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Date: 1866-08-08
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Parliament, Scrapbook Debates, 8th Parl, 5th Sess, 1866 at 81-82.
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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

WEDNESDAY, August 8th, 1866.

The Speaker took the chair at three o’clock.

A message from His Excellency with additional supplementary estimates was laid before the House for the year ending 30th June, 1867.

For the purchase of improved firearms for the militia force……….. $250,000

Expense of billeting and transportation of the Chicago engineers, incurred by the city of Toronto. $1,025

Printing of general index internals of Legislative Assembly from 1832 to the end of the represent Parliment……………….. $6,000

Total………….. $257,025

Mr. BLANCHET asked whether it is the intention of the government to take the necessary steps for the establishment of a winter port in the Lower part of the River St. Lawerence.

Mr. CARTIER was understood to ask the hon. gentleman to allow the question to stand.

Mr. THOMPSON asked whether it is the intention of the Government to re-establish the Custom  House at Caledonia, on the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railroad?

Hon. J. A. MACDONALD said the Government did not intend to do so.

Mr. JONES (South Leeds) asked whether the Government have taken into consideration the means to be employed to preserve the waters of the large Lakes north of the Rideau Canal, by the erection of Dams ash the outlet of Lakes in the Township of Louborough and Bedford, examined and reported upon by Mr. Rowan, of the Department of Public Works, and subsequently by Messrs. Slater and Merrill; so that the navigation of the said Rideau Canal may not in a few years altogether fail to be of service, not alone to that section of the country lying between Ottawa and Kingston, but to the Provinces at large.

Mr. CHAPAIS’ answer was not heard in the gallery.

Mr. JONES (South Leeds) read an extract of a letter from an old M.P. on the subject, saying that the Rideau Canal would soon be rendered unmanageable for two or three months every year. It is scarcely navigable just now, and when the country becomes cleared off it will be still worse. He read another letter, saying that nothing would benefit the Rideau Canal so much as the preservation of the waters leading in to the canal.

Mr. JONES (North Leeds) asked whether it is the intention of the Government to pay the Ottawa Postmaster a stated salary, or to allow him to be paid as at present, by commission.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL WEST was understood to say that the Postmaster of Ottawa would be placed on a stated salary, in accordance with the regulations of the Department.

Mr. WALLBRIDGE asked whether it is the intention of the Government, prior to Confederation, to introduce a system of Superior Military Instruction in connection with the Universities or Colleges of Canada, or any one of them, or specially by the establishment of a Military Institute for the purpose?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL WEST.—Not before Confederation.

Mr WALLBRIDGE asked whether it is the intention of the Government immediately to adopt measures for converting the Enfield Rifles now in store or in armoires of Canada into breech loaders, or is it intended to arm the Volunteers of the Province with the latest patterns of breech loading or repeating rifles?

Hon. J. A. MACDONALD replied that the Governor-General had made a requisition on the Home Government, for a supply fo the most improved fore-arms with suitable ammunition.

Mr. JONES (North Leeds) presented the report of the Special Committee to investigate and report upon the Mineral Lands on the North Shore, &c. He suggested that 500 copies ought to be printed.

Hon. J. A. MACDONALD said the notices of motion should be gone over, and as many struck off as possible. It was useless to pass these motions for returns which could never come before this Parliament, and which would be of no use under Confederation.

Mr. McKENZIE said it was utter nonsense to proceed with them at all. They should alb struck off.

Objections were taken to this, and the notices were proceeded with, with the understanding that they should be fairly disposed of. They were all dropped except for the following:

Mr. J. S. ROSS—Address—-Return of sales of Crown and Clergy Lands in the County of Dun; as.—Carried.

Mr. ROBITAILLE—Address—Copy of Report of Pierre Fortin, Esq.—Carried.

Mr. BOURASSA—Address—Omission of the names of J. U. Tremblay and H. Barker, Esquires, from last list of Commissioners for summary trail of small causes, in the Parish of St. Bernard de Lacolle.—Carried.

Mr. DUNKIN—Address—Correspondence between the Government of this Province and the Imperial Government: status of Naturalized subjects of Her Majesty.

Mr. DUNKIN withdrew the above at the request of the Atty.-General, after explaining the importance of having the point determined, as to the actual protection enjoyed by naturalized citizens, and that when the delegates were in England arranging the Confederation scheme this ought to be lost sight of.

Mr. McFARLANE—Address—Copy of the Charter of the “Canada Company,” &c.

Mr. McFARLANE, in moving this, said it was of the utmost importance to his constituents that the manner in which that company had conducted its affairs should be investigated by this House. He spoke at some length on the injury to the country by the large amount of land which that company had kept locked up from settlement, or had held at unreasonably high prices.

Hon. Mr. McFARLANE desired to continue his remarks, but the House would not listen. In fact, throughout the afternoon the House declined to be entertained by any member at very much length.

Mr. DICKSON also spoke upon the subject saying he would be glad to have the Canada Company’s affairs investigated, but the case ought to have come up at an earlier period of the Session. He thought the local Government of Upper Canada would deal with it.

Mr. McFARLANE declined to withdraw his motion, and the House divided, when it was carted. Yeas, 56; Nays, 23. The result was received with laughter, several Ministers having voted in the minority.

Mr. McFARLANE asked what course the Government intended to pursue. (Laughter.)

Mr. POWELL was authorized to say the Member for Perth was prepared to assume the responsibility. (Laughter.)

Mr. O’HALLORAN—Address—Report of Commissioners appointed to investigate losses incurred on the Missisquol Frontier by means of the late Fenian invasion—Carried.

Mr. CHAMBERS—To refer to a Special Committee the return to an Address on the 21st June—recent military movements on the Niagara Frontier.

Mr. CHAMBERS attempted to make a speech, but, during the time he kept his feet, every word he uttered was drowned b y the frightful noises kept up in all parts of the House.

Mr. WALSH rose to a point of order. Since the honorable member had failed to get a hearing from this House, he would recommend him to have his speech printed in the New York Herald. (Cheers and laughter.)

Mr. CHAMBERS resumed and so fit the noise, more loud and discordant than before.

Mr. RYAML said he hoped the Speaker would stop the disgraceful root and noise, and allow the hon. member to proceed with his remarks.

Mr. SPEAKER said the hon. gentleman’s eloquence had greatly excited the House (great laughter and cheers.)

Mr. CHAMBERS resumed, but this time the noises were louder and more discordant than ever, supplemented with many strange sounds, the chirpings of birds, the croaking of bull-frogs and even the barking of dogs.

Mr. CAUCHON moved that the speech be delivered that day six months (laughter.)

Mr. CHAMBERS would speak to that motion—He continued, when it was objected that he had no seconder.

Mr. SCATCHERD—I will second it.

Mr. CHAMBERS continued in the midst of the din, which almost drowned the sound of his voice, and rendered every word unintelligible. After the lapse of some time,

Mr. RANKIN said he had no doubt the subject upon which the hon. member was speaking was one of great interest, if members could only hear what he said. (Laughter.) He begged to suggest to him the propriety of raising his voice a little and coming forward to one of the front desks. (Great Laughter.)

Mr. CHAMBERS continued with the same discordant accomplishment, occasionally varied with a verse of a song.

Mr. GIBBS rose after some time and begged that the gentleman be heard, as he had been grossly misrepresented on a former occasion.

Mr. CHAMBERS was then listened to quietly for a few minutes, when he spoke in the same strain as formerly regarding the management of the recent Volunteer movements, and, urged an investigation into the conduct of the military authorities.

When the motion was put Mr. Chambers insisted on the Yeas and Nays, but discovering […]

• (p. 82)

[…] that no one was likely to vote for it, bit himself, he consented to withdraw it. 

Mr. McKELLAR.—Committee of the Whole—Fees of Registers, V.C., for Thursday.—Carried. 

Mr. BIGGAR.—Concurrence of the House in the Report of the Special Committee on subject of Canal between the Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario.—Carried. 

Hon. Mr. ROSE.—Concurrence in the First and Second Reports of the Joint Committee on the lIBrary of Parliment.—Carried. 

Mr. OLIVER, seconded by Mr. Jones, (North Leeds) moved that an address be voted for a grant of land toe very Volunteer who shall have served five years. 

Hon. J. A. MACDONALD would be happy to recognise the claims of the Volunteers, but the wild lands of the Province would in future being to Upper and Lower Canada. He also thought the true way to settle wild hands was to give them to actual settlers. Pecuniary reward would he believed be better appreciated by the Volunteers.

Mr. JONES (North Leeds) dissented totally from the remarks of the Attorney-General. He though the brave Volunteers were entitled to some recognition at the hands of the Government, and a grant of land of 100 acres to each, would be nothing more than fair compensation for their services, whether they should settle on the lands or not.

Mr. OLIVER was very glad he had got the expression the Attorney-General West’s opinion in favor of free grants of land. He withdrew the motion.

Hon. J. A. MACDONALD said as some member had been absent during part of the session, doing duty on the frontier, it would only be just that they should receive their sessional allowance in full, as if they had been attending to their duties in this House. (Hear, hear.)

Hon. J. SANDFIELD MACDONALD—Address—Appropriation for a Bust of the late Honorable Robert Baldwin. 

Hon. J. S. MACDONALD—He merely desired to bring the subject before the notice of the Government, as an appropriation which every man in the House would sanction. He hoped the Government would carry out the suggestion. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. DUNKIN thought the name of the late Mr. Baldwin could hardly be mentioned without remembering that of his distinguished Lower Canadian associate—the late Sir L. H. LaFontaine. He thought any appropriation should include the busts of both of these gentleman.

The House rose at six o’clock. 

After Recess.

Mr. TASHEREAU moved the third reading of the bill to amend the Lower Canada Game Laws. 

Mr. BOURASSA moved the three months’ hoist. 

Hon. Mr. ROSE hoped the hon. gentleman would withdraw his opposition and allow the bill to pass. 

After further conversation the members were called in and the House divided, when the amendment was lost. Yeas 30; Nays 50. 

An amendment excluding the whole country east of Quebec from the operation of the bill was carried. Yeas 52; Nays 24. 

An amendment to the amendment extending the exemption to the district of Montreal was carried. Yeas 41; Nays 38. 

Another amendment to exempt the district of Three Rivers was carried. Yeas 53; Nays 23. 

The bill was then dropped. 

Mr. ARCHAMBEAULT moved the third reading of the bill to amend Chapter 15 of the consolidated, statutes of Lower Canada respecting public education.—Carried. 

The following bills were read a second time:

To amend the Act instituted, “An Act for the better regulation of Fishing and protection of Fisheries.”—Mr. Pope. 

To amend the Act relating to abuses prejudicial to agriculture.—Mr. Bellerose. 

To amend 29 Victoria, Chapter 39, instituted, “An Act to impose a tac on dogs, and to provide for the better protection of sheep in Upper Canada.”—Mr. Wright. 

To explain the meaning of certain provisions of the Seigniorial Act.—Mr. Archambeault.

To amend and extend the provisions of the fifth Section of Chapter eighty-seven of the Consolidated Statutes for Upper Canada.—Mr. Smith (Durham.)

To amend the Act respecting the Inspection of Leather and Raw-hides.—Mr. Somerville.

To extend and explain the Powers and Duties of the Trinity House of Quebec—Hon. Mr. Alleyn. 

To amend the Commissioners Court Act for Lower Canada (from Legislative Council).—Mr. O’Halloran. 

To amend chapter 114 and 124 of the Consolidated Statutes of Upper Canada, respecting Appeals in and Returns of cases of Summary Conviction before Justices of the Peace.—Mr. T. C. Wallbridge. 

To amend Chapter twenty-seven of the Consolidated Statutes for Lower Canada, “respecting Masters and Servants in the Country parts.” (from the Legislative Council)—Mr. Bellerose. 

To amend “The Medical Act of Upper Canada” (from Legislative Council)—Mr. Parker.

On motion of Mr. BOURASSA, the amendments made by Legislative Council to bill (No. 8) to amend chapter 26 of Consolidated Statutes for Lower Canada, in so far as it relates to certain Water Courses, were read a second time. 

On motion of Mr. McKELLAR, the House went again into Committee on the bill to amend and consolidate the several acts respecting the Municipal Institutions of Upper Canada.—Hon. J. H. Cameron in the chair. 

The Committee rose and reported the bill. 

Hon. J. A. MACDONALD gave notice that he would move that an extra sitting be held on Friday, at 10 a.m.

The House then adjourned.