Document Information

Date: 1864-06-17
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Parliament, Scrapbook Debates, 8th Parl, 2nd Sess, 1864 at 200-201.
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

———

FRIDAY, 17th June, 1864.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at three o’clock.

Ministerial Explanations

Étienne Pascal Taché [Canada East, appointed 1848, Premier, Minister of Militia, and Receiver General] said it became his duty to state the reasons which had induced him to ask an adjournment of the House for the two days past. On Tuesday night, when the motion in the Lower House affecting a monetary transaction of the year 1859 had been carried, his hon. colleague the Attorney General [John A. Macdonald] had moved the adjournment of the House. After the adjournment the Executive Council held a meeting, and after a full consideration of the position, had come unanimously to the conclusion that they were entitled to advise His Excellency [Viscount Monck] to dissolve the present Parliament and appeal to the people.

In accordance with this decision, he (Col. Tache) had called upon His Excellency [Viscount Monck] at two o’clock on Wednesday, and represented to him the position of affairs, and stated to him the decision to which the Administration had arrived. His Excellency [Viscount Monck] asked time to consider the question, and he (Col. Tache) had asked leave to further discuss the question with His Excellency [Viscount Monck], with the Attorney General [John A. Macdonald, which was granted.

At noon on the same day the subject was again discussed with His Excellency [Viscount Monck], and to-day His Excellency had placed in the hands of the Government the fullest permission to dissolve Parliament. But in the difficult position in which they found themselves placed, with the indispensable legislation of the year incomplete to, they had considered that it was not desirable immediately to have recourse to a dissolution. They were of opinion that it was desirable to close the session, and at the same time he (Col. Tache) could say with certainty that negotiations had been entered upon which might, be hoped, prevent the necessity of a dissolution at this time. Having had but a few hours since the definite answer of His Excellency [Viscount Monck] to consider such measure as it might be necessary under the circumstances, to adopt he had again to ask that the House would adjourn until Monday next.

• (p. 201)

Alexander Campbell [Cataraqui, elected 1858, Commissioner of Crown Lands] repeated the explanations in English.

BILLS FROM THE ASSEMBLY.

A number of private bills from the Legislative Assembly were read a first time, and ordered for a second reading on Monday next.

The House then adjourned.