Document Information

Date: 1864-06-20
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Parliament, Scrapbook Debates, 8th Parl, 2nd Sess, 1864 at 202.
Other formats: Click here to view the original document (PDF).

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

———

MONDAY, June 20th, 1864.

The SPEAKER took the chair at three o’clock.

BILLS FROM THE ASSEMBLY.

The Speaker announced to the House the receipt of a number of bills from the Legislative Assembly for the concurrence of the Legislative Council. The bills were read a first time, and ordered for a second reading tomorrow.

Intercolonial Railway

Étienne Pascal Taché [Canada East, appointed 1848, Premier, Minister of Militia, and Receiver General] laid on the table

A Return to an Address from the Legislative Council for papers relating to the Intercolonial Railway since last session.

The Ministerial Crisis

Étienne Pascal Taché [Canada East, appointed 1848, Premier, Minister of Militia, and Receiver General] said that on Friday night last he had announced to the House that negotiations had been entered into with a prominent member of the Legislative Assembly—the Hon. George Brown. These negotiations had made some progress; but, as the subject was one of great importance and magnitude, some slight difficulties had occurred, which he hoped he would be able to announce the solution of to-morrow. He would, therefore, move that the House do now adjourn.

A.J. Fergusson Blair [Brock, elected 1860] had no desire to embarrass the Government, and would not, of course, oppose this motion. But he would remind hon. gentlemen opposite that the vote of the Legislative Assembly had taken place on Tuesday night last; and, at this season of the year, it was most inconvenient for members to be detained a moment longer than possible. He hoped, therefore, that no unnecessary delay would take place in bringing the negotiations to a conclusion.

Étienne Pascal Taché [Canada East, appointed 1848, Premier, Minister of Militia, and Receiver General] could assure this House that the Government were fully alive to the importance of an early prorogation of Parliament. He had good reason to believe that a satisfactory solution of the difficulties would be found by to-morrow, and that he would then be able to make a definite announcement to the House.

The Council then adjourned, at twenty minutes past three o’clock.