EXAMINER.

138 THE

LL CIT SE oo: cones — ’ = i [said before, | to pay for the first instalment. If Mr. Warburton had ac. E — = : ; . deavours to convince us of. As | ; ; ? F , To ase ol om enee tdeed. for any} tesults as he en anne Garee th the tenantry, th ) session, and gives as a reason why he should sot vote for the ito pay the Govern ent, the prospect i” ceful 7 Suppose a, the leaseholder will have the opportunity of Oo tell this | ted lenient wi . bi if y, 1” would be now ina bet- f ediressto the Queen, that he saw among the names of the / future operation of me kind pemgy Grcesetu’. landjord he | holder, by paying @ trifling sum every year, ter positiam, ane himecl’ as woll. f

members }tenaot Wants to purehase his land, and tells the oa lwishes to become a freeholder. Uf the land is worth £1

Let us suppose he gives £500 hand, and secures the remainder In time he raises the balance of land itself, and becomes indepen- he the result. The farmer does Yeo) will not

system there will be nothing to complain of ; and when all are Sy ;

Hon. COL. TREASURER.—I am glad to hear that fi eholders, and enabled to work to some advantage to mens ‘hon, gentleman, (Mr. Yeo,) give me credit for acting disi treeno cs svenne will increase and general prosperily will - ge itl d . h h £ stn- ee de “The hon mauiae from Prince County (Mr. terestedly ee Ss ae use of Lot i, S thing then have 60 opportunity of inveighing against Bat, Sir, I am surprised to hear

minority who voted against it, those of three hon, (Messrs. Cooper, Laird and Mclotosh,.) who had always voted fur measures to benefit the tenantry., Thisas a somewhat novel position, Sir, for the hom menber to asstme, when we can); by mortgage on the fare. recollect that at the time they voted foran escheat, that hon.| the purchase money on the teak. hon. member says about the settle c. ember was one of th-i¢ most strenuous opposors. He was/dent. This is what I coll : akes|the tenantry for their backwardness im paying phope gots, | wens —ae ‘-s y re we 208 11

teen see he 1 not call on his brother freeholder to assist him ; but makes) | “l member, from Charlottetown, has said we! having to sell their last horse and cow to pay their first in- i a ‘eden Z oe nara That ead “iAdeed od ‘at out of the farin uself. If the Government will andertake to | rh dae ef the Home Government. Buty geajment. I can inform the hoy. member to the contrary

ote for Lite re here! ould, d, mitt oilie A, adie , ’ : wonaturai alliance! The position the hon. gentleman has | raise money on the new Land eek oe oes Met Fa 0 OGD aan} if a poor man wanted £100 out of the Bank, = aoe a - Lot 11 was the last property purchased by the Government,

token, réminds me of a revorted speech of bis, when the Pro. | it would be self sg. gg : aa att a ca that) it. But if the hon. and learned member a. aoe fo and I was surprised to see persons come forward and T- hibitory Liquor Bill was under considesation, On that occasion | 1g 1s no small sum to Dorrow, would be no questions asked, dul the Y'| chase so eagarly as they did. There was one farm for

we stake £50,000, the interest | document, there wo " t

te . ance. baease vag anp~| it bears a heavy interest. If we only take £50,000, , : ‘ : r, And so, by asking the guar ‘ . saab maetuhsseiee aon, on saa ie! ed th F , cae : raed i ‘6 000 per year, and that is no mean sui It isa large tax | would be instantly forthcoming ee £300, and inaby others at prices corresponding to their ported by liquor dealers, who hd signed the petition. ; value. Some of the hon, members object to the words

. } 1a of the » Government, we will obtain the money much , is C -_by freeholders as well | antee of the Home a : | I d ; mhor hee give sonvince me| to be paid by the people of this Colony my to lk , , sa hesitation in the Home market. It 18 Said, Ce eee ree catal catia ogieees Tne fact of the | as tet holders. I will not go into detatis, oe nm ee eae ee she farebas of the Worrell Estate, that [\« general satisfaction.” I think, sir, if it was 8 nares , 5a i od rhe ’ yt the people. , ' ; . . : : : ; Government having the lands in their possession, and enabling (give a rough estimate of woe acy Fiat Ons (Hon. T. H. a £1000 for making a good bargdin for the late proprietors ; | wniversal satisfaction, there might be some grounds for com- ’ oe ‘ : 1 es . nm. » yer ) ? » ef 7 ae . . . e leaseholders to purchase, is, | think, the greatest benefit that! | was in hopes the hon, member fi plaint ; bat Iam confident is gives gen ) satisfaction, from the Kast Point to the North Cape. There was some

he never done before.

self sustaining.

: ny e honesty to contradict such a foul falsehood. , f this | Haviland) would go farther in his amendment than he has done. | and they had not th +e y oi coon bé Slbwe' abd pabliohed could be conferred upon the tenantry. ‘The credit of this co-) Travian the House on any definite course of action ; | But if f did get a penny, | would s e ouse | - .

, : Relaneeen tenuate STE ction tt ‘e he ‘ar and wide. Weall know what the Land Purchase Bill : ; lony 18 not een = Ww ee ie ae Government | and, therefore, | conceive it to be inadequate. I have heard it} far = : c coer ean freely. Piarseer we Bi ener ase s talk of nenehialead cs 13, a aia ian ve a _ poy bie S thin Gov ed ina a of £100,000, | reported that the people believe it for a fact that ay owe is to ~ , mane prcidenisted Stolp. Aa itil oe a ae a perty of Sic George & | ave proposed to back th: overn . : cline ag area f the funds of the British Exchequer, | ing, ink : erated | : George sterling, which shows they have faith in the propriety of our | be ad anced, Po eS ees Dale fiat ™ far | we do right, is it for the ininority and their attendant croakers I know,, he (Sir George Sey r) does not get oe all ’ course In this matter and are wi'liog to give us credit. He {and the mers “9 not to ac ‘i b of The mei nanimity of the| to say we are wrong? Ciive us another ten years, and ballnes | and ni be glad +. =oll abe Berean ~ad = P. ) i a a ee , : : ; e 7 . 7 > . . * . oe thought the objection of the hon. member was based upon a) Rei ety fa as Oe John Bull is so generous that it is| me, sir, it will only confirm what we are endeavoring to effect. | Yeo said the Government could not purchase it. The At- Pe | ritisn Gove ie o- { Oo

mere caviling at words, as faras he could judge from the rea: |

Wh h fal first mooted, the | ten chances to one 1 If the | As to the stories in circulation about our getting money out of fhen the question of a loan was first mooted, the

if he will ever ask for payment, torney General wrote to Mr. Yeo on the subject, but never fe

: ’ a. 2 ke a* , sons given sl aaa i stories as these they deserve to suffer all the | the Exchequer, it is all nonsense ; and I, for one, don’t believe recceived an answer. And no wonder, Sir, it is against the opposition laughed at the idea, and said, | people believe such stortes as » off sheet wontth ‘they are credited by the people, some hon. members to the con-!. ae :

~— members — an » get it.” But they must have chang- | taxation that can be laid on them. ‘The truth of the matt r is, they ar stalin ra Tho h n. member (Mr. Palmer) would interest of agents to sell those lands because they their » SOs Fae. wae yon anny & ; “ eo of the home | England does not intend to advance one farthing. The way I | trary notwithstanding, 7 ns re ) living by the agency: and in this e, 1 believe, Mr. Yeo

ed their minds since. He was in hopes this course of the home | bags tand the case is, the British Government say, ‘* You are | like to see the Loan Bill. ‘The Loan Bill, which the hon. and | #!¥!8Z PY geney ; case, °

Government, in granting what was asked, would enable them | la » ~t — Se ail teeta we payment.” ‘learned member wishes to see, before he could be assured it intended to puchase the property himeelf, If the Belfast

to issue § s y thane 5 7 .

to pufchase all the lands on this Island, that would be offered |

a { don’t see much magnanimity in this! ‘hey have the ap would give general satisfaction, is only an extension of the pro-| Estate was owned by the Government, the tenants en by the proprietors, and thereby put an end to this vexed ques- ve hee ey “e

that estate would be willing to purchase if they had to sell

. , . . ry | Visi f the arches : oe oe tion. t. behold! the result is the opposite! The object of | pomntinent of a Lieutenant Governor to this Colony, and they | visions of the Lgnd Purchase Bill ; and when it 1s passed this » be ! yt

the Government should be properiy understood—they w ished when oe ioe Se a to cated serenade te ; > -_ sreby | fook after the ests. : , | matory _ ees hee ae a eee | his Sovereign not to assent to any Revenuo Ball of the Colony, | eins whieh had for its object, a similar | unless the money thereby to wy ae a be — eee) ation, he would be among the first to, support them. yith the Land Purchase Debt; and this i@ Wi w ount OMT, YEO ‘0 e reason why he shou!d not vote for the pa-|at the peril of his situation to obey. That being the case, it is _ sania i vag because it would say an un- a sufficient guarantee that the Exchequer will never be called eee err oar rer e sfaction, | ay a penny of the loan. If the people know they just tax upon the whole couutry, gave general satisfaction, | upon to pay a pe 1 - : os on 1 een pen tne which was likelyto have a result similar to that of the Wor- will have to pay £6,00 om erest on , os ron : > f ~ oe rel Estate—and of the money thus expended, we should never | itself when it becomes due, it 1s not = ¥ the a ' aoe see one penny back. He allnded to a petition now under | “ general satisfaction.’’ I do not think it wi . on’t see | consideration, signed by a number of the tenants on the Sulli- why leaseholders and freeholders should he inner mn equal van estate, two thirds of whom have never paid a penny of degree, for the interest of such a large amount, “a sit may | rent fur the last fifteen years. And these are the people whom | be said, “it will make ali the people treeholders. But when we think to make freeholders of —whom we expect to purchase | it becomes a matter of pounds, shillings and pence—when farms of the Government! The idea was ridiculous. If we | freeholders find all is to be borrowed out of their pocketa, as sent to England and got £100,000, and bought up a!l the lands} well as out of the pockets of leaseholders, and are compelled in the Island, the chances would be that this Government | to pay Interest, too, on their own money, they will not be fo would never see a farthing in return. Before another estate |ready to agree to it. The scheme is founded on class legissa- is bought, we should wish to see the accounts of the Worrel/tion. It may be that the Home Government have another Estate made up, and this was the general wish of the country. | scheme in view. However, I hope these matters I have touched Hon. the SPEAKER.—As to the petition alluded to by the | upon, may be gravely considered by the House before they con- hon. member (Mr. Yeo,) two thirds of the signers of which he} clude upon adopting that paragraph, with its erroneous

: there are a great many freeholders, and the best part of the te said did pot pay rent for fifteen years—part of the statement | assumption. a , township, at which my hon. colleague and myself attended, rm ; : oe only was true. Y Mens of these tenants never received Jeases,| flon. COL. SECRETARY.—I do not wonder at the},g., explaining our views to the meeting, on ‘the propriety property bas been disposed of, aud much that remains, are i

country being alarmed, if such stories are propagated and believed, about the affair of the loan of the British Govern- ment to this Colony. Why, sir, it would be enough to frighten the people indeed to pay £6,000 interest on a loan of £50,000!

Hon. Mr. PALMER.—It was a mistake, I ‘inadvertently stated the interest of £100,000 for that of £50,000,

Hon. COL. SECRETARY.—The hon. member (Mr. Pal- mer) said £6,000: he even repeated it. Now, sir, the fact 1s, the interest on £50,000 would not amount to more than £2,000, which is only one-third of what the hon. member | tried to frighten us into the belief, the country would have to pay. Indeed, it would not be more than £2 500, even at the rate of interest allowed by the Land Purchase Bill. But the \ hon. member seems to labor under the impression that we are going to draw the whole amount at once. Let me re-assure him, and those who are misled by such like false conclusions. It is not the intention of the Government to draw in larger sums, than perhaps, £10,000 at a time, which will be invested in such a manner as to ensure that hor. member, or any of his apprehensive constituents, from danger of the slightest loss | But, sir. it is time these * will-o’=th’- wisps,”? who are misguiding | the people with their false light, should be exposed—it is tune

and he was assured if they had, they would pay their rent He was in favour of the grant, and thinks it a measure calcula- ted to promote the good of the colony. When the question came up for discussion, he was in the chair; bat if he were on the floor of the House, he would support the measure. He dic not deny but these may be some losses to the country in the end ; but he thought when hon. members anticipated such re- sults, they were looking too far ahead, and it would be better to wait a while, for just cause, before we complain, sho iid there be a loss. He was prepared to bear a share of the loss, as well as others, should such an event come to pass. A great cause of complaint, and a just one, with many of the tenants ona portion of Lot 61, under the hon. member’s (Mr. Yeo) managemént, was that the gentieman, he believed, had no pow- er to lease or sell, and this created much dissatisfaction and ill- will on the part of the tenants; and the sooner such a system was atan end, the better. The hon. member, (Mr. Yeo) was the mere recipient of the rents which he transmitted to his principal on the other side of the Atlantic; and he, (the Speaker) repeated, that such powers as that of agent, which Mr. Yeo held, were calculated to create great discontent, not only among the tenants on Lot G!, but upon other properties se tim similarly situated. ‘This was not a proper state of things; and | these croakers were listened to no longer. Phey grasp at he conteaded the only way to remedy it was the course pursued Jeverything to support themselves in their false position. hey by the Government, to buy out the land from the proprietors, | stop at nothing to secure their ends. ‘They have raised a and dispose of it on such terms as would leave it withia the| great hue and cry about the Worrell estate, and how rn has reach of all to purchase.. He might not live to see the con-| been a source of joss to the Government through mismanage- gumma ion of such a desirable object, but he was assured if any | ment, and that, after all, the people on that estate are not present loss would accrue to colony, it would eventually be again. satisfied. Let them ask the peopte on that ate if they have Tne hon. member (Mr. Yeo) laid great stress on the assertion that | cause to complain; and they will have * No for oe ta two thirds of the signers of the petition did not pay any rent But, sir, let them ask the tenants on the property of the par for fifteen years. He would not allow that hon. member to dis- | of Selkirk—let them ask the tenants on the property for which parage his constituents in this manner, If he said one-third,| Mr. Yeo ts agent. Phe tenants on the first b ive petitioned he would be about correct ; but that two-thirds of the signers | their landlord to allow the Government to purchase—that they | of that petition did not pay rent for fifteen years, was false. The reason why any of them did not pay their rents, I have already stated —becanse they could not obtain leases.

Mr. YEO would inform the hon. member that these tenants nave had leases, and the reasonthey did not pay their rent was not because of their not having leases, but an unwillingness to pay anything for their land. On a recent occasion, which the hon. gentleman no doubt recollected, those honest people whom he says { want to disparage, actually rose in arms, and a riot might have ensued, merely because I wished to collect the rents due by them. What kind of stories does the hon. gentleman want us to believe, when he tells us the tenants are , willing to pay their rent if they had leases. I have offered | is a great outcry made that the freeholders will be taxed to them to forgive all the back rents if they would pay, or com-| help the leaseholders to obtain free lands, Sir, this is only on mence to pay the rents now due. But they would not listen to|a par with other equally foolish allegations these croakers have such a proposition, but mobbed me. ‘They were not Irishmen, been pleased to make—there is not a word of truth init. The I believe, but Monaghans. tenant under the Government is allowed ten years to pay for

Mr. COOPER was. hardly prepared for so lengthy a dis-| his land, and surely, in that time, he will be able to pay it cussion on the Land Question as he bad heard to-night, and | without having to sacrifice his ox or his cow. The how far such a discussion would forward the adoption of an | Government is not exacting; but gives ample time and answer to the Governor’s Speech, he would not attempt to say. | opportunity for the tenant to purchase and become a freeholder. He thought it was uncalled for. This bas been the result in the case of the Worrell estate.

lon. Mr. PALMER,.—When he first read the Address in| The Land Purchase Bill provides that it shall be self-sustaining. ans ver to the Governor’s Speech, the paragraph under con- | Thus it may be seen that the leaseholder is not placed in an sideration did not strike him as alluding, in a pointed degree, | embarrassed position, but has sufficient time allowed him to to what the result of the Loan Bill would be, or that it gave | become independent, and that without asking the help of the general satisfaction ; therefore, he was unprepared for the! freeholder. But to hear what these croakers say, you would Jengthy discussion which has ensued. But upon reading it a | think they expected the Government to do wonders, and when second time, he was convinced of his mistake, and was pre-| they (the Government) did perform wonders decry their efforts

red to go even farther than the hon. gentlemen who opposed | Sir, they build-up a wonderful story on the mismanagement of

it. He would like to see the main principles of the Loan Bill|the Worrell estate. But can they expect the Government to before he would agree to the paragraph now before the House, | effect a revolution on an affair that ruined its former pro- which says the Bill gave ‘general satisfaction.”’ [le did not | prietor? Besides, sufficient time has not elapsed to show the think he was warranted in subscribing to any such pledge. [He | good results which we certainly anticipate. The tenantry on had no objection to the paragraph 80 far as ** Itis with pleasure |the Worrell estate, as well as its affairs, have been mis- we receive the information that Her Majesty’s Government | represented, and it is said they are dissatisfied—but these have come to the determination to aid our endeavours to con- | libellers take good care to seek for no foundation for such re- vert the leasehold into freehold tenures ;” but when it says, | ports. And this is the way the people have been misled by “by such means as cannot fail to affurd general satisfaction,” | these croaxers. And the very parties who should have given that is the part he found fault with. Before hon. members sub- \every assistance to the Government, to make the purchase of scribe to that doctrine, they should be well assured whether |the Worrell estate a self-sustaining affair, are the very parties they were warranted in doing so or not. fle felt as the hon. | who have persuaded the tenantry not to attorn to the Govern- member (Mr. Cooper) did, and was not inclined to go into the | ment. But this is not such a losing affair altogether as some discussion of the Land Question; but he could not let the) hon. gentlemen would have us think it is. I ean inform those passage go by in silence, and did not feel himself warranted tu | hon. members that there has been upwards of 210.000 worth of voting for the paragraph, Although he did not represent an land on that estate sold, and there is still 50,000 acres to be sgricujtural district, still he was aware that his constituents | disposed of. The tenants have the deeds of their lands on were nat ignorant of the fact that they are to be taxed as wel] | payment of ten per cent. of the purchase money, and every as the agricylturists for the support of this measure, And it deed ts equal toa bond tothe Treasury of this Island. Look will be found that the measures taken by the Government, do| at Lot 11, which was purchased by the Government only a not at least satisfy them. The Land Purchase Bill is not self- | Short time since, at a cost of £2500. And land to the amount sustaining, he was sure ; but if that objection could be removed | of over £2,000 has already been taken up, Which is nearly —if the land purchased could be made to pay for itself, then | equal to the whole purchase money of that estate. This, I he should bave go objection to it. But has such a result been | think, sir, ought to be sufficient to convince hon. members that brought about? Past experience says it has not. What are the Land Purchase Bill is self-sustaining, and to show the | the measures propoged by the Government to purchase the | people what bas been done by the present majority for the good Jands? ‘To tax the freeholders to pay for the leaseholder’s of the Colony. When the majorities of the Governments of | lands, Is this right? He was sure suck a course would not | the other Colonies (Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) applied | produce general satixfaction, ’ Tis true, we have a large body | fo the Home Government, a few years ago, for assistance to | of leaseholders in this Colony—we have also many thousands | carry out their Railroad schemes, they were refused. And it | of freeholders, and we must pause and consider whether we are | shows, sir, with what approbation the Home Government view | justified in taxing them for the purpose of purchasing out lease- | our efforts, when they at once, and without hesitation, accede | holds for those who have not been able—perhaps not disposed | to our request, and grant us their credit and their countenance. | to purchase for themselves Freeholders are at least as in- | Here, also, a few years ago, when the minority were in power, | dependent as leascholders— n fact are more independent, and \a loan was asked from the Home Government to purchase the | no whit less entitled to fair consideration then they. I have | warrants held by their opponents, but it was refused. If we beard it suggested that the Land Purchase Bill will pay for | borrow £50,000 at 4 per cent. it will be only £2,000 a-year. itarlf; but | have my doubts on that head. {f money enough | Contrast this with the statement of the how. member, (Mr. could not be raised from such Jands as are already purchased, Palmer), and see if there is cause to apprehend such terrible

may have a chance of becoming freeholders. And those on} the last have signed a similar petition which will involve the the hon. member’s (Mr. Yeo) removal. ‘This shows how con- tented the tenantry are under their present disabdilities. It shows, sir, that it is high time for the Government te take the matter in hand,andsee strict justice done the tenant. Then, sir, after all, we come to see that this loan is not sucha frightful affair as we are led to believe it is, by that infamous and slanderous sheet, the Islander, or the lying scribbler who is hired and paid to malign, libel and misrepresent, the Go- vernment through its medium, and put a false construction on all measures brought in by the majority. And then, sir, there

| House, the Imperial Parliament will have to enact a Bill to

|came into power, they had the interest of a debt of £30,000 to

proprietors had done their tenants, who had disposed of their

‘never consent to be taxed for the support of Pree Education!

jections were.

the floor of this House, and speak what is the truth, I nor any

their last cow or horse in their stable—Ay, if they had to sell their last shirt! TI will support the paragraph ag re- ported by the Committee,

Hon. Mr. MONTGOMERY.—I did not think the amendment proposed would open such a lengthy discussion. There is one part of the paragraph under consideration which I consider objectionable. i mean that part which alludes to the Land Purchase Bill giving “ general satis- faction.” I am well aware, Sir, that among a large portion of the people, whom [ haye the honor to represent, the measure is not received with general satisfuction. I have no doubt it would give more satisfaction if the whole of the lands were owned by the Government; but there are many of the Proprietors who are not willing to sell out. I would be glad to support any measure that might be brought for- ward, that would make every tenant become a freeholder. But then, Sir, we cannot compel the proprietors to sell their lands; and that they will not sell as.long as they can collect good rental, I am weli assured. I understand the Govern- ment are about to purchase the Selkirk Estate. In Belfast

carry out its own guarantee. When the present Government

shoulder, but we succeeded in clearing it off in a few years ; and, no doubt, we will be able also to surmount the difficulties which the minority seem to see in our present position.

lion. Mr. WIGHTMAN.—The hon. member from Prince County (Mr. Yeo) said when he went to collect the rents, the people threatened a riot. The truth is, a few of the tenants on Lot 61, assembled to welcome the hon, member, as it was about the time he was in the habit of coming to collect rents on the property he was agent for ; {Laughter.] and they having heard that the sheriff was to accompany him, in order to distrain, L suppose they had some weapons of resistance, expecting that he would be induced to oller better terms. But, as to mobbing the hon. member, I do not imagine their intentions would have been so bad as that. Nor yet, ought the whole of the tenants on Lot 61, be censured, because a few do not pay their rents; there are many, the hon. member must admit, who pay him well. At a public meeting of tenants and freeholders on the same

lands unfit for agricultural purposes. There are certain paris of all the Townships which are not fit for general set- tlement, and any efforts to make them available, would be a dead letter. T. Kirwan, Reporter.

(To be continued.)

of the Loan Bill, a petition was agreed to, asking the pro- prietor, Lawrence Sullivan, Esq., to dispose of the property to the Government, or otherwise toallow his agent te sell at a reasonable price to the tenantry. Now, sir, there was not one dissenting voice to the method proposed. A few days after, a meeting took place at Murray Harbour, at which there were many of the tenants of the Hon, S. Cunard, present, where we attended also, to ascertain if our constituents had any measures to entrust us with, as the House of Assembly was scon to meet. ‘The Loan Bill, for the purchase of land, was explained by my colleague and myself. They all appeared satisfied that the scheme of borrowing the money would give gereral satisfaction, and we did not hear from them the ‘hue and ery,” which some hon. members would wish us to believe existed in the country, that they were to be taxed, During the meeting, from all that was expressed, they did not apper to dread taxation, as they had petitioned the pro- prietor themselves, to place them on the same footing as other

NS ae esas cree

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuorspay, February 20, 1857..

The Hons. Messrs. Forgan and Aldous took the oaths and their seats as members of the House.

She Hon. Mr. Haythorne’s attendance was excused, on account of indisposition. .

Frivay, February 27, 1857. Mr. Howe was appointed Reporter. Mr. John 8S. Bremner’s tender for printing and binding Journal of the Council, was accepted, his being the lowest offer. The Hon. Mr. Craswell, from the committee appointed to prepare an Address in answer to His Excellency’s speech,

lands to the Government. But, Sir, why should we not be prepared for objections to this scheme, as well as to others.

The hon, member from Princetown (Mr. Haviland) thinks | reported a draft thereof, which he read in his place.

the Loan Bill does not give general satisfaction ; but Sir, we should recollect that all bills brought in by the Government, are objected to by that party. ‘L think, and will maintain it, that the loan is a great boon to the country. f[Hear.] It will be, recollected that when the Education Act was first brought in by the Government, the same ery was raised: « Q, it will not be well received by the people! They will

The House went into committee on the Address, the Hon. Mr. Craswell in the chair. On the clause referring to the contemplated loan being read— The Hon. COLONEL SWABRY rose and stated, that before the question was put on that clause, it became him, not only as a member of the Government, but also as the official situation he held bad an intimate relation to the subject, to offer a few observations on the matter. Their honors’ all knew that the question of the landed tenures in this Island had long formed the subject of agitation, more or less violent and pernicious. The means of settling this vexed question were now available, and he had several reasons to justify his opinion, that the operation of the loan would be attended with success, and greatly beneficial results to the whole com- munity. It must be rem -mbered that the first operation under the Land Purchase Bill was very extensive. A large amount of property was purchased by the Government, the accounts handed over were badly arranged, had been carried from ledger to ledger, there were no reliable data from which to ascertain the quantity of land. He would, however, rather direct their honors’ attention to the prospects of the results to flow from the contemplated loan. If the people on the Worrel Estate bad been somewhat dilatory in availing themselves of the benefits of the Land Purchase Bill at first, that could be easily accounted for. It was well known that difficulties were suggested by parties whose political principles were opposed to those of the Government; these had the effect, to a certain extent, of damping the feelings of the people; but although there might be some little delay and difficulty in settling the Worrel Estate, no loss would result from its purchase. He was happy to eall the attention of their honors’ to the contrast presented by the settlers on Lot 11. The whole of the operations connected with the re-sale of that property, which had beea but recently purchased, were now nearly complete. The tenantry considered the act of the Government in purchasing that Lot as a positive boon to them, and acted in accordance with that feeling. On the 16th February the last instalments were payable. As the Public Accounts were made up to the 81st of January, those last payments were, of course, not included; but he had no hesitation in stating, that if a balance were struck now, it would be found that but a trifling sum would be required ta complete the purchase money of that estate, including the expenses of management, which were comparatively small, as intending purchasers come in readily and thus they insure the purchase of their lands at prices much lower than would otherwise be the case, if the operations extended over a number of years. There was another observation he would offer, as a member of the Govern- meat. When the proposal for the Imperial guarantee was first sent to England, Her Majesty’s Government very properly requested information as to the financial condition of the Colony, in order that ny might ascertain what means we had of repaying the loan, * The local government sent home a statement of facts—a statement which could not be colored, inasmuch as the public records of the Island were its foundation—showing so healthy and prosperous a state, that the British Government at once saw that they could give the required guarantee without the slightest risk to themselves. He was not surprised at that, when he reflected on the large sums which the West Indian Islands, Canada, and other Colonies had received under Imperial guarantees. Our financial condition was better than theirs; but, perhaps, as the Island was a very small dependency, it might be more difficult to obtain, on that accoun’, what we had requested. His Honor concluded by stating that these circumstances jus- tified the committee in adopting the paragraph before it, On the clause relating to Education being read—

[t will be received with dissatisfaction by the whole country!” But, Sir, has not the event proved how unfounded their ob- It will be the same in this case, depend upon it; and the Loan Bill will give as general satistaction as the Kdueation Act hasgiven. ‘Tie affairs of the Worrel Estate, which have been so harped upon, and misrepresented, are not so bad as is imagined or represented. Although there may be a few refractory people residing on a portion of this state, especially on Lot 66, who have not attorned to the Government; still the Government will not have any trouble with them, as the property will be handed back to the parties it was purchased from. Lf we borrow money to assist the tenant in becoming a freeholder, is it to say we are to tax freeholders to pay interest on it? I think not. They have not as yet been called upon to do it, for what has been bought. The hon. member for Charlottetown, (Mr. Palmer) says his constituents are apprehensive of being taxed, to pay for tenants becoming freeholders. They may rest satisfied on that score—they will not lose anything by it. With re- gard to my constituents, freeholders as well as tenants, they are all satisfied that this measure, (the Loan Bill) is one of the best ever originated by the present Govornment. But, Sir, time is required to bring about the result we aim at. We can not expect that the money will at once return into the Government ; but still, there will be a continual income, until the remainder of the money is paid, and then there will be many hundreds more independent men in the Colony. {n the conclusion, I repeat it, Sir, this measure will give general satisfaction.

Mr. YEO.—I am certainly surprised to hear what has just fallen from the hon. member, (Mr. Wightman,) respect- ing the tenants on Lot 61. He says they did not assemble for the purpose of resisting the agent or sheriff, or to get up a riot. Does the hon. member forget that he told me, in his own office, that a number of them had assembled for the avowed purpose of driving me off, but that he had seen several of them, advised them to relinquish the idea, and pointed out the consequence that would ensue, if they persevered in such a course? He said he pointed out to them the dangerous results which were likely to follow, if they were to kill a sheriff, constable or agent. He also said, he un- derstood they were all armed with guns, pitchforks, &c. This is what the hon. member told me, and [ am greatly surpris- ed that he will stand on the floor of this House, and make such an assertion as he has just made, that it might ap- pear I had made a wrong statement- If I can not stand on

other member ought never to appear upon it again. What I stated before, in regard to many of the tenants on Lot 61, not paying rent for fifteen years, was correct. As to this Loan scheme, if the tenants can not now pay rent for their lands, is it likely they will be able to purchase those lands from the Government? Will the money obtained by the Loan raise crops for them? It think not, Sir. If the ten- ants can not pay a rent of 50 shillings or £2, is it likely they will be able to purchase their lands free? Look at Lot 11, for instance; (the agent of which has helped to deprive himself of a salary of £150 a year,) the proprietor of that estate never got a shilling of rent from it. Some of the tenants on that estate have had to sell their last horse or cow

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