THE BRITISH AMERICAN.

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returned as a proof of this, though three con- tending candidates exhibited themselves for three successive days to the public, they could scarcely induce any person to leave home for the mere purpose of voting. He often pitted their deserted condition. Mr.Nelson had much more votes than the other two. He did not put the expense of Elections in comparison with therights of the people—those Members who felt they did their duty might go forward again—and he thought the sooner those who did not were got rid of the better. He in- stanced the prosperity of the United States under similar circumstances, and conciuied by saying that though he wished to go much fur- ther than the present measure, yet sooner than lose this bill, he was content it should remain asit was, and hoped the time would soon arrive when more extensive measures mi ht be carried.

r. Brecken said he would give the mea- surohis decided support, he never got oﬂice since his election, those he held he had before. He always endeavoured to do his duty zea- lously—but he was not quite sure his conduct not universal approbation. A gentleman (Mr. Willock) had last year given notice of a bill to enable Members to resign their seats. lfit had passed, and he found the majority of his constituents were dissatisﬁed with him, he would resign the trust they conﬁded to him— in the absence ofany law to that purpose, he wished to put- it. frequently to their power to express their opinions of their representatives. As to copying from England, he deprecated the idea, farther than constitutionally they were bound to do, they would endeavour to act independently. and perhaps become a Precedent for England herself. He felt con- vinced that Lord John Russel had taken their Election Bill as a model for his, on the Reform question, the principles were exactly the same asfar as circumstances allowed. He would thereforesupport the amendment.

The Committee then divided on the amend- ment, (that the Bill be gone into clause by clause) as follows:—

YEAS—Messrs. Brecken, Owen, Cooper, J. S. Macdonald, Brenan, Dalrymple, Green, Willock.

.NAYS.—Messrs Speaker, Pope, Hyndman, Binns, Mc‘Neil, Compton, Nelson.

The Committee was occu ied the remainder

ofthe day discussing the e auses.

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Baron-ran FOR THE Bnrrxsn Auraicsn. Tuesday, Feb. 6. I

House in Committee, on the St. An- drew’s College Incorporation Bill, (Mr. Brenan in the chair.) On ﬁlling up the blank, for the amount of the annual in- come of Property to be holden by the Trustees, some gentleman proposed that it should be ﬁlled up with 20001. Mr. Pope said that he thought 5001. would be suﬂici- adj—he did not like to see institutions of the kind become too rich, as, under such circumstances it might exercise a cantrol in the country that could not be wished for, nor contemplated by the Act. The motion however, not being seconded, the blank was ﬁlled up with 20001. On the clause point- i out the mode of Election of Trustees in ﬁt ore, and their qualiﬁcation, Mr. Pope said that he thought there should be a disqualifying any person from be- mg. I , r of the corporation, except

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subjects of his Majesty ; he had no doubt of the good intention of the present Trus- tees, but there was no knowing that stran- gers inimloel to the Government would not be elected hereafter. He therefore pro- posed “ that no person should be eligible to become a member of the said corpora- tion, until he shou'd have ﬁrst taken the oath of allegiance to his Majesty. He saw such a proviso in an act of incorporation in Lower Canada, which went to encorporate the Trustees of a Presbyterian Church,— and he saw no reason why the like provi- sion should not be inserted in the present bill.

Mr. Binns said that it was before theE- mancipatiou. when the Law in Canada re- ferred to was passed, and that the Law as it at present stands, preVents an Jilien from holding real estate in any part of His Ma- jesty’s dominions. There were two acts of Incorporation passed last session in this House without any qualiﬁcation of the kind being introduced, and he thought any thing of that nature in the present bill would be making an odious distinction.— Messrs. Dalrymple, Owen, Willock, Co- dy, Green and Brecken, followed Mr. Binns in the same liberal strain. A The Chairman (Mr. Brenan,) and Mr. Hugh MacDonald, expressed themselves perfect- ly satisﬁed with the proviso introduced by Mr. Pope, stating at the same time that they should be sorry to see any person connected with the institution, who would refuse to take the oath of allegiance to his Majesty. Mr. Pope’s proviso, however, not being seconded, was withdrawn. Af— ter a few remarks from Mr. Owen, ex- pressive of his‘ approbation of the Board, and liberal princi als upon which the Bill was founded; andpof the very correct state in which it was introduced, the Bill was reported, agreed to, and ordered to be en- grossed.

After some other routine business the House adjourned.

Wednesday,-—-The Herring Fishery Bill wasreported, agreed to, and ordered to be engrossed. The house went in Commit- tee, on the Bill to establish the standard of weights and measures. and to compel! masters of vessels employed in the trans- portation of agricultural produce, to keep proper stamped measures on board to mea- sure the same. The Committee rose and reported Progress in. order to receive a message from the Council. After some other routine business, the House went into Committee on the Re am or Quadran- m'al Parliament Bill, I‘ms excited a most lively interest as well amongst the specta- tors as the honourable-Members who shar- ed in the debate. Mr. Binns spoke at great length against the measure, and read several paragraphs from the Parliamentary Histo .-in the library of the house, aewell as from “Blackstone ’ and other comment-

ators ; and was warmly supmu‘r Speaker and Mr. Pape. On the other .54, the Bill was ably supported by Mes", Dalrymple, Owen, Brenan,Brecken, H Mac Donald and John Small Mun“. ald. On adivision in Committee, “um the Chairman report the Bill disagreed to}, There appeared for the motion, Messrs Speaker, Pope, Hyndman, Willock, R: M‘Neil, Nelson,Angus M‘Donald, Comp, ton, Binns ; and against it, Messrs. Dal. rymple, Owen, Brenan, Bracken, Coo. per, Hugh Mac Donald, John Small Mac Donald and Green, being one of amajoﬁ. ty in favor of the motion, _ ’ Speaker took the chair, th tion being put that the re mittee be received, it was ment ‘-that the report of the Committeebe not received, but that the bill be engross. ed.” This was a case of peculiar interest, as Mr. Cody who had no vote on the for. merdivision [being Chairman,] voted in favor of the Bill being engrossed, which added one to the former minority, and Mr. Speaking having no vote on the pig. sent motion, it was carried by a majority of one.

Here again ensued a spirited debate as to the regularity of the last mode of pro- ceeding with regard to the Bill, Messrs. Binns, Neison and Pope, insisting that it was irregular and contrary to Parliament- ary usage to adopt such a course of having the bill engrossed without it having ﬁrst passed clause by clause in Committee, and agreed to, while Messrs. Owen, Brecken, Brenan, Dalrymple, &c. maintained that it was quite competent for the House to a. dopt such a proceeding. That in many in. stances Bills have been sent down from the Lords and passed in the House of Com- mons without being committed at all-that the present bill had been in Committee twice ; that it was now before the House, and that it was in the power of the House to make any ordtar they thought proper on it. This was carried, and the Bill ordered to be engrossed. Mr. Pope used strong language towards the majority for the manner in which they forced the measure through the House. He was immediately called on for explanation by Messrs. Owen. Brenan and Brecken, -~ who considered themselves insulted the expressions made use of. Then W Gallery was clear- ed, it being a case of privilege, and after the necessary explanation, the house ad- journed at about half past seven o‘clock.

Thursday, Feb. 7. ‘

Very little business waé transacted this day, as Mr. Speaker, Mr. Owen, I'- Pope, Mr- Green, and many of the re f the Members went to the exatination c. the Charlotte-Town Grammar School. which took place at two o’clock. AM the House resumed, a Message was rt- ceived from His Excellency the Littlm‘“

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