New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-01
TIE FEUDAL TENURE QUESTION.

QUEBEC, Monday. Nov. 27, 1854.
II is q curious fact toat class OF men, numbering
200 500 sndrepresentng the H0besse Of France rs
was under The BourboDs should althous h in the full
e1ercite Of The rights of eudsity, have lte infu
eDce in the Legislature Of this country that their class
has no sioge repre- sentative in The elective branch, and
only three in the CIown-nominated Legislative COun-
ell This wane OF influence has occurred 10 spite Of
their being the feudal loris of the greater part OF
Lower Canada The men whose position would have
been supposed to confer them almost Unlimited
power are in fact almost utterly destitute Of political
influence. In point of alueDce their circumstances
have not been materially improved witna quarter
Of a century. The Hon. Mr. De Bouchervile,
one Of The Segniors who hold seats 10 t7e
Legislative Council stated, before that body, the
oher day. an instance where $4,000 was given for
seienOria property, aPiarter OF a century ago. and
that IT has been in the market for some tiue past
without finding approximate offer. When ms II
is placed besice the fact that in Upper CsDsla, the
value of all freehold property has, within
the same time incl eased several hGlired per
cent, il becomes the more striking AMI slo rs
,opclnsively that feudaity is not prohttOle
even 10 the segnior. And yet, a. body, th9y ehag
10 II as if their very existence depended upon rs cen
tjnuance. When the bill for committing the feadal
Tenure was before the Assembly in 1883, me ssSaors
were heard by counsel at the bar again't tie mes-
su,e; aDo although one or more petitions were pre-
senteo by them 10 that branch Of the legislature 10
be allowed the same privilege on the present occi-
zion, they did rot pres for hearing apd were not
h. ard. In fact they prefer % place tner on
the Legislative Council, to when my o'e tue IeJ9c
ton IN 1883 Of q sniar but less eneclve measure
and b. fore the bar of that House counsel VIII adVo
cate tbeir clajms a. Length Tne Legislative Coun,'l
however will hardly venture upon reJeeuou Oh tue
bill on the present occasion, "hhe lhe uouOiv n
ace OF a creation of new C1uu'hoIe aIG ~ -
make The whole Of the members gradually eiecnVe
is suspended over their beads behe'e ne Wv
eminent are now and have for some time pa't oeen'
il ~ of mandsmuses for the creslon VI sums
half dozen or more new Legislative N ou.su' -.
but there is an evident dsincliDston 10 exercise ths
creative power in respect 10 body the members oi
which the Government themseives conceue ouSpt ~
be elected by the people The Dill Is therefore lssIy
10 pas and that too without the actual exercise OF the
coercive posw which the special cre,ton OF new
Councillors could imply. The abolition 81 ieuds
rights and duties will then have been prov led 10y
although The carrying into effect OF its provisions VIII
be the woIk of time.
By this measure all tho conceded Segnio-a Ian is n
Lower Canada will revert TO the CroSn-tne s@lgroc
receiving in fee simple portion Of them Tor his nights
in the whole. In the meantime, between the passing
of the bill and the ssue of the patent from the Crown
for the lands he is 10 receive, he viii rec ave tue a-
terest on the value Of what viii be allotted T. han
The bill takes from the seignor those exclusive rshtS
in the water power, for hydraulic or ofher purposes,
with which the euda yste invested him. u the as
courscement of enterprise and the blight 81 60 I'M
portsbt branch Of Industry and utilities oil suoslsang
agreements which deprive the proprietor oithe rSut 81
building mills using the ier poserior msnadc'ur-
pg PURPOSES Ii abOlisbes absolutely the reht OF the
s,enior te require the ceRsare 10 carry bis eraG 10
the eOaal mill 10 DO ground IL deprves tbo sesnI0r
OF al honorary distinction or prvs OF purely p9r'
eonsl nature such his right 10 the best pc" IN he
church arising out of his quality or position as sega
Tor; thereby getting rid Of the last aud ost 1er s1ns
remnant OF feudslty IL abOishes the t'ds a. rsRts,
or mutation fines amounting 10 onetweli y me VEa9
OF TIE purchase money on every sale OF PropeLy.
IL abohes the right Of pre- nptIn, ffe,raH/ "nIen
enabled the seigOior II any time, u reppsse-s At-
self Of any property which bat besn soil oeoV 10
value At the selling price; as IN The esse OF sales on
execution by the sheriff IN Districts where near;
every ore w,s poor, and money scarce. IL reaie7s
the rent which the ceHst are IS here aitef 10 y
for agricultural land 20 one penny currsncy il3d
10 d. quarter dollar per arp.pt winch - some
thing less than an acre, year; notFthst.hdius a1S
sub-lsihg sgTeemen fer esht % ten y MS ga rae
AL stipboria dues previously payable IN 10y Or
gram a her.ater made payable n u1oney. Ihe con
dObs and stpula ions of ali deeds aid conVey euces
made between segaiors aud ceHsG1res Ia respect OF
farm lard, Uith The following exceptions, IRE ~
nulled: the Obligation 20 keep be ,rih and homo jag
e hea the conceded lands; tost OF s7rqe2io, I'D
fei CHG the land at Tie eXe.nse OF ihe
snd that Of paying "a asDuil rent ., cas penny pGr
apep'. All tho u. hta rrservel {, the ssi- Irefs
reds enable by and the wi.. of he csnV-t,rs oy
communication. Ire value % the 81 gnor.l righls and
cues - % be eseertaibed BY commissioners - ba
appointed by the IOsernmrnt Tbs C0nni3sc GERS
arr Y" AWARD iLe indemnity due 10 the sciSu r., aud
TIE letter, dissatisfied ma appeal o. to Court ~
QOeso's Bcpch 'crisia rul,- ~, laid DOWN f.,
~. gu'lcnc" ef the commissioners In the es.sb
ithmg "f The valus - tho different - yonr,l
fiRhis aud tues for redemption Ih5 couuutsttan
yaue 81 ihe rent htrsci. o D. fye1 by .yitaFzn,
IL animal value ~ ak 0s- cent tAt.n "a m agsls,s
az )tals Casuai righrs are 20 he estimlt.d n tse
sars way. Ib-se rnles, b. esver or aay ether lad
down Ior The guidance Of Tho commissioner. may -.
&. v'aicd irom vi spsver hsy - 81 bcI opi ,, ia,
eireunssi9f ces exs, 7hich s0ll real~t tasie sop.
eaton iIsqsiasls, Snd t9o maitg my b dster.
Btren by srDi'rstl0U
Nti'r the cnnuuta iol AZ lee oo'innd si,h he 10.
Gis.4aal esasisafrss U4l,ss msjouty Of al Ihs es.