We learn with regret that the young Province of Manitoba was, last September, threatened with an invasion of lawless persons from the United States. But we are happy to be informed that prompt measures for resistance were adopted by the local authorities, and attended with the best results; that in order to reassure the people of the Province, and to prevent a recurrence of the outrage, Your Excellency ordered a force of two hundred militiamen to be sent to Fort Garry; and that, notwithstanding the inclement seson of the year, the troops surmounted the difficulties of the march with energy and success, thus proving not only their own discipline and endurance, but also the value of the route through our own territory.

We thank Your Excellency for the promise that the accounts of the expenditure occasioned by this expedition will be laid before us, and we will give our most attentive consideration to the Bill to in demnify the Government which Your Excellency has been pleased to inform us we shall be requested to pass.

We are grateful also to Your Excellency for the intimation that a copy of the Treaty made at Washington last year between Her Majesty the Queen and the United States of America, in which the Dominion has so great an interest, will be laid before us, and that so much of the papers and of the completed correspondence as can be made public without injury to the interests of the Empire or of Canada will also be at once submitted for our information; and we will respond to Your Excellency's invitation by giving our best attention to this important subject.

We rejoice to learn from Your Excellency that a conference was held at Ot. tawa in September last, on the subject of Immigration, at which the Government of the Dominion, as well as those of every Irovince, were represented; and that a scheme for joint and several action was provisionally arranged, to which Your Excellency is pleased to invite our attention. We shall be well inclined to make ample provisions for the encouragement of Immigration, with the maintenance and extension of which the development of the vast natural resources of Canada is so vitally interwoven.

It gives us great pleasure to be officially informed by Your Excellency that since last Session the union of British Columbia with Canada has been happily consum. mated, and that her representatives now take part in our deliberations.

We thank Your Excellency for recalling our attention to the fact that in order to

open up and settle the fertile Territories of the North West, and to link British Columbia therewith, it will be necessary for Parliament to make provision for the construction of a Railway to the Pacific Ocean, in conformity with the terms of Her Majesty's Order in Council, uniting British Columbia with the Dominion, and for reminding us that an appropriation was made in the last Session for the preliminary Survey of the route for this Railway; and we are glad to learn from Your Excellency that the work has been diligently prosecuted, and that a report of the progress achieved will be laid before us.

We concur with Your Excellency in thinking that the long contemplated improvement and extension of our system of Canals ought to be vigorously prosecuted, and that the rapid increase in the trade of Canada, and the importance of competing for and accommodating the commerce of the Great West, render it necessary that the means of transport by water should be cheapened and facilitated. As requested by Your Excellency we will give our serious consideration to this subject, and in connection with it to the expediency of providing a direct water communication between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy.

The decennial Census having been taken last year, and the duty of re adjusting the representation in Parliament of the four Provinces originally constituting the Dominion, having devolved upon Parliament now, according to the terms of the Union Act, we shall not fail to give our best attention to the measure for the purpose which Your Excellency is pleased to inform us will be submitted for our consideration.

-Our attentive consideration will also be given to the Bills relating to the Judges of Superior Courts, to the regulation and management of the Public Lands and Mines of the Dominion in Manitoba and the North West Territories, and for the amendment of the laws relating to the Public Health, which Your Excellency has also been pleased to say will be presented to us, among other

measures.

We are grateful to Your Excellency for the expression of your satisfaction in recurring to our counsel and assistance at this period; and we beg leave to recipro cate Your Excellency's congratulations on the general prosperity of the country, and the fortunate issue of the steps taken to unite and cons. lidate the vast territories which now form the Dominion.

Your Excellency may rest assured that we shall continue to devote the same as

Hon. Mr. ROBERTSON, said in seconding the Address, that it was not necessary that he should detain the House at any length after the very eloquent remarks that had fallen from the gentleman who had preceded hin. He might say at the outset that he thought the House might safely assume that the people of the Dominion had great cause for thankfulness when they considered the state of Canada as a whole. There was one subject on which there could be no difference of opinionnamely, the auspicious recovery of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, which was a subject for rejoicing to the people of every part of the British Em pire. The state of the finances was exceedingly satisfactory, and he had no doubt that with judicious management there would be no necessity for increasing the burthens of the people of the Dominion. The revenue of the country appeared to be perfectly sufficient at the present time, not only for the ordinary expenses of the Dominion generally, but for the purpose of extending and improving the communications of the Dominion by means of Canals and Railways. He hoped that the scheme for the encouragement of Immigration would lead to the early settlement of our newly acquired possessions, and no effort should be wanting to carry out this object so indispensable to the progress of

a young country.

Hon. Mr. LETELLIER DE ST. JUST said that it was not his intention to provoke discussion after the remarks that had fallen from the two gentlemen who had just resumed their seats. He congratulated the House on the presence of the members from Manitoba and British Co lumbia, and there could be no doubt in the minds of any one that they would render very valuable assistance to the work of legislation. He was confident that the remarks made by the hon. gentleman from Manitoba-that the people were deeply attached to British institutions were heard with peculiar satisfaction by the House, and would be read with pleasure by the people of the whole Dominion, who had no other desire

than to see that section peaceful and prosperous. He hoped that whenever the Government took measures for connect. ing Canada with British Columbia, they would adhere to the resolution they had brought up in the other branch-that the line should be constructed, not at the expense of the Dominion, but through the agency of companies (hear, hear, from Ministerial benches). In conclusion he expressed his hope that the Government -and he referred especially to the Minis. speedy measures to improve the navig1. ter for Marine and Fisheries-would take tion of the St. Lawrence, so as to prevent such casualties as occurred last year.

Hon. Mr. DICKEY said that since no

controversial discussion had arisen it would be a breach of Parliamentary eti quette and propriety to make any lengthy remarks. He did not intend to make a speech, but simply wished to express the satisfaction he felt as a representative of Nova Scotia to find that the

Government

water

intended opening up communication between the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of St. Law rence-a scheme in which he had always taken the deepest interest and had done his best to promote under the convic tion that it would be a great benefit to the whole country.

In answer to Hon. Mr. BUREAU,

Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL stated that the papers relative to the Treaty would be laid on the table at the same time they were submitted to the Commons, though he could not state the exact day; and there would be ample opportunity given for discussion.

The Address was adopted.

Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL moved, seconded by Hon. Mr. MITCHELL that the said Address be presented to His Excellency by such members as are members of the Privy Council. Carried.

The House then adjourned until Tues. day at 3 o'clock.

1871,-and Supplementary Statement and Return of Bedford for the year 1870,

NEW MEMBER.

Mr. CUMBERLAND, the newly elected member for Algoma was introduced by the Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald and the Hon. Sir Francis Hincks, and took his seat.

THE ADDRESS.

Mr. NATHAN (of Victoria, British Columbia): I have the honor to move an Address in reply to the speech of His Excellency the Governor General, which Address, I feel convinced, will commend itself to every member of this House. In being entrusted with the duty of moving this Address, I fully appreciate the com pliment that has been paid the Province to which I belong, and in performing the duty, I crave that indulgence which this House is accustomed to accord to those who address it for the first time. The recovery of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales must necessarily be a matter of congratulation to every loyal Canadian, and the demonstrations of joy and thanksgiving that have been evinced by British subjects throughout the world cannot fail of awakening pleasurable feelings in the breasts alike of her most Gracious Majesty, H. R. H. the Prince, and all the Royal Family. It will be our duty on Monday to assist in giving formal expression to the sense of gratitude of the Canadian people to the Almighty for the great mercy he has vouchsafed us. and I feel convinced that in no part o. Her Ma. jesty's Empire will there have been a stronger or more sincere demonstration of joy than here. We fully appreciate the necessity of the postponed meeting of Parliament, in view of the existence of grave considerations justifying that course, Again, since the last meeting of the House, has the peace of the country been dis turbed by a threatened invasion of law less individuals from the neighboring Republic. to Thanks, however, the promptness of the Government and the friendly action of the United States authorities, the evil was averted. The facility offered by the vast extent and scattered population of this country, to evilly disposed persons, to enter upon such nefarious undertakings would ap pear to call for measures of protection at

to, as well as on previous occasions of a similar nature, the Canadian soldier had upheld his character for courage and endurance. Although circumstances prevented them meeting the disturbers of the tranquillity of their country face to face, their discipline and energy were fully proved by their successfully overcom. ing the obstacles of a march to Manitoba, through such a difficult country and at a most inclement season of the year, in so short a period. I am sure I only re-echo the feelings of all Canadians when I say that no reasonable expenditure on the part of the Government will be begrudged in defending the country from those outrages, and that the expenses that have been incurred in connection with the case in question, will be cheerfully voted. I trust that the marked and ignominious failures of all the efforts these filibusters have yet made, will deter them from making any further attempts in the same direction. We are glad to be informed that the Treaty of Washington which touched upon affairs of so much interest to this Dominion will

be laid before the House, and that other communications bearing upon this important subject will be presented for our consideration, and I doubt not that the action taken will be that best calculated to conserve the true interests of the country. It must be universally gratifying to learn from His Exceliency's speech that so many subjects likely to promote our best interests have received that attention which their importance demands, not the least of which is the question of Immigration. It is most satisfactory to know that a scheme for the encouragement of that movement will be laid before the House which will doubtless have the effect of attracting a larger share of European emigration to these shores than has hitherto reached us, and which will help to populate this large Dominion extending from ocean to ocean, and capable of supporting SO many millions of souls. Money devoted to such an object cannot be more advantage. ously invested for population only is needed to make this Dominion one of the richest countries in the world. The admission of British Columbia must also be a subject of congratulation to this House. By confederation with that Province you have secured a territory of 220,000 square miles, a land rich in metals, rich in coal, rich in timber, rich in fish, whose valleys

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are natural pastures. A country that, with its enormous resources, must ere long take its stand amongst the foremost Provinces of the Dominion. Apart from the natural, the inherent wealth of the Province, you have, by this connection, secured an outlet for commerce on the Pacific seaboard, which must afford incalculable advantages, and moreover such a measure was necessary as one of the steps in forming a compact nation out of a number of disunited Provinces, which, with adverse interests, and with local prejudices and no machinery for counteracting these prejudicial influences, would never have commanded attention and respect, or gained that degree of prosperity which to-day characterized the Dominion. I need not say the House is fully prepared to make provision for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, in accordance with the terms of union with British Columbia, as it is in fact a work of vital importance to the welfare of the Dominion. Among the many advantages we may expect from the building of that road is the populating of the Great North-West, a country surpassing any on the continent as a wheat pro ducing district, and the giving to that fertile land markets both on the Atlantic and Pacific shores of this continent. It will further offer us the means of competing for, and probably securing, the bulk of the trade between Europe and Asia, which must bring to the Dominion great accession of wealth, and so enable her to occupy the place to which she is entitled by her vast territory and favorable geographical position. It is a source of gratification to learn that the preliminary survey of this road has been vigorously prosecuted. The extension of the canal system was a work of great importance, as well as a question of settling public lands in Manitoba and the North West Territory. The increase of the revenue of the Dominion was a mat. ter for congratulation, indeed such increase was the best index of the general prosperity of the Dominion, for which the country was not a little indebted to the financial policy of the Government (hear, hear.) It was highly gratifying to know that the work of consolidating the various Provinces had been carried out in a constitutional manner.

The honorable gentleman resumed his seat amid hearty applause.

Mr. CARTER-În rising to second the Address, said it would be impossible to find in the history of any Colonial Legis. lature that subjects of greater importance than those alluded to in His Excellency's

speech has been submitted for considera. tion. Of the many important subjects alluded to I believe there is not one which commends itself more warmly and strongly to honorable members than the reference which has been made to the recovery of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales and the appointment of a day of thanksgiving. All parties, without distinction as to nationality, religion, or political creed, will give a hearty response to the words of His Excellency. We should feel it our duty to return our thanks that it has pleased Providence to avert the threatened danger, and to restore to health the heir to the British Throne.

The next paragraph in the speech alludes to the postponement of the meeting of Parliament, and I have no doubt, Mr. Speaker that we shall find that the delay was prompted by a desire to serve the best interests of the country. The recent invasion of the young Province of Manitoba by lawless persons from the United States is next referred to, and we have reason to congratulate the country on the prompt and successful measures for resistance taken by the local authorities, and by the Government in sending aid to the inhabitants of the Province in order to prevent any recurrence of similar troubles. To the volunteers themselves too much praise cannot be given for the prompt and efficient manner in which they discharged their duty at a season of the year when it was considered almost impossible for them to surmount the difficulties of a march to Fort Garry. The importance of the Treaty of Washington cannot be overrated. We must look back to the time anterior to the events which took place, and which resulted in the appointment of the High Commission. There was a great feeling of anxiety in the country owing to the unsettled state of the relations between England and the United States. Fortunately the clouds of war which threatened us have been dispersed, and the effect has been a quietening of the public mind and a restoration of the trade of the country. It would be premature to enter into a discussion of the details, the time for that will be when the papers are brought down. It is evident, however, from the manner in which the treaty was framed that England had every desire to extend her protection to Canada, and to sustain us in our undoubted rights, and I think that we have reason to congratulate ourselves that Her Majesty should have selected as Commissioner that distinguished statesman, Sir John A. Macdonald. The subject of immigration is