Document Information

Date: 1864-06-21
By: Province of Canada (Parliament)
Citation: Province of Canada, Parliament, Scrapbook Debates, 8th Parl, 2nd Sess, 1864 at 202.
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

———

TUESDAY, 21st June, 1864

The SPEAKER took the chair at three o’clock.

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS.

The Hon. Mr. SEYMOUR presented the third Report of the Committee on Contingencies, which was ordered to be taken into consideration to-morrow.

PRIVATE BILLS.

The time relating to the reception of private bills was, on motion of Hon. Col. TACHE, extended until Tuesday, 28th inst.

The Ministerial Crisis

Étienne Pascal Taché [Canada East, appointed 1848, Premier, Minister of Militia, and Receiver General] stated that the basis of the negociations which had been opened some days ago, and continued until to-day, had been accepted. There were, however, some matters of detail to be arranged, and he hoped to-morrow to be able to lay the whole negociations before the House. He therefore moved the adjournment of the House.

A.J. Fergusson Blair [Brock, elected 1860] said he was aware that the custom was during the time of a Ministerial crisis to adjourn from day to day. But he thought it might be advisable to go through the private bills and advance them a stage.

Étienne Pascal Taché [Canada East, appointed 1848, Premier, Minister of Militia, and Receiver General] had no objection, if the House so desired it, that the unopposed private bills should be advanced a stage.

Luc Letellier de Saint Just [Grandville, elected 1860] said that as the statement was made that the basis of the negotiations had been accepted, it was due to the House that that basis should be made known. Matters of detail, which were not yet decided upon, of course the House had no right yet to be informed concerning them.

Étienne Pascal Taché [Canada East, appointed 1848, Premier, Minister of Militia, and Receiver General] said the hon. gentleman had himself been an Executive Councillor, and must be aware that there were things which could not be made known to Parliament. The details of which he spoke were intimately connected with the basis, and he could not therefore make any statement. He could assure the House that when the statement was made to-morrow, it would be found to afford to the House the fullest information, and he hoped satisfaction.

A.J. Fergusson Blair [Brock, elected 1860] said that the basis having been agreed upon, he considered that the House should be placed in possession of it. When it was submitted to-morrow, those who were in the secrets of the principal parties to the negotiations would be placed at a disadvantage; a discussion of it would probably take place. There were various rumors as to the negotiations, which implied important constitutional changes, and it was desirable that the House should be put in possession of them as soon as possible.

Alexander Campbell [Cataraqui, elected 1858, Commissioner of Crown Lands] said it was most undesirable that an incomplete statement should be made. His hon. friend the Premier [Étienne Pascal Taché] had already announced that to-morrow he would be able to lay before the House a full statement of the negotiations; but it must be manifest that the terms on which such a statement was made were matters of great importance, and should be agreed upon by the parties to it before it was made.

After a few remarks from Luc Letellier de Saint Just [Grandville, elected 1860], which were inaudible in the gallery, the House adjourned at half-past three o’clock.