_ tion of Mr. Rae, to prepare

-———

”

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY IS, 1848.

TRIUMPH AND EXPOSITION OF RESPONSI BLE GOVERNMENT AS APPLICABLE 10 THE COLONIES.

“ Now the hurly-burly’s done, Now the battle’s lost and won.”

In Nova Scotia, the Reformers or Advocates of Re- sible Government, have, at length, obtained a signal snd decisive triumph, ‘Their persevering and consistent -endeavours have, after a long, but never doubtful strug- gle, been crowned with complete SUCCESS 5 and their enemies—the friends and supporters of arbitrary power _-have been disgracefully routed, and shamefally driven from the field. Itis true, that the Colonial Secretary does not altogether coincide in opinion with the Liberals, as respects the application of general principles ; still, however, he has graciously and unhesitatingly conceded to then, as is observed by a correspondent of the Eas- tern Chronicle, every great principle for which they con- ‘tended; and they have now Responsible Government, Party Government, and Government by Heads of Depart- ments. '

We heartily congratulate our brother Reformers in Nova Scotia, upon the successful issue of their political eampaign, and upon the triumphant and happy position whieh they now occupy—a position whence, without let or hinderance to the prosecution of their liberal and’ pa- triotic views, they may dispense all the blessings of good government to a Province, long, like this Colony, the theatre of misrule, and the prey of an unprincipled and rapacious official clique or fumily compact.

Our love of freedom, and of good government is, we flatter ourselves, sufficiently strong, to induce us sincere- ly to rejoice with such as have reason to rejoice on account of their enjoyment of these social blessings, even although bat slightly participating in them ourselves; but, on this occasion, we must confess that—confidently anticipating, for this Colony, the speedy concession of a boon, as great, important and beneficial, as that which has just been yielded to the Nova-Scotians,—we are, if we inay so express ourselves, selfishly alive to their good fortune, and felicitate them thereon with more warmth of feeling, than, perhaps, we should have experienced, had we not looked upon their happiness as a certain augury or precursor of our own. Desen

‘The Despatch of Earl Grey, the Colonial Secretary, to Sir John Harvey, in which he conveys his approbation

of the views of the Liberal Party in Nova Scotia, is a most statesman-like document, free from all ambiguity, either studie| or accidental, and harmonizing through- out with the liberal and enlightened spirit of the times. To the British Colonies, this document—freely,but autho- ritatively, proceeding from the Imperial Government— is fully of as much value and importance, as, to the three United Kingdoms, by themselves considered, was the celebrated declaration of the people’s rights and liberties, by the English Parliament, i: 1689, at the commence- ment of the reign of William IIf, and Mary. By this imperial edict—asg, with very little, ifany, impropriety, ‘we think we may call it—it is declared that British Co- tonists shal! no longer be treated, like aliens or bonds- men, in their father’s house; but, as a legitimate pro- geny, shall, henceforth, be fully entitled to the free exercise and enjoyment of all the social and constitu- tional privileges,which—bought and earned by the blood

“and wisdom of their ancestors—ought, without diversion or interruption, ever to have been regarded as their right- ful inheritance. We have a strong desire to be able to lay, before our readers, the whole of this highly important and very interesting document; but its length, which— out present curtailed dimensions borne in mind—is con- siderable, and the quantity of legislative matter which, every week. occupies so muchi of our space, preclude all reasonable thoughts of our doing so ander existing cir- cumstances: We have, however, made from it a selec- ‘tion of the most prominent passages; which fully eluci- date the great principles of that system of Colonial Government which it recommends and authorizes, and plainly indicate the course to be pursued for its establish- ment, (when the aspect of affairs shall be fayourable thereto,) in any Colony in which it does not yet prevail ; and to these selections, accompanied by some observa- tions of our own, intended to point out the real changes which will be effected, in the government of this Colony, by the introduction of the Responsible System, we hope to be able to give a place in our next number.

SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS.

‘Since cur last No. the time of the House of Assembly has been taken up, principally, in attending to the usual routine business of the Session, and in carrying through their various stages, a few Bills of minor importance.

Oa Saturday, a Bill, placing an Embargo,on Potatoes was passed,—a Bill to-prevent the running at large of Speep and Goats in Charlottetown, and a Bill to regulate

the standard weight of Grain and Pulse, were also pass- edion the same day. A Bill to regulate the measure- ment of Coal was introduced by Mr. J. Longworth, and read a first time.—A Committee was inted, on mo- an Address to the Lieutenant Governor, asking for the Accounts of the Commissioners

THE EXAMINER.

Whelan presented a Petition from John Le Cart, certified by a number of the inhabitants of Cascumpeque, praying aid towards the completien of a Light House on the shore of Cascumpeque, commenced by Petitioner. —The hon. Speaker laid before the House a letter from His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, in reply to the Speaker’s notification that a vacancy existed for the re- presentation of the First District of Prince County, by the removal of the Hon. James Warburton. The pur- port of His Excellency’s letter is—that he could not issue a new writ, as his doing se, would be contrary to the advice of the Crown Officers. Mr. Paliner made a few observations in reference to this letter—urging the House, to vindicate before tae Imperial Government, the resolution they had adopted in reference to the seat of the Hon, Mr. Warburton, and intimating that an injus- tice might be done tothe character of the flouse by suffering an er parte statement to go before Her Majes- ty’s Ministers. He concluded by moving for a Commit- tee to search for precedents, which Commitiee was appointed.

The principal part of Tuesday was occupied in dis- cussing a Resolution submitted, by Mr. Palmer, to be made the groundwork of a Bill to provide for the pay- ment of Legislative Councillors, . resident ever. twenty miles from Charlottetown, for their services in Session. |The Resolution, though apparenily involving no party considerations, was steadfastly opposed by those gentle- men in the House who differ in political opinions from Mr. Palmer, and it was as steadfastly supported by his friends and allies. Mr. Duncan McLean, who is gene- rally, of late days, found voting with Mr. Paliner, wanted to go a step further than the hon. mover of the resolution, and proposed, in amendment, to Petition the Queen to recompose the Legislative Council. Dr, Conroy, who is always wonderfully eloquent in his after-dinner speeches, seconded Mr. McLean’s proposition in a very spirited address, in which he showed the manifold evils which result from not having a Council composed of persons from different parts of the country, who ought to be the servants of the House of Assembly, and not an iuter- mediate Branch, as the House of Lords, in England, to decide between the Crown and ihe People. in the eyes of the learned Doctor it was highly dangerous. to the interests and liberties of the subject to tolerate gentle- men inthe Legislative Council, possessing considerable private fortunes, and persisting to live in aad about Charlottetown. Mr. McLean’s amendment was, how- ever, very ungraciously received by his other political friends, who, »while admitting it to be necessary, were unanimous in condemning it, because it would be found impracticable; and we did, at one time, seriously appre- hend, that the amicability and brotherly love, which have so delightfully distinguished the companionship of our political adversaries, would be disturbed orjendanger- ed; but fortunately tor the future harmony of the poli- tical residents of the Victoria, Mr. McLean, after a little palaver, was induced. to withdraw his motion, and mat- ters. went on swimmingly for the remainder of the after- noon,—und gentlemen on both sides having fully and fairly let off their steam, allowed Mr, Paliner’s resolu- tion to go toa division, when it was carried 10 to 8. The Resolution, which was then reported to the House, is as follows:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that .it is expedient to. provide for payment of the expen- ses of attending the Legislature, which may be incurred by all Members of the Legislative Council residing at the distance of twenty. miles or upwards from Charlotte- town.

Before the question was put, Mr. Whelan moved the following amendment, which was lost on a division of 8 to 10. ii en 3

Resolved, ‘That it is inexpedient to adopt any measure, contemplating payment to Legislative Councillors—in- asmuch as the principle has never been advocated or recognized by the members of the Legislative Council themselves—as it would entail an injudicious expendi- ture ofthe public money, and no proximate or perhaps ‘remote advantage result from it; and as the measure has never yet been asked for by any portion of the people.

We have much pleasure in being able to congratulate the gentlemen “strangers” of the Legislative Council, on the fact of their having been made the subject of much eloquent declamation and denunciation on the part of the supporters of the Resolution,—their manner

_|of conducting the debate shewed the features of “ Snar-

lerism” in an admirable light.

MUTUAL INSURANCE AGAINST FIRE.

In pursuance of announcement, a public meeting was held, in the Masonic Hall, to take into consideration the expediency of forming a Company for mutual insurance against fire. Mr. W. Heard was called tothe Chair; and, after he had briefly stated the object of the meeting, he called upon Mr. Harris more fully to explain and

to be governed, and the advantages which would accrue

to the members of it. This duty was ably performed by that gentleman, who concluded his exposition by read- ing a Code of Rules. After him, D, Reddin, Esq., Mr. Cross, and several other gentlemen addressed the meet- ing. A Committee was then appointed for the purpose

s2ppointed last year to euperintend the appropriation of On Monday the Coal Meters’ Bill. was submitted to #

of ascertaining how far the Scheme would be encourag- ed by the real owners (for euch only are-to be admitted

point out the pencils by which such a Company ought!

Rid

|Gommittee of the whole House, and diseussed.—-Mr, | members) of Dwelling Houses, Out Houses, or other

THO BRAVIA, [om

| Buildings ‘in Charlottetown. The principal object in ‘view seems to be the effecting of a reduction in therate i? insurance, But, should the achéme go irito successful operation, we think another great advantage will accom- pany it: We mean greater security of life and property, im general, against accidents from tire ; for, as the pafties insuring ‘will be their own insurers, and liable to the risk, it is only reasonable to infer that they will exertvise the greatest caution for the prevention of accidents by fire; and thus, the general risk. even amongst such as cannot become members of the Company, will be greatly diminished,

_~s---

THE CURRENCY—THE POST OFFICE—AND THE LAND TAX.

In our suminary of the Businéss of the House of As- sembly, printed in another column,we oinitted to mention that part of Tuesday was occupied in discussing several of the topics alluded to in the Governor’s Speech at the opening of the Session, the House being in Committee. These were the Currency, the Post Office, and the Land Tax. 7 |

Respecting the first, Mr. Palmer moved a resolution to the effect, that the Currency be defined and establish- ed by Jaw, Mr. Rae moved an amendment, that the present rate be established, which was lost by a majority

‘of one. There was very jittle discussion upon this sub- |ject—members generally displaying a positive reluctance ito grapple with the details of so dry a question... We confess we were a little disappointed at finding the hon. Speaker and the member for Charlottetown fighting shy of it, and acknowledging their information, respecting it, to be very imited ; especially as we were led to believe |that the Currency was one of those subjects they had ‘brought under the especial notice of Earl Grey, during itheir sojourn in England. We had felicitated ourselves with the hope, that we should find these gentlemen wera ‘become very able financiers,and that,with their increased ‘knowledge of the subject (for we presumed their know- ‘ledge must have been greatly enlarged to enablethem to lecture Karl Grey, and many of their former crude notions respecting the value of inconvertible paper,entirely aban- doned) there would be very little left for other hon. members of the House to.say upon the question, and that through the wisdorh of these gentlemen, our monetary affuirs would undergo a speedy and efficient reform’; but, alas! with some people, knewledge is like a coy maiden— the more she is.courted, the more obstinately she flies from them; and we are left to lament that success, in this respect, has failed to crown the efforts of the late Delegates,

As to the Post Office, 12 motion was made by Mr. Thornton for a Committee to prepare-a Bill upon the subject. In speaking of this matter, the hon. Speaker censured the late Governor because he did not appoint a Commissioner to go to Canada, in conjunction with the Commissioners from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, to represent to the Governor General the Postal arrange- ments, and other matters connected with the interests of the Colonies; and because Sir Henry Huntley him- self went to Canada, and drew money from the Treasury to pay his expenses thither and back.’ Now, a it is not our particular province to explain or defend the acts of the late Governor, we consider it due to him and to the country to state, that he was commanded by the Colonial Minister to go to Canada, ‘to lay before His Excellency, the Governor General, the general affairs of the Colony—that, although he drew the necessary sum to defray his expenses from the casual revenue, he had authority from the Home Government to replace the money out of the Crown Land Fund, which has since been put to the general credit of the Colony—that pre- vious to Sir Henry’s departure for Canada, he was ignor ant of the fact that Commissioners were to be sent from the lower Provinces, and that as this Island had no ma- terial interest in the plan and construction of the great Railway, to which the attention of the Commissioners was-to be more particularly directed, and the subject of the Post Office being the only one to challenge the eon- sideration of a Commissioner from this Island, Sir Henry Huntley was competent to put Lord Elgin in possession of the most material facts connected with it—and that, on his return to the Colony, he transmitted a report from the Deputy Post Master General to His Excellency Lord Els gin; which report, in connection with the personal repre- sentations of the late Governor, must have answered, we presume, every useful purpose. Now these are the facts; and we have no doubt they wil] have more weight upon the oe mind than the unsupported censure of the Speaker. eon

MA Resolution to continue the Land Tax at the pre-

sent rate, elicited some discussion. Mr. Rae |

that the Yate upon Wilderness Land be eontatiand that the increase be effectedby a separate Bill. A little discussion ensued upon this proposition, but it was finally

dropped, and the resolution for to the continuance of the old Tax, was adopted. '

;

| Notwithstanding the amount of original matter which

pre have crammed into our sheet to-day, we find that, in addition to some miscellaneous paragraphs of newa, we are unable to give insertion to some short editorial ‘articles; but which we will endearonr to insert in aap _plementary sheet on Monday, . aaa

eo