New Brunswick -- Description and travel; New Brunswick -- History
The Legislature of New-Brunswick, like most of the British Colonies, is
a miniature of the British Parliament, consisting of the
Lieutenant-Governor, the Council, and House of Representatives. The
Governor represents the King. The Council form the upper House, in
humble imitation of the House of Lords in England; and the
Representatives from the different Counties forming the lower House, or
House of Assembly. The number of Representatives for the several
Counties is as follows: For the Counties of St. John, Westmorland,
Charlotte, and York, four each; the Counties of King's, Queen's,
Sunbury and Northumberland, two each; and two for the City of St. John,
making in all twenty-six. This representation, the reader will observe,
is very unequal. The County of Saint John, which includes the City,
having two more members than the extensive County of York, which
includes the Seat of Government; and the County of Sunbury, which is
not as large as some parishes in the other counties, has as many
members as the County of Northumberland, which comprises over one-third
of the Province. It must indeed be admitted that Saint John and Sunbury
are far better settled than Northumberland; but when we look at the
great extent of the latter, the numerous settlements and great trade in
that part of the Province, we must allow that the inhabitants of that
part of the country have not an equal share of what may be considered
the bulwark of liberty--namely, a fair representation. Six members at
least, would not be out of proportion for that large County.
The Assembly sits in the winter at Fredericton: the sessions continue
from six to seven weeks. Its chief business is in managing the
provincial revenue, providing for schools, roads, &c. and making such
laws as the state and trade of the Province may from time to time
require. When laws are enacted that interfere with Acts of Parliament,
they are transmitted to the King, with a suspending clause, and are not
in force until they receive the royal approbation.
CHAPTER III.
_Climate. Produce._
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