JOURNALS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. UESDAY, the twenty-eighth day of the month of February, in the twenty-third year Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, being the Third Session of the Sixth Provincial Parliament of Canada, as continued by several Prorogations to this day. The Members in attendance in the Building prepared for the accommodation of the Legislative Council, in the City of Quebec, were: The Honorable NARCISSE F. BELLEAU, Speaker. His Excellency the Right Honorable Sir EDMUND WALKER HEAD, Baronet, one of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, Governor General of British North America, and Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Island of Prince Edward, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c., &c., &c., being seated in the Chair on the Throne, the Speaker commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, to let the Assembly know "It is His Ex"cellency's pleasure they attend him immediately in this House." Who being come, His Excellency the Governor General was pleased to open the Session by a Gracious Speech to both Houses. Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council: Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly : I have much pleasure in announcing to you, that your Joint Address of last Session inviting the QUEEN to visit Canada, has been laid at the foot of the Throne, and that Her Majesty's Most Gracious answer will forthwith be placed in your hands. You will see with satisfaction that we may hope for the honour of receiving His Royal Highness the PRINCE OF WALES, in such a manner as will prove the hearty loyalty of all ranks among us. Negotiations have been carried on by the Post Master General, for securing the transmission through Canada of a large portion of the correspondence between Europe and America. The result of these negotiations has been such as to shew that the advantages of the route by the St. Lawrence are fully appreciated. At the same time care has been taken to represent properly to Her Majesty's Government, the position and claims of Canada with reference to the postal subsidies granted to Ocean Steamers. The Commissioners appointed to report on the boundary line between Upper and Lower Cauada, have completed their labours, so as to enable you to pass a bill for the settlement of this long pending question. The Government have received suggestions from many sources with reference to the measure introduced last Session for the Consolidation of the Municipal Law of Lower Canada, and a bill will be submitted to you, which may enable you to effect this important object. I congratulate you on the issue of the Consolidated Statutes of Canada, and of Upper Canada. I trust soon to see the same work completed for Lower Canada, and when this is done, we may hope that it will be followed by the further assimilation of the Laws in force in both sections of the Province. I desire to call your attention to the expediency of considering the law of Debtor and Creditor in Commercial matters, as it exists both in Upper and Lower Canada, with a view to further legislation on this difficult subject, and I think too that the present system of Currency and Banking deserves your early and serious consideration. A measure will be laid before you for the purpose of facilitating the administration of the Crown Lands. Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly: If I may not congratulate you on having completely surmounted our financial difficulties, I think you will find that the income and expenditure for the past year have been such as to cause us no fear for the future. Papers will be laid before you having reference to the Consolidation of the Public Debt, and the successful exertions made by the Minister of Finance during the recess with a view of securing this important object. You will see that the depression under which we have laboured has not diminished our credit, but it has forcibly impressed on myself and my advisers the necessity of a strict and rigid economy. It is with this conviction that I ask you again to consider the propriety of making the requisite provision for the Queen's service. The accounts for the several departments shall be placed in your hands with as little delay as possible. Honorable Gentlemen, and Gentlemen : I It pleased Almighty GOD in the last autumn to bless our land with a plentiful harvest and we see around us, at the present moment, the signs of a revival of commerce. earnestly pray that these marks of returning prosperity may continue to increase, and that our people may have abundant cause to be thankful for the welfare of their Country, and the maintenance of Law and Order. It is at your hands that they expect such amendments and changes as may from time to time be needed, but I rejoice to think that few subjects of a broad and important character yet remain to be dealt with by immediate legislation. I now leave you to the discharge of your legislative duties. His Excellency the Governor General was pleased to retire, and the Legislative Assembly withdrew. PRAYERS. The Honorable Mr. Walker came to the Table, and took and subscribed the Oath prescribed by Law. The Honorable Mr. Vankoughnet presented to the House a Bill intituled, " An Act re"lating to Common Schools." The said Bill was read for the first time, pro forma. The Honorable the Speaker reported His Excellency's Speech from the Throne, and The same was then read by the Clerk. On motion of the Honorable Mr. Vankoughnet, seconded by the Honorable Mr. Knowlton, it was Ordered, That the House do take into consideration the Speech of His Excellency the Governor General to-morrow. On motion of the Honorable Mr. Vankoughnet, seconded by the Honorable Mr. Knowlton, it was Ordered, That two hundred and fifty copies of the Speech of His Excellency be printed in both languages for the use of Members. The Honorable Mr. Vankoughnet acquainted the House that he had a Message from His Excellency the Governor General under his sign manual, which His Excellency had commanded him to deliver to this House. The same was then read by the Clerk as follows. EDMUND HEAD. The Governor General transmits for the information of the Honorable Legislative Council a copy of a Despatch from the Secretary of State, on the subject of the visit of His Royal Highness the PRINCE OF WALES to Canada. Downing Street, 30th January, 1860. SIR,-As the two Houses of the Canadian Legislature will soon re-assemble for the Despatch of Business, it becomes my duty to inform you that the Joint Address, to which they agreed at the close of their last Session, was duly presented to the QUEEN, and was most graciously received by Her Majesty. 2. In that Address, the Legislative Council and Commons of Canada earnestly pray the QUEEN to receive in person the tribute of their unwavering attachment to Her rule, and to honor with Her presence Her subjects in British North America, upon the occasion of the opening of the great Victoria Bridge, accompanied by the PRINCE CONSORT, and such members of the Royal Family as it may please Her Majesty to attend Her on the occasion. 3. Her Majesty values deeply the attachment to Her Person, and the loyalty to Her Crown, which have induced this Address, and I am commanded to assure the Legislature, through you, how lively an interest is felt by the QUEEN in the growing prosperity of Canada, in the welfare and contentment of Her subjects in that important Province of Her Empire, and in the completion of the gigantic work which is a fitting type of the successful industry of the people. It is therefore with sincere regret that Her Majesty is compelled to decline compliance with this loyal invitation. Her Majesty feels that Her duties at the Seat of the Empire prevent so long an absence, and at so great a distance as a visit to Canada would necessarily require. Impressed however, with an earnest desire to testify to the utmost of Her power, Her warm appreciation of the affectionate loyalty of Her Canadian subjects, the QUEEN commands me to express Her hope that when the time for the opening of the Bridge is fixed, it may be possible for His Royal Highness the PRINCE OF WALES to attend the ceremony in Her Majesty's name, and to witness those gratifying scenes in which the QUEEN is Herself unable to participate. The QUEEN trusts that nothing may interfere with this arrangement, for it is Her Majesty's sincere desire that the young PRINCE, on whom the Crown of this Empire will devolve, may have the opportunity of visiting that portion of Her Dominions from which this Address has proceeded, and may become acquainted with a people, in whose rapid progress towards greatness, Her Majesty, in common with Her subjects in Great Britain, feels a lively and enduring sympathy. Governor, I have the honor to be, Sir, The Right Honorable &c., &c., was On motion of the Honorable Mr. Vankoughnet, seconded by the Honorable Mr. Ross, it Ordered, That the said Message and Despatch be printed in both languages for the use of Members. was On motion of the Honorable Mr. Ross, seconded by the Honorable Mr. Vankoughnet, it Ordered, That all the Members present this day, be appointed a Committee to consider of the Orders and Customs of this House and Privileges of Parliament, and that the said Committee have leave to meet in this House, when, and as often as they please. The following Petitions were severally brought up and laid on the Table : By the Honorable Mr. Prince; Of John Twomey and others, of the Townships of Maidstone and Sandwich-And of James Thomas Banwell and others, of the Township of Sandwich, in the County of Essex. Then on motion of the Honorable Mr. de Blaquière, seconded by the Honorable Mr. Crawford, The House adjourned until to-morrow, at three o'clock in the afternoon. Wednesday, 29th February, 1860. The Members convened were: The following Petitions were severally brought up and laid on the table: By the Honorable Mr. Hamilton; of the Chairman and Board of Trustees of the University of Queen's College, and of the Widows' and Orphans' Friend Association of Kingston. By the Honorable Mr. Hollis Smith; of A. Stimson and others, Trustees of the Compton High School-and of S. H. Hurd and others of the Townships of Eaton and Newport, in the County of Compton. By the Honorable Mr. Renaud; of the Director of La Salle d'Asile de St. Joseph, Montreal. By the Honorable Mr. E. H. J. Duchesnay; of D. O. Paradis and others, of St. Edouard de Frampton and Ste. Marguerite, in the County of Dorchester. By the Honorable Mr. Archambault; Of Basile Vanier, and others of the Parish of Longue-Pointe. By the Honorable Mr. Panet; of the Reverend P. Huot, and others of the Parish of Ste. Foye. |