The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-13 00:00:00

CANADA-.

Mr. ROEBUCK then rose and said, that he had
given notice of a question which he intended to put
to the Government on the subject of the late elec-
ti.eis in Canada. He was reluctant to bring this
question forward, as the Government of Canada at
present was only an experiment, and he was ex-
tremely unwilling to express any opinion upon the
proceedings , that were going on in that
ceuntry. Circumstances had occurred, however,
which now induced him to allude to the subject.
During the last year Sir C. Metcalfe dissolved the
Parliament of Canada. New elections took place, at
which, particularly in Montreal, disturbances had
occurred. A petition had .been presented to the
Legislature of Canada complaining of the legality
of the election, and impugning the conduct of
the returning officer, the sheriff of Montreal.
That subject was at the present moment under the
consideration of the due and proper tribunals, and
what he wanted to know was. this —whether her Ma-
jesty's Government had ini• peculiar circumstances
to state or lay before the House, for the purpose of
explaining the conduct that had been pursued, on
the part of the Colonial Secretary, with re-
s ,ect to the returning officer of the city of Montreal.
He had been given to understand, and he wished to
know whether such was the case, that notwithstand-
ing the o nnplaints that had been made against the
returning officer, the Secretary for the Colonies had
advised that a vote of thanks should be given to him.
He wished to know whether the statements that had
been made to him were true—namely, that
the thanks of her Majesty had been given to the
returning officer of the city of Montreal at a time
when his conduct way under the consideration of the
proper tribunal—the House of Assembly? and if that
question was answered in the affirmative, the next
question he should wish to put would be, whether
there would be any objection to lay before the House
the mode in which those thanks had been conveyed?
Mr. G. W. HOPE said that, as the Honourable
Member had given him notice of the question,
lie was prepared to answer it. With respect to
the election petition that was pending, he was
not aware of it. What was known of the
transaction he could state shortly. He was quite
ready to produce the papers that had been adverted
to. It appeared that., previous to the election at
Montreal, an application had been made by the oppo-
si:ion candidate, in which he stated that the stipen-
diary magistrate thought it would be advantageous to
commence polling under military protection. To
this the returning officer would not consent, and in
no case was military aid resorted to until it became
essentially necessary. It was true that preparations
were made to prevent any disturbance taking place,
largea numl-ers being expected to arrive. The mill-
t
ry were in readiness, but they acted upon one oc-
casion, and one only. Everything was done by
Mr. Young that could be to secure order and free
access
to the poll for both sides • according to
the report of Sir Charles Metcalfe, the era
ful manner in which the election was cgoeneduclte)deace-
owing to the course pursued by the returning officers
The Governor expressed his gratification that no life.
had been sacrificed, and stated that gi:eat .credit was
. due to the troops and to the officers, and that, without
their assistance, it. would have been impossible for the
voters to have exercised the franchise freely, in con-
sequence of the intrusion
.of non-voters. On the re-
c zift ci that cliqatc,l2) vtibla had turiqj bekre the •