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matter in question does not amount to more than forty or fifty or perhaps one hundred livres, it is loading the process with a weight it cannot support, to serve it at such an expense as the bare travelling charges of a Bailiff will of necessity amount to.

«To the second which introduces an obvious mischief, it may de difficult perhaps, to prescribe any general rule, the time for appearance must necessarily vary in proportion to the distance, roads, and other circumstances, which cannot be reduced to any certainty, but must be left to the discretion of the Magistrate, regulated by those circumstances, it is hardly necessary to observe, that it is a first principle that no man shall be con.

demned without being heard, and that a summons which cannot be complied with, is no summons at all. ;

« With regard to the third inconvenience which arises either from the ignorance of the party, or the imposition of the Bailiff, they recommend to the Justices to make their saummons with an optional clause, either to pay the debt or do the thing demanded, or in failure of that, to appear and shev/ cause why they should not, for though in truth it is not in itself discretionary, and no man is or ought to be obliged to appear before a Magistrate, if he is contented to do that, the refusal of which only was the cause of his beingsummoned, yet the Canadians are very ignorant and do not know that, and it is to be feared, indeed it has been in proof that the Bailiffs to increase the expense, frequently oblige the parties to appear, though they are willing to satisfy the demand, and anticipate all that could be obtained from a hearing before a Magistrate.

« These are the principal matters which Lam directed to lay before the gentlemen in the Commission for the District of Montreal, but 1 am commanded not to

conclude, without recommending it to them in general to facilitate the course of Justice by alleviating the expense of it and more particularly in that instance, if in truth it prevails, which subjects the suitor to a demand of six livres, or any other sum for the use of the Magistrates room.»

Le 14 Juillet 1769, les personnes suivantes sont nommées Juges de la Cour des Plaidoyers Communs : Hector J. Cra.

mahé, Adam Mabane, Francis Mounier et John Fraser.

Le 29 Août 1769 (1), le Comité nommé par le Conseil pour s’'enquérir de l’administration de la justice sous les Juges de Paix, fit le rapport suivant qui fut finalement adopté le 11 Septembre 1769: :

« In obedience to an Order of Council, bearing date the eighteenth day of August last, we have taken into our consideration the several matters therein referred, in consequence of which, we beg leave to represent to your Excellency and the Council, that the several authorities and powers of the Justices of the Peace, in matters of property, as contained in the Ordinance of September one thousand seven hnndred and sixty-four, appear to us to have been very injudicious in their original institution, and in the exercise of them more particularly within the District of Montreal, exceedingly gricvous and oppressive to the subject; it is well known, that in England, where the Justices of the Peace are, for the most part, men of large fortune, who have à considerable interest in common with the péople over whom their authority is exercised, no such power is intrusted to them either by the Commission itself, or any of the various Acts of Parliament which relate totheir office, and though the illadvised construction of the great Courts established here for the determination o!

@) Smith, IH, 47.

9 prope hund nally year, migh small in SOI the C circu we à cums Justi t00 C to b away

«B unfoti large instar usurt partie subje conce deriv anthc know that ( whic them the « know in n with powe by & soeve land distu of E solen to m natui tion prope Magi that both

ding it to the course expense of it instance, ubjects the res, or any Magistrates

sonnes suile la Cour ‘tor J. Crajs Mounier

ité nommé de l’admis Juges de fut finale- 769: :* >f Council, day of Auour £onsitherein rech, we beg lency and authorities the Peace, ined in the > thousand , appear to us in their 1e exercise within the ingly griebject ; it is where the r the most ho have à imon with authority is ntrusted to on itself, or Parliament though the reat (jourts mination o!

property, in the year one thousand seven

hundred and sixty four, confined originally in their Session to two terms in the year, and only now enlarged to three, might have made it necessary to create smaller Jurisdictions, in order to conform in some measure to the ancient practice of the Colony, and to give a freer and quicker circulation to the course of justice ; yet we apprehend that even under these circumstances, the authority given to the Justices, had been both too largely and too confidently entrusted, and requires to be retrenched, if not wholly taken away in almost every instance.

« But that is not all, what is still more unfortunate, we find even those powers large as they are, to have been in some instances extended, and a durisdiction usurped to the great prejudice of the parties whose property has been the subject of it, without any right (as we conceive) to interpose in such matters as derived from the Ordinance, orany other anthority that has as yet come lo our knowledge, for by the ill penning of that Ordinance, and for want of a clause which should have expressly forbid them to intermeddle in those matters, the Justices of Montreal have to our knowledge in one instance, and probably in many others which have passed withoùt notice, assumed to themselves powers of a nature not fit to be exercised by any summary dJurisdiction whatsoever, in consequence of which titles to land had been determined, and possession disturbed in a way unknown to the laws of England, and inconsistent with the solemnity and deliberation which is due to matters of so high and important à nature, and we are not without information that even in cases where personal property only has been in dispute, one Magistrate in particular, under pretence that it was the desire and request of both the contracting parties, has, by him-

self, exercised a jurisdiction considerably beyond what the Ordinance has allowed even to three Justices in full Court at their Quarter Sessions.

« From an omission of a similar nature, and for want of ascertaining the manner in which their judgments were to be enforced, we find the Magistrates to have assumed another very high and dangerous authority, in the exercise of which gaols are constantly filled with numbers of unhappy objects, and whole families reduced to beggary and ruin; it being a common practice, and the usual method of their process, to take lands in execution, and order them to be sold for the payment of ever so small a debt, or in case there are no lands to satisfy the debt, to commit the party to prison, the sad consequences whereof, and the wretched servitude to which a people are reduced whose persons and property are thus exposed, we believe we need not enlarge upon further than to observe, that the rapid sale of estates under judgments out of the Common Pleas, or even the Supreme Court itself, ssems to be within the same mischief, and to require some effectual though perhaps a different remedy.

« If any thing could yet be wanting to complete the misery of such a people, it would be the consideration that these powers, originally calculated for the care of the suitor, and to facilitate the course of Justice, should become the very instruments of his oppression and ruin, and instead of affording a cheap and expeditious remedy for the recovery of small debts, should either direct or connive at such a complicated and ex pensive mode of process, as (if we may collect for one instance, where the expense of sueing for a debt of eleven livres amounted to eighty-four) must either deter the creditor from pursuing a just though small debt, or ruin himself

merci De ie eus ET ES

or his adversary, and perhaps both in the pursuit of it, which will probably always be the case, where the office of a Justice of the Peace is considered as a lucrative one, and must infallibly be so where it is his principal if not his only dependence.

« In justice, however, to the Magistrates of this district, we ought to declare, that these observations are not designed to extend to them.

« For these and many other reasons which we are tender of enlarging upon, we conceive it to be high time to change this unequal, wasteful, and oppressive mode of udministering Justice, and to substitute some other in its place, more conformable to the system which formerly prevailed here, and less liable to the objections which so manifestly accompany this, both in its institution and practice,

« And for that purpose, we recommend it to your Excellency in the first place, to appoint another Judge for the Court of Common Pleas at Montreal, and as a compensation for the extraordinary duty which will be required, that their salaries may be made two hundred pounds per annum.

« And secondly, that an Ordinance should be immediately prepared, which, after setting forth in a preamble some or all of the grievances here mentioned, and the good disposition in Government to attend to and redress the injuries complained of by the subject, as soon as they are made known to them, should abrogate and annul all that part of the Ordinance of one thousand seven hundred and sixty four which gives authority to the Justices of the Peace to determine matters of civil property in any shape or manner whatsoever, and expressely define their power to be barely such as the Commission itself warrants, and the Ordinances of this Province, (except that of

one thousand seven hundred and sixty.

four ) has entrusted to them.

«lt should then, after reciting the reasons, namely, to prevent a failure of Justice, and to supply a quick and competent jurisdiction in matters of small value, not at present cognizable in either of the great Courts, give the Court of Common Pleas a jurisdiction which at present it has not, to hold plea in all matters, however trifling the demand may be, and that both Courts should sit in Quebec and Montreal once in every week, (seed and harvest time, and a fortnigt at Easter and Christmas excepted ) throughout the year. But that for all matters under the sum of ten pounds, one Judge only need be present.

«Ju the latter case their process should be by summons, and in Al executions where the debt and costs ao not amount to ten pouuds, Halifax currency, no Capias ad Satisfaciendum to arrest and detain the body should issue, but a fieri facias against the goods and chattels only, (with an express exception to beasts of the plough) unles the party chooses that his land should be sold, in which case be should sign upon the back of the Process his consent and request for that purpose; it might not be amiss to give the Judge a power to levy the debt where it was under ten pounds, by installments, for it often happens that a debtor is exceedingly distressed to pay, though but a moderate sum, and upon the instant of demand, which yet by his industry, or by some event near taking place, but which he cannot anticipate, be might pay with ease to himself at given times ; upon an afiidavit of this sort, we think they might be allowed to mark upon the writ to be levied by installments, twenty shillings on such a day, twenty at such other, and the remainder at such other.

«But these times ought to have some limitation, and perhaps ought nui to ex-

and sixty-

citing the failure of

and coms of small ein either e Court of ù which at plea in all Le demand should sit be in every and a fortexcepted }) at for all ounds, one

ess should executions ot amount 7, no Capias detain the ias against , (with an 1e plough } t his land be should ss his conjurpose ; it le Judge a it was unnts, for it xceedingly moderate f demand, r by some which he With ease on an afili- 1iey might writ Lo be hillings on er,and the

have some nui to ex-

ceed three months for the last payment,

« If the Judge has reason to suspect that the party secretes his effects, or has disposed of them after the commencement of the suit, in order to avoid their being taken in execution, he should be at liberty to issue process against the lands immediately, and for want of them, to commit to prison till the debt is satisfied : the truth of which should be examined upon aflidavit. In all other matters where the debt or demand is above the value of ten pounds, they should proceed as usual, except that where lands are taken in execution they should be made subject to the debt or demand immediately from the day of the date of the writ, and avoid all subsequent sales and mortgages, or any other disposition or incumbrance of 4hem, but not absolutely sold for six months after several publications in the Gazette, and notice aflixed to the Church door of the parish in which the lands lie, and other neighbouring parishes, nor should the sale even then be good, till a report was made to one of the Judges of the Court, of the quantity, produce and condition of the said lands, with the amount of the purchase money, and the sale confirmed by him.

«It is difficult if notimpossible, exactly to ascertain the quantum of expense in recovering these small debts, but we recommend it to the gentlemen who preside in these Courts to reduce it as much as possible, and we ha7e no doubt but they will give a proper attention to a matter so interesting to the honor of the Crown and the convenience and ease of the subject.

«The administration of justice in causes of small consequence, we apprehend will be tolerably well provided for in the Towns of Quebec and Montreal upon this establishment, more especially if there be added (as perhaps may be necessary, at least convenient) one officer

of justice in each, who might decide in all causes to the value of fifty shillings current money, and enforce his decision by distress and sale of the defendant's goods, only.

« These officers to be appointed by your Excellency, by special commission independent of the general commission of the Peace, (though it would be ad viseable for them to have both) in the nature of the Intendant's subdelegués ; they may appear to be necessary, whose Jurisdiction might be at least equal to what was given to a single Magistrate under the Ordinance of September, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four.

« These are the observations that have occured to us upon this subject : we believe theregulations here proposed, willbe found to be salutary, and meet the grievances at present so loudly and so justly complained of, and we accordingly recommend them to be immediately carried into execution.

«One observation, however, has escaped us, which we beg leave to add with regard to the assize of bread, which by an Ordinance of this Province bearing date the third of September, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four, is directed to be regulated by three Justices of the Peace, and though this Jurisdiction will still be preserved to the Justices, yet we are apprehensive that they will be indisposed to exercise it if they should resent the diminution of their authority, which the regulatfons we have proposed are designed to make. That authority, therefore, very useful and necessary to the Public.

should be trsnsferred in cases of their neglect, to the two Judges of the Common Pleas and the Justice who has a commission in small matters in the way that we have recommended ({}. »

(1) Cette lettre était signée par Wm, Hey, comme Président du Comité,

Le 1er Septembre 1769 (1), Masères donne son opinion sur le rapport soumis par le Gouverneur Carleton. Il admet que ce rapport en constatant la constitution du gouvernement de cette province, ‘lors de la domination française, est vrai dans tous ses détails; mais il ne peut consentir à l’autre partie du rapport, par lequel le gouverneur suggère de faire revivre les lois françaises, en matières civiles. [1 croit que suivre ce système serait se mettre en contradiction avec celui déjà adopté par le Roi et le Gouverneur Murray, et il passe en revue les inconvénients qui résulteraient de l'adoption du rapport de Carleton. Il suggère donc encore la rédaction d'un Code de lois en usage dans la province. Dans l'exposé de ce Code, il modifie un peu son précédent rapport, en admettant les lois françaises en matières de tenures et de succession ab intestat.

Une Ordonnance, en Février 1770, enlève aux Juges de Paix la juridiction civile pour le recouvrement des sommes de deniers au-dessous de £3.15 sterling.

ar une Ordonnance du Gouverneur en Conseil, les Cours des Plaidoyers Communs doivent siéger toutes les se:

maines pour l'administration de la justice en matières civiles ; et les contraintes par corps pour dettes, qui existaient dans tous les cas au.dessus de quarante chelins, furent restreintes pour les cas au-dessus de douze louis. Les ventes trop rapides de terre pour le paiement de dettes furent aussi prévenues. Dans cés cours, les avocats plaidèrent à leur manière, et pour des honoraires très-modérés. Le Général Murray leur avait mème permis de plaider en français et suivant leurs formes et manière de plaider, A cette époque, la procédure consistait en la demande ou déclaration du Demandeur, en la réponse du Défendeur, en la

(1) Masères, Several Commissions, 50,

réplique du Demaudeur, Le Défendeur avait droit de répliquer à la réplique, et cette réplique s'appelait rejoinder. Alors arrivait l'articulation de faits, que l’on appelait altercation ou dialogue, La contestation était liée, c'était l'issue in law ou l'issue in fact, lorsqu'on disait simplement issue ou parlait de l'issue in fact, L'issue in fact donnait lieu au procès par jury ; le Juge avait à juger l'issue in law.

En Avril 1770 (1), Masères transmet à Lord Hillsborough un Plan d'une méthode convenable pour administer la justice dans la Province de Québec. Ce plan est basé sur les divers rapports de Masères et n'offre rien d'important, A ce document se trouve joint un état des dépeuses que nécessiterait cette nouvelle administration : il suggére un salaire de £1000 sterling pour un Juge (?), quoiqu'avec un salaire de £500 sterling Masères admette qu'un Juge pût vivre décemment ; mais il préfère le voir indé.

pendant, Avec un moindre salaire, il craint que les avocats capables ne consentent pas à laisser leur profession pour entrer dans la magistrature avec un revenu égal, sinon moindre que celui qu'ils ont comme avocats. Il va même jusqu'à dire (p. 364) que ce salaire de 84870 n'est pas assez élevé pour que des avocats d’Anglewërre laissent leur pays pour venir occuper la charge de Juge en Canada. Masères remarque, de plus, que le Juge-en-Chef de la Pro:

vince a reçu £600 sterling depuis 1764 à 1766, et Æ£800 sterling depuis 1768. Il observe que les affaires vont en augmentant tous les jours, et si, à l'origin: même de la conquête, le gouvernement donnait £800 sterling au Juge-en-Chef, il va de soi que ce salaire devrait augmenter

(1) Masères. Several Commissions, 58.

Id, Additional papers, 359.

(2) Les Juges n'ont, en 1872, un siècle plus tard, qu’un salaire de £1000, soit $4000, au lieu de $4870 ou Æ£1000 sterling, que les Juges avaient en 1772!

fendeur ique, et r. Alors que l’on La conù law ou plement L'issue in jury ; le

nsmet à ine mér la jus- Ce plan de Mi- A ce dodes déouvelle salaire 2), quoiing Maivre déir indélaire, il consennn pour vec un ie celui \ même aire de ur que nt leur arge de narque, la Pro. s 1764 à 1768. Il ugmen- * même nt donef, il va menter

plus tard, le $41870 ou

ex pronortion des affaires judiciaires qui lui sont soumises. Or, c'est tellement le cas que le Gouverneur Carleton a augmenté de £200 sterling le salaire du Juge, et l’a porté à £1000 sterling de 1768 à 1774. Il n'y a donc rien d’exagéré en fixant ce salaire pour les Juges de la Province.

Cette remarque de Masères est juste et il est regrettable de dire qu'en 1872 les Juges ont un salaire moindre que celui qu'ils avaient cent ans auparavant. Les Juges de la Cour des Plaidoyers Communs, à Québec, étaient alors Adam Mabane, médecin de la garnison, et Thomas Dunn, marchand, et à Montréal, le Capitaine John Fraser, un écossais d’origine française, et John Martehle, un français protestant. Masères dit avec raison que ces personnes n'étaient nullement qualifiées à être Juges ; que pour exercer consciencieusement cette importante fonction, il ne suffit pas d'être intègres et diligents, il faut avant tout connaître la loi et avoir agi comme avocats pendant un certain nombre d'années.

En 1770, le Gouverneur Guy Carleton, désirant voir la Coutume de Paris rédigée d’une manière plus intelligible, et mieux adaptée aux besoins du pays, invita quelques jurisconsultes pour accomplir son projet. Juchereau, Pressard et d’autres jurisconsultes instruits se chargèrent de cette tâche difficile ; leur travail fut revu en Angleterre par Marriott, Thurlow et Werdderburn. Il embrassait aussi les ordonnances criminelles des Rois de France et la Jurisprudence sur cette matière en Canada. [ls firent une analyse (abstract) de tous les articles de la Coutume de Paris, suivis en Canada jusqu'en 1759. Ces travaux se firent en 1772 et furent publiés la même année à Londres (1).

Ils portent le titre: « Un extrait des parties de la Coutume de la Vicomté et Pré-

() M. de Montigny se trompe (p. 207) lorsqu'il dit que c’est en 1773 que l’ouvrage fut publié,

vôté de Paris, qui étaient reçues et pratiquées dans la Province de Québec, sous la domination française, compilées par un comité choisi de Canadiens versés dans la connaissance des lois de France et de cette Province. Par l'ordre de l’honorable Guy Carleton, Ecr., Gouverneuren-Chef de la dite Province (1). »

« Par ce travail, dit l'Avertissement publié au commencement du livre, on avait en vue de do’uer par extrait les lois et usages suivis en Canada sous la domination française, La coutume suivie alors était celle de Paris, composée de 362 articles, Ce n’est donc ici qu'un relevé des articles de cette coutume ; mais comme #1 était nécessaire, pour donner l'intelligence de ces articles d'y joindre des explications, on les a prises dans le Commentaire abrégé de M. de Ferrière sur la Coutume de Paris, qui est l’auteur le plus récent et le plus généralement suivi : on a cependant observé de ne faire entrer que les explications généralement reçues et les questions décidées en Cours Souveraines, On ne se flatte pas, et il eut même été impossible dans un ouvrage si abrégé, d’avoir suffisamment éclairci les différentes matières, ni touché tous les points décidés par des arrêts authentiques; c'est pourquoi il sera toujours indispensable, pour ceux qui voudront s’instruire plus à fond de ces lois, d’avoir recours au grand Commentaire de ce mème M. de Ferrière et à d’autres auteurs de réputation, qui ont également commenté au long cette coutume et rapporté une infinité d’arrêts, qui ont force dé lois, On a retranché de la coutume de Paris quelques articles entiers et partie d’autres,

(1) An abstract of those Parts of the Castom of the Viscounty and Provostship of Paris, which were received and practised in the Province of Quebec, in the time ofthe French Government, drawn up by a select Committee of Canadian Gentlemen well skilled in the Laws of France and of the Province, by the desire of the Honorable Guy Carleton, Esq., Governor in Chief of the said Province (1772).

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