North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-09-16

were disappointed, yet the present genera
lion ought To feel grateful 10 them for hav-
ing contributed 80 largely TO the smbel-
iishment Of the Capital Of Lower Canada.
Nothing Of import occurred 10 this ses-
sion which was closed on the a5th OF
March following. Sixteen bills received
the royal sanction, and The Lieutenant
Governor reserved for the Specification of
His Majessy's pleasure the bill TO author
i=s the judges 10 subdelegate The po,ser Of
administering oaihs 10 arbitrators, IN pia-
ess remote from The cities and iOtsns
Al the beginning Of the month Of Au-
gust, His Exeeency, The Lieutenant Gov
ernof, Sir Robert Shore Mines, who, on
the prelext OF il-hea!lh, had obtBined leave
Of absence, left Quebec and took his pas
sage for England on board OF the Urania.
The administration of the government fell
into tho hands of the Oldest Protestant
Executive Councillor, the Honorable Mr..
Thomas Dunn, one Of the judges OF the
Court of Kings Bench in Quebec. On the
18Th OF that month, the President issued
his proclamation continuing all the officers
OF the Province in the discharge Of their
duties.
On the Goth Of February 1906, President
Thomas Dunn assembled the Provincial
Legislature. 1t is grievous task for US
TO be obliged to record proceedings on the
part of the popular branch, which we con-
slider as highly derogatory to the dignity
attached thereto, and which might have
been suited to the spirit and habits of the
Commons OF England in the sixteenth or
seventeenth centuries, but are now con-
sidered as highly offensive, improper and
tyrannical in the nineteenth century. Dur
ing the recess of the Colonial Legislature,
public dinner had been given by some
persons of Montreal TO the Representa-
tives of that City who had opposed the
principle Of general taxation, for what
was considered local improvements, 10 the
bill for building Jail for that city. The
dinner was presided by Mr.. Isaac Todd
and the toasts, which were published in
the Montreal Gazette, and which were
afterwards considered as libel upon the
Governor and the House were any thing
but harsh and malicious; on the contrary
although disappearing the principles of
taxation adopted by the House, they con-
tanned no insult nor offensive expression
towards that body. Yet we find that on
the 7th Of March, Mr.. Bedard seconded
by Mr.. Bourdages, brought before the
House motion TO take into consideration
these toasts which had been published in
No. sos of the Montreal Gazette, bear
ing date of LIST April 1905. After the
reading OF the resolutions contained in that
paper, it was moved to resolve that "the
said paper contains plain, scandalous
and seditious libel, highly rejecting on
His.Majesty's Representatives. tn this Pro
uince, and on both Houses Of the Provi
eial Parliament, and tending to lessen
the affections Of His Maiesty's subjects
toarards HIS Government in this Pro-
vince. This resolve was finally passed by
a majority Of II TOT.
As soon as this resolve was passed by
the House, new paper published in Que
bee, came out with severe remarks and
comments on the conduct of the represen-
tatives in that case and showed the fallacy
Of the position into which the House had
placed itself On the 18th OF the same
month, motion was carried through the
House that Thomas Cary, Editor of
The newspaper entitled "he Quebec .Mer-
curry" for undertaking in his paper of
yesterday, TO gire an account of the pro-
eeedings Of this House, be taken into the
custody fthe SeJeant at arms attending
this House" Mr.. Cary was in conse-
quence apprehended, and when in the Gus
,ody Of the SERGEANT at Arms he addressed
an humble petition to The House, setting
forth that he had had MI intention ofinsult-
I