Document Information

Date: 1864-02-19
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Parliament, Scrapbook Debates, 8th Parl, 2nd Sess, 1864 at 1-2.
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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 

FRIDAY, 19th February, 1864.

After a short interview, the gentleman usher of the Black Rod made his appearance and summoned the members of the Assembly to attend on His Excellency the Governor General [Viscount Monck] in the Legislative Connell Chamber. The ceremony of opening Parliament occupied about half an hour, when, having returned with the members, and calling the House to order.

The Speaker reported that during the recess he had received a letter, giving notice that the Hon. Albert Norton Richards, late member for the South Riding of Leeds, had accepted the office of Solicitor General for Upper Canada, and that consequently a writ was required for a new election for the said Riding; and that accordingly he had issued his warrant to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, to make out a new writ for the election of a new member.

The Speaker also reported that the Clerk of the House had received from the Clerk of the Crown a certificate of the election of David Jones, Esq., as member for the South Riding of Leeds.

His Excellency the Governor General’s [Viscount Monck] Speech was read at length by the Speaker, both in England and French.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia], seconded by Antoine-Aimé Dorion [Hochelaga, Attorney-General East], moved for leave

To bring in the usual pro forma Bill to provide for the administration of the oaths of office to persons appointed as Justices of the Peace in this Province.—Second reading Monday week.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia], seconded by Antoine-Aimé Dorion [Hochelaga, Attorney-General East], moved

That the speech of His Excellency the Governor General to both Houses of Parliament be taken into consideration on Monday next.

George-Étienne Cartier [Montreal East] called attention to the apparent neglect of the Administration in not furnishing advance copies of His Excellency’s speech to leading members of the Opposition, in order that they might have an opportunity of considering it more fully.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia] replied that printed copies of the speech had only been a few hours in circulation, and that he never recollected having received an advance copy of the Governor’s speech whilst in Opposition.

George Brown [Oxford South] remarked that, however, much members differed in political opinion, and however firmly they might be opposed to each other, it was but right that every courtesy should be extended to both sides.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia] was perfectly willing to extend every courtesy to members of the Opposition, and he trusted they would be ready to return the compliment to his side of the House, and that if there was any neglect in this instance it was unintentional.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia], seconded by Antoine-Aimé Dorion [Hochelaga, Attorney-General East], moved

That the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed; being perused by the Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do presume to print the same.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia], seconded by Antoine-Aimé Dorion [Hochelaga, Attorney-General East], moved

That the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed; being perused by the Speaker, and that he do appoint the printing thereof, and that no person but such as he shall appoint do presume to print the same.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia], seconded by Antoine-Aimé Dorion [Hochelaga, Attorney-General East], moved

That Select Committees of this House for the present Session be appointed for the following purposes:—

1^st. On Privileges and Elections;

2^nd. On Expiring Laws;

3^rd. On Railways, Canals and Telegraph Lines;

4^th. On Miscellaneous Private Bills;

5^th. On Standing Orders;

6^th. On Printing;

7^th. On Contingencies;

8^th. On Public Accounts;

9^th. On Banking and Insurance;

10^th. On Emigration and Colonization;

which said Committees shall severally be empowered to examine and enquire into all such matters and things as may be referred to them by the House, and to report from time to time their observations and opinions thereon, with power to send for papers, persons and records.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia], seconded by Antoine-Aimé Dorion [Hochelaga, Attorney-General East], moved

That it be, Resolved,

1^st. That if anything shall come in question touching the return or election of any member, he is to withdraw during the time the matter is in debate; and all members returned upon double returns are to withdraw until returns are determined.

2^nd. Resolved, that if it shall appear that any person hath been elected or returned a member of this House, or endeavored so to be, by bribery or other corrupt practices, this House will proceed with the utmost severity against all such persons as shall have been wilfully concerned in such bribery or other corrupt practices.

3^rd. Resolved, that the offer of money or other advantage to any member of the Legislative Assembly, for the promoting of any matter whatsoever, depending or to be transacted in the Provincial Parliament, is a high crime and misdemeanor and tends to the subversion of the constitution.

The Clerk laid upon the table, in obedience to the Sessional orders of last Session, a list of Bills introduced in the Legislative Assembly or brought from the Legislative Council, during said Session, with his certificate of the stage at which proceedings were suspended thereon, in the order in which they stood on the day on which Parliament was prorogued.