Document Information

Date: 1864-03-28
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Parliament, Scrapbook Debates, 8th Parl, 2nd Sess, 1864 at 110.
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

MONDAY, March 28th, 1864

The Speaker took the Chair at three o’clock.

After the presentation of petitions—

NIAGARA ELECTION COMMITTEE

Mr. McKellar presented a report from the General Committee on Elections, stating that the following gentlemen have been appointed to try and determine the merits of a petition, complaining of an undue election and return for the town of Niagara, viz: Messrs. John Macdonald, David Ford Jones, George Sylvain, Alfred Pinsonneault, and Edmund B. Wood, Chairman.

ESSEX ELECTION COMMITTEE

Mr. McKellar, from the General Committee on Elections, reported the following gentlemen as having been appointed to try and determine the merits of a peitition, complaining of an undue election and return for the county of Essex, viz: Messrs. Jos. E. Turcotte, M. Laframboise, J.H. Bellerose, Jos. Rymal, and T.C. Street, Chairman.—The hon. gentleman, in presenting this Report, remarked that it was not usual to name on these Committees hon. gentlemen who had occupied the Chair of this House. The name of the hon. member for Three Rivers (Mr. Turcotte) had been placed on the Committee because it was unavoidable; and he (Mr. McKellar) thought it right to make this explanation in submitting the report.

Mr. Chapais made a similar explanation in French.

COMMITTEE ON CONTINGENCIES

Mr. Simpson presented the second report of the Committee on Contingencies.

RETURNS

Hon. J.S. Macdonald laid on the table the following returns:

Certain accounts and documents relating to macadamized roads in the county of Wentworth.

Returns relative to Excise Officers in the county of Hastings.

Return of documents relative to the Intercolonial Railway.

The Ministerial Crisis

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia]—I find my hon. friend, the member for Montreal East [George-Étienne Cartier], in his place, and as he kindly consented for the last two or three days to give the House explanations as to the progress made in the formation of a Government, perhaps, before I make a motion for adjournment to-day, the hon. gentleman will make such explanations as are due to this House in view of its action in adjourning from day to day during the crisis, and as are due to his own position in reference to the matter.

George-Étienne Cartier [Montreal East]—Mr. Speaker, I am happy to state to you and this House that such progress has been made as to enable me to announce to this House that a new Administration will be formed which will possess the confidence of this House.

Some Hon. Members—Loud laughter from the Ministerial benches.

George-Étienne Cartier [Montreal East]—A portion of the departmental arrangements are not yet fully completed, but to-morrow, at the next sitting of this House I will be in a position to state them.

Some Hon. Members—Hear, hear.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia]—I am very glad to hear such a promise, and the assurance also, which we all desire to see realised, that such an Administration will be formed as will command a majority of this House.

Some Hon. Members—Laughter.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia]—I assure you it will be a matter of very great satisfaction to us, on the side of the House, if the hon. gentleman shall succeed thus far.

Some Hon. Members—Loud laughter.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia]—I am aware he has had a difficult and peculiar task, but we shall see what we shall see to-morrow. The hon. gentleman has given us some hope that there is shortly to be an end of the labor, and that when all the departmental arrangements are made we shall have an Administration that will command the confidence of the country. I congratulate him upon this prospect, and as we are exceedingly anxious to afford him every opportunity—

Some Hon. Members—Laughter.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia]—of which he stands in need—he has not failed to make every point of the compass, to box the compass all around, in order that he may succeed in forming an Administration. I shall have very great pleasure in moving that this House do now adjourn.

Some Hon. Members—Hear, hear, and laughter.

Joseph Cauchon [Montmorency]—You have tried to box it too.

Some Hon. Members—Laughter.

John Sandfield Macdonald [Cornwall, Premier, Attorney-General West, and Minister of Militia]—You are in a box, and will not get out of it.

Joseph Cauchon [Montmorency]—They’ll put you in a bag and throw you into the river.

Some Hon. Members—Laughter.

The motion was carried, and the House adjourned at half-past three, P.M.