The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-03-07

and New Brunswick, twelve each. As the mem
will form an element Of great strength to the
ZION In the event. however. Of continued dincuities
between members Of the upper and lover houses inc
Crown Is 70 have power the advice Of the Governor
General 10 add six members the House, two OF whom
shall come from each OF the three DISTRICTS but IN case
ths addition should be made will be necessary 20 re-
fran from filling up vacancies until House has been
reduced TO seventy members; stll the crown NAV
appoint other additional members on the rscommenaa-
two but In no shall the senate number more than
seventy-eght members It may be thought that an
ADDITION Of six members will not be sufficient 70 toe
over deadlock; but it must be remembered that we
90 not depend wholly upon these supplementary
tain number or vacsnoiss ss0i by death in each
year. have had return made to show what vacancies
nave occurred in the existing legislature and ma tnat
cies nave occurred showing OF three In each
year As To be presumed the vacancies in the pro-
posed Senate will occur at least to the same extent since
the Senators will all b. Of somewhat advanced age,
the ordinary changes in the House will be amply sufi
clent % meet all contingencies The qualifications OF
Senator are 70 be that he shall be subject OF the Queen
either by birth na,uraxed by OF Parliament either
here or IN the Canadian provinces; he must be thirty
$4,000, over and above his debts and liabilities, and he
must be resident in the province for which he
is appointed. Then there arc certain provisions
which require q member Of the Senate under certain
circumstances to vacate his seat thus il be fail to at
tend in his place for two consecutive sessions or he
become citizen Of another Power be adjudged bank
rup be convicted Of felony other grievous
crime, or lose his property residential qualification,
u
successor will DO appointed by the Governor General.
The presence Of at least fifteen members including the
.ong e me ~ pea 20 APP
eral and following the precedent Of your lordshps
House, If the Senate be divided equal numbers
question, the assumption shall be that the negative pre-
walls. Now, come to the constitution OF the lower
house or House of Commons. The principle which has
guided us in constituting the upper house is to insure
the representation and protection Of British interests;
the principle upon which the lower house has beer constr
uted is representation BY population Tho lower house
shall thar hmm hrad md ninhtu
members, OF whom Upper Canada shall fur
nish eighty two, Lower Canada sixty-hve, Nova
provision is made for the readustment Of the represen
ation to correspond with whatever changes may take
place in the relative population OF the provinces Lower
Canada shall have the fixed number OF sixty five men,
bers and each of the other federal divisions shall have
that number OF members which shall bear the same
proportion to its population as sxtyfve bears to the
population of Lower Canada The representation shall
be readused on the completion of each decennia CELL
sus OF course this periodical reimbursement may lead
to large increase to the number of members Of the
lower house. 1t is proposed that the House of Com
mons last for five years which, think would answer
better than septennia Parliamens and find that II will
also accord with the actual practice with reference the
Parliament here. From the accession Of George
years and since the accession OF her Majesty they have
lasted on an average for three and quarter years.
Your lordships will also find that the bill
tains provisions for amending the local Legsla.
ture OF the Provinces; but upon this point need
not trouble your lordships should, however, observe
that no alteration is made by the bill in the Legislature
Of Nova Scotia New Brunswick. We have thought it
desirable to reserve to the local Legislature ample
a possible of local action and self govern
ment, OF municipal liberty and freedom TO enable
them properly to DISCHARGE those duties which fall
their share Indeed, have illustration or this In
some OF our other colonies at the moment In Aus
traa for instance, there tendency towards dsnte-
grafton there is in other large colonies because those
who live at the extremities naturally object TO having
their affairs managed by central authority many hun
dred miles away Your iordships will that have
adopted four different heads OF classifying our distrbu
ton Of power First OF all, there those subjects
which placed under the control Of the Colonial Para
ments secondly, those that inrusted to the man.
agcment OF the local Legislature; thirdly, those which
subjects Of concurrent lcgisation and fOurthly,
those which are dealt with exceptionally. Under
the head OF the Colonial Paraments ara placed those
questions which affect the country at large such
national debt and questions affecting the trade and
commerce OF the country and the raising Of heevenue
fact, the power Of raising money the most ample
manner is placed under this head In the same way
banking institutions the collection and issue Of stats
tics and are intrustcd to the general Parliament
who also have TO deal with all criminal legislation
have no doubt that our efforts too TO assnate the civil
law the basis Of the English law will be successful
but your ordshps will observe that exception is be
made in favor Of Lower Canada All questions OF ship.
ping navigation of harbors quarantine and so forth
will be intrusted TO the general Parliament Among che
subjects referred 70 local legislation % that Of raising
by direct taxation. The provinces will sur.
render their right to raise by indirect taxation
and retain that OF levying direct taxes only They will
also have the management and control Of their charities
and other institutions. and they will DO allowed from
time to time 70 alter and amend their consultation
Otuer QuoStOuSs SUCH rs aKrCutufe, Immigration and
public works. placed under the head OF concurrent
legislation. cannot help feeling that the works
may be classcd under two heads. One includes such
WORKS as railways teegraphs and ferries in which the
whole community are interested and the other includes
such works as are simply and purely local works, and
which may hy be left TO the management OF the local
legislature With references 10 the last head that Of
exceptional legislation may, perhaps mention that
just as there exists strong differences Of opinion
ences OF opinion and feelings between different
parts OF the colonies These differences haze sg 10
compromise, and the Roman Catholic minority in Upper
Canada the Protestant minority in Lower Canada and
the Roman Catholic minority In the mar time provinces
,eu al b. p,a,ed upon on equa. tooine The several
levy indirect axaton-hcy only reserve 70 themselves
the right OF raising local taxes The general
therefor Is to remit 10 them certain proportion of the
produce Of the indirect taxes to enable them TO defray
the expenses OF their defence The position Of the
will have the security OF the United Provinces instead Of
a single province. The question Of the colonial
railways Is one which I should hardly desire
TO enter upon this evening, seeing that Tuesday
next shall have another opportunity Of addressing
you upon this subject, but say that every sue
cessve government since Lord Grey Secretary for
tho Colonies has more or less been committed TO
promise Of direct announcement to these works This
question Is regarded as very essential by the nhab
ttan,s OF the maritime provinces Another mpor-
tan point Is the administration Of the great thorough
fares under the control OF Great Britain Lam also
fully alive TO the Importance Of Arrangemsnt being
entered into with reference TO the Hudson Bay Com
pany; but 1t would be onlv waste Of your i0rdshps
time 70 enter upon that subject until tho question Of the
tlon has been determined we may enter into commrn
cation with the proper quarters and bring about salts
factory settlement OF that most important subject.
Lastly. may state to your lordshps what 10 be the
and designation or this new state. Tis qucsion
may seem 10 some to be tiainy one but % me IL
appears 10 Be ons Of very considerable importance.
There have been, as your ordships will doub:.
less mag innumerabie suggestions offered upon this
point. The delegates Of the various provinces them
selves suggested that the name OF the State should
be Canada The matter having been submitted to her
Majesty she graclously, aud, cannot doubt most
wisely peascd 10 approve that designation OF the united
provinces In future, therefore, the Of the sepa
rate provinces will disappear and the whole will be
known as Canada must also express my high sense
OF the wisdom Of the provinces In making the monarch
cal pyinip'c under schich thy hare tired so long, and
chich theydsre transmit 10 their defendants the found
ation Of MeG confederation. ! have only 70 add upon
this point that confederation originally contem-
plated was Intended include the whole Of the North
American provinces and although that proposal has
been carried into effect trust that In time Prince Ed
ward Island British Columbia, Newfoundla land and Van
couvers Island will join the confederation have now
gone through outline the general divisions of this bill
but should not fulfil my duty we're not advert
some OF the objections which have been raised with