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Date: 1854-10-07
By: The Globe, Dumfries Reformer
Citation: “The Fruits of Coalition” The Globe (7 October 1854).
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THE FRUITS OF COALITION.

From the Dumfries Reformer.

The first measure introduced by the Tory-corruption alliance is now before the Country. The Hon. Mr. Morin has introduced the Government measure promised in the speech relative to the change in the constitution of the Legislative Council. Will it be believed, that in purporting to make that body elective, the Ministerial Bill proposes to allow the present member to hold their seats for life? In addition to the present number there are to be sixty elected members, thirty for Upper and the same number for Lower Canada. The third is to be elected every two years, the constituencies by which they are to be elected to be determined by lot. Such are the prominent features of this highly conservative measure of McNab, Cayley, & Co. The former Government was singularly unfortunate in the change they proposed to make in the Canadian House of Lords. The measure was received by the country with such unmistakeable signs of disapprobation, that its framers were glad to withdraw it. That measure, bad as it was, made provision for the gradual extinction of the Legislative Council as at present constituted. If our memory serves us right, one third of the number was to retire on the passing of the bill, one third at the end of two years thereafter, and the remaining third at the expiration of other two years. If this measure was distasteful to the country, we think that which proposes to give the present obstructives a life lease to legislate for Canada, will be infinitely more so. The proposal to make the Legislative Council elective, was made in deference to what was supposed to be the voice of public opinion on this subject, and we trust that the discussion that will take place on the odious measure now introduced by the ministry will show the utter and entire uselessness of such a body as the Legislative Council in the machinery of a Provincial Legislature. In this age of utilitarianism the question will naturally arise, what is the use, and whence arises the necessity of an Upper House? For our own part, nothing would please us better than to see the whole thing abolished at once. Without any earthly use, its existence will burden the country with a large and an unnecessary expense—a burden that the people will not long tolerate.

We would like to see the members of the Fourth Estate take up the discussion of this matter. We rank ourselves without hesitation, among those who consider that the necessities of this Province in no way require the existence of any Upper House, and we therefore propose that the Legislative Council be abolished, and its present members respectfully requested to snuff themselves out of existence as Canadian Senators.