North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-08-19

The Honorable the Chief Justice,
William Smith,
Frs. Baby John Collins
Hugh Finlay. Chs. DE Lanandiiie
Chas. Dunn 6. Pownsll,
Pau RooA De St. Ours. RIA Dspoaehsryille
Jos. De Longueuii,' John Fraser,
Edward Harrison, Sir j. johnson, 81,
J. c. Chaussegros DeLery.
But with one or two exceptions, all the
members Of the Executive Council, were
oficeholders who depended entirely upon
the pay they received from the local gov
efnment for their support and we see that
these same Executive Councillors held a
sea. in the Legislative Council, where "a
complete the independence of that body
nearly the whole tribe Of the officials had
been called. Thus we find the names ol
Judges Madame and Fraser the two per-
secutors OF the poor unfortunate Du Cal
vet, the Provincial Secretary, The Post
Master General, the Deputy Surveyor
General, the Superintendent Of Indian al
Iairs, the Superintendent General aud the
Inspector of roads. There were very few
exceptions indeed where an individual
wholly independent Of the Crown was
called to the first Legislative Council, or
among the nominations since that eventfn
period up to the time that the Constitu-
ton was suspended in that Province. In
deed this second formation of theL legislative
Council was nothing but denomination Of
nearly all the ofTiceholders ofthe old Coun-
Gil in 1887, under the Quebec Act Of l774,
as may be seen by a list published in No.
IL of this present volume. These appoint
men,s OF the same official characters to
different situations quite Incompatible one
with another, have ever been considered
a great source Of evil for the Colony and
are justly reckoned as the formation Of
all the grievances with which that Pro-
vince has been so heavily loaded. When
in the same person the judiciary, Legisla,
tive and Executive functions are united
how could that individual render justice to
either branch of the divers functions with
which he was cloathed? How could
Judge sitting on the bench to administer
equal and impartial Justice to all, forget
tTfr warmth ana pdrtlZanshp OF the &C.
tive Legislator, or when seated in the
Executive Council Chamber, how could
he disnterestedly advise His Malesty,s
on laws which he had him
self framed, being at the same time de.
pendant upon The will and pleasure OIL
His Majesty's representative for the salary
ne received for the divers Offices he full
illed 7 Such was nevertheless the anoma-
" in which these officeholders were placed
BY the different stations they occupied in
he Provincial Government OF the Colony. |
Il should also be remarked that such !
we're the characters the Colonial Govern |
,rs always delighted to 'shonor,'' being al
ways sure to find in them plant tools by
whose aid they could carry on their ne
arions designs and plans against the peo-
,le's liberty. This plurality OF Offices.
which, according to the English Constitu-
ion, cannot take place in Great Britain,
las ever been foslered and nursed in the
Province and yet the Canadians were lul-
ID into the belief that they had an exact
ac simile Of the so much boosted English
Constitution. Our readers will have an
opportunity OF seeing the working OF this
ystem OF Government, and we submit it
o their judgment, il it be matter Of sur
rise If that Inflated Province has not
rospered and is yet far behind what ma
ure had destined il TO be.
Those marked with an 0sterick were members ,
both Councils, their duties being those Of Le-
slaiors and at the same time entrusted with the
Are Of seeing those laws they had enacted, car /,
ed into effect.
L