North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-08-26

nnce Of the members ol thar Parliament 90
to the PERSONAL rights Of mankind.
A most important Bin was passed in
this session Of the Provincial Parliament
to amend the cd system of Judiesture of
the Colony and the division OF the Pro-
vince into new districts. but ibis Bill was
reserved by The Governor tilI His Malesiy's
pleasure should be made known on II. On
the lth Of December following. a rfocla-
nation was however issued from the Cas-
tie ST. Lewis, at Quebec, informing tho
inhabitants of Lower Canada, that His
Majesty had been pleased to approve Of,
and sanction this bin which Of course be-
came the law Of the country.
An act was also passed for the better or.
ganzation Of the Provincial militia and
besides a couple OF other bills, this session
did nothing else
On the Sist May 1874 Lord Dorchester
prorogued this meeting Of tho Legislature
by very complimentary speech 10 which
he urged the members 10 watch closely
over the conduct OF their constituents who
might allow themselves TO be led astray by
the insidious or seditious designs of some
eyi-disposed persons. This is again a
striking proof that the English authorities
in Lower Canada did not place an un-
bounded confidence in the boosted loyalty
Of the Lower Canadians.
The third session Of The first Provincial
Parliament was again opened by Lord
Dorchester on the 5lh January 1895, who
in his speech alluded TO the war yet ex-
isting between Great Britain ard France.
wishing them at the same time 10 provide
all the means necessary 10 protect the
| Province from the dreadful influence OF
those political principles which were then
so extensively spread in France. The
Governor represented the Provincial re-
venues as insufficient 10 meet the civil ex-
penses Of the Colony and wished the As
sembly 10 impose taxes on objects Of luxu-
~, and also the enacting Of such regula-
lions az would facilitate and encourage the
trade Of the Province.
A committee Of FIVE members from the
House was appointed TO draft an answer
10 this speech and like those OF the two
preceding sessions, this answer contained
nothing new or worth mentioning.
On the 10Th oil the same month several
members Of the House complained IN the
Speaker that they had been summoned as
special jurymen at the Court Of the Kings
Bench in Quebec. The House having
deiberated npon this subject came to the
conclusion that the members Of The AS
semby could not be summoned as Jury
men nor be in any manner whatever dis
iurbed in their Legislative duties. The
Speaker was requested to inform The Judges
Of The Court Of the Kings Bench oil tie de-
cision OF the House so that those men,
bers who were summoned TO serve as Jury
men, should not be fined in consequence
| Of their non attendance.
On the 18th Of May the House oi Assem-
bly, was called to meet His ExceIlency the
! Governor General in the Chamber Of the
Legislative Council, when the royal sane
ton was given to several Bills among
which was one imposing certain taxes on
the merchants and another one imposing
also taxes on peddlars. These bills were
! highly obnoxious TO the commercial part
OF the community who would have prefer.
red local taxes on property for the supper,
of local objects, TO suy impost upon COM
merce, which they regarded as a eres.
cheek TO the prosperity Of the trade in the
| Province.
The " Alien " Bill which, az DOR readers
will remember, had been passed in the
previous session for one year only, was re.
newed this session and again disgraced the
Statute book Of the Province. On the 7Gh
OF the same month, Lord Dorchester pro-
rogued this session OF the Parliament,
which had lasted four months and two
days.
In the fall OF 1894 the crops having en-
s;ysIv f.flsd IN G,s.f RETAIN ard Iteian1