The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-12 00:00:00

TH 1414 SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY.. JULY 12. 1 -20

The LORD CHANCELLOR said it had been found
that there were great d,fficulties in the way of introducing
the silent system generally into the prisons of that country.
One of the inspectors had stated that in a very short space
of time there had been 5,000 punishments for the violations
of the silent system. The same objections did not, how-
ever, apply to the separation of the prisoners.
Lord WYNFORD feared that at the present advanced
period of the Session they had not time to mike these
amendments which were required. He was not sanguine,
therefore, as to what could be done with regard to the sub-
ject during the present Session.
The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to b-..‘
committed on Thursday next.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, JULY 11.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour.
CARLOW ELECTION.
Mr. GROTE' brought up the Report of the Com-
mittee appointed to inquire into the merits of a petition,
complaining of an undue return for the borough of Car-
low. The Committee reported that they had determined
that Francis Bruen, Esq., was not duly elected, and
ought not to have been returned—that Thomas Gis-
borne, Esq., the younger, was duly elected, and ought
to have been returned—that the petition of Thomas
Gisborne the younger, George O'Farrell, and others,
against the return, was not frivolous or vexations—and
that the opposition of Henry Cary and others to
such petition was not frivolous or vexatious—and
that the Committee had altered the poll by striking off
certain names and by adding one name. The Report
was brought up, and the Clerk of the Crown ordered to
attend to-morrow to amend the return.
Mr. W. O'BRIEN brought up the Report of the
Rathkeale Inclosure Bill.
Mr. FOX MAULE postponed the third reading of
the London City Police Bill till to-morrow.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL presented a petition from
some parish, praying relief from certain grievances
suffered by the parish in consequence of some enact-
ments of the New Poor-law Act.—Ordered to be
printed.
Mr. GROTE presented two petitions in favour of
the proposed plan of penny postage.
Mr. PRY DIE presented a petition from St. James,
Westminster, praying the House to adopt some rnea
sure for closing gin shops on Sundays.
Sir H. PA RNELL presented a petition from
Dundee, in favour of Mr. Rowland Hill's plan for a
penny post.
Sir R. INGLIS presented a petition from Sir W.
Horton, praying the House to take his plan for emi-
gration into consideration.
Lord DALMENY presented a petition from Dal-
keith, in favour of a penny post.
Mr. R. STEWART presented a petition from
the school-masters of' Scotland, complaining of the
inadequacy of their salaries, and praying the House to
adopt some plan for their better remuneration.
Mr. MACAULAY presented a petition from the
Chamber of Commerce of Edinburgh in favour of a
penny post.
Mr. R. FERGUSSON presented similar petitions
from the Chamber of Commerce of Kirkaldy and Banff.
Mr. HARVEY presented a petition from the Guar-
dians of the Poor of St. George, Southwark, against
the Collection of Rates Bill.
Mr. AINSWORTH presented a petition from Bol-
ton, in favour of the penny postage, and a petition from
the same place in favour of the extension of homing
warehouses to large towns.
Mr. HUME gave notice that on the 9.3 d July he
should take the opinion of the House as to enforcing the
order of the 14th March, for certain returns to be made
by the Royal Academy.
Sir R. INGLIS gave notice that on that day he
should move as an amendment, that the order of the
14th March be rescinded.
Mr. GROTE moved for a return of the number of
fiats of bankruptcy, issued from 1838 to 1839, dis-
tinguishing the town and country fiats.
THE NATIONAL PETITION.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said there was a motion
for to-morrow of the Hon. Member for Birmingham,
for a Committee of the whole House on the petition
which was presented by him on the 14th June. It was
desirable that the discussion should come on early, and
he hoped the House would not object to the Hon.
Member moving before the other Orders of the Day.
IRISH BANK.

Mr. HUME wished to ask the Noble Lord if he
would fix a day for the discussion of the Irish Bank
Monopoly. If a day were not given for the discussion
before Thursday next, he should bring forward the ques-
tion on the first supply day after that day. He had
waited patiently for three months, and he considered
that was quite time sufficient.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the better plan would
be for the Hon. Member to give regular notice of a
motion on the subject.
. Mr. HUME—But we have had all our motion days
taken away.

HIGHWAY RATES BILL.
Colonel WOOD asked the Noble Lord whether it
was his intention to proceed with the Highway Rates
Bill this Sessioh.
Lord J. RUSSELL said it was his desire to commit
the Bill, in order to introduce extensive alterations into
it, but he would answer the question of the Hon. and
Gallant Gentleman to-morrow.
NEW .TUDGE IN EQUITY.
Sir EDWARD SUGDEN asked if it was the in-
tention of the Noble Lord to introduce a Bill into
that House, authorizing the appointment of an addi-
tional Judge in Equity.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it was the inten-
tion of the Government to introduce a Bill into that
House on the subject.
IRISH MUNICIPAL REFORM.
Sir GEORGE SINCLAIR wished to know when
it was intended to proceed with the Irish Municipal
Reform Bill ?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL—On Monday.
Mr. GILLON supposed it was not the intention of
the Noble Lord to go into a Committee of Supply on
that day.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it was his inten•
tion, as he hoped the House would not be detained
long by the discussion on the Irish Municipal Reform
Bill.

PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND).
Mr. ELLIS complained of the non production of
certain returns for which he had moved, connected with
the expenditure which had taken place for public works
in Ireland.

EDUCATION IN IRELAND.
Mr. DARBY inquired how it was that the returns
which had been proposed of the children in the schools
in Ireland, distinguishing those of different religions had
not been made ?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he could not answer
positively, but supposed t.he delay arose from the
difficulty there was in furnishing such a return, seeing
that it was the general custom of the National Board
of Education in Ireland not to inquire the religion of
the children.--(Hear, hear.)
CANADA.

Mr. C. BULLER said as returns seemed to
be the Order of the Day, he wanted to know
how it was that somehow or other he could
never get one.--(A laugh.) He had moved, for
instance, some time since for certain returns relative
to Upper Canada—where were they ?
Mr. LABOUCHERE said the matter should be
looked to.

Mr. HUME wished to put in a word for a return of
his.—( A laugh.) He had moved for returns on the
15th and 20th February of the revenue and the ex-
penditure for five years of Upper and Lower Canada.
ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS BILL.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved the second reading of
this Bill.

Sir R. H. INGLIS objected to the Bill, because
he believed it would be a commencement of a series
of bit-by-bit innovations teaching to undermine the Ec-
clesiastical system of this country. It was not a Bill merely
or suspending Ecclesiastical and Cathedral appoint-
ments, but making an exception in favour of a certain
rota, and on certain principles—to be determined
on by the Crown.—(Hear, hear.) If this Bill were
carried in the present Session and renewed the
next, and so on fur a given number of years,
the effect would ultimately be, that in this way the
Noble Lord would attain the object which he had pro-
fessed to have in view, by the larger measure (the Ec-
eesiastieal Duties and Revenues Bill) which stood for
Committee to-night.
Lord J. RUSSELL was ready to admit to his Hon.
Friend that there was an objection to renewing a Bill of
this kind for such a number of years as would in
reality attain the object he had in view in the other
and larger measure. But to that larger measure
there :were, he understood, a variety of objec-
tions urged, though its object being not merely
to suspend or abolish stalls and dignities, in cathedrals
and chapters, but to provide a fund from the least
objectionable source for increasing the means of the
Eitablished Church to extend its doctrines ; and to
that object he presumed no part of the clergy would
be opposed.—( Hear, hear.) He had not seen any
satisfactory method for attaining this object other than
that recommended by the Church Commission. But as
it was desirable that any such measure should be passed
with as much unanimity as possible, for this reason it
was intended to postpone it another year ; and it was
only for that temporary purpose that the present Bill
was suggested.—( Hear, hear.
The Biil was then read a second time.
LOWER CANADA GOVERNMENT BILL.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved the Order of the Day for
going into Committee on this Bill.
Sir W. MOLES WOLTH rose, amidst great confu-
sion, from Members leaving the House, to say a few words.
The motion he had to make, and the resolution he had
to propose, were of such a nature that he thought the
House would at once respond to them. He did not
expect by it to induce the Noble Lord to fulfil 'the
promise he had given the House, that the present
Session would not pass away without legislating for the
government of Canada. Her Majesty's Government
was evidently incapable of dealing with the subject,

and even with the best intentions in the world they
could not carry any rileastire dti the stihject without per-
mission of the Right Hon. Baronet opposite. They
were merely holders of certain places during his
pleasure, and if it pleased him they would be obliged
to introduce a measure for the government of Canada.
It was to him, therefore, the House must look for any
practical result. If the Right Hon. Baronet supported
his (Sir W. M.'s) resolution, without doubt those per-
sons who called themselves the Government would
consent to it, and the disorders and miseries of Canada
would be suppressed. For the delay that had taken
place the Ministers were not entirely responsible. It
was in the Right Hon. Baronet's power to settle the
question—one word from him, and the thing was done.
It depended upon the Right Hon. Baronet whether
the people of Canada would be relieved from the
disorders and miseries by which the Colony had been
depopulated. He hoped the Right Hon. Baronet, instead
of consulting the cons enience of his party, would con-
sult the interests of humanity, of justice, and of sound
policy, • and from what he knew of the Right
Honourable Baronet, he did not despair of his
sacrificing mere party objects to the higher considera-
tions of that momentous question. He appealed to
the Right Honourable Baronet on behalf of the suf-
fering people of Canada, upon him, as the real leader
of the House, rested the hopes of that Colony, and
not upon that mockery of a Government at which
the Noble Lord was at the head. In the course of the
fast discussion upon the subject in that House the Right
Hon. Baronet referred to the Earl of Durham's Report
upon the state of Canada, and pointed out the dangers
that were likely to arise from delay. He would take
the liberty of reading a few extracts corroborative of
that position. The Hon. Baronet then read some ex-
tracts from the Earl of Durham's Report, pointing out
the wretched and distracted state of the province,
and the remedy for which admitted of no delay.
The Noble Lord, therefore, warned the Government of
the danger of not fulfilling the promise to bring forward
a measure for the settlement of the province of lower
Canada. What her Majesty's Ministers might think of
this warning of Lord Durham was a matter of no import-
ance. But what did the Right Hon. Baronet think of them?
Would he vote against the resolution, which declared
that they deserved the attention of Parliament ? Did
the Right Honourable Gentleman forget the declaration
of the Prime Minister, six days after the receipt of Lord
Durham's Report, that a measure should be intro-
duced before Easter, for the purpose of putting a
speedy end to the complaints of the people of Ca-
nada ? Would the Right Hon. Gentleman support
the determination of the Government to sneak out
of this promise, he thought he would not, and he was
sure that the Hon. Member for Liskeard would not,
allow the Government to treat Lord Durham's Report
as so much waste-paper. He would ask whether
there could be less necessity for legislating now
than there was at the time of Lord Durham's report?
Time Right Hon. Baronet had said that undivided at.
tcntioa ought to be paid to the affairs of Canada during
the next Session. Why should it not be done now ?
It was stated that the late period of the Session
would- not allow this to be done. But who was to
Marne for that? The affairs of Canada had been
shamefully neglected by both Houses of Parliament,
and he was convinced that the present motion could
only be resisted on party or personal grounds.
Any settlement of the question would be better
than none at all, and he implored the Right Hon. Ba-
ronet to lend his aid rather to the settlement of this
question than to the wretched Government whom he
perhaps might not yet wish to displace. The Hon.
Baronet concluded by moving " that it is the opinion of
this House, that every consideration of humanity, jus-
tice, and policy demands that Parliament should seri-
ously apply itself, without delay, to legislating for the
permanent Government of her Majesty's provinces of
Upper and Lower Canada."
Mr. LEADER seconded the motion.
Sir C. E. GREY wished a few hours to be dedi-
cated to the general consideration of the affairs of Lower
Canada ; and being of a contrary opinion as to every
thing else which had fallen from the Hon. Baronet, and
intending to advise a more cautious course of policy, he
would venture to draw the attention of the House to
three or four prominent considerations connected with the
subject. There was one point to which sufficient attention
had not been paid. The mischiefs and dangers which
must arise to this country from mismanagement of the
affairs of Lower Canada. He had never seen placed
in a sufficiently conspicuous point of view the con-
sideration as to the hands in which Lower Ca-
nada might be placed in the event of its ceasing
to be connected with this country. Above all
he would ask the House to turn its attention to the
Gulf of St. Lawrence. He had been surprised when
an allusion had been made to the possibility of a sepa-
ration taking place between this country and Lower
Canada ; it had been said that at least no danger could
be apprehended to this being made a source of aggres-
sion. He would beg them to cast their eyes over the
map of the world, and they would find no spot on the
globe from which aggressions were so likely to be made
against this country as from the waters of the St. Low-
rance. It was, in fact, a Baltic of our own—it was an
inland sea., requiring only capital and industry to develop
its resources to make it all to the country which should
possess it that the Baltic was to Russia and the coun-
tries which surrounded it. Like the Baltic, it was de-
fended during a considerable part of the year from
the approaches of an enemy by ice ; but there was
this difference between it and the Baltic, that the Gulf of
St. Lawrence had three entrances, each of which it would
be necessary to guard to prevent the issue of a
hostile fleet. The Strait of Belle Isle, the passage be-
tween the main land and the Island of Newfoundland,
and the Gut of Kanoe, between New Britain and Nova
Scotia ; all these must be guarded by British fleets at
the period of the breaking up of the winter, amidst the
fogs of Newfoundland. It had been considered if Canada
were dissevered from this country it would be united with
the United States of America. This was by no means
a necessary consequence. If he were certain of this
event happening, he should not feel the alarm
which he now felt on the subject—for he did not
recollect an instance in ancient or modern his-
tory in which a parent state bad been destroyed by
its children. States were usually destroyed by other
states which were opposed to them in opinion
habits and manners. It was most probable that Canada
would not fall into the hands of the United States ;
but—and he was, in consequence of the existing rela-
tions between the two countries, enabled to make this
statement without being thought invidious, or wishing
to raise jealousies into the heart of France—Eng-
land would not have given up the possession of
Canada for two months before a French fleet would
be anchored in tbe waters of the St. Lawrence,
to protect their ancient subjects. They would be
almost bound to take this course by the Treaty of 1763,
and they would be futher urged to it by the feeling
with which Frenchmen would naturally regard New
France. He could not but recollect the feelings mani-
fested so lately as 1802, by one of the most celebrated
men of France towards Louisiania, and the other
French settlements on the Banks of the Missi-
sippi and the Ohio, which it had been the inten-
tion of the French Emperor to have taken
possession of, had he not been prevented by the resump-
tion of the war, and, in abandoning those countries, ho
had adopted such measures and precautions as would
render it impossible they should fall into the hands of
England. Ireland would be in danger from a power
having possession of the waters of the St. Lawrence.
Canada, by its confines, came in contact with Russia,
and was the seat of the most valuable fur trade
in the world, the greater part of which be-
lnnged to this country, and of which Russia had just
sufficient to excite its cupidity. Under these circum-
stances it was impossible to undervalue its importance
to the Crown of Great Brtain, either as a commercial,
a military, or a naval station, and lie was convinced
the there was no spot which in adverse hands could so
materially affect the commercial and naval supremacy
of Great Britain as the waters of the St. Lawrence.
He had dwelt on that topic because he knew it would
be idle to expect the House to attend to every subject
which would make it the imperative duty of the House
not to abandon that province. He was most anxious
that there should be a grave deliberation, and a safe
course adopted ; and he hoped he might say, without
offence to the Hon. Baronet, and without offence to the
Noble personage from whose report the Hon. Baronet
had "read certain passages, much as he admired the
ability with which that report had been framed,
that he (Sir C. Grey) never perused some passages in
that Report without being reminded of the old proverb
—" The more haste the less speed." He wished the
Honourable Baronet had suggested the heads of
a plan which he would recommend Ministers
or the Right Honourable Baronet to adopt, and
send out to Canada before the 12th of August. It
was more easy to fire a shot than to form
a plan of Government.—(Great laughter.) The
Hon. Member for Liskeard (Mr. C. Buller) recom-
mended the union of the provinces, and had said that
the Government, having once decided on the propriety
of that project, should forthwith proceed to exe-
cute it.—(Hear, hear.) But the Honourable Mem-
ber was for a thoroughly representative system ;—no
delusion—the majority of-the whole was to govern. He
(Sir C. Grey) would observe that this was not really
the principle of our representative system ever since
the Reform Bill.—(Hear, hear, hear, from Sir W.
Molesworth and Mr. Leader.) Now, it should
be recollected that the majority of the inhabitants
of the two provinces, taken together, were Roman Ca-
tholics. He did not say this with any regret ; for he
considered it not, per se, as any argument against the
union. Had the Hon. Member, however, considered
how intimately the existence of the re',lgious endow-
ment in Canada was connected witia the preserva-
tion of the French tenures ? It was the Roman
Catholic holders of land only who r,aid tithes ; directly
the Protestants became possessed
Of it, the tithe ceased.
If the Hon. Member for Liskea•ed succeeded in putting
an end to the French systen
him that it was in consequer,
Ce Oi that system that these
lands were not passed f. of tenure, he could tell
eom the hands of the Roman
Catholics into those of t:
no Protestants. If the tenure was

abolished it would be impossible to prevent that change I
taking place. In Lower Canada the clergy were a re-
spectabie end intelligent bodyof men, and possessed great
influence in the country. Wasit to be supposed that the
vast number of curates and pastors wad be reduced to
beggary, which would be the result of such a
change in the system, without an effort ? He
was surprised that such a proposition had been made
without ample provision being made for the Roman
Catholic Church. No statement of the ' manner in
which that alteration was to be effected had been
made, and he feared it would be attended with many
difficulties. He would remind the House that they
were proposing to unite two provinces, one of which
hail no surplus revenue, with another which was in a
comparatively flourishing state. They were told that
in 1832 the revenue of Lower Canada was more than
double her ordinary expenditure, while in Upper Ca-
nada they had a sent which fell short of her annual wants.
It would be madness to attempt to proceed during the
present Session with an attempt to effect a Legislative
union. What were the points to which a wise Govern-
ment ought to look at present ? The first thing that
should be aimed at was to have a Government capable of
protecting the country from foreign invasion. That
oFject had already been attained. The next point
was that they should have a Government capable
of putting down internal rebellion. These things were
secured by the Goverment as it at present existed, and
if that was broken up he despaired of a Government
being formed that would secure the objects to which he
had adverted. It was most desirable to make the principle
of property sacred in Canada, for be believed there
was no spot on the face of the earth in which the
sacredness of property should be more carefully observed.
No measure was more likely to make the Canadians
dislike the union than the one at present proposed.
The principle of taxation would greatly interfere with
those visions entertained by the Right Hon. Baronet and
others, with respect to the appropriation of waste lands.
The first great step towards a union of the two provinces
would, in his opinion, be the permitting the expression of
popular feeling by the institution of municipal principles.
He would also suggest that before they attempted the en-
tire union of the two provinces, they should attempt to
unite at one season of the year the Legislative Council of
Upper Canada with the existing Governor and Council of
Lower Canaria, and that the Bills for Upper Canada, as
well as the Bills for Lower Canada, should receive then
assent from the united Council and Governor. Tnat,
together with municipal institutions spread over
both provinces, would facilitate much the union
of the two provinces. He could say a great deal more
upon this subject, but as he had already trespassed for
some time on the House. he would riot trouble them further.
Sir ROBERT PEEL would first address himself to
the Resolution proposed by the Hon. Baronet as an
amendment to the third reading of this Bill. He ( Sir
R. Peel) held himself entirely free from any responsibi-
lity for the delay a hich had arisen. What responsibility
the Hon. Baronet might attach to his future proceedings.
he held himself entirely exempt from responsibility for the
past.—( Hear, hear.) He had considered it of the utmost
importance that they should proceed in the course of the
present Session to determine what should be the posi.
tion of the two Canadas, and at the earliest period of the
Session he had asked the Noble Lord whether it was tee
intention of her Majesty's Government to proeecd to legislate
practically for the Government of the Canadas, and he had
received an assurance that it was.—( Cheers.) At a later
period he had asked whether before Easter the House
would have an opportunity of seeing the legislative measures
by which the future Government of Canada was to be ar-
ranged, and he had received a second assurance it was in-
tended on the part of the Government to submit that mea-
sure to the consideration of Parliament before Easter.--
( Cheers.) He ( Sir Robert Peel) did then intimate a
strong opini ,n, that unless these measures were in the
possession of the House b-_•fore Easter, the opportunity of
legislation would be lost, and that the Session would pass
away without anything being done.---( Hear, hear.) He
had no hesitation in saying, that if he could have foreseen
the intention of legislating for the Government of
the Canadas would have been abandoned he would
himself have submitted some proposition to the
House for the purpose of bringing this question to a
practical issue.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Baronet ( Sir
W. Molesworth) had asked him to discard all party con-
siderations, and he ( Sir R. Peel) meant to act on that
principle, but he very much feared if he voted for the
Hon. Baronet's resolution that he should forget that advice,
and be acting on party considerations rather than with re-
ference to the justice of the case. The resolution of the
Hon. Baronet was that they should proceed in the course
of the present Session to pass certain measures.—(" Hear,
hear," from Sir W. Molesworth.) If they were at once
to legislate for the Canadas, why go through the form of
this preliminary resolution ? Wiry not proceed at once to
the consideration of a practical measure? His opinion
was they would grossly neglect their duty if they per-
mitted the next Session to pass without serious steps
being taken to adjust this question j and they would
be blameable indeed unless they solicited from Govern-
ment what their intentions were.—(Hear, hear.) But the
Hon. Baronet in inviting his (Sir R. Peel's) co-operation
had rendered him no assistance—bad established no prin-
ciple on which he proposed this legislation should be con-
ducted—had mentioned no conditions on which the Union
was to be effected; and if by their united efforts they sue•
ceeded in carrying this resolution, he confessed he would
not be able the next day to state what course should be
adopted.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He did riot call
on her Majesty's Government to propose any measure for
effecting the Union of the two provinces, but ha did ask
them to state what their views were with respect to the
settlement of this question.—( Hear, hear.) If they con-
templated a Union, let them bring forward a measure with
a full explanation of all the details, and an explanation as
to the opinions of those who had held the highest situa-
tions. Unless the Government did give the House the
means of judging of this question by making proper inqui-
ries—unless they, having considered the details of the mea-
sure, did lay some plan on the table, they could never set-
tle the question. He could not concur with the Hon.
Baronet. Could any man believe that Parliament
would now apply itself to permanent legislation ?
If be assented to the resolution, lie should give a pledge
which he should be unable to redeem, for a satisfactory,
measure could not be produced this Session for the deter-
mination of the future Government of Canada.—(Hear.)
This was the mo it difficult problem to solve that ever was
submitted to the Legislature; and be thought the first
step was fairly to look these difficulties in the face.—
(Hear.) He agreed with the Hon. Baronet that we ought
to maintain the Canadas. The British population had de-
claration their firm allegiance to their Sovereign--( Hear)
—and that they took pride in British connexion. They
had proved that they were determined to maintain that
connection, and had shown themselves worthy of the name
which they bore by the resolution which they had shown
in that respect. He did not think it would be compatible
with the interest or honour of the country to look merely At
pecuniary interest, for the glory and strength of the country
would be extinguished if from paltry motives the off. r made
by that gallant people was rejected. But it was impos-
sible to overlook the tremendous responsibility which we
should incur; and we had a right to say that the Go-
vernment of that country should be so constituted that
we should be able to maintain their security from
foreign aggression and internal insurrection, and we had
a right to require that the Government of that country
should be constituted on principles to maintain British su-
premacy, and it ought to be conducted with reference to
the wishes and feelings of the inhabitants, and that was the
only way in which the connection could be secured. The
Government must consider the question and propose some
scheme of settlement, founded on extensive inquiry and a
knowledge of the feeling of the inhabitants.—( Hear, hear.)
The Honourable Gentleman seemed to think the period of
the union was far distant. If he had to deal with the
French Canadians themselves he doubted whether it would
not be for their interest to continue for some time a strong
but just and lenient Government. But there were other
feeling and wishes to be considered, arid they ought to
ensure to Upper Cauada those facilities and advantages for
commerce which nature had given, but which arbitrary
Government had withheld.—( Hear, hear.) Now, as to
the speech of the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman
who undertook to convince him that we had made no
advance towards a settlement. Whatever glimmering of
twilight there might have been before was completely
extinguished now.—(Laughter.) The speech of the
Honourable Baronet was directed to show that
present union was out of the question, and that
future union was almost impracticable. The Hon. Gen-
tleman had advanced a series of truisms from which no one
could dissent. The first was that a Governor was bound
to observe the law, and he also said that the Canadians
were particularly fond of justice. He (Sir R. Peel) ad-
mitted the justice of his remark, but did not see how it
advanced his position. The Hon. Gentleman's second
axiom was, " make property safe," observing that the Ca-
nadians had a particular attachment to property. It was
deserving of serious consideration whether the powers
given by this Bill had not a tendency to shake those feel-
ings. The Hon. Gentleman had recommended municipal
institutions, but this reeuircd some preliminary inquiry.—
( Hear, hear.) The fourth suggestion was, that there
ought to be established a sort of interim Government for
the two Provinces—that the Legislative Council of Upper
Canada should confer with the Governor and Special Go-
vernment of Lower Canada on matters of importance. This
suggestion he ( Sir R, P.) considered to be a complete set-off
against the advantage of municipal constituency.—(A
laugh.) Under all the circumstances of the case he found
it impossible to support the motion of the Hon. Baronet.
If the House was prepared to proceed with legislation, let
it do so at once; if not, let it be deferred till next Ses-
sion, when the affairs of Canada ought to take a prominent
place, but he could not agree to make a pledge on the
subject. Before he proceeded to the consideration of the
clauses of the Bill be wished to make some observations
as to the general character of the measure. He thought
it had been intended to extend the period of the existing
Bill for some short time on account of the anticipated
difficulties which might arise. He thought considerable
practical embarrassment had been found, and that some
powers were necessary for maintaining •the public peace,
and should be prepared to give to the Government any
powers of that nature which might be necessary for that
purpose. There were three different heads under which
he considered the Bill. The first was as to the duration
of the present Bill. He was glad to see that it was not
intended to extend the duration of the Act of last year,
which expired on the Ist of November, 1840. The second
part of the Bill, to which he wished to call the attention
of of the House, was the third clause, which contain( more
extensive powers of taxation than was contemplated b}
last Act. This Bill repealed the restriction imp'ased by
the Act of last Session, and permitted the levy of
any tax within the province, to any amount, and
'
without any restriction except this, that the proceeds of
Government.
such tax should be applied to the local
If the Right Hon. Gentleman had specified those objects
for which he required such extraordinary pow.trs in the Go-
vernor and Council, he ( Sir R. Peel) weenie not oppose
him. If he enumerated for what onjonts
ocal taxation was
required, he should not refuse to alloy( the power. The