Star.
London, England, 1824-04-16 00:00:00

COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE.

QUEBEC, MARCH 9.
•
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
This day, at three o'clock, his Excellency the Go-
yernor-in-Chief came down in State to the Legislative
Council Chamber, and being seated on the throne, the
Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod was sent to com-
mand the presence of the Assembly, which being come
up, his Excellency was pleased to give the Royal assent
to the several Bills.
His Excellency then addressed both Houses in the
following speech :
Goltietosen Vtke Legislative Council,
" Gent:sows of the House of Assembly,
" I am now to dose a Session of the Parliament, the result of
which, I am much afraid, will prove to be of little public advan-
tage • at the same time, your long and laborious attendance is en-
titled to my best thanks • but before I prorogue this Parliament, I
think it important to the country, that I should here, as his Ma-
jesty's representative, express my sentiments upon the general re-
suit of your proceedings, during the several Sessions in which I have
• met you. 1 declare those sentiments in an earnest desire to attract
the serious attention of every Member of this Parliament. of every
man who values the prosperity of Canada ; and I trust I know too
welt the principles of the British Constitution to express myself in
arty manner inconsistent with that respect which one branch of the
Legislature owes to another, or with those rights and privileges
which belong to each respectively.
" A claim has been made to an unlimited right in one branch of
the Legislature to appropriate the whole revenue of the province,
according to its pleasure,including not only that pan of it heretofore
granted to his Majesty, and which is appropriated by acts of the
provincial Parliament to specific purposes, and subject to such dis-
tribution as the King may see fit, but even that portion also of the
revenue which is raised by the authority of the Imperial Parliament,
appropriated to defray the expenses of the administration of justice,
and of his Majesty's civil government in this province, and directed
by an Act passed in the British Parliament lung before the establish-
Ment of the present Constitution in this province, to be so applied,
under the authority of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's
'Treasury : this claim made by one, has been formerly denied by the
other two branches of the provincial Parliament; nevertheless it
Las been persisted in, and recourse has been had to the unusual pro-
ceeding of withholding the supplies, except upon conditions which
would amount to an acknowledgment of its constitutional validity.
" This subject has occupied every Session from the first to the
list, and is now transmitted to those which shall follow. It has
caused incalculable mischief to the province; and now leaves it to
struggle under difficulties, while every inhabitant of it must see that
the encouraging aid of the Legislature is alone wanting to arouse
powerful exertion, and draw forth those resources which, without
that aid, must in a great measure lie dormant and useless within its
reach. But, Gentlemen, I see with Infinite satisfaction, that notwith-
standing these unfavourable circumstances, Canada is powerfully
advancing in iniprovement, and that the differences which continue
to disturb its Legislature have not interruptedi in the smallest de-
give, that general contentment which the People enjoy under the
p. ternal care and protection of his Majesty.
" In former years, when the supplies necessary for the support of
his Majesty's Government and the honour of the Crown in this Pro-
vince, were not granted, I averted the unhappy consequences which
must have resulted from a strict adherence to the letter of the law,
land I trust that my conduct on the occasion will be justified and
approved where alone I am responsible; but as my advice has been
unavailing to prevent this result at the present period, I shall inter-
fere no further. Adhering now to the letter of the law, I shall guide
the measures of the Executive Government by that rule, and ac-
cording to my best judgment ; lamenting that the Public must feel
those consequences which have so long impended over it, and which
can no longer avert.

" Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,
" I feel myself called upon to acknowledge the calm, firm, and
dignified character of your deliberations and conduct in the discus-
sion of the public business; and I take it upon me in a sense of
duty to thank you in his Majesty's name for the support you have
uuiformly given to the measures I have from time to time recom-
niendrd to ynu for the good of the Province.
" I fervently pray that the wisdom of your proceedings may
make a just impression upon the loyal inhabitants of the Province,
and lead them to that temperate and conciliating disposition, which
is alwiq a ix st calculated to give energy to public spirit, to promote
public harmony, and ensure public happiness: these are the great
advantages which result from a wise exercise of the powers and pri-
vileges or Parliament."