North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-07-24
HISTORY OF CANADA.
TINUED.)
QUEBEC BILL,

Nil. With the condition nevertheless
| that nothing contained in this act shall ex-
tend 10 authorize and to give power TO the
sad Legislative Council, to impose any
taxes or duties in the said Province, ex-
ceptng such taxes as the inhabitants OF
any city or district in the said Province
shall. be authorized by the said Council 10
assess and charge, applicable to making
roads, erecting and repairing the public
| buildings in the said cities or districts, or
to any other Improvements which shall
concern the local advantage and utility OF
such cities or districts.
XIV. Provided nevertheless, and it is
established by the authority aforesaid, that
all the ordinances which shall be made
therein, shall be in the space of six months
sent by the Governor, or in his absence
by the Lieutenant Governor or the Com
mander in Chief, TO be presented to His
Majesty, so as to have his Royal approba-
ton; and that if His Majesty thinks pros
per To dlsappTove them, they shall have
no force, and they shall be annuIled from
the moment that the order Of His Maies-
ty in Council shall be published to that
effect at Quebec.
XIV. Provided also that no ordinance
concerning the church or other ordinance
by which may be inflicted a punishment
greater than a fine, or an imprisonment Of
more than three months, shall have no
force or effect until it shall have received
His Maesty's appreciation.
XVI. Provided also, that no ordinance
shall be passed in any meeting OF the said
Council composed Of number less than
the majority Of the members OF all the
Council, nor at any other time than be-
tween the first day Of January and the
first day Of May, unless it be in some ur.
gent cases; in which cases all the members
Of said Council who shall reside at Que
bee, or within the space of fifty miles of
the said city, shall be personally summon
ed to be al their place by the Governor,
or in his absence, by the Lieutenant Gov
ernor or the Commander in Chief.
XVII. And it is moreover established
by the aforesaid authority, that Meth
ing contained in this act shall extend,
or shall be understood to extend,
to prevent or to deprive His Majesty, his
heirs and successors, to erect, constitute
and establish by their letters patent delivers
ed under the great seal Of Great Britain,
such courts which shall have criminal,
civil and ecclesiastical Jurisdictions in the
said Province Of Quebec, and to summon
at all times the judges and officers thereof,
such as His Majesty, his heirs and success
sors shall think necessary and convenient
in the circumstances Of the said Pro-
vince.
XVIII. Provided always and it is by
these presents established that nothing
contained in this act shall extend, or shall
be understood to extend, to invalidate or
annul in the said Province Of Quebec, any
acts Of the Parliament OF Great Britain al
ready made, which prohibit, restrain or
regulate the trade of the Colonies and
plantations of His Majesty in America;
and that all and every one of the said acts,
as also all acts of the Parliament hereto
fore made, which relate to, or which con-
Germ the said Colonies and plantations,
shall be, and are by these presents de-
clared TO be in force in the said Province
of Quebec, and in every part thereof.
Such was the act passed by the Imperial
Parliament at time when the colonies of
Great Britain were on the eve of revolving
against the mother country. England
was then watching with fearful apprehen-
slons the progress Of the true principles
OF representative government in her Amer
lean colonies, and Parliament felt the
danger of granting a Constitutional gov
eminent to Canada fearing that the Cana
dlans when once enlightened in regard to
The rights of freemen, would dare 10 assert
them, after the example OF the thirteen
colonies. ], was from these motives and
these fears that the Act Ia, Geo. Ill. chap.
So, was passed. The British government
felt assured that the Canadians would be |
well satisfied if their old laws were restor,
ed 10 them, and no encroachmenis made |
upon their religion.