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qui n’ont jamais eu lieu dans cette province (1).
Le titre 12, concernant la garde noble et bourgeoise a également été retranché par le même motif: on y a substitué sous le même titre ce qui concerne les tuteurs et curateurs. On a cru devoir renverser en quelques endroits l’ordre et la suite des articles de cette coutume, afin de rapyrocher ensemble tous ceux qui traitent du même objet, et Les rendre par là plus intelligibles. C’est dans cette vue qu'on à distribué cet ouvrage en titres, chaque titre en chapitre, chaque chapitre en articles. Les articles tirés de la Coutume sont placés entre les deux marges et on à observé de mettre en marges de chacun de ces articles le nombre qu'a ce même article dans cette Coutûme, pour la facilité de ceux qui voudraient revoir aux commentateurs, qui ont traité la dite Coutûme. On prévient que l’on a fait quelque changement sur les articles 99 et 101, de l’ancienne Coutûme : il était nécessaire pour différencier ce qui regarde les veutes foncières et celles constituées. »
Ces extraits, communément appelés Extraits des Messieurs, comprennent 16 titres : 10 Titre: biens meubles et immeubles, 6 articles ; 20 Titre: Fiefs, 1er ch., Foi et Hommage, 11 articles ; 2e ch., l'Aveu et Dénombrement, 4 articles ; 3e Ch., Quint, 3 articles ; 4e ch., Relief, 16 articles ; 5e ch., Saisie féodale, 13 articles ; 6e ch., Retrait Féodal, 2 articles ; Te ch., Commise, 3 articles; 8 ch., Demembrement de Fief, 2 articles; 9e ch.
Réunion en Fief ; 10e ch., Droits extraordinaires des Seigneurs, 5 articles; 30 Titre : Censives et droits seigneuriaux, 14 articles ; 4v Titre : Complainte, 3 articles,
(1) Les articles retranchés eu tout ou en partie sont les suivants: Arts. 6, l'exception seulement à la fin de l’article, les articles 46, 48, 85, 86, 91, 95, 111, 112, 122, 168, 173, 174, 193, 219, 238, 290 (comme non usités), 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, (garde xoble ét bourgeoise), 347, 359, 851, 852 et 353 (en partie.)
50 Titre : Actions personnelles et d’hypothèque, 12 articles; 6° Titre : Prescripcription, 15 articles; 70 Titre : Retrait Lignager, ch. 4er, Conditions nécessaires pour la validité du retrait, 9 articles ; ch. 2, Choses sujettes au retrait et cas auxquels le retrait a lieu ou non, 13 articles, ch. 3, Personnes recevables au retrait, 3 articles, ch. 4, Effets du retrait, 3 articles, ch. 5, retrait de mi-denier, 3 articles; 80 Titre: Saisies, Arrêts, Exécutions et Gageries, ch. 1, Causes de la Saisie, Exécution, Arrêt et Emprisonnement, 7 articles, ch. 2, Effets de la Saisie, Exécution et Arrêts, 11 articles, ch. 3, Gagerie, ? articles ; 90 Titre: Servitvies et Rapports de Jurés, ch. 1, Servitudes en général, 10 articles, ch. ?, Usage et entretien du mur mitoyen, 12 articles, ch. 3, Réédification du mur mitoyen, 10 articles, ch, 4, visites et rapports des jurés, 2 articles; 100 Titre: Communauté de Biens, ch. 1, Quand commence la communauté et de quels biens elle se compose, 2 articles, ch. ?, effets de la communauté- 13 articles, ch. 2, dissolution de la communauté, 7 articles, ch. 4, Continuation de la communauté après le décès de l'un des conjoints, 4 articles ; 110 Titre :
Douaire, ch. 1, Douaire coutumier, 4 articles, ch. 2, Douaire préfix, 3 articles, ch. 3, Douaire considéré à l'égard de la femme, 3 articles; ch. 4, Douaire considéré à l'égard des enfants, 8 articles ; 12 Titre: Tutelles et Curatelles, ch. 1, Tuteurs et Subrogés tuteurs, ch. 2, Curateur ; 130 Titre: Donations et don mutuel, ch. 1, Donations, 9 articles, ch. 2, don mutuel, 8 articles ; 140 Titre :
Testaments et exécutions d'iceux, 9 articles; 150 Titre: Successions, ch. 1, Principes communs à la ligne directe et collatérale, 6 articles, ch. 2, Successions en ligne directe descendante, 10 articles, ch.
3, Successions en ligne directe ascendante, 5 articles, ch. 4, Successions en ligne collatérale, 13 articles, ch. 5, con-
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9, Franc Alleu noble ou roturier; 160 Titre, criées, ch. 1, Formatités des criées, 6 articles, ch. 2, oppositions, quand elles doivent être formées, 8 articles.
L'autre travail se rapporte aux lois criminelles suivies en Canada, sous la domination française (1). il se compose de 33 titres: 10 Titre: Blasphèmes, impiétés et jurements ; 2° Titre, Sacrilége ; 30 Titre : Magie et Sortilége ; 40 Titre:
Inobservance des fêtes et dimanches, et trouble au service divin ; 50 Titre : Crime de Lèze - Majesté humaine, au premier chef ; Go Titre : Crime de Lèze-Majesté humaine, au second chef; 70 Titre :
Fausse Monnaie ; 80 Titre : Crime de Péculat ; 9 Titre : Crime de Concussion ; 100 Titre: Rébellion à Justice et bris de prison ; 110 Titre : Meurtres, Assassinats et homicides; 12° Titre: Vol ; 130 Titre :
Crime commis par personnes masquées ou déguisées ; 140 Titre : Crime de plage ou vol d'homme ; 150 Titre ; Vagabonds, gens sans aveu et mendiants ; 16° Titre : infraction de Ban; 17 Titre: Condamnés aux Galères, qui commeient crime emportant peine afilictive ; 180 Titre : Galériens qui se mutilent eux mêmes ; 190 Titre : Suicide ou attentat sur soi même; 200 Titre : Poison ; 21° Titre : Crime d'Incendie; 220 Titre : Parricide ; 23° Titre : Raptet Viol ; 240 Titre : recelés de grossesse, Avortements, expositions et supposition de part ; 250 Titre : Poligamie ; 260 Titre : mauvais lieux, débauches et maquerellage ; 270 Titre : Injures et libelles diffamatoires;
(1) An abstract of the Criminal Laws that were in force in the Province of Quebec in the time ofthe French Government, drawn up byaselectcommittee of Canadian Gentlemen well skilled in the Laws of France and of that Province by the desire of the Honorable Guy Carleton, Esquire, Captain-General and Governor in Chief, of the said Province, (1773).
280 Titre : Crime de banqueroute frauduleuse ; 29 Titre : Monopoles ; 30 Titre Crime “d'Usure; 310 Titre: Crime de Faux ; 330 Titre : Malversations des Officiers.
Le troisième travail (1), est un extrait des Edits, Déclarations, Règlements, Ordonnances, Provisions etCommissions des Gouverneurs - Généraux et intendants, tirés des registres du Conseil Supérieur, faisant partie de la Législation en force dans la Colonie du Canada, (aujourd’hui Province de Québec) dans le temps de la Domination française. Cugnet qui a été chargé de ce travail s’est contenté de compulser les régistres du Conseil Supérieur. Ge travail quoiqu'imprimé en 1772, a été terminé par Cugnet, le 13 Septembre 1769.
Un quatrième travail (2), se rapporte aux lois de police et consiste dans un relevé des Edits, Déclarations, arrêts etc., des rois de France, Règlements du Consei! Supérieur et des Intendants du Ganada, qui ont eu force de lois dans toute la Province de Québec. Dans l'A.
vertissement publié au commencement de ce travail, il est dit : « Les lois dont on donne ici le précis, ont été généralement suivies, à quelques articles près de peu d'importance qui ont été changés par des Lois postérieures : il serait à souhaiter pour le bien général de la Province que le gouvernement en poursuivit l’exécution ; l'inobservation de quelques unes d'elles depuis 9 ou 10 ans a déjà fait des
(1) An Abstract of the Several Royal Edicts and Declarations, and Provincial regulations and Ordinances, that were in force in the Province of Quebec, in the time of the French Government; and of the Commissions ofthe Several Governors-General and Intendants of the said Province, during the same Period. Faithfully collected, from the Registers of the Superior Couneil of Quebec by Francis Joseph Cugnet, Esquire, Secretary to the Governor and Council of the said Province, for the French Language, by the directionofthe Honorable Guy Carleton, Esquire, Governorin Chiefofthe said Province, (1772),
(2) An Abstract of the Loix des Polices or Public regulations for the Establishment of Peace and good
torts considérables au défrichement des terres ; et sans vouloir entrer dans aucun détail on pourrait assurer que l’inexécution seule de l'arrêt du Conseil d'Etat du 28 Avril 1745, est une des principales causes de la disette que nous éprouvons depuis quelque temps; cet arrêt défend aux habitants de s'établir sur moins de terre qu’un arpent et demie de front sur 30 ou 40 de profondéur. Il a été rendu sur ce que les enfants en partageant les biens de leurs pères s'établissaient chacun sur une portion de la même terre, insuffisante pour les faire subsister; ce qui nuisait également à la subsistance des villes et au défrichement des terres. Le gouvernement précédent avait jugé ce point si important, qu’il faisait démolir les maisons construites contre la disposition de cet arrêl ; cependant aujourd’hui rien de si commun que ces sortes d’établissements.» Ce travail n’est pas divisé par titre, chapitre et article, mais seulement par sujet: Défrichement des terres, Moulins, Garde et Abandon des Bestiaux, Précautions contre les incendies, Ordonnance de M. Dupuy, Intendant, Ordonnance de M. Hocquart, Intendant, Montréal, Cabarets, Ordonnance de M. Dupuy, Intendant, Concernant les Cabarets, bouchers, Poids et Mesures, Marchés publics, Bois de chauffage, Police des Rues, Chemins publics, Maisons publiques, Hâvres, Traite avec les Sauvages, Divers objets, Déclaration äu Roy pour la sosservation des Minutes des Notaires, Pareille défense de M. Dupuy, Intendant, Déclaration du Roi, concernant les Ordres religieux et gens de main morte dans les colonies, en date du 25 Novembre 1743. (Voir suprà, p. 295.) n
Order, that were of force in the Province of Quebec in the time of the French Government, drawn up by a select Committee of Canadian gentlemen, well skilled in the Law of France and of that Province by the desire of the Honorable Guy Carleton, Esquire, Governor in Chief of the said Province (1772).
En Février 1770 (1), une Ordonnance est rendue rappelant en partie la grande Ordonnance du 17 Septembre 1764, et réglant l'administration des Cours des Plaidoyers Communs. Ces Cours sont indépendantes l’une de l’autre, à Québec et Montréal, et doivent siéger tous les jours de l’année, à l'exception de certains jours de l’année consacrés soit comme vacance ou pour permettre aux dJuges de faire leur circuit par toute la province, deux fois par année. Tous les délais établis par l’'Ordonnance de 1764 sont abolis ; la procédure est sommaire. Outre plusieurs points de détails et de procédure, sans intérêt pour l’histoire, il y a la création de commissaires pour les petites causes, pour toute somme n’excédant pas trois louis, pourvu qu’il ne s'agisse pas de questions de proprieté.
Le 31 Juillet 1770, Thomas Dunn et John Marteilhe sont nommés Juges de la Cour des Plaidoyers Communs.
En 1771, Michel Amable d’Artigny Berthelot est admis avocat en vertu d’une commission du Gouverneur.
Le Gouverneur Carleton obtient en 1770 (2), la permission de retourner en Angleterre. Il fut remplacé par Cramahé, comme le plus ancien conseiller; l'année suivante (1771), Cramahé est nommé Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Province.
Le pape Clément XIV, avec le consentement de l'Angleterre, accorde, le 22 Janvier 1772 (3), des bulles à Mgr. d'Esglis, qui fut nommé évêque de Dorylée in partibus infidelium et coadjuteur de l'Evèque de Québec, Mgr. Briand, avec droit de succession au siége de ce prélat.
Le Chapitre de Québec n’exista pas longtemps après cette nomination. Son der-
(1) Marriott, Plan of a Code, 57.
(2) Smith, IL, 60.
(3) Garneau, II, 416.
L'abbé Brasseur (11, 23) dit que ces bulles furent datées du 12 Septembre 1771.
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Le Solliciteur- Général Wedderburne fit, le 6 Décembre 1772 (1), au Roi en Conseil, un rapport sur l'état des lois et de la justice en Canada. En voici quelques extraits sur les matières les plus importantes :
«1 have taken the same (the subjects referred to him) into consideration, and in the course of my reflections upon the subject, I have found myself led into a discussion of the form of government, and of the religion of the Province, which must necessarily have great influenee upon the plan of civil and criminal law proper to be adopted there. [ have, therefore, presumed to form some ideas upon both those heads as necessarily connected with the more immediate object of reference, and humbly beg to submit the resultof my observations upon s0 important and so difficult a subject, under the following heads : —
«First —The Government of the Pro-
vince,
«Secondly — The Religion of the Inhabitants.
«Thirdly — The Civil and Criminal Laws.
«Fourthly — The Judicatures necessary to carry those laws into execution.
«Canada is a conquered country. The capitulations secured the temporary enjoyment of certain rights, and the treaty of peace contained no reservation in favor of the inhabitants, except a very vague one as to the exercise of religion.
Can it therefore be said that, by rigbt of conquest, the conqueror may impose such laws as he pleases? This proposition has been maintained by some lawyers who have not distinguished between force and right. It is certainly in the power of a
(1) Christie. History of Lower Canada, 1, 27
conqueror to dispose of those he has subdued, at discretion, and when the captivity of the vanquished was the consequence of victory the proposition might be true ; but in more civilized times, when the object of war is dominion, when subjects and not slaves are the fruits of victory, no other right can be founded on conquest but that of regulating the political and civil government of the country, leaving to the individuals the enjoyment of their property, and of all privileges not inconsistent with the security of the conquest.
«The political government of Canada, before the conquest, was very simple ; for, whatever appearance of regularity of controul and limitation the Arrêts and Commission present, all powers, in fact, resided in the Governor and the Intendant. The Superior Council was generally at their devotion. They had the command of all the troops, of all the revenues, and of all the trade of the country. They had also the power of granting land ; and in conjunction with the bishop, they had so superior an interest at the Court of France, that no complaint against their conduct was dangerous to their authority. ‘This was the state of Canada till the treaty of peace. Upon the reduction of the province, a military government took place, and the change was not very sensible to the inhabitants.
«After the treaty of peace, a government succeeded which was neither military or civil, and it is not surprising that the Canadians should have often expressed a desire to return to à pure military government, which they had found to be less oppressive. Such a government, however, is not formed for duration, and in a settlement which is to become British, could not be endured beyond the limits of a garrison.
« The first consideration, in forming
the political constitution of a country is, in what manner the power of making laws shall be exercised. If it were possible to provide every necessary regulation for a distant province, by orders from England, it might, perhaps, be the most eligible measure to reserve that authority entirely to the British legislature.
But there must be many local interests of police, of commerce, and of political economy, which require the interposition of a legislative power, acquainted with the affairs, and immediately interested in the prosperity of a colony. In allthe British colonies, that legislative power has been entrusted to an Assembly, in analogy to the constitution of the mother country. The most obvious method would then be, to pursue the same idea in Canada ; but the situation ofthat country is peculiar. The Assembly must either be composed of british subjects, or of british and Canadians.
«In the first cise, the native Canadian would feel the iuequality of his situation, and think (perhaps trulv) that he should be exposed to the oppression of his fellow-subjects.
«To admit the Canadian to a place in that Assembly (a right, which, from the nature of à conquest, he has no absolute title to expect,) would be a dangerous experiment with new subjects, who should be taught to obey as well as to love this country; and, if possible, to cherish their dependence upon it. Besides, it would be an inexhaustible source of dissension and opposition between them, and the British subjects. It would be no less difficult to define the persons who should have a right to elect the Assembly.—To exclude the Canadian subject would be impossible, for an Assembly chosen only by the British inhabitants, could no more he called à representative body of that colony, than a council of state is. To admit every C£nadian proprietor of land
would be disgusting and injurious to all the men of condition in the Province, who are accustomed to feel a very considerable difference between the seignior and the censier, though both are alike proprietors of land. Nor would it be heneficial to men of inferior rank ; for every mode of raising them to the level of their superiors, except by the efforts of their own industry, is pernicious. It seems, therefore, totally inexpedient at present to form an Assembly in Canada.
The power to make laws could not with safety be entrusted to the Governor alone ; it must, therefore, be vested in a Council consisting of a certain number of persons, not totally dependent upon the Governor.
“The Chief Justice, the Attorney General, the Judge of the Vice Admiralty, the Collector of the revenue, and the Receiver General, (if these officers were obliged, as they ought, to reside there.) should hold a seat by virtue of their office ; the other members to be nominated by your Majesty, and to be removed only by your royal orders.
«As power lodged in few hands is sometimes liable to be abused, and always subject to suspicion, some controul to this authority is necessary. The first is, the establishment of a general system of laws for the colony. The second is, that in matters of taxation, in those which affect life, and in those which import an alteration of the established laws, no ordinance of the Council should have effect till it is confirmed in Great Britain. The third is, that it should not bein their power at all times to act as à legislative body; but that, their session should be confined to the period of six weeks previous to the opening of the navigation to Britain, and at no other time should they be assembled in thal capacity, except upon some urgent occasion
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« Under these restraints, it seems reasonable that the power of making laws should be entrusted, for a limited number of years, to this Council, who will be enabled, from their knowledge of local circumstances, to form the necessary detail for executing the plan of laws to be transmitted to them, the regulations for the police of the country, for the administration of justice, for the collection of the revenue, and the .nprovement of trade and agriculture ; and being bound down by certain rules upon the great objects of legislation, and subject to the constant inspection of government, they will be sufficiently restrained from abusing the power committed to them.
« As the immediate power of taxation is not intrusted to this Council, it is necessary that a revenue should be provided under the authority of an Act of Parliament, for which no better plan can be formed than which has already been proposed to the Commissioners of your Majesty’s Treasury, for raising a fund to defray the expenses of government in the Province of Quebec, by a tax upon spirituous liquors.
«The religion of Canada is à very important part of its political constitution. The 4th article of the treaty of Paris, grants the liberty of the Catholic religion to the inhabitants of Canada, and provides that His Britannic Majesty should give orders that the catholic subjects may profess the worship of their religion according to the rites of the Romish church, as far as the laws of England will permit. This qualification renders the article of so little effect, from the severity with which (though seldom exerted) the laws of England are armed against the exercise of the Romish religion, that the Canadian must depend more upon the benignity and the wisdom of Your Majesty’s government for the protection of his religious rights than
upon the provisions of the treaty, and it may be considered as an open question, what degree of indulgence true policy will permit to the catholic subject.
«The safety of the state can be the only just motive for imposing any restraint upon men on account of their religious tenets. The principle is just, but it has seldom been ‘justly applied ; for experience demonstrates that the public safety has been often endangered by those restraints, and there is no instance of any state that has been overturned by toleration. True policy dictates then that the inhabitants of Canada-should be permitted freely to profess the worship of their religion ; and it follows of course, that the ministers of that worship should be protected and à maintenance secured for them.
« Beyond this the people of Canada have no claim in regard to their religion, either upon the justice or the humanity of the crown; and every part of tte temporal establishment of the church in Canada, inconsistent with the sovereignty of the king, or the political government established in the province may justly be abolished.
«The exercise of any ecclesiastical jurisdiction under powers derived from the see of Rome, is not only contrary to the positive laws of England, but is contrary to the principles of government, for it is an invasion of the sovereignty of the king, whose supremacy must extend over all his dominions, nor can his Majesty by any act divest himself of it.
«The establishment of the Jesuits and of the other religious orders, as corporations holding property and jurisdiction.
is also repugnant to the political constitution, which Canada must receive as a part of the British dominions.
«The point then, Lo which all regula-
tions on the head of religion ought to be directed is, to secure the people the exer
cise of their worship, and to the crown a due controul over the clergy.
«The first requires that there should be à declaration that all the subjects in Canada may freely profess their religion without being disturbed in the exercise of the same, or subject to any penalties on account thereof, and also that there should be a proper establishment of parochial clergymen to perform the offices of religion.
«The present situation of the clergy in Canada, is very fortunate for establishing th: power of the crown over the church.
It is stated in the reports from your Majesty’s officers in Canada, that very few have a fixed right in their benefices, but that they are generally kept in a state of dependence which they dislike, upon the person who takes upon him to act as bishop, who, to preserve his own authority, only appointstemrorary Vicars to officiate in the several benefices.
«It would be proper, therefore, to give the parochial clergy a legal right to their benefices. All presentations either belonging te lay pastors or to the crown, and the right in both ought to be immediately exercised with due regard to the inclinations of the parishioners in the appointment of a priest. The governor’s license should in every case be the title to the benefice, and the judgment of the temporal courts the only mode of taking it away. This reguiation would, in the present moment, attach the parochial clergy to the interest of government, exclude those of foreign priests, who are now preferred to the Canadians, and retain the clergy in a proper dependence on the crown. It is necessary, in order to keep up a succession of priests, that there should be some person appointed whose religious character enables him to confer orders, and also to give dispensations for marriages; but this function should not extend Lo the exercise
of à jurisdiction over the people or the clergy ; and it might be no difficult matter to make up to him for the loss of his authority, by emoluments hel£ . the pleasure of the government.
«The maintenance of ‘the clergy of Canada was provided for by the payment of one thirteenth (1), part of the fruits of the earth in the name of tythe, and this payment was enforced by the Spiritual Court. It is just that the same provision should continue, and that a remedy for the recovery of it should be given in the temporal courts ; but the case may happen that the land-owner is a protestant, and it may be doubted whether it would be fit to oblige him to pay tythes to a catholic priest.
«It has been proposed that all tythes should be collected by the Receiver General of the Province, and appropriated as a fund to be distributed by government for the stipends of the clergy, out of which a certain proportion may be reserved for the support of protestant preachers. This measure, I humbly conceive Lo be liable to two objections,— First — tythe even to the clergy is paid with reluctance, and the government, by undertaking the collection of it, would lose more in the affections of its subjects than it would gain by the additional dependence of the clergy,— Secondly— by thus being brought into one fund, the catholic subject will be made to contribute to the support of the protestant clergy, which he may think a grievance.
« There is less objection, however, to require the protestant inhabitant to pay his tythe to the receiver general, allowing him, at the same time, to. compound for less than the full sum ; though I should not deem it expedient to reduce the rate by positive law.
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«The increase of that fund will be a proof of the increase of the protestant inhabitants, and it will afford the means of providing for the protestant clergy, whose functions will then become necessary. In the mean time, it may be sufficient to appoint that a protestant clergyman shall be nominated to any parish in which a majority of the inhabitants require it.
«In regard to the monastic orders, it will be fit to secularise them entirelv, but s0 great a change ought not to be made at once. It is proper to see how many of them may take benefices, from which they are not excluded by the foregoing provisions.
«The Jesuits, however, and the religious houses in France, which have estates in Canada, are upon a different footing from the others. The establishment of the first is not only incompatible with the constitution of an English province, but with every other possible form of civil socieiy. By the rule of their order the jeuits are aliens in every government. Other monastic orders may be tolerated, because, though they are not useful subjects, still they are subjects, and make a part of the community ill employed. The jesuits form no part of the community. They, according to their institution neither allow allegiance nor obedience to the prince, but to a forsign power. They are not owners of their estates, but trustees for purposes dependent upon the pleasure of a foreigner, the general of their order. Three great catholic states have (1), upon grounds of policy, expelled them. It would be singular, if the first protestant state in Europe should protect an establishment that ere now must have ceased in Ca.
nada, had the French government continued.
(1) Le Portugal, l'Espagne et la France.
« Uncertain of their tenure in Canada, the jesuits have hitherto remained very quiet, but should the establishment be tolerated there, they would soon take the ascendant of all the other priests; the education of the canadians would be entirely in their hands, and averse as they may be at present to France, it exceeds any measure of credulity to suppose that they would ever become truly and systemalically friends to Britain.
«Itis therefore equally just and expedient in this instance, to assert the sovereignty of the king, and to declare that the lands of the jesuits are vested in his Majesty, allowing, at the same time, to the jesuits now residing in Canada, liberal pensions out of the incomes of their estates.
«The information to be collected from the papers transmitted with the reference, is not particular enough to be the ground of an immediate law as to the property claimed by religious societies in France.
The principle is clear, that every trust for their use, is void and devolves to the crown. But in applying that principle, the circumstances of each case must be considered, and, in general, it seems expedient to confirm all the titles of persons occupying lands under their grants ; to make the terms of payment to the crown easier than to the former proprietors, and to apply the produce for the purposes of educating the youth of Canada, which deserves particular attention. But this subject is more fit for gradual regulations, pursuant to the instructions that may be given to your Majesty’s governor, than to form an article in a general plan of laws to be immediately carried into execution.
«The ronvents in Canada do not fall under tl ..ne rule as the monasteries They are not much connected with the political constitution. They may, for a
time, be necessery for the convenience and honor of families — perhaps it may be expedient always to retain some such communities there, for the honorable retreat of unmarried women. Certainly it would be inexpedient and cruel to dissolve them by any immediate law.
No such change is essential to the political constitution, and whenever it becomes s0, the remedy is easy, and the subjects will then receive it as a favor from the crown.
«The political and religious constitution of the province of Quebec being established, the next matter of inquiry is, what plan of civil and criminal law is best adapted to the circumstances of the province ? and this is not altogether an open question; for, Canada is not in the con.
dition of a new settled country, where the invention of a legislator may exercise itself in forming systems. It has been long inhabited by men attached to their own customs, which are become a part of their nature, ft has, of late, acquired some inhabitants superior in power, but much inferior in number, to its ancient inhabitants, equally attached to differeni usages. The prejudices of neither of these classes of men can be entirely disregarded ; in policy, however, more attention is due to the native Canadian than the British emigrant, not only because that class is the most numerous; but because it is not the interest of Britain that many of her natives should settle there. The Canadian also has a claim in justice to the enjoyment of as much of his ancient laws regarding private rights, as is not inconsistent with the principles of the new government ; for, as bis property is secured to him, the laws which define, create, and modify it, must also be retained, otherwise his property is reduced to the mere possession of what he can personally enjoy.
******x* «It should also be provided
that any Canadian subject of the age of twenty five, who is unriarried and without children, holding land imme.
diately of the crown, may convert his tenure into a soccage holding, by which he shall have the power of devising the whole, and that the purchaser of land held of the king, may convert the tenure into soccage at his pleasure, and it shall then be held and enjoyed as by the law of England.
*#*#**# «The criminal law of England, superior as it is to all others, is not, however, without imperfections; nor is it, in the whole extent of its provisions, adapted to the situation of Canada. It would be improper to transfer to that country all the statutes creating new offences on temporary or local circumstances.
***# «Itis recommended by the governor, the chief justice, and the attorney general, in their report, to extend the provisions of the Habeas Corpus act to Canada. The inhabitants will, of course, be intitled to the benefit of the writ of Habeas Corpus at common law, but it may be proper to be better assured of their fidelity and attachment, before the provisions of the statute are extended to that country.
«The form of civil government for the province, as it now consisi in the distributiof of judicial authority, is the most difficult and the most important part of the plan, for, without an easy and exact execution, laws are 6f every little use to society.
«The several opinions reported to your Majesty, by the governor, the chief justice and the attorney general, concur in the causes of the complaints upon this head, and differ little in the remedies proposed.
«It is their opinion that the expense and delay of proceeding are at present very grisvous, and they seem to think
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that the division of the province into three districts, and the establishment of courts of justice in each, as in the time of the French government, would afford some remedy to this evil.
«To diminish the expense of law suits, too great already for the poverty of the country, by adding to the number of persons who are to be maintained by the law, is at least a doubtful proposition.
« It is necessary, therefore, to consider whether other causes besides the want of proper judicatures, may have concurred to produce the grievance of which the Canadians complain, and whether other expedients, may not, in part, remove it. The uncertainty of the law of the province must have been one principal cause of the expense of suits. That evil will, in the time, be removed.
«The change of property, together with the alteration of the course of commerce consequential upon the conquest, producing new contracts in new forms, created a great deal of business for which there would be no established fees, and the ignorant execution of that business opened a new source of litigation. The same thing has happened in the other settlements, where, for a certain time, the gains of those who took upon themselves to act as lawyers, and of course the expense to the other inhabitants, of law proceedings, has been very great.
But this evil is also temporary. Without disputing the reality of the grievance, one may suppose that it is a little exaggerated, for all the French. lawyers who remained in Canada, were interested to magnify it. They partook of the profits arising from its continuance, and their profits were increased by exciting the complaints.
«I cannot conceive that this grievance would be removed by adopting the French judicature, for if one can trust the accounts given by themselves, the
