the Canadian par-
liament had not then power to completely abolish the
system, which had been established by the Imperial
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 337
government. Mr. Baldwin's conservative attitude on
that question, and the impatience of the extreme Re-
formers most unfortunately cost him his seat in North
York at the next general election, and practically
caused his retirement from active public life, which
was a great loss to the country, as we have too few
public men who combine ability with moderation and
integrity. Such a man was Robert Baldwin.
Mr. Hincks was not very pronounced in his views
upon the Clergy Reserves question, and was disposed
to evade it, which, however, was not possible in the
state of the public mind, then so easily incited by the
Reform press.
The question of the abolition of the seigniorial
tenures, already referred to in the narrative of the
administration of Lower Canada, now came promi-
nently to the front as an issue, and engaged the
serious attention of parliament for some years.
The House was prorogued in August, when His
Excellency made a western tour, including the min-
ing districts of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, which
greatly interested him.
The first provincial exhibition of the products of
agriculture, manufacture and arts, was held in Mont-
real the same fall, and proved to be a great success,
and was followed by preparations for a Canadian
exhibit at the World's Fair, which was held in the
London Crystal Palace in 1851, all of which resulted
not only in success, but also in the promotion of a
more intimate feeling between Canada and the Mother
Country, and with other nations.
Meantime the George Brown wing of the Reform
party were being designated " Clear Grits," a name
22
338 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
which Mr. Brown himself, as we have already seen,
bestowed upon a totally different wing of the
party, but which was now destined to cling
to his own followers. This strong wing of the Reform
party constantly clamored for a more radical policy
on the part of the administration, which finally cul-
minated in open opposition to the government, greatly
to the delight of the Conservative Opposition, and to
the embarrassment of the government. A bye-election
had taken place in Haldimand in April, in which Mr.
George Brown was supposed to be the government
candidate. It was a three-cornered fight, in which
W. L. Mackenzie was one of the three candidates, and
he, with much tact, imputed to Mr. Brown all the sins
of the government ; and to the other candidate, all the
sins of the Opposition. The government did not give
Mr. Brown the cordial support which he expected
from them, his paper having given some grievous
offence to the Roman Catholic religion, and also to
French-Canadians. It was, therefore, not easy for
the government to give him an unqualified support.
Mr. Brown was consequently defeated in Haldimand
and Mr. Mackenzie was elected. These circum-
stances, no doubt, tended to further incite Mr. Brown
against the government.
The railway mania now ran high and some private
companies were incorporated, and the government
took power to secure the construction of a trunk line
of railway throughout the length of the two united
provinces, an enterprise shortly to become famous as
the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada.
The charge for postage, which had been excessive,
was reduced this year to the uniform rate of five cents
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 339
for a letter not weighing more than half an ounce, and
postage stamps were now adopted for the first time in
Canada, all of which was a great boon to the public.
The country was now becoming generally prosper-
ous. His Excellency accepted an invitation to a
great railway celebration in the United States and
delivered, by common consent, the speech of the
occasion.
The " Clear Grit " element in the Keform party con-
tinued to grow stronger, and was to some extent coun-
tenanced by Mr. Brown's paper, the Globe, all of
which naturally weakened Mr. Baldwin's position.
The legislature met in May, and important par-
liamentary matters were apparently progressing
smoothly until the eccentric Mr. Mackenzie made a
savage onslaught upon the Court of Chancery, a favor-
ite tribunal with Mr. Baldwin, and a court chiefly of
his own creation.
A vote was taken upon Mr. Mackenzie's proposal to
abolish the said court, and although the motion did not
prevail, however, through a lack of discipline, owing
to the absence of caucuses and party whips, such as
are in vogue to-day, Mr. Mackenzie carried with him
a majority of Upper Canada Eeformers. Mr. Bald-
win being a most sensitive man took this unfortunate
incident so much to heart that he resigned his seat in
the government, to the great regret of many Eeform-
ers, who would have voted differently had they known
the serious effect it was calculated to have upon Mr.
Baldwin. The Upper Canada colleagues of Mr. Bald-
win also felt the temporary defection of their sup-
porters most keenly, and furthermore extremely
regretted Mr. Baldwin's retirement.
340 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
The serious rift in the ranks of the Reform party
caused a reconstruction of the cabinet. Mr. Hincks
became premier, and Messrs. M. Cameron and
Eolph joined his ministry. The cabinet was now
comprised of Messrs. Hincks, Kichards, M. Cameron,
J. Young, R. E. Caron, Tache and J. Koss.
The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and a gen-
eral election followed, in which the government was
sustained by a fair majority. Mr. George Brown,
who now openly assailed Mr. Hincks upon public
grounds, was elected for Kent. Mr. Baldwin was
defeated by Mr. Hartman in North York upon the
Clergy Reserves cry, he having refused to give any
pledges upon the question, and never offered again for
the Legislative Assembly.
Parliament met in Quebec in August, 1852, and
chose Mr. John Sandfield Macdonald as Speaker. In
the speech from the throne His Excellency referred to
the expediency of dealing with the seigniorial tenure
question; to the need of a line of ocean steamships
between Canada and the Mother Country; to the
advisability of a change in the currency by adopting
the decimal, or dollar and cents system, in lieu of the
existing system of pounds, shillings and pence — cer-
tainly a good move — and of an increased parlia-
mentary representation.
The bold financier, Premier Hincks, had during the
recess made a journey to the Mother Country in the
interests of the proposed Grand Trunk Railway. He
.now came down to the House with his railway
schedule, which involved the alarming addition, in
those days, of sixteen million dollars to the public
debt, and the end was not yet. This famous railway
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 341
corporation formed for years a popular theme of
denunciation, both upon the platform and in the press.
Several large private fortunes were made out of its
construction, chiefly by English contractors, owing to
the excessively high prices paid for the work. It
should be explained, however, that the appliances for
railway construction then were not so serviceable as
those of the present time. On the other hand, the
score of thousands of original private shareholders
have not yet received one farthing of returns for their
investments, and are never likely to receive anything.
They have merely the poor satisfaction of voting at
the meeting of shareholders. The Grand Trunk Rail-
way has, however, been of incalculable service to Can-
ada, even although it was but indifferently managed
at times in the somewhat distant past. It is, latterly,
happily and universally recognized to be a very high-
class and most efficient highway, an acknowledged
credit to Canada, and bids fair to become one of the
greatest railway corporations in the world.
The premier at nearly the same time embarked in
another very extravagant scheme, known as the Con-
solidated Municipal Loan Fund Act, for the encour-
agement of municipalities to borrow funds upon gov-
ernment guarantee for public improvements, which
had the effect of inducing several municipalities to
borrow recklessly beyond the power of even paying the
interest upon the sums borrowed. Before a check
was placed upon this prodigal system of borrowing,
the province was mulcted into the payment for delin-
quent borrowers to the extent of nine and a half
million dollars, casting at the same time a most unfair
burden upon the municipalities which had not bor-
342 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
rowed. This unsatisfactory state of matters was not
finally and equitably adjusted until Oliver Mowat
became premier of the province of Ontario, who with
his clear and logical mind, assisted by his colleagues,
solved the problem in a manner just and satisfactory
to all interests. It must be said, however, in exten-
uation of the premier's seeming prodigality, that the
revenue exceeded the expenditure at this time, and the
public debt was not over a tenth part of what it is
to-day. Canadian securities at that time, bearing six
per cent, interest, were at a premium of sixteen per
cent. The ordinary rate of interest in those days of
about eight per cent, would seem most exorbitant now.
The session was fruitful of legislation, nearly two
hundred bills were assented to by His Excellency, of
these the large number of twenty-eight Acts were
upon railway subjects alone.
An Act provided for an increase of parliamentary
representation of twenty-three additional members
from each province, making a future representation
in the House of one hundred and thirty instead of
eighty-four members.
The Imperial government now authorized the Cana-
dian parliament to deal with the Clergy Keserves
question upon the very proper conditions that the
vested rights of the existing individual beneficiaries
should not be interfered with during their lives.
There was, therefore, no obstacle in the way of dispos-
ing forever of the vexed question.
Some unfortunate excitement was aroused over the
advent of Father Gavazzi, who arrived in the province
upon a lecturing tour against the Roman Catholic
Church, and which culminated in very serious rioting
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 343
in Quebec and Montreal upon the part of some of the
narrow-minded portion of the population. The
rioters intended some bodily harm to the supposed
leader of the ultra-Protestant party. Mr. Brown,
however, eluded his would-be assailants. These inci-
dents tended to popularize him with the Protestant
party, but also injured him correspondingly in the
estimation of many Roman Catholics. His influence,
however, in the Reform ranks was on the whole in the
ascendant. He had now become a most formidable
opponent of the Hincks7 ministry, chiefly over their
remissness in failing to deal with the Clergy Reserves
question.
Mr. Brown attacked Mr. Hincks personally upon
a charge of collusion with the mayor of Toronto in
the matter of some debentures of that city, which
were obtained indirectly by Mr. Hincks and his
friends at a price below par, and afterwards were
made worth par value by some alleged legislative
enactment. Mr. Hincks was also charged with pri-
vate speculation in government lands at Point Levis.
A committee was appointed to investigate the matter,
and reported rather adversely as regards the conduct
of Mr. Hincks in the transaction, who was now
attacked simultaneously by both Mr. Brown and Mr.
John A. Macdonald, the latter declaring that the
premier was " steeped to the lips in corruption." Mr.
Macdonald's subsequent friendly intercourse towards
Mr. Hincks would indicate that the imputation had
been hastily made, in the heat of a debate.
Meantime His Excellency and Premier Hincks had
proceeded to Britain to promote the proposed Reci-
procity Treaty, and also to confer about some other
344 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
matters. These gentlemen were well received by the
Imperial government and every request granted. His
Excellency was appointed as special envoy to Wash-
ington to complete the treaty, which he successfully
accomplished. The terms were for ten years, which
might then be abrogated upon two years' notice being
given by either party. The treaty was ratified by the
several legislatures of the British North American
provinces, and proved to be a very great boon at any
rate to the Province of Canada, until its abrogation
on the part of the United States twelve years later.
The assembling of parliament was delayed until
June, 1854, owing to the destruction by fire in
the previous February of the moderately fine public
buildings at Quebec, thereby causing a second serious
financial loss and great inconvenience of the same
kind within a period of five years.
The speech from the throne touched upon several
gratifying points, including the success of the British
and French allies over the Kussian forces in the
Crimea. The speech, however, omitted all reference
to the live issues over the Clergy Reserves and
Seigniorial Tenures question, which were now
urgently pressing for settlement, thus exposing the
government to a combined attack from two sections of
the Opposition.
Mr. Cauchon moved an amendment to the address
on the seigniorial question, and Mr. Sicotte tacked on
another amendment relative to the Clergy Reserves,
which resulted in a defeat of the government by thir-
teen votes. The cabinet had been previously weak-
ened somewhat by the retirement of Mr. Richards to
the bench.
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 345
The government advised immediate prorogation and
a dissolution of the House, which was promptly fol-
lowed by a general election. The government were
opposed by the whole of the Conservative, and a con-
siderable portion of the Reform press as well. Mr.
Brown's paper, the Globe, supported Mr. John A.
Macdonald in Kingston, and Allan McNab in Hamil-
ton, against the government candidates. Mr. Brown
himself opposed and defeated a minister, Mr. M.
Cameron in Lambton.
The next parliament met in September, and the gov-
ernment proposed Mr. G. E. Cartier — afterwards
Sir G. Cartier — for the Speakership. The Opposition
proposed Mr. Sicotte in amendment, who was elected
by a majority of three votes.
His Excellency delivered the speech from the, throne
on the following day, in which he announced that the
Imperial government had consented to the proposal of
rendering the Legislative Council an elective instead
of a nominated body, and that the Seigniorial Ten-
ures and Clergy Reserves questions would be now
dealt with. These concessions came too late, however,
to appease the Reformers of Upper Canada, who were
determined to oust the government, and in their eager-
ness to that end, never suspecting the coup shortly to
be perpetrated, Mr. Rolph now left the cabinet and
went into Opposition.
The government party was still stronger than either
one of the other two parties, single-handed, but the
latter parties by uniting their forces, which they were
willing to do for a special purpose, could easily defeat
the government. Mr. Hincks now, in a spirit of
revenge upon the Reformers, made overtures to the
346 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Conservatives for a coalition with some of his col-
leagues, which the last-named party inconsistently
accepted. Mr. Tache became premier; Mr. McNab,
president of the council; Robert Spence, postmaster-
general; John A. Macdonald, attorney-general
(West); Cayley, inspector-general; Chauveau, pro-
vincial secretary; Morin, commissioner of Crown
lands, and Chabot, commissioner of public works.
Although some further defection of the Hincks' Re-
formers took place, still the new coalition government
had a sufficient working majority.
The Brown Reformers were now completely left out
in the cold for an indefinite period through the
mutual and permanent estrangement of the two wings
of the Reform party, comprised of the Baldwin and
Hincks', and the Brownite Reformers, the latter who
now with the assistance of the Rouges from Lower
Canada constituted an efficient opposition led by Mr.
Brown, for the purpose of keeping a check upon the
conduct and legislation of the government.
The new government now proceeded to give effect
to the policy which the Reform party had nearly
achieved at thq polls after a long and earnest struggle.
The coalition government furthermore adopted a new
party name, by appropriating the word Liberal as a
prefix to the old party title of Conservative, thus
designating themselves by the pleasant name of Lib-
eral-Conservatives, a party, which apart from a few
reverses incidental to all parties, has had a large and
honorable share in moulding the destinies of Canada.
The secularization of the Clergy Reserves was car-
ried out without difficulty, save some mild protesting
on the part of some members of the churches of Eng-
land and Scotland.
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 347
The Seigniorial Tenures question was settled at a
cost of one million dollars, which was a welcome relief
to all parties.
A line of ocean steamships was incorporated during
the session, which was the precursor of the present
splendid Allan line of steamers.
The Reciprocity Treaty in natural products, was
now put in force and the customs duties upon manu-
factures placed at twelve and a half per cent.
Mr. Hincks now retired from Canadian public life
and was appointed by the Imperial government suc-
cessively to the governorship of some of the West
India Islands, and to British Guinea. He returned
to Canada after fifteen years' absence and entered the
coalition government of the Dominion as finance min-
ister in Sir John A. Macdonald's government in 1869.
We shall meet him again.
Parliament was prorogued in December. Lord
Elgin did not remain in Canada much longer, his
regime had been a stormy one, but not of his own mak-
ing. He held the reins in an impartial, cautious, dig-
nified, and constitutional manner, giving equal fair
play and assistance to his advisers of whichever party
commanded a majority in parliament. It can be truly
said that Lord Elgin was not only one of the most able
of our governors, but was the strictest constitutional
ruler who had up to that time represented the sover-
eignty in this country. On returning to the Mother
€ountry he was not long idle, having performed a
successful mission to enlighten the Japanese and
Chinese (his success with the former people in that
direction has been marvellously evolved), after which
he assumed the governor-generalship of India until
348 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA..
his lamented death, which was attributed to the un-
healthy climate for Europeans in that country. His
Lordship was upon an extended tour of the country,
accompanied by Lady Elgin, when overtaken by the
fatal illness. He was buried at his own request under
the shadow of the Himalaya Mountains. His death
was greatly regretted throughout the world.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR EDMUND WALKER HEAD.
Sir Edmund Walker Head, whom we met before as
lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, now succeeded
Lord Elgin as governor-general, and soon discovered
that the stormy passions in the breasts of Canadian
politicians were far from being allayed.
Some cabinet changes were made during the recess.
Mr. Morin was succeeded by Mr. Cameron as commis-
sioner of Crown lands. Mr. Cartier succeeded Mr.
Chaveau as provincial secretary, and Mr. Lemieux
succeeded Mr. Chabot in the public works department.
Parliament met in February of 1855, with the
coalition government still firmly entrenched in power.
A large amount of useful legislation was enacted, such
as an amendment to the militia laws, to enable the
formation of volunteer companies and battalions. One
hundred thousand dollars was commendably voted for
the widows and orphans' fund in connection with the
heavy loss of life in the Crimean war. This grant
was happily followed up generally by smaller gifts
upon the part of municipal corporations. The cus-
toms dues were reduced to ten per cent., which was
then considered to be ample for the requirements of
the country. The public debt rose to forty millions
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 349
of dollars, largely owing to the construction of the
Grand Trunk Railway, which was this year completed
as far west as Brockville, with the exception of the
Victoria Bridge which was still under construction.
The Imperial government were again congratulated
upon the success of the allied armies in the Crimea.
His Excellency prorogued parliament in May, and
was in a position to rejoice over the final settlement
of at least the most difficult of the several vexed ques-
tions which had so long beset the electorate of the pro-
vince. In conclusion, he recommended that still
greater attention be given to the militia organization.
Parliament met again in Toronto in February of
1856. The speech from the throne felicitated the
country upon the tranquility and prosperity wilich
now reigned supreme throughout the province, and
referred to some administrative transactions which
would materially aid the future public progress of the
community. This roseate deliverance, however, did
not prevent a bitter debate upon the address. Min-
isters were violently assailed, not only by Mr. George
Brown and his followers, but also by some Conserva-
tives. Religious prejudices were unfortunately re-
kindled by an embarrassing motion made by Mr. J.
Hillyard Cameron for a copy of the charge delivered
by Judge Duval in the murder trial at Quebec over
the alleged killing of Robert Corrigan, a Protestant,
by some Roman Catholics at Sylvestre near Quebec.
The acquittal of the accused raised a tremendous out-
cry in Upper Canada. The government endeavored
to evade the motion by some constitutional parryings ;
however, a vote was taken and the government was
left in a minority of four votes. The government,
350 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
however, properly declined to regard the vote as a
declaration of want of confidence. The temporary
outcome of this incident was an apparent disposition
on the part of the Orange element to temporarily join
hands with the " Clear Grits." The feeble alliance was,
however, of short duration. The master mind in the
cabinet was Mr. John A. Macdonald, who by his con-
summate tact and magnetic personality, in due course
of time reblended the bulk of the Orange and Green
into the same political camp. On the other hand, Mr.
Brown's paper ill-advisedly continued for a time to
ride the high Protestant horse, which naturally
estranged from him and his party many valuable
friends of the Eoman Catholic faith, who only in part
became again reconciled to Mr. Brown after several
years.
Meanwhile a successful political intrigue was now
being launched against Premier McNab by some of
his own supporters to have him superseded in the
leadership of the House by Mr. John A. Macdonald,
who was now recognized by both the Hincksites and
the younger element of the Conservatives as the com-
ing man, Mr. McNab being now looked upon as a
fossil.
The premier accordingly resigned the leadership of
the government, but not very cheerfully it is said, and
upon the understanding that his successor was to be
Colonel E. P. Tache of the Upper House as premier,
and Mr. John A. Macdonald, leader of the Assembly,
and in reality the virtual leader of the government,
and eventually the great leader of the great Conserva-
tive party of Canada for more than a third of a cen-
tury, during which he successfully piloted the party
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 351
safely through many tempestuous seas, and past many
dangerous shoals. Political shipwrecks under John
A. Macdonald's leadership were of rare occurrence
indeed.
Some very useful legislation was placed upon the
statute book during the session by Mr. John A. Mac-
donald, attorney -general (West), such as the Common
Law Procedure Act and valuable amendments to the
criminal laws.
The amenities of parliament were rudely violated
during the session over a bitter quarrel upon the
floor of the House between the two leaders in the
Assembly, George Brown and John A. Macdonald.
Mr. Brown having criticised the government severely,
Mr. Macdonald retorted that Mr. Brown had changed
his coat ; that he was now opposing men whom he had
supported at the last general election. Thereupon
Mr. Brown personally attacked Mr. Macdonald, the
attorney-general, and Mr. Spence, postmaster-general.
Mr. Macdonald, losing his temper, startled the mem-
bers with an unfounded accusation against Mr. Brown
of having, while commissioner investigating charges
against the management of the penitentiary in 1848,
falsified testimony and suborned witnesses, and in
obtaining pardons for murderers to induce them to
give false evidence.
Mr. Brown at once indignantly repudiated the
charges, and said he would hold Mr. Macdonald
strictly accountable for them, and asked for a com-
mittee of members comprising a majority of Mr. Mac-
donald's own party to investigate the matter. A com-
mittee was appointed, which sat during the session,
and reported that none of the charges made against
352 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Mr. Brown were true, and that Mr. Macdonald should
in all propriety apologize to Mr. Brown and the
House, but which it appears he did not, unfortunately,
do — not apparently having at the time an appetite for
so much political crow diet, as a frank avowal would
have involved in those days of fierce party squabbles.
The Legislative Council was made elective this year.
Parliament assembled at Toronto again in Feb-
ruary in 1857. Its proceedings were characterized by
much party bitterness. Considerable legislation,
however, took place, the most remarkable of which
was an ill-digested and iniquitous Election and Fran-
chise Act, which opened the door to the perpetuation
of the grossest irregularities and frauds on record at
the ensuing general election, which was held a few
months later. The prorogation took place in June.
Meanwhile a wave of commercial depression was
passing over the civilized world, from which the pro-
vince did not escape, causing a deficit in the ordinary
revenue of the country, which the Opposition, as usual,
unfairly attributed entirely to prodigal and corrupt
expenditure.
Mr. Tache now resigned his nominal premiership,
and Mr. Macdonald formally assumed the same, and a
dissolution of parliament ensued. The country was
plunged into the throes of a bitter and disreputable
contest. The new franchise qualification was most
complicated and loosely drawn up, many unscrupu-
lous officials were appointed to conduct the elections,
which resulted in fraud and intimidation. Honestly
disposed deputy-returning officers and poll-clerks
were, in some instances, bulldozed and coerced at the
muzzle of pistols, personations were carried on upon
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 353
an extensive scale, and no regard was paid to voters'
lists, if any existed. Many election officials who did
not manage to escape to the United States were pun-
ished by fines and imprisonment, but members wrong-
fully elected, in the then non-existence of election
courts, held the seats for nearly the full term before
the rightful members could obtain justice. Mr. G.
B. Lyon Fellows polled more than two hundred votes
in the Township of Cambridge, County of Russell,
which then contained but forty voters in the whole
township, and then with this fraudulent vote counted
in was declared elected by a majority of but ten votes.
The Hincks party in Upper Canada were by this
time practically extinct, and the Rouges of Lower
Canada were signally defeated at the polls. Mr.
Brown carried Upper Canada for the Reformers; but
Mr. Macdonald's gains in Lower Canada having
greatly overbalanced the Reform gains in Upper Can-
ada, the government were, therefore, assured of a good
working majority. Of the newly elected members,
two were literary men, Thomas D'Arcy McGee and
John Sheridan Hagan, both of whom met with violent
deaths, the latter being murdered in Toronto by des-
peradoes during his first parliament, and the former
assassinated in Ottawa during the first parliament of
the Dominion, being the outcome of a nefarious
Fenian plot.
Mr. Brown having been elected for both Toronto
and North Oxford, decided to sit for the former, Mr.
William Macdougall succeeding him as member for
North Oxford.
Parliament assembled at Toronto in February of
1858, and elected Mr. Henry Smith, member for
23
354 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Frontenac, Speaker. The speech from the throne
touched upon a variety of important topics, the chief
of which expressed the desirability of acquiring the
Hudson's Bay territory, and a determination to grant
no further pecuniary aid to the Grand Trunk Bail-
way. The debate upon the address was both pro-
tracted and acrimonious. Mr. Brown launched forth
the shibboleth demanding the principle of representa-
tion by population, and was supported by practically
a solid phalanx of Upper Canada Keformers and also
by some Conservatives from the same province. On
the other hand, nearly every member from Lower
Canada, including one Keformer from Upper Canada,
Mr. J. Sandfield Macdonald, opposed the principle,
not from any real sense of justice, but from feelings
of local jealousy between the two sections of the pro-
vince, Upper Canada having increased in population
so much more rapidly than Lower Canada since the
union that the adoption of the sound principle of
representation according to population would at that
time have given Upper Canada at least a dozen seats
in excess of the Lower Canada representation. When
the principle of representation was finally adopted in
1867, it gave Upper Canada seventeen seats in excess
of Lower Canada.
Meantime the representation question formed a
popular rallying cry for the Reformers in Upper
Canada for many years, while in Lower Canada it
acted as a bugbear in the opposite direction.
It should now be stated that since the burning of
the parliament buildings at Montreal by a mob in
1849, the Canadian parliament had no permanent
home, the perambulating system of making Toronto
PKOVINCE OF CANADA. 355
and Quebec the alternate seats of government, owing
to expense and inconvenience, had become intolerable
and the legislature at a previous session, to avoid a
sectional squabble, resolved to request Her Gracious
Majesty Queen Victoria to select a permanent capital
for Canada. The principal cities of the province
duly submitted their respective claims and merits as
candidates for the coveted position of being the
capital. Her Majesty, after mature consideration,
and chiefly for military reasons, selected Ottawa,
where the government already possessed a most
eligible site, as the future capital of Canada. The
selection was not then, however, generally popular
with either political party, Ottawa of that day being
a comparatively unimportant place as compared with
its present important status and prestige. The
Opposition, taking advantage of this feeling, chose
rather unpatriotically and ungraciously to make
the seat of government a test question, and moved a
resolution expressing regret that Her Majesty had
been advised to select Ottawa as the capital of the
country, which was carried by a majority of fourteen.
The government, anticipating the popularity of
ranging themselves upon Her Gracious Majesty's side,
shrewdly made the cause their own by at once resign-
ing, even although they commanded a fair majority of
the House on other questions.
His Excellency Governor-General Sir Edmund
Head promptly invited the leader of the Opposition
to form a cabinet. This Mr. Brown was apparently
a little too eager to do upon such an issue. He suc-
ceeded, however, in enlisting as colleagues a full quota
of able and trustworthy men in the persons of Hon.
356 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
James Morris, Mr. Foley, Hon. John Sandfield Mac-
donald, Mr. Mowat, Dr. Connor, D.C.L.; Hon. L. T.
Drummond, Mr. Thibedeau, Mr. Lemieux, Mr. A. A.
Dorion, Mr. Holton and Mr. Laberge. Mr. Brown's
seeming fair progress was, however, soon interrupted
and dissipated by a coup, which has been freely
criticised by many Canadian commentators according
to their political bias. The facts so far as they can
be gathered are as follows :
His Excellency called upon Mr. Brown to form a
government, though he must have been aware that
Mr. Brown did not command a majority in the House.
Mr. Brown at once complied. It appears neither gen-
tlemen adverted to the subject of a dissolution of
parliament, Mr. Brown naturally assuming that a
dissolution would be granted, proceeded to select his
colleagues, all of whom doubtlessly expected a pro-
rogation to be followed by a dissolution of the House.
Mr. Brown intimated to His Excellency on Saturday
night that he would be ready to submit the names of
his cabinet to His Excellency on Monday morning at
10.30, but to his consternation His Excellency sent
him a note of warning on Sunday to say that he would
not promise either immediate prorogation or dissolu-
tion, the very course desired by Mr. Brown. The
latter replied that as the cabinet were not yet sworn
in, they could not tender His Excellency advice, but
that they would be sworn in on Monday at noon.
Accordingly after that duty had been performed, the
new cabinet advised prorogation and dissolution upon
the ground that several members of the present House
had been improperly elected, which was doubtless
true as regards some members, and that the late gov-
PKOVINCE OF CANADA. 357
eminent did not possess the confidence of the coun-
try— this last was, of course, but a party surmise.
His Excellency rejoined that a general election had
only lately been held, and the holding of another elec-
tion would be under the same defective franchise law ;
that the country could not afford the expense of
another election; besides it would take place at an
inconvenient time for the electors, assuming, without
information on the point, that the election would be
held during the harvesting period ; he also stated that
some legislation would require to take place before
giving his consent to prorogation; he therefore
declined to receive the advice of his own newly sworn
advisers.
The Conservatives, in both Houses, the same day
passed a vote of want of confidence in the new minis-
ters. The latter by taking office were now without
seats in the House until re-elected by their constitu-
ents. There was nothing now left for Mr. Brown
and his colleagues to do but resign, which they did
forthwith, and now found themselves for the time
being in the helpless plight of being not only out of
the government, but also out of the House until their
re-election at the polls, which was bitterly, but for the
most part, unsuccessfully opposed by the leading
Conservatives in Upper Canada. Mr. Dorion, an
able, upright and most estimable gentleman, was,,
however, unfortunately defeated in Lower Canada at
the bye-election caused by the late coup.
Now followed the sequel to the scheme which the
Keformers designated as the " double shuffle," and
which raised a tremendous outcry throughout Upper
Canada in particular. Upon the resignation of Mr.
358 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Brown's government His Excellency called upon Mr.
A. T. Gait to form a government, which the latter
.declined to undertake. Mr. G. E. Cartier — at one
time a devoted follower and fellow-exile of Papineau,
but subsequently a most loyal subject — was now
called upon to form a cabinet, in which he succeeded.
Mr. Cartier was a strong man with a very strong
French following. He was in reality the chief politi-
cal power in Canada for many years during which
he could, if so disposed, have unmade John A. Mac-
donald at any time. His stereotyped reply to the
arguments of the Opposition was the familiar shout
" Call in de members," etc. The same gentlemen
who formed the late government of John A. Macdon-
ald now comprised the cabinet of Mr. Cartier, the
only change was a shuffle and reshuffle of portfolios.
The public expected that nearly ten new bye-elections
would result from the formation of the Cartier gov-
ernment, but it was not to be so ; the wily politicians
had all along cards up their sleeves by which to ob-
viate the necessity of going back to their constituents,
as by the then Independence of Parliament Act, a
cabinet minister could resign his portfolio and accept
another cabinet position within one month without
vacating his seat in parliament; thus by exchanging
portfolios the deed was accomplished. The only
difference to the party was that Mr. Cartier had the
honor of becoming premier instead of Mr. Macdonald,
who was doubtless happy otherwise, in having out-
witted Mr. Brown. The Eeformers were frantic with
indignation over all these proceedings, and submit-
ted the case of seeming sharp if not unconstitutional
practice, to the courts.
PBOVINCE OF CANADA. 359
His Excellency was execrated by at least the more
stalwart Eeformers. His conduct was earnestly de-
fended by some apologists, but his actions were gen-
erally regarded with disfavor, consequently he never
regained the good- will of a majority of the Canadian
people; he had likewise at one time offended the
French-Canadian nationality during an incautious
speech delivered by him in Toronto, in which, it is
said, he referred to the French-Canadians as the
inferior race.
Despite all the commotion some useful legislation
was passed during the session. The very defective
franchise and election law was amended, to prevent
any possible repetition of the frauds and irregulari-
ties of the late election. The customs duties were
raised from 10 per cent, to 15 per cent, to overtake,
if possible, the chronic deficit. The admirable muni-
cipal laws which had been placed upon the statute
book by Mr. Baldwin were slightly amended. The
death of the lamented author of this law occurring
during the session was somewhat of a coincidence,
and although Mr. Baldwin was not then in parlia-
ment, very eulogistic references to his memory were
made by both Mr. John Sandfield Macdonald and Mr.
John A. Macdonald.
Parliament reassembled for its second session at
the end of January, 1859. The speech from the
throne foreshadowed some important and interesting
proposals, such as overtures for the union of the
British North American provinces, and an intimation
that the seigniorial tenure commission had closed its
labors; that the statutes had been consolidated, and
a resolution was adopted inviting Her Gracious
360 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Majesty or some member of the royal family to visit
Canada for the purpose of opening the gigantic
Victoria bridge which spans the mighty St. Lawrence
Kiver at Montreal.
A vote of $800,000 was taken for the construction
of the new parliament buildings at Ottawa. The
Customs Act was again amended, and the rate of
duties increased from 15 per cent, to 20 per cent.,
which had the effect of at least temporarily restoring
the equilibrium between receipts and expenditures.
The public debt at this time amounted to nearly
fifty-five million dollars, which was then considered
a very formidable amount, and furnished the Opposi-
tion with a cry against the Government of extrava-
gance and prodigality.
Some friction was engendered between the two
branches of the legislature over the supply bill, but
the difficulty was overcome during the session.
The fact of Mr. Brown's name having been omitted
from its usual place in the membership of the Public
Accounts Committee caused a ripple in the proceed-
ings of the House, the Opposition alleging that his
name was designedly omitted to avoid Mr. Brown's
vigiliant criticism of expenditure. This was the
last session of the parliament of the old Province of
Canada ever held in Toronto.
The Upper Canada Keformers, under the leader-
ship of Mr. Brown, held a very numerously attended
convention at Toronto in November of this year, and
adopted a political platform, the salient features of
which were the federation of the provinces upon the
principle of representation by population, and local
legislatures for each province, etc. These proposals-
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 361
were eventually realized through the advent of
confederation.
Ground was broken at Ottawa for the new parlia-
ment buildings on the 22nd of December, 1860.
The seat of government had now reverted to Quebec,
where parliament was opened in February of 1860.
After the routine proceedings of receiving and reply-
ing to the speech from the throne, His Excellency in-
formed parliament that it would not be convenient
for Her Gracious Majesty to visit Canada personally
to open the Victoria bridge, but her son, His Royal
Highness Albert Edward the Prince of Wales would
come the same year. This announcement, as can be
well imagined, sent a thrill of joy throughout Can-
ada, and happily, at least for a time, allayed political
animosities ; each party vied and co-operated with the
other in the preparations to accord the heir-apparent
a loyal and most enthusiastic welcome. Twenty
thousand dollars was voted offhand for the entertain-
ment of His Koyal Highness.
Mr. Brown moved his constitutional resolutions in
the House, which attracted a respectable vote; but
under the system of party government, ministers
could scarcely be expected to suddenly adopt the
principles of an opponent, no matter how sound such
principles might appear. Mr. Brown's proposals
were consequently for the time being voted down,
but as before stated, they eventually prevailed. Some
intractable members of the Opposition moved resolu-
tions of questionable expediency to embarrass the
government. The Opposition, under Mr. Brown's
leadership, was not regularly organized, and was any-
thing but a cohesive body, as he could never command
362 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
much of a following from Quebec, owing to his advo-
cacy of representation by population, and to the
articles which are said to have appeared in the Globe,
complaining of French domination. The articles were
not generally written or inspired by Mr. Brown him-
self. Mr. Cartier and his following, however, in the
way of party tactics, industriously held up Mr.
Brown to the habitants as a bete noir. Great French-
Canadians like Mr. Dorion and Mr. Letelier knew
better, and thoroughly understood Mr. Brown's
motives, and love for all his fellow-beings; they were,
however, for many years powerless, in the face of the
declaration of Mr. Cartier and his followers, to dis-
abuse the minds of more than a small minority of the
French-speaking electorate.
Parliament adjourned on the 19th May for three
months to reassemble upon the arrival of His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales. A portion of the par-
liament buildings was handsomely furnished for the
use of the Prince and his suite, where he was received
in state on the 19th August, by both Houses, headed
by the respective Speakers, Mr. Belleau, of the
Legislative Council and Mr. Smith of the Legislative
Assembly, both of whom had the honor of knighthood
promptly conferred upon them by the gallant young
Prince. As His Koyal Highness was still a minor in
years it is proper to state here that he was really to
some extent a protege of His Grace the Duke of New-
castle during the royal visit. The steamer " Kings-
ton " was placed at the disposal of His Koyal High-
ness, which conveyed him to the different towns on
the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.
The persistence of the Orangemen to take an official
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 363
part, as a body, in the welcome to the Prince, a pro-
ceeding which the royal party resented, caused con-
siderable friction and hard feeling. No landing was
made at Kingston in consequence of Orange officious-
ness, thus depriving the " Limestone City " of an
honor, for which the Duke was roundly abused by
some hot-headed Orangemen. His Grace, however,
acted with propriety in not .recognizing any party
faction or organization in which the whole population
could not participate.
The non-Episcopal religious bodies, however, felt
themselves somewhat slighted in the proceedings else-
where by not receiving the same attention as was
accorded to the Anglicans and Koman Catholic
addresses, to which replies were vouchsafed on the
spot, while it was intended to silently pocket the
addresses of other denominations, and to acknowl-
edge the same by post. The practice, however, was
resented by the old Kirk Presbyterian Church, whose
moderator, Rev. Dr. Matheson, of Montreal, was
informed that the address which he was about
to read would be received and promptly replied to
by mail, whereupon the spirited doctor coolly re-
turned the address to his own pocket. The royal
party were so perturbed and taken aback by this
incident that the reverend doctor was specially sent
for, apologized to, and welcomed on board the royal
steamer, after which the best of feeling prevailed.
His Royal Highness, among other functions, duly
laid the Corner-stone of the new parliament buildings
at Ottawa. Upon the whole, the visit was a most
enthusiastic and happy event in the history of all
parts of British North America, he having visited the
364 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Maritime Provinces first on the way out before enter-
ing the St. Lawrence Eiver. The cordial invitation
to His Koyal Highness by President Buchanan of the
United States to visit the great American union was
accepted. His high title of Prince of Wales was
temporarily laid aside, and one of his sub-titles, that
of Baron Eenfrew, was assumed during his American
tour.
The slave laws still existed at this time in the
southern portion of the United States. A fugitive
slave named Anderson made his way to Canada, who
in his struggle to gain his freedom killed a white man
in the South. Anderson's person was demanded
under the international extradition laws. The case
came before the Canadian courts, and caused consid-
erable excitement. Anderson was not extradited,
mainly, it is said, through the firm stand taken
against such a course by Chief Justice Archi-
bald McLean, whose decision was generally ap-
plauded throughout the world. Another peculiar
case in legal circles arose about this time. A writ,
issued stupidly by the Queen's Bench of England, was
served in Canada. The home authorities were
promptly challenged and called to account for the
flagrant infringement of Canadian jurisdiction,
whereupon the English legal authorities pledged
themselves not to repeat the offensive blunder.
Parliament assembled again at Quebec in March,
1861. The speech from the throne adverted to the
abundant harvest of the previous year, also to Her
Majesty's acknowledgments of the loyal and kindly
manner in which her son had been received in the
previous summer.
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 365
The usual exciting debates in the then heated state
of parties were resumed. Unsuccessful attempts
were made by the Opposition to pass votes of want of
confidence against the government. However, the
result of the recent census in showing a very consider-
able preponderance in the population of Upper Can-
ada over that of Lower Canada greatly cheered the
advocates of representation by population, which now
became a livelier issue than ever in Upper Canada,
and which continued without abatement until the
confederation of the four provinces of Ontario, Que-
bec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick was consum-
mated a few years later.
The prorogation of parliament in May was followed
by a dissolution. A vigorous contest ensued, but was
happily free from the glaring abuses which disgraced
the previous general election. The Reformers, as
was expected, carried Upper Canada, but with the
loss of their Upper Canada leader, Mr. George
Brown, who was defeated in Toronto by Mr. John
Crawford. The Reform Rouge leader in Lower Can-
ada, Mr. Dorion, also suffered defeat at the hands of
Premier Cartier in Montreal. The Blues, or Conserva-
tives, again carried Lower Canada, as was expected.
The hand of death closed the earthly and checkered
career of William Lyon Mackenzie this year. His
was a life of noble aspirations when not goaded on
to rashness by excessive ill-treatment, which caused
him at one time to commit a regrettable error of judg-
ment in attempting to overthrow the government by
force of arms.
The great Civil War was at this time raging in the
neighboring union, the effects of which were two-fold
366 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
in Canada. While the demands for farm products of
all kinds were stimulated in Canada by the demand
for war supplies, on the other hand many Confeder-
ates and sympathizers of the South made Can-
ada an asylum for Southern refugees, who in some
instances abused the hospitality of this country by
organizing raids from here upon the Northern States,,
causing irritation to our neighbors and trouble and
expense to Canada.
His Excellency Sir Edmund Walker Head retired
from the governor-generalship this year. He had
unfortunately incurred, by his supposed connivance
at the so-called " double shuffle " incident three years
previously, the displeasure of a majority, at least, of
the people of Upper Canada. Sir Edmund survived
his return to his native country for seven years,
during which time he unsuccessfully contested the
constituency of Pontefract for the British House of
Commons.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD MONCK.
His Excellency Lord Monck now assumed the gov-
ernor-generalship of Canada. Some eventful affairs
transpired towards the end of the year. What is
known as the " Trent " affair nearly involved Great
Britain in hostilities with the United States. The
steamship " Trent " was a regular British mail and
passenger vessel, plying between the West Indies and
England. On a certain voyage to England she had
on board two Southern gentlemen, Messrs. Mason and
Slidell as ordinary passengers. The steamer was
illegally and forcibly stopped by the United States
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 367
armed vessel " San Jacinto," commanded by Captain
Wilkes, and the two Southern gentlemen forcibly
taken off as prisoners.
For this high-handed act Captain Wilkes was pro-
claimed a hero by the irresponsible press and un-
thinking portion of the people of the Northern States.
On the other hand the greatest indignation was
aroused throughout the British Empire and the
colonies. Preparations for war were promptly
commenced. Meanwhile the British government
made a formal demand for the return of Mason and
Slidell, including an apology for the outrage. The
good Prince Consort Albert, then on his death-bed,
was shown a draft copy of the proposed demand; he
eliminated any unnecessary strong language from the
document in order to render it as acceptable as pos-
sible to that great and good man at Washington,
President Lincoln. The demand was promptly com-
plied with and hostilities between the two kindred
nations was providentially and happily averted.
All too soon after these events, on the 15th Decem-
ber, His Royal Highness Albert, the Prince Consort,
breathed his last, greatly lamented throughout the
world for his great qualities of mind and heart. His
great services to his adopted country were only be-
ginning to be moderately appreciated throughout the
Empire. His death was a terrible bereavement to his
widowed wife, Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria,
who for the long space of forty subsequent years,
until her death, never ceased to mourn for the loss of
her supremely noble husband, whose character and-
attributes were a pattern for imitation in every walk
of life.
368 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Lord Monck opened the first session of the new par-
liament in March, 1862, with brilliant formalities.
Mr. Turcotte was elected Speaker over Mr. Sicotte by
a majority of thirteen votes.
The speech from the throne was delivered on the
following day. A fitting tribute was paid to the
memory of the late Prince Consort.
Reference was made to Her Majesty's appreciation
of the alacrity and loyalty displayed by Canadians
during the short period of threatened hostilities over
the " Trent " affair.
It was announced that Her Majesty's government
had sanctioned free interprovincial commercial
intercourse between the British North American
provinces.
The report of the commissioners appointed to in-
quire into the state of the militia was promised. The
consideration of a speech from the throne is usually
proceeded with not later than upon the Monday fol-
lowing its delivery, but upon this occasion a post-
ponement was announced, much to the surprise of
members not behind the scenes. The sequel, how-
ever, soon transpired. Important cabinet changes
were in process. The commissioner of Crown lands,
Mr. Vankoughnet, and the solicitor-general, J. C.
Morris, who was unable to procure a seat, resigned to
go upon the bench. Mr. John Ross also withdrew
from the government. These three vacancies in the
cabinet were filled by Mr. James Patton of the Legis-
lative Council, and Messrs. Carling and J. B. Robin-
son of the Legislative Assembly. Owing to the defeat
of Mr. Brown at the late general election, Mr. J.
Sandfield Macdonald became the leader of the Re-
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 369
formers, where he rendered valuable services, both to
his country and party, as we will yet see.
The reply to His Excellency's speech was now pro-
ceeded with, and finally adopted after a protracted
and bitter debate, by the considerable majority of
seventeen.
There were, however, unmistakable indications that
the government was weakening. Mr. Sydney Smith,
the postmaster-general, voted against his own
colleagues upon the question of representation by
population, and Mr. Paton, the new solicitor-general,
was defeated upon appealing to his constituents of
the Saugeen division.
A resolution to Her Majesty upon the death of the
Prince Consort was heartily concurred in by all
parties, thereby causing a temporary truce in the
stormy arena.
Some unblushing jobbery in the stationery supplies
for the Houses of Parliament and public service was
detected by the Opposition members in the Public
Accounts Committee. As one sample of the frauds
it may be stated that as much as f 6 each for ordinary
penknives was paid by the government. These
exposures raised a furore, particularly as there was
again a deficiency in the revenue.
The government introduced a militia bill in May,
some provisions of which the Opposition opposed, and
made a test question of the same upon the second
reading of the bill. The government was defeated
by seven votes, and again astutely chose a good ques-
tion upon which to fall, and at once resigned the seals
of office.
His Excellency called upon Mr. John Sandfield
24
370 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA
Macdonald to form a government, in which he suc-
ceeded. His cabinet is known to political history as
the Macdonald-Sicotte government, and was com-
prised of Messrs. Adam Wilson, Foley, James Morris,
Howland, W. Macdougall, Sicotte, Abbott, Magee,
Dorion, Tessier and Evanturel.
Premier Sandfield Macdonald was Canadian born,
of Scotch Koman Catholic stock. He was a shrewd
and honest lawyer, thrifty, and most careful of public
assets. As a statesman he did not possess the tranquil
and magnetic temperament of his approximately
namesake, John A. Macdonald, which may have been
partly due to the former's feeble health. The chief
motive of Premier Sandfield Macdonald, was appar-
ently to husband the resources of the country, and to
deal the same out sparingly, while the latter was on
the constant outlook to strengthen the party, and at
the same time to utilize funds in the development of
the country's resources.
The representation by population question was for
the time being shelved by the new government, which
was not quite relished by the Upper Canada Reform-
ers. Mr. Brown and the Globe were naturally some-
what disappointed at the postponement of this ques-
tion. The Keform party, however, greatly preferred
the new administration to the late one and gave it
their support.
The death of two prominent men occurred this
year in the persons of Mr. W. H. Merritt, the enter-
prising, zealous and successful originator and pro-
moter of the great Welland canal scheme; and Sir
Allan McNab, ex-premier, etc., of Canada.
His Excellency opened the provincial exhibition at
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 371
Toronto in September, where he created a good im-
pression. The Macdonald-Sicotte government now
sustained a serious loss in the retirement of their col-
league Mr. Dorion upon the question of a proposed
intercolonial policy.
Canada and the other British provinces were enjoy-
ing much prosperity these times through the beneficial
effects of the Eeciprocity Treaty, especially as the
demand for animals and farm products was unusually
brisk, owing to the protracted war across the
border. The effect of the American Civil War upon
the Mother Country, on the other hand, was, however,
disastrous, owing to the blockade of the ports of the
Southern States, thereby cutting off the supply of
raw cotton, forcing many factories in Great Britain
to close down for want of raw material, thus causing
grievous distress to many thousands of operatives.
There were already, also, on the other side of the
border, indications of a movement for the abrogation
of the Reciprocity Treaty.
Parliament assembled at Quebec on the 13th of
February, 1863. The Conservative majority in the
Legislative Council elected the Hon. Alexander
Campbell as Speaker of that chamber. The Speaker
of the Upper House was not then, as now, a govern-
ment appointment, or Mr. Campbell, a Conservative,
would not have been made Speaker at the time.
In the speech from the throne His Excellency con-
gratulated the country on the loyal spirit displayed
by the people in the formation of volunteer companies
and drill associations, and for the spontaneous con-
tribution sent to the Mother Country to relieve the
distress in the cotton manufacturing districts.
372 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
Some very useful legislation was passed, but the
question of representation by population was still
kept in the background by the ministry, but not
without some difficulty.
A vacancy occurred in the representation of South
Oxford in March. Mr. Bod well was the nominee of the
Reform party and the government candidate. Mr.
George Brown, however, on being warmly pressed to
enter the field as a candidate, consented and was
elected. Mr. Brown felt, however, somewhat out of
place, he being loth to aid in defeating the govern-
ment, and at the same time he could not consistently
give his most cordial support to any government
which did not make representation by population one
of its planks.
Mr. R. W. Scott's Separate School bill was a source
of embarrassment to the ministerial supporters from
Protestant Upper Canada.
The finances, despite rigid economy, were not in a
flourishing condition, which the ministry attributed
to the prodigality of their predecessors in office.
The leader of the Upper Canada Opposition, the
Hon. John A. Macdonald, shrewdly observing an
opportunity of defeating the government, moved in
May a direct vote of want of confidence in the min-
istry, which was carried by a majority of five, after
a, protracted debate.
The premier, instead of resigning, decided to recon-
struct his cabinet, and appeal to the country.
Messrs. Foley, Magee and some others were left out
of the reconstructed cabinet and soon drifted into
opposition. Mr. Dorion re-entered the cabinet as
leader of the Rouges of Lower Canada.
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 373
The government were sustained at the polls by an
apparent majority of twelve, which, however, com-
prised some unstable supporters.
The new parliament assembled in August. Mr. L.
Walbridge was elected Speaker of the Legislative
Assembly, and Mr. U. J. Tessier for the Legislative
Council. Although the speech from the throne was
somewhat non-committal, it was, however, hotly de-
bated. The Conservative leader asserted that the
late dissolution of parliament was unconstitutional,
for the reason that it had been asked for by the Mac-
donald-Sicotte government, and granted to the Mac-
donald-Dorion government. The fine point raised by
the Opposition has not engaged the serious attention
of any constitutional commentators.
The changes in the personnel of the cabinet were
sharply criticised, and the discarded ex-ministers,
Messrs. Sicotte, Magee and Foley became openly hos-
tile. The debate upon the address lasted three weeks,
and was only carried by the small majority of three.
The government had a hard fight for existence
throughout the session, which ended in October. The
finances, owing to former obligations, continued in a
depressed condition despite the exercise of extreme
economy. The gloomy financial outlook was further
intensified by unmistakable indications that the Reci-
procity Treaty with the United States would cer-
tainly be abrogated at Washington in the very near
future.
A member of the government, Mr. Macdougall, hav-
ing been credited with a statement that the principle
of representation by population had been abandoned,
was a signal for the damaging opposition of the
Toronto Globe.
374 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The government were further weakened by the loss
of a seat at a bye-election in South Leeds, caused by
the acceptance of a portfolio by its able and worthy
member, Mr. A. N. Eichards.
The Opposition brought out a strong candidate in
the person of Mr. D. F. Jones, who was strongly
backed by Hon. John A. Macdonald and Mr. Magee
in person, and who according to the impartial Con-
servative historian, McMullen, brought with them
into the riding f 10,000, where they remained during
the contest in order to defeat Mr. Kichards. Mr.
Macdonald asserted that the Keform party spent
|7,000, and that he spent $8,000 and had $2,000 left
after defeating Mr. Kichards by a small majority.
There were two days of open voting in those days,
which afforded active workers an opportunity of
knowing how the poll was standing from time to time,
and to expend accordingly.
The majority of the government in a House of one
hundred and thirty members was reduced to one.
Parliament met again in February of 1864. The
speech from the throne referred to militia matters ; to
the progress upon the Ottawa parliament buildings;
to the Reciprocity Treaty ; to ocean steamship services
and various other questions.
It was alleged that the government attempted to
strengthen themselves from the ranks of the Lower
Canada opposition, but without success.
Mr. Brown was awkwardly pressing the representa-
tion by population question, greatly to the embar-
rassment of the ministry. He suggested that the gov-
ernment might as well resign, upon which suggestion
they acted.
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 375
His Excellency requested Mr. Ferguson Blair to
form a government, but he did not succeed. Sir E.
P. Tache was then entrusted with the formation of an
administration, in which he succeeded by making it a
coalition government, comprised of the following
gentlemen: Sir. E. P. Tache, Cartier, Gait, Chapais,
Magee, Langevin, J. A. Macdonald, Campbell,
Buchanan, Foley, Simpson and James Cockburn.
The platform of the administration promised some
reforms in the militia department; the continuance,
if possible, of the Reciprocity Treaty with the United
States; a commercial union with the Maritime Pro-
vinces, and the permanent establishment of the seat
of government at Ottawa.
The re-election of ministers was vigorously opposed
by members of the late Macdonald-Dorion govern-
ment and their friends. Mr. Sandfield Macdonald,
with true Highland characteristics, was burning for
revenge, and declared that he would mete out to the
new ministers the same hostility, both at the polls
and in the House, which they had shown to him. It
was a case of veritable war to the knife between the
rival John Macdonalds.
Postmaster-General Foley wa& defeated at the bye-
election in North Waterloo by Mr. Isaac E. Bowman,
which was a severe blow to the government. It was
also bitterly assailed by the Opposition in the House,
where it could not rely upon a majority of more than
two votes, and was finally left in a minority by a
vote moved by Mr. Dorion censuring Mr. Gait for
making a loan to the city of Montreal of f 100,000
without the authority of parliament.
A deadlock now ensued, and it was feared that the
376 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
constitution of the united provinces of Upper and
Lower Canada had become well-nigh unworkable.
Mr. George Brown, however, fortunately foresaw
that the present system of government was reaching
an acute stage. He had shortly before taken steps to
secure a committee, of which he was chairman, to con-
sider the best means to remedy the difficulties which
had arisen in the conduct of the government. The
committee had already held several meetings and
recommended a federal system either for the pro-
vinces of Upper and Lower Canada, or a more com-
prehensive scheme of a federation of all the British
North American provinces.
Mr. Brown now came forward as a patriotic guid-
ing star, and expressed a readiness to assist and co-
operate with either or both parties to avert the recur-
ring crises. Mr. John A. Macdonald patriotically
availed himself eagerly of Mr. Brown's valuable
assistance, calling upon Mr. Brown at his hotel in
Quebec; whereupon the two old antagonists mag-
nanimously buried the hatchet for the good of the
country. Mr. Brown preferred to give an outside
support to any government pledged to carry out a
federal scheme. However, Mr. Macdonald declared
that it was indispensable that Mr. Brown should be-
come a member of the proposed coalition government
to give effect to their united ideas. Mr. Brown,
therefore, after consulting with his friends, consented
to enter the cabinet, taking with him from Upper Can-
ada Mr. William Macdougall and Mr. Oliver Mowat.
Mr. Macdougall was defeated by Mr. Matthew Crooks
Cameron upon appealing to his constituents in North
Ontario for re-election. He, however, secured a seat
PKOVINCE OF CANADA. 377
in North Lanark. Mr. John Sandfield Macdonald,
being unfortunately opposed to the scheme of
confederation, did not become a member of the new
government.
The newly-formed coalition government found them-
selves overwhelmingly strong, both in the House and
in the country, a virtual political millennium hav-
ing succeeded the recent unseemly party strife. The
preliminary negotiations, which eventually resulted in
the consummation of the large scheme of confedera-
tion, were immediately entered upon, greatly to the
delight of practically all the people of Old Canada.
It was a most fortunate concidence that the Maritime
Provinces were also making a similar movement
among themselves to consider the expediency of form-
ing a Maritime union for their own provinces, and
had already arranged for a conference at Charlotte-
town in September.
The Canadian government, as has been already
stated elsewhere, took advantage of this circumstance
and requested the privilege of sending a delegation
to the conference to participate in some informal dis-
cussions. The request, as before stated, was acceded
to, and a delegation of eight members of the cabinet,
which naturally included Messrs. Macdonald and
Brown, were sent to Charlottetown accordingly. The
result of the deliberations was an adjournment to
meet in Quebec in October. It has been remarked
that the anticipated difficulty on the part of the Mari-
time delegates of agreeing upon a capital for the Mari-
time union had its weight with those gentlemen in
favor of the proposed Canadian union.
The truly great and historical conference assembled
378 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
in Quebec on the 10th of October, and was comprised
of thirty-three veteran statesmen. Of these, twelve
were from Canada, five from Nova Scotia, seven from
New Brunswick, seven from Prince Edward Island,
and two from Newfoundland. Sir E. P. Tache
was elected president, and Major Hewitt Bernard,
secretary.
The conference sat for eighteen days with closed
doors. Many difficulties must have arisen from time
to time, but they seem to have been effectually
smoothed over, to the great joy of the Canadian
people.
Towards the end of the year Mr. Mowat, who held
the portfolio of postmaster-general, retired to accept
a seat upon the Chancery Bench of Upper Canada.
Mr. W. P. Howland succeeded Mr. Mowat in the
government, and was re-elected in West York by
acclamation.
Owing to one cause or another the Reciprocity
Treaty with the United States was becoming most un-
popular in that country. It has been remarked that
much irritation had arisen between the two countries,
owing to the presence in Canada of so many Southern
agitators, and to the misplaced sympathy with the
South by not a few Canadians.
Sir L. H. Lafontaine, the able ex-premier and
colleague of Mr. Baldwin, died this year, greatly
regretted.
Parliament met again in Quebec in January, 1865.
His Excellency Lord Monck congratulated the
House upon the prosperity and great contentment of
the people in anticipation of the confederation of the
several provinces, and invoked the most careful con-
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 379
sideration and discussion of the momentous question
now about to be submitted to them.
An exhaustive but temperate debate ensued, the
report of which filled more than one thousand octavo
pages.
The address was adopted by a vote of ninety-one
to thirty-three, only four Upper Canada members
voting against it. The amendment to the address
was moved and seconded by two Lower Canada mem-
bers, Messrs. Dorion and Laframboise.
A motion was then adopted by the House request-
ing the Imperial parliament to provide the necessary
legislation to give effect to the general scheme of
union of the provinces, and the prorogation took
place in March.
While the proposed confederation scheme was ex-
tremely popular in Canada, the outlook for the pro-
ject in the Maritime Provinces for a time was decid-
edly dark. The Canadian government, backed by His
Excellency, were, however, enthusiastically earnest
in a determination to secure the accomplishment of
the great and commendable object. Four of its mem-
bers, Messrs. Macdonald, Brown, Cartier and Gait,
were sent to press the scheme upon the willing ears
of the home government.
The Palmerston government, then in power, gave
every assurance of sympathy, but would not attempt
to coerce any province. It was willing, however, to
give a financial guarantee for the building of the
Intercolonial Railway; to complete the fortifications
at Quebec, and equip the same with modern artillery,
and also to place Canada in possession of the North-
West Territories upon reasonable compensation being
380 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
given to the Hudson's Bay Company for their claims
by right of occupation.
The premier, Sir E. P. Tache, died during the year,
and was succeeded in the premiership by Sir Narcisse
Belleau.
The parliament of Old Canada met at the ancient
capital in August, for the last time, chiefly to receive
the report of the confederation delegates, returned
from England, which was as favorable as was antici-
pated, and also to complete some important business
in connection therewith. The unpopular bill-stamp
measure, for revenue purposes, was enacted during
the session.
It was announced that the home government
would give its moral support in the somewhat hope-
less negotiations which were pending for a renewal
of the Keciprocity Treaty with the United States.
The session was a comparatively short one, the
Opposition at this time being numerically weak and
indisposed to factious opposition; very little time
of the House was therefore wasted.
The construction of the new parliament buildings
at Ottawa being now sufficiently advanced to admit
of occupation, preparations were made for the
permanent removal of all the immense paraphernalia
from Quebec to Ottawa.
About the beginning of January, 1866, Mr. Brown,
to the regret of the community generally, withdrew
from the administration, as most people thought, pre-
maturely. One cause assigned for the step was a dis-
agreement with his colleagues as to the course to be
adopted in the negotiations for a renewal of the Reci-
procity Treaty at Washington, and also as to the
PKOVINCE OF CANADA. 381
personnel of the delegates to be sent upon that im-
portant mission. It seems true at any rate that the
unfortunate ignoring of Mr. Brown in the selection
of the two delegates was an inconceivable blunder, as
of all Canadians likely to make a favorable impres-
sion upon the American congress, Mr. Brown was
pre-eminently the man, seeing that both he and his
paper, the Qlobe, had been gratefully recognized by
the American people as warm friends for the main-
tenance of the American union, which at one period
appeared to be in jeopardy.
During the recent terrible Civil War Messrs. Gait
and Howland were chosen as delegates to Washing-
ton, where anticipated failure was soon realized, as
Mr. Gait, like most of his party, was not looked upon
as having been friendly to the North during the Civil
War.
Mr. Brown held that his withdrawal from the
cabinet did not endanger the cause of confederation,
as it was an assured fact before he left the govern-
ment, and it was, moreover, well known that he had
no love for coalition governments. Mr. Brown must
certainly be classed as an unwavering and staunch
upholder not only of confederation, but also of Brit-
ish connection. Mr. Brown was succeeded in the
cabinet by Mr. Ferguson Blair, a highly respected and
veteran Liberal, whose constituents of North Welling-
ton endorsed his action.
It was now definitely ascertained that the Keci-
procity Treaty would positively terminate within a
very few months, therefore American buyers and
Canadian sellers exerted themselves to the utmost in
transporting as much farm produce and live stock
382 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
across the border as possible before the 17th March,
which was the date fixed for the actual termination
of the treaty.
This ungracious step on the part of Congress
caused much temporary inconvenience to Canadian
farmers, as a large trade had grown up between the
two countries. Canadians were, besides, seriously
annoyed at this time by Fenian organizations in the
United States, the government of that country was
generally remiss in not preventing the incursion of the
impious horde upon Canadian soil. Loss of life and
much expense had to be incurred by this country in
watching for threatened invasions, and in repelling
actual invasions. Our volunteer militia gallantly
drove back such Fenians as they did not kill or take
prisoners. Some of the latter were tried and con-
victed in the civil courts, and sent to the penitentiary,
but none suffered the death penalty.
Parliament met in the new buildings at Ottawa for
the first time, on the 8th June, 1866. His Excel-
lency's speech informed the House that he had been
instructed by the home government to convene a
council to be comprised of representatives of the
British North American provinces, in consequence of
the abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty by the United
States, in order to consider the expediency of secur-
ing new outlets of trade, which resulted in sending a
deputation to Brazil and the West Indies to ascer-
tain the best mode of promoting trade with those
countries.
The abrogation of the Reciprocity Treaty rendered
the adoption of a new tariff necessary, consequently
Mr. Gait, the inspector-general, introduced a
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 383
judicious measure to that end. The maximum cus-
toms rate upon manufactured goods was placed at
fifteen per cent. The duty on whiskey was placed at
thirty cents per gallon, which had the effect of
doubling the price of that article.
Mr. Gait also introduced a Currency Act, which did
not prove to be popular, as it made the Bank of Mont-
real the sole medium for the issue of provincial notes.
It was felt, whether justly or unjustly, by some peo-
ple in those days, that the Bank of Montreal was
getting to be too influential and domineering over
the less powerful banking institutions of the country.
The writ of habeas corpus was suspended for one
year in consequence of the active Fenian organiza-
tion still going on in the United States.
Some useful amendments were made to the munici-
pal laws of Upper Canada, as affecting assessments
and the municipal franchise. Resolutions were
introduced by the government to define the respective
constitutions of Upper Canada (now renamed On-
tario), and of Lower Canada (now renamed the grand
erstwhile name of Quebec), the constitution of which
was different somewhat from that of Ontario. A
single legislative chamber only was provided for
Ontario, while Quebec adhered to the old system of
retaining both the Legislative Assembly and a Legis-
lative Council, and the dual languages, and also of
adhering to fixed senatorial and Legislative Council
divisions, while in Ontario senators may be chosen at
large throughout the province.
The progress towards the great Canadian union
began to attract the attention of some American poli-
ticians, who did not relish the possibility of a future
384 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
great power rising in the north upon this continent.
A Mr. Banks introduced a bill in Congress providing
for the admission of the Canadian provinces into so
many separate states of the American union. The
bill was read twice and then referred to the Commit-
tee on Foreign Affairs. These proceedings, however,
only provoked a contemptuous smile in Canada.
Canadians had already began to realize the great
value of the vast heritage which they possessed, and
of the proud future which lay before them. The new
Dominion was starting out with a new form of gov-
ernment and constitution superior to that of any
country in the world, and they would not now, at any
rate, exchange the name of Canadian for that of any
other name or nationality — not even for English,
Scotch or Irish, to say nothing of American.
Meantime a favorable change towards the Cana-
dian union happily came over the people of the pro-
vince of New Brunswick, as testified at a general elec-
tion recently held, and in Nova Scotia the union
scheme was adopted by a fair majority in the
legislature.
A delegation comprised of six members from Old
Canada, five from New Brunswick, and five from
Nova Scotia, proceeded to London in November to
arrange the final conditions and details of the Act of
Union to be submitted to the Imperial parliament.
The delegation established their headquarters at the
Westminster Palace Hotel, where they were subse-
quently joined by an untiring and powerful ally in
the person of the Canadian governor-general, Lord
Monck.
Some alterations to suit the wishes of the Mari-
PROVINCE OF CANADA. 385
time delegates were made in the resolutions of the
Quebec conference of 1864. Consultations were also
had with the law officers of the Crown in order to
render the proposed bill as workable, just, and as
perfect as possible, and which conferred greater
powers upon Canada than had hitherto been granted
to any other dependency or colony. The draft
measure having been harmoniously adopted by the
delegates was introduced in the House of Lords by
the Earl of Carnarvon on the 7th February, 1867,
and received the second reading on the 12th, passed
through committee on the 22nd, read a third time on
the 26th, and sent to the House of Commons for a
first reading, where the second reading took place on
the 28th, all in the same month.
A debate ensued at this stage, but the criticisms
were not factious, and the bill was allowed to pass
through committee on the 4th March, and through its
third reading on the 8th March, and sent back to the
Lords for their concurrence in a few judicious amend-
ments made in the commons, which was agreed to by
their Lordships on the 12th March, and on the 29th
of the same month the bill received the royal assent,
and the 1st of July was fixed upon as the birthday of
the new Dominion — to be proudly announced by a
royal proclamation. A copy of the Act, known as the
British North America Act, will be found in " Appen-
dix B " of this book.
Following the passing of this Act, Mr. Adderly
introduced a bill in the Commons guaranteeing a
loan of $15,000,000 for the construction of the Inter-
colonial Railway, which was passed in due course.
25
CHAPTER XII.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA.
From its formation in 1867 down to the present time.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD MONCK (Continued}.
LORD MONCK was fittingly appointed governor-
general of the Dominion, which he so greatly
aided in the creation of. He was sworn in by
Chief Justice Draper.
As to the first choice for the premiership, a few
observations will be in order. The premiership of
Old Canada had now lapsed, and its late occupant, Sir
Narcisse Belleau, was relegated to the lieutenant-
governorship of Quebec. The leader of the Reform
party, Mr. George Brown, could lay no claim to the
position, he having previously renounced ministerial
responsibility at an alleged critical period, and that
he had recently avowed his hostility to coalition gov-
ernments was well known. Mr. Cartier was a
prominent man with a larger following than any
other member, but the Hon. John A. Macdonald was
naturally looked upon as pre-eminently fitted for the
high position, and was therefore very properly in-
vited by His Excellency to form the first Dominion
cabinet, in which he succeeded without difficulty. His
colleagues were chosen from the ranks of both politi-
cal parties. There were thirteen portfolios at his
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 387
disposal, comprising a few new departments, with
also change of the designation in other former depart-
ments, and were filled as follows:
Minister of justice, John A. Macdonald; postmas-
ter-general, Alexander Campbell; president of the
council, Ferguson Blair; minister of inland revenue,
W. P. Howland; public works, William Macdougall;
militia and defence, G. E. Cartier; minister of
finance, A. T. Gait; minister of agriculture, J. C.
Chapais; secretary of state for Canada, H. L. Lange-
vin; minister of customs, S. L. Tilley; minister of
marine and fisheries, Peter Mitchell; secretary of
state for the provinces, A. G. Archibald; receiver-
general, Edward Kenny. The title or designation
of several portfolios was subsequently changed.
His Excellency announced that Her Majesty had
been pleased to confer a knighthood upon Mr. Mac-
donald, and a Companionship of the Bath upon
Messrs. Cartier, Tilley, Macdougall, Gait, Tupper and
Howland.
Mr. Cartier, with characteristic spirit, declined
the proffered honor on the reasonable ground of
being a strong leader from his own province, there-
fore equally entitled to, at least, the same honor as a
weaker leader locally from another province. Mr.
Cartier's view of the case seems to have been shortly
afterwards concurred in by conferring upon him a
baronetcy of the United Kingdom, a somewhat higher
honor than that conferred upon the premier.
Meanwhile Mr. Brown had called a convention in
early summer of the Liberals of the newly named pro-
vince of Ontario, for the purpose of adopting a party
platform. The call was responded to by more than
388 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
six hundred delegates, including Messrs. Macdougall
and Howland. A resolution was submitted con-
demning the coalition system of government, and
asserting the expediency of at once returning to
former party lines. Messrs. Macdougall, Howland
and a very few others prudently advised delay. Mr.
Brown was, however, strongly opposed to coalitions
and owing to his strong personality the proposed
resolution was adopted almost unanimously.
Mr. Brown was, no doubt, right in theory, but his
premature course proved to be disastrous for the
time being both to himself and to many of his worthy
followers at the polls. As to the selection of Eeform
candidates for the coming election struggle shortly
to take place under the new order of things, Mr.
Brown deemed it inexpedient that he should be a can-
didate himself, owing to his frequent embarrassing
positions in connection with the Globe newspaper. He
was, however, persuaded by the convention to recon-
sider his decision, with which he reluctantly com-
plied by standing for the riding of South Ontario
against Mr. T. N. Gibbs, a strong man, who had held
the seat since Mr. Mowat's retirement from the riding
up to that time.
The chances at the polls for Mr. Brown and his
stalwart followers were rendered still more doubtful
owing to the formation of a coalition government for
the Province of Ontario as well, under the premier-
ship of the veteran John Sandfield Macdonald, who
was heartily reciprocating with the new Dominion
premier in the elections for both the House of Com-
mons and the Provincial Legislature, which were held
at the same time and in the same polling booths.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 389
The election laws of the time provided for two days
of open voting, at such dates and in such ridings as
the government of the day deemed of most advantage
to themselves. They usually selected government
strongholds for the first elections in order to gain
prestige as the elections progressed. On the occasion
of the first Dominion election a period of six weeks
elapsed between the dates of the first and last
contests.
The first election held was in South Ontario, where
a battle royal ensued. A test of public opinion was to
be made in this riding and a supreme effort was put
forth to defeat the Reform leader. Mr. Brown
entered single-handed into the campaign, with his
characteristic energy. His opponent, Mr. Gibbs, was
also quite active, and was being favored besides with
support from both the Dominion and Provincial gov-
ernments. Mr. Brown's campaign was doubtless an
expensive one to himself. He led his opponent by a
small majority on the first day's polling, but on the
second day of polling the sinews of war were said to
be used so freely on the side of his opponent that the
election was lost to Mr. Brown by a majority of sixty
votes.
The depressing effects of this memorable contest ho
doubt resulted in the defeat of several Keform candi-
dates, who might otherwise have been elected, but for
the early party disaster in South Ontario. The
result of the general election gave the coalition gov-
ernments, both at Ottawa and Toronto, a large major-
ity. The result in Nova Scotia was, however, a protest
against the manner in which the union was carried in
that province. A list of members returned for both
390 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
houses at this first election for the Dominion and pro-
vinces will be found in " Appendix A."
Mr. Gait, the finance minister, resigned his port-
folio a few days before the meeting of parliament,
owing to the persistent attack made upon him over
his Currency Bill, which he had shortly before had
carried through the provincial parliament of Can-
ada. It was rather unfairly alleged that Mr. Gait's
financing had caused the suspension of the Commerr
cial Bank of Canada, and had also brought some
other banks nearly to the verge of ruin. Mr. Gait's
sensitive nature could not withstand these strictures,
he therefore retired from the government. No one,
however, acquainted with Mr. Gait's character could
doubt his honest desire to serve his country to the
best of his ability. Sir John Rose, a most estimable
gentleman, succeeded Mr. Gait as finance minister.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The first parliament of the Dominion met at
Ottawa on the 7th November, 1867. Mr. James Cock-
burn, member for the west riding of Northumberland,
was elected Speaker of the House of Commons,
-and Mr. Joseph Cauchon, of Quebec, was appointed
Speaker of the Senate, the Speakership of the Sen-
ate, under the new constitution, being now a govern-
ment appointment.
His Excellency delivered the speech from the
throne on the following day, in which refer-
ence was made to the happy and historical event
which had ushered in a new nationality for the people
of Canada. An unusual number of topics of a prac-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 391
tical nature were appropriately referred to under
the new order of things. It being the first session of
the Dominion Parliament, nearly every branch of the
public service would require more or less remodelling
to meet the changed and enlarged condition of mat-
ters— particularly as some of the functions and
branches of the service formerly administered by the
old government of Canada were now relegated to the
respective provincial governments.
The address and reply to the speech from the
throne was moved and seconded by Messrs. Fisher
and Desaulniers and debated several days. Among
the many remarkable speeches were those of the great
orator from Nova Scotia, the veteran ex-premier,
Joseph Howe, who spoke from an anti-confederation
standpoint. He was ably replied to by his old
antagonist, another veteran from Nova Scotia, Dr.
Charles Tupper — also an ' ex-premier — in support of
the confederation scheme. The high debating talent
of the new House soon became apparent. The ad-
dress finally passed without a division.
The Act authorizing the construction of the Inter-
colonial Railway was criticised, chiefly owing to the
government having chosen the longest, therefore, the
most expensive route, known as the Major Robinson
route, adopted, it is alleged, for military reasons. Mr.
Dorion divided the House upon the question, but only
obtained thirty-five votes to eighty-three.
Mr. Macdougall introduced a series of resolutions
looking to the acquisition of the North-West Terri-
tories, which were adopted after a debate in which
the disgruntled Mr. Howe spoke in a deprecating tone.
He was followed by Mr. Tilley inl an able and patriotic
speech.
392 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Mr. Kose, the finance minister, delivered the first
Dominion budget in a pleasing and reassuring man-
ner. .He promised that the past chronic deficit
would now disappear, seeing that the parliament
buildings were completed, and the Fenian raids, so
costly to Canada, were probably over.
A long adjournment took place on the 21st Decem-
ber, for the purpose of allowing the provincial par-
liaments to meet before the end of the year, as their
respective constitutions demanded.
A vacancy took place in the cabinet, owing to the
death of Mr. Ferguson Blair, one of the Keform mem-
bers of the cabinet, which was left unfilled for a time.
After the adjournment, Mr. Howe, and other anti-
confederationists resumed the agitation for a
repeal of the union, in so far as Nova Scotia was con-
cerned. The legislature of Nova Scotia having
adopted an address to the Imperial parliament pray-
ing for repeal, Mr. Howe and three other delegates
were sent to the Mother Country to promote the cause
of disunion. They, however, fortunately received no
encouragement from the home government. Dr.
Tupper was delegated by the Dominion government to
counteract the efforts of the anti-confederates. The
question was brought up in the British House of
Commons, but the sympathy in that body was unmis-
takably with the union party.
Owing to the circulation in Canada of large quan-
tities of British and American silver coins, and to the
evident scarcity of Canadian silver for circulation,
the government deemed it expedient to issue paper
currency of the small denomination of twenty-five
cents, commonly known as " shin-plasters," owing
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 393
to the somewhat diminutive size of the bill. The Brit-
ish shillings and American quarters were generally
accepted by dealers, but were subject to a discount of
five per cent, and upwards in the banks, which was
both a hardship and a nuisance to holders. The little
bills afforded considerable relief until an additional
coinage of Canadian silver was effected.
The adjourned session of the first parliament reas-
sembled in March, 1868.
A most deplorable tragedy occurred in Ottawa a
few weeks after the reassembling of the House, in the
assassination of one of the brightest members of par-
liament, Mr. T. D. Magee. This gentleman was a
native of Ireland, and had been in his earlier days a
sympathizer with the repeal party in Ireland. Com-
ing to the United States he naturally was in sym-
pathy, for a time, with the anti-British party of that
country. Later on he made Canada his home, where
he was greatly admired by all classes for his high-
class lectures and great literary talent. He was in-
vited to enter the Canadian political arena, where
with maturer years and good treatment he soon
became a patriotic Canadian and a thoroughly loyal
British subject. The nemesis of blind hate and re-
venge, however, was upon his track. A conspiracy
had been formed by some desperate men to put him
to death as a supposed renegade from the Irish cause.
Magee had never ceased to be a staunch friend of
either his native land or of his church, but in later
life wisely believed in the policy only of using con-
stitutional means to alleviate the wrongs of Ireland.
He was nevertheless ruthlessly made a cruel victim
by a few of his misguided former associates, who
394 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
failed to understand the high motives of their
distinguished compatriot.
Parliament decided to give the noble and innocent
victim of blind revenge a public funeral, and to pro-
vide a moderate pension for his grief -stricken wife
and children. One, Patrick James Whelan, a tailor,
was convicted of crouching silently under the shadow
of night behind Mr. Magee, who was on his way from
the parliament buildings to his boarding house, and
of discharging a pistol close at his victim's head, caus-
ing instantaneous death. Whelan died upon the
scaffold without revealing the names of his fellow-
conspirators.
The labors of the session having been completed
prorogation took place on the 20th of May.
Meantime the respective provincial legislatures
and governments were fully organized and engaged in
the discharge of their important functions, which
were legitimately of a more local character. (A
comparatively brief reference to the respective pro-
vincial administrations will be made at the close of
the narrative of Dominion administration.)
During the recess Mr. W. P. Howland resigned his
portfolio of the inland revenue department to be-
come lieutenant-governor of Ontario. Mr. Alexander
Morris succeeded him as minister of inland revenue.
The premier with some members of his cabinet
visited Nova Scotia during the summer on a com-
mendable mission of conciliation towards the anti-
confederates of that province. Their efforts did not
bear immediate fruit, but as the agitators for repeal
now despaired of any encouragement from the home
government, an earnest appeal was specially made to
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 395
the patriotism of Mr. Howe, requesting him to bury
the hatchet and enter the cabinet. Mr. Howe did not
at once accede to the proposal, but after a few months'
consideration he finally decided to cease the hopeless
agitation and to accept the proffered portfolio, pro-
viding the terms were made somewhat better, Avhich
was probably agreed to. This patriotic step on the
part of Mr. Howe incurred the most bitter hostility
of many of his late co-workers for repeal. He having
accepted the portfolio of president of the council was
obliged to face his constituents of Hants County for
re-election. Many of his former supporters conse-
quently were now his most active opponents. He
was, however, re-elected after a most spirited and
expensive contest.
Sir George Cartier and the Hon. William Mac-
dougall now proceeded to Great Britain for the pur-
pose of arranging the terms for the acquisition of the
North-West Territories.
His Excellency Lord Monck having now succeeded
in firmly establishing the Canadian confederation,
retired from the position of governor-general, uni-
versally respected and admired as a pre-eminently
wise, patriotic, courteous and successful statesman.
He was succeeded by Lord Lisgar towards the end of
1868.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD LISGAR.
The new governor-general opened parliament in
April, 1869, in a congratulatory speech, in which he
foreshadowed considerable legislation in the way of
amendments to the criminal, bankruptcy, election,
396 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
banking and patent laws. The address in reply to
the speech from the throne, moved and seconded by
Messrs. Simpson and Bolton, and commented upon
by Mr. Holtpn, with some remarks by the premier,
was allowed to pass on the following day.
Movements tending to confederation in both New-
foundland and Prince Edward Island temporarily
loomed up, but unfortunately for some reason rather
soon subsided.
Messrs. Cartier and Macdougall, with the aid of
the Imperial government, completed a bargain for the
peaceful occupation by Canada of the North-West
Territories. The Hudson's Bay Company claimed the
territory under a Trading Charter from King Charles
II., and were determined to drive a hard bargain
with Canada. On the other hand Cartier and Mac-
dougall contended that the Hudson's Bay Company
had no legal right to the land, and that Upper Can-
ada had jurisdiction in said territories. A compro-
mise, suggested by the colonial secretary, Lord Gran-
ville, was adopted, by which the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany were to get f 1,50 0,000 in cash, and to reserve
to themselves blocks of land near their trading-posts,
comprising in all fifty thousand acres, and also one-
twentieth of all the townships surveyed for settle-
ment. The territories were first to be transferred to
the Imperial government and then to be conveyed by
the latter to the Dominion government.
This great domain had up to this time been fairly
well governed by the Hudson's Bay Company under a
simple but efficient set of laws for a period of about
two hundred and fifty years. Some trouble arose,
however, about fifty years previous to this present
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 397
date with a rival company, known as the North-
West Trading Company. Some hostilities actually
occurred in which the Hudson's Bay men were
worsted, resulting in the death of Governor Semple
and a few others. The two companies subsequently
amalgamated and peace reigned supreme thereafter.
The Canadian parliament passed a temporary bill
during the session for the government of the above-
mentioned territory by a lieutenant-governor and
council, pending the regular organization of the pro-
vinces with representative institutions. All laws in
force in the territories, not inconsistent with the Brit-
ish North America Act, were to remain in force
until repealed or amended.
Mr. Blake divided the House during the session
upon the question of the constitutionality of the bet-
ter terms proposed to be granted to Nova Scotia. He
contended that the terms were already fixed by the
British North America Act, and a precedent of the
proposed kind might give future trouble with other
provinces.
However, by a majority of thirty -nine members, all
legal and constitutional points were laid aside and
the action of the government sustained. It was
desirable, of course, to conciliate the Nova Scotians,
the rank and file of whom had not really been fully
consulted, and unlike the people of the other pro-
vinces, were objecting all along to the proposed terms
of confederation. However, the proper constitu-
tional move would probably have been to take a little
more time by requesting the Imperial government to
amend the British North America Act in so far as
Nova Scotia was concerned. It is possible, however,
398 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
that clause 120 of the Act furnished the government
with some justification for the course pursued by
them. Parliament prorogued in June, 1869.
Lieutenant-Colonel J. Stoughton Dennis, a promi-
nent land surveyor, was sent out to the North-West
in July to commence the surveying of townships
along the Ked and Assiniboine Rivers, apparently
without explicit instructions or precautions to ex-
plain and reassure the inhabitants of that country of.
their full rights of pre-emption, and permanent free
possession of such land as they required for their
homes, and for future actual settlement.
The Hon. William Macdougall resigned his port-
folio in the government in September to assume the
lieutenant-governorship of the new territory, but
owing to some unaccountable and exasperating delays
in the payments and transfer of the territory, he did
not proceed upon his journey until December.
Meanwhile distrust naturally began to arise in the
minds of these remote and inexperienced inhabitants
over the surveys which were in process. Mr. Howe,
a member of the government, had visited this set-
tlement in advance of Mr. Macdougall, and evidently
did not particularly endeavor to smooth matters
ahead for his late colleague by allaying the misappre-
hension of either the English or French-speaking
inhabitants. The disaffected people generally were
known by the designation of Metis, who, in the
absence of proper assurances, evidently shared the
groundless fear that the tenure of their farms were
in jeopardy.
The ill-starred lieutenant-governor, with his numer-
ous retinue and governmental paraphernalia, was-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 399
now on the way to the territories via St. Paul and
Pembina. On his arrival at the latter place, after a
tedious drive across great stretches of prairies, he
was surprised to find himself forestalled by the re-
ceipt of a high-handed written notice, signed by John
Bruce, president; Louis Kiel, secretary of state; W.
B. O'Donohue (an American Fenian), treasurer; A.
Lepine, adjutant-general of the provincial govern-
ment, forbidding him to enter the territory.
Mr. Macdougall reported the state of matters to
Ottawa, and also endeavored to communicate with the
governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, Mr. Mc-
Tavish, at Fort Garry; but his messenger had not pro-
ceeded far upon his journey when he was arrested and
sent back. A squad of armed horsemen then sur-
rounded Mr. Macdougall's hotel and notified him that
he must leave the country by nine o'clock on the fol-
lowing morning. At the appointed hour such hostile
demonstrations were made against him that he re-
treated across the border to the American side. Kiel
then took possession of Fort Garry and garrisoned it
with a force of sixty men, who helped themselves lib-
erally to rations from the Hudson's Bay Company's
well stocked stores.
Governor McTavish promptly issued a proclama-
tion declaring the proceedings of the so-called pro-
visional government to be illegal, which was of course
unheeded by the motley band of audacious usurpers
and marauders, whose heads now began evidently to
swell in their dreams of future power and statescraft,
which with ordinary foresight they ought to have
known could only be short-lived, seeing that their
only advantage was gained through their comparative
400 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
isolation, and the insurmountable difficulty of send
ing an opposing force from Old Canada to disperse
them during the winter months.
Lieutenant-Governor Macdougall also issued a pro-
clamation commanding the insurgents to peacefully
disperse, and also issued a commission to Colonel
Dennis, the surveyor, authorizing him to raise a force,
which resulted, as might have been expected, in fail-
ure, seeing that there were so few eligible and sympa-
thetic recruits all told to be had in the new territory
at that period.
Mr. Macdougall, now deeply chagrined, returned to
Canada a victim of the remissness of official authority
at Ottawa in not having made more prompt and thor-
ough preparation for taking over the country. The
fiasco was a source of deep disappointment, humilia-
tion and loss of prestige to Mr. Macdougall, from
which he never fully recovered. He complained bit-
terly of his former colleagues, and gave vent to his
feelings in a scathing pamphlet characterizing the
Ottawa administration of the day as an embodiment
of " masterly inactivity."
The insurgents, having succeeded in getting rid of
the representatives of Canadian authority, were for
the time being masters of the situation. Their lead-
ers issued a proclamation for a national convention,
to which the few British inhabitants were invited. A
Bill of Eights was adopted despite the protest of the
British delegates. The provisional government was
confirmed in power, Fort Garry was formally taken
possession of, and Governor McTavish set at defiance,
and open rebellion asserted itself.
A newspaper called the New Nation was estab-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 401
lished as the organ of the provisional government.
(The territory was certainly extensive enough for the
formation of a new nation.) Several Loyalists, in-
cluding Messrs. Schultz, Boulton and Scott were im-
prisoned, but escaped. Scott and Boulton were re-
captured, while Schultz made his escape to Lake
Superior, enduring great hardships by the way.
Scott, having expressed a contemptuous opinion of
the provisional government, was court-naartialled and
ruthlessly sentenced to death without the semblance
of a fair or just trial, or even of an opportunity of
making any explanation or of offering an apology.
Kemonstrances were made by the only Protestant
clergyman then present, but without avail. The
Eoman Catholic clergy did not personally interfere,
but sent a deputation to plead for mercy. Arch-
bishop Tache was unfortunately absent from this
continent, or his commanding influence upon the
spot would probably have averted the whole trouble
from the beginning. The Archbishop was cabled at
Kome requesting his presence at home when the dis-
turbance first commenced, and returned as soon as
possible, but arrived just five days too late to prevent
the worst act of the rebellion.
Scott was brutally murdered on the following
morning after being sentenced. A squad of six men,
under the command ' of the pretender adjutant
Lepine, succeeded in killing their victim after
some awkward firing and other cold-blooded acts.
The brutality of these men was further exemplified in
the refusal of a request made by both the Anglicans
and Methodists for the care of the body of Scott, the
•disposal of which is still a mystery to the public.
26
402 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Boulton had a narrow escape from a similar fate,
which he owed to the timely arrival of Mr. D. A.
Smith, now Lord Strathcona.
Eiel had now become the autocratic leader of the
provisional government and the most influential man
in the territory. The news of these cruel outrages
stirred the feelings of Britishers on both sides of the
Atlantic to the depths, and the righteous indignation
did not subside for years. A determination was uni-
versally evinced for putting down the rebellion at
once with a strong hand, and also to punish the rebels.
A commission had been despatched by the Domin-
ion government, comprised of Mr. D. A. Smith, Col.
de Salaberry, and Vicar-General Thibault, to inquire
into the cause of the rebellion, and to explain to the
people the liberal intention of the government.
Eiel permitted the commission to travel to Winni-
peg under surveillance. A public meeting was ad-
dressed by the commissioners with a view to bring
about a proper understanding, but Eiel would not
then abate his pretensions. Subsequently he agreed
to the adoption of an amended Bill of Eights, setting
/orth the conditions upon which union with the
Dominion would be accepted. Mr. Smith undertook
to forward these proposals to the Ottawa government.
Riel and his followers, however, continued the reign
of terror in the interim by arresting loyalists and
plundering the stores of the Hudson's Bay Company,
and also of other dealers.
Archbishop Tache was now using his good offices
as a mediator among the rank and file of the people,
assuring them that he was authorized by the Ottawa
government to promise all a full pardon upon laying
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 403
down their arms, and that the Ottawa government
would also assume payment for the stores which had
been illegally appropriated by them. In the pulpit,
however, His Grace, in his capacity of spiritual ad-
viser, before an overflowing congregation, took another
course, by denouncing in the fiercest and most bitter
terms the conduct of both laity and clergy for having
permitted and perpetrated all this villainous madness
in his absence, which had brought a lasting stain upon
the history of the Bed Kiver colony.
When the nature of their rebellious misdeeds was
thus vividly brought home to them, the vast congre-
gation melted into tears of penitence. Eiel was pres-
ent at the service and brazened out for a time the
archiepiscopal fusilade, but finally hung his head in
shame. His Grace removed the priest who had
charge during his absence, and sent others of the
clergy, as a punishment, to the remote parts of his.
diocese.
The Opposition at Ottawa were meanwhile making:
all the party capital possible out of these unfortunate
events, it got noised abroad that a promise had!
been given that the rebels were to be pardoned, and
the goods which they had illegally appropriated were
to be paid for by the government, which was a most
unpopular state of matters for the government before
the electorate of Ontario and the Maritime Provinces,,
at any rate.
The government having felt it expedient to give a
denial to the report, the archbishop, in order
to vindicate his own veracity, published Sir John A.
Macdonald's private letter to him. The last-named
gentleman had just been telling an Ontario audience
404 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
of electors that he " wished to God he could catch
Kiel," while his letter to the archbishop divulged the
fact that he had actually at the same time sent $1,000
/or the purpose of sending Kiel out of the country in
order to relieve the government from embarrassment.
As to the promise of general pardon, the language of
the letter was somewhat ambiguous, but the arch-
bishop declared that he had been assured verbally
that a pardon would be conferred.
The Imperial government ordered a military expedi-
tion to Fort Garry, chiefly comprised of Canadian
volunteers under the command of the gallant Colonel
Wolseley, destined to be one of the most renowned
generals in the British army.
The expedition reached Fort Garry in due course
via the then tedious Lake of the Woods canoe and
portage route, but found that the enemy had fled at
their approach, the most politic, if not the most gal-
lant course the rascals could pursue.
Kiel, however, still possessed great influence with
his fellow Metis, who elected him to the Dominion
parliament at the earliest opportunity, but as there
was a warrant out against him from Ontario over the
Scott murder, he was afraid to show himself after
reaching Ottawa. He succeeded, however, in taking
the oath in the clerk's room during the lunch hour
when all was quiet within the precincts of the parlia-
ment buildings, but immediately betook himself to his
hiding place. He was declared to be an outlaw by
a resolution of the House of Commons. He, however,
was re-elected, whereupon a vote of expulsion was
passed against him, upon the ground chiefly that he
was a fugitive from justice.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 405
Parliament met in February of 1870 with the usual
formalities. The address in reply to the speech from
the throne was moved and seconded by Messrs. Savary
and Scriver, and commented upon by Mr. Holton and
the premier. A bill was introduced providing for the
regular organization of a legislature for Manitoba,
under the usual responsible system of government.
The Assembly was to be comprised of twenty-four
members and the Council of seven members.
During the discussion of the bill the Opposition in
the House, led by Mackenzie and Blake, criticised
the government over the past troubles in the most
unsparing manner. The bill also provided for the
government of the North-West Territories by a lieu-
tenant-governor and eleven councillors.
Mr. A. G. Archibald, the secretary of state for the
provinces, was appointed lieutenant-governor. Mat-
ters then went on in a constitutional way. The
Legislative Council was subsequently dispensed with
as a quite unnecessary appendage.
Sir John Hose, the finance minister, now retired tc*
London, England, and was succeeded by the old
veteran politician, Sir Francis Hincks, who had been
nearly forgotten in the political arena.
The tariff bill — a quasi-national policy — of a pre-
vious session being harshly criticized by members gen-
erally, was subsequently repealed by its own authors
during the same term of parliament in which it was-
adopted. Thirty-nine public and twenty private bills
were passed during the session, and parliament pro-
rogued early in May.
During the summer a considerable body of Fenians
from the United States invaded Canada at two differ-
406 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
ent points in the Province of Quebec, but were gal-
lantly driven back across the border by our volun-
teers, and then given a second chase upon foreign
soil by the American authorities, who had now be-
stirred themselves to prevent a recurrence of these
outrages.
Dr. Tupper, member for Cumberland, N.S., entered
the cabinet in June of this year, and was re-elected by
acclamation.
Some trouble unfortunately arose this year with
American fishermen, who coolly persisted to continue
in the full enjoyment of the privilege of the Cana-
dian waters after the Reciprocity Treaty had been
abrogated by their own government. Several poaching
vessels were captured by the Canadian authorities,
which caused some irritation at Washington, and
also attracted the attention of the Imperial govern-
ment. The outcome of this incident and some other
unsettled questions, such as the Southern Confed-
eracy armed cruiser " Alabama " claims — the vessel
having been illicitly built in England for the rebels —
the undefined ownership of the Island of San Juan,
was the institution of a joint high commission to
fully adjust all disputes between the great union and
the Empire. The commissioners on the side of the
Americans were Hamilton Fish, secretary of state, and
four others. On the side of the British, Earl de Grey,
and four others, which included the Canadian premier
Sir John A. Macdonald. The deliberations were held
at Washington, and were watched with keen interest
in this country, as it was expected that the terms of
the treaty would provide some compensation to Can-
ada for her heavy outlays in repelling the several
Fenian invasions.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 407
The sittings of the commission lasted for more than
a month, and certain recommendations were agreed
upon which provided as follows :
The Alabama claims to be adjusted by a board of
arbitrators to meet at Geneva, Switzerland.
The ownership of the Island of San Juan to be left
to the decision of the Emperor of Germany.
The free navigation of the canals and River St.
Lawrence to the Americans, and of Lake Michigan
and the Yukon River to the British. The considera-
tion for fishery privileges was to be left to arbitration.
The claim of Canada for the heavy expense incurred
over the Fenian hostilities was entirely ignored.
The treaty was most unpopular in Canada. Sir
John A. Macdonald was severely blamed, not only by
Liberals, but also by many Conservatives, for not
having stood out more strongly for the rights of Can-
ada. It is but reasonable, however, to assume that
Sir John would have been out-voted in any efforts to
secure better conditions for Canada. It was perhaps
not fair to have blamed him so severely as was done.
Parliament assembled in February of 1871. His
Excellency's speech justly referred to the gallantry
of the volunteers in having driven off the horde of
Fenian invaders so expeditiously. The address in
reply to the speech from the throne was moved and
seconded by Messrs. Lacerte and Kirkpatrick, and
commented upon by Mr. Mackenzie and the premier.
The Province of British Columbia now entered the
Dominion upon the usual financial terms provided by
the British North America Act, the representation
in parliament to consist of six members in the House
of Commons, and three in the Senate. There was
also the very important condition on the part of the
408 POLITICAL ANNALS OP CANADA.
Dominion that British Columbia was to be connected
by rail with the older provinces within a period of
ten years. Mr. Trutch was appointed lieutenant-
governor by the Canadian government.
The Opposition criticised the parliamentary repre-
sentation accorded the province as being largely dis-
proportionate to the population which at that time
only numbered about ten thousand white inhabitants,
and twenty-three thousand Indians.
The time stipulated for the completion of the pro-
posed railway was also criticised as being unreason-
ably short for the accomplishment of a work of such
magnitude. The cost was also alleged to be excessive
for the resources of the country.
The legislature of New Brunswick aroused some
bitter animosities at this time on the part of the
Eoman Catholic population of the province, by the
adoption of a school bill which denied state aid to
all Separate Schools, whereupon the Roman Catho-
lics persisted in an appeal to the Dominion govern-
ment demanding a disallowance of the bill. The
event became a very embarrassing question for legis-
lators in both the Dominion and Provincial parlia-
ments. The Act stood, however, the Province not
having exceeded its powers. The same legislature
condemned the terms of the Washington Treaty as
being unjust to the Province, and asked for better
financial terms from the Dominion.
Parliament assembled for the last session of the
first parliament of the Dominion in April of 1872.
The address in reply to the speech from* the throne
was moved and seconded by Messrs. Nelson and
Carter, when a wordy duel of much spirit ensued
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 409
over the terms of the recent Washington Treaty,
which was finally agreed to during the session.
Two historic railway charters were granted during
the session looking to the construction of a Canadian
Pacific Kailway. The one charter was designated the
Canadian Pacific Kailway, which was under the aus-
pices of Sir Hugh Allan; the other was the Inter-
Oceanic Kailway, under the auspices of Sir David
Macpherson.
Lord Lisgar, after a satisfactory term of office to all
concerned surrendered the seals of office as governor-
general, and left for home after the prorogation of
parliament in June.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD DTJFFERIN.
That greatly distinguished scholar, orator and
statesman, Lord Dufferin, succeeded to the governor-
generalship in 1872.
Mr. Alexander Morris resigned his portfolio in the
inland revenue department to accept the Chief Justice-
ship of Manitoba, and was succeeded by Dr. Tupper,
John O'Connor, of Essex, was taken into the cabinet
as president of the council. Dual representation was
abolished by a special little bill under the parentage
of Mr. Costigan — it was said to embarrass Messrs.
Blake and Mackenzie of the Ontario government.
The constituencies were arranged to provide six addi-
tional seats in Ontario as a result of the last census
enumeration. Considerable gerrymandering was per-
petrated without, however, disturbing county boun-
daries.
The first parliament having run its full course was
dissolved on the 15th of July. The country was,
410 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
however, already in the throes of an anticipated gen-
eral election. The contest was a hot one, the Oppo-
sition being most aggressive, and making all possible
capital against the government over the unpopular-
ity of the Treaty of Washington, of the British
Columbia terms, and of the failure to punish the
rebels in the North-West.
The government, on the other hand, appeared to be
lavishly supplied with campaign funds from some
source or other, no election courts being then in exist-
ence to place a check upon election managers. The
government selected their preliminary battle-grounds,
as there was then no simultaneous polling days, and
the mode was open voting. There is not the slightest
doubt, however, that some candidates of the Opposi-
tion spent their own money freely in order to win in
the close ridings.
The Liberals erroneously surmised at one time that
the ministerialists were using the secret service fund
of $50,000 for the extraordinary campaign outlays,
but the chief source of supply became known later.
Instead of appointing registrars and sheriffs to the
positions of returning officers, partizan supporters of
the government in some cases were appointed, which
resulted in several election frauds and irregularities.
In West Peterboro' the minority candidate, Mr.
Cluxton, was declared elected instead of the majority
candidate, Mr. Bertram. In South Kenfrew Mr.
O'Keilly was returned over Mr. J. L. Macdougall, by
the enrolment of hundreds of fictitious names as
electors. In Muskoka an attempt was made to steal
the election from Mr. A. P. Cockburn by the purloin-
ing of poll books. The rascals only succeeded in get-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 411
ting away with one poll book. Mr. Cockburn, how-
ever, had a majority without the missing poll book,
which was also proven to have contained a majority
for him, yet the returning officer would not make
any return. Mr. Cockburn, however, fared better
than the other two gentlemen, he being somewhat
promptly returned by the House, while the other two
cases went to the committee upon elections, where
they remained unsettled during the brief second
parliament.
The government lost heavily at the polls in Ontario
and Quebec, but fared better in the extreme East and
West, thereby securing apparently a fair working
majority.
The finance minister, Sir Francis Hincks, was de-
feated by William Paterson in South Brant, and
Sir George Cartier, the minister of militia and
defence, was defeated in Montreal East, by Mr. Jette,
now Sir Louis Jette. Sir Francis Hincks secured a
seat in Victoria, B.C., and Sir George Cartier another
in Marquette, Manitoba.
Some changes took place in the cabinet during the
recess. Mr. Chapais resigned and was succeeded by
Mr. Robitaille in the inland revenue department.
Mr. Hincks resigned the finance department and was
succeeded by Mr. Tilley, who vacated the customs,
where he was succeeded by Dr. Tupper.
The second parliament of the Dominion assembled
for its first session on March 5, 1873. Mr. James
Cockburn, of West Northumberland, was re-elected
Speaker of the House of Commons, and Mr. P. J. O.
Chauveau was appointed Speaker of the Senate by the
Crown.
412 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The speech from the throne announced that Sir
Hugh Allan and a body of capitalists had months
previously been awarded a charter for the construc-
tion of the Canadian Pacific Kail way ; other measures
and transactions were also mentioned in His Excel-
lency's speech.
In ordinary cases the next proceeding after the
delivery of the governor's speech would be the moving
of the address in reply to His Excellency, but upon
this occasion Mr. Blake promptly brought up the
subject of amending the return in the West Peter-
boro' election in favor of the candidate having the
largest number of votes. This was resisted by the
government by a majority of sixteen, and the case was
therefore sent to the election committee after a
lengthy debate, which closed on Friday night, the
premier declaring that he would serve the other cases
in the same way.
Several members from the Maritime Provinces, hav-
ing been delayed by a snowstorm, did not arrive in
time to participate in the vote on the West Peterboro7
case, but were in time for the Muskoka case.
Mr. Blake next brought up the Muskoka case at the
Monday sitting. Meantime the belated members
arrived and had made known their disapproval of the
government tactics in the West Peterboro' case. The
leader of the government, therefore, decided that
" discretion is the better part of valor," and con-
sented to the immediate amendment of the writ by
the insertion of the name of Mr. Cockburn, who was
then promptly introduced by the Hon. A. Mackenzie
and Mr. James Young. The returning officer for
Muskoka, E. J. Bell, was summoned to the bar of the
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 413
House of Commons and reprimanded for not having
returned the candidate who polled a majority of votes.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
and seconded by Messrs. Tobin and Palmer, and com-
mented upon by Mr. Mackenzie and the premier.
A bill was passed during the session to rearrange
the finances of the province whereby the Dominion
assumed a large proportion of the respective
provincial debts.
The salaries of ministers and lieutenant-governors
were increased, as was the sessional indemnity to
members, from $600 to f 1,000.
The budget speech showed a surplus of three mil-
lion dollars, and it looked like smooth sailing for the
government, but there were soon to be signs of
approaching storms over the Canadian Pacific Bail-
way affairs.
About four weeks after the House met, Mr. Hunt-
ington, member for Shefford, charged certain mem-
bers of the government with corrupt transactions in
connection with Sir Hugh Allan and certain Ameri-
can capitalists, by having favored these gentlemen
against all competitors in the matter of the Pacific
Eailway charter, upon the understanding that the
said persons would advance a large sum for the use
of the government candidates at the pending election.
Mr. Huntington assumed the grave responsibility of
stating that he was prepared to prove the charges
before a committee of the House. He, therefore,
made a motion for a committee, which the govern-
ment refused. On the following day, however, the
premier moved for a committee, to be comprised of
three government and two Opposition members, to
414 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
take evidence and report ; but as there was a defect in
the British North America Act, which deprived a com-
mittee of the House of power to take evidence under
oath, this power being vested only in the House of
Lords, was by an oversight not conferred upon the
Canadian parliament. An Oaths' Bill was passed to
meet the present case, but was disallowed by the Im-
perial government as being ultra vires, thus causing
delay.
The veteran parliamentarian Sir George Cartier
. died during the session, and another veteran, the
Hon. Joseph Howe, retired from parliament to
assume the lieutenant-governorship of Nova Scotia,
and died within a month afterwards.
The premier now offered to have a royal commis-
sion appointed, but Messrs. Blake and Dorion, who
had been previously appointed members of the par-
liamentary committee to investigate the charges con-
tended that the tribunal, having been appointed by
parliament, it should therefore be conducted under
parliamentary guidance. Meantime the public mind
was so greatly disturbed that His Excellency pressed
his ministers to issue a royal commission, which was
carried out by the appointment of Judges Day,
Polette and Gowan. Meantime the authentic docu-
ments and telegrams in the hands of Mr. Huntington
were given to the press, which created a profound
sensation.
The royal commission met at Ottawa and examined
Sir Hugh Allan, Sir John Macdonald and several
other witnesses. The former testified that Sir George
Cartier asked him for $100,000 in all for the election,
which amount was afterwards increased upon the
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 415
urgent appeals of Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir
George Cartier, but that it was no condition that he
was to get the charter as a consideration for these
payments. Sir John A. Macdonald, the only sur-
vivor to the arrangement — Sir George Cartier being
dead — admitted Sir Hugh Allan's statement, and that
the fund was handled by Messrs. Cartier and Lan-
gevin and himself.
Owing to the public excitement a session of parlia-
ment was called at the unusual period of October. His
Excellency was unjustly blamed by the Liberals, in
their eagerness to compass the defeat of the govern-
ment, for the course pursued by him; but time soon
vindicated his actions, which were both constitutional
and proper under the circumstances.
Meantime the province of Prince Edward Island
entered the union with six seats in the Commons and
three seats in the Senate. An election was held, re-
sulting in the return of Messrs. Laird, Sinclair, J. C.
Pope, A. C. Macdonald, D. Davies and James Yeo for
the Commons; Messrs. Haythorne, Montgomery and
Howlon were appointed to the Senate by the Crown.
These gentlemen took their seats in Ottawa for the
first time at the October session of this year, and were
warmly welcomed.
The government, in desperation, attempted to ap-
pease the people and to stem the rising tide of adverse
public opinion during the recess, but when parlia-
ment assembled in October they found that some of
their former supporters could be no longer relied
upon for support. After the delivery of very able
speeches by the leaders upon each side, the govern-
ment resigned without dividing the House, but not
416 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
before hundreds of appointments had been made dur-
ing the dying hours of the government, including the
questionable appointments, under the circumstances,
of Mr. Tilley as lieutenant-governor of New Bruns-
wick, and of Mr. Crawford, a member of the House,
as lieutenant-governor of Ontario. The choice of the
lieutenant-governors were, however, otherwise very
good appointments.
His Excellency now entrusted Mr. Alexander Mac-
kenzie, the leader of the Opposition, with the task of
forming a ministry, which he accomplished with
facility, the members of which were Messrs. Macken-
zie, Cartwright. Christie, D. A. Macdonald, Dorion,
Letelier, de St. Just, Fournier, A. J. Smith, Burpee,
W. Boss, Coffin, Laird and Messrs. Blake and Scott
without portfolios. Parliament then prorogued to
give the ministers an opportunity for re-election, and
of setting the House in order, and to prepare their
policy, which was announced in due course. The min-
isters were all re-elected, either by acclamation or by
large majorities. The Conservatives in caucus elected
Sir John Macdonald as leader of the Opposition.
The premier, early in the year 1874, foreshadowed
the policy of the administration in an address to the
electors of Lamb ton, somewhat as follows :
The entire construction of the Canadian Pacific
Railway, to be undertaken at as early a date as pos-
sible consistent with the resources of the Dominion,
and in the meanwhile certain sections of the railway
would be constructed as speedily as possible; also
some important water stretches to be utilized as
ready aids in securing improved and immediate
access to the North-West, and to facilitate the con-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 417
struction of the railway; the improvement of the St.
Lawrence route; the establishment of a Supreme
Court at the capital ; vote by ballot, and simultaneous
polling days ; improvement of the insolvency laws, etc.
The representatives in the Senate at that time
being nearly one-sided politically in favor of the Con-
servative party, Mr. Mackenzie apprehended that he
might possibly be embarrassed, and therefore pro-
ceeded to avail himself of a provision in the British
North America Act whereby in case of a deadlock in
the Senate six additional senators, with the consent
of the home government, could be appointed. Mr.
Mackenzie made application for the increase; but the
home government very properly declined, upon the
ground that no necessity had yet arisen for such an
emergency, seeing that parliament had not yet met.
(Mr. Mackenzie would have had a better case as re-
gards the Senate had he waited a year or two longer
before moving in the matter. )
The government advised a dissolution upon the
ground that many of the present members were re-
turned through the agency of corruption. His Excel-
lency assented, even although a general election had
been held only sixteen months previously. As the
Conservative leader was at this time handicapped by
the odium of the so-called Pacific Scandal, and the
country naturally being willing to give the new gov-
ernment a fair trial, it was consequently sustained by
an overwhelming majority.
Before the meeting of the House Mr. Christie re-
signed his portfolio to become Speaker of the Senate.
Mr. Blake also retired from the government. Mr.
Huntington was sworn in as president of the council,
but subsequently became postmaster-general.
27
418 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Parliament met in March of 1874, and elected Mr.
Anglin as Speaker of the Commons. His Excellency's
speech set forth that the Canadian Pacific Act of 1872
had failed of its object, and that it behooved parlia-
ment to take the necessary steps to fulfil the union
agreement with British Columbia, and that the report
of the civil engineers would show that progress had
been made in the surveys. The premier evidently
evinced more anxiety personally to fulfil the exact
terms of the union with British Columbia than did
some o£ his over-cautious supporters. The latter felt
that the terms were too onerous for the resources of
the country to fulfil in the specified time of 1881. Mr.
Mackenzie, the premier, presided alone over the labor-
ious department of public works, which has long since
been reorganized into two distinct departments — of
public works, and of railways, canals and telegraphs
— each presided over by their respective ministers.
The premier's department had the misfortune dur-
ing the first winter of his regime of losing, by a mys-
terious fire in an outbuilding, a considerable number
of Canadian Pacific Eailway maps and notes of the
surveys recently made, which added to the delays in
the preparation of all the necessary plans prior to
actual construction.
Another effort was promised for the securing, if
possible, of a renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty with
the United States. Considerable progress in the con-
struction of the Intercolonial Railway was reported.
Members were also informed that compensation
from the United States for the fishery privileges under
the Treaty of Washington would be sought.
The address in reply to His Excellency's speech was
moved by Mr. Moss (afterwards Chief Justice Moss of
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 419
Ontario), and seconded by Mr. Wilfrid Laurier (now
the Right Honorable Sir Wilfrid Laurier, premier of
Canada at the time of writing) . Sir John Macdonald
offered the usual comments upon the efforts of
Messrs. Moss and Laurier, and was followed by Mr.
Mackenzie.
Louis Eiel, as before stated, had been elected for
Provencher, Manitoba, and visited the capital
secretly, thereupon Mr. Bowell (now Sir Mackenzie
Bowell), moved that Attorney-General Clark of Mani-
toba, who chanced to be at the capital, be requested
to attend at the bar of the House to testify to the sig-
nature of Eiel upon the roll of members. Attorney-
General Scott also stated that a true bill for the mur-
der of Thomas Scott had been found against Kiel by a
Manitoba Court, and a warrant issued for his arrest;
that he had fled the province, and steps had been
taken to declare him an outlaw.
Mr. Bowell then moved that Louis Eiel attend his
place upon the following day. The order not being
obeyed, Eiel, as a fugitive from justice, was expelled
from the House by a vote of 124 to 68. Eiel was re-
elected in Provencher, but never made his appearance
again at Ottawa. It was rumored that his chief hid-
ing place was in the Beauport Asylum, near Quebec,,
where he was reported to have resided for nineteen
months under an assumed name. Unfortunately
Eiel's mischief did not end here, as will be seen
later on.
Mr. Cartwright delivered his budget speech about
the middle of April, the first under the auspices of the
Mackenzie administration, and attracted much com-
ment. Mr. Cartwright regretted that the prodigality
420 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
of his predecessors, had incurred much greater
obligations than the normal revenue would warrant;
also, owing to the new obligations incurred by the
recent admission of Prince Edward Island, it
became necessary to raise a larger revenue by
about three millions, if possible. He was therefore
compelled to resort to some extra taxation by increas-
ing the customs duties upon manufactured goods to
the extent of from 2 1-2 to 5 per cent, additional, and
a large advance in the excise duties upon spirits and
tobacco, also a duty averaging about five cents per
pound upon tea and coffee — a most unpopular tax —
raw materials were but lightly touched.
Dr. Tupper severely criticised the proposed increase
as being both unnecessary and injudicious. Mr.
Mackenzie introduced his transcontinental railway
measure — the line to run from a point south of Lake
Nipissing to a harbor on the Pacific Ocean. Power
was taken to subsidize contractors with f 10,000 per
mile, and alternate blocks of land of twenty-five
square miles were to be set apart to pay for the road,
the land to be sold by the government ; also power
to borrow $35,000,000, to be expended in the construc-
tion of the work. Certain water stretches were to be
utilized both for transportation and construction pur-
poses during the building of the main line — the rail-
way to be the property of Canada when finished.
Mr. George Brown was called to the Senate this
year, and was also appointed a commissioner to Wash-
ington to attempt the securing of a Keciprocity
Treaty. He met with some encouragement at first,
but it finally ended in failure, like all the late negotia-
tions. Mr. Brown was, moreover, not a man to cringe
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 421
unduly to the government of any foreign country for
favors.
The premier, ever unsparing of his physical
energies, dispensed with the services of the inter-
colonial commissioners who had charge of the con-
struction of that great highway, and added the duties
to his own already heavily -taxed department.
An Act was passed to amend the Extradition
Treaty with the United States. Altogether one hun-
dred and eighteen bills were passed during the session,
and parliament prorogued on the 26th of May.
Their Excellencies the Earl and Countess of
Dufferin made a happy and successful tour of On-
tario during the summer. His Excellency's eloquent,
felicitous and patriotic speeches created unbounded
enthusiasm among a highly delighted people, which
did not abate during his term of office.
The premier now further exemplified his utter dis-
regard for his own advantages by sparing, for the
good of the bench in Quebec, his right hand man from
that province in the person of Mr. A. A. Doriony
afterwards Chief Justice Sir Antoine Dorion, one of
the ablest, cleanest and most patriotic statesmen who
ever sat in parliament. Mr. Mackenzie did not then
probably fully realize the loss incurred from a party
standpoint in parting with such a lieutenant.
The government was now confronted with an em-
barrassing racial question over the conviction for
murder, with a death sentence, passed upon Lepine
for his participation in the killing of Thomas Scott.
To reprieve the sentence would raise a howl among
the English-speaking people, and to carry out the
death sentence would raise an opposite furore among
422 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the French-speaking people. The government escaped
from the dilemma through the good offices of His Ex-
cellency by relegating the case to the Imperial parlia-
ment, by whom the death sentence was commuted to
two years more in jail, from the date of the conviction,
the offence having been committed before Canada got
possession of the North- West Territories. The coup
was severely commented upon by the Opposition, as
not only an irregular, but a cowardly and unconstitu-
tional step. They were disappointed that the govern-
ment had not been as greatly embarrassed as they had
anticipated.
Parliament met again early in February. His Ex-
cellency congratulated the House upon the organiza-
tion of the very efficient North-West Mounted Police
force; upon the treaty with the Cree and Salteaux
Indians, and upon the gratifying progress of the
transcontinental railway survey.
The address in reply to the speech from the throne
was moved by Mr. Louis Frechette, the eminent poet,
member for Levis, and seconded by Mr. Colin Mac-
dougall, of East Elgin, and commented upon by Sir
John Macdonald and the premier.
These preliminaries being over, the premier moved
that a pardon be granted to all participants in the
North-West • troubles except Kiel, Lepine and
O'Donohue, who were to be banished from the
Dominion for five years. The motion was followed
up by the formal expulsion of Kiel from the House
and the issue of a writ for a new election in
Provencher.
Meantime the people of British Columbia were
naturally clamorous over the seeming slow progress
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 423
which was being made in connection with the con-
struction of the transcontinental railway, that being
one of the very important items in the terms of the
union. The premier was personally anxious to do all
in his power to expedite the railway undertaking as
rapidly as could be reasonably expected, but many of
his supporters were openly indifferent about the said
terms, thereby causing widespread threatenings and
protestations on the part of British Columbia.
The Imperial government now interposed by way of
mediation with a suggestion or compromise that the
Dominion government should at once construct a
line of railway from Esquimalt to the Nanaimo coal
fields, a distance of 160 miles, and also expend at least
two million dollars annually on the British Columbia
end of the main line, in addition to the expenditure
upon the construction of the eastern portion of the
railway, and the whole line to be completed within
fifteen years. This was better known as the Carnar-
von terms.
The premier introduced a bill to give effect to the
above-mentioned proposals, which encountered consid-
erable opposition even from Mr. Blake and a few
other Liberals in the House. The bill received its
third reading in the Commons by a majority of but
twenty-seven, which included the vote of Sir John A.
Macdonald. The bill was, however, unpatriotically
defeated in the Senate by the small majority of two
votes. It has been alleged that the majority in the
Senate was actuated by a party spirit in killing the
commendable measure, which had been suggested by
the Imperial government.
The people of British Columbia were greatly ex-
424 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
asperated over the bad turn of affairs, and poured out
vials of wrath upon the heads of the government,
although their disappointment was entirely due to the
action of their professed friends in the Senate. The
government then offered the Province of British Col-
umbia a grant of f 750,000 as a consolation for the
unavoidable failure to construct the Esquimalt and
Nanaimo line, which was indignantly refused.
Mr. Cartwright introduced his budget in a very
thorough and elaborate review of the financial condi-
tion of the country, past and present. Dr. Tupper
answered the budget speech in his usual lengthy style,
during which he complimented Mr. Cartwright upon
his improved tone and less bumptious style.
The Supreme Court Act became law during the ses-
sion, and was organized and established at Ottawa in
due course with the eminent jurist William Buell
Kichards as chief justice.
The North-West Territories were organized with a
government under a lieutenant-governor and five
councillors, three of whom were to discharge the
duties of stipendiary magistrates.
The system of voting by secret ballot had in the
meantime been established by the government.
Parliament prorogued in April. Mr. Blake
accepted, during the recess, the vacant portfolio of
minister of justice, lately held by Mr. Dorion, and
for which he was eminently qualified. The transcon-
tinental surveys were now almost completed, and the
construction of the Port Arthur and Winnipeg section
of the railway was begun.
Parliament assembled again in February of 1876.
His Excellency referred to the general depression of
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 425
trade which was prevalent in both the old and new
worlds.
The near completion of the Intercolonial Railway
was mentioned, and also that an earnest effort was
being made to obtain a settlement from the United
States for the privilege of fishing in Canadian waters.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
and seconded by Messrs. Casey and Taschereau, and
commented upon by Sir John Macdonald and Mr.
Mackenzie.
The complaint of British Columbia over the non-
fulfilment of the union terms was ventilated by Mr.
de Cosmos, one of the prominent members from that
province, in a most exhaustive and fiery speech. The
home government again interposed and counselled
patience.
Better terms were granted Manitoba in the shape
of $26,746 per annum for six or seven years.
Mr. Cartwright announced a small surplus in his
budget speech. The session on the whole was rather
a dull one owing to the stagnation of trade.
The Opposition had not yet adopted an election
rallying cry upon which to go to the country ; but in
two years hence they were, however, much encour-
aged by some successes at the several bye-elections
which had been held from time to time. The govern-
ment, as usual in' all such cases, was held directly
responsible for the bad times.
Their Excellencies visited British Columbia during
the recess, and were accorded a royal reception
wherever they called, and did much to allay the im-
patience of the people of that province over the dila-
tory conduct of the government in the matter of the
426 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
fulfilment of the terms of union. Their Excellencies
were greatly pleased with the people and felt much
interested in the province generally.
The display at the Centennial Exhibition this year,
under the auspices of the government, was a great
success. The Canadian exhibits, and the winning of
numerous prizes, attracted much attention, thereby
making Canada and her resources much better known
throughout the world than hitherto.
Lieutenant-Governor Alexander Morris and his two
assistant Indian commissioners did good service to
their country among the Indian tribes this year by
effecting a most amicable treaty at Forts Carleton
and Pitt, for the surrender of 200,000 square miles
of land in the fertile belt, and in otherwise impressing
upon the Indians a knowledge of the kind disposition
and integrity towards them by the government of Can-
ada. His Honor and assistants were gorgeously
arrayed for the occasion in scarlet and blue uniforms
trimmed with gold lace, together with a bountiful
supply of presents, which tended to evoke the admira-
tion and good humor of the assembled aborigines,
who no doubt had some previous knowledge as well,
by reports, of His Honor's characteristic integrity and
goodness of heart.
Parliament met again on the 8th February, 1877.
In the speech from the throne His Excellency alluded,
among other matters, to his pleasant visit to British
Columbia; to the success of the Canadian exhibit at
the Centennial Exhibition held at Philadelphia dur-
ing the previous summer, and also to the opening of
the Intercolonial Kailway for traffic.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 427
by Mr. D. Guthrie, and seconded by Mr. F. Bechard,
and commented upon by Sir John Macdonald and
the premier.
Mr. Cartwright's budget speech this session showed
a deficiency in the revenue of about f 2,000,000;
about half a million dollars of the shortage was repre-
sented in the loss upon working expenses of the gov-
ernment railway which was a new charge thrown
upon the present administration. Mr. Cartwright,
however, attributed the chief loss of revenue to the
continued depression of trade, particularly to that so
severely felt in the neighboring Republic, the effect of
which injured the trade of Canada in a variety of
ways. He proposed some changes in the tariff, which
he expected would produce an increase of revenue by
about half a million dollars. This, by the exercise of
strict economy, would, he hoped, restore the equi-
librium between receipts and expenditure.
The Opposition, in like manner to all other party
managers, took advantage of the hard times to make
political capital for their party. The worst feature
of all these kind of tactics is that the standing of the
country is injured by the over-zealous and repeated
heralding of business failures and of the exaggera-
tion of the existing depression.
Dr. Tupper replied to Mr. Cartwright's budget
speech. In his opening remarks sympathy was ex-
pressed with the country over the critical condition
of trade, after which he launched out an arraignment
of the government for bringing about the depression.
He satirically remarked that the Reform government
had reformed everything ( " deformed them," Sir John
wittily interpolated), soup kitchens and all.
428 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The government were beginning to lose nearly every
seat at any bye-election which occurred owing to the
outcry of " blue ruin " so industriously circulated by
the Opposition press and politicians, for which the
government was persistently blamed.
The astute leader of the Opposition began to gain
heart once more over the government's ill-luck, and
was soon again in his old element. He moved an
amendment to Mr. Cartwright's financial resolution,
in which it was declared that taxation was being in-
creased without any compensation to the country's
interests and that the tariff should be so adjusted as
to benefit the agricultural, mining and manufacturing
interests. This catchy resolution was the forerunner
of the celebrated appeal for a National Policy, and
which proved to be a political bonanza for the
Opposition in the following year.
Mr. de Cosmos again gave trouble during the ses-
sion over the alleged slow progress of the construc-
tion of the transcontinental railway.
Mr. Blake, not feeling himself in robust health, re-
signed the portfolio of minister of justice, for which
he was so eminently qualified, and became president
of the council, a less onerous post. Gossip imputed
to him sensitiveness over the criticism which was
passed upon him while minister of justice for his too
great leniency and tender-heartedness in pardoning
criminals; but no instance has been recorded where
justice had been defeated under Mr. Blake's admin-
istration. No doubt all ministers of justice must at
times feel it to be a painful duty to have the extreme
penalty of the law carried out in the face of piteous
appeals for mercy and of other extenuating
circumstances.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 429
Mr. Laflamme succeeded Mr. Blake as minister of
justice, and was rather a disappointment as compared
with his predecessors.
The arbitration with the United States upon the
fishery question resulted in an award in favor of
Canada of f 5,500,000, payable in gold. Thus for the
first time the Americans did not get the advantage of
Canada in arbitrations and treaties. The Canadian
side of the question was ably presented by the min-
ister of marine and fisheries, Mr. A. J. Smith, assisted
by Mr. L. H. Davies, of Prince Edward Island. Mr.
Smith shortly afterwards received the honor of knight-
hood, as did Mr. Davies some years later.
Mr. Cauchon resigned the portfolio of inland
revenue to become lieutenant-governor of Manitoba,
in succession to Mr. Morris, whose tenure of office had
expired. Mr. Laurier succeeded to the vacant port-
folio of inland revenue, but was most ungraciously
rejected by his constituency of Drummond and Artha-
baska on appealing for re-election, owing to the hos-
tile feeling which had been worked up against the
government over the protracted depression of trade.
Mr. Laurier, however, promptly found a seat in East
Quebec, which he still continues to represent.
His Excellency visited the North-West during the
summer and deservedly received an ovation at all
points visited.
The cabinet ministers held a series of public meet-
ings throughout the country during the recess, which
were fairly successful and which temporarily buoyed
up the spirits of the administration with false hopes
that the country was still with them.
The leader of the Opposition also held a series of
enthusiastic public meetings. The cloud under which
430 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Sir John A. Macdonald had been resting over the
Pacific scandal now began to show signs of lifting;
he was once more cordially welcomed at public
gatherings. Sir John, therefore, began to value the
truthfulness of his own facetious remark, that
" electors have short memories and carry their prin-
ciples in their pockets."
Mr. Mackenzie, the premier, on the other hand, in
the simplicity of his heart, never dreamed that the
electorate would so soon condone the offences of his
antagonist, and was content to honestly pursue the
even tenor of his way without ever once trimming his
sails to the rising breeze by propitiating the manu-
facturers with a moderate increase of customs duties
upon imports, manufactures, and also upon certain
farm products, particularly as more revenue wa&
actually required for the public service of the coun-
try. The manufacturers would have been satisfied
with a smaller increase of duties at the hands of the
present administration than from his opponents
under similar conditions, but it is said that both Mr.
Mackenzie and Mr. Cartwright turned a deaf ear
rather curtly to the importunities of the manufactur-
ers. Mr. Mackenzie also alienated many public con-
tractors by his strict business methods in refusing to
allow certain unauthorized extras, which was
expected by them, consequently these contractors
instead of assisting the government at the elections
subscribed liberally in some cases to defeat their can-
didates, and when a change of government came about
the said claims certainly received tangible considera-
tion at the hands of the incoming government, as the
public accounts will show.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 431
On the other hand, Sir John A. Macdonald, as
before stated, was once more gradually gliding into
his wonted element; his witty, amiable and magnetic
demeanor began to shine with its pristine brightness
and everything now seemed to be coming his way —
much earlier than he ever anticipated. These pro-
spects inspired his party with such a measure of cour-
age and hope that it became more and more aggressive,
and proceeded to take advantage of the strongest pro-
vision of the comparatively new election law, by pro-
ceeding against several Liberal members of the House
for a violation of the Independence of Parliament
Act. The Speaker, being a newspaper man, some
printing for the postoffice department in New Bruns-
wick was done through his office, which lost him his
seat. Messrs. Vail and Jones were unseated in the
same way. Mr. Vail was minister of militia and de-
fence, and suffered defeat at the bye-election. The
Speaker and Mr. Jones were re-elected ; the latter suc-
ceeded Mr. Vail as minister of militia and defence.
Mr. Blake withdrew permanently from a cabinet
position which he probably found to be too irksome in
his then nervous condition of health.
It being apparent that Americans were unduly
dumping their surplus goods upon the Canadian
markets, some sincere friends of the government,
especially of the manufacturing classes were now
strongly urging the government to increase the duties
upon imported manufactures, upon the very reason-
able and truthful grounds that a larger revenue was
required, and which would at the same time afford
Canadian manufacturers a larger measure of inci-
dental protection. It was felt and hoped by many
432 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
friends of the government that this request would be
acceded to. The government, however, listened to
other councils, it is said, from friends in the Maritime
Provinces, and arrived at the fatal decision to ignore
the wishes of the manufacturers, the majority of
whom reluctantly felt compelled to withdraw their
support from the government. The cupidity of farm-
ers was also appealed to with much success.
A Depression of Trade Committee, under Mr. Mills'
chairmanship, had been holding sittings and taking
the evidence of many interested parties. Some facts
quite favorable to the Mackenzie-Cartwright policy
were elicited, but as trade all over the continent had
been getting worse, Mr. Mills' favorable deduction had
not apparently the slightest weight with the electors
at the polls in the following year.
Hence arose Sir John A. Macdonald's supreme
opportunity of once more attaining power. He being
an opportunist rather than an avowed protectionist,
readily bowed to the wishes of the party managers
and popular clamor without coming out squarely as
a protectionist, as to do so would have been fatal to
his chances in the Maritime Provinces. He simply
proposed, he said, to readjust the tariff for the advan-
tage of all classes, and actually denied by a public
wire to Mr. Boyd, of St. John, N.B., that it was pro-
posed to increase the rate of customs duties, but
merely to readjust them.
Mr. Laurier delivered a very able address upon
Liberalism during the recess, in Quebec, which
attracted much attention. The trend of his address
was to come to some better understanding if possible
with the hierarchy, which, however, did not immed-
iately bear fruit.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 433
Parliament assembled again on the 7th of Feb-
ruary, 1878 — the last session of the third parliament
and also of the Mackenzie regime. Mr. Anglin was
again proposed by Mr. Mackenzie for the Speakership
after his enforced appeal to his constituents for re-
election during the recess. Sir John A. Macdonald
opposed the motion on the ground of irregularity, and
at the same time mentioned that all Canadian govern-
ments were following a wrong usage in having the
Speaker proposed by a member of the government. A
sharp debate of a constitutional nature arose and a
division took place, resulting in Mr. Anglin's election
as Speaker by a large majority.
The speech from the throne referred to the success
of the Canadian exhibit at the Sydney, New South
Wales, Exhibition, and to the preparations going for-
ward for the Paris Exposition; to the abundant har-
vest of the previous summer, and to the Canada Tem-
perance Act, familiarly known as the " Scott Act."
The reply to the address was moved by Dr. St.
George and seconded by Mr. Charlton, and com-
mented upon by Sir John Macdonald and the premier.
Mr. Masson, the highly respected member for
Terrebonne, made the cynical but truthful remark
that the government had not been able for some time
to elect a new member from the Province of Quebec
to move the address, although several bye-elections
had taken place in that province. A Conservative
reaction, he said, was sweeping over the Province of
Quebec.
The debate upon the address lasted for a week, but
no amendment was proposed.
Sir John A. Macdonald followed the mover and
28
434 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
seconder of the address in a courteous manner appli-
cable to the two gentlemen, who acquitted themselves
creditably, in the usual routine as mover and seconder.
He then freely criticised the government for alleged
errors of omission and commission.
A serious constitutional crisis arose in Quebec
early in March over the dismissal of the Boucher-
ville Conservative administration by Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Letelier. The latter justified his high-handed
action partly upon the voluntary confession of
Premier Boucherville himself, that he was controlled
by rings, and therefore could not effect reasonable
economy in the administration, and partly for
the reason that he was ignored and treated con-
temptuously by members of the government in not fol-
lowing the constitutional practice of first conferring
with His Honor over intended legislation, the issue of
proclamations bearing His Honor's name, and also
about money appropriations. It must be stated, on
the other hand, that the Boucherville government
possessed the confidence of a considerable majority of
members in the House, and Mr. Boucherville was
personally a man of integrity. He was not, however,
a member of the popular body, his seat being in the
Legislative Council, and therefore had not the fullest
opportunity of watching his more wicked partners.
His Honor called upon Mr. Joly, the leader of the
Opposition, to form a government, which he accom-
plished. The Assembly was then dissolved. The
lieutenant-governor's action was sustained at the
polls by the small majority of one, which,
however, was a striking revulsion from the former
representation.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 435
These unusual proceedings gave rise to prolonged
and bitter discussion, both in the House of Commons
and throughout the country. Constitutional authori-
ties were probably never more freely quoted than at
this juncture.
Upon the government's motion for the House to go
into supply on the llth of April, Sir John A. Mac-
donald moved in amendment that it be resolved that
the recent dismissal by the lieutenant-governor of
Quebec of his ministers was under the circumstances
unwise and subservient of the position accorded to the
advisers of the Crown since the concession of the
principle of responsible government to the British
North American colonies.
The mover of the resolutions quoted many
precedents from other colonies in support of his
contention.
The premier, Mr. Mackenzie, replied, and also
quoted authorities; his chief contention, however,
was that the House of Commons should not meddle
with the matter ; that it was now in the hands of the
electors of Quebec to be disposed of, and that the Joly
administration assumed full responsibility for the
lieutenant-governor's conduct. Several other mem-
bers discussed the question at length, and after a sit-
ting of twenty-four consecutive hours it was decided
for the present, by a vote of 112 to 70, to express no
opinion upon the Quebec crisis.
Mr. Mackenzie made his annual statement upon
the progress of the transcontinental railway, in a
most exhaustive and thorough manner. He reported
that the stupendous task of making the surveys of all
the proposed routes was now completed; that forty-
436 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
seven thousand miles were surveyed. Forty lives were
lost during the making of the surveys, the cost of
which had been nearly four millions of dollars. The
pros and cons of each route were clearly set forth by
the speaker.
Mr. Mackenzie recommended a route which, it is
claimed, would be shorter and of easier grade than the
route subsequently adopted by the strong, efficient
and successful syndicate, of which due notice will be
taken further on.
The letting of nearly thirty important contracts for
the construction of portions of the transcontinental
railway was reported by Mr. Mackenzie.
These explanations and assurances did not, how-
ever, appease the impatience of the people of British
Columbia, who still characterized the action of the
government as procrastinating in the extreme and
threatened to attempt secession from the union unless
more vigorous steps were taken for the early comple-
tion of the road.
Mr. Cartwright delivered his budget speech on the
22nd of February in an exhaustive and lucid man-
ner. Dr. Tupper replied at considerable length, and
Sir John A. Macdonald moved an amendment on
March 7th.
The severe depression of trade being still prevalent,
the government were most unmercifully and unjustly
assailed by the Opposition press, in pamphlets, and
l)y noisy speakers, who were thereby gaining daily
accessions from the ranks of the Liberals, especially
of the manufacturing class, who in turn aided in ex-
tending the propaganda to the rural districts.
Mr. Mackenzie, although a strictly honest, able,
kind and amiable man in both public and private life,
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 437
was entirely unlike most successful party leaders,
being no opportunist. He never made the strengthen-
ing of the party his chief consideration; but,
regardless of consequences, he rather prided himself
upon a rigid adherence to what he deemed principle
and consistency, rather than to play to the galleries.
As Lord Dufferin's term as governor-general was
drawing to a close, a joint complimentary farewell
address by the Senate and House of Commons was
deservedly voted to His Excellency.
Parliament was prorogued on the 12th of May. The
government would probably have fared better had
they asked for an early dissolution of the House
instead of waiting until the 17th of August. The
date for polling was fixed for the 17th of September,
to be by ballot ( for the first time at a general election
in Canada), and which proved to be a Waterloo for
the Mackenzie administration.
A government which emerged from the general elec-
tion of October of 1874 with an overwhelming major-
ity was now just as signally defeated in 1878, as their
opponents had been four and a half years previously.
Several members of the government were defeated,,
and never made their appearance in parliament again.
The Mackenzie administration resigned three days
before the departure of Lord Dufferin in October.
His Excellency promptly entrusted Sir John A.
Macdonald with the formation of a cabinet, which was
accomplished without delay, with the exception of Mr.
Masson, who was absent from Canada at the time and
who, moreover, had no great liking for a cabinet posi-
tion. Mr. Masson's high character was a tower of
strength to the Bleus. Sir John, therefore, acted
438 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
wisely in reserving a portfolio for Mr. Masson's
return.
The new ministry was comprised of Sir John A.
Macdonald, Mr. Tilley, Dr. Tupper, Mr. Langevin,
Mr. Aikens, Mr. J. H. Pope, Mr. J. C. Pope, Mr. James
Macdonald, Mr. Bowell, Mr. Baby, Mr. Masson, Mr.
John O'Connor, and Mr. R. D. Wilmot, Speaker of
the Senate.
GOVERNMENT OF THE MARQUIS OF LORNE.
The people of Canada were feeling somewhat elated
over the reported selection of the Marquis of Lome,
husband of Her Eoyal Highness Princess Louise, a
daughter of Her Gracious Majesty, as governor-gen-
eral of Canada. The distinguished personages
arrived in Canada in the following month, and were
welcomed everywhere by an enthusiastic and loyal
people.
Parliament did not meet as early as was antici-
pated, to afford the promised immediate relief from
the depression to the suffering people of Canada. It,
however, finally met on February 15th, 1879. Dr.
Blanchet was elected Speaker. His Excellency the
Marquis of Lome, in the speech from the throne, ex-
pressed his gratification at being appointed to so high
and important an office, and thanked the people for
the loyal, generous and kindly manner in which Her
Koyal Highness and himself had been welcomed.
A vigorous prosecution of the transcontinental
railway was promised, also the long-expected read-
justment of the tariff. The reply to the speech from
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 439
the throne was moved by Mr. Brecken, and seconded
by Mr. Tasse, and commented upon by Mr. Mackenzie,
the premier, and others. Mr. Mousseau lost no time in
introducing a motion to condemn the conduct of Lieu-
tenant-Governor Letelier, of Quebec, for the dismissal
of the Boucherville government. After a long debate
the motion was carried upon a division. Following up
the decision of the House the Premier, presumably
under strong pressure from the Quebec Bleus, an-
nounced that the government had advised the dismis-
sal of the lieutenant-governor upon the simple ground
that his usefulness was gone.
His Excellency, however, did not relish these vin-
dictive proceedings, and demurred about giving his
sanction, and consequently took the advice of the
home government upon the question. He was advised
by that tribunal that the Dominion government had
power under the 59th section of the British North
America Act for the dismissal.
It is worthy of remark that the premier's conten-
tion in the above-mentioned controversy did not
satisfy every member of his most loyal supporters, the
exceptions taken were by such able lawyers and par-
liamentarians as Mr. Cockburn, of West Northum-
berland, and Mr. Ouimet, of Laval, who expressed
dissent from some of the points advanced by their
leader.
His Excellency now reluctantly yielded to the
relentless clamor for the lieutenant-governor's
'dismissal.
The disgraced official, the Honorable Luc Letelier
de St. Just, was a well-informed, able man of com-
manding presence and of kindly but, at the same
440 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
time, of a headstrong disposition. His bold coup in
dismissing the Boucherville administration, though
held by some fairly good authorities to be constitu-
tional, was open to criticism, and was rather disap-
proved of by many of his own political friends. It
must, however, be admitted that the desire under the
circumstances would be naturally strong, to end even
in an arbitrary way the financial prodigality of the
Bleus, whose career for the previous ten years had
been one of extravagance or worse, during which the
province had piled up a huge debt in contrast to the
sister province of Ontario, which was then not only
free from debt, but also possessed a large surplus,
both provinces having an equal start at confederation.
The dismissal told heavily on the health of the
chivalrous and grand old man, who did not long sur-
vive the painful humiliation to which his proud and
unyielding nature was subjected.
Mr. Tilley delivered the long-looked-for budget
speech on the 14th of March, during which the famous
National Policy was launched. The speaker depicted
the ruin and disaster which had overtaken the coun-
try under the previous government. The proposed
new tariff provided a large increase over the former
one, arranged chiefly in the interest of the manufac-
turing classes; but a duty was also imposed upon
agricultural products. But as Canada produced a
surplus of food for export, no advantage was con-
ferred upon the farmers save in a few isolated cases,
otherwise the general market price of farm produce
could not be regulated by the imposition of duties.
Most people were, however, anxious for a change of
some kind after the long period of depression. Mr.
Tilley's measure therefore gave heart to the manufac-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 441
turers and to many other classes as well, even
although the business of the country did not revive for
a considerable time afterwards. Mr. Cartwright
criticised the budget speech in an exhaustive manner.
The finance minister, in the course of his address,
remarked incidentally that the forest products, unlike
coal and manufactures, was a waning industry. This
gave rise to an interesting! speech from Mr. A. P. Cock-
burn on the other side of the question, which will be
found in Hansard of 1879, page 647.
The first year's volume of trade under the National
Policy of 1879 happened to be actually the smallest
of any of the previous nine years, and the price of
farm produce was actually lower than it had been.
Sir John Macdonald facetiously explained away this
temporary disappointment in one of his character-
istic epigrams.
The somewhat high tariff now adopted was nat-
urally looked upon with disfavor in the free trade
Mother Country, but it was of course a question with
which they could not meddle.
Dr. Tupper, the minister of public works, an-
nounced the government railway policy on the 10th of
May, the most important feature of which was the
proposal to set apart 100,000,000 acres of land, to be
vested in a commission, and to be sold at not less than
|2 per acre. Other details were dwelt upon at length.
Mr. ex-Premier Mackenzie, the former minister of
public works, disapproved, among other things, of the
proposed policy of charging f 2 per acre for the land
to actual settlers, which he said would be inimical to
actual settlement, as good land was being given to
actual settlers for nothing in the United States.
Mr. Plumb interpolated with the question, " Where
442 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
have they any unoccupied land for settlement in the
United States?" Mr. Mackenzie replied, " In Texas,
the Indian Territory, and elsewhere." His simple
statement of fact was wickedly distorted and exagger-
ated by his opponents into an unpatriotic recommen-
dation of American lands in preference to those of
Canada. The false accusation was made to do duty
in the party warfare continually going on in the press
and upon the platform.
An enlightened and humane Indian policy was
adopted during the session, and several useful bills of
a commonplace nature were passed. Parliament
prorogued on the 15th of May.
The premier visited the Mother Country during the
recess, and was sworn in as a member of the Imperial
Privy Council, which entitled him to the prefix of
Bight Honorable, instead of simply Honorable, as
heretofore.
His Excellency and Her Royal Highness visited the
cities of Quebec and Toronto, where they received the
heartiest and most enthusiastic of welcomes.
Some changes of an unimportant character took
place in the cabinet during the recess.
Parliament met on the 12th February, 1880. The
speech from the throne alluded to the benefit derived
from the National Policy and to the progress of the
transcontinental railway. Some legislation for civil
service reform, improvement in the Mounted Police
force, in the public works department, and in the
banking and insolvency laws was promised.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
by Mr. Richey and seconded by Mr. Houde. Mr.
Mackenzie followed with a few complimentary words
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 443
for the mover and seconder of the address, but desig-
nated the government's bill of fare as meagre. A
member interposed the remark, " that it was the sea-
son of Lent." " Yes," remarked Mr. Mackenzie,
" and it is a Lenten bill-of-fare, and they might well
thank Providence for a bountiful harvest, as other-
wise the country would be in a state of paralysis."
Mr. Tilley delivered his budget speech in his usual
able and acceptable manner on the 9th of March. He
informed the House that the revenue had increased
and that the depression of trade was rapidly passing
away. Changes in the tariff were announced upon
many small articles.
Mr. Cartwright followed in one of his slashing and
exhaustive speeches, probing all the weak points in
Mr. Tilley's armor.
Dr. Tupper then rose to demolish Mr. Cartwright's
arguments and deductions in a most vigorous speech,
making some very strong assertions regarding the
.antecedents of his adversary, applying the epithet
" renegade Tory."
Mr. Mackenzie, at the close of an exhaustive
address, copiously interspersed with constitutional
matter, moved a censure upon the government for the
unconstitutional dismissal of the late lieutenant-gov-
ernor of Quebec upon the flimsy pledge that his use-
fulness was gone. A brisk debate ensued thereon, but
the motion was voted down by the usual government
majority.
Dr. Tupper made his annual railway statement on
the 15th or April. His professed expectations in the
way of cash receipts from land sales, progress of set-
tlement, and the phenomenal production of grain in
444 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the prairie country within the following ten years
were considered most optimistic, if not absurd.
The normal issue of government notes for bank and
general circulation was now increased from twelve
million to twenty million dollars this year. This
bold step was criticised by the Opposition as being an
inflation of currency ; but no evil effects have resulted
from the transaction, while it gave the government the
timely use of eight millions of dollars.
A commendable bill was passed to create a resident
high commissioner to represent Canada in Great
Britain. Sir Alexander Gait, a very suitable gentle-
man, was appointed high commissioner. One hun-
dred thousa-nd dollars was voted to the relief fund of
the then prevalent Irish famine.
The members from the Maritime Provinces of both
political parties set up a determined claim, on behalf
of their respective provinces, for the whole of the five
and a half million dollars, being the total amount of
the fishery award, coming from the United States
government, as compensation, they alleged, for the
partial destruction of their fisheries by American
fishermen. The claim was forced to a vote of the
House, but was very properly defeated, as no govern-
ment under the present responsible system could
allow such sectional matters, however worthy of con-
sideration, to be dealt with in that way.
There had been no election of a leader for the
Liberal opposition since Mr. Mackenzie was elected
to that position in 1873. Mr. Mackenzie had, howevery
been ably discharging that duty since he surrendered
the seals of office in the fall of 1878; it came to Mr.
Mackenzie's knowledge, however, that there was
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 445
a desire, which it is said had its origin in Toronto,
upon the part of some members of his party to have a
younger and more physically able member than Mr.
Mackenzie appointed to the leadership ; but he was
neither deposed nor asked to resign, as reported in
some quarters. He, however, with characteristic
sensibility voluntarily announced his resignation as
leader of the Opposition to the House while it was in
session, whereupon Sir John A. Macdonald and Mr.
Tilley spoke most sympathetically upon the event,
paying a just tribute to Mr. Mackenzie's ability and
zeal. It was a most pathetic incident. We are re-
minded that a somewhat parallel experience to that of
Mr. Mackenzie's case transpired in the Conservative
camp some twenty-four years previously, in which Sir
Allan McNab and Mr. John A. Macdonald were
prominently concerned over a change in the leader-
ship of that party. Another somewhat similar inci-
dent in the annals of the same party occurred in 1895,
to which reference will be made later on.
The leader of a great political party occupies a post
of great responsibility, and is liable to have the search-
light of criticism turned upon him in season and out
of season, more particularly if the political tide does
not chance to be running with him.
The Liberal party have, with some reason, been
severely chided for the alleged base ingratitude to
such a leader as Mr. Mackenzie, who had served both
his country and his party so ably and faithfully. It
was certainly an unkind turn of affairs for even a
few of his supporters to wound his feelings in any
way so soon after his great disappointment of 1878.
Mr. Mackenzie doubtless felt the irony of fate most
446 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
keenly, even although he was conscious that his
former colleagues and other outside friends like Mr.
Holton had no part in any desire for a change of lead-
ership. He was also aware that he personally
possessed the confidence and good-will of the whole
party to which he belonged.
A leader had now to be chosen, and the choice fell
upon Mr. Blake, who reluctantly accepted the thank-
less and arduous, but necessary position. The House
prorogued on the 9th of May. Two days later the
sorrowful news of the death of the Hon. Senator
George Brown, founder and head of the Toronto
Globe newspaper, filled the entire community
with sadness. Mr. Brown's greatness now began to
be realized, even by people who were not in political
accord with him. He was a man, of indomitable will
but withal of most kindly disposition to all deserving
persons. He might be deemed to be somewhat im-
patient for the earlier accomplishment of sound
reforms, a course which sometimes embarrassed his
own friends and helped his adversaries unintention-
ally. It must, however, be acknowledged that he in-
variably contended for good measures and principles.
In private life his was of a most exemplary character.
Some deplorable ship labor riots took place at Que-
bec in which the troops unfortunately had to be called
out to suppress.
The premier made the announcement at a picnic,
held in Lennox county about the end of June, that the
government had decided to discontinue the construc-
tion of the transcontinental railway as a public work,
and purposed handing the undertaking over to a com-
pany. In pursuance of this the House was sum-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 447
moned for the despatch of business at the unusually
early period of December.
His Excellency's speech intimated that one of the
chief objects of the session was for the purpose of
ratifying an agreement which had been entered into
for the construction of the transcontinental railway,
with the afterwards famous and powerful syndicate,
comprised of both Canadians and foreigners.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
by Mr. Beaty and seconded by Mr. Vanasse, and
commented upon by Mr. Blake and the premier. The
terms of the contract were $25,000,000 in cash, 25,-
000,000 acres of land, together with all the work pre-
viously done, and under construction, amounting to
nearly one thousand miles; all material to be free of
duty, and the property also to be free from taxation
for a lengthened period, which was certainly a most
favorable agreement for the syndicate. It was, how-
ever, a vast undertaking and venture in which to
embark.
The debate lasted for two weeks, when the House
adjourned over the Christmas holidays and re-
assembled on the 4th of January.
Meantime another syndicate, comprised of strong
financial men, was formed and made offers which
would have saved the country f 13,500,000 in money,
besides other onerous conditions. The government,
however, being committed to the original syndicate,
could not honorably listen to any new proposals.
The great enterprise, to be known hereafter as the
Canadian Pacific Railway, was finally launched, legal-
ized and assented to by His Excellency on the 15th of
February, 1881.
448 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The premier introduced and passed an ill-advised
bill for the extension eastwards of the boundary of
the Province of Manitoba, which caused much irrita-
tion in the Province of Ontario. Mr. Mowat, the
premier of that province, appealed to the Judicial
Committee of the Imperial Privy Council, and suc-
ceeded in having the Act set aside, but not before
some wrangling and clashing had taken place, notably
at the town of Bat Portage, where both provinces
exercised jurisdiction temporarily at the same time.
Parliament shortly afterwards prorogued.
The decennial census had been taken on the 4th of
April, on the de jure system. The inhabitants were
enumerated at the family homes. In this way a num-
ber of permanent absentees were counted in, the
result, therefore, the enumeration was liable to be mis-
leading. The census showed the population of the
Dominion to be 4,324,810.
A general revival of trade was now taking place
throughout the country, for which the National Policy
was praised, even although the balance of trade con-
tinued to be against Canada, thus exploding the fal-
lacious theory of would-be political economists that
a country is always getting poorer when the balance
of trade is against it, which certainly does not always
follow.
During the summer His Excellency made a tour
through the North-West up to the Rocky Mountains.
He travelled 5,561 miles by railway, 1,366 miles by
wagon on the prairies, and 1,127 miles by water. He
was accompanied by an artist from a leading English
illustrated paper, whose delineations with pencil and
pen contributed materially to a more intelligent
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 449
knowledge of our vast and hitherto comparatively
unexplored heritage. The energy and perseverance
displayed by His Excellency in successfully carrying
out so formidable an expedition, certainly conferred a
valuable service upon Canada.
Parliament was summoned again for the 9th of
February, 1882. His Excellency congratulated the
country upon the era of great contentment and
prosperity.
Public improvements such as railway and canal
construction were progressing favorably, and a boun-
tiful harvest had been reaped in the preceding
autumn.
The address in reply to the speech from the throne
was moved by Mr. Bergeron and seconded by Mr.
Guillett.
Mr. Blake followed, and after extending the usual
felicitations to the mover and seconder, he, among
other things, said that he was glad that the address
attributed the great prosperity to the " Giver of all
good," instead of to the finance minister. He con-
gratulated the premier upon his restoration to health.
The premier followed Mr. Blake, making some good
points in his usual happy vein, and thanked Mr.
Blake for his kind observations regarding his health.
The estimates for the current fiscal year were laid
before the House with satisfactory promptitude, after
which the budget speech soon followed.
The finance minister claimed that at no former
period had the country been so prosperous, or its
credit so good, and that both results had been pro-
duced by the National Policy. The unpopular Bill
Stamp Act, he informed the House, would now be
repealed.
29
450 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Mr. Cartwright replied to the finance minister at
great length, repudiating emphatically the claim that
the National Policy had created the good times. He
asserted that any return of prosperity was only in
sympathy with the revival of trade all over the
world, and was also due in part to the abnormal ex-
penditures of money in the construction of canals and
other public works, and as to the surplus it was
chiefly derived from a tax upon the breadstuffs and
fuel of the people. He also pointed out an alleged
serious defect in the sugar tariff.
A commission had been appointed to inquire into
all the facts connected with Mr. Mackenzie's admin-
istration of the Canadian Pacific Kailway while under
his control. The evidence reported filled two large
blue books. The finding was that the construction
had been carried on in an expensive and loose manner,
but no evidence of crookedness was discovered.
The notorious gerrymander measure of 1882 was
introduced for the readjustment of the representation
in the House of Commons consequent upon the decen-
nial census enumeration of the year previous. Under
the new apportionment Ontario was entitled to four
additional seats. This afforded the government an
opportunity for dishonest manipulation of a very
large proportion of the constituencies in Ontario.
The principle of maintaining county boundaries,
observed in the gerrymander of 1872, was now thrown
to the winds, and the most barefaced gerrymandering
ever perpetrated now held high carnival at Ottawa.
Liberal counties with two ridings were made
into three ridings and so arranged, by borrowing a
township or two from an adjoining county ruth-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 451
lessly carved up, in order to return two Conservative
members by moderate small majorities and one Lib-
eral member by nearly one thousand majority. This
was what Sir John remarked as " hiving the Grits."
In one instance, at least, a township included in a rid-
ing was isolated fully ten miles from the nearest part
of the riding, which claimed it. There was no justi-
fication whatever in disturbing boundaries. The four
additional seats could have been merged into three of
the largest constituencies, and one seat might have
been given to the district of Nipissing, which was
without representation for the next ten years.
The Opposition remonstrated in vain with all their
might, by both speeches, amendments and votes,
against the monstrous measure. The bill, however,
became law. The government supporters seemed to
satisfy their conscience by declaring that the Ontario
Liberal government had pursued the same tactics for
political and party advantages in that province.
A dissolution of the House followed the passing of
this measure, although the usual parliamentary term
had another year to run. The government gave as
one reason for the holding of a premature election,
that a number of intending capitalists were awaiting
the certainty as to the permanency of the National
Policy before investing in some proposed new factor-
ies. The result of the election gave the government
a considerable majority. They, however, did not
reap the full anticipated advantage of the gerryman-
der in the first election under it. A good many Con-
servative electors were ashamed of the Gerrymander
Act of the government in this matter, and out of sym-
pathy and feelings of fair play voted with the Liber-
452 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
als by way of protest. The consequence was that
some heavily handicapped Liberals were elected in
1882, but at the subsequent election most of the Con-
servatives who supported the Liberals in 1882 drifted
back into their old party lines, thereby assisting the
government to reap nearly in full the unfair
advantages of the gerrymander.
There is every probability that the gerrymander
unfairly gave the government an extra nine years'
lease of power, viz., from 1887 to 1896, seeing that Mr.
Blake nearly carried the country in 1887, despite the
loss of some gerrymandered seats at that election
which he had previously carried. It is, therefore, not
unreasonable to state that the gerrymander prevented
Mr. Blake from attaining power at the said election.
The majority of members of both political parties
in the House were mildly rebuked by the Imperial
government for having voted an address proposed by
Mr. Costigan requesting that government to grant
Home Kule to Ireland, and also to liberate certain
Irish state prisoners.
Each party in the Canadian Commons were appar-
ently bidding for the Irish vote of this country, re-
gardless of the risk of being politely told by the gov-
ernment and press of the Mother Country to mind
their own business. Canadians could not very well
feel offended at the merited snub.
The department of the interior committed a serious
departmental blunder early in the spring in the
authorization of some two hundred land company
monopolies in the North- West. All sorts and condi-
tions of men without capital organized companies in
the greedy expectation of getting something for noth-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 453
ing. The result was an injurious farce, as it is doubt-
ful if any of these companies exist to-day. The
scheme no doubt helped the government in the elec-
tion in the old provinces, which followed shortly
afterwards. Mr. Bunster, of British Columbia, in-
troduced a resolution looking to better trade rela-
tions, etc., with the Hawaiian Islands. Sir John
said he had been presented to the king of that country
in England, and would give the matter attention.
That country has, however, since been annexed to the
United States.
Parliament prorogued on the 17th of May, after
having passed more than one hundred public and
private bills.
His Excellency visited British Columbia during the
recess, and was greatly pleased with the resources of
the country and the brightness of the people.
A great Conservative meeting took place in Sep-
tember at Toronto for the purpose of organizing an
attack upon the Mowat government. Sir John A.
Macdonald and two of his colleagues were present,
and with questionable dignity pledged themselves to
assist the Ontario Conservative Opposition in an
endeavor to oust the Mowat government.
The new parliament met on the 8th of February,
1883. Mr. Kirkpatrick was elected Speaker, and on
the following day His Excellency delivered the speech
from the throne. He referred to his interesting
visit to British Columbia, and to the progress of the
construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
The address in reply to the speech from the throne
was moved by Mr. C. H. Tupper, son of Dr. Tupper,
and seconded by Mr. Josiah Wood.
454 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Mr. Blake, after acknowledging the creditable
efforts of the mover and seconder, found fault with
many things. He warned the government against
giving undue encouragement to over-trading and
speculation, which if pursued in would be sure to
bring about a most disastrous reaction. He twitted
the government on having lost ground in Ontario, that
its boasted majority of thirty-six in that province had
been reduced to eighteen at the late election, despite
the gerrymander. He said that the Gerrymander Act
of the previous session was designed to suppress in-
stead of express the views of the people.
Sir John replied to Mr. Blake, but it was remarked
that he was less witty and more apologetic than usual.
He may have felt some qualms of conscience over the
gerrymander perpetrated by his committee who had
that matter in hand, and who, Sir John probably felt,
had gone pretty far in the way of taking unfair
advantages.
The cabinet changes were explained on the 14th of
the month, and the finance minister, now honored
with knighthood, and to be hereafter designated Sir
Leonard Tilley, delivered his annual budget speech.
Boasting of continued prosperity under the benign
influence of the National Policy, he announced a
surplus of $6,316,000, the largest that had ever been
in Canada up to that time. Sir Kichard Cartwright
being temporarily out of parliament, the criticism of
the budget devolved upon Mr. William Paterson, who
acquitted himself with credit.
Dr. Tupper (also honored by a knighthood, and
to be hereafter addressed as Sir Charles Tupper)
moved a series of resolutions providing for money
grants to several railways. He also introduced a bill
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 455
to further amend the Consolidated Railway Act of
1879, in order to enable him to take control of certain
local lines which had been chartered by the provincial
governments. This aggressive step was denounced
by the Opposition as an unwarrantable step to acquire
more political influence. The government made a
bold but unsuccessful attempt to control the tavern
liquor licenses, causing much expense and confusion
before making their humiliating retreat in the
premises.
This being the last session of parliament under the
regime of the Marquis of Lome, a joint complimen-
tary address was presented to His Excellency on the
26th of May, who made a very appropriate and feel-
ing reply, declaring that the happiest hours of their
lives were spent in Canada, a very reassuring state-
ment, as it was apprehended that Her Royal Highness
might not enjoy the more primitive and democratic
condition of the surroundings in this comparatively
new country in contrast to the environment of her
royal home. Princess Louise is, however, a very
womanly and practical person for one in her exalted
station. She had, moreover, a good pattern to copy
from in her wise, illustrious and beloved queen
mother.
Their Excellencies did not leave Canada until the
27th of October, a few days after the arrival of His
Excellency's successor, the Marquis of Lansdowne.
GOVERNMENT OF THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE.
The boundary dispute between the provinces of On-
tario and Manitoba had been going on during the
summer. The last-named province was aided and
abetted in the struggle by the Dominion government,
456 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
but the first-named province was successful in all its
contentions.
The new governor-general settled down quietly at
Eideau Hall at Ottawa until after the Christmas
holidays were over, after which he paid a visit to
Toronto, Niagara Falls and Montreal. He was ban-
quetted at Toronto, where he delivered a very able
speech, which created an excellent impression not
only in Toronto, but throughout the Dominion.
Parliament assembled on the 17th of January, 1884.
Apart from some personal felicitations the tone of the
speech from the throne was not so buoyant as at the
two previous sessions. The late harvest was said
not to have been so abundant as in previous years.
It was announced that 1,738 miles of the section of
the Canadian Pacific Railway, west of Pembroke, was
completed. The reply to the address was moved by
Mr. MacMaster and seconded by Mr. Belleau.
Mr. Blake, after acknowledging the plausible man-
ner in which the mover and seconder performed their
respective tasks, said as to the speech itself it was
quite as remarkable for what it omitted as for
what it contained. He declared that the threatening
depression arose entirely from extravagance and
recklessness.
The premier cleverly replied that the people of the
North-West would not hesitate a moment to choose
between a high tariff with a surplus and the Cana-
dian Pacific Eailway, and free trade with an annual
deficit and no railway. The construction of the rail-
way, he stated, had given the people of Winnipeg
coal at $7 per ton instead of $23 per ton, the former
price.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 457
Sir Alexander Gait resigned his position of high
commissioner to Great Britain and was succeeded
by Sir Charles Tupper, who still retained the port-
folio of minister of railways and canals, attending the
sessions of the House, but spending the recess in the
Mother Country.
Mr. Blake denounced the system as being both
illegal and improper, and also a gross violation of the
independence of parliament, and moved for papers.
Sir John stated, in reply, that as there was no sal-
ary paid Sir Charles Tupper as high commissioner no
infraction of the independence of parliament therefore
resulted. Mr. Blake's motion for papers was there-
fore refused by a vote of 122 to 57. An appropria-
tion was passed to test the feasibility of the naviga-
tion of Hudson Bay.
A very important question arose upon the applica-
tion of the Canadian Pacific Kailway Company for a
loan of $22,500,000 to enable them to complete the
work, for which ample security was offered upon all
the property and also upon $35,000,000 worth of
stock of the company. The government were natur-
ally most anxious to comply with the request, but
were met at first by strong opposition from the
Liberals, and also from a few Conservatives — not
through lack of disposition to accommodate the
company, but it was felt that the company had been
investing a portion of its funds in outside trans*
actions by purchasing and building lines of railways
in the old settled parts of the country, which did not
form part of the main line. The Grand Trunk Rail-
way, in particular, complained with truth that the
Canadian Pacific Kailway was paralleling some its
458 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
lines. The loan was, however, granted despite all
opposition. It is probable that a refusal of the loan
would have seriously embarrassed the company at the
time, and at any rate would have caused delay in the
construction of the railway, which the government
was most anxious to avoid. The loan has been
honestly repaid, part in cash and part in the surren-
der of a portion of the land grant. The government
was therefore to be commended for having relieved
the threatened tension under the exceptional
circumstances.
The finance minister made his annual statement on
the 28th; of January. A good surplus was announced.
Considerable debating ensued as usual. The House
prorogued on the 19th of April, after having passed
one hundred and seventeen public and private bills,
mainly of a common-place nature.
The Canada Temperance (Scott) Act was this year
submitted to the electors in numerous counties, and
was almost universally adopted by large majorities.
Canada during the year furnished about 400 men
to the Imperial government for the Nile expedition,
under the able command of the late Colonel F. C.
Denison, M.P. The Imperial government expressed
itself as highly pleased with the services of the
contingent.
During the summer the respective party leaders
held a series of public meetings for the edification of
the electors, but from totally different standpoints,
after which Sir John Macdonald, now at the zenith of
his fame, visited Great Britain, where he was cor-
dially welcomed, feted and lionized by the highest
dignitaries of the land.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 459
Some overtures were made by the people of Jamaica
and other West India islands for union with Canada,
but it was not considered expedient at that time
to take any very definite action.
The expediency of a federation of the Empire was
mooted during the year, and an informal meeting was
held at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, Eng-
land, at which Mr. Mowat and Sir Charles Tupper
were present, but nothing definite or practical was
arrived at, further than to give the two distinguished
Canadians of opposite politics an opportunity of
truly and sincerely declaring the unalterable devotion
of Canada to the Mother Country.
Parliament met on the 29th of January, 1885. The
speech from the throne, prepared for His Excellency
by his ministers, was a very meagre one indeed. The
government were, no doubt, experiencing an anxious
time over disturbing rumors from the North-West,
and from the fact that the finances were not now in as
flourishing condition as during the two previous
years.
The address in reply to His Excellency's speech was
moved by Mr. Taschereau and seconded by Mr.
Townsend.
Mr. Blake followed in his usual style, criticising the
government severely. Sir John parried his thrusts
in his usual adroit manner. There were already
rumors in the air of impending legislation likely to
provoke a very lengthy and stubborn session.
Sir Leonard Tilley delivered his budget speech on
February 2nd, which was replied to by Mr. Cart-
wright and others. Mr. A. P. Cockburn delivered
quite an original speech upon that occasion, which
attracted some attention.
460 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Meanwhile the people of Canada were startled with
news which fell " like a bolt from the blue," to the
effect that the hair-brained Louis Kiel had again dis-
turbed the peace of the country by fomenting an
insurrection among the half-breeds and Indians of
the North-West, and that some government agents
and white traders had already been massacred by
these misguided savages.
The government prepared to send out a strong
force as soon as possible to quell the insurrection.
The military expedition was enabled to travel much
the greater part of the way by rail save an intermed-
iate unfinished section along the north shore of Lake
Superior, which had to be journeyed in sleighs for a
considerable distance, until the finished portions of
the line beyond were again reached.
The insurrection was finally put down and Kiel
captured, but at a lamentable sacrifice of valuable
lives and at a heavy outlay of money. The unfortu-
nate outbreak and its consequences gave rise to many
burning disputations. The Opposition contended
that the remissness of the government in not dealing
with the land claims of the half-breeds, and also in not
exercising due precautions against the possibility of a
rising, was responsible for the terrible occurrences
which had happened.
The much criticised Franchise Act of 1885 was
introduced by the government in April, and was de-
bated and combatted by the Opposition until July.
The bill provided, for the first time, a Dominion
franchise and voters' list quite distinct from the
provincial franchise and voters' list, which had been
hitherto used. The qualification of voters was prae-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 461
tically a manhood suffrage, including the enfranchise-
ment for the first time of Indians, even of those who
still continued to be minors and wards of the govern-
ment. Some very slight modifications were made in
the bill before it passed. The working of this un-
necessary Act entailed very serious expense and dis-
satisfaction.
The cost of suppressing the rebellion in the North-
West was eight million dollars. Twenty thousand
dollars was voted to General Middleton for his ser-
vices in the field, a doubtful proceeding in the opin-
ion of many people, and a grant of 320 acres of land
was made to every man in the force, which was well
deserved.
Parliament was prorogued on the 20th of July,
after a session of five months' duration.
Kiel having been tried and convicted at Begina for
the crime of high treason, speculation therefore ran
rife as to whether the death sentence would be actually
carried out. The government were accused by the Lib-
eral press of being undecided as to which course would
be most expedient. To carry out the sentence would
raise a tremendous storm in the Province of Quebec,
and to commute the sentence would cause a furore of
indignation in the other provinces. Many Orange
lodges had already adopted resolutions disapproving
of a commutation of the death sentence. Medical men
had been sent to examine Riel as to his sanity, some
of whom were ready without any great sacrifice of
conscience to report either way to suit the exigencies
of the government, Kiel being, at best, a peculiar
character, upon the question of whose sanity public
opinion was divided.
462 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
After balancing the chances the government evi-
dently felt that the safest course for them politically
to pursue would be to allow the full sentence of the
court to be carried out, the French-speaking people
not only being in a minority, but it was supposed that
they could be sooner appeased than the Protestant
Conservatives.
The execution of Kiel under the circumstances was,
as anticipated, a signal for a tremendous outburst of
furious anger in the Province of Quebec, where it was
felt that Eiel had been sacrificed as an expediency,
owing to his nationality and creed minority, to ap-
pease the Orange and ultra-Protestant and English-
speaking element.
Sir John A. Macdonald being loudly execrated by
the French-speaking population, hastily departed
across the Atlantic until the storm in Quebec some-
what abated. On the other hand Sir John was
loudly applauded by his own Protestant admirers for
his alleged fidelity to justice and principle.
Mr. Blake, at a public meeting in the west, after
Eiel had been put to death, declared that he would
not attempt to make any political capital out of the
Eegina scaffold.
Parliament met on the 25th of February, 1886.
The speech from the throne was unusually brief. Con-
gratulations were offered upon the virtual comple-
tion of the Canadian Pacific Eailway, the restoration
of peace, the consolidation of the statutes, etc.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
by Mr. Everett, of New Brunswick, and seconded by
Mr. Ward, of Ontario.
Mr. Blake, after congratulating the mover and
seconder for having so gallantly gone through the
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 463
speech from the throne with so little hesitation, de-
livered a terrible arraignment of the government all
along the line.
Sir John made a very able reply to Mr. Blake from
the government standpoint. He said Mr. Blake
seemed quite cheery over the idea that the country
was not in a prosperous condition.
Among the new members this session was the emi-
nent jurist, Mr. Thompson, of Nova Scotia, who
assumed the important portfolio of minister of jus-
tice. Mr. McLellan became finance minister and
Mr. Foster entered the government as minister of
marine and fisheries.
Mr. Landry (now Senator Landry), a Conservative
member from the Province of Quebec, moved, " That
this House feels it its duty to express its deep regret
that the death sentence passed upon Louis Kiel, con-
victed of high treason, was allowed to be carried into
execution."
The Opposition had been content to allow the mat-
ter to rest, but as the question was being forced upon
the House, Mr. Blake called his followers together in
caucus, where it was unanimously agreed to not make
Mr. Landry' s motion a party question ; that each mem-
ber was to vote to suit himself for or against the
motion, or to abstain from voting altogether if he did
not feel like voting either way.
Mr. McLellan delivered his first budget speech on
the 29th of March, in which he announced a deficit of
|2,240,058, thereby causing some dissatisfaction. Mr.
Cartwright criticised the budget.
A deputy Speaker was appointed this year upon a
verbal understanding that in future either the
Speaker or deputy Speaker shall have a knowledge of
both languages.
464 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Parliament prorogued on the 2nd of June, after the
usual routine in promoting some legislation, inter-
spersed with the customary debate. Sir David Mc-
Phersqn and Sir Leonard Tilley retired from the
government and Mr. McLellan had been appointed
finance minister.
Mr. Blake delivered a highly patriotic and pro-
Canadian speech in Edinburgh during the recess,
which was greatly appreciated.
Chief Poundmaker, who had proved himself a most
aggressive ally of Kiel, had been confined in prison for
the past year and a half, and was now set free, but
feeling remorse so keenly over his cruel and rebellious
conduct he died shortly afterwards of a broken heart.
He declared that he was personally loth to rebel, but
was overruled by the young men of the band.
The Canadian exhibits at Antwerp and the India
and Colonial Exhibition in London were highly
creditable.
Parliament was dissolved on the 15th of January,
1887, although the term had still another year to run.
Polling was fixed for the 22nd of February, to be the
first election under the new Franchise Act, by which
the number of votes was greatly increased irre-
spective of the increase effected by the improper
enfranchisement of dependent Indians.
The government was sustained despite Mr. Blake's
gallant and clean fight, but by a greatly reduced 'ma-
jority, which, however, became larger as some mem-
bers nominally classed as Liberals now supported
the winning side, and ministerial gains were also
made at the earlier bye-elections of the current year.
Parliament assembled on the 13th of April, 1887,
and elected Mr. J. A. Ouimet as Speaker.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 465
The speech from the throne congratulated the
House upon the general prosperity of the country and
of the prominent position taken by Canada at the
Colonial and India Exhibition in London. He also
alluded to the approaching fiftieth anniversary of
Her Majesty's accession to the throne.
The reply to the address was moved by Mr. Porter
and seconded by Mr. Weldon, of Albert, N.B., and
commented upon by Mr. Blake and others. Mr.
Blake took the premier to task for his alleged jingo
speech in England during his recent visit, where he
pledged the last Canadian and the last shilling for
the defence of the Empire. Sir John explained that
his speech had not warranted the construction which
was placed upon it.
Mr. McLellan, the finance minister, having been
appointed to the lieutenant-governorship of Nova
Scotia, and Sir Charles Tupper having resigned
the office of high commissioner in Great Britain to
assume the portfolio of finance minister, delivered the
budget speech on the 12th of May, which showed a
deficit of nearly $6,000,000, caused doubtless, in part
at least, by the cost of suppressing the North- West re-
bellion. To meet the deficiency some changes were
made in the tariff, rendering it practically an all-
round rate of thirty-five per cent.
The seal fishery question loomed up again at Wash-
ington, but through the good offices of that good
American Mr. Bayard matters went smoothly in that
behalf.
Mr. Abbott, who was solicitor-general in the Sand-
field-Macdonald Liberal government of 1862, now
entered the cabinet without portfolio. Parliament
prorogued on the 23rd of June.
30
466 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
A conference of provincial premiers was held in
Quebec during the recess to discuss the expediency of
obtaining better terms from the Dominion govern-
ment. It was surmised in political circles that Mr.
Blake was already getting tired of the irksome and
thankless position of being a party leader.
A scheme of commercial union with the United
States was mooted outside of parliament by a few
gentlemen of both parties, but it did not commend
itself to any appreciable extent.
Parliament met again on the 23rd of February,
1888.
His Excellency congratulated the House upon the
general prosperity of the country, upon railway ex-
pansion, the Fishery Treaty with the United States,
and other matters. The reply to the speech from the
throne was moved by Dr. Montague and seconded by
Mr. Joncas.
The mover quoted from the New York Times news-
paper an article to show the lack of prosperity in the
rural districts of the United States, where farm land
was so heavily mortgaged.
Mr. Laurier had now reluctantly succeeded Mr.
Blake as leader of the Opposition. After graciously
acknowledging the successful efforts of the mover
and seconder, and making some allusions to the
responsibility placed upon him through the resigna-
tion of Mr. Blake as Liberal leader, he saw no reason,
he said, why Canadians went to reside in the United
States, considering the great resources and attrac-
tions of our own country. He spoke pleasantly of
Lord Lansdowne's great services to the country wnile
discharging the duties of his high office, which was.
about to close in this country.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 467
The premier, after congratulating Mr. Laurier, in
his usual happy manner, on his accession to the
leadership of the Liberal party, replied jauntily as
regards the exodus of the population ; that this is a
free country, and its people had a right to ruin them-
selves by leaving their own country if they were
determined to do so.
Dr. Tupper delivered his budget speech on the 26th
of April.
Mr. Cartwright replied in a caustic speech, fol-
lowed by Mr. Mitchell in the same -criticising strain.
Mr. Cartwright submitted a resolution looking for
the free interchange of natural products between this
country and the United States. His proposal was
rejected by 124 to 67 votes.
As His Excellency's term of office was drawing to
a close, he having already been appointed to the high
office of governor-general of India, a joint address of
both Houses was presented to him on the 18th of
May. His Excellency responded in suitable terms,
regretting that his official connection with Canada
was drawing to a close.
The monopoly clause of the agreement with the
Canadian Pacific Railway, which prevented the char-
tering of competing lines and American connections,
was this year abolished, greatly to the relief of the
inhabitants of Manitoba and the North-West.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD STANLEY OF PRESTON.
Lord Stanley of Preston succeeded Lord Lans-
downe as governor-general of Canada on the llth of
June.
Premier Mercier, of Quebec, raised a great commo-
tion throughout the Dominion by introducing a bill
468 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
for the final settlement of a very old alleged claim
known as the Jesuits' Estates. The Jesuit Society
of New France had received large endowments of land
from the French Crown for the support of education
in the colony. The society was, however, suppressed
by the Pope in 1773. The membership of the society
therefore gradually dwindled down in Canada, and
finally disappeared altogether in the year 1800, when
Father Casot, its last representative, died. Conse-
quently the British Crown took possession of the pro-
perty, as is usual in such cases. The Koman Catholic
Church in Canada, however, put in a claim for the
property, which was not seriously entertained by the
government. The almost forlorn hopes of the claim-
ants revived, however, when Quebec again became a
separate province in 1867 under confederation. Mr.
Mercier, the premier of Quebec, now proposed to deal
with the matter in earnest. By way of compromise
he proposed to provide an appropriation from the
revenues of the province of the large sum of four hun-
dred thousand dollars, to be devoted chiefly to educa-
tional purposes, in the following manner: To the
Jesuit Society, f 160,000; to Laval University, $140,-
€00; to Labrador mission and bishops, $40,000; for
Protestant education, $60,000 — which the latter body
were somewhat loth to accept, while disapproving, as
they did, of the propriety of the whole measure.
A motion for the disallowance of the bill by the
Dominion Government was proposed by Col. O'Brien,
M.P. for Muskoka and Parry Sound, upon the
26th of March, whereupon a somewhat bitter debate
ensued in the House, and also provoked some angry
discussions in the English-speaking provinces. The
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 469
motion was, however, properly voted down in the
Dominion Parliament (it received only thirteen votes,
which Sir John characterized as the devil's, not the
baker's, dozen) upon the ground that the province
had not exceeded its powers in passing the bill. It
would not therefore be wise or constitutional to in-
terfere with provincial rights.
During the recess Mr. Charles H. Tupper was ad-
mitted to the cabinet as minister of marine and fish-
eries vacated by Mr. Foster, who became minister of
finance. Mr. Haggart also joined the government
as postmaster-general, and Mr. Dewdney as minister
of the interior in succession to Mr. T. White, deceased.
Parliament met on the 31st of January. This was
His Excellency's first speech from the throne, in which
he expressed his gratification at being associated with
the fortunes of the Dominion. He regretted that
the Fishery Treaty with United States had not been
ratified by the senate of that country ; that a measure
to assimilate bills of exchange and promissory notes
would be introduced. An effort would be made to
secure a fast Atlantic steamship line. A service be-
tween British Columbia, Japan and China had already
been established.
The address was moved by Mr. Peter White and
seconded by Mr. Lepine.
Mr. Laurier, after making courteous allusions to the
efforts of the mover and seconder, criticised the ad-
ministration in a searching but dispassionate speech.
In due course Mr. Foster, the new finance min-
ister, delivered a lengthy and elaborate budget speech,
which abounded in statistics, and announced a deficit
of |810,031.
470 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Mr. Cartwright replied in his usual able manner.
The shrewd old political veteran, the Hon. J. H. Pope,
died on the 1st of April, and was succeeded by the
Eight Honorable Premier as minister of railways
and canals. Parliament prorogued on the 2nd of
May.
A reaction set in against the Canada Temperance
(Scott) Act this year, which was now being repealed
on all hands. Some anti-Jesuits' Estates Act meetings
were held, and an association was formed under the
title of " Equal Eights," and a deputation was sent to
the governor-general requesting him to disallow the
Act. His Excellency very properly refused to do
this in the face of the recent large parliamentary vote
against such a course.
Mr. C. Colby was admitted to the cabinet during
the recess as president of the council. Some sensa-
tional constitutional proceedings were again transpir-
ing in Quebec, Lieutenant-Governor Angers having
dismissed Mr. Mercier, the premier of that province,
upon some alleged improprieties on the part of Lib-
erals, in which Mercier had really no personal part.
Parliament met on the 16th of January, 1890. His
Excellency adverted to his enjoyable and successful
visit to the western provinces, where he had been
enthusiastically welcomed. He referred to the most
serious interference with the Canadian seal fisheries
in the Behring Sea by rival Americans, and also to
several other commonplace topics.
The reply to the address was moved by Mr. Eufus
Pope, who now succeeded his father as member for
Compton, and was seconded by Mr. Prior.
Mr. Laurier, after a few complimentary references
THE DOMINION OP CANADA. 471
to the mover and seconder, proceeded to denounce the
so-called National Policy for favoring the few at the
expense of the many, in having created sugar barons,
cotton lords and railway kings, while many of the
unfavored class had nailed up their doors and win-
dows and departed to foreign countries, and an-
nounced that the depreciation of farm lands in the
great province of Ontario amounted to $22,000,000.
The premier, in his reply to Mr. Laurier, stated that
the unpatriotic slogan of the Reform party is that
Canada is ruined. He denied that the National
Policy was responsible for the exodus which was tak-
ing place.
Mr. Mulock's loyal address to Her Majesty the
Queen, repudiating certain utterances of some public
men in the United States and elsewhere, was adopted
unanimously.
Mr. McCarthy's bill to abolish the official use of the
French language in the North- West was defeated by
a vote of 117 to 63. In any case the bill was not
required, as the French language had never been used
officially in the North-West, nor is it likely to be so
used.
Mr. Foster shortly afterwards delivered his budget
speech, which showed a surplus of $1,865,036. Some
commendable changes were made in the tariff, chiefly
to enlarge the free list of raw materials in the
interests of manufacturers.
Mr. Cartwright was quite severe in his criticism of
the finance minister's statement. He declared that
the existing distress in the country was more acute
than at any time for the past thirty years, and that
the finance minister seemed happy in a fool's para-
dise.
472 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Mr. Colby followed Mr. Cartwright with some sta-
tistics showing the depressed condition of the farmers
in the United States.
A charge had been made that General Middleton
had, during the North-West Kebellion, helped himself
to some furs without paying for them, which belonged
to a man named Bremner. A committee was ap-
pointed to investigate the matter. The complaint was
sustained and Middleton resigned his command.
Mr. Barron brought up the Tarte exposure of the
McGreevy-Langevin scandal, whereby it is alleged the
country was defrauded of a large sum of money, a
considerable portion of which had been used in the
election for the Conservative party.
The high protection tariff measure in the United
States, known as the McKinley Bill, now became law,
and hit exports to the United States of Canadian pro-
duce very hard.
Parliament was dissolved on the 4th of February, a
year before the expiry of the full term, upon the in-
sincere plea of obtaining reciprocity from the United
States. The pretence was exposed by Mr. Blain, the
American secretary of state. But the chief object of
the premature election would seem in reality to be the
securing of another lease of power before the alleged
McGreevy frauds were established, and also to fore-
stall the Liberals, who had called a general conven-
tion for the adoption of a platform, and plan of cam-
paign for the next year. The premier was quite
successful in these tactics. The alleged McGreevy
frauds were fully proved after the election had taken
place, and the Liberals did not have time to hold the
proposed convention before the election was sprung
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 473
upon them. The consequence was that the Liberals
entered the contest with the new, ill-digested and com-
plex platform of unrestricted reciprocity with the
United States, a proposal which was misunder-
stood and quite unintelligible to many of the electors
of their own party, who in many instances con-
founded unrestricted reciprocity with the former com-
mercial union theory, which had been propounded by
a coterie of both parties, and which would necessitate
an assimilation of tariff with the United States, bu£
not necessarily so under unrestricted reciprocity, as
the customs houses of both countries would have to
be satisfied that the goods to be passed free were the
production of either Canada or the United States, as
the case might be.
The unrestricted reciprocity platform was favor-
ably received for a very short time, but steadily lost
ground through unforeseen circumstances as the cam-
paign progressed. The Conservatives denounced the
proposal as veiled treason. Some Liberals of British
birth took alarm at what seemed to them an un-
friendly attitude, or worse, towards the Mother
Country.
Mr. Cartwright, of known sterling loyalty, was ac-
cused of being in a conspiracy for the annexation of
Canada to the United States.
The climax of Liberal obstacles was, however, to
some extent accidental, in this way: The well-known
and talented journalist, Mr. Edward Farrar, had
written a private pamphlet upon an alleged weak
point in Canadian affairs for the use of an American
politician, just before he was engaged as editor of
the Toronto Globe. He was scarcely installed in the
474 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
editorship of that newspaper before a copy of the
pamphlet, which had been secretly furnished by a
printer, found its way to Sir John Macdonald, who
promptly made use of the document to the utmost
detriment of the Liberals, by making it appear that
the Farrar pamphlet reflected the views of the Globe,
and of the Liberal party, which it did not. The inci-
dent probably caused the Liberal party the innocent
loss of several seats in Ontario and the other
provinces.
Sir Charles Tupper, the high commissioner, an
official paid by the country, was improperly brought
out_from England to take a most active part in the
contest. These several factors doubtless aided the
government very materially in securing another five
years' lease of power.
Mr. Blake refused to be a candidate at the recent
election, and he at any rate did not approve of the
platform of unrestricted reciprocity, fearing that it
might have the least tendency towards political union
with the United States, which no one in either party
desired, but which some honestly but groundlessly
feared, if the proposed unrestricted reciprocity were
adopted.
The result was that the government carried the
country by a majority of twenty-seven. Mr. Tarte
was elected for Montmorency, and was for the time
being in political accord with Mr. Laurier. Sir
Charles Tupper is credited with saying that if the
Liberals had adhered to Mr. Blake's proposed plat-
form, as annunciated at Malvern, they would have
carried the country.
Parliament met on the 9th of April, and elected
Mr. Peter White as Speaker.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 475
His Excellency delivered the speech from the
throne on the following day, which was on the whole
rather tame and cautious, as the government were
none too sure of their position, and were anxious to
avoid contentions.
The reply was moved by Mr. Hazen and seconded
by Mr. Corbauld. Mr. Laurier replied at length, and
accused the government of resorting to most un-
worthy tactics in order to win at the late election.
The premier endeavored to pose as jauntily as ever,
but did not seem to be in his usual happy vein. Mr.
Tarte moved, seconded by Dr. Guay, on the llth of
May, a resolution upon the McGreevy-Langevin
scandal, in which it was alleged that the country had
been most seriously defrauded.
The impending ruin which was now hanging over
the head of the premier's first lieutenant, Sir Hector
Langevin, was a severe shock to the nervous system
of the premier. His friends wished him to seek rest
and a change of air, but he refused to leave the capital
in the present state of business.
He held a friendly and confidential conversation
with his old acquaintance, Mr. Mills, a Liberal, in
which he expressed a heartfelt desire to see only
thoroughly upright men in the councils of the coun-
try. The two gentlemen intended to renew the con-
versation at a more convenient time, but it was not
to be.
While a motion, censuring Sir Charles Tupper,
high commissioner, for taking part in the late elec-
tion was being debated, the veteran leader of the
government, Sir John A. Macdonald, was stricken
down by a sudden attack, which proved fatal on the
6th of June, and he who was the great leader and idol
476 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
of his party, and whose name had been a household
word for half a century, ended his earthly career,
to the great regret of untold millions of his fellow-
subjects throughout the Empire.
When the House met Mr. Langevin, the senior
Privy Councillor, officially made the painful an-
nouncement of the sad event, but broke down with
emotion and grief, having to desist and resume his
seat. He, however, managed to say that he desired that
a public funeral be voted by the House. Mr. Laurier
followed with a sympathetic reference to Mr. Lan-
gevin's emotion, which he said was not surprising
under the circumstances; that his silence spoke more
eloquently of his feelings than could any words. He
then proceeded to deliver one of the most eloquent
and pathetic addresses ever delivered in the House.
He said that Sir John had remarked years ago to a
friend that he might perhaps be taken from the floor
of Parliament to die like the two statesmen Pitts,
father and son; his prophecy had been fulfilled. Mr.
Laurier cordially supported the proposal of a public
funeral for the deceased premier. Mr. Davies de-
clared that the late premier was the equal, and in
some respects the superior, of the first statesmen of
Britain. The House adjourned for a week.
His Excellency called upon Mr. Abbott to become
premier, and parliament reassembled on the 16th of
June.
Considerable time of the session was occupied in
investigating scandals in the printing and other de-
partments. The London Times expressed deep
regret that such wrong had been done to the fair fame
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 477
of the oldest daughter of the Empire by the lax
morality of our politicians.
The government requested relief from the condi-
tions of the Belgian Treaty of 1862, and also from the
German Zollverein of 1865, in which Canada had been
included by the Palmerston government without her
consent. The request for relief was refused by the
Mother Country upon the selfish plea that it was
beneficial to herself.
The result of the decennial census enumeration was
disappointing, notwithstanding that alleged frauds
had been perpetrated to exaggerate them.
The nationalist government of Mr. Mercier in
Quebec being somewhat indirectly concerned in the
Bay Chaleur Eailway scandal brought some consola-
tion to the Conservatives in the way of an offset to
the McGreevy scandals, and resulted in the overthrow
of (as has already been stated) of Mercier, and of
the restoration of the Bleu or Conservative party to
power.
Mr. Edgar asked for a committee to investigate
some charges of fraud and corruption against Sir
Adolphe Caron, a cabinet minister, but the applica-
tion was refused, and the investigation was there-
fore not allowed to go on. However, some alleged
copies of damaging letters and fac-similes of bank
drafts, which had been used for political purposes,
were published, to the injury of the Conservative
party.
The House met on the 26th of February, 1892.
His Excellency referred in feeling terms of regret
to the death of His Eoyal Highness the Duke of
478 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Clarence and Avondale, eldest son of His Koyal
Highness the Prince of Wales, heir-apparent to the
throne.
Eeference was again made to the seal fishery
troubles in the Behring Sea, which it was said, were
likely to be soon adjusted; that steps were being
taken to have the Alaskan boundary defined; that
negotiations had been entered upon with the Wash-
ington government looking to a more reciprocal, free
interchange of certain commodities, and that three
ministers had been sent to Washington to promote
the object, but that nothing had so far resulted ; that
the necessary measure for the redistribution of seats
in the Commons upon the last census enumeration
would be submitted to the House during the session.
Measures for the amalgamation of the Marine and
Fisheries Department, an Act relating to the Terri-
tories, and also reports of the commission appointed
to inquire into the workings of the beet-root industry,
and also upon the civil service system, would be
shortly submitted.
The reply to the address was moved by Mr.
Northrup, who spoke at length upon general topics,
not omitting to comment upon the sad void created in
parliament by the death of the lamented Right
Honorable Sir John Macdonald; he also referred in
suitable terms to the death of the Duke of Clarence
and Avondale, neither did he forget the glorification
of the National Policy.
Mr. Bain, of Soulanges, seconded the address in a
similar strain, speaking in the French language.
Mr. Laurier complimented Mr. Northrup upon the
quiet and pleasant tone of his speech, which had
embraced a variety of interesting topics. He could
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 479
not, however, agree with many of the speaker's
general deductions; he was, however, in accord with
his observations upon the death of the two very dis-
tinguished personages to which he had referred.
Mr. John Thompson expressed his pleasure upon
the kindly attitude evinced toward the mover and
seconder by Mr. Laurier.
Mr. J. A. Ouimet was admitted to the cabinet as
minister of public works, and Mr. J. C. Patterson
as secretary of state.
Mr. Foster delivered his budget speech on March
22nd, which embraced a mass of figures and statistics,
and a general survey of the state of the country.
Sir Richard Cartwright reviewed and criticised Mr.
Foster's deliverance most thoroughly.
The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie having departed
this life somewhat unexpectedly during the recess,
Sir John Thompson made a most feeling and appro-
priate allusion to the sad event. Mr. Laurier also
paid a fitting tribute to the memory of his former
leader. Mr. Mackenzie will be remembered as an
able, honest, patriotic, and industrious man, kind
hearted, but generally too candid in his expression of
his opinions for the manipulation of all sorts and
conditions of men. He was no schemer to gain power,
where some; other men felt no qualms in bribing a con-
stituency or a province out of the public resources.
Mr. Mackenzie would not allow a contractor or any-
one else one dollar to which they were not legally
entitled.
Canada made a good display at the Chicago World's
Fair. Mr. G. R. R. Cockburn, M.P., acted as com-
missioner for the Dominion. Mr. N. Awrey, M.P.P.,
for Ontario, and the Hon. John Macintosh for Quebec.
480 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Parliament met on January 26th, 1893. His
Excellency's speech reported continued progress in
the development of the Dominion, increased trade
and the finances in a satisfactory condition. The
Alaskan boundary question was receiving attention;
steps were taken for preservation of the fisheries, a
friendly conference had been held with authorities of
Newfoundland, and the Franchise Act was to be
improved.
The reply to the address was moved by Mr.
Mclnerney, of New Brunswick, who revelled con-
siderably in statistics. The seconder was Mr. Leclair,
who spoke in French. Mr. Leclair eulogized his able
predecessor, Mr. Chapleau, in the representation of
Terrebonne.
Mr. Laurier congratulated the mover and seconder
in the usual way. He said that Mr. Mclnerney had
caught the ministerial spirit, and referred to Othelo
and Cassius — the wiles of lago got them to taste the
baneful cup. He regretted the illness which caused
the resignation of Premier Abbott, and spoke in high
praise of his successor, Sir John Thompson, person-
ally, but criticised the government.
Sir John Thompson replied in a dignified and
practical speech, vindicating the general administra-
tion of affairs by the government. Messrs. Cart-
wright, Foster, Mills, and others spoke at length.
Mr. Foster delivered his budget speech on February
14th, which was somewhat replete with statistics, and
embraced a wide range of topics, as usual.
Sir Kichard Cartwright replied vigorously, rally-
ing the finance minister all along the line, remarking
that there was a tone of unrest and disquietude in
THE DOMINION OP CANADA. 481
the budget speech upon this occasion. There was an
absence of the usual braggadocio. No taunts were
being flung across at the Opposition, and no invitation
to bow to the will of the National Policy. He may
have heard of a whilom member, represented to
possess the brains of the party, saying evil things of
the holy tariff and also blaspheming the sacred
gerrymander.
A great Liberal convention was held in Ottawa
during the recess, and a comprehensive platform
adopted.
The House met on the 15th of May, 1894.
GOVERNMENT OF THE EARL OF ABERDEEN.
The new governor-general, the Earl of Aberdeen,
in his first speech from the throne, informed both
Houses of Parliament that the seal fishery trouble
had been arranged by arbitration at Paris. The sub-
ject of the Bankruptcy Act would be dealt with, and
that arrangements had been made with certain steam-
ship lines for services of advantage to the country.
The address in reply to the speech from the throne
was moved by Sir James Grant in a somewhat flatter-
ing speech from the ministerial standpoint. The
address was seconded by Mr. Lachapelle, who spoke
in the French language.
Mr. Laurier complimented the mover and seconder
in a happy but incisive speech, ornamented with some
classics and Shakespearian quotations at the expense
of the government.
Sir John Thompson, Sir Kichard Cartwright, Mr.
Macdonald (Huron), Mr. McMillan (Huron), Mr.
31
482 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Mills, Mr. Martin, and others followed in practical
speeches.
Mr. Foster delivered his budget speech on May
27th. In his opening remarks he craved the indul-
gence of the House if his statement was of unusual
length, owing to the magnitude of the task set before
him. His speech on this occasion actually occupied
upwards of ninety pages of the Hansard.
Sir Richard Cartwright, after making a brief re-
ference to the 665 tariff changes just proposed by the
finance minister, moved the adjournment of the
debate until the following day, when he resumed,
remarking that he, like the previous speaker, claimed
the indulgence of the House if his speech was a
lengthy one. It was certainly a somewhat lengthy
speech, too, but not so voluminous as that of the
Minister of Finance. It occupied thirty-seven pages
of the Hansard.
The budget was discussed by several members on
both sides of the House, according to their different
points of view. Mr. Laurier indulged in a little
raillery at Mr. Foster's expense on the latter's change
of front on the temperance question, a subject, the
pursuit of which gave Mr. Foster his first public
prominence, but now discarded entirely by him.
Prorogation took place 23rd July, 1894. Sir John
Thompson died at Windsor Castle while upon a visit
to Her Majesty during the recess and Sir Mackenzie
Bowell became premier.
The House met again on the 18th April, 1895. His
Excellency in the speech from the throne referred to
the lamented death of Sir John Thompson, and to
Her Majesty's sympathy over the great loss; that
negotiations had been entered upon with the Province
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 483
of Newfoundland with a view to its union with Can-
ada; that he had visited Manitoba, the North-West
and British Columbia, and was greatly impressed,
with the future possibilities of those provinces; that
the depression of trade throughout the world was
being felt in Canada ; that the French treaty was sat-
isfactory, and that measures for the improvement of
the Land Act, insolvency, and respecting Dominion
notes would receive attention.
The reply to the speech was moved by Mr. Bennett,
in a somewhat lengthy address, the chief feature of
which was a feeling and appropriate tribute to the
death of the late premier, Sir John Thompson. Mr.
Belley seconded the address, and among other topics
emphasized what Mr. Bennett had said about the late
Sir John Thompson.
Mr. Laurier reviewed the addresses of the mover and
seconder in his customary manner. His reference to
the death of Sir John Thompson was in the highest
degree eloquent. He portrayed the great loss to the
country of such a gifted man in the prime of life.
As regards the late Sir John A. Macdonald, although
his death was a great loss to the country, it was some-
what different to Sir John Thompson, as Sir John A.
Macdonald had already attained a ripe old age.
Mr. Laurier then criticised the unfulfilled pro-
phecies of the government, the most glaring of
which was their estimate of four years ago, when they
predicted that $58,000,000 would be made out of the
sale of Dominion lands. The facts were that they
had not realized one dollar from that source.
Mr. Foster followed in an eloquent speech. He
too paid a tribute to the memory of Sir* John
Thompson.
484 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The negotiations for the entrance of Newfoundland
into the Dominion unfortunately did not succeed,
owing to a disagreement upon the financial terms.
The Canadian government ought to have dealt liber-
ally and sympathetically with Britain's oldest colony,
which was then temporarily under a financial cloud.
46 A friend in need would have been a friend indeed "
at that time. It is to be hoped that a better under-
standing may be arrived at in the near future.
In the speech from the throne His Excellency
chiefly referred to the Manitoba school question, re-
gretting that the government of that province would
not take the necessary steps to relieve the situation.
It would, therefore, be necessary for his government
to introduce a remedial measure upon the subject.
Before any further proceedings were entered upon
Sir Adolphe Caron, minister of militia and defence,
rose in his place and made the startling announce-
ment that seven members of the cabinet had deserted
their legitimate leader, Sir Mackenzie Bowell, premier
of Canada, by resigning their portfolios, and that he,
Sir Adolphe, would endeavor to give further explana-
tions at the next sitting of the House, and that he
would then ask for an adjournment for ten days or a
fortnight.
Mr. Laurier, while sympathizing with the leader of
the government in the dilemma in which he was
unfortunately placed, could not consent to an adjourn-
ment of that nature, but that the House could
adjourn from day to day, which would be the most
convenient and satisfactory course in the present
crisis.
The bolters from the Bowell cabinet were Messrs.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 485
Foster, Haggart, C. H. Tupper, Ives, Dickey, Mon-
tague and Wood. Mr. Foster explained to the House,
on behalf of the bolters, that they had been endeavor-
ing to persuade the premier that it was very
important to the great Liberal-Conservative party to
have at its head an abler and stronger man than the
present leader, but the premier was so obstinate on
that and other points that seven of his ministers, in-
cluding himself, felt constrained to resign in the hope
that it might lead to the formation of a stronger
cabinet.
Sir Eichard Cartwright characterized the present
incident as the most extraordinary in all the histor-
ies of crises which had ever taken place, and which
did not reflect much credit upon the parties concerned.
The crisis continued for some days until a com-
promise was effected, which resulted in a partial
reconstruction of the government. Sir Charles Tupper
entered the cabinet as secretary of state on January
15th, and secured a seat in the Commons for Cape
Breton, through the retirement of Mr. McKeen from
the representation of that country, to be appointed to
the Senate. Sir Charles Hibbert Tupper, son of Sir
Charles Tupper, retired from the cabinet, and the
other six bolters, having returned to the fold, the
cabinet thus filled up again proceeded to the perform-
ance of its nominal functions, greatly weakened in
prestige by the unseemly fiasco.
The reply to the speech from the throne was not
undertaken until the 16th of January. It was then
moved by Mr. MacGillivray, and seconded by Mr.
Powell. Sir Wilfrid commented politely upon the
efforts of the mover and seconder. As to the latter
486 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
his good reputation had preceded him from his own
province as a man of ability, but he would not like to
accept him as a guide ; as to the latter, the seconder,
he thought that his memory was rather limited, but
his imagination was vast. Mr. Foster followed Mr.
Laurier at considerable length.
Mr. Foster delivered his budget speech on January
31st, in a somewhat subdued appeal to the public for
forbearance towards the government, and was fol-
lowed by Sir Eichard Cartwright in a scathing
speech, who characterized Mr. Foster's appeal as
being extremely pathetic in his pleading for another
lease of place and power, " slaves of the ring, if not
of the lamp " with almost tears in his voice and in his
eyes, " Why make a change? Why turn us out?"
British connection and Imperial defence formed a
popular topic in which Messrs. McNeill and Davies
were the chief speakers.
Mr. Dickey, the minister of justice, introduced the
ill-advised Remedial Bill on February llth.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, at the conclusion of a remark-
able speech, moved a six months' hoist to the bill. A
long debate ensued, which lasted until the expiration
of the parliamentary term, consequently the bill had
to be abandoned, and preparations made for the
general election.
Sir Mackenzie Bowell resigned as premier in favor
of Sir Charles Tupper, who now went to the country
as leader of the great Liberal-Conservative party.
Parliament was prorogued on the 28th April, 1896.
His Excellency was made to say, officially at least,
that he regretted that the Remedial Bill had not
become law.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 487
The dissolution of parliament followed in its
natural course. The general election took place on
the 23rd of June, and resulted in the defeat of the
Tupper government. Sir Charles Tupper attempted
to make some important appointments after the coun-
try declared emphatically against him. His Excel-
lency very properly declined to be a party to these
proceedings, and came in for some undeserved abuse
by the disappointed parties. Sir Charles then retired
with rather bad grace towards His Excellency.
Mr. Laurier was invited by His Excellency to form
a government, in which he succeeded most admirably
before the 16th of July.
The new cabinet was probably the strongest ever
formed in Canada, comprised as follows : Mr. Laurier,
Sir Eichard Cartwright, Sir Oliver Mowat, Mr.
Davies, Mr. Fielding, Mr. Blair, Mr. Scott, Mr.
Mulock, Mr. Paterson, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Joly, Mr.
Tarte, F. W. Borden, and Messrs. Dobell and
Geoffrion without portfolios.
Parliament assembled on August 9th, and elected
Mr. J. D. Edgar as Speaker. His Excellency's speech
promised a settlement of the Manitoba School trouble,
and that the tariff question would be dealt with at
the ensuing winter session. The reply to the speech
from the throne was moved by Mr. Mclnnis, of British
Columbia, who claimed that the task was an honor
conferred upon his province in selecting him for the
gracious task of moving the address .
Mr. Lemieux seconded the address, speaking elo-
quently in French. Sir Charles complimented the
mover and seconder, and then launched forth in a
lengthy and forceful criticism of the new government.
488 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Mr. Laurier followed in his usual happy and
effective manner, and could afford to be very forbear-
ing, as he indeed was, to the fallen chief.
A very brief financial statement was made by Mr.
Fielding on August 28th. He could not be expected
to unfold a fiscal policy at this early stage. He was
compelled to obtain a temporary loan of f 400,000, as
the previous government had not provided sufficiently
for the public wants and for meeting every public
obligation, which was shortly to become due.
Mr. Foster replied to Mr. Fielding, vindicating the
former administration, particularly of the finance
department, over which he had presided.
The prorogation took place on the 5th October.
Fourteen bills, including the supply bill, received the
royal assent.
The House met on March 25th, 1897. His Excel-
lency's speech referred to the coming Diamond
Jubilee of Her Gracious Majesty; to the settlement of
the Manitoba School question; that the promised re-
vision of the tariff would take place during the pre-
sent session. The transportation question would
receive attention, and also the Behring Sea treaty.
The reply to the address was moved by Mr. Russell
and seconded by Mr. Ethier. Sir Charles Tupper
complimented the mover and seconder, and then
branched off in an incisive speech, which covers forty
columns of Hansard.
Mr. Laurier replied to the latter in a fitting man-
ner, greatly to the delight of his followers in the
House.
Mr. Fielding delivered his great budget speech on
April 22nd, unfolding the eagerly expected fiscal
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 489
policy of the Laurier government, which consisted in
a modification of the former 'tariff, designed from a
standpoint of doing as much justice as possible to
both manufacturer and the consumer, which after a
fair trial, while not perfect or satisfactory to every-
one, proved to be the most successful fiscal policy yet
devised by any Canadian government. The financial
statement occupied eighty-eight columns of the first
volume of Hansard of 1897. At subsequent sessions
Mr. Fielding happily adopted the preferential feature
of the tariff in favor of the Mother Country, as a free
gift, which was greatly appreciated and had a good
effect.
Mr. Foster followed at length, declaring that the
government had not carried out the Liberal platform
of 1893, nor the promises made when in opposition.
Mr. Foster's financial criticism on this occasion filled
fifty columns of Hansard.
Eighty-five bills received the royal sanction. The
House prorogued on June 29th.
The House met on the 3rd of February, 1898. His
Excellency referred to the specially magnificent
recognition which Canada and its premier received at
the hands of Her Majesty, and of the British people
on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee. He referred
to the general prosperity of the country. A contract
had been let for a rail and river route to facilitate
access to the rich gold fields of Yukon, the conditions
of which would be laid before parliament.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
by Mr. G. Bertram and seconded by Mr. Gauvreau.
Sir Charles Tupper and Mr. Laurier (now Sir Wil-
frid Laurier) followed the movers and seconders in
very able speeches.
490 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The Yukon Eiver and railway contract with Mac-
kenzie and Mann, the cost of which was to be paid for
entirely in alternate blocks of land of that region at
the rate of 25,000 acres per mile was ratified in the
House of Commons, but was defeated in the Senate.
Seeing that the contractors were assuming great risk,
and as the country was not being burdened with any
money grant, it seems regrettable that the scheme was
not allowed to go forward, as if the land proved to be
rich in minerals, the public would benefit equally
with the contractors from the reserved portions along
the route of the proposed highway, besides reaping
the advantages of efficient communication with that
remote district.
The budget speech was delivered by Mr. Fielding
on April 5th, 1898, and replied to by Mr. Foster on
April 12th.
Prorogation took place on the 15th June, when the
large number of one hundred and thirty-two bills
passed during the session became law.
GOVERNMENT OF LORD MINTO.
Lord Minto had now become governor-general, and
in his speech commented graciously upon the cir-
cumstances of meeting with the assembled par-
liament for the first time. His Excellency referred
to the general prosperity of the country; to the gold
output in British Columbia, and to the penny postage
rate which the postmaster-general, Mr. Mulock, had
been successful in arranging with the Motherland.
The reply was moved and seconded by Messrs. Bell
and Martineau, and commented upon by Messrs.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 491
Tupper, Laurier and others, somewhat after the usual
manner.
The budget speech was delivered by Mr. Fielding on
May 2nd, which was most comprehensive and satis-
factory. A substantial growth of trade and an over-
flowing treasury were announced.
Mr. Foster criticised the budget at length. He
characterized the financial statement as a campaign
effort. It was a full and complete apology he said
for past errors and delinquencies, and would go down
to history as a most complete recantation of past
errors, promises and policies of honorable gentlemen
opposite for the past eighteen years.
Speaker Edgar died on August 1st and was suc-
ceeded by Mr. Thomas Bain. Sir Wilfrid Laurier
and Sir Charles Tupper delivered suitable addresses
upon these events.
Prorogation took place on August llth, 1899.
The House met again on February 5th, 1900. In
the speech from the throne His Excellency referred
to the liberality of the Dominion in having furnished
two contingents for the South African War, which
was supplemented by an additional contingent fur-
nished through the personal munificence of Can-
ada's high commissioner, Lord Strathcona. He was
charged by the Imperial government and by Her
Majesty to convey thanks for the loyal and generous
aid sent in the time of need.
His Excellency then referred to the general pros-
perity of the country; to the expansion of trade; to
the completion of the canals to a fourteen foot depth ;
to the rapid development of the western domain. A
measure for the expeditious settlement of labor
strikes, etc., was promised.
492 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
by Mr. Gould, and seconded by Mr. Geoffrion, and
criticised by Sir Charles Tupper and Sir Wilfrid
Laurier in the usual thorough manner characteristic
of these gentlemen.
Mr. Fielding delivered his budget speech in a very
happy vein on the 25th of March. He reflected the
true Canadian feeling by exposing the unpatriotic
and narrow-minded policy of the opposition poli-
ticians and press, which asserted loudly that the gov-
ernment were remiss in not obtaining a quid pro quo
from the Mother Country for the preferential tariff.
Mr. Foster said he rose with great pleasure to ven-
ture some remarks of plain, and he hoped, truthful
criticism of the finance minister's statement.
Prorogation took place on July 19th. His Excel-
lency offered congratulations upon the success of the
British arms in South Africa; upon a buoyant
revenue, and also upon the stimulation of trade with
the Mother Country by reason of the preferential
tariff; and of having passed a Conciliation Act for
the settlement of strikes.
Parliament was dissolved during the recess, and a
general election followed, in which the Laurier gov-
ernment was sustained at the polls. The Dominion
Franchise Act had been repealed, and the franchise
of the respective provinces adopted instead, as had
existed prior to 1885.
The new parliament assembled on February 6th,
1901. Mr. Brodeur was elected Speaker on the
motion of the Eight Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier. The
new Speaker was gracefully felicitated by Sir C. Hib-
bard Tupper. The elder Sir Charles Tupper did not
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 493
succeed in holding his seat in the recent election. The
Conservative leadership was therefore vacant.
His Excellency delivered the speech from the
throne on the following day, referring pathetically to
the death of our great and beloved Queen, which
occurred since the last session of parliament. He
referred to the return of the Canadian contingent
from South Africa, after having distinguished them-
selves on the different battle fields. Keference was
also made to the scheme of confederation in Aus-
tralia.* To the expected visit of their Eoyal High-
nesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York.
To the success of Canada at the Paris Exposition.
To his interesting visit to Dawson City.
A measure was promised for the better supervision
of food export trade.
Sir Charles Tupper, the hero and veteran of many
political triumphs, having been unsuccessful in his
election contest for the first time in the last election
campaign, his party were compelled to select a new
leader in the House. The choice fell upon Mr. E. L.
Borden, a very prominent lawyer and citizen of Hali-
fax, who was congratulated in very suitable terms by
the Eight Honorable Sir Wilfrid Laurier upon his
promotion.
Mr. Borden acknowledged the compliment in a few
well-chosen and modest words.
A very feeling, resolution upon the death of Her
Majesty was proposed by the premier, and seconded
by Mr. E. L, Borden. Both gentlemen delivered
eloquent speeches appropriate to the occasion. It
* Sir William Mulock represented Canada at the opening of the first
session of the Australian Federal parliament.
494 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
was a subject indeed upon which the speakers could
pour out their feelings with the utmost sincerity in
tokens of love, admiration and veneration.
Mr. Fielding presented his budget on March 14th,
and was able to announce a most gratifying condition
of affairs in all departments.
Mr. Foster having shared the same fate at the
polls as his veteran leader, Mr. Osier was assigned the
onerous task of stepping into the breach to reply to
the financial statement of Mr. Fielding. Mr. Osier
prudently refrained from dealing very largely in
figures on this occasion. He, however, claimed in a
general way that the present prosperity was largely
due to the policy of the Conservative party. He coun-
selled a wise and careful surveillance of the resources
of the country.
Mr. Bourassa having found fault with the govern-
ment for sending Canadian troops to South Africa,
Sir Wilfrid delivered a powerful and patriotic reply
on the 13th March, 1900, to Mr. Bourassa.
Parliament met on February 13th, 1902. His Ex-
cellency spoke of the general prosperity of the coun-
try, and to the proposed tour of their Royal High-
nesses* through Canada. He referred regretfully to
the assassination of Mr. McKinley, the excellent
president of the United States. He mentioned that
the census returns did not show a very large increase
of population during the past decade. He also re-
ferred to the Marconi discovery and development of
the wireless system of telegraphy, and to the exten-
sion of trade generally.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
by Mr. Archibald Campbell, and seconded by Mr.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 495
Beland. These speeches were commented upon by
Messrs. Borden and the premier in a pleasant way.
The budget speech was delivered on March 17th,
and was a continued story of prosperity, and of an
overflowing treasury. The finance minister referred
to the felicity of having delivered his budget under
the patronage of the great and good patron saint St.
Patrick.
The recent anti-dumping clause in the tariff to pre-
vent Canada from being a slaughter market by other
countries is an excellent feature in the fiscal policy
of the country.
Mr. Borden assumed the task on this occasion of
replying to the annual financial statement. He
attempted to dispel the minister's glamor as regards
the saint's day event, as an earlier day had actually
been fixed by the minister for the delivery of the
budget speech.
The country was well represented in the matter of
exhibits at the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo,
and also at the Glasgow Exhibition, at the latter by
Col. W. E. O'Brien, ex-M.P., as commissioner.
Prorogation took place on May 15th, when about
one hundred and fifty bills received the royal
sanction.
Parliament met again on March 12th, 1903, when
His Excellency in the speech from the throne alluded
to the continuation/of the prosperity with which the
Dominion is blessed; to the King's coronation, and
the incidents ofnis illness and happy restoration to
health; to the appointment of six important jurists
to adjust the Alaskan boundary. Bills were pro-
mised for the establishing of a railway commission;
496 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
for the redistribution of seats in the House of Com-
mons consequent upon the last census-taking; for the
construction of a transcontinental railway; also a
bill upon Chinese immigration.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
by Col. A. T. Thompson and seconded by Mr. Demers.
The efforts of the mover and seconder were the sub-
ject of enconium on the part of the leader of the
Opposition, Mr. K. L. Borden, and of the leader of the
government, Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
Mr. Fielding delivered his budget speech on the
16th of April, which was a continued story of
unexampled, prosperity.
Mr. Borden made his reply to the financial state-
ment on the following day, and wondered, he said, if
matters were so prosperous as to have had a soporific
effect upon the minister's colleagues, four of whom
slept through the delivery of the address, one of whom
awoke at six p.m., to object to an adjournment.
The vast transcontinental railway scheme was
introduced by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and naturally
caused much discussion, and divergence of statement.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
and seconded by Messrs. Guthrie and Marcil, and
that both gentlemen acquitted themselves worthily
goes without saying.
Mr. R. L. Borden followed in a very efficient
address, during which he complimented the mover
and seconder upon their efforts, but naturally and
legitimately detracted as much as possible from the
splendid showing claimed by the government.
The premier reviewed the three previous addresses
in his thorough, agreeable and customary manner.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 497
In his prorogation speech on the 25th of May His
Excellency referred to some of the results of the
session, such as the making of the 24th of May a legal
holiday; the authorization of a royal mint to be
established in Canada; the tour of their Royal
Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and
York.
A further allowance was made to Prince Edward
Island, which would insure satisfaction to the people
of that province. One hundred and twenty-four
bills received the royal sanction during the session.
The minister of railways and canals, Mr. Blair, re-
signed his seat in the cabinet and attacked the govern-
ment's policy upon the question of route, etc. The
deliberations upon the scheme were most protracted.
The chief conditions of the project were that the
government undertook to build the eastern section to
terminate at M one ton, N.B., and to be leased to the
newly chartered Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Com-
pany for fifty years, to be free of rent for the first five
years. The Grand Trunk Pacific, assisted by gov-
ernment guarantees, etc., were to construct the
remainder of the road to the Pacific Ocean within
eight years. The details and conditions were much
less favorable to the Grand Trunk Pacific than were
the terms accorded to the Canadian Pacific Railway in
1880-81.
Mr. Borden submitted a counter-proposal to utilize
some existing lines as part of the proposed system,
which would, however, make the road much longer
and less useful in opening up new territory than the
government scheme.
All the government bills, including some eighty
32
498 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
acts of divers kinds, were passed, and the House pro-
rogued after a most tedious session.
His Excellency's prorogation speech referred to the
expanding revenue; to the large immigration; to the
passing of the measures for the establishing of the
railway and transportation commission; to the diffi-
cult redistribution bill, which was, however, passed;
to the subsidizing of a steamship line to France; to
the unsatisfactory Alaskan award,) owing to the action
of the United States Senate, etc.
The adoption of the two-cent postage rate with the
Mother Country, with some of the colonies and with
the United States by the postmaster-general, not only
conferred a great boon upon the community, but also
proved to be most satisfactory from a revenue-pro-
ducing standpoint.
The House met on March 10th, 1904. Mr. Brodeur
having resigned the Speakership, Mr. Belcourt was
elected to the chair in his stead.
His Excellency then delivered the speech from the
throne, in which Providence was thanked for a boun-
tiful harvest. The increase of trade was referred to,
also the Alaskan boundary question; a new militia
bill would bei introduced, and the Grand Trunk Pacific
Bill of the previous session would require amendment.
A comparatively short session was promised.
• The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
by Mr. George D. Grant, and seconded by Mr. Kivet.
Comments upon the speech by Mr. Borden and the
Bight Honorable Sir Wilfrid Laurier, somewhat after
the usual manner, followed.
In the meantime it had transpired during the recess
that the Grand Trunk Railway Company sharehold-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 499
ers were unwilling to undertake the proposed vast
scheme upon the conditions which parliament had im-
posed in the previous session, and now requested that
the charter might be amended and the conditions
somewhat modified. The proposal was acceded to by
parliament after considerable debate. The Grand
Trunk Bailway shareholders then ratified the pro-
posed formidable undertaking, and the work of sur-
veying the route by both the railway company and the
government upon their respective portions of the
route was vigorously instituted and pushed forward.
The budget speech was delivered by Mr. Fielding
on the 16th of April, and was as highly satisfactory
as his previous happy deliverances upon the fiscal
policy and financial condition of the country.
The country had been lately successful in freeing
itself from some vexatious tariff preferences which
had been granted by the Imperial government to>
Belgium and Germany, which improperly had in-
cluded Canada without her consent. The last-named
country attempted to retaliate in the way of discrim-
ination against Canada. Our financial minister was,
however, equal to the emergency and promptly im-
posed a surtax upon German goods which brought
the people of that country to their senses. Mr. Bor-
den requested that the debate be adjourned, as he
was suffering from hoarseness. The adjournment
having been agreed to, Mr. Borden delivered his
criticism on the following day.
The gallant soldier, General Lord Dundonald, had
been appointed general officer of the militia of Can-
ada. His coming was hailed with delight, and matters
seemed to be going on well for a time, but unfortu-
500 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
nately the general's suggestions and requisitions
called for an undue outlay of money, and some fric-
tion having been engendered through the appointment
of officers for a new battalion which was being organ-
ized in the Eastern Townships, the General very
improperly aired his supposed grievances at a public
banquet in Montreal, during which he cast reflec-
tions upon the conduct of the heads of the depart-
ment whose servant he was, thereby resulting in the
inevitable dismissal of His Lordship. The incident
provoked much excitement, sympathy with Dun-
donald ran somewhat high at first, but as the circum-
stances began to be better understood by the public
the unpleasant affair was soon well-nigh forgotten.
The experience of the world has demonstrated that
the civil government should always be supreme in
these matters.
The minister of militia and defence seems to be
fully alive to the importance of maintaining the ser-
vice under his department in a reasonable state of
efficiency, though at a considerable cost. Some atten-
tion is also being given to the formation of a small
navy, to co-operate with that of the Mother Country,
which seems to be a step in the right direction. Cana-
dians are willing to assist the Mother Country in any
filial and expedient way, but undue militarism will
not be welcomed by the people of Canada, as our men
and means can be better employed in peaceful
pursuits than in military display. Canada made a
most creditable display at the World's Fair, St.
Louis.
The House was dissolved in the autumn, and a gen-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 501
era! election took place on the third of November, in
which the government was sustained by the large
majority of sixty or upwards.
Lord Minto's term of office having now expired he
vacated Government House, leaving the country in a
most prosperous and progressive condition. He was
succeeded in the governor-generalship by Earl Grey,
his brother-in-law, Lady Minto's brother.
GOVERNMENT OF EARL GREY.
The House met on the llth of January, 1905, and
elected Mr. E. F. Sutherland, member for North
Essex, Speaker of the Commons. Senator Dandur-
and was appointed Speaker of the Senate by the
government.
His Excellency delivered the speech from the
throne on the following day. After expressing his
realization of the high honor of being appointed to
preside over the Dominion of Canada, and felicitating
its people upon continued progress and prosperity of
the country, he stated that the surveys of our new
transcontinental railway were being pushed vigor-
ously; that full autonomy would be granted to the
North-West Territory, etc.
The reply to the speech from the throne was moved
by E. M. Macdonald, and seconded by Mr. Parent,
which was followed in a speech lasting one hour, by
Mr. George E. Foster. Sir Wilfrid followed Mr.
Foster, and indulged in some good-natured banter at
the expense of the latter. Mr. Maclean also spoke
briefly, after which the address passed unanimously.
502 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The sum of $200,000 was voted for the establish-
ment of a mint at Ottawa, in which the gold and
silver of our own country can be coined at home — cer-
tainly a step in the right direction.
It was very properly decided that Canada shall
bear the expense of her own defences, which will in-
volve an increased expenditure in the militia depart-
ment of about |2,000,000 annually, and a saving to
the Mother Country of an equal amount. It has
been reported later that the Imperial government
have decided to withdraw the regular soldiers and
ships of war entirely from Halifax and Esquimalt, a
contingency looked upon with disfavor in some por-
tions of Canada, and was a subject of discussion in
the Senate during the present session.
The Eight Honorable Sir Wilfrid Laurier intro-
duced, on the 22nd of February, in an exhaustive
speech, his very important bill for the creation of the
two new provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta out
of the North-West Territories, each province to extend
north as far as the 60th parallel, which is the northern
boundary of British Columbia, and the division be-
tween the two will be formed by the 110th meridian,
Kegina to be the capital of Saskatchewan and Ed-
monton to be the provisional capital of Alberta.
Very liberal financial provision is made in the bill
for the administration of the affairs of the new pro-
vinces, as the lands are still being retained by the
Dominion. The announcement by the premier, how-
ever, that the Separate Schools must be continued,
created some surprise, and much agitation through-
out the country has ensued.
At the conclusion of the premier's speech, Mr. B. L.
Borden, leader of the Opposition, spoke for about
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 503
twenty minutes. He rallied the premier upon a
change of heart upon this question. He, however,
sincerely trusted that on both sides of the House that
the education question would not be sought to be
made a political issue.
Mr. Sifton, the minister of the interior, resigned
his seat in the cabinet, owing to the educational
clause in the bill. In consequence of the wide-spread
dissatisfaction in Ontario and the west, the premier
then agreed to modify the educational clause, making
it fairly acceptable to his followers, including Mr.
Sifton.
Mr. E. L. Borden, in one month only from the date
of his first remarks, moved a direct amendment to the
educational clause in favor of reserving to the pro-
vinces the right to deal with education. Much debat-
ing followed. The speech of the Conservative leader
of the Opposition in Quebec, Mr. Monk, was in direct
opposition to his chief. He declared positively that
the Koman Catholic hierarchy had not meddled with
the question, that the electorate of his province would
resent any clerical interference. The second read-
ing of the bill was carried by a large majority.
Mr. Frank Oliver, member for Edmonton, N.W.T.,
was sworn in as minister of the interior in succession
to Mr. Sifton, and was re-elected by acclamation.
THE SENATE.
The Senate, or second chamber, was to some extent
a continuation, with a change of constitution, of the
former Legislative Council, which in the Province of
Canada had been made elective in 1856. The term
then was for eight years, with a property qualification
504 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
of f 8,000. After confederation the Legislative Coun-
cil was merged and changed into a Senate, to be
nominated by the Crown for life, a property quali-
fication of but f 4,000 being now requisite. It is pro-
vided in the British North America Act, that the
representation in the Senate be seventy-six members,
and not to exceed the maximum number of eighty-two
members. The first representation actually ap-
pointed was seventy-two members, divided into three
divisions — Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Pro-
vinces, with twenty-four members from each division.
In the event of Prince Edward Island and Newfound-
land entering the union, these provinces to be
embraced in the last-named division. The first draft
of senators was taken from the ranks of the former
Legislative Council, and also equally from each
political party. The Speakership of the Senate,
unlike that of the Commons, is a government
appointment.
The Senate possesses the same legislative powers
as the Commons, with the exception of the supply
bill, which is introduced and controlled chiefly by the
House of Commons. The Senate, on the other hand,
takes the initiative in divorce, and some other mat-
ters. The Senate at one time was rather unfairly a
by-word, for " jeering " people, but is now being more
highly appreciated, and is certainly a very important,
dignified and necessary branch of the three estates
of parliament. It can be a safeguard against crude
and irregular legislation, and a protection to the
weaker provinces when it fulfils its proper functions,
which it will no doubt do in future, even although it
has been blamed for some political partiality in the
past.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 505
PEOVINCE OF ONTAEIO.
The history of Ontario from confederation in 1867
down to the present time is an uninterrupted record
of progress and prosperity. Its first legislature was
comprised of an elected House of Assembly of eighty-
two members without a Legislative Council, or second
chamber.
The first appointment of a lieutenant-governor was
in the person of General Stisted, who opened the first
session, but only presided temporarily, and was suc-
ceeded in July by the Hon. W. P. Howland, now Sir
William Howland, who still survives at the age of
ninety-four years. The first Speaker was Mr. John
Stevenson, member for Lennox.
GOVERNMENT OF JOHN SANDFIELD MACDONALD.
The first executive was comprised of five members.
The premier and attorney-general was John Sand-
field, an old parliamentarian who had filled the high
positions of speaker, solicitor-general and premier
and attorney -general in Old Canada. Mr. Macdon-
ald was a Liberal bordering upon radicalism, but was
somewhat estranged from the great Liberal tribune,
Mr. George Brown, upon the question of representa-
tion by population, upon the scheme of confederation,
and upon a nominative second chamber; to all of
which he had been opposed, and which Mr. Brown
favored.
Mr. Macdonald was an able and shrewd man, but
of a somewhat irritable temperament. He said of
himself that he " lacked dignity," but on the other
hand he was known to resent any undue familiarity
506 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
towards himself. He was very careful in all his
career to husband the resources of the country as
much as possible. Many amusing tales are told of
his parsimony and cheese-paring economy. His gov-
ernment was a coalition — a term which he, however,
did not relish, and therefore jocularly dubbed it him-
self a " patent combination." His colleagues were
Matthew Crooks Cameron, an able and honest Tory
lawyer; Mr. S. Kichards, an able and honest lawyer,
in politics a Baldwin Keformer; Mr. Carling, a very
popular and progressive Liberal-Conservative lay-
man, and Mr. E. B. Wood, an able lawyer, and a Lib-
eral in politics, but who did not follow Mr. Brown's
ideas of returning quite so soon to party lines as the
former desired.
The government was supported during the first
term of the legislature by a solid phalanx of Con-
servatives, with the addition of half a score of Lib-
erals. The Opposition was led for a short time by
Mr. Archibald McKellar, and then by Mr. Edward
Blake until the end of the term, and part of the first
session of the second term, after which he led the
House for the remainder of the session.
The first division took place upon a finaricial ques-
tion. The Opposition were carried away by the
strong prejudice which existed against the Bank of
Montreal in Ontario at that period, when it was sup-
posed that said bank had been squeezing and crip-
pling the weaker banks of the province. The circum-
stances as affecting the Ontario treasury at the time
were as follows : The Dominion, not yet having had
an opportunity to make its first financial arrange-
ments, owed the province for the first half-yearly
THE DOMINION OP CANADA. 507
instalment of the fixed subsidy, which is payable half-
yearly by the Dominion to the provinces, and proposed
either to pay to the province the bank rate of interest
until payment could be made in a few months hence —
as a temporary arrangement — or to give its debentures
to the province at par.
The provincial government having no immediate
use for so much money in the winter season, there-
fore decided to accept some Dominion debentures,
and to allow the balance to remain at bank interest
for a time.
The Opposition conceived that it would be a popu-
lar move to force the Dominion Government to pay up
at once by borrowing temporarily from banks — the
rate of interest at the time being about 8 per cent. —
and the money, when received from the Dominion, to
be deposited in the banks of the province at 4 per
cent., in order to strengthen them financially. The
government, on the other hand, by the course pursued,
derived the full rate of interest from the Dominion
upon a portion of the amount, and sold the debentures
which they held at a premium, thereby making it a
very much better transaction for the province than
that proposed by the Opposition, and at the same
time avoided inconvenience to the finance minister of
the Dominion. The other current revenues derived
from timber dues, sales of lands, and other resources
were deposited in such local banks as the Koyal
Canadian Bank, in order to help them.
The government policy so commended itself to a
majority of the House that several Liberal members,
including the author of this work, voted with the
government. The government introduced and passed
508 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
a Free Grant Land and Homestead Act, which, how-
ever, was not at first popular, as it proposed to
reserve from actual settlers certain merchantable
timber, minerals, etc. It, however, gave quite an
impetus to the settlement of the new districts,
although the timber conditions have never, up to this
time, ceased to be a bone of contention in the free
grant districts of the province.
The government gave timely notice that the usual
former grants to denominational colleges would be
discontinued after the first session. This important
step gave rise to much opposition and lobbying on the
part of the officials of the various religious colleges
which had been the recipients of grants for many
years. The premier was, however, firm in his deter-
mination ,and carried out his policy, which has ever
since been adhered to.
A good deal of legislation took place during the
term. Educational, municipal and agricultural mat-
ters were dealt with; surveys were undertaken; col-
onization roads were constructed; waterways were
improved, and a railway policy adopted, the latter
was, however, open to criticism, and proved a source
of weakness to the government, owing to its lack of
details.
It was proposed in the government scheme to set
aside a block sum of money for the subsidy of any
new railway running in a northerly and southerly
direction, but no particular line to be aided was
specified, thus opening the door to possible favoritism,
log-rolling, and undue influence; and it also deprived
sections which required lines running east and west
from participating in the subsidy, which naturally
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 509
created dissatisfaction in some sections of the
province.
A large surplus was accumulated in the treasury,
the hoarding of which weakened the government.
Upon the recommendation of a special committee,
comprised of Messrs. Cumberland, Graham of Hast-
ings, Ferrier, Pardee, Clarke, Galbraith and McKel-
lar, the House voted the sum of f 4,000 to Mrs. Mac-
kenzie, widow of W. L. Mackenzie, to reimburse — for
her sole use and benefit — certain expenses incurred by
her husband in a delegation to the Imperial govern-
ment, which he made in the public interest previous to
the troubles of 1837 ; a division took place, resulting in
35 votes for and 31 against the proposal.
The House was dissolved in March of 1871. The
elections for the first time were in a commendable
manner all held on the same day. The government
lost heavily at the polls, largely on account of the
undefined railway policy. It was, therefore, doubtful
whether the government could command any major-
ity when the House met in December, particularly as
two at least of its supporters were unseated — Messrs.
Lauder and Colquhoun — and could not be re-elected
in time for the meeting of the House.
After electing the Speaker, the Hon. E. W. Scott,
the premier rashly challenged the Opposition, which
had been criticising and opposing the adoption of the
address in reply to His Honor's speech, to move a
want of confidence vote. The challenge was accepted
and the administration was left in a minority of one.
The government resigned shortly afterwards, not
being able to carry the address or to control the
House.
510 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
GOVERNMENT OF EDWARD BLAKE.
Mr. Blake was then called upon to form a govern-
ment, which he accomplished with great facility. His
colleagues were Hon. Alex. Mackenzie, treasurer;
Hon. E. W. Scott — who resigned the Speakership —
commissioner of Crown lands; Adam Crooks, attor-
ney-general; A. McKellar, commissioner of public
works, and Peter Gow, provincial secretary. The
Hon. J. G. Currie was appointed Speaker. Mr.
Blake took the position of president of the council
without salary.
Mr. Macdonald, the late premier, upon being re-
quested by some of his former followers to attend a
caucus for the purpose of choosing a leader of the
Conservative Opposition, about to be organized,
petulantly declined to do so, saying that he was going
home to Cornwall. He died the same year, 1872.
Mr. M. C. Cameron, afterwards Sir Matthew Crooks
Cameron, assumed the leadership of the Opposition
for several years. Upon his accepting a judgeship
he was succeeded by Mr. Meredith, afterwards Sir Wil-
liam Meredith, who ably led the Opposition for a num-
ber of years, and who also finally accepted a chief
justiceship. Mr. G. F. Marter then succeeded Sir
William Meredith for a short time as leader, after
which Mr. J. P. Whitney, the present leader, was
appointed to that important position.
Messrs. Blake and Mackenzie retired from the gov-
ernment, and House of Assembly as well, to become
candidates at the ensuing general election for the
Dominion, which was held during the summer of that
year. Some useful legislation was enacted during
THE DOMINION OF CANADA 511
the session, and the railway policy was placed upon a
definite and liberal basis. A reward of $5,000 was
offered for the apprehension of the murderers of
Thomas Scott at Fort Garry, Manitoba, in 1870.
Sir John A. Macdonald, it was suspected, prompted
the sinister enactment of what was known as " Costi-
gan's Little Bill," during the current session at
Ottawa, which had the effect of preventing Messrs.
Blake and Mackenzie from continuing to hold dual
positions, had they desired to do so. Mr. Blake,
therefore, promptly succeeded in persuading the Hon.
Oliver Mowat to resign his seat upon the bench of the
Court of Chancery and assume the premiership of
the province.
GOVERNMENT OF SIR OLIVER MOWAT.
This step on the part of Mr. Mowat was sharply
criticised in some quarters, but the ex-chancellor very
properly felt that there was no incompatibility or
compromise with righteousness in presiding over the
province as premier and attorney-general. Mr.
Mowat, afterwards Sir Oliver Mowat, continued to
occupy the position of premier and attorney general
without interruption for the long period of twenty-
four years, until he became minister of justice at
Ottawa.
It is worth noting that Sir Oliver Mowat's career
is probably without a parallel in any country, all of
which was probably due to his high character, good
temper, great ability, courtesy, Christian bearing and
wisdom, backed up by the constant smiles of Dame
Fortune.
512 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Sir Oliver studied law in the office of Sir John Mac-
donald at Kingston, and never retaliated personally
upon the attacks of his former tutor, who tried hard,
but unsuccessfully, for party purposes, to dislodge his
old pupil from the very strong position which he held
in the country. Mr. Mowat removed to Toronto in
early life, where he enjoyed a lucrative practice, was
elected an alderman, and afterwards returned to par-
liament for South Ontario. He was a member of the
short-lived Brown-Dorion government, a member of
the Macdonald-Dorion government, and a member of
the coalition government (for union purposes, being
one of the fathers of confederation) ; then Judge of
the Court of Chancery ; then premier of Ontario, min-
ister of justice at Ottawa, and then lieutenant-gover-
nor of Ontario at the time of his lamented death. As
has been stated, Sir Oliver presided over the destinies
of the province as premier and attorney-general for
twenty-four years. Under his wise, progressive and
honest government the province made great strides,
both socially and materially, in every department,
for the well-being of the people.
Sir Oliver introduced the ballot system of voting
at elections, and adopted the British custom of num-
bered ballots, which has been criticised as lacking in
absolute secrecy.
Some constitutional and boundary questions arose
during Sir Oliver's regime, in which he was pitted
against his old tutor and his legal associates upon no
less than half a dozen occasions, where the cases were
carried to the highest legal tribunal in the Empire,
and in every case Sir Oliver was victorious.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 513
GOVERNMENT OF HON. A. S. HARDY.
Sir Oliver Mowat was succeeded in the premiership
and attorney-generalship by Mr. A. S. Hardy, a very
prominent lawyer from Brantford, who had been
provincial secretary and commissioner of Crown
lands under Mr. Mowat; a very able man, who ruled
the province exceptionally well for a few years, until
compelled to resign, owing to ill-health. He died a
very few years ago, and was succeeded by Mr. G. W.
Boss, who had been minister of education under the
Mowat and Hardy premierships, and had also been for
several years a member of the House of Commons.
GOVERNMENT OF HON. G. W. Boss.
Mr. Eoss is a most versatile and able speaker, and
quite progressive in the way of development and im-
provement. But he succeeded to the premiership at a
period when the party was being disintegrated
through long tenure of office. He appealed to the
electorate for the first time in 1902, and was sus-
tained by a very narrow majority.
After reconstructing his cabinet by the retirement
of Messrs. Davis and Stratton and by Mr. Gibson
vacating the attorney-generalship — Messrs. Charlton,
Graham and McKay being brought in to take their
respective portfolios — a largely attended convention
of the party was then called, but some resolutions
adopted were apparently not acceptable to either the
temperance or liquor men.
An appeal to the country followed, and after a brief
but exciting campaign, the elections took place on
the 25th of January of the present year (1905) result-
33
514 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
ing in the decisive overthrow of the Boss Government,
which resigned on the 7th of February.
Although no charge of misappropriation of the
public patrimony can be made against the govern-
ment, they apparently had, however, seriously alien-
ated the support of both liquor and temperance men,
as well as some of their former friends upon other
considerations.
It is most unfortunate, however, that latterly the
fair fame of the province has been smirched in some
way by what is known as " machine " work, carried
on in the elections by a few unscrupulous men in both
parties, the Gamey incident, during the first session
of the present parliament, having a most disquieting
effect.
It is therefore to be hoped that all will join here-
after in a supreme effort to put an end to all fraudu-
lent, corrupt, unfair tactics and misrepresentations
in the conduct of all public affairs, and in the promo-
tion of pure and free elections. Neither party should
employ or harbor hangers-on, who are bent upon mis-
chief, greatly to the detriment of the reputation of
both parties, and what is worse, in the bringing of
disgrace upon the otherwise good name of the country.
A portion of the party press is also much to blame in
the exaggeration of the degree of wrong-doing actually
perpetrated by the opposing side.
The most stringent laws should also be adopted to
stamp out every unfair method in the conduct of both
candidates and election workers, and also of un-
scrupulous voters, by the inflicting of severe punish-
ment upon all offenders.
The province is being well developed by the pro-
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 515
vincially assisted railways and surveys throughout
what is known as New Ontario. The government
has opened up the Temiscaming district, and the
region beyond, by a government system of railways.
GOVERNMENT OF HON. J. P. WHITNEY.
His Honor, Lieutenant-Governor Clark, then re-
quested Mr. Whitney, leader of the Opposition, to
form a ministry, in which he promptly succeeded as
follows : Mr. Whitney, premier and attorney-general ;
J. J. Foy, K.C., commissioner of Crown lands; Col.
Matheson, provincial treasurer; Dr. Pyne, minister
of education; Nelson Monteith, minister of agricul-
ture; Dr. Keaume, commissioner of public works;
W. J. Hanna, provincial secretary; Messrs. Wil-
loughby, Beck and Hendrie without portfolios.
The premier, James Pliny Whitney, was born in
Williamsburg, Ont., in 1843, was educated at the
Cornwall Grammar School ; called to the bar in 1876 ;
created a Q.C. in 1890; was elected to the provincial
parliament for Dundas county in 1888, and had been
leader of the Opposition since 1896 until his recent
accession to the government benches. Few men have
had such favorable opportunity conferred upon
them by the people for great usefulness as is now
afforded to Mr. Whitney and his colleagues. They
have certainly entered upon a comfortable and
smooth-going, yet responsible, position of power in the
administration of the affairs of this great province.
The first session of the new parliament under the
Whitney government was opened by His Honor
Lieutenant-Governor Clark, with great eclat, on the
22nd of March, 1905.
516 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Among the most important announcements in the
speech from the throne was an intimation that a new
department would be created to administer the min-
ing affairs of the province, and that the election law
would be amended to abolish the numbered ballots,
and that a progressive policy for the development of
the new districts would be carried out.
Mr. W. H. Hoyle moved and Mr. J. P. Downey sec-
onded the reply to the lieutenant-governor's speech.
They were followed by Messrs. T. H. Preston and
Kichard Harcourt, in the absence of Hon. G. W. Koss,
the probable leader of the Opposition.
Mr. Mathieson, the treasurer, delivered the finan-
cial statement on the 13th of April, in which he
disputed the existence of the surplus claimed by his
predecessor. The discrepancy arises upon the differ-
ence of opinion as to whether the proceeds of the
timber limit sales should be placed to revenue or
capital account.
Mr. Harcourt replied to Mr. Mathieson.
QUEBEC.
The Legislative and Executive Councils of the great
Province of Quebec, in common with those of the sister
Provinces of Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Bruns-
wick, were organized under the new system in 1867.
The representation in parliament was comprised
of an elective House of Assembly of sixty-five mem-
bers, and a nominated Legislative Council of twenty-
four members appointed for life, and an Executive
Council of five members.
The first lieutenant-governor was Sir Narcisse Bel-
leau, who had been a member of the Legislative
.THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 517
Council of Old Canada for some years, and was also
its premier after the death of Sir E. P. Tache in 1865,
until the Dominion government was formed in 1867.
The first Speaker of the Legislative Council was
Mr. Boucherville, and of the Assembly, Dr. Blanchet.
The cabinet, unlike that of Ontario, was a party
one, taken from the ranks of the Bleus or Conserva-
tives, and was as follows: Mr. Chaveau, premier and
minister of education, secretary and registrar; Mr.
Dunkin, treasurer; Mr. Baubien, commissioner of
Crown lands; Mr. Irvine, solicitor-general, and Mr.
Archambault, commissioner of agriculture and public
works.
The financial history at least of Quebec contrasts
rather unfavorably with that of Ontario. The gov-
ernment of the former province in the earlier days
under confederation appears to have made a bad start
in the way of thrift, as instead of accumulating a com-
fortable balance on the right side, as in Ontario, it
soon resorted to borrowing extensively until a very
formidable debt was incurred.
There is no record of a regularly elected leader of
the Opposition, but Mr. Bachand, member for St.
Hyacinthe, a very active gentleman, criticised the
government, as also did Mr. Joly, afterwards Sir
Henry Joly, now lieutenant-governor of British
Columbia, and others ; but the government, being over-
whelmingly strong, paid little heed to the criticisms of
the small Rouge or Liberal contingent in the
Assembly.
The political life of the province has at times been
most exciting, owing to some high-handed and sum-
mary proceedings which were enacted.
In 1878 the Boucherville government, while com-
518 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
manding a considerable majority in the House, was
summarily dismissed by Lieutenant-Governor Letelier,
upon the grounds, His Honor alleged, that his min-
istry unconstitutionally violated and ignored his
functions in a most flagrant manner, and also upon
the ground that the premier had confessed to him
that he could not prevent certain rings among his own
followers in parliament from misappropriating the
patrimony of the province. Mr. Boucherville, the
premier, personally a most respectable gentleman,
disclaimed any disrespect towards His Honor.
His Honor then called upon Mr. Joly to form a
government, and he accepted the responsibility. The
House was dissolved, and the new government was
sustained by a majority of but one.
The Mackenzie government was in power in Ottawa
at the time when the coup took place, but was de-
feated in a few months afterwards ; thereupon the now
victorious party from Quebec, burning with revenge,
forced the hands of the incoming government at
Ottawa, which dismissed the lieutenant-governor
upon the plea " that his usefulness was gone."
Mr. Joly ruled the province honestly, but was
not properly supported in the House, consequently
4id not remain long in office. The Legislative
Council, however, obstructed the supply bill, and
Lieutenant-Governor Eobitaille having refused a dis-
solution, Mr. Joly resigned. The Bleus had it all
their own way again for a considerable time, until
Mr. Mercier succeeded Mr. Joly as leader of the
Opposition, and later carried the country at the polls.
Mr. Mercier's followers were chiefly a fusion of
Rouges and Nationalists. The Mercier government
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 519
occasioned some commotion throughout the Domin-
ion by having settled the long-standing claim of the
hierarchy in the matter of the Jesuits' Estates.
A scandal arose, of which the premier disavowed
all personal advantage or knowledge, over the misap-
propriation by some railway promoters and political
wire-pullers of some funds intended for the Bay
Chaleur Kailway Company; for this offence the
Mercier government was dismissed by Lieutenant-
Governor Angers. The Bleus then came in again,
but were finally defeated by the Opposition under the
leadership of Mr. Marchand, who ruled the province
wisely and well for several years until his lamented
death.
Mr. Parent, the present premier, succeeded Mr.
Marchand, and the affairs of the province are con-
tinuing to go on satisfactorily. The province has had
a dozen different premiers since confederation, while
Ontario has had but five during the same period.
Mr. Parent would, in all probability, have been sus-
tained, but resigned, owing to ill-health. The Hon.
Lomer Gouin then succeeded to the premiership.
Quite a remarkable transformation has taken place
in the political complexion of the province of late
years. A former ultra Bleu community has now become
an ultra Rouge stronghold. This change in party
ranks has been largely due to the personal popularity
of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and also to the late premier
of the province, Mr. Marchand. The province has
very large resources, and will in a short time be pros-
perous and free from debt.
The province was relieved of large financial liabili-
ties in 1884 by the Dominion government assuming
520 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
the accounts which the province had expended upon
certain railways. The action of the Dominion gov-
ernment was open to criticism as a questionable
policy. Sir Charles Tupper, the minister of railways,
however, contended that said railways were for the
general advantage of Canada.
There was a political crisis on in the province at the
time of writing (1905), owing to a split in the ranks
of the Liberals, but this is now over.
NOVA SCOTIA.
The local government of this fine historical pro-
vince was organized after the event of confederation,
with a lieutenant-governor, an executive of nine mem-
bers, three only of whom, however, held portfolios,
a Legislative Council of twenty-one members, and a
House of Assembly of thirty-eight members.
Mr. Blanchard was the first premier, but owing
to the then prevalent anti-union feeling only secured
the return of one supporter, Mr. Pineo, at the ensu-
ing general election. He consequently resigned. Mr.
Annand became premier. The anti-union feeling did
not abate for some time. The House having accepted
the situation, and better financial terms being
granted, the union feeling received a slight impetus,
which has been gradually growing, and is now in
satisfactory condition. The following succeeded Mr.
Annand as premier : Messrs. Hill, Holmes, Thompson,
Piper, Fielding, and Murray, the present premier.
The treasury of the province shows a small surplus
over expenditure.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 521
NEW BRUNSWICK.
The first legislature of New Brunswick after con-
federation was comprised of the Honorable L. A.
Wilmot, as lieutenant-governor, and the following
appointed members of the Legislative Council and
elected members of the Assembly :
Legislative Council — Messrs. Beveridge, Chandler,
Davidson, Hamilton, Hanington, Harrison, Jones,
Lewis, O. Mclnerny, Minchin, Muirhead, Perley,
Eobinson, Ryan, Seely, Todd, Saunders and Young.
Mr. Saunders, Speaker.
The Assembly — Messrs. Babbit, Beckwith, Bliss,
Botsford, Butler, Cae, Coram, Covert, Cudlip, Des-
Brisey, Dow, J. Flewelling, W. P. Flewelling, Frye,
Hammond, Hibbard, Johnston, Keans, Kelly, Kerr,
King, Landry, Lindsay, McAdarn, McLeod, McQueen,
Meahan, Montgomery, Moore, Hazen, Peck, W. E.
Perley, Quinton, Stephenson, Sutton, Taylor, Thier-
ault, Thomson and Wetmore. Mr. Bliss Botsford,
Speaker.
The executive was comprised of Messrs. J. McAdam,
Wetmore, Beckwith, Flewelling and Kelly.
Parliament met on the 15th of February. The
reply to the speech from the throne was moved by Mr.
Lindsay, and seconded by Mr. Keans.
The affairs of the province appear to have gone on
in a comparatively smooth manner until the passing
of the Free School Bill in 1871, to which the Roman
Catholics were bitterly opposed. They carried their
grievances to the Federal arena.
The legislature passed resolutions asking the
522 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Dominion for better terms. In the following year
both Houses passed resolutions in condemnation of
the Washington Treaty.
The Legislative Council was abolished in 1892.
The present premier is Mr. Tweedie. There is a
small surplus in the treasury.
NEWFOUNDLAND.
The large island province of Newfoundland con-
tains an area of 42,000 square miles, with a popula-
tion of 225,000. It has the historical distinction of
being England's oldest colony, and is also the part of
America nearest to Europe. Previous to the granting
of representative government under Sir Thomas
Crawford, in 1832, the colony had a long line of gov-
ernors taken from the navy, unlike that of the
Canadas, which had a succession of governors taken
from the army; neither class being well adapted for
presiding over the affairs of ordinary civil government
and of practical colonization.
Newfoundland weathered many disasters of divers
kinds in its earlier history. Possessing then — as it
does still — the most valuable cod-fisheries and bait
supply in the world, they were naturally coveted in
primitive times by several of the great powers of
Europe, who, regardless of the prior rights of Eng-
land, sent out ships by the hundred and men by the
thousand to participate in the almost inexhaustible
fisheries of the colony, which resulted, as might have
been expected, in the clashing of interests, bloodshed,
mutual destructiveness and reprisals under such a
predatory system as then existed. The French seem
THE DOMINION OF CANADA 523
to have been the most persistent and aggressive of
all the foreign powers. Even after the indisputable
British rights of proprietorship were duly acknow-
ledged by all the powers, France, by some diplomatic
skill, had privileges conceded to her in perpetuity for
landing, for the drying of fish, and for the taking of
timber to build huts and staging along the coast for
hundreds of miles.
The representative system, with fifteen elected mem-
bers and a nominated council, did not seem to work
well, owing to the clashing between the two bodies,
consequently the constitution of the legislature was
suspended for a comparatively short period, then re-
constituted into a unique system of an amalgamated
legislature. The assemblymen and councillors sat
and voted together, which seemed to work well, most
probably due to the prudent administration of the
then excellent governor, Sir John Harvey, whom we
favorably met before in the narrative of the Maritime
Provinces.
The membership of the Assembly was increased to
thirty, and responsible government granted in 1855.
The governmental machine did not always work
smoothly in the early stages of its inception. Un-
fortunately, parties were sometimes divided upon
religious grounds, but it is believed that the last
embers of these burning questions have been for some
time past extinguished, and that harmony now
happily prevails.
The representatives of Newfoundland participated
in the Confederation movement in 1864, which, how-
ever, did not result favorably to union. The union
idea was again revived nearly ten years ago ; the basis
524 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
of representation in the Dominion parliament was
agreed upon between the Dominion and Newfound-
land delegates, but the negotiations unfortunately fell
through over the financial terms. It does appear that
the Canadian delegates, who were also cabinet min-
isters, were not as liberal and sympathetic as they
ought to have been under the circumstances. They,
no doubt, offered the usual terms which subsist be-
tween the other provinces and the Dominion, but the
principle upon which Canadians ought to have acted
was to have considered what the financial circum-
stances of Newfoundland required to enable the
colony to carry on its government comfortably with-
out having resort to direct taxation. The people of
Canada would have approved of such a course. It is
not for any material or selfish advantage that the
people of Canada desire to welcome our neighbours
into the Union. The Dominion is both able and will-
ing to accord to Newfoundland at least mutual ad-
vantages in every arrangement that may be deter-
mined on, and there should be strength in union.
The nearest part of Newfoundland proper is within
22 miles of the mainland of Canada, at the Straits of
Belle Isle, and the colony also possesses about seven
thousand square miles along the coast of Labrador,
adjoining Canada. It is to be hoped, therefore, that
a better understanding will ultimately be arrived at
between Canadians and Newfoundlanders, and that
they may in due course become one people.
The public affairs of the province are prosperous
and are at present administered by the government
of the Hon. Robert Bond, who commands the confi-
dence of its people.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 525
PEINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
The province of Prince Edward Island entered into
union with the Dominion in 1873 upon certain condi-
tions, which have since been fulfilled as far as pos-
sible. The first representatives at Ottawa were
Messrs. Montgomery, Haythorne and Howlan in the
Senate, and Messrs. Laird, J. C. Pope, D. Davies,
James Yeo, Sinclair and A. C. Macdonald in the
House of Commons.
The provincial parliament is now composed of a
lieutenant-governor, an elective Legislative Council,
and an Assembly of sixteen members each. These
two bodies were merged into one chamber in 1893.
The affairs of the province are in a satisfactory con-
dition, the soil being very fertile ; therefore, with good
returns from agricultural pursuits and fisheries, etc.,
and good prices for such products, there is nothing
to fear for the material welfare of the people of the
snug little province.
The winter service between the Island and main-
land by steamers has not always been promptly per-
formed, owing to obstructions of large fields of ice.
A tunnel connection with the mainland has been sug-
gested, but it would be a most expensive and formid-
able undertaking, and the ventilation system for such
a lengthy tunnel might be a serious consideration.
However, with the recent success attained by ice-
breaking steamers in several localities, it is probable
that the winter service can be performed with more
regularity in the future than in the past.
526 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES.
As has been already stated in the short narrative
of Manitoba, the North-West Territories were placed
under the jurisdiction of a lieutenant-governor and
three councillors, at Battleford, in 1876. Lieu tenant-
Governor Morris had in the previous years rendered
good service in effecting Indian Treaties Nos. 4, 5,
and 6, and Lieutenant-Governor Laird effected Treaty
No. 7 himself with the Blackfeet Indians in 1877.
The provisional districts of Assiniboia, Saskatche-
wan, Alberta and Athabasca were created in 1882,
and the seat of government removed from Battleford
to Regina, where a legislature was established with
a lieutenant-governor and an Assembly of thirty-five
members elected from as many constituencies.
The present lieutenant-governor is Hon. A. E.
Forget, and his ministry is comprised of Messrs,
Haultain (the Premier), Bulyea and Elliott. The
Territories, at the time of writing, are agitating not
only for further autonomy, but also for the creation
of two provinces out of the present territory, with
full autonomy, which will most probably be accom-
plished before the final publication of this volume.
The present Assembly is comprised of the following
members: Messrs. C. W. Fisher, Charles Fisher,
Prince, Young, Bennett, McDiarmid, Haultain,
Greely, Finlay, Woolf, Secord, Lake, Wallace, Simp-
son, Meyers, Talbot, Deveber, Mclntyre, Annable,
Smith, McKay, McDonald, Bulyea, Brown, Hawkes,
McNutt, Klinskill, Lambert, Conriell, Rutherford,
Shera, Rosenroll, Gillis, Elliott, Patrick. Mr. Gillis,
Speaker.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 527
The Educational Council, comprised of Messrs.
Beck, Willis, Eev. D. Gillis, Smith and Short, has
the oversight of the important interest of education.
The Mounted Police have rendered most valuable
service in the maintenance of law and order through-
out this vast domain.
BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1871.
The great Pacific province of British Columbia, the
largest of all the provinces at present organized, en-
tered the Union in 1871, with a representation in the
Senate of three members and in the House of Com-
mons of six members, which was considered a very
liberal representation at the time. Subsequent
events, however, have proved that it was not too
liberal.
The first lieutenant-governor under the Union was
the Honorable Joseph William Trutch, C.E.
The first Senators were Messrs. Carrall, Cornwall
and Macdonald. The first members elected to the
Commons were Messrs. De Cosmos, Wallace, Nathan,
Thompson, Houghton and Nelson; and to the Legis-
lative Assembly were Messrs. Armstrong, Ash,
Beaven, C. Booth, J. P. Booth, Bunster, Cogan, De
Cosmos, Duck, Holbrook, Hughes, Hunter, Hum-
phreys, McCreight, Mara, Robertson, Robinson, Rob-
son, Saul, Semlin, R. Smith, Todd, Trimble, and
Walkem. Speaker, T. Trimble.
The ministry was comprised of the following: Mr.
McCreight, Premier and Attorney-General; William
Walkem, Commissioner of Crown Lands ; Mr. Robert-
son, Colonial Secretary, and Mr. Holbrook, without
portfolio.
528 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The province is making substantial progress in
both population and material wealth. It has passed
through more than one political crisis, which, how-
ever, did not seriously retard the material progress
of the country, the resources of w^hich are very great.
British Columbia, like Manitoba and the North-
West, was pioneered to a large extent by the Hud-
son's Bay Company. The province, from its earliest
inception, has been very orderly, despite the rushing
hordes of miners and prospectors from all over the
globe which swept over it at intervals, and who seemed
to realize and feel upon the soil of British Columbia
the atmosphere of law, order and justice which per-
vaded the province and which had a wholesome and
moralizing effect upon all comers. The McBride
government is in power at present.
MANITOBA, 1870.
The bill passed in 1869 for .the temporary govern-
ment of the North-West proved rather futile, owing
to circumstances elsewhere referred to. The Red
Eiver and North-West Territories were, however,
definitely organized into a representative and respon-
sible government under the name of Manitoba in
1870, with a lieutenant-governor, a Legislative Council
of seven members, and an Elective Assembly of
twenty-four members, and a representation in the
Dominion Parliament of two senators and four mem-
bers in the House of Commons. The first lieutenant-
governor was the Hon. A. G. Archibald. The first
senators were Messrs. Sutherland and Girard. The
first members of the House of Commons were Dr.
THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 529
Schultz, P. Delorme and D. A. Smith. There being
a tie between A. McKay and Dr. Lynch for the fourth
seat caused a new election to be held later in
Marquette.
The members of the Legislative Council were Dr.
O'Donnel, James McKay (Speaker), D. Gunn, Ham-
lin, Inkster, Dauphenais and Ogletree.
The first members of the Assembly were Messrs.
Beauchemin, F. O. Bird, Bourke, Boyd, Brelam,
Bunn, Clarke, Dubuc, Delorme, Girard, Howard,
Hay, Klyne, Lemay, McKay, McTavish, Norquay,
Spence, Schmidt, D. A. Smith, J. Sutherland, Royal
and Taylor. Speaker, Mr. Eoyal.
The first ministry was comprised of Messrs. James
McKay, H. J. Clarke, J. Eoyal, T. Howard and John
Norquay. An Executive Council of ten members,
in addition, for the North-West Territories was
appointed near the end of 1872.
The Legislative Council was abolished in 1876, and
in the same year the North-West Territories were
detached from Manitoba for governmental purposes.
The Hon. David Laird was appointed lieutenant-gov-
ernor, with a council comprised of Messrs. Hugh Eich-
ardson, Matthews, Eyan, and Col. J. F. McLeod.
Separate schools were authorized, but partially
abolished by the Greenway government in' 1891, which
caused much agitation throughout the Dominion.
Manitoba has already had several changes in its-
ministries. The Conservatives, under the leadership
of Premier Eoblin, have possession of the government
at present. The province is most prosperous and is
already a very influential member of the confederated
provinces of the Dominion.
34
530 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
The authorities of Manitoba have manifested a
desire on two or more occasions to have the boun-
daries of the province extended, though an attempt
to extend its boundaries eastward a few years ago
was unsuccessful. A recent movement has been set
on foot tending to the. extension of the boundary west-
ward, but it remains to be seen whether the new pro-
vince of Saskatchewan and the Dominion will be
consenting parties to the proposal. An unpleasant
controversy has unfortunately been aroused over the
question.
YUKON.
A judicial district was formed in the Yukon Terri-
tory in 1897, with a commissioner, a council (partly
elective), courts of justice, customs offices, etc. The
capital was located at Dawson City.
The City of Dawson was connected by telegraph
with British Columbia in 1889. The district was
given a representation of members in the House of
Commons in 1902. The Hon. J. H. Boss was elected
as member for the constituency in December of that
year. Mr. Koss having accepted a senatorship at
Kegina, N.W.T., after last session, Mr. Congdon be-
came the government candidate at the last general
election, but was defeated by Dr. Thompson, the
independent candidate.
The climate and soil of Yukon is proving to be
more favorable than first anticipated, and the gold
mining is quite prosperous.
RETROSPECT. 531
RETROSPECT.
In conclusion, we have only to remark that an en-
deavor has been made to trace, step by step, the
remarkable evolution and vicissitudes of governments
which have transpired from time to time in Canada
since the early days of the restricted and autocratic
rule in New France down to the inauguration, in
1867, of the present well-matured, strong and work-
able system which has so effectively established free
parliaments and responsible governments, not only
for the federal or central capital of the Dominion, but
also for each of the several great provinces which are
distributed over one-half of the North American con-
tinent, thus conferring upon the people the enjoyment
of all the well-defined rights, privileges, and advan-
tages that a free, intelligent, and progressive people
can desire.
It is, however, scarcely necessary to state that it
has not always been quite calm sailing upon our
political sea. Canada, owing to a variety of peculiar
circumstances, which have been slightly touched upon
in the foregoing annals, has at times been considered
to be a difficult country to govern, and there has not
been wanting at intervals an insignificant number of
would-be agitators in the political camps ready to
aggravate the situation by attempting to stir up racial
and religious prejudices for the paltry sake of gaining
some local and temporary party advantages ; but such
characters have invariably in the end been righteously
execrated.
532 POLITICAL ANNALS OF CANADA.
Lord Dufferin, in one of his earlier despatches to
the home government, remarked that some Canadians
would not hesitate to strike below the belt.
It has, however, always been a most reassuring
state of matters that the overwhelming mass of the
people have resolutely set their faces against all dis-
turbing elements in the body politic.
It might be thought that the present population of
Canada would appear to be disproportionally small
to its vast domain. However a rapid increase has
lately set in which is steadily assuming larger propor-
tions, and it is but reasonable to expect that Canada
will soon be blessed with a comparatively large
population.
The Eight Honorable Sir Wilfrid Laurier has made
the prophetic remark that " while the nineteenth cen-
tury belonged to the United States, the twentieth
century would belong to Canada."
The Marquis of Lome, in his farewell reply to the
address from the parliament of Canada in 1885, sai(
among other things, " that Canada is possessed of a
judicature above suspicion; self-governing communi-
ties entrusting to a strong central government all
national interests; the toleration of all faiths, with
favor to none; a franchise recognizing the rights of
labor by the exclusion only of the idle; the mainten-
ance of a government not privileged to exist for any
fixed term, but ever susceptible to the change of public
opinion, and open through a responsible ministry to
the scrutiny of the people. These are the features of
;your rising power."
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
FIRST MEMBERS OF THE DOMINION PARLIAMENT
1867
GOVERNOR-GENERAL LORD MONCK
The Senate
For Ontario — Messrs. Hamilton, Matheson, Ross, Mills, Sey-
mour, Dickson, Shaw, Fergusson, Blair, Campbell, Christie, Aikens,
Reesor, Leonard, McMaster, Burnham, Simpson, Skead, McPherson,,
Crawford, Macdonald, Blake, Flint, McRea, and Allan— 24
For Quebec— Messrs. Leslie, Foster, Bosse, Olivier, Bureau,.
Malhiot, Renaud, Letelier, Tessier, Hamilton, Cormier, A. J. Duches-
nay, Dumachel, Lacoste, Armand, Wilson, Chaffers, Guevremont,,
Ferrier, Belleau, Ryan and Sanborn — 24.
For Nova Scotia— Messrs. Kenny, McCully, T. D. Archibald,
Dickey, Anderson, Holmes, Ritchie, Wier, Locke, Bell, Bourinot and
Miller— 12.
For New Brunswick — Messrs. A. E. Botsford, Chandler, Robert-
son, Hazen, O'Dell, Wark, Steeves, Todd, Ferguson, R. D. Wilmott,.
A. R. McLellan, and Peter Mitchell— 12.
For Manitoba, 1872 — Messrs. Sutherland and Girard — 2.
For British Columbia, 1872— Messrs. Farrall, Cornwall and'
W. J. Macdonald— 3.
Souse of Commons
For Ontario — Messrs. Lapum, Simpson, Mills, Brown, Wood,
James, Crawford, Sproat, Hurdon, Ferguson, Holmes, J. Sandfield
Macdonald, J. S. Ross, Burton, Blake, Dobbie, J. H. Munroe,
O'Connor, T. Kirkpatrick, D. A. Macdonald, Shanley, Jackson*
533
534 APPENDICES.
Snider, D. Thompson, White, Magill, J. Brown, Read, Bowell,
Whitehead, M. C. Cameron (Goderich), Stephenson, J. A. Macdonald,
A. Mackenzie, W. Macdougall, Morris, F. Jones, John Crawford, Cart-
wright, Benson, Carling, Scatcherd, A. P. Macdonald, C. Wilson,
McCallum, A. Morrison, Lawson, Walsh, Keeler, J. Cockburn, J. H.
Thompson, T. N. Gibbs, Currier, Oliver, Bodwell, J. H. Cameron,
Redford, Macfarlane, Perry, Grover, Hagar, W. Ross, McLachlan,
Rankin, J. H. Grant, McConkey, Little, Ault, Harrison, Beatty, J.
Morrison, Bowman, Young, Street, Drew, Parker, Stirton, McMonies,
Rymal, Wells, Metcalf, Rowland and Kempt.
For Quebec — Messrs. Abbott, Gendron, Poser, Cayley, Cassault,
Paquet, Robitaille, Dunkin, Benoit, J. J. Ross, Cimon, Holton,
Tremblay, Pope, Langevin, Senecal, Fortin, A. A. Dorion, Rose,
Bechard, Gaucher, Godin, Pinsoneault, L. Archambault, Bellrose
Blanchet, Pouliot, Joly, Caron, Irvine, Chamberlain, Dufresne, J. O.
Baubien, Cauchon, McGee, Workman, Cartier, Coupal, Gaudet,
Wright, Heath, Brouaseau, Huot, Simard, McGreevy, Chauveau,
Webb, T. McCarthy, Sylvain, Cheval, Kierskowski, Bourassa, De-
saulniers, Huntington, Gait, L. H. Mason, Colby, Bertrand, L. R.
Masson, de Niverville, Daoust, McMillan, F. Geoffrion, Fortier.
A special return was made from Kamouraska, the polling having
been suppressed in three parishes and the returning officer, Garon,
having acted otherwise improperly.
For Nova Scotia— Messrs. Ray, H. Macdonald, A. W. McLellan,
C. Tupper, McKeagney, Savary, S. Campbell, A. Jones, Power, Howe,
Hugh Cameron, W. H. Chipman, E. M. Macdonald, Carmichael,
Forbes, Croke, Coffin, W. Ross, Killam.
For New Brunswick — Messrs. J. Wallace, Connell, Bolton,
Anglin, Renaud, Ryan, J. M. Johnson, C. Burpee, J. McMillan, J.
Ferris, J. H. Gray, Tilley, Costigan, A. J. Smith and C. Fisher.
For Manitoba, 1871— Messrs. D. A. Smith, t Schultz, Delorme
(the former member not returned, it being a tie between McKay and
Lynch). .
For British Columbia, 1872 — Messrs. DeCosmos, Nathan, Nel-
son, Thompson, Houghton.
Ontario Members of First Assembly, 1867
E. J. Hooper, Cumberland, McKellar, Finlayson, Wood, Fitz-
simmons, Sinclair, Blake, Swinarton, R. Lyon, J. S. Macdonald, S.
APPENDICES. 535
Cook, A. T. Williams, McLeod, S. Wigle, N. McColl, Luton,
H. Smith, J. Craig, Lauder, Corby, Boulter, Baxter, Barber, J. M.
Williams, K. Graham, T. Scott, Hays, Gibbons, J. Smith, Tett,
Stevenson, Rykert, Carling, Shaw, H. D. Smith, Strange, Pardee,
Galbraith, J. S. Smith, N. Currie, Evans, Secord, Richards, S.
McCall, Wilson, Eyre, A. Eraser, McGill, R. W. Scott, Perry, Pax-
ton, Oliver, Coyne, Monteith, Trow, Carnegie, Read, Boyd, Greely
McDougall, Supple, W. Craig, Ferguson, Lount, Colquhoun, Wallis,
M. Crooks, Cameron, A. P. Cockburn, Matchett, Springer, Clemens,
Beatty, McKim, M. Clark, Ferrier, Gow, Christie, Sexton, Crosby,
T. Graham and J. McMurrich.
First House of Assembly of Quebec, 1867
Bellingham, Gendron, Pozer, Pelletier, Noel, Hamilton, Dunkin,
Jodoin, J. J. Ross, Clement, Laberge, Trembly, James Ross, H. L.
Langevin, Hemming, Fortin, Beaubien, Scriver, Malleur, Lecavilier,
Levallee, The'rien, Mathieu, Bellrose, Blanchet, Verrault, Joly, Des-
nauliers, Irvine, Brigham, Dugas, Blais, Cauchon, Carter, Cartier,
Ogilvie, Benoit, Gaudet, Church, Poupore, Larue, Simard, Rheaume,
Hearn, Chaveau, Beaudreau, Picard, Garon, Robert, Bachand,
Marchand, Robertson, Coutlee, Locke, Malloux, Chapleau, de Niver-
ville, Ouimet, Harwood, Craig, Senecal. No return in Kamouraska.
Legislative Council
Boucherville, Archambault, Armstrong, Beaubien, Bryson, de Lery,
Dionne, Dostaler, Ferrier, de Berry, Gingras, Hale, Leboutillier,
Lemare, McGreevy, Panet, Proulx, Prudhomme, Rodier, J. J. Ross,
Starnes, Thibedeau and Wood.
NOVA SCOTIA, 1867-8
First House of Assembly under Confederation
The issue of writs for a general election to return to the House of
Assembly thirty-eight members, was ordered by Lieutenant-Governor
Fenwick Williams in the autumn of 1867, which resulted in the elec-
tion of the following representatives : — Messrs. Troop, Saunders,
Daniel Macdonald, Joseph Macdonald, Fergusson, White, Chambers,
Morrison, Purdy, H. G. Pineo, jr., Vail, Doucett, Marshall, Kirk,
Balcom, Cochrane, Northrup, Lawrence, Young, Blanchard, Campbell,
Brown, Dickie, Eisenhauer, Desbrisay, Wilkins, Copeland, Murray,
536 APPENDICES.
Smith, Freeman, Flynn, Harper, Robertson, Johnston, Kidston,
Ross, Townsend and Ryerson. Mr. Marshall was elected Speaker of
the Assembly.
The Legislative Council was comprised of Messrs. Almon,
Armaud, Brown, Chipman, Creelman, Creighton, Cutler, Fraser,
Heffernan, Keith, Martel, McHeffy, McKenna, McKinnon, McNab,
Parker, H. G. Pineo, sr., Smyth, Stairs, F. Tupper and Whitman.
Mr. Alexander Keith was appointed Speaker of the Council.
ADDENDA.
PREMIERS SINCE CONFEDERATION.
NEW BRUNSWICK.
Messrs. Wetmore, King, Hatheway, Fraser, Harrington, Blair,
Mitchell, Tweedie.
MANITOBA.
Messrs. McKay (President), Girard, Davis, Norquay, Harrison,
Greenway, Roblin.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
Messrs. J. C. Pope, Owen, Davies, McLeod, Sullivan, Peters.
QUEBEC.
Messrs. Chauveau, Ouimet, Ross, Chapleau, Boucherville, Joly,
Mousseau, Taillon, Mercier, Marchand, Parent, Gouin.
APPENDICES. 537
APPENDIX B
ANNO TRIGESIMO
VICTORIA REGIN^E
CAP. III.
An Act for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick,
and the government thereof, and for purposes connected therewith.
March 29th, 1867.
Whereas the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick have expressed their desire to be federally united into one
dominion under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, with a constitution similar in principle to that of the
United Kingdom ;
And whereas such a union would conduce to the welfare of the
provinces and promote the interests of the British Empire ;
And whereas on the establishment of the union by authority of
parliament it is expedient, not only that the constitution of the legis-
lative authority in the Dominion be provided for, but also that the
nature of the executive government therein be declared ;
And whereas it is expedient that provision be made for the
eventual admission into the union of other parts of British North
America ;
Be it therefore enacted and declared by the Queen's most Excel-
lent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament
assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :
I. — PRELIMINARY.
1. This Act maybe cited as the British North America Act, 1867.
2. The provisions of this Act referring to Her Majesty the Queen
extend also to the heirs and successors of Her Majesty, kings and
queens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
II. — UNION.
3. It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with the advice of
Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, to declare by pro-
clamation that, on and after a day therein appointed, not being more
538 APPENDICES.
than six months after the passing of this Act, the provinces of
Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall form and be one
dominion under the name of Canada ; and on and after that day those
three provinces shall form and be one dominion under that name
accordingly.
4. The subsequent provisions of this Act shall, unless it is other-
wise expressed or implied, commence and have effect on and after the
union, that is to say, on and after the day appointed for the union
taking effect in the Queen's proclamation ; and in the same provisions,
unless it is otherwise expressed or implied, the name Canada shall be
taken to mean Canada as constituted under this Act.
5. Canada shall be divided into four provinces, named Ontario,
Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
6. The parts of the Province of Canada (as it exists at the passing
of this Act) which formerly constituted respectively the provinces of
Upper Canada and Lower Canada shall be deemed to be severed, and
shall form two separate provinces. The part which formerly consti-
tuted the Province of Upper Canada shall constitute the Province of
Ontario ; and the part which formerly constituted the Province of
Lower Canada shall constitute the Province of Quebec.
7. The provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall have
the same limits as at the passing of this Act.
8. In the general census of the population of Canada which is
hereby required to be taken in the year one thousand eight hundred
and seventy-one, and in every tenth year thereafter, the . respective
populations of the four provinces shall be distinguished.
III.— EXECUTIVE POWER.
9. The executive government and authority of and over Canada
is hereby declared to continue and be vested in the Queen.
10. The provisions of this Act referring to the Governor-General
extend and apply to the Governor-General for the time being of
Canada, or other the chief executive officer or administrator for the
time being carrying on the government of Canada on behalf and in
the name of the Queen, by whatever title he is designated.
11. There shall be a council to aid and advise the Government of
Canada, to be styled the Queen's Privy Council for Canada ; and the
persons who are to be members of that council shall be from time to
time chosen and summoned by the Governor-General and sworn in as
APPENDICES. 539
Privy Councillors, and members thereof may be from time to time
removed by the Governor-General.
12. All powers, authorities, and functions which under any Act
of the Parliament of Great Britain, or of the Parliament of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or of the Legislature
of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Canada, Nova Scotia or New
Brunswick, are at the union vested in or exercisable by the
respective governors or lieutenant-governors of those provinces,
with the advice, or with the advice and consent, of the respective
Executive Councils thereof, or in conjunction with those councils, or
with any number of members thereof, or by those governors or
lieutenant-governors individually, shall, as far as the same continue
in existence and capable of being exercised after the union in rela-
tion to the government of Canada, be vested in and exercisable by
the Governor-General, with the advice or with the advice and consent
of, or in conjunction with the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, or
any members thereof, or by the Governor-General individually, as
the case requires, subject nevertheless (except with respect to such as
exist under Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain or of the Parlia-
ment of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) to be
abolished or altered by the Parliament of Canada.
13. The provisions of this Act referring to the Governor-General
in Council shall be construed as referring to the Governor-General
acting by and with the advice of the Queen's Privy Council for
Canada.
14. It shall be lawful for the Queen, if Her Majesty thinks fit,
to authorize the Governor-General from time to time to appoint any
person or any persons jointly or severally to be his deputy or deputies
within any part or parts of Canada, and in that capacity to exercise
during the pleasure of the Governor-General such of the powers,
authorities, and functions of the Governor-General as the Governor-
General deems it necessary or expedient to assign to him or them,
subject to any limitations or directions expressed or given by the
Queen ; but the appointment of such a deputy or deputies shall not
affect the exercise by the Governor-General himself of any power,
authority, and function.
15. The commander-in-chief of the land and naval militia, and of
all naval and military forces, of and in Canada, is hereby declared to
continue and be vested in the Queen.
540 APPENDICES.
16. Until the Queen otherwise directs, the seat of government of
Canada shall be Ottawa.
IV. — LEGISLATIVE POWER.
17. There shall be one parliament for Canada, consisting of the
Queen, an Upper House, styled the Senate, and the House of Commons.
18. The privileges, immunities, and powers to be held, enjoyed,
and exercised by the Senate and by i he House of Commons and by
the members thereof respectively shall be such as are from time to
time defined by Act of the Parliament of Canada, but so that the
same shall never exceed those at the passing of this Act held, enjoyed,
and exercised by the Commons House of Parliament of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and by the members thereof.
19. The Parliament of Canada shall be called together not later
than six months after the union.
20. There shall be a session of the Parliament of Canada once at
least in every year; so that twelve months shall not intervene between
the last sitting of the parliament in one session and its first sitting in
the next session.
The Senate.
21. The Senate shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, consist
of seventy-two members, who shall be styled Senators.
22. In relation to the constitution of the Senate, Canada shall be
deemed to consist of three divisions :
(1) Ontario;
(2) Quebec;
(3) The Maritime Provinces, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick ;
which three divisions shall (subject to the provisions of this Act) be
equally represented in the Senate as follows : Ontario by twenty-four
Senators ; Quebec by twenty-four Senators ; and the Maritime Pro-
vinces by twenty-four Senators, twelve thereof representing Nova
Scotia and twelve thereof representing New Brunswick.
In the case of Quebec each of the twenty-four Senators repre-
senting that province shall be appointed for one of the twenty-four
electoral divisions of Lower Canada specified in Schedule A to Chapter
One of the Consolidated Statutes of Canada.
23. The qualifications of a Senator shall be as follows :
(1) He shall be of the full age of thirty years ;
APPENDICES. 541
(2) He shall be either a natural-born subject of the Queen, or a
subject of the Queen naturalized by an Act of the Parliament
of Great Britain, or of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, or of the legislature of one of
the provinces of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Canada,
Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick, before the union, or of the
Parliament of Canada after the union ;
(3) He shall be legally or equitably seized as of freehold for his
own use and benefit of lands or tenements held in free and
common socage, or seized or possessed for his own use and
benefit of lands or tenements held in franc-alleu or in roture,
within the province for which he is appointed, of the value
of four thousand dollars, over and above all rents, dues,
debts, charges, mortgages, and incumbrances, due or payable
out of or charged on or affecting the same ;
(4) His real and personal property shall be together worth four
thousand dollars over and above his debts and liabilities ;
(5) He shall be resident in the province for which he is appointed;
(6) In the case of Quebec he shall have his real property qualifi-
cation in the electoral division for which he is appointed, or
shall be resident in that division.
24. The Governor-General shall from time to time, in the Queen's
name, by instrument under the great seal of Canada, summon quali-
fied persons to the Senate ; and, subject to the provisions of this Act,
every person so summoned shall become and be a member of the
Senate and a Senator.
25. Such persons shall be first summoned to the Senate, as the
Queen by warrant under Her Majesty's royal sign manual thinks fit
to approve, and their names shall be inserted in the Queen's proclama-
tion of union.
26. If at any time on the recommendation of the Governor-
General the Queen thinks fit to direct that three or six members be
added to the Senate, the Governor-General may by summons to
three or six qualified persons (as the case may be), representing equally
the three divisions of Canada, add to the Senate accordingly.
27. In case of such addition being at any time made, the Governor-
General shall not summon any person to the Senate, except on a
further like direction by the Queen on the like recommendation, until
542 APPENDICES.
each of the three divisions of Canada is represented by twenty-four
Senators and no more.
28. The number of Senators shall not at any time exceed seventy-
eight.
29. A Senator shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, hold
his place in the Senate for life.
30. A Senator may, by writing under his hand, addressed to the
Governor-General, resign his place in the Senate, and thereupon the
same shall be vacant.
31. The place of a Senator shall become vacant in any of the
following cases :
(1) If for two consecutive sessions of the Parliament he fails to
give his attendance in the Senate ;
(2) If he takes an oath or makes a declaration or acknowledg-
ment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign
power, or does an act whereby he becomes a subject or
citizen, or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or
citizen of a foreign power ;
(3) If he is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or applies for the
benefit of any law relating to insolvent debtors, or becomes
a public defaulter ;
(4) If he is attainted of treason, or convicted of felony or of
any infamous crime ;
(5) If he ceases to be qualified in respect of property or of resi-
dence ; provided that a Senator shall not be deemed to have
ceased to be qualified in respect of residence by reason only
of his residing at the seat of the Government of Canada
while holding an office under that Government requiring his
presence there.
32. When a vacancy happens in the Senate, by resignation, death
or otherwise, the Governor-General shall, by summons to a fit and
qualified person, fill the vacancy.
33. If any question arises respecting the qualification of a Senator
or a vacancy in the Senate the same shall be heard and determined by
the Senate.
34. The Governor-General may from time to time, by instrument
under the great seal of Canada, appoint a Senator to be Speaker of
the Senate, and may remove him. and appoint another in his stead.
APPENDICES. 543
35. Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, the
presence of at least fifteen Senators, including the Speaker, shall be
necessary to constitute a meeting of the Senate for the exercise of its
powers.
36. Questions arising' in the Senate shall be decided by a majority
of voices, and the Speaker shall in all cases have a vote, and when the
voices are equal the decision shall be deemed to be in the negative.
The House of Commons.
37. The House of Commons shall, subject to the provisions of
this Act, consist of one hundred and eighty-one members, of whom
eighty-two shall be elected for Ontario, sixty-five for Quebec, nine-
teen for Nova Scotia, and fifteen for New Brunswick.
38. The Governor- General shall from time to time, in the Queen's
name, by instrument under the great seal of Canada, summon and
call together the House of Commons.
39. A Senator shall not be capable of being elected or of sitting
or voting as a member of the House of Commons.
40. Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, Ontario,
Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall, for the purposes of
the election of members to serve in the House of Commons, be
divided into electoral districts as follows :
1. — ONTARIO.
Ontario shall be divided into the counties, ridings of counties,
cities, parts of cities and towns enumerated in the first schedule to
this Act, each whereof shall be an electoral district, each such district
as numbered in that schedule being entitled to return one member.
2. — QUEBEC.
Quebec shall be divided into sixty-five electoral districts, com-
posed of the sixty-five electoral divisions into which Lower Canada is
at the passing of this Act divided under Chapter Two of the Consoli-
dated Statutes of Canada, Chapter Seventy-five of the Consolidated
Statutes for Lower Canada, and the Act of the Province of Canada of
the twenty-third year of the Queen, Chapter One, or any other Act
amending the same in force at the union, so that each such electoral
division shall be for the purposes of this Act an electoral district
entitled to return one member.
544 APPENDICES.
3. — NOVA SCOTIA.
Each of the eighteen counties of Nova Scotia shall be an electoral
district. The County of Halifax shall be entitled to return two mem-
bers, and each of the other counties one member.
4. — NEW BRUNSWICK.
Each of the fourteen counties into which New Brunswick is
divided, including the City and County of St. John, shall be an
electoral district. The City of St. John shall also be a separate
electoral district. Each of those fifteen electoral districts shall be
entitled to return one member.
41. Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, all laws
in force in the several provinces at the union relative to the following
matters or any of them, namely, the qualifications and disqualifica-
tions of persons to be elected or to sit or vote as members of the
House of Assembly or Legislative Assembly in the several provinces,
the voters at elections of such members, the oaths to be taken by
voters, the returning officers, their powers and duties, the proceedings
at elections, the periods during which elections may be continued,
the trial of controverted elections and proceedings incident thereto,
the vacating of seats of members, and the execution of new writs in
case of seats vacated otherwise than by dissolution, — shall respectively
apply to elections of members to serve in the House of Commons for
the same several provinces.
Provided that until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides,
at any election for a member of the House of Commons for the Dis-
trict of Algoma, in addition to persons qualified by the law of the
Province of Canada to vote, every male British subject, aged twenty-
one years or upwards, being a householder, shall have a vote.
42. For the first election of members to serve in the House of
Commons the Governor-General shall cause writs to be issued by such
person, in such form, and addressed to such returning officers as he
thinks fit.
The person issuing writs under this section shall have the like
powers as are possessed at the union by the officers charged with the
issuing of writs for the election of members to serve in the respective
House of Assembly or Legislative Assembly of the Province of
Canada, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick ; and the returning officers
APPENDICES. 545
to whom writs are directed under this section shall have the like powers
as are possessed at the union by the officers charged with the return-
ing of writs for the election of members to serve in the same respective
House of Assembly or Legislative Assembly.
43. In case a vacancy in the representation in the House of Com-
mons of any electoral district happens before the meeting of the
parliament, or after the meeting of the parliament before provision is
made by the parliament in this behalf, the provisions of the last
foregoing section of this Act shall extend and apply to the issuing
and returning of a writ in respect of such vacant district.
44. The House of Commons on its first assembling after a
general election shall proceed with all practical speed to elect one
of its members to be Speaker.
45. In case of a vacancy happening in the office of Speaker by
death, resignation, or otherwise, the House of Commons shall, with
all practicable speed proceed to elect another of its members to be
Speaker.
46. The Speaker shall preside at all meetings of the House of
Commons.
47. Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, in case
of the absence for any reason of the Speaker from the chair of the
House of Commons for a period of forty-eight consecutive hours, the
House may elect another of its members to act as Speaker, and the
member so elected shall during the continuance of such absence of the
Speaker have and execute all the powers, privileges and duties of
Speaker.
48. The presence of at least twenty members of the House of
Commons shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the House for
the exercise of its powers ; and for that purpose the Speaker shall be
reckoned as a member.
49. Questions arising in the House of Commons shall be decided
by a majority of voices other than that of the Speaker, and when the
voices are equal, but not otherwise, the Speaker shall have a vote.
50. Every House of Commons shall continue for five years from
the day of the return of the writs for choosing the House (subject to
be sooner dissolved by the Governor-General), and no longer.
51. On the completion of the census in the year One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one, and of each subsequent decennial
35
546 APPENDICES.
census, the representation of the four provinces shall be readjusted
by such authority, in such manner, and from such time, as the Parlia-
ment of Canada from time to time provides, subject and according to
the following rules :
(1) Quebec shall have the fixed number of sixty-five members ;
(2) There shall be assigned to each of the other provinces such a
number of members as will bear the same proportion to the
number of its population (ascertained at such census) as the
number of sixty-five bears to the number of the population
of Quebec (so ascertained) ;
(3) In the computation of the number of members for a
province a fractional part not exceeding one-half of the
whole number requisite for entitling the province to a mem-
ber shall be disregarded ; but a fractional part exceeding one-
half of that number shall be equivalent to the whole number;
(4) On any such re-adjustment the number of members for a
province shall not be reduced unless the proportion which
the number of the population of the province bore to the
number of the aggregate population of Canada at the then
last preceding re-adjustment of the number of members for
the province is ascertained at the then latest census to be
diminished by one-twentieth part or upwards ;
(5) Such re-adjustment shall not take effect until the termina-
tion of the then existing parliament.
52. The number of members of the House of Commons may be
from time to time increased by the Parliament of Canada, provided
the proportionate representation of the provinces prescribed by this
Act is not thereby disturbed.
Money Votes; Royal Assent.
53. Bills for appropriating any part of the public revenue, or for
imposing any tax or impost, shall originate in the House of Commons.
54. It shall not be lawful for the House of Commons to adopt or
pass any vote, resolution, address, or bill for the appropriation of any
part of the public revenue, or of any tax or impost, to any purpose
that has not been first recommended to that House by message of the
Governor-General in the session, in which such vote, resolution,
address, or bill is proposed.
55. Where a bill passed by the Houses of the Parliament is
APPENDICES. 547
presented to the Governor-General for the Queen's assent, he shall
declare, according to his discretion, but subject to the provisions of
this Act and to Her Majesty's instructions, either that he assents
thereto in the Queen's name, or that he withholds the Queen's assent,
or that he reserves the bill for the signification of the Queen's
pleasure.
56. Where the Governor-General assents to a bill in the Queen's
name, he shall by the first convenient opportunity send an authentic
copy of the Act to one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State,
and if the Queen in Council within two years after receipt thereof by
the Secretary of State thinks fit to disallow the Act, such disallow-
ance (with a certificate of the Secretary of State of the day on which
the Act was received by him) being signified by the Governor-General,
by speech or message to each of the Houses of the Parliament or by
proclamation, shall annul the Act from and after the day of such
signification.
57. A bill reserved for the signification of the Queen's pleasure
shall not have any force unless and until within two years from the
day on which it was presented to the Governor-General for the
Queen's assent, the Governor-General signifies, by speech or message
to each of the Houses of the Parliament or by proclamation, that it
has received the assent of the Queen in Council.
An entry of every such speech, message, or proclamation shall be
made in the Journal of each House, and a duplicate thereof duly
attested shall be delivered to the proper officer to be kept among the.
Records of Canada.
V. — PROVINCIAL CONSTITUTIONS.
Executive Power.
58. For each province there shall be an officer, styled the Lieu-
tenant-Governor, appointed by the Governor-General in Council by
instrument under the great seal of Canada.
59. A Lieutenant-Governor shall hold office during the pleasure
of the Governor-General ; but any Lieutenant-Governor appointed
after the commencement of the first session of the Parliament of
Canada shall not be removable within five years from his appoint-
ment, except for cause assigned, which shall be communicated to him
in writing within one month after the order for his removal is made,
and shall be communicated by message to the Senate and to the House
548 APPENDICES.
of Commons within one week thereafter if the parliament is then
sitting, and if not then within one week after the commencement of
the next session of the parliament.
60. The salaries of the Lieutenant-Governors shall be fixed and
provided by the Parliament of Canada.
61. Every Lieutenant-Go vernor shall, before assuming the duties
of his office, make and subscribe before the Governor-General or some
person authorized by him, oaths of allegiance and office similar to
those taken by the Governor-General.
62. The provisions of this Act referring to the Lieutenant-
Governor extend and apply to the Lieutenant-Governor for the time
being of each province or other the chief executive officer or
administrator for the time being carrying on the government of the
province, by whatsoever title he is designated.
63. The Executive Council of Ontario and of Quebec shall be
composed of such persons as the Lieutenant-Governor from time to
time thinks fit, and in the first instance of the following officers,
namely, the Attorney-General, the Secretary and Registrar of the
province, the Treasurer of the province, the Commissioner of Crown
Lands, and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works, with,
in Quebec, the Speaker of the Legislative Council and the Solicitor-
General.
64. The constitution of the executive authority in each of the
provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall, subject to the
provisions of -this Act, continue as it exists at the union until altered
under the authority of this Act.
65. All powers, authorities, and functions which under any Act of
the Parliament of Great Britain, or of the Parliament of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or of the Legislature of
Upper Canada, Lower Canada, or Canada, were or are before or at
the union vested in or exercisable by the respective Governors or
Lieutenant-Governors of those provinces, with the advice, or with
the advice and consent, of the respective Executive Councils thereof
or in conjunction with those Councils or with any number of
members thereof, or by those Governors or Lieutenant-Governors
individually, shall, as far as the same are capable of being exercised
after the union in relation to the Government of Ontario and
Quebec respectively, be vested in and shall or may be exercised
APPENDICES. 549
by the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario and Quebec respectively, with
the advice or with the advice and consent of or in conjunction with
the respective Executive Councils or any members thereof, or by the
Lieuten ant-Governor individually, as the case requires, subject never-
theless (except with respect to such as exist under Acts of the Parlia-
ment of Great Britain or of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland), to be abolished or altered by the
respective Legislatures of Ontario and Quebec.
66. The provisions of this Act referring to the Lieutenant-
Governor in Council shall be construed as referring to the Lieutenant-
Governor of the Province acting by and with the advice of the
Executive Council thereof.
67. The Governor-General in Council may from time to time
appoint an administrator to execute the office and functions of Lieu-
tenant-Governor during his absence, illness, or other inability.
68. Unless and until the Executive Government of any province
otherwise directs with respect to that province, the seats of govern-
ment of the provinces shall be as follows, namely : of Ontario, the
City of Toronto ; of Quebec, the City of Quebec ; of Nova Scotia, the
City of Halifax ; and of New Brunswick, the City of Fredericton.
Legislative Power.
1. — ONTARIO.
69. There shall be a legislature for Ontario consisting of the
Lieutenant-Governor and of one House, styled the Legislative
Assembly of Ontario.
70. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario shall be composed of
eighty-two members, to be elected to represent the eighty-two-
electoral districts set forth in the first schedule of this Act.
2. — QUEBEC.
71. There shall be a legislature for Quebec consisting of the
Lieutenant-Governor and of two Houses, styled the Legislative
Council of Quebec and the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.
72. The Legislative Council of Quebec shall be composed of
twenty-four members, to be appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor
in the Queen's name by instrument under the great. seal of Quebec,
one being appointed to represent each of the twenty-four electoral
divisions of Lower Canada in this Act referred to, and each holding
550 APPENDICES.
office for the term of his life, unless the Legislature of Quebec other-
wise provides under the provisions of this Act.
73. The qualifications of the Legislative Councillors of Quebec
shall be the same as those of the Senators for Quebec.
74. The place of a Legislative Councillor of Quebec shall become
vacant in the cases, mutatis mutandis, in which the place of Senator
becomes vacant.
75. When a vacancy happens in the Legislative Council of Quebec
by resignation, death, or otherwise, the Lieutenant-Governor, in the
Queen's name, by instrument under the great seal of Quebec, shall
appoint a fit and qualified person to fill the vacancy.
76. If any question arises respecting the qualification of a Legisla-
tive Councillor of Quebec, or a vacancy in the Legislative Council of
Quebec, the same shall be heard and determined by the Legislative
Council.
77. The Lieutenant-Governor may from time to time, by instru-
ment under the great seal of Quebec, appoint a member of the Legis-
lative Council of Quebec to be Speaker thereof, and may remove him
and appoint another in his stead.
78. Until the Legislature of Quebec otherwise provides, the
presence of at least ten members of the Legislative Council, including
the Speaker, shall be necessary to constitute a meeting for the exer-
cise of its powers.
79. Questions arising in the Legislative Council of Quebec shall
be decided by a majority of voices, and the Speaker shall in all cases
have a vote, and when the voices are equal the decision shall be deemed
to be in the negative.
80. The Legislative Assembly of Quebec shall be composed of
sixty-five members, to be elected to represent the sixty-five electoral
divisions or districts of Lower Canada in this Act referred to, subject
to alterations thereof by the Legislature of Quebec : Provided that it
shall not be lawful to present to the Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec
for assent any bill for altering the limits of any of the electoral divi-
sions or districts mentioned in the second schedule to this Act, unless
the second and third readings of such bill have been passed in the
Legislative Assembly with the concurrence of the majority of the
members representing all those electoral divisions or districts, and
the assent shall not be given to such bill unless an address has been
APPENDICES. 551
presented by the Legislative Assembly to the Lieutenant-Governor
stating that it has been so passed.
3. — ONTARIO AND QUEBEC.
81. The Legislatures of Ontario and Quebec respectively shall be
called together not later than six months after the union.
82. The Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario and of Quebec shall
from time to time, in the Queen's name, by instrument under the
great seal of the province, summon and call together the Legislative
Assembly of the province.
83. Until the Legislature of Ontario or of Quebec otherwise pro-
vides, a person accepting or holding in Ontario or in Quebec any
office, commission, or employment permanent or temporary, at the
nomination of the Lieutenant-Governor, to which an annual salary, or
any fee, allowance, emolument or profit of any kind or amount what-
ever from the province is attached, shall not be eligible as a member
of the Legislative Assembly of the respective province, nor shall he sit
or vote as such ; but nothing in this section shall make ineligible any
person being a member of the Executive Council of the respective
province, or holding any of the following offices, that is to say, the
offices of Attorney-General, Secretary and Registrar of the province,
Treasurer of the province, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Com-
missioner of Agriculture and Public Works, and in Quebec Solicitor-
General, or shall disqualify him to sit or vote in the House for which
he is elected, provided he is elected while holding such office.
84. Until the legislatures of Ontario and Quebec respectively
otherwise provide, all laws which at the union are in force in
those provinces respectively, relative to the following matters, or
any of them, namely, — the qualifications and disqualifications of
persons to be elected or to sit or vote as members of the Assembly of
Canada, the qualifications or disqualifications of voters, the oaths to
be taken by voters, the returning officers, their powers and duties,
the proceedings at elections, the periods during which such elections
may be continued, and the trial of controverted elections and the pro-
ceedings incident thereto, the vacating of the seats of members, and
the issuing and execution of new writs in case of seats vacated other-
wise than by dissolution, shall respectively apply to elections of mem-
bers to serve in the respective Legislative Assemblies of Ontario and
Quebec.
552 APPENDICES.
Provided that until the Legislature of Ontario otherwise provides,
at any election for a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
for the District of Algoma, in addition to persons qualified by the law
of the Province of Canada to vote, every male British subject, aged
twenty-one years or upwards, being a householder, shall have a vote.
85. Every Legislative Assembly of Ontario and every Legislative
Assembly of Quebec shall continue for four years from the day of the
return of the writs for choosing the same (subject, nevertheless, to
either the Legislative Assembly of Ontario or the Legislative
Assembly of Quebec being sooner dissolved by the Lieutenant-
Governor of the province), and no longer.
86. There shall be a session of the Legislature of Ontario and of
that of Quebec once at least in every year, so that twelve months
shall not intervene between the last sitting of the legislature in each
province in one session and its first sitting in the next session.
87. The following provisions of this Act respecting the House of
Commons of Canada shall extend and apply to the Legislative Assem-
blies of Ontario and Quebec, that is to say, — the provisions relating
to the election of a Speaker originally and on vacancies, the duties of
the Speaker, the absence of the Speaker, the quorum, and the mode
of voting, as if those provisions were here re-enacted and made
applicable in terms to each such Legislative Assembly.
4.— NOVA SCOTIA AND NEW BRUNSWICK.
88. The constitution of the legislature of each of the provinces of
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick shall, subject to the provisions of
this Act, continue as it exists at the union until altered under the
authority of this Act ; and the House of Assembly of New Bruns-
wick existing at the passing of this Act shall, unless sooner dissolved,
continue for the period for which it was elected.
5. — ONTARIO, QUEBEC AND NOVA SCOTIA.
89. Each of the Lieutenant-Governors of Ontario, Quebec, and
Nova Scotia, shall cause writs to be issued for the first election of
members of the Legislative Assembly thereof in such form and by such
person as he thinks fit, and at such time, and addressed to such
returning officer as the Governor-General directs, and so that the
first election of member of Assembly for any electoral district or any
APPENDICES. 553
sub-division thereof shall be held at the same time and at the same
places as the election for a member to serve in the House of Com-
mons of Canada for that electoral district.
6. — THE FOUR PROVINCES.
90. The following provisions of this Act respecting the Parlia-
ment of Canada, namely, the provisions relating to appropriation and
tax bills, the recommendation of money votes, the assent to bills, the
disallowance of Acts, and the signification of pleasure on bills reserved,
shall extend and apply to the legislatures of the several provinces as
if those provisions were here re-enacted and made applicable in
terms to the respective provinces and the legislatures thereof, with
the substitution of the Lieutenant-Governor of the province for the
Governor-General, of the Governor-General for the Queen and for a
Secretary of State, of one year for two years, and of the province for
for Canada.
VI. — DISTRIBUTION OF LEGISLATIVE POWERS.
Powers of the Parliament.
91. It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate and House of Commons, to make laws for the
peace, order, and good government of Canada, in relation to all
matters not coming within the classes of subjects by this Act assigned
exclusively to the legislatures of the provinces ; and for greater
certainty, but not so as to restrict the generality of the foregoing
terms of this section, it is hereby declared that (notwithstanding
anything in this Act) the exclusive legislative authority of the Parlia-
ment of Canada extends to all matters coming within the classes of
subjects next hereinafter enumerated, that is to say :
1. The public debt and property.
2. The regulation of trade and commerce.
3. The raising of money by any mode or system of taxation.
4. The borrowing of money on the public credit.
5. Postal service.
6. The census and statistics.
7. Militia, military and naval service, and defence.
8. The fixing of and providing for the salaries and allowances of
Civil and other officers of the Government of Canada.
9. Beacons, buoys, lighthouses, and Sable Island.
10. Navigation and shipping.
554 APPENDICES.
11. Quarantine, and the establishment and maintenance of marine
hospitals.
12. Sea coast and inland fisheries.
13. Ferries between a province and any British or foreign country
or between two provinces.
14. Currency and coinage.
15. Banking, incorporation of banks, and the issue of paper
money.
16. Savings banks.
17. Weights and measures.
18. Bills of exchange and promissory notes.
19. Interest.
20. Legal tender.
21. Bankruptcy and insolvency.
22. Patents of invention and discovery.
23. Copyrights.
24. Indians, and lands reserved for the Indians.
25. Naturalization and aliens.
26. Marriage and divorce.
27. The criminal law, except the constitution of courts of criminal
j urisdiction, but including the procedure in criminal matters.
28. The establishment, maintenance and management of peni-
tentiaries:
29. Such classes of subjects as are expressly excepted in the
enumeration of the classes of subjects by this Act assigned
exclusively to the legislatures of the provinces.
And any matter coming within any of the classes of subjects enumer-
ated in this section shall not be deemed to come within the class of
matters of a local or private nature comprised in the enumeration of
the classes of subjects by this Act assigned exclusively to the legisla-
tures of the provinces.
Exclusive Powers of Provincial Legislatures.
92. In each province the legislature may exclusively make laws
in relation to matters coming within the classes of subjects next
hereinafter enumerated, that is to say :
1. The amendment from time to time, notwithstanding anything
in this Act, of the constitution of the province, except as
regards the office of Lieutenant-Governor.
APPENDICES. 555
2. Direct taxation within the province in order to the raising of
a revenue for provincial purposes.
3. The borrowing of money on the sole credit of the province.
4. The establishment and tenure of provincial offices and the
appointment and payment of provincial officers.
5. The management and sale of the public lands belonging to the
province, and of the timber and wood thereon.
6. The establishment, maintenance, and management of public
and reformatory prisons in and for the province.
7. The establishment, maintenance, and management of hospitals,
asylums, charities, and eleemosynary institutions in and for
the province, other than marine hospitals.
8. Municipal institutions in the province.
9. Shop, saloon, tavern, auctioneer, and other licenses in order
to the raising of a revenue for provincial, local, or municipal
purposes.
10. Local works and undertakings, other than such as are of the
following classes :
(a) Lines of steam or other ships, railways, canals, telegraphs, and
other works and undertakings connecting the province with
any other or others of the provinces, or extending beyond the
limits of the province :
(6) Lines of steamships between the province and any British or
foreign country :
(c) Such works as, although wholly situate within the province,
are before or after their execution declared by the Parliament
of Canada to be for the general advantage of Canada or for the
advantage of two or more of the provinces.
11. The incorporation of companies with provincial objects.
12. The solemnization of marriage in the province.
13. Property and civil rights in the province.
14. The administration of justice in the province, including fche
constitution, maintenance, and organization of provincial
courts, both of civil and of criminal jurisdiction, and includ-
ing procedure in civil matters in those courts.
15. The imposition of punishment by fine, penalty, or imprison-
ment for enforcing any law of the province made in relation
to any matter coming within any of the classes of subjects
enumerated in this section.
556 APPENDICES.
16. Generally all matters of a merely local or private nature in
the province.
Education.
93. In and for each province the legislature may exclusively
make laws in relation to education, subject and according to the
following provisions :
1. Nothing in any such law shall prejudicially affect any right or
privilege with respect to denominational schools which any
class of persons have by law in the province at the union ;
2. All the powers, privileges, and duties at the union by law
conferred and imposed in Upper Canada on the Separate
Schools and school trustees of the Queen's Roman Catholic
subjects, shall be and the same are hereby extended to the
Dissentient Schools of the Queen's Protestant and Roman
Catholic subjects in Quebec;
3. Where in any province a system of Separate or Dissentient
schools exists by law at the union or is thereafter established
by the legislature of the province, an appeal shall lie to the
Governor-General in Council from any Act or decision of any
provincial authority affecting any right or privilege of the
Protestant or Roman Catholic minority of the Queen's subjects
in relation to education ;
4. In case any such provincial law as from time to time seems to
the Governor-General in Council requisite for the due execu-
tion of the provisions of this section is not made, or in case
any decision of the Governor-General in Council on any
appeal under this section is not duly executed by the proper
provincial authority in that behalf, then and in every such
case, and as far only as the circumstances of each case require,
the Parliament of Canada may make remedial laws for the due
execution of the provisions of this section and of any decision
of the Governor-General in Council under this section.
Uniformity of Laws in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
94. Notwithstanding anything in this Act, the Parliament of
Canada may make provision for the uniformity of all or any of the
laws relative to property and civil rights in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and
New Brunswick, and of the procedure of all or any of the courts in
APPENDICES. 557
those three provinces, and from and after the passing of any Act in
that behalf the power of the Parliament of Canada to make laws in
relation to any matter comprised in any such Act shall, notwith-
standing anything in this Act, be unrestricted ; but any Act of the
Parliament of Canada making provision for such uniformity shall not
have effect in any province unless and until it is adopted and enacted
as law by the legislature thereof.
Agriculture and Immigration.
95. In each province the legislature may make laws in relation to
agriculture in the province, and to immigration into the province ;
and it is hereby declared that the Parliament of Canada may from
time to time make laws in relation to agriculture in all or any of the
provinces, and to immigration into all or any of the provinces ; and
any law of the legislature of a province relative to agriculture or to
immigration shall have effect in and for the province as long and as
far only as it is not repugnant to any Act of the Parliament of
Canada.
VII. — JUDICATURE.
96. The Governor-General shall appoint the judges of the
superior, district and county courts in each province, except those
of the courts of probate in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
97. Until the laws relative to property and civil rights in Ontario,
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and the procedure of the courts in
those provinces are made uniform, the judges of the courts of those
provinces appointed by the Governor-General shall be selected from
the respective bars of those provinces.
98. The judges of the courts of Quebec shall be selected from the
bar of that province.
99. The judges of the superior courts shall hold office during
good behaviour, but shall be removable by the Governor-General on
address of the Senate and House of Commons.
100. The salaries, allowances, and pensions of the judges of the
superior, district and county courts (except the courts of probate in
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick), and of the Admiralty courts in
cases where the judges thereof are for the time being paid by salary,
shall be fixed and provided by the Parliament of Canada.
558 APPENDICES.
101. The Parliament of Canada may, notwithstanding anything
in this Act, from time to time provide for the constitution, main-
tenance and organization of a general Court of Appeal for Canada,
and for the establishment of any additional courts for the better
administration of the laws of Canada.
VIII. — REVENUES, DEBTS, ASSETS, TAXATION.
102. All duties and revenues over which the respective legisla-
tures of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick before and at the
union had and have power of appropriation, except such portions
thereof as are by this Act reserved to the respective legislatures of
the provinces, or are raised by them in accordance with the special
powers conferred on them by this Act, shall form one consolidated
revenue fund, to be appropriated for the public service of Canada in
the manner and subject to the charges in this Act provided.
103. The Consolidated Revenue Fund of Canada shall be perma-
nently charged with the costs, charges and expenses incident to the
collection, management, and receipt thereof, and the same shall form
the first charge thereon, subject to be reviewed and audited in such
manner as shall be ordered by the Governor-General in Council until
the parliament otherwise provides.
104. The annual interest of the public debts of the several pro-
vinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick at the union
shall form the second charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund of
Canada.
105. Unless altered by the Parliament of Canada, the salary of
the Governor-General shall be ten thousand pounds sterling money of
.the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, payable out of the
Consolidated Revenue Fund of Canada, and the same shall form the
third charge thereon.
106. Subject to the several payments by this Act charged on the
Consolidated Revenue Fund of Canada, the same shall be appro-
priated by the Parliament of Canada for the public service.
107. All stocks, cash, bankers' balances, and securities for
money belonging to each province at the time of the union, except as
in this Act mentioned, shall be the property of Canada, and shall be
taken in reduction of the amount of the respective debts of the pro-
vinces at the union.
APPENDICES. 559
108. The public works and property of each province enumerated
in the third schedule to this Act, shall be the properly of Canada.
109. All lands, mines, minerals, and royalties belonging to the
several provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick at the
union, and all sums then due or payable for such lands, mines,
minerals, or royalties, shall belong to the several provinces of Ontario,
Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick in which the same are
situate or arise, subject to any trusts existing in respect thereof, and
to any interest other than that of the province in the same.
110. All assets connected with such portions of the public debt
of each province as are assumed by that province shall belong to that
province.
111. Canada shall be liable for the debts and liabilities of each
province existing at the union.
112. Ontario and Quebec conjointly shall be liable to Canada for
the amount (if any) by which the debt of the Province of Canada
exceeds at the union sixty-two million five hundred thousand dollars,
and shall be charged with interest at the rate of five per centum per
annum thereon.
113. The assets enumerated in the fourth schedule of this Act,
belonging at the union to the Province of Canada, shall be the pro-
perty of Ontario and Quebec conjointly.
114. Nova Scotia shall be liable to Canada for the amount (if
any) by which its public debt exceeds at the union eight million
dollars, and shall be charged with interest at the rate of five per
centum per annum thereon.
115. New Brunswick shall be liable to Canada for the amount (if
any) by which its public debt exceeds at the union seven million
dollars, and shall be charged with interest at the rate of five per
centum per annum thereon.
116. In case the public debts of Nova Scotia and New Bruns-
wick do not at the union amount to eight million and seven million
dollars respectively, they shall respectively receive, by half-yearly
payments in advance from the Government of Canada, interest at
five per centum per annum on the difference between the actual
amounts Of their respective debts and such stipulated amounts.
117. The several provinces shall retain all their respective public
property not otherwise disposed of in this Act, subject to the right of
560 APPENDICES.
Canada to assume any lands or public property required for fortifica-
tions or for the defence of the country.
118. The following sums shall be paid yearly by Canada to the
several provinces for the support of their governments and legislatures:
Ontario $80,000 00
Quebec 70,000 00
Nova Scotia 60,000 00
New Brunswick 50,000 00
$260,000 00
and an annual grant in aid of each province shall be made, equal to
eighty cents per head of the population as ascertained by the census
of one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and in the case of Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick, by each subsequent decennial census
until the population of each of these two provinces amounts to four
hundred thousand souls, at which rate such grant shall thereafter
remain. Such grants shall be in full settlement of all future demands
on Canada, and shall be paid half-yearly in advance to each province ;
but the Government of Canada shall deduct from such grants, as
against any province, all sums chargeable as interest on the public
debt of that province in excess of the several amounts stipulated in
this Act.
119. New Brunswick shall receive, by half-yearly payments in
advance from Canada, for the period of ten years from the union, an
additional allowance of sixty-three thousand dollars per annum ; but
as long as the public debt of that province remains under seven
million dollars, a deduction equal to the interest at five per centum
per annum on such deficiency shall be made from that allowance of
sixty-three thousand dollars.
120. All payments to be made under this Act, or in discharge of
liabilities created under any Act of the provinces of Canada, Nova
Scotia, and New Brunswick respectively, and assumed by Canada,
shall, until the Parliament of Canada otherwise directs, be made in
such form and manner as may from time -to time be ordered by the
Governor-General in Council.
121. All articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of any
one of the provinces shall, from and after the union, be admitted free
into each of the other provinces.
APPENDICES. 561
122. The Customs and Excise laws of each province shall, subject
to the provisions of this Act, continue in force until altered by the
Parliament of Canada.
123. Where Customs duties are, at the union, leviable on any
goods, wares, or merchandises in any two provinces, those goods,
wares, and merchandises may, from and after the union, be imported
from one of those provinces into the other of them on proof of pay-
ment of the Customs duty leviable thereon in the province of exporta-
tion, and on payment of such further amount (if any) of Customs
duty as is leviable thereon in the province of importation.
124. Nothing in this Act shall affect the right of New Brunswick
to levy the lumber dues provided in Chapter Fifteen of title three of
the Revised Statutes of New Brunswick, or in any Act amending
that Act before or after the union, and not increasing the amount of
such dues ; but the lumber of any of the provinces other than New
Brunswick shall not be subject to such duties.
125. No lands or property belonging to Canada or any province
shall be liable to taxation.
126. Such portions of the duties and revenues over which the
respective legislatures of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick,
had before the union, power of appropriation, as are by this Act
reserved to the respective governments or legislatures of the pro-
vinces, and all duties and revenues raised by them in accordance with
the special powers conferred upon them by this Act, shall in each
province form one consolidated revenue fund to be appropriated for
the public service of the province.
IX. — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
General.
127. If any person being at the passing of this Act a member of
the Legislative Council of Canada, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick,
to whom a place in the Senate is offered, does not within thirty days
thereafter, by writing under his hand addressed to the Governor-
General of the Province of Canada or to the Lieutenant-Governor of
Nova Scotia or New Brunswick (as the case may be), accept the same,
he shall be deemed to have declined the same ; and any person who,
being at the passing of this Act a member of the Legislative Council of
Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, accepts a place in the Senate shall
thereby vacate his seat in such Legislative Council.
36
562 APPENDICES.
128. Every member of the Senate or House of Commons of
Canada shall, before taking his seat therein, take and subscribe before
the Governor-General or some person authorized by him, and every
member of a Legislative Council or Legislative Assembly of any pro-
vince shall, before taking his seat therein, take and subscribe before the
Lieutenant-Governor of the province, or some person authorized by
him, the oath of allegiance contained in the fifth schedule to this Act ;
and every member of the Senate of Canada and every member of the
Legislative Council of Quebec shall also, before taking his seat
therein, take and subscribe before the Governor-General, or some
person authorized by him, the declaration of qualification contained
in the same schedule.
129. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, all laws in force
in Canada, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick at the union, and all
courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction, and all legal commissions,
powers, and authorities, and all officers, judicial, administrative, and
ministerial, existing therein at the union, shall continue in Ontario,
Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick respectively, as if the
union had not been made ; subject nevertheless (except with respect
to such as are enacted by or exist under Acts of the Parliament of
Great Britain or of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland), to be repealed, abolished, or altered by the
Parliament of Canada, or by the legislature of the respective province,
according to the authority of the parliament or of that legislature
under this Act.
130. Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, all
officers of the several provinces having duties to discharge in relation
to matters other than those coming within the classes of subjects by
this Act assigned exclusively to the legislatures of the provinces,
shall be officers of Canada, and shall continue to discharge the duties
of their respective offices under the same liabilities, responsibilities
and penalties, as if the union had not been made.
131. Until the Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, the
Governor-General in Council may from time to time appoint such
officers as the Governor-General in Council deems necessary or proper
for the effectual execution of this Act.
132. The Parliament and Government of Canada shall have all
powers necessary or proper for performing the obligations of Canada
or of any province thereof, as part of the British Empire, towards
APPENDICES. 563
foreign countries, arising under treaties between the Empire and such
foreign countries.
133. Either the English or the French language may be used by
any person in the debates of the Houses of the Parliament of Canada
and of the Houses of the Legislature of Quebec ; and both those
languages shall be used in the respective records and journals of those
Houses ; and either of those languages may be used by any person or
in any pleading or process in or issuing from any court of Canada
established under this Act, and in or from all or any of the courts of
Quebec.
The Acts of the Parliament of Canada and of the Legislature of
Quebec shall be printed and published in both those languages.
Ontario and Quebec.
134. Until the Legislature of Ontario or of Quebec otherwise
provides, the Lieutenant-Go vernors of Ontario and Quebec may each
appoint, under the great seal of the province, the following officers,
to hold office during pleasure, that is to say, — the Attorney-General,
the Secretary and Registrar of the province, the Treasurer of the
province, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and the Commissioner
of Agriculture and Public Works, and, in the case of Quebec, the
Solicitor- General ; and may, by order of the Lieutenant-Governor in
Council, from time to time prescribe the duties of those officers and
of the several departments over which they shall preside or to which
they shall belong, and of the officers and clerks thereof, and may also
appoint other and additional officers to hold office during pleasure,
and may from time to time prescribe the duties of those officers, and
of the several departments over which they shall preside or to which
they shall belong, and of the officers and clerks thereof.
135. Until the Legislature of Ontario or Quebec otherwise pro-
vides, all rights, powers, duties, functions, responsibilities, or authori-
ties at the passing of this Act vested in or imposed on the Attorney-
General, Solicitor-General, Secretary and Registrar of the Province
of Canada, Minister of Finance, Commissioner of Crown Lands,
Commissioner of Public Works, and Minister of Agriculture and
Receiver-General, by any law, statute, or ordinance of Upper Canada,
Lower Canada, or Canada, and not repugnant to this Act, shall be
vested in or imposed on any officer to be appointed by the Lieutenant-
Governor for the discharge of the same or any of them ; and the
564 APPENDICES.
Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works shall perform the
duties and functions of the office of Minister of Agriculture at the
passing of this Act imposed by the law of the Province of Canada, as
well as those of the Commissioner of Public Works.
136. Until altered by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, the
great seals of Ontario and Quebec respectively shall be the same, or
of the same design, as those used in the provinces of Upper Canada
and Lower Canada respectively before their union as the Province of
Canada.
137. The words "and from thence to the end of the then next
ensuing session of the legislature," or words to the same effect, used
in any temporary Act of the Province of Canada not expired before
the union, shall be construed to extend and apply to the next session
of the Parliament of Canada, if the subject matter of the Act is
within the powers of the same as denned by this Act, or to the next
sessions of the legislatures of Ontario and Quebec respectively, if the
subject matter of the Act is within the powers of the same as denned
by this Act.
138. From and after the union the use of the words "Upper
Canada" instead of "Ontario," or "Lower Canada" instead of
"Quebec," in any deed, writ, process, pleading, document, matter or
thing, shall not invalidate the same.
139. Any proclamation under the great seal of the Province of
Canada issued before the union to take effect at a time which is sub-
sequent to the union, whether relating to that province, or to Upper
Canada, or to Lower Canada, and the several matters and things
therein proclaimed, shall be and continue of like force and effect as if
the union had not been made.
140. Any proclamation which is authorized by any Act of the
Legislature of the Province of Canada to be issued under the great
seal of the Province of Canada, whether relating to that province, or
to Upper Canada, or to Lower Canada, and which is not issued before
the union, may be issued by the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario or of
Quebec, as its subject matter requires, under the great seal thereof ;
and from and after the issue of such proclamation, the same and the
several matters and things therein proclaimed, shall be and continue
of the like force and effect in Ontario or Quebec as if the union had
not been made.
APPENDICES. 565
141 . The penitentiary of the Province of Canada shall, until the
Parliament of Canada otherwise provides, be and continue the peni~
tentiary of Ontario and of Quebec.
142. The division and adjustment of the debts, credits, liabilities-,,
properties, and assets of Upper Canada and Lower Canada shall be
referred to the arbitrament of three arbitrators, one chosen by the
Government of Ontario, one by the Government of Quebec, and one
by the Government of Canada ; and the selection of the arbitrators
shall not be made until the Parliament of Canada and the legislatures
of Ontario and Quebec have met ; and the arbitrator chosen by the
Government of Canada shall not be a resident either in Ontario or in
Quebec.
143. The Governor-General in Council may from time to time
order that such and so many of the records, books, and documents of
the Province of Canada as he thinks fit shall be appropriated and
delivered either to Ontario or to Quebec, and the same shall thence-
forth be the property of that province ; and any copy thereof or
extract therefrom, duly certified by the officer having charge of the
original thereof, shall be admitted as evidence.
144. The Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec may from time to
time, by proclamation under the great seal of the province, to take
effect from a day to be appointed therein, constitute townships in
those parts of the Province of Quebec in which townships are not,
then already constituted, and fix the metes and bounds thereof.
X.— INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY.
145. Inasmuch as the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New-
Brunswick have joined in a declaration that the construction of the
Intercolonial Railway is essential to the consolidation of the union of
British North America, and to the assent thereto of Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick, and have consequently agreed that provision should!
be made for its immediate construction by the Government of Canada.
Therefore, in order to give effect to that agreement, it shall be the-
duty of the Government and Parliament of Canada to provide for the
commencement, within six months after the union, of a railway con-
necting the River St. Lawrence with the City of Halifax in Nova
Scotia, and for the construction thereof without intermission, and the
completion thereof with all practicable speed.
566 APPENDICES.
XI. — ADMISSION OF OTHER COLONIES.
146. It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with the advice of
Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, on addresses from the
Houses of the Parliament of Canada, and from the Houses of the
respective legislatures of the colonies or provinces of Newfoundland,
Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia, to admit those colonies
or provinces, or any of them, into the union, and on address from the
Houses of the Parliament of Canada to admit Rupert's Land and the
North- Western Territory, or either of them, into the union, on such
terms and conditions in each case as are in the addresses expressed
and as the Queen thinks fit to approve, subject to the provisions of
this Act ; and the provisions of any Order in Council in that behalf
shall have effect as if they had been enacted by the Parliament of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
147. In case of the admission of Newfoundland and Prince
Edward Island, or either of them, each shall be entitled to a repre-
sentation in the Senate of Canada of four members, and (notwith-
standing anything in this Act) in case of the admission of Newfound-
land the normal number of Senators sjiall be seventy-six and their
maximum number shall be eighty-two ; but Prince Edward Island
when admitted shall be deemed to be comprised in the third of the
three divisions into which Canada is, in relation to the constitution of
the Senate, divided by this Act, and accordingly, after the admission
of Prince Edward Island, whether Newfoundland is admitted or not,
the representation of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the Senate
shall, as vacancies occur, be reduced from twelve to ten members
respectively, and the representation of each of those provinces shall
not be increased at any time beyond ten, except under the provisions
of this Act for the appointment of three or six additional Senators
under the direction of the Queen.
SUPPLEMENTARY.
June 29th, 1871.
Whereas doubts have been entertained respecting the powers of
the Parliament of Canada to establish provinces in territories ad-
mitted, or which may hereafter be admitted into the Dominion of
Canada, and to provide for the representation of such provinces in
the said parliament, and it is expedient to remove such doubts, and
to vest such powers in the said parliament :
Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and
APPENDICES. 567
with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal,
and Commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the
authority of the same as follows :
1. This Act may be cited for all purposes as " The British North
America Act, 1871."
2. The Parliament of Canada may from time to time establish
new provinces in any territories forming for the time being part of
the Dominion of Canada, but not included in any province thereof,
and may, at the time of such establishment, make provision for the
constitution and administration of any such province, and for the
passing of laws for the peace, order, and good government of such
province, and for its representation in the said parliament.
3. The Parliament of Canada may from time to time, with the
consent of the legislature of any province of the said Dominion,
increase, diminish, or otherwise alter the .limits of such province,
upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed to by the said
legislature, and may, with the like consent, make provision respecting
the effect and operation of any such increase or diminution or alter-
ation of territory in relation to any province affected thereby.
4. The Parliament of Canada may from time to time make pro-
vision for the administration, peace, order, and good government of
any territory not for the time being included in any province.
5. The following Acts passed by the said Parliament of Canada,
and intituled respectively : "An Act for the temporary government
of Rupert's Land and the North- Western Territory when united with
Canada," and " An Act to amend and continue the Act thirty-two and
thirty-three Victoria, chapter three, and to establish and provide for
the government of the Province of Manitoba," shall be and be deemed
to have been valid and effectual for all purposes whatsoever from the
date at which they respectively received the assent, in the Queen's
name, of the Governor-General of the said Dominion of Canada.
6. Except as provided by the third section of this Act, it shall
not be competent for the Parliament of Canada to alter the provisions
of the last-mentioned Act of the said parliament, in so far as it relates
to the Province of Manitoba, or of any other Act hereafter establish-
ing new provinces in the said Dominion, subject always to the right
of the Legislature of the Province of Manitoba to alter from time to
time the provisions of any law respecting the qualification of electors
and members of the Legislative Assembly, and to make laws respect-
ing elections in the said province.
568 APPENDICES.
SUPPLEMENTARY.
July 19th, 1875.
Whereas by section eighteen of the British North America Act,
1867, it is provided as follows :
"The privileges, immunities and powers to be held, enjoyed and
exercised by the Senate and by the House of Commons, and by the
members thereof respectively, shall be such as are from time to time
denned by Act of the Parliament of Canada, but so that the same
shall never exceed those at the passing of this Act held, enjoyed and
exercised by the Commons House of Parliament of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland and by the members thereof."
And whereas doubts have arisen with regard to the power of
defining by an Act of the Parliament of Canada, in pursuance of the
said section, the said privileges, powers, or immunities ; and it is
expedient to remove such doubts :
Be it, therefore, enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty,
by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in this present parliament assembled, and
by the authority of the same, as follows :
1. Section eighteen of the British North America Act, 1867, is
hereby repealed without prejudice to anything done under that sec-
tion, and the following section shall be substituted for the section so
repealed.
The privileges, immunities and powers to be held, enjoyed and
exercised by the Senate and by the House of Commons, and by the
members thereof, respectively, shall be such as are from time to time
denned by Act of the Parliament of Canada, but so that any Act of the
Parliament of Canada defining such privileges, immunities and powers
shall not confer any privileges, immunities or power exceeding those
at the passing of such Act, held, enjoyed and exercised by the Com-
mons House of Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland and by the members thereof.
2. The Act of the Parliament of Canada passed in the thirty,
first year of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter twenty-four,
intituled "An Act to provide for oaths to witnesses being adminis-
tered in certain cases for the purposes of either House of Parliament "
shall be deemed to be valid, and to have been valid as from the date
at which the royal assent was given thereto by the Governor-General
of the Dominion of Canada.
3. This Act may be cited as ' * The Parliament of Canada Act, 1875."
APPENDICES. 569
APPENDIX C.
CHRONOLOGICAL LANDMARKS IN THE HISTORY OF CANADA.
1497. John Cabot, and his son Sebastian, of Bristol, discovered New-
foundland, Labrador and Nova Scotia.
1517. Sebastian Cabot discovered Hudson's Bay.
1534. Jacques Cartier, from France, discovered the St. Lawrence
River, which he named, and which he ascended as far as
Hochelaga.
1603. Champlain's first visit to Canada.
1605. The crowns of England and Scotland united under King James.
Settlement formed at Annapolis, N.S.
1608. Second visit of Cham plain and the founding of Quebec by him.
1611. First Jesuit missionaries to Acadia.
1613. Champlain discovered the Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing,
French River and Georgian Bay.
1615. Recollet Fathers come to Quebec as missionaries.
1624. Nova Scotia first settled by the English.
1625. Jesuit Fathers arrived at Quebec as missionaries.
1629. Quebec captured by the English.
1632. Quebec, Cape Breton and Acadia restored to France. First
school in Canada.
1634. The towns of Three Rivers and Sorel founded.
1635. Lake Michigan discovered by Nicolet. Death of Champlain at
Quebec.
1640. Lake Erie discovered by Chaumonot and Bre"bo3uf.
1642. Montreal founded by Maisonneuve.
1647. Lake St. John discovered.
1649. The Hurons destroyed by the Iroquois.
1654. Acadia taken by the English.
1659. M. de Laval, the first bishop arrived. Lake Superior discovered
by French traders.
1667. Acadia restored to France.
1670. Hudson's Bay Company incorporated in England.
1671. Fort Cataraqui (Kingston) founded. Country about Lake
Huron taken possession of by Perrot.
1673. The Mississippi discovered by Father Marquette, and M.
Joliet.
570 APPENDICES.
1674. Lachine founded.
1676. First market opened in Quebec.
1679. Fort Niagara founded by La Salle.
1682. La Salle reached the mouth of the Mississippi.
1690. Acadia taken from the French, chiefly by New Englanders, who,
however, were unsuccessful in an intended invasion of
Canada.
1694. Iberville captured English forts in Hudson Bay.
1698. Death of Frontenac.
1701. Detroit founded by Lamothe Cadillac.
1704. Canadians granted permission to manufacture goods in the
colony.
1707. England and Scotland united under the title of Great Britain.
1708. Cape Breton colonized.
1713. Treaty of Utrecht, confirming the British in possession of
Acadia and Newfoundland.
1715. Ships first built at Quebec.
1719. First government founded by the British in Nova Scotia.
1720. Fort of Louisbourg built.
1721. First postal system established.
1724. British built forts at Oswego.
1731. F,prt at Crown Point built.
1732-1750. Forts built on Lake of the Woods, Lake Winnipeg and
Assiniboia and Saskatchewan Rivers.
1739. First iron smelting works at St. Maurice. The territory as far
as the Rocky Mountains explored by La Ve'rendrye.
1747. Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. Louisbourg restored to France.
Halifax founded by the British. Forts built by the French at
Toronto and Green Bay.
1752. Halifax Gazette published ; first newspaper in Canada.
1754. Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburgh, built by the French.
1755. Braddock defeated and killed in his attempt to take Fort
Duquesne. Ticonderoga built by the French ; Forts William
Henry and Edward by the British.
1756. Montcalm arrives. Oswego taken by the French. Famine
and smallpox in Canada.
1758. First meeting of legislature at Halifax. Louisbourg, Prince
Edward Island, and Forts Duquesne and Frontenac taken
by the British.
APPENDICES. 571
1759. Quebec taken by General Wolfe. Niagara taken by Johnston
and Prideaux. Crown Point and Ticonderoga surrendered.
1760. Canada surrendered to British.
1762. First settlement in New Brunswick.
1763. Cape Breton annexed to Nova Scotia.
1764. First newspaper published at Quebec.
1770. First vessel built at St. John, N.B.
1774. Quebec Act, granting a new constitution.
1775. Revolt of the Anglo-American colonists. Montreal captured by
them, bub their general, Montgomery, repulsed and killed at
Quebec.
1776. Declaration of American Independence.
1783. Treaty of Peace in favor of Americans. United Empire Loyal-
ists then withdrew from United States and settled in the
British provinces.
1784. Cape Breton separated politically from Nova Scotia.
1785. New Brunswick separated from Nova Scotia. St. John, N.B.
established a city by Royal charter — the first city in Canada.
First school opens in Ontario.
1791. Canadian Act passed by Imperial Parliament, dividing the
province of Quebec into the two provinces of Lower and
Upper Canada.
1792. First parliament opened in the respective new provinces.
1794. First roads in Upper Canada. York (Toronto) founded.
1796. The seat of government of Upper Canada removed from
Niagara to Toronto.
1798. First public stage conveyances in Upper Canada.
1799. Education Act passed.
1800. Jesuits' estates taken possession of by Government.
1804. Locks made at Cateau Cascades.
1806. First ship built in Montreal. First French newspaper published
in Quebec, Le Canadien.
1812. War with the United States.
1814. Treaty of Peace signed at Ghent.
1816. First steamboat on Lake Ontario. Common schools established
in Upper Canada.
1817. First banks established in Montreal and Quebec.
1818. First steamer on Lake Erie.
572 APPENDICES.
1819. First steamer on the Ottawa River. Cape Breton annexed to
Nova Scotia.
1821. Lachine Canal commenced. Hudson's Bay Co. and Northwest
Co. amalgamated.
1822. Union of Upper and Lower Canada proposed, a bill introduced
in the Imperial Parliament, which, however, dwindled down
to the Trades Act, owing to opposition chiefly from Lower
Canada.
1826. First steamers on Lakes St. Louis and St. Francis.
1827. Rideau Canal commenced. King's College founded in Toronto.
McGill College, Montreal, receives its charter.
1831. Chambly Canal commenced.
1833. Quebec and Montreal incorporated cities.
1837. King William IV. dies, and Victoria ascends the throne.
1838. Suspension of the constitution of Lower Canada.
1840. Union of the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada.
1841. First Parliament of the Province of Canada met at Kingston.
First screw steamer on the lakes.
1842. The Ashburton Boundary Treaty with the United States,
affecting New Brunswick and Maine, to the disadvantage of
New Brunswick.
1843. Cornwall and Chambly Canals opened. Victoria, B.C., founded
by Sir James Douglas.
1844. Dr. Ryerson appointed Superintendent of Education for Upper
Canada.
1846. Oregon's Boundary Treaty favorable to the Americans, based
upon discovery by two of its citizens, Lewis and Clark.
1847. First telegraph in Canada.
1848. Navigation laws repealed, which greatly helped the trade of
Canada.
1849. Rebellion Losses Bill sanctioned by Lord Elgin. Burning of
Parliament buildings by mob.
1850. Parliament met in Toronto. Both gold and coal discovered in
British Columbia.
1852. Parliament met in Quebec.
1854. First railway in Upper Canada. First screw steamer from
Liverpool to the St. Lawrence River. The Clergy Reserve
and Seignorial Tenure questions settled.
APPENDICES. 573
1857. Decimal currency system adopted. Ottawa named the capital
by Her Majesty. Great Western Railway completed.
1859. New Westminster, B.C., founded by Colonel Moody.
1860. Prince of Wales, now King Edward VII., visited Canada.
1861. Civil War in United States.
1865. 1866. Confederation agreed upon by the four provinces.
1866. Termination of Reciprocity Treaty with United States. First
Fenian invasion at Ridgeway, Ont.
1867. Dominion inaugurated July 1st.
1869. Intercolonial Railway commenced.
1870. Manitoba and North- West organized.
1871. British Columbia enters the Union. C.P.R. surveys com-
menced.
1873. Prince Edward Island enters Union. Mackenzie administration
formed. Sir George Cartier died.
1875. North- West Territory separated from Manitoba, to be governed
by a council.
1876. Intercolonial Railway opened for traffic, Quebec to Halifax.
Supreme Court established at Ottawa.
1878. Mackenzie Government defeated at the polls.
1879. Protective Tariff or " National Policy " adopted.
1885. Outbreak in the North- West fomented by Louis Riel. Last
spike driven in the C.P.R.
1887. First C.P.R. steamer arrives at Vancouver from Yokohama.
Interprovincial conference held at Quebec.
1891. Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald died June 6th. Sir John
Abbott, premier.
1892. Hon. A. Mackenzie died April 7th. Sir A. Campbell died
April 24th. Sir John Abbott resigned owing to ill health.
Sir John Thompson, premier.
1893. Sir John Abbott died.
1894. Sir John Thompson died at Windsor Castle. Sir Mackenzie
Bowell, premier.
1895. Proclamation granting the designation of Yukon, Franklin,
Ungava and Mackenzie to these new remote districts.
Sault Ste. Marie Canal opened.
1896. Sir Mackenzie Bowell resigns the premiership in favor of Sir
Chas. Tupper. Defeat of the government. Hon. Wilfrid
Laurier, premier.
574 APPENDICES.
1897- Yukon Territory organized with Dawson as capital.
1898. Two cent postage adopted.
1900. Death of Premier Marchand, of Quebec; Parent, premier.
Governor Mclnnis, of British Columbia, dismissed. Laurier
government sustained at the polls. Hon. R. P. Roblin, pre-
mier of Manitoba.
1901. Queen Victoria died, and was succeeded by her son as Edward
VII. Telegraph system extended to Yukon.
1902. Lord Dufferin died. Ross Government sustained by a small
majority at the polls.
1903. Sir Oliver Mowat, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, died.
1904. Laurier Government sustained again at the polls.
1905. Ross Government suffers a crushing defeat at the polls. Mr.
Whitney, premier, formed a government that met the House
on 22nd of March. Parent, premier of Quebec, resigned,
owing to ill health ; Gouin, premier. The North-West Terri-
tories sub-divided into two provinces, named Saskatchewan
and Alberta, with Regina as the capital of the former and
Edmonton of the latter.
Cockburn, Alexander Peter
5054 Political annals of Canada
Robart*
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