The Rise of Canada, from Barbarism to Wealth and Civilisation. Volume 1Roger, Charles
History
The Rise of Canada, from Barbarism to Wealth and Civilisation. Volume 1
Roger, Charles
Canada -- History
Majesty's arms had never been called in question; he congratulated the
legislature on the capture of Martinique, and triumphantly alluded to
the battle of Talavera, which had torn from the French that character
of invincibility which they had imagined themselves to have possessed
in the eyes of the world. He recommended the renewal of those Acts
which were designed to enable the Executive to discharge its duty
against dangers, which could not be remedied by the course of common
law; he drew attention to the numerous forgeries of foreign bank notes,
and recommended a penal statute for their suppression; and he remarked
that the question of the expediency of excluding the Judges of the
King's Bench from the House of Representatives had been, during the two
last sessions, much agitated, and that, although he would not have
himself interdicted the judges from being selected by the people to
represent them in the Assembly, had the question ever come before him,
he had been ordered by His Majesty to give his assent to any proper
bill, concurred in by the two Houses, for rendering the judges
ineligible to a seat in the Assembly.
[12] Sir James' letter to Lord Liverpool.
The Assembly, very naturally, entertained the opinion that the Imperial
government had not approved of the conduct of Sir James Craig in
dissolving the previous Parliament. Indeed, even before taking the
speech from the throne into consideration, the Assembly resolved that
every attempt of the executive government and of the other branches of
the legislature against the House of Assembly, whether in dictating or
censuring its proceedings, or in approving the conduct of one part of
its members, and disapproving that of others, was a violation of the
statute by which the House was constituted; was a breach of the
privileges of the House, which it could not forbear objecting to; and
was a dangerous attack upon the rights and liberties of His Majesty's
subjects in Canada. There were, not ten only, but thirteen members of
British origin now in the House of Assembly, and the vote, for the
adoption of the resolution, exhibited a wonderful degree of unanimity
of opinion with regard to the right of freedom of opinion and the
freedom of debate. There were twenty-four affirmative to eleven adverse
votes, and, among those who voted with the minority, were some
officials of French origin. In reply to the address from the throne,
the House expressed its unalterable attachment to Great Britain, they
were grateful and would be faithful to that sovereign and nation which
respected their rights and liberties; it was unnecessary to urge them
to prepare for any event that might arise, they would be prepared; and
the militia, not unmindful of the courage which they had, in former
days, displayed, would endeavour to emulate that bravery, natural to
His Majesty's arms, which had never been called in question. Nay, the
House was exuberant with loyalty. No sooner was the address in reply
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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