Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-17
MONT REAL.
synopsis of Correspond ence Between
the Mayor and Hon. Mackenzie
Pre- vious to the Twelfth and
Relative to the Prospective
Orange Riots.

MONTREAL, July IO.-lne puoIlCdtloh vi
the correspondence that took place between
Mayor Beaudry and Hon. Mackenzie, prior
to the twelfth instant, has caused a sensation.
The following are the salient points OF the
premier's letters. Writing under date OF June
18th, he says:
l feel very great anxiety about the mainte-
nance of peace at Montreal on the occasion OF
the Orange celebration IN that city on the
twelfth proximo, and would be glad to know
what measures you propose TO adopt to secure
the preservation of order on that day. 1t IS
to be regretted that any portion OF the COM
rnunity should feel it desirable to have party
professions. OF course, would much prefer
IN this case, if the parties interested felt dis
posed to dispense with their procession. They
are, however, disposed TO claim the right
which all persons possess, of appearing this
way in the public streets, and cannot help
thinking that 1t would be a wise course for
the authorities of the city to make 1T known
that III the exercise of such rights they will
be protected | feel quite certain that If you
feel at liberty to adopt the course have in
Dictated, you would have no strangers IN your
city on that day, and the intensity OF the pub
lie interest which centers on the possible
events Of that day will be relaxed, and the
proceedings will be looked on as an ordinary
proceeding which often take place on such
occasions in other localities. In any case, l
will be glad to hear from you at your earliest
RESERVATIONS OF advice. A. MACKENZIE:
The mayor replies June 2lst acknowledge
ing the imminent danger to the peace of the
city, but says it will proceed from the large
number of persons who have declared their
intention of coming from other provinces to
impose upon large portion OF the citizens OF
Montreal demonstration most dlstasteful to
them. Ia such an emergency he asks pro-
lection from the Federal authorities against
attacks from the outside. With regard to
giving protection to the Orange procession
he says that if it is pretended they form a le-
gal society like any others In habit, In walk
ing the streets, Of course they are entitled to
the fullest protection; but if they have not
the same character-if, on the contrary, they
are prohibited by positive statute, then what
would be the justification of the magistrates
or justices of the peace or other officials VINO
would undertake to countenan2e their pro-
ceedings? In connection with this he quotes
the acts on which he relies for believing the
Orange society to be an illegal combination.
In conclusion he asks for the opinion of the
law officers of the crown, and advice as to
how he should act if his Interpretation of the
law is correct.
On the third instant the premier replied:
st makes no difference whatever In regard to
the legal or moral obligations imposed on the
local or provincial authorities, if there should
be any rloting, where the rioters may come
from, as the magistrates OF another province
cannot follow their citizens In the province OF
Quebec, and the Federal government has no
power whatever, under the law, to interfere
with the execution of the law in the provinces
relating to the preservation OF the peace.
Mackenzie next informs the mayor that 1t
is the local authorities who are empowered to
enforce the Blake act, and not the Federal
government. He then goes on to say that it
is the law officers of the provincial govern
ment which must be applied to for an opinion
as to the Interpretation OF the statutes, but,
he says, 81 do not think it material whether
your idea of the statutes In question be the
correct one or not, even IN the event OF the
Orange association being, as you designate 1t,
an illegal confederacy; that would IN no way
relieve you, as mayor, and the magistrates
and peace officers of the city from the protec-
ton of them individually as citizens. Indi-
viduals who happen 10 belong to the assocla-
ton IN question have the same right to assem-
ble together for the purpose of walking
in public procession that any other
parties have This would not inter-
| tere with any prosecution instituted
| by the local authorities for belonging to an
| illegal combination and the imposition of
any penalty provided by such acts. Their
general rights as citizens remain, however,
| intact, and it is an absolute right of every
person to walk the public streets, and this
| may be exercised by them individually or to-
gether. and the mere fact that every person
! in a collection of persons walking together
| happens to belong to an illegal association or
to several illegal associations does not render
unlawful his act of walking the public streets
alone or in company, and there is not
an act that | am aware of prohibiting such
procession walking. | cannot help, there
| FORE urging you with all the energy | possess
to lose no time in making the mot vigorous
preparations in your power for maintaining
the public peace. feel confident
that if you or yourself and
other magistrates combined intimate
IN the same way to the public that parties in
| the exercise OF their rights will be protected,
you will have no interruption from distance
and you have power under act to require all
parties coming by trains to the city some days
| before the twelfth to be searched and dis
| armed as we'll as to disarm all parties in the
city itself who are likely to cause trouble. II
it is known such vigorous steps will be taken
| by yourself and the magistracy of the city,
have no doubt you will get over the occasion
| without any difficulty. | have also to ask
| that you should consider what force may be
necessary, and make requisitIon either upon
the acknowledgement in command at Ottawa
or upon the deputy adjutant-general, as you
deem best. at as early day as possible, and
| will see that troops Immediately in the pay
OF the Dominion, as well as some other volun-
| teer regiments, are available Cor the preserva-
| tIOn of A. MACKENZIE