The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-21 00:00:00

Opening of the Canadian Parliament.

The Canadian Parliament was opened at Ottawa
on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 6th inst., when
the members of both Houses were sworn in, and the
Hon. Mr. Couchon took his seat in the Senate se
Speaker, after which the Governor, accompanied by
his Staff, entered and took his seat on the throne.
Members of the House of Commons were summoned
to attend, and the Speaker read a document stating
that his Excellency would not give his reasons for
calling Parliament together until they had elected
their Speaker. The Governor then retired, and the
Senate adjourned. In the House of Commons Non'
James Cockburn was proposed for the SpeakershiP
by Sir John A. M'Donald, seconded by Hon. Mr'
Cartier, and elected. No opposing candidate was
proposed. The House then adjourned until the
following day. On the 7th the Session was formally
opened by the following speech from Lord Mona,
the Governor-General :
" Hon. Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of
the House of Commons :
"In addressing you for the first time, Parlia-
mentary representatives of the Dominion of Canada'
I desire to give expression to my own deep feelings
of gratification that it has been my high privilege to
occupy an official position which bas made it inif
duty to assist at every step taken in the creation
this great Confederation. I congratulate you on
the Legislative sanction which has been given I/1
the Imperial Parliament to the Act of Union, under
the provisions of which we are now assembled, and
which has laid the foundation of a new nationality
that I trust and believe will ere long extend its
bounds from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. In
the discussions which preceded the introduction (I',

this measure in the Imperial Parliament between
the members of her Majesty's Government on one
side, and delegates who represent the provinces now
united on the other, it was apparent to all those
who took part in those conferences that while her
Majesty's Ministers considered and
pressed the
principle of Union as a subject of great Imperial
interest, they allowed to the provincial representa-
tives every freedom in arranging the mode in which
that principle should be applied. In a similar spirit
of respect for your privileges as a free and self"
governing people, the Act of Union, as adopted by
the Imperial Parliament, imposes the duty and eel'
fers upon you the right of reducing to practice the
system of government which it has called into
existence, of consolidating its institutions, bar'
'lionising its administrative details, and of making
such legislative provisions as will secure to a c°11"
stitution in some respects novel a full and unPre'
judiced trial. With the design of effecting these
objects, measures will be laid before you for the
amendment and assimilation of the laws existing in
the several provinces relating to currency, Customs'
Excise, and revenue generally; for the adoptien
of a uniform postal system ; for the proper
management and maintenance of the public
works and properties of the Dominion ; for
the adoption of a well-considered scheme
of military organisation and defence ; for the
proper administration of Indian affairs; for the intl.(/'
du,:tion of uniform laws respecting patents of inven'
tion and discovery ; the naturalisation of aliens, and
the assimilation of criminal- law, and the laws relnt,-,
will
also to bankruptcy and insolvency: A measure Vl"'
also be submitted to you for the performance of the
duty imposed upon Canada, under the terms of the
Union Act, of immediately constructing the Inter"
colonial Railway. This great work will add a pra%
tical and physical connexion to the legislative hc'eu
which now unites the provinces comprising the Do"
minion, and the liberality with which the guarantee
for the cost of its construction was given by the
Imperial Parliament is a new proof of the beo,,rti
interest felt by British people in your prosperity.
Your consideration will also be invited to the in l'
portant subject of Western territorial extension/ and
your attention will be called to the best means for
the protection and development of our fisheries and
marine interests. You will also be asked to consider
measures defining the privileges of Parliament, and
for the establishment of uniform laws relating to
elections and the trial of controverted elections.
" Gentlemen of the House of Commons,—The
circumstances under which the act of Union came
into operation rendered it impossible to obtain the
assent of the Legislature to the expenditure neces-
sary for carrying on the ordinary business of tue
Government. The expenditure since the Ist of Jell
has, therefore, been incurred on the responsibility
of the Ministers of the Crown. The details of that
expenditure will be laid before you and submitted
for your sanction. I have directed that the esti-
mates for the current and succeeding financial
year shall be laid before you. You will find,
that they have been framed with all the attention tc
economy which is compatible with the maintenance;
of efficiency in the different branches of the public
service. Hon. Gentlemen and Gentlemen,—',.o
general organisation and efficiency of the Voltinte,e;
and Militia has been greatly improved within
the last year, and the whole Volunteer force e
Ontario and Quebec is already, by the liberality
of the Imperial Government, armed With the
breech-loading rifle. lam happy to be able to con;
gratulate you on the abundant harvest with whie A
it has pleased Providence to bless the country, and
in the general prosperity of the Dominion. -3Ce
the
new nationality enters on its course backed by
moral support, the material aid, and the most 5r.,
itbin
dent good wishes of the mother country. . •
your own borders peace and prosperity prevail ; a;,3
I fervently pray that your aspirations may
directed to such high and patriotic objects
d
that ni
be inspired with such a spirit of moderation erg
wisdom as will cause you to render the great Wl9.
of Union which has been achieved a blessing to youio
selves and your posterity, and a fresh starting Pe,
of
in the moral, political, and natural advancenlet"
the people of Canada."
801 at
Both houses then adjourned, and on the the
N
3 p.m., the House of Commons met to consider 0.
Speech from the Throne. It was moved hYr
....Air. ye
Fisher, of New Brunswick, and seconded by'
address
Salnier, in the French language, that an addrood,
answer to the Speech from the Throne be PreP
which was carried. Mr. Galt then rose to e/cP r„_
his motives for resigning his position in the G.° ve:st
meat. He said that there was a feeling of distroen
felt towards him in Ontario, and that he had b
of
charged with the ruin of families by the failuerer to
certain banks. Ile therefore deemed it Pr°'n dto
retire. As to the charge against him ref
derre re-
last, he was not, he said, to blame. fie rea, look,
solution of the directors of the Commercial sart-
for-
thanking him for his endeavours to
avert the
tune which had overtaken the bank. Air. esad
s
wright, president of the Commercial Bank' rejo-
in a few words confirmed the substance of D;rostlceo.
lutiou. On the other hand, Mr. Alexander e
of the
zie asserted that Mr. Galt was the causivireis
downfall of the Bank of Upper Canada. Mr*:The
replied, denying the correctness of the eltanrgo,olock•
house then adjourned until half-past seve.-.

Of
'T'ui DUKLDO3i OF NASSA.U.-1110X'Du LLO
Nassaubsg
~ has at length recalled his ambassadors fr°ll-
- and Vienna. The intendant of his proPer)l,sos-
- been placed by the Prussian Government in P°,,itli
its preserves,
of the magnificent estatEt of La Platte, wDich'finefit
has an extent of 2,000 acres of tie --
WOOdland.