North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-01-26

General as also the bill to srize the sala-
fies %: The government officers for their
private debts, were all notified by the Lc.
eislaiive Couneil over which, in mockrfv
or from sympathy Of ceilings, The Govern.
or General had appointed as Speaker ad
interim at the hegining If this session tie
public defaoiter, the Honorable John Csld-
well who he'd robbed the Province OF a
vast sum ofmoney.
The enquiries into the conduct Of Judges
Fletcher aud Kerr had been continued
during this session and after much labor
and a thorough investigation the House
came 10 the conclusion that Judge Kerr
had rendered hiaiselI guilty Of divers big h
GRIMES and misdemeanors and presented
an address 10 Lord Aymer begging His
Exeelleney 10 suspend this high function
airy ill His Majesty shall have decidrd on
the merits Of the complaints brought n
gainsi the accused, as His Lordship had
done in the case of the suspended Aitnr-
ncy General. But His Excelency declu-
ed, alledgiug that il both branches OF the
Legislature would concur in such de.
mand, then he would accede. Lord Ayl-
invr as Governor General ought not To
have been ignorant Of the prediction which
the Council had always manifested for
public prevsTicatots and Of The extraor-
binary means made use Of by the members
of that ptviIedged body 10 protect public
delauIters, many Of whom were their Most
conspicuous members.
We are sorry 10 say that during this
session the p,emhers of The House oi AS
ssmhly did not show that independence
and frmness oi mind which had hitherto
characterised their acts. The majority of
them had allowed themselves to ht da22led
by the false promises of Lord Goodrich
and sincerely believed that the promised
reform was near at hand and that Lower
Canada was at last 10 be blest with good
and cheap government. The excellent
resolutions OF Louis Bourdages, Esq,
which were submitted To the House alter
the general call had taken place on the
10th of January, were lost by majority
of 81 10 %. Fer the first time the intro
duclon Of the elective principle into The
composition Of the Legislative Council,
was argued and although lost, it's discus
sion enlightened and prepared the public
mind for the solution Of one OF the most
vital and essential questions that could be
debated in an English Colony. The in-
ependence of The Executive Councillors
from whom pecuniary qualification WINS
to be requested, the better management OF
the public lands which was TO be Ieft TO
the local Legislature, the suppression Of
favoritsm tow ards the established church
of Englandn in The distribution Of the
public lands and the unwise reserve OF
seventh part Of the waste lands Tor the
of the local government, were all
duly adverted TO, hut the majority voted
ap anst these well-,imed resolutions which
also spoke against the meddling in politics
of the Judges who were 10 sit no more in
the Legislative and Executive Councils. |
Even that same fear and submission to
the irresistible power Of executive allure
meni, had been very evident during the
passing of the bill 10 secure tie indePen- |
aence of the judges and 10 prevent them
from sitting either on the Bench or in the
Council. Thirty votes were in favor oi
The proposal Of the Colonial minister who
had ordered that the Judges should all abb
stain from taking an active part in potl-
.al discussion, whilst the Chief Justice ol
he Province was 10 be allowed bis sea,
IN the Legislative Council Only twenty
rour discerning and experienced members
voted for the absolute exclusion al all
edges from the political arena but being
n minority, their salutsry advice proved
,f no avail.
The law clerk OF the House Of Assem-
,lY, William Grren, ESQ.,, was turned out
4 hi. Office by vote Of so against 9, for