New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-28
CANADA.
TIE DISSOLUTION or PARLIAMENT.

From Oar Own Cons.poadent
QuEBEc saturday June ~, l,54.
Political events have. within the past few days
followed in rapid succession. The opening OF FAR
lament was speedily followed by the defeat oil MINIS
ters the prorogation the dissolution; and the elections
are all TO be and the wrts returned by the middle
Of August. The deiea; OF Ministers was ore'hado"ed
in my last letter. foresaw that they might encoan'
ter some adverse vote before the Royal speech was
answered. The state OF things political is exceed
nely anomalous The Government are pledged 10
secuarze the Clergy Reserves but they contend that
il ought not 10 be done by the now late Parliament
because it had declared its own incompetency by
passing bill TO create fifty additional members
because some two hundred thousand new electors
who were created last session ought TO have voice
in the settlement of the question; and finally because
the popular branch of the Legislature had declared in
favor OF an elective Second Chamber. and there has
been no opportunity 20 carry that reform INTO
effect. This is the ground taken by Ministers. and
these are the reasons which they rest their policy
This was the last session OF Parliament about 10 ex-
pire and members had TO look 10 their constituents To
when they were soon to be- sent back Under such
circumstances, deficient in moral courage often
vote against their convictions IN the nope oil pleas
inc their constituents. Sccularzatl0n Is popular
measure and the popular mind is impatient. Pubic
opinion demands secularizaton and It will not take
note CT constitutional difficulties at least llsls'S on
undertaking them. The question Of immediately car
r,pc measure of secularzatlon obtained but sixteen
votes on division This, however, does no. prove ts
unropnlarity "a to an Indifferent 0bserTer might APP
pear TheToTies voted against secuarzaton on prin.
ciule and Ministers account OF the constitutional
difficulties already named motion was next brought
I'D In favor OF settling the question: but without maj
eat.f the mode during the session Inc Torres V0'ed
for this as they consistently might. because 1t did not
&, ham to a
and large number M Liberal members dld not dare l"
vote against an immediate settlement OF me
oue stion, though the mode was lett Unexplained:
The result of the singular combination thus produced
left Ministers in a minority Of thirteen The leader OF
the Government asked one days respite before the
Cabinet could announce what curse they would take
in consequence of the adverse vote OF the House; re-
quest which was readily granted. The first lnmatIon
Of the course which the Cabinet had advised was con
viewed 10 the House by message to the Speaker that
His Excellency would prorogue Parliament that day at
3 o'clock. The tory opposition were much cnagrlhed
because they had not been sent for by His Exceency
10 form a new Government; and when the House met
previous 10 the propagation they obtained ana held the
floor. thus preventing any Ministerial explanations
The scene of the greatest confusion ana up
roar When it WAS announced that the Governor
General had arrived ut the Legislative Council Cham-
Der 70 prorogue the Holse it was replied Let nun
wait" Speakers screamed at the top OF their voices
and cheers and shouts and some few Kisses, prevented
ANYTHING being distinctly heard. The Sergeant-at-
Arms entered with the gttering mace but he was
permitted stand unhe eded he was obliged to be
mute several minutes. Some members insisted ON the
right of the House TO 90 on and contended that there
wasro principle better established than that "hen
one branch of the Legislature seat message 10
another branch the must wait the pleasure oi
the House. After several minutes OF lndescrIbabe
confusion and tempestuous passion which recalled the
affair of l-49 and gave apprehension OF serious conse
ouences. Mr.. Langton succeeded in restoring order
by an appeal to the Speaker by whose decision
the procedure was declared irregular. The
Sneaker of the Legislative Council then got
an opportunity to deliver his message and
the members of Assembly marched between two lines
of soldiers to the Legislative Council chambers, about
two hundred yards distant Dut the trouble was not
over. The Speaker informed his Excellency that IN
consequence of there having been no session ne had
nothing to report. The technical question had been
raised in the House whether there could be session
without bill Of some kind having been passed. aud
the Speaker took the view that in order to constitute
q session there must be legsaton-at least one bill
passed. The question of the Speakers right to take
this course has since been matter of dispute Some
held that it is right which has existed from time I'M
memorial; while others question its existence alto
getber.
There is no reason to suppose that the Reciprocity
treaty is in any danger OF not being ratified in time IN
consequence of these events.