previously taken the oath, according to | with Louis Riel, the leader of the rebellion law, took his seat in the House. in the Territory, and one of the men charged with the murder of Thomas Scott.

Twenty-six Petitions were brought up and laid upon the Table.

The following Petitions were received and read:

Of the Montreal Telegraph Company, praying for certain amendments to the Acts incorporating the said Company.

Of John Proctor and others, of the city of Hamilton, praying for an Act of incorporation, under the name of the Bank of Hamilton.

Hon. Mr. TILLEY laid before the House, by command of His Excellency, Tables of the Trade and Navigation of the Dominion of Canada, for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1871.

Hon. Mr. MORRIS laid before the House, by command of His Excellency, Report, Returns and Statistics of the Inland Re. venues of the Dominion of Canada, for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1871.

Mr. COLBY introduced a Bill (No. 3) to repeal the Insolvency Laws,-Second reading on Thursday.

Hon. Sir F. HINCKS laid before the House, by command of His Excellency, Public Accounts of the Dominion of Canada, for the fiscal year ending 30th June,

1871.

On motion of Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD, & Special Committee was appointed, composed of Hon. Sir George E. Cartier, Hon. Sir Francis Hincks, Hon. Messrs. Tilley, Langevin, Howe, Holton, Chauveau, McKeagney, Dorion and Mackenzie, and Messrs. Burpee, Walsh, Morrison (Niagara), Gendron, Bolton, Houghton, DeLorme (Provencher), and the mover, to prepare and report Lists of members to compose the Select Standing Committees ordered by this House on Thursday last, the 11th instant.

On motion of Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE, an Address was voted to His Excellency, for copies of all correspondence between the Government and Lieut.-Governor of Manitoba, regarding the disposition of the Crown Lands in that Province by Grants or Sales, with copies of Memorial or Petition addressed to the local authorities or the General Government on the subject, and the replies thereto; also copies of all Proclamations or Orders in Council on the subject, and reports of, and correspondence with Mr. McMicken, Land Commissioner. Also, a further Address, for copies of all correspondence with Lieut.-Governor A. G. Archibald, of Manitoba, and Mr. Mc. Micken, Land Commissioner, regarding the Fenian Invasion of Manitoba, and the intercourse of the saîd Lieutenant-Governor

And a further Address, for copies of report of Engineers or others appointed to investigate the location of the Canal across the St. Clair Flats on the Canadian side of the Channel by the Gov. ernment of the United States, with copies of all Orders in Council, and correspondence with the Imperial Government, or others on the subject.

On motion of Mr. FOURNIER an address was voted to His Excellency the Governor General for copies of all correspondence between the Government of the Dominion, that of the Province of Quebec, and Hon. Mr. Justice Bossé, with respect to the refusal of that Hon. Judge to comply with the order of the Government of Quebec, directing him to reside at Montmagny, in the District of Montmagny.

CROWN LANDS IN MANITOBA,

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE, in moving for the correspondence regarding the disposition of the Crown Lands in the Province of Manitoba, said: It would be recollected by the House that very great difference of opinion existed in the House at the time of the discussion on the Manitoba Bill as to the effect which setting apart 1,400,000 acres of land would have upon the settlement of that Province. A gentleman on this side of the House asserted at the time that the Bill as passed, providing for so large a reservation, would be quite cer tain to produce complications of a very difficult and disagreeable character in that Province. These anticipations were realized, as every one knows who has paid any attention to the course of events. Immediately after the opening of the season last year, a large number of people emigrated from the old Province of Canada to the new Province and found themselves in a position of very great difficulty. The officer administering the Government of that Province declined to take any measures whatever to enable these people, who had gone under circumstances of great hardship and difficulty to settle there-to secure land: but affirmed his determination of securing to those for whom these reserves were intended the first choice in locations, even though the emigrants had taken possession of and settled upon the land. He had letters in his possession showing that many of these people were driven from the ground which they had improved by some of those Half-breeds, who claimed the

and settle in Others had been advised by himself and his friends to take land, if Governor Archibald under instructions from Ottawa should refuse to them the right that they had to take po session, they should dare him to remove a British subject from the soil (laughter).

gulations, will be protected in the enjoyment thereof, whether the same be pre-emption or horaestead right, provided they respectively enter for such right with the land officer, and otherwise carry out the provisions of the said regulations in that behalf, within three months after the survey shall have been made."

Every man therefore going to that country had a right to select his own location and on the conditions named in the notice being fulfilled his right would be maintained. In order that there might be no mistake instructions were also given as to the mode of running the base lines so that they would not be afterwards disturbed in their improvements. The instructions were as follows:

"In settling on the lands, parties will require to bear in mind the system of survey adopted, by which the lines run due East and West, and North and South, and the 160 acres or quarter section is an exact square of half a mile each way, under which system alone pre-emption or homestead rights, based upon settlement previous to survey, will be recognized."

Under these orders every emigrant had a right to go into possession.

The honorable gentlemen had said that some of these persons had been disturbed. That might be the case and if any such outrages had taken place they were greatly to be regretted. But it must be remem bered that the country had been in a very One portion of the popu troubled state. lation had been armed against the other, and an armed resistance had been offered to The the authority of Rupert s Land. troubles arising out of this state of things could not be expected to disappear at once. Such outrages, however, were not likely if they did occur

reason

Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD in reply said, that there would not be the slightest objection to the motion of the honorable gentleman being adopted by the House. The papers would be sent down. He would, however, say with reference to the remarks of the honourable gentleman, that the Government think they have taken every step possible for them to take for the purpose of expediting the survey and settlement of that country. It would be remembered that before Canada had ob. tained possession of the North West, and while it was still under the sovereignty of the Hudson's Bay Co., the Canadian Gov. ernment had asked the Company to permit them to send in surveyors to occur again, He had every for the purpose of laying out to believe that every man entering into townships, &c., SO that everything peaceable possession of the soil would must be ready for the large immigration be protected by the law and by the Govexpected there, and that those surveys ernment and would be free from disturbhad made considerable progress when they ance of any kind. Upon the opening of were stopped by the inhabitants of the navigation at least fifty surveyors would country. It would also be recollected by be sent into the country. The whole of the House that the first thing done by the the Province of Manitoba (except that Government after the union of the North portion of it near the boundary line beWest with the Dominion, was to send in as tween the United States and the Province, many surveyors as could be procured for which line has not yet been fixed) would the purpose of preparing the country for be surveyed in the course of the present settlement. These surveys could not be year, as would also at least 100 townships done in a moment, they required both outside the Province, in that portion of the time and skill. Meanwhile, as settlers country where treaties have been made and in, in order with the Indians. goin once take that the they might at lands, Order in up Council was passed, providing that any person going there and taking possession of land should, under certain regulations, be supported in that possession. This Order in Council was afterwards put in the form of a notice which runs thus:

were

an

"Parties found upon the lands at the time of

survey having settled upon and improved the same in good faith, as settlers under the land re

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE asked whether Governor Archibald's Proclamation of June 9th, 1870, was issued with the consent of the Government; if not, whether his attention was called to the violation of law and order in that proclamation.

Hon. Sir JOHN A MACDONALD replied that if the honourable gentleman would give notice of his question, he would get a full answer.

PACIFIC RAILWAY.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE in moving for copies of all tenders or proposals for the construction of the Pacific Railway, and for copies of Orders in Council relating thereto, said that it was of the greatest importance that any such tenders or proposals received by the Government should be laid before the House as soon as possible. He had a precedent for this in the case of the Intercolonial Railway, when a similar motion was made, and certain tenders were brought down.' He thought it was very unfortunate that some of them were not accepted, instead of adopting the course the Government did. Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD would say that there were no such propositions in the strict sense of the word. A letter had, however, been addressed to himself, which, as it was not marked private, might be considered as a quasi-official document. This letter was signed by Sir Hugh Allan on behalf of himself and certain other gentlemen, and contained a proposition for the construction of the railway, but as he had understood from that gentleman that he was desirous of substituting another proposition, he (Sir John) would not like to bring down the letter without the writer's consent.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE asked whether there were any more quasi-official proposals.

Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD replied that there were not, and that there were no Orders in Council on the subject.

The motion was then withdrawn.
FENIAN INVASION OF MANITOBA.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE moved for the correspondence regarding the Fenian invasion of Manitoba and the intercourse of Lieutenant Governor Archibald with Louis Riel, the leader of the rebellion in the Territory, and said that it had been stated in the papers coming from that Province at the time of the invasion of the country, by one of Riel's former associates, O'Donoghue, that Riel himself was one of the parties who had promoted the invasion by the Fenians, and in a letter from Mr. McMicken, published in the papers, it was stated that he (Riel) had induced a number of his friends to abstain from responding to the call of the Governor upon the people to assist in expelling the invaders. It was also stated that this personage presented himself with a number of his followers, close to the residence of the Lieut. Governor, and that he (the Lieut.-Governor) had received and

embraced him for whose arrest it was said

he had previously issued a warrant. He House to the matter again and in another would probably call the attention of the way. He based his motion on the stateMcMicken's letter, and would reserve furments made in the newspapers and Mr. ther remarks until the papers were brought down. He (Mr. McKenzie) would however ask whether it was not due to the House that the circumstances connected with the withdrawal of Lt. Governor Archibald should not be

stated to the House. It was the first

instance of the kind that had been before the House, and he desired to know whether that retirement had been produced by any correspondence from the Dominion Government, or whether it was the effect of the public events in the Province upon the Lt. Governor's mind.

Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD said that

the papers would be brought down. He would say, however, that it would have been better if the honorable gentlemen had reserved all his remarks. He had said just enough to show the nimus which dictated be drawn prematurely into showing anythe motion. He (John) would not thing like а contrary animus, but would allow the matter to stand until the papers were before the House. As to the resignation of Governor Archibald, he would say that the honourable mem. of expression, in his allusion to the withber was very unguarded in his mode

Mr.

drawal of Governor Archibald. There had been no withdrawal by the Govern. ment. The resignation by Mr. Archibald was an act of his own, without suggestion or indication from the Government. Archibald was appointed during his (Sir John's) illness, but he afterwards fully recognized the wisdom of the appointment and still did so. Under the circumstances of the case of having to go into the country with an army at his back, it was not an enviable appointment, and he went there purely from a sense of duty and at the strong instance of the Government. At the time of his going he made it a condition that he should return at the end ofa year, and in December last he (Sir John) received a letter from Mr. Archibald stating that the year had more than passed. and that he desired to be relieved, and enclosed his resignation. He did not consider it advisable to recommend its acceptance, but since then Mr. Archibald has pressed for it in such a manner that no option was left to His Excellency's advisers, but to advise the acceptance of the resignation.

ST: CLAIR FLATS CANAL.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE moved

for

connection

copies of papers relating to the location
of the Canal across the St. Clair Flats. He
alluded to certain events that took place
at Washington in
with the Treaty, which showed
that the Canadian Government had tacitly
acknowledged that the United States held
dominion over that portion of the lake.
Every person acquainted with the naviga-
tion of the Lake and River St. Clair, knows
that the canal is built on Canadian pro-
perty, and he therefore desired informa-
tion on which the action of the Govern-
ment was based. The result will be that
if this canal is recognized as being upon
American ground, there will be no possibi
lity of a Canadian vessel finding its way
from Lake Huron to Lake Erie if the

Americans choose to close the Canal

against us.

Mr. BEAUBIEN admitted that the district was injured by the non-residence in it of Judge Bosse, but thought that Mr. Fournier's remarks were prompted by party spirit. He thought it only right that the Judge should be made to reside at Montmagny.

such matters, but while the Local Government had undoubtedly power to assign the duties of the Judges and their Dis. tricts whenever there was a failure in disonly be sought through that Government charging the duties, and redress could in which the power to impeach Judges rested, namely, the Dominion Government, and the appeal therefor lay primarily to the Minister of Justice, and ultimately to the House. He thought the real point had not been met by hon. gen. to a formal motion without meeting its tlemen opposite, who had merely assented real features.

Hon. Sir GEO. CARTIER said the motion was simply for any correspondence on the subject, and the Government were not called upon to answer any further question. If, when the papers were brought down, the mover desired to obtain any

statement from the Government on the subject, they would then meet him in the

matter.

The motion was then carried.

CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS,

Hon. Mr. BLAKE asked whether it was

the intention of the Government to intro.
duce during the present session a measure
providing for the trial of controverted
elections; and if so, whether they intend-
place before judges.
ed to provide that these trials should take

Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD re

plied that a measure would be introduced for the trial of controverted elections in Manitoba and British Columbia only, and with regard to the latter part of the quessame manner as in Ontario and Quebec. tion, the trials would be conducted in the

Hon. Mr. BLAKE then gave notice that he should move that the trials should take place beforę judges.

In reply to Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE,

Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD stated that the papers respecting the Washington Treaty would be laid before the House to-morrow.

The House then adjourned at 4:20.

Hon. Mr. HOLTON said that the object of the motion was not merely to obtain the correspondence in the matter, but to elicit some statement from the Government as to what they intended to do in the matter, and he thought it only fair that the Government should state distinctly the real position of the question. He had heard the matter discussed elsewhere, and he believed the Judge was requested by the Quebec Government to take up his residence according to law within the limits of his District, but that he had hitherto refrained from doing so. He (Mr. Holton) was not able to say whether the Judge had actually refused to do so, but what the member for Bellechasse desired to ascertain was, what the Minister of Jus< tice proposed to do and what redress would be afforded to the District which had suf. fered from the failure of the Judge to perform the duties required by law? There was a difference of opinion as to which After presentation of a number of PeGovernment had control of the Judges in titions from Dominion Board of Trade,

SENATE.

WEDNESDAY, April 17, 1872.

The SPEAKER took the chair at 3 o'clock.

NOTICES OF MOTION.