North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1841-02-03

.saiy, Thar these embarrassing nis
were IN great measure to be attributed
10 The manner 10 whish the existing sys-
ten had been administered.
5fdly, i" That they had q complete con
viciioH, that neither the suggestions which
they had made, nor any other improve
ments ia the laws and constitutions of the
Canadas, will be attended with the desired
effect, unless ar impartial, conciiising,
and constitutional system ol government
were observed 10 these loyal and impor-
tam colonies"
8 Resotvsd, That since the period a.
lofesaid, The constitution OF this Province,
with It's serious defects, has continued 10
be administered IN manner Gale uIated 10
multiply the smbaUassments and dlseon-
tents which have long prevailed: and thai
the recommendations ot the committee OF
the House OF Commons have not been
followed by effective measures oil a nature
10 produce the desired effect.
9 ResOtrsd, That the most serious de-
feet 10 the constitutional Act,--its radical
fault, the most active principle OF evil
and discomfort IN the Province, the most
powerful and most irequea, cause oi abus
es OF power,-of the Infraetons OF the
laws, oil the waste OF the public revenue
and property, accompanied by IMMUNITY TO
the governing party, and the oppression
and consequent resentment OF The govern
ed lis that iaiudieious enactment, the
fatal results ot which were iofetoid by the
Honorable Charles James Fox, at the
time OF It's adoption, which invests the
crown with that exorbiant power, I'm
compatible with any Government duly
balanced and founded on Law and Justice
and not on force and cnercion) OF select
ing and composing without any rule or
limitation, or any predetermined quallica-
ton, an entire branch Of the Legislature,
supposed from the nature Of lis attributes
to be independent, but inevitably The ser
vile tool OF the authority which creates,
compoSes and decomposes it, and can on
any day modify Il 10 suit the interests or
the passions OF .he moment.
10 Resotred, That with The possession
of power SO unlimited the abuse III il is
inseparably connected, and that it has al
ways been so exercised in tie selection of
members OF the Leg isative Council OF this
Province, as Ia favor the spirit OF monopo-
ly and deSpolism in the executive, judicial
and administrative departments oil Gov
eminent, and never in favor 0! the public
interest.
IL Resolced, That the eaectual rene
dy Tor this evil was judiciously ioreseen
aud pointed out by the committee OF House
OF Commons, who asked John Nelson,
Esq, Gone Of the Agents who had carried
to Eng the petition OF the 81 600 in
hahitants ot Lower Canada) whether he
had turned in his mind any plan by which
he conceived the Legislative Council
might be better composed 10 Lower Cana
da; whether he thought it possible that
the said body could command the conf
dence and respect Of the people or 60 IN
harmony with the House Of Assembly,
unless the principle of election were in
trodnced into its composition in some
manner or another, and also whether he
thought that the Colony could have any
security tina. the Legislative Council
wonld be properly and independently COM
posed, unless the principle OF election were
introduced into il in some manner or ano-
ther:-and received from the said jain
Nelson answers in which (among other
rehectionsl he said in substance, there
were two modes in which the composition
of the Legislative Council might be bet
tered, the one by appointing men who
were independ dent of the Executive. (but
that to Judge from experience there
would be no security that this would be
done) and that if this mode were Iound
mpraclcable, the other wonld be TO fen
der the Legislative Council elective.
la RESOLVED. That Judging from ex-
perienee. this House likewise believes that
there would be no security IN The hrst
mentioned mode, the course OF events hav-
inc bat 200 amsly proved what was then
foreseen; and that this House approves
al! the differences drawn by the SAID Jonn
Nelson from experis nee and TACT; bu'
that with regard TO his suggestion that
class OF Electors OF higher quaiihcation
should be established, or quaIihcalion n
property fixed for those persons VINO
might sit in the CouseiI, this House have
in their address TO His Most Gracious
Majesty dated the goth March 1883, de
clafed in what manner this pria&iple eoSld
in their opinion be rendered tolerabie IN
Canada, bv restraining il within CERTAIN
bounds, which should in ns case be passed
Is Resolred, That even ia dehn'ng
bounds OF this nature and requiring the
possession OF real property, as eondision
OF eligibility 10 q Legislative Counei cho-