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Mr. Monrcomery said the proper mode of proceed: ing was that recommended bv the honorable niémber for Prince County (Mr. Fraser), To adopt the resolu- tion proposed by the hon. member from Queen’s County (Mr. Coles) before it could be fally justified by the re- eult of previous investigation, would be an act of most anjustifiable precipitation on the part of the House,

Mr. Cotes'replied that two minutes attention to the return would enable any member to ascertain the amount of fees which had been illegally retained by the Colonial Secretary ; and that, as the matter had been fully investigated and discussed both by the laat House and by the present one in their first session, and as there was no new matter connected with the question as'tiow again brought forward, no new investigation of the subject was at all necessary beyond ascertaining from the return the amount of fees illegally retained. He had no desire whatever to hurry the matter through the House; but he was anxious that their determination with respect to it should be taken in time to enable them to present an Address to His Excellency, urging upion him the duty of causing their determination to be catried isto immediate effect.

Mr. Yeo said that he was fully persuaded that the Colonial Secretary had believed himself clearly entitled, both by law and practice, to ai! the fees which he had taken and retained, and the proceeding urged against him—a’' gentleman, than whom none was more highly

ted in the colony—because he had received and retained such fees, justly believing himself entitled to do so~-a proceeding evidently arising from individual private feeling against him—was altogether unfair and unreasonable.

Mr. Mooney said he thought the opinion of the At- torney General, touching the legality of the Colonial Secretary’s claim to the fees in question, was surely of moch more value than that of the member who had jast spoken, notwithstanding he presumed to be so deeply and correctly learned. in the law of official fees and perquisites. He begged. to refer that honorable and learned member to the Journals of the House, wherein he would find it recorded that the question had been referred to the Attorney General, and that his opinion was that the Colonial Secretary was not by law entitled to receive any of the fees which, in a resolution of the iast House, it was declared he had no right to receive. That opinion he hoped would be enough to convince wim (Mr. Yeo) that his views of the operation of the Fees Act were not quite tenable, however cesirous it avicht be to establish them.

Mr. Loneworru said he had no desire to prevent a thorough sifting and investigation of the question; and the result of a fair and impartial enquiry, he was satis- tied, could throw no discredit upon the churacter of

THE BRKRADINGR. Notwithstanding bis firm conviction that his conduct with reference to the question had been fair, honbtable, and strictly consc/@ntious, he could not but greatly re- gret that it had be@n the meatia of causing a cecession of that friendly intercourse Which had long subsisted between the family of the Colonial Secretary and him- self. He would certainly strongly recommend such a course of proceeding by the House as would be the Jeast liable to the imputation of inconsiderate haste or prejudice. Still he held that that course should be precisely what strict impartiality and a due regard for justice would point out, as the fittest to be pursued in any similar case, whatever might be the character or position of the individual whom it would mainly affect. tlis own opinion was that the Colonial Secretary had never meant to defraud the public with respect to the fees which it appeard had been illegally exacted by him; and neither did he (Mr. Pope) think that, (until the illegality of his practice had been asserted and urged by the Assembly) he had ever so much as suspected that he was exacting fees without the express sanction of the law. He (Mr. Pope) was satisfied that the Colo- nial Secretary’s feelings of probity and sense of honor were of so high a character, as to have made it impos- sible for him to exact or demand any fee to. which he did not conceive himself to be justly entitled. Should it, however, be made evident beyond all reasonable con- tradiction that, under an erroneous impression with re- spect to.the subject of Private Secretary’s fees, he has (since the office of Private Secretary was abolished) illegally exacted and retained any fees for the discharge of any duties formerly performed by the Private Secre- tary, it would clearly be the duty of the House to insist upon his being called upon to pay into the public Trea- sury whatever amount of fees retained by him it should appear ought to have been so paid in by him, and also to refund to individuals any fees which, under an erroneous impression, he may have exacted and re- ceived contrary to the law. Should such facts be established to the prejudice of the Colonial Secretary, he (Mr. Pope) would fee] it te be his duty to vote for such a resolution as that which had just been submitted to the House, conscious that, in doing 30, he was merely discharging his duty to the country, and that he could justly disclaim any imputation of voting with a view to the gratification of any private feeling of his own. So far, on the contrary, was he fro:n looking forward to the probability of the necessity for the adoption of sucha resolution by the House, that, with a perfectly friendly feeling, he was anxious that the Coionial Secretary should be afforded every opportunity for explanation; and he knew not but that he (the Colonial Secretary) might be able to afford such an explanation as might totally change his (Mr. Pope’s) view of the case. He

the Colonial Secretary, even although it should appear that he had been mistaken with regard to the legality of| his claim. to. some of the fee which he had received,

would, therefore, vote for the appointment of a Com- mittee to investigate the question, in the hope that their enquiry would be so thorough and searching as to afford

and retained. With the exception of the fees which|the House a full opportumity of coming to a just and

he had received upon marriage Licences, it would, on a’ fair investigation of the question, be found that, in dis-

final decision concerning it. Mr. Lorp then expressed a wish that the hon. maver

charging the daties of Private Secretary, he was, justly of the resolution (Mr. Coles) would allow it to lie upon

and by Jaw, entitled to all the other fees which he had received and retained. In the Act fixing the salary of the Colonial Secretary, not one word could be found

the table until the afternoon sitting. To this Mr. Coles consented, and the resolution was laid upon the table accordingly.

abolishing, or in any way affecting, the fees payable to} In the afternoon sitting, Mr. Coles again took up the

the Private Secretary.

Mr. Porr said he would vote for the appointment of a Committee by whom the true state of the question, after calm and deliberate inquiry, might be fully re- ported to the House. It had never been, and never would be, his practice to condemn any individual un- heard; and, certainly, when a decision was contemplated by the House, the adoption of which would injuriously affect the private interests, although it would leave un- blemished the character of a gentleman who had long

‘resolution and moved its adoption.

Mr. Fraser then rose and said, that it would not be creditable to the House to adopt such a resolution, until such a course as it prescribed could be fairly justified by something stronger than mere assertions, for the preservation of the honor and dignity of the House, it was absolntely necessary that they should have the re- port of a € »mmitee of Enquiry on which to ground any future proceeding with respect to the question. He would, therefore, to that end, submit the resolution

deservedly enjoyed the respect and confidence of the

which he held in his hand. The honorable member then

community, both in his private and public capacity, he, read and moved the following resolution :

(Mr. Pope) particularly felt that it was due to the House

“ Resolved, That the Return of Fees laid before this

themselves, individually and collectively, as a bedy who, House yesterday, heretofore received by the Coloniil in. alt their deliberations and decisions, ought to endea-' Secretary for Marriage, Tavern, and Pedlar’s Licences,

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vour to maintain a character for the utmost impartiality | be referred to a Committee to examine the same, and

and integrity of purpose, to show, by their dispassionate

report thereon, with power to send for persons, papers,

and deliberate mode of dealiag with the question, that and records.”

they fully understood what was due to the dignity of

Mr. Speaker having put the question thereon, it was

their own position, at the same time that they felt and! agreed to without opposition.

manifested a proper and faithful concern for the asser- tion and preservation of the public interests entrusted to their guardianship. During twenty years that he had been a member of the Legislature, he had never had so disagreeable a duty to perform, or one to the discharge of which he felt a greater repugnance, than that which had been imposed upon him by the enquiry in question atill he felt that he had never acted more conscientiously ra all his life, than he had done with respect to it. It was true, as had been stated, that, by his casting vote as Speaker of the last House, the resolution calling for « return of the fees which had been received by the Colonial Secretary as Private Secretary's fees, was lost. fn voting against the resolution, he had been influenced by the consideration that it had a direct tendency inju- ciously to affect the character and the pecuniary cireum- avances of the Colonial Secretary, and finding the House to be equaily divided upon the question, he could not consent,to take upon himself tie responsibility of erimi- nating that. gentleman by giving his vote in favour of the reso'ution, The conrse which he then pursued was perfectiv jastifiable; and, were he again circutnstanced

Messrs. Fraser, Coles, and Warburton, were then appointed a Committee accordingly.

gpaagsroungned, PUMP AND WELL ASSESSMENT.

To cue Epiron or THE Examjner. Mr. WHELAN ;

Srr,—Our royal band of Assessors convened a meet- ing last evening, and having so immense a portion of Toryisin in their composition, there was little else done than money voted to pay their present and past officers. A pretty pass we have certainly come to, that no men can act in any public offices for one year without a cer- tain sum of pounds, shillings, and pence, rolling into their breeches pockets, out of the pockets of the poor, and the poor will be made to pay the “ Pump and J¥ell

gy he ther wes, be would sgein actin the same tanner.

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— aaienegeee OC Cee atte tn Sem Me 0.3 A eS EA Soe

But to retufn. The worthy Secretary to the club of Assessors vety niagnanimously declared he would not accept of the office even if £15 should be paid to him for his services therein; tiaking it appear that he would do the duty without pay, as | take it; however the majority of the club not only forced himSinto office. but compelled him to accept of a stipend of £5 for hie services for the current year. An additional sumof £5 was voted to the Treasurer for the last year, and a like sum was proposed for the Treasurer for the present year. What publie-spirited, full-souled, liberal-minded men Charlottetown is blessed with! O tempora, O mores! Well may the exclamation be raieed, “ O ni country !” to know the pittance of the poor to be aiey to line the purses of the rich, for a little paltry publi¢ service, while the daily wages, or the amount of contrace of the poor who nay be permitted to get @ public job, is screwed down to the lowest penny, because, as they are told, “the public cannot afford to give any more !* while the offieials, whose whole annual duty will not cause them to lose one unnecessary drop of sweat, must be paid for their enormous services to the public, about 500 per cent. more than these said services are worth? This is public economy with a vengeance, and shows some change of Government is very much wanted, the erg of the Guzeite and the Islander to the contrary notwith- standing. But this is notal]—the vote of these liberat salaries to the officers wil] next be claimed by the Chair- man and by the Assessors themselves, and the publie will be taxed for that purpose, if a cry is not raised and continued against such iniquity. se

To the honor of one of the Assessors, instead of the £5 voted for their Treasurer of the present. year, only 50s. has been concluded upon, because there will only be half the amount of money to assess for this y that there was last, and | very much question if the gentleman who has been appointed to that office will exect even this sum; on the ground therefore that £15@ instead of £300 ig what is to be raised and expended,. why should the Secretary’s allowance be so much? He will only have half the duty to perform that the leat Secretary had.

I have looked til] my eyes are red for the Report of the last year’s Assessment and Expenditure. When will it be published? Can you tell James, Duncun, or John ? Do not all speak at once, but when it comes to either of your offices, do publish it; because every poor man who pays his quota towards the everlasting “ Pump and Well Assessment” fund, has as just a right to es where his money has gone as he had to pay it; and tell out like men whet on earth the £150 is to be assessed for this year? There is only one or two pumps to be erected I think, and as to the Engihe House nothing can be done with it under present circumstances, them tell what is this year’s Assessment for, and oblige a

TAX~PAYER.

Charlottetown, May 21, 1850.

ADORNMENT OF THE PUBLIC SQUARBS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER, Mr. WHeLan;

Sir,—! shall spare myself the trouble of writing you, or troubling the public with a very Jong preamble, but merely bring ta your notice the marked d fference be- tween the North American Provinces and the Repub- lican States in general, with regard to the adornment and beautifying of the public squares, in their cities: and: smaller towns, with trees and walks,

Now, Sir, is it not disgraceful to see those large spacious squares in Charlottetown so much neglected, when we bear in mind how they might be railed in and planted with trees, which would add so much to the beauty and pleasantry of the town to say nothing of the many other benefits resulting therefrom. e other Provinces are similarly situated. In St. John, N. B., light begins to dawn at the eleventh hour: they have planted one of the public squares with trees. Any per-

the Parks in New York, must acknowledge the corrett- ness of the above statements. Nay, nearly every city and republican town is a criterion in that respect. Way should we not call a public meeting, giving a few shillings each, post and rail the Queen’s square, plant trees, and Jay it out into walks,—and not be looking like stubborn mules, with a continual hot sun shining over our heads, and choked nearly with dust. What @ treat it would be to walk were it so adorned. 1 shall now cutshort, and beg you remind the public to see to it. I am, yours. &c., TOM MOON.

May 22, %850.

A Srorr or True Love.—Helen Irving, a young lady of extraordinary beauty and uncommon qualifice- tion (the subject of the song, “I wish I wea where Helin lies”) was decended from the ancient and respec- table family of Kirkconnel, in Annandale, at present is the possession of Sir William Maxwell, of Springkvell, Bart. She had for some time been courted by two gentlemen, whose names were Bell and Fleeming. Bell was proprietor of Blackwood House, properly Blacket House; and Fleeming, of Flemming Hall, situate near Mossknow, at present in the possession ©

Assessment,” because al] goes under this cloak, even if!Capt. Graham. Bell one day told the young lady if he their furniture, goods, and chattels be seized and sold to

ake it up. Oh! for the great and glorious daye of Redisteaib!eddersoument, when will they come

at any time afterwards found her in Fieming’s Ccom- pacy, he would certain'y kill him. She, however, ha¢, ns grest regard for Fleeming, and being one day walk:

son that has enjoyed tle cool inviting pleasantness of .

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