Document Information

Date: 1866-06-11
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Legislative Assembly, Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, 8th Parl, 4th Sess, 1865 at 23-27.
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To assure His Excellency that we are grateful for his expression of pleasure at availing himself of our advice in carrying on the Government and trust with him that there will be found in the magnificent Buildings erected in the City chosen by Her Majesty as the Seat of Government increased facilities for the despatch of Public business, while they will prove adequate to the great future of this Country.

To thank His Excellency for having directed to be laid before this House the proceedings of the Council of Trade, including Representatives from the different Provinces of British North America, which His Excellency has informed us that he convened, immediately after the termination of the last Session of Parliament, by instructions, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies; and also papers relating to the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States of America, and to the negotiations on the subject of our Commercial relations with that Country.

To agree with His Excellency that it has now become still more imperative to open, by an extension of the trade of the Country with other Nations, new Markets for the varied products of our Industry.

To assure His Excellency that this House will give its best attention to the Report which His Excellency has been pleased to announce his intention of communicating to Parliament as soon as received from the Deputation representing the Colonies of British North America, which in consequence of the notice for the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty, His Excellency deemed it needful, with the assent and approbation of Her Majesty’s Government, to send during the Winter to the West Indies and Brazil, to ascertain the best means of developing and extending Commercial relation with these Countries.

To express to His Excellency the great pleasure with which this House has learned that the threats and preparations for attack on Canada constantly and openly made by a body organized in the United States of America, and, known as “Fenians” having compelled His Excellency, since Parliament rose, by the advice of his Ministers, to call out for active service a large portion of the Volunteer Militia Force of the Province, the spirit displayed by the people and their ready response to His Excellency’s Proclamation have received the well merited approval of Her Majesty’s Government.

To agree with His Excellency that the events which have occurred within the last few days afford additional proof of the necessity for the precautionary treasures adopted.

To rejoice with His Excellency that the Province having been invaded by a lawless band of, Marauders, they were promptly confronted and within twenty-four hours compelled to make a precipitate retreat.

To unite with His Excellency in deploring the loss of life and sufferings which have been entailed upon the gallant body of the Canadian Volunteers, in the engagement which took place in repelling so promptly the Invaders who had attacked the Country; and to assure His Excellency that we shall not omit to alleviate, as far as may be in our power, the miseries so wantonly inflicted on many families.—But while grieving for their individual loss, to express to His Excellency the feeling of pride with which this House accepts his congratulations to the Country on the fact of the first note of danger having shewn that Canada possesses in Her Volunteers a body of men ready to peril their lives in defence of their Queen and Country.

To concur with His Excellency in the belief that the entire people have been thoroughly aroused by recent occurrences; and that it must now be apparent to all, that the whole resources of the Country, both in men and means, will at any moment be cheerfully given in repelling any Invasion of their homes.

To express to His Excellency the high gratification of this House at being informed that, in the measures of defence which lie has been called upon to take, lie has received the unremitting support of the Lieutenant General Commanding, and of Admiral Sir James Hope, and to assure His Excellency that it is to this House, as well as to him a source of unfeigned pleasure to acknowledge the gallant devotion displayed by the Officers and men of Her Majesty’s Military and Naval forces in Canada.

To rejoice with His Excellency that the President of the United States has issued a Proclamation declaring that serious infractions of the laws of that Country have been and are being committed, by evil disposed persons, within the Territory and Jurisdiction of the United States, against the British Possessions in North America, and requiring Officers of his Government to exert every effort for their repression; and to unite with His Excellency in trusting that the course thus adopted will ere long prevent this country from being subjected to further attacks from the Citizens of a Nation on terms of amity with Great Britain.

To assure His Excellency that the maintenance of the Force on active duty, which the Government has been compelled to call out, having involved an Expenditure to a large amount which was not provided for by the votes of last Session, this House will cheerfully concur in passing a Bill indemnifying the Government for this unavoidable departure from the provisions of the Audit Act.

To thank His Excellency for having invited the immediate attention of this House to the consideration of a measure for extending to Lower Canada the Act, chapter ninety-eight of the Consolidated Statutes for Upper Canada, to protect the Inhabitants of that section of the Province against lawless aggression from subjects of Foreign Countries at Peace with Her Majesty, of which recent occurrences have shewn the necessity, and also of a measure similar to that enacted in the present Session of the Imperial Parliament for the temporary suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, which had become necessary for the preservation of law and order.

To express satisfaction at being informed by His Excellency that he has fixed, by Proclamation; the first day of August next as the time at which the Civil Code of Lower Canada, passed in the last Session of Parliament, shall come into operation; and that the Code of Civil Procedure of Lower Canada as reported by the Commissioners, will be submitted for adoption during the Session.

To convey to His Excellency a sense of the gratification with which this House has learned from His Excellency, that the position which the great question of the Union, of the Provinces of British North America has assumed is now such as to induce the expectation that the measure will be shortly carried into effect; and that His Excellency therefore hopes and believes that it will be found practicable during the present session to adopt such proceedings as may be necessary for completing the details of the scheme as regards this Province, and entertains the confident expectation that the next Parliament which will be held within these walls will not be confined to an assembly of the Representatives of Canada, but will embrace those of all the Colonies of British North America.

To thank His Excellency for his congratulations on the general prosperity which pervades all classes of the Community in the Province, and to unite with His Excellency in praying that our Councils may be guided by Divine Providence to secure that which is the true end of all Government, the moral and material advancement of the great body of the people.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:

We, Her Majesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Council of Canada, in Provincial Parliament assembled, respectfully thank Your Excellency for Your Gracious Speech at the opening of the present Session.

We are grateful for Your Excellency’s expression of pleasure at again availing yourself of our advice in carrying on the Government, and we trust with Your Excellency that there will be found in the magnificent Buildings erected in the City chosen by Her Majesty as the Seat of Government, increased facilities for the despatch of public business, while they will prove adequate to the great future of this Country.

We thank Your Excellency for having directed to be laid before us the proceedings of the Council of Trade, including representatives from the different Provinces of British North America, which Your Excellency has informed us that you convened immediately after the termination of the last Session of Parliament, by instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies; and also the papers relating to the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States of America, and to the negociations on the subject of our Commercial relations with that Country.

We agree with Your Excellency that it has now become still more imperative to open, by an extension of the trade of the Country with other Nations, new Markets for the varied products of our industry.

We will give our best attention to the Report which Your Excellency has been pleased to announce your intention of communicating to Parliament as soon as received from the Deputation representing the Colonies of British North America, which, in consequence of the notice for the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty, Your Excellency deemed it needful, with the assent and approbation of Her Majesty’s Government, to send during the winter, to the West Indies and Brazil, to ascertain the best means of developing and extending commercial relations with those Countries.

It has been with great pleasure that this House has learned that the threats and preparations for attack on Canada constantly and openly made by a body organized in the United States of America, and known as “Fenians,” having compelled Your Excellency since Parliament rose, by the advice of Your Ministers, to call out for active service, a large portion of the Volunteer Militia Force of the Province, the spirit displayed by the people, and that their ready response to Your Excellency’s Proclamation, have received the well-merited approval of Her Majesty’s Government.

We agree with Your Excellency, that the events which have occurred within the last few days, afford additional proofs of the necessity for the precautionary measures adopted.

We rejoice with Your Excellency that the Province, having been invaded by a lawless baud of Marauders, they were promptly confronted, and within twenty-four hours compelled to make a precipitate retreat.

We unite with Your Excellency in deploring the loss of life and the sufferings which have been entailed upon the gallant body of the Canadian Volunteers in the engagement which took place in repelling so promptly the Invaders who had attacked the country; and we shall not omit to alleviate, as far as may be in our power, the miseries so wantonly inflicted on many families. But while grieving for their individual loss, it is with a feeling of pride that this House accepts Your Excellency’s congratulations to the country on the fact that the first note of danger having shewn that Canada possesses in her Volunteers a body of men ready to peril their lives in defence of their Queen and Country.

We concur with Your Excellency in the belief that the entire people have been thoroughly aroused by recent occurrences; and that it must now be apparent to all, that the whole resources of the country, both in men and means, will at any moment be cheerfully given in repelling any invasion of their homes.

We are highly gratified at being informed that, in the measures of defence which Your Excellency has been called upon to take, you have received the unremitting support of the Lieutenant General Commanding, and of Admiral Sir James Hope; and we assure Your Excellency that it is to this House, as well as to you, a source of unfeigned pleasure to acknowledge the gallant devotion displayed by the officers and men of Her Majesty’s Military and Naval forces in Canada.

We rejoice with Your Excellency that the President of the United States has issued a Proclamation declaring that serious infractions of the laws of that country have been, and are being committed, by evil disposed persons, within the Territory and Jurisdiction of the United States, against the British Possessions in North America, and requiring all officers of his Government to exert every effort for their repression; and we unite with Your Excellency in trusting that the course thus adopted will, ere long, prevent this Country from being subjected to further attacks from the Citizens of a Nation on terms of amity with Great Britain.

The maintenance of the Force on active duty, which the Government has been compelled to call out, having involved an. Expenditure to a large amount, which wis not provided for by the votes of last Session, this, House will cheerfully concur in passing a Bill indemnifying the Government for this unavoidable departure from the provisions of the Audit Act.

We thank Your Excellency for having invited the immediate attention of this House to the consideration of a measure for extending to Lower Canada the Act, Chapter Ninety-eight of the Consolidated Statutes for Upper Canada, to protect the Inhabitants of that section of the Province against lawless aggression from Subjects of Foreign Countries at peace with Her Majesty, of which recent occurrences have shewn the necessity, and also of a measure similar to that enacted in the present Session of the Imperial Parliament, for the temporary suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, which had become necessary for the preservation of law and order.

It has given us great satisfaction to be informed by Your Excellency that you have fixed, by Proclamation, the first day of August next, as the time at which the Civil Code of Lower Canada, passed in the last Session of Parliament, shall come into operation; and that the Code of Civil Procedure of Lower Canada, as reported by the Commissioners, will be submitted for adoption during the Session.

We desire to convey to Your Excellency a sense of the gratification with which we have learned from Your Excellency, that the position which the great question of the Union of the Provinces of British North America has assumed, is now such as to induce the expectation that the measure will be shortly carried into effect; and that Your Excellency, therefore, hopes and believes that it will be found practicable during the present session, to adopt such proceedings as may be necessary for completing the details of the scheme as regards this Province, and entertains the confident expectation, that the next Parliament which will be held within these walls, will not be confined to an assembly of the representatives of Canada, but will embrace those of all the Colonies of British North America.

We thank Your Excellency for your congratulations on the general prosperity which pervades all classes of the Community in the Province, and we unite with Your Excellency in praying that our Councils may be guided by Divine Providence to secure that which is the true end of all Government, the moral and material advancement of the great body of the people.