North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-09-09
Original.
HISTORY or LOWER CANADA.
(coYTIsuEp.)

CONTINUED
The second session of the second Pro
vincial Parliament was opened on the COLI
OF February 1898 by His ExcelIency Gov
ernor Prescott, who in the interim between
this session and the last, had been appoint
Ell Governor General Of the Province. In
his speech, which contsined nothing Of
great importance, General Prescott re.
quested the Provincial Legislature 10 re-
new those acts which vested the Execu-
tive government with extraordinary pow
srs To maintain the English government in
that Colony. The House re-echoed the
Governors speech and promised TO pass
those acts which the Governor desired
from them. This session passed over with
nothing remarkable, unless it were the re-
newa OF the bill to which we have already
alluded for the better preservation OF His
Majesiy's government in the Province,
which was finally passed by majority oil
II TO and enforced Till the close of
the war between Great Britain and
france.
Mr. Panel, the Speaker of the House,
read letter he had received from the
Speaker OF the House OF Assembly of Up
PER Canada, who in the name of the body
over which he was presiding, presented
three copies Of the proceedings OF that
legislature. The Assembly Of Lower
Canada Immediately returned the compli-
ment by sending as many copies of the
old Provincial ordinances and also of the
acts enacted by the Lower Canada Legis-
hlure since It's establishment.
Before proceeding any further, we
must make our readers acquainted with
smother OF the many encroachments which
the Legislative Council attempted on the
privileges OF the House of Assembly. II
viii be remembered tina, even at the
Inst session Of the first Provincial Paria-
uent, the Legislative Council had tried
70 eneroach upon the rights OF the House
q Assembly, by originating and passing a
oil for the appointment OF Returning
oneers, which bill imposed fines, and
therefore, was q money BILL Such conduct
% the part of the Upper Branch Of the
Colonial Legislature, was a high breach OF
0'Prerogatives ofits sis,er-branch, and an
assumption of power by the Legislative
Voaacil. Bot this bold attempt was
F'opefy met by the House who had rejected
ne OH, and another of the same ma
We was originated and passed In this
<'aon (79s) the Legislative Council
'''Ved their old attempt Of passing
1'aey bills SO as to establish precedent in
favor. They consequently passed the
AOad Bill (which like the bill Of the
''"a'ng Officers, imposed taxes and fines
was consequently a money bill. The
'''e resented this attack upon their priv ,
:" aad the bill was rejected and conse- I;
Fauy los, for that session. |,
as session was prorovued on the Itth Il
following, having lasted 2 months ,
" days and having passed only FIVE q
Parliament was re-assembled on r
-''h OF March 1899. His ExceiIencv +
Urged The renewal OF the set for the n
Preservation OF His Msjesty's gov I
e0' 10 Canada, and 10 that act he as e
'ae tranquility and prosperity OF the 4
- For the FIRST time the Assembly c
,$ OF one OF the privileges attached e
mouse Of Commons. As soon as y
'@0ers returned TO their seats, their S
'se''On was the introduction OF a D