Saine rule in Englancl

FIRST PARLIAMENT OF UPPER CANADA

3. — The Legislative Assembly — the elected représentatives of the people — or the Lower ïïouse. Gradually this body lias absorbed nearly ail the privilèges of the Crown and has obtained the control of finance, public works, &c. The Ministry itse'lf is no more than a permanent committee of the Législature trusted with the carrying on of laws and measures edicted by parliament.

4. — The présent position of the House of Commons and tlie Legislative Assemblies of the varions provinces, is the resuit of long and persistent struggles of the community for the management of public affairs. It is a triumph of the) démocratie element. It savours strongly of republicanism and I must here observe that, whilst Créât Britain and Canada enjoy suoli institution, although they are stylea monarchial eoun tries, the Republie of the United States (4) has vestted into its president the sole poweT of selecting and appointing the ministers — an anomaly which is in direct opposition with the republican principle of a government by the people.

William Pitt on proposing the bill for Canada, said that the division into two governments would hâve the effect of leaving the Prench-Canadians alone by themselves and to give a home to the English speaking émigrants in a separate province. Was he afraid of the possibility of the new corners being absorbed by the French, or did he believed that the création of a colony on the border of the United States might put a barrier to the eventual invasion by settlers from those parts? We cannot say, but it is sure enough that the two Canadian nationalities were kept isolated from one another for a long time.

4. Washington and his colleagues merely copied the administration of George III.

FIRST PARLIAMENT OF UPPER CANADA

Mr. Adam Lymburner, a merehant of Quebec and agent for Canada, was heard before the Honse of Commons, on the 23rd March, against the bil'l. He said: “The new province will be entirely eut off from ail communications with Great Britain. . . They cannot carry on any foreign commerce but by the intervention and assistance of the merchants of Quebec and Montreal; they will, therefore, hâve little reason to correspond with Great Britain, and few opportunités of mixing in the society of Britons. How far these circumstances may operate in gradually weakening their attachaient to the kingdom I shall leave to the reflection of the honorable members . . . It may, perhaps, be said that Britain has been burthened already too long with the expenses of our civil government. . . but it has not been our fault. I might hâve been otherwise many years ago, if our pétitions had been attended to. . . We consider it a duty we owed to the empire, to relieve Great Britain of that charge, but if the province is divided, it will most effectually destroy our hopes and good intentions in that respect. . . What the inhabitants of the province want is nothing more than the principles of the English constitution . . . and that may be granted without injury to any class of people in the province or the interests of Great Britain.” I pass over a variety of other interesting matter in Mr. Lymburner’s discourse.

Mr. Pitt stated in the debate that the population of Upper Canada amounted “to only ten thousand inhabitants” which is taken as correct, but he added that “the Lower Province is not more thant a hundred thousand” whilst the census of 1790 comprising both provinces has 224,466.

Nu me tous pétitions were addressed to the Commons during the debate. The traders saw in the measure great impediments for commerce. It was pointed out also that the

FIRST PARLIAMENT OF UPPER CANADA

custom duties would be paid in Quebec, tbus depriving Upper Canada of that branch of revenue. Burke spoke in favour of the division into two provinces, alleging the incompatibility of two languages, habits, religions, Sc. put togetber. Foi, bis best friend until then, stood against tbe division, but asked that the legislative council be elected by the people. He said that the Canadians should feel that they were equally as well treated as the Americans. “They must remain loyal to Great Britain by their own will : we cannot keep them otherwise.” Fox and Burke never were in good tenus from that moment (5).

Lord Dorchester was in England. On the 18th tSTovember 1791 Lieut.-Governor Alured Clarke issued his proclamation from Quebec, fixing the boundary line between Upper and Lower Canada to take effect on the 26th of the next month. Lieut.-Colonel John Graves Simcoe arrived that autumn and spent the winter in Quebec. In the early sumimer he started westwards, and on July 8th reached Kingston. After the swearing in of the following members of his Executive Council he began formai deliberations : William Osgoode, James Baby, Peter Kussell, Alexander Grant were consulted (6). Soon after seven membersi were called to the Legislative Council: Richard Duncan, William Robertson. Robert Hamilton, Richard Cartwright, Jr., John Mimro, Alexander Grant and Peter Russell. The two last ones also belonged to the Executive Council, as noted above.