Mr. Elrand;

THE

oy

PT eT

, . EXAMINER. nen = " : , —_— — _— Cuan torrerown, April 21, 1857. | shillings sterling per acre for the Selkirk estates; and if the was agreed to. The report was laid on the table; it was when ridiculed for his ignorance be w rest of the proprietors were backward to offer their land, the | carefully and diligently examined — the minority scrutinizing crusty; but in dressing up politico-religious cesays, who knows

171

once. — soca wsttlenonte

ES SOU

ould grow uncommonly

\ly doe fellow, you ore not more happy in your reply to Government would find a way to compel them. ‘The pro-| jt with argus cyes, and thumbing the accounts to such an but chat, by a few touches of Kilmarnock art, he may be able

_ Barker's letter than you were when you replied to mine, | prietors know the intention of the Imperial and Colonial | which had for its sole object a complee reconciliation between | Giovernments, and that they are not to be disappointed ; for |

Mr. Barker and yourself. I need not be ashamed of my note to you. I shall not be ashamed of it in life's last conflict. Can you say as much of yours? by friends blush not for you, then they are to be pitied. ! I deserved not this at your hands. I will not characterize either your reply to Mr. Barker or myself, lest I offend the ears of the right-minded public ; but this I may say, without being justly charged with following your unenviadle strain, that you have endeavoured to lead the public astray by throwing dust in their eyes. The question itself is contained in a nut-shell, You say that Mr. Barker said so-and-so, and appeal to two witnesses for the truthfulness of your assertion, Both of your own witnesses disavow any knowledge of the subject matter of the report. Now, here are three against one, and that one the propagator and circulator of the report. Shall the public believe the one against the three, or the three against the one? My dear boy, we are shut up to the

extent as to peril their legibility + noteven resting from their

to cook something suitable to the tastes of his present sot

. | . . . ‘the main object of the Land Purchase Act and Loan Bill is | labours on Good Friday, as members of Parliament heretofore _over-fastidious customers, especially us plagiarism will not be

I think the tenantry will get over it, and therefore L gave it my support. WM. COOPER, Charlottetown, 18th April, 1857...

———_ >

To tue Eprror or tue Examiner.

Str,—Having noticed in the Islander of the 17th instant some remarks in reference to a vote given by me in the Assembly, when the House had under their consideration the report of the Special Committee on the Publie Aceounts—I wish to offer a few observations, in order to set myself right with the public, and to remove some misunderstanding which seems to prevail in reference to the vote alluded to.

_ The report of the Committee on Public Accounts having

conclusion that it was much more probable that the one | been fully examined and discussed, without the minority (yourself) was mistaken, and not the three, especially when | having beemable to prove any important error or discrepancy, we take into consideration even a few only of the circum-/ there remained only the disbursement accounts of the Public

stances of the case, for who feels a pleasure in seeing his) beautiful plantations destroyed? and I dare say that if the truth were known, you felt annoyed at the uprooting of your lovely hoak, with its rich foliage, &c. &c.; but now be honest, and acknowledge that ifs roots were not just the thing after all. If so, was it not better for the tree to fall, even under the hand of Mr. Barker, than for it to grow with insecure roots, and at last fall under tke influence of some tremendous storm, where the birds of the air took shelter in, and the beasts of the field, with even man himself, under its branches ? Come, frieud Heard, get in a better humour, and acknowledge frankly that all enormous evils have originated in slight errors. There are many other motives which may have induced you to write as you have of Mr. Barker (but this is the head and front of his offending), but 1 wi!! not advert to them now, enough for me to say that, despite of his being denounced by one of your preachers from your pulpit—his hearers threatened with loss of work (a practice carried out at home by the same body), if they continued to attend Mr. Barker’s place of worship—by a second and palpable false- hood published of him in the Protector newspaper, by a third of your ordained preachers, and that same paper refusing him an opportunity of defence—yet still he loves you all, both preachers and people, (I do not say he loves your ways); and there is no doubt but that, by sound prac- tical preaching, (not empty and senseless declamation), anda life conformed to Christianity, he will be blessed and made a blessing tothe Island. Should you feel disposed to ventilate this subject still further in a generous Christian manner, and the editors feel disposed to publish the matter, you will find a friendly opponent in your sincere well-wisher, JOHN WILLIAMS.

P. S. Do not hazard too much about Mr. Metherel or the unity that hath hitherto subsisted between the Wesleyans and the Bible Christians. Mr. Metherel needs not Brother Heard’s eulogies ; and as to the unity between the two bodies, some queer things may be said, but not to the praise of the Wesleyans, Take a hint, friend Heard, take a -. “

[POR THE EXAMINER. ] To tHe Epiror or tHE Istanper.

Sir ;—Few of your readers will understand your report in the Islander of the 10th April, on the debate which took place in the House of Assembly ou the Loan Bill, unless they know something of the alteration which took place in the state of the land question.

Formerly one of the main objections to an investigation of the landlords’ titles, and enforcing the forfeitures was this, the Earl of Selkirk had sent out people to settle his grants, and although that settlement did not fulfil the conditions of his grants, to save them from forfeiture, yet there can be no doubt that the Colonial Minister of that day approved of the settlement ; for when Sir Charles FitzRoy addressed a circular to the landlords, desiring them to come to some satisfactory arrangement with their tenants; and when, by some means, that circular became more public tham was in- tended, Sir Charles wrote to the Ear! of Selkirk, to say that the circular was not intended to apply to his lordship’s estates, as they had been settled long ago, and the people conteated. This admission that the Selkirk estates were settled, when it was known they still remained liable to for- feiture the same as the rest, shows that they stood in the way to protect the rest and prevent any action being taken to have the rest of the titles investigated, for whatever pains or expense the Earl of Selkirk incurred to settle his grants with British subjects, it would give him a higher claim for com- pensation than other proprietors, when the settlement was authorised by a British Minister; but gave no better title to the land, or power over the rights of British subjects.

The extravagant price given for the Worrel estate—the letter which Captain Swabey published in the Advertiser, shortly after that purchase, to say that the tenantry who had long leases were as well off as the tenantry on the Worrel

Land Office. The memorandum of these accounts I had not seen previously to the evening of its being produced, and I was anxious to see vouchers for at least some of the items contained in it, The Hon. Colonial Secretary and other members, who expressed full confidence in the correctness of the disbursement accounts, and who were desirous to bring the discussion to a close, as some country members, whose votes were of importance, purposed to leave town on the following day, strongly argued in favour of adopting the re- port, without waiting for the production of the vouchers. At this time there was a resolution before the Committee, offered by the Hon. Mr. Palmer, which made some allusion to the absence of the vouchers, and which contained a censure upon the Government for paying the disbursement accounts of the Land Office without warrants having been issued in the usual way. The Hon. Col. Secretary explained why this was done, by stating, that as the Land Commissioner had funds in his possession, being moneys for the purchase of lands, it was found to be more conducive to the public service, and to the convenience of private individuals, to pay for small ser- vices rendered from time to time, than to wait for the usual Council days, and suffer the delay always consequent on the issuing of warrants; and they accordingly authorised the Commissioner to use the funds in his possession for his dis- bursement Bills. With this explanation I was satisfied to leave the responsibility of the act to the Government; but still I was desirous to keep open the enquiry into the Public Accounts until the vouchers for those disbursements were laid before the House, so that the Opposition should have no cause of complaint—every other part of the Accounts having undergone the severest scrutiny, and for this reason I argued against the Hon. Col. Secretary, uatil both of us became rather excited by the over zealous advocacy of our conflicting views ; and it was during the excitement of debate that the Colonial Secretary somewhat tauntingly alluded to my supporting the minority in opposition to the Government under which I hold an office. Confused and irritated, I re- plied to the taunt, by stating that I would not be deterred from exercising a free will by any considerations for my office ; and having no alternative, I said [ would vote for Mr. Palmer’s resolution ; to which Mr. Coles replied, that I must, therefore, be prepared to take the consequences. .

The division having taken place in a few minutes after, in Committee, I voted for the resolution, not fully compre- hending its effect ; but perceiving on reflection, when the heat of debate passed away, that it contained a reflection on the conduct of the Government, with regard to the mode of paying the disbursements—which I considered objectionable after hearing the explanation offered by the Col. Secrgtary on that point—I regretted the error into which I had falfen, and took the first opportunity to correct it, ty voting against the re- solution when it was reported to the House.

The misunderstanding or altercation between the Hon. Col. Secretary and myself was quite casual, and the result of a momentary ebullition of feeling. The Conservatives have eu- deavoured, I believe, to make some polilical capital out of it; but their efforts to sow dissension and disunion will be as un- availing in this case, [ trust, as in all previous ones, Although [ may conscientiously differ in opinion on public questions with members of my own political party, I never had, and I believe [ never can have, any regard for the principles or views which at present regulate the conduct of the Conservative party in this Island ; and as for the organ of that party, whose allusions to my public conduct have chiefly called forth this letter—I can only say, that if the editor of the Islander wishes to do me an injury, he cannot more effectually accomplish that object than by bestowing upon me, as he has already done, his most unenviable applause.

I remain, Sir, yours truly, WM. E. CLARK.

Charlottetown, April 25, 1857.

To rae Evrror or tue Examiner. Sir, —It is with disgust [ have noticed the continued

estate, who had to purchase a settlement from him—led to

harping about the Bible question, and the unfounded charge

the belief that the purchase of the Worrel estate was only a preferred against the majority of the House of Assembly for job to give office and pay to the hangers-on of the Govern- | excluding the Bible from the public schools, when the very ment; and the address to the Home Government to guarantee | reverse is the fact; and I am surprised that those persons

a loan to purchase the rest of the township lands, was only a ruse to deceive the tenantry and prolong their bondage. For it has been the song of the proprietary party that the landlords wouid not sell their land to Government for less than a pdund sterling an acre; but the last summer brought a change. The Government applied themselves in earnest to borrow the money, and the Ministry were equally willing to guarantee the loan; and the only landlord whose claim to compensation has been the most fully admitted, and prevented an investigation of all the titles, the Earl of Selkirk, will no longer sereen defaulters, but is the first to come forward to express his willingness to sell to Government the best land for five shillings sterling an acre.

When the Governor, in his speech, announced the deter- mination of Her Majesty’s Government to guarantee a loan for the pr of converting the leasehold into freehold tenures, 1 could do no less than to express my approval of the principle. But still there was nothing inconsistent for me to propose what [ had proposed sixteen years ago, viz: that Her Majesty's Ministers should be the purchasers of the

land from the proprietors, instead of our Colonial Government ; and that the land should be sold to the tenan

to siz shillings an acre, instead of from ten to twelve shillings per acre, as

our revenue for that purpose. Now, was it inconsistent for me, when I found that the land would be purchased in the Colony, to move that the titles should be investigated before

an . > r ¥ Purchase was made. ‘courted the strictest investigation, but they would not suffer

But as neither of these measures was carried, there was

wee — by our es authorities; and that! the land shou security for the loan, instead of i J ee | awful disclosures, that they took the utmost pains to prevent

Bt due enquiry being made into the Public Accounts. The

who profess to cherish such a love for the Sacred Volume ‘could be guilty of such misrepresentation and falsehood. | But, Sir, all that I can see behind this screen of agitation is, the desire to upset the present Government, which they know to be hostile to their vile and silly purposes.

Yours, &e.,

Ch. Town, April 22, 1857. SINCERITY.

—

—

— Ehe Examiner.

CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E.1., APRIL 27, 1857.

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

Tue Islander of the 17th instant contains an article in re- ference to the Public Accounts so full of misrepresentation,

that we feel it our duty to notice it somewhat briefly, though | we are conscious the Jsiander has now attained such a posi-

_tion in this community as to be able to deceive but very few

try at from four | individuals.

The Islander and its supporters have frequently asserted that the majority in the Assembly were so apprehensive of

very reverse is the fact. The Government and majority

only the other two sides for me to choose between; and jany Of .the minority..to carry. muny, as, they; did last year, although Mr. Palmer, in your estimation, made the most; ®"y part of the public accounts, to be garbled and mystified effective and telling speech you ever listened t>, to show that ,in the columns of the Islander, before they passed through |

Cunard and the rest of the proprietors would not sell their lend to Government for less than a sovereign an acre, I could hot see what benefit that was to be to the country; and therefore the speech was lost upon me. But that most ej <ctice and telling speech was soon set at nought in a speech

the House of Assembly. When Mr. McDonald, who was |

Chairman of the Speeial Committee, presented to the House

his report on the Accounts, Mr. Coles rose and said, that the Consideration of the report ought to be deferred for a few

the report. The several sections of it were therein fully dis- cussed —- members of the minority objecting to some unim- portant items, and others in the majority explainingaway the objections. The question was then put—shall the report be agreed to ?— which was carried without any division ; where- upon Mr. Coles made the usual motion for the Speaker to take the chair, and the Chairman to report the report agreed to. Mr. Palmer then rose and moved the following resolution :—

‘* Resolved, That itis the opinion of this Committee that the Commissioner of Public Lands, in charging the sum of £267 7s. 64d. for disbursements, in his account, submitted to this Committee, withouta warrant or warrants under the hand and seal of the Lieutenant Governor, and for which amount no vouchers have been laid before the House—has acted contrary to the requirements of the Colonial Statute, and the authority of which he received his appointment as such Commissioner.”’

This resolution provoked considerable discussion, but the arguments whieh Mr. Coles used in answer to it could not be refuted. He said the Government had taken the responsibility to authorise the disbursement of small accounts contracted by the Commissioner in the discharge of his duties, and that the country would bear him out in so doing—that expenses of surveys, payment of chain-bearers, travelling fees, and other minor charges, extending over a period of two years—absorbed £130 out of the £267 — that there were over forty pounds, included in this sum, for work done on the roads by the tenantry, under the direction of the road commissioner, and that the balance consisted of moneys returned to individuals, who, after paying their deposits, refused to take the land allotted to them. He alluded to the fact that every item of expenditure embraced in those disbursement accounts had been in the hands of the Committee for weeks, and that any member of the House could have had recourse to them,—he contended that the resolution was mere clap-trap, intended to deceive the country ; but in order to give the honorable mem- ber an opportunity of putting it to the vote, he would with- draw his motion for the Speaker to take the chair, and did so accordingly. The resolution was then put and negatived ; and the minority claimed a further postponement of the debate, to which the majority, after some delay, were weak enough to agree.

And what was the result of the postponement? Absolutely nothing. When the debate was resumed on the Saturday fol- lowing Good Friday — the Obstructives out of doors crowding the visitors’ seats to witness the heavy blows and great dis- couragement which the Government were fated to sustain at the hands of the minority —the latter most signally failed in making out the shadow of a case against the Government. Not a solitary bone of contention could be found to pick and snarl over. Mr. Haviland, sen., indeed, introduced a re- solution, but it was based upon such untenable premises, that a few remarks from the Colonial Secretary clearly demonstrated the propriety of its being withdrawn, and the Opposition were driven to the expedient of serving up cold Mr. Palmer’s re- solution of a previous day, respecting the disbursement accounts of the Land Office; but the taste of the House speedily rejected the unsavoury thing, and the Committee elosed their labours. The visitors—friends of the minority—were of course very much disgusted at the ridiculous farce which had been played by those from whom they expected better entertain- ment. Itno doubt reminded them of those rustic theatricals in connection with which it was announced, that ‘‘to-morrow even- ing will be performed the tragedy of Hamict, with the part of Hamlet omitted, by particular request.’’ We can easily account for the misrepresentation of the Islander. Its friends in the Assembly could not state the falsehoods it has had recourse to, without being instantly exposed. But haying no character of its own to lose, it has done its best to gloss over and palliate the failures of its masters in the Assembly.

We observe in the Islander of Friday last, since the above was written, a further reference to the subject of the Public Accounts, containing figures and statements so untrue that we regret we have not space to notice them in our present issue, but will return to the subject next week.

ee » -?-_<:o-+

“The Editor of the Examiner, unable to disprove the statements of Mr. Stark, or to rebnt any of his assertions—in his leader of Monday last assumes an air so superlatively contemptuous, that it must be in- finitely disgusting to every man pvssessing the least sense of honor, and must accelerate the degradation of the paper in the estimation of an impartial community.”—Pretector of Wednesday last.

WueEn the very pious and reverend editors of the Sanctified Press find it necessary to animadyert upon our conduct, we think it would suit their purpose much better, and be, cer- tainly, more in accordance with their assumed character, to state the truth regarding us, than assert a wilful and de- liberate falsehood. The above extract contains a positive untruth. The circumstances under which Mr. Stark has been dismissed from his situation, have been clearly stated by the Hon. Mr. Colesin the Assembly, and by this paper in its issue of the 23rd ult.; the ‘* statements’’ and “ assertions’’ sub- sequently made by the individual concerned, only placed his case in a worse light than that in which it was first presented to the public; and we thought we were acting a humane and generous part in suffering the discarded functionary to slip quietly through our fingers, instead of torturing him by tossing him about in the meshes of the net he so foolishly spread for himself. It would look too much like throwing water on a drowned rat. If we hadany desire to comment on the strange piece of mystification which recently appeared in the columns of the Protector, from the pen of the ex-Visitor of Schools, we should content ourselves by quoting one line, slightly altered, from Scott's ‘* Lady of the Lake,’’ as fully expressive of our opinion. Pointing to the No. of the Sanctified peri- odical in which the worthy exhibits himself, we should exclaim with the Saxon, in the description of the Combat,

“ There lies black Murdoch Stark and stiff.”

The editors of the Sanctified Press are very much disgusted at our ‘‘superlatively contemptuous” ‘air’? towards the Government’s very ‘‘ bad bargain.’’ We can only say, that the country has been long since disgusted with the arrogance and pretensions of the most ‘superlatively’? shallow and presumptuous officer ever thrust upon it; and we cannot re- member an instance when public opinion was so ready to «* accelerate’’ the remoyal of an incubus as in the case of Mister Murdoch Stark. The editors of the Sanctified Press

from Mr. Uoles, which you might but did not listen to. He | days, to enable members on both aides to examine it fully,and tribute to their columns. As a lecturer upon Agricultural Government would not give more than five compare it with the accounts referred to. This suggestion Chemistry, he was looked upon as scarcely half bafed, though

said that the

are yreatly to be envied in having such a popular man to con- | -

‘to enable the tenants to convert their leasehold into frechold| invariably have done. Sufficient time having been thus 80 much kneaded as in the case of the Chemistry lectures. You cannot; and if your | tenures, at from ten to twelve shillings per acre; and although | afforded for due enquiry, the House went into Committee on Heard, | this is double the price which ought to have been demanded, |

+4bee->

HOLY WILLIE.

To the disgust of the right-thinking portion of the commu- nity, Mr. William Ieard, of this City, has appeared before the public as a newspaper correspondent. On Monday last a Supplement to the /s/ander contained nearly twe columns from the pen of this pious, truth-telling Christian, the evident ob- ject of whom was to depreciate the character and diminish the social and professional influence of Mr. Cephas Barker, whom Mr. Heard, and a few kindred spirits, have maligned and en- deavoured, per fas aut nefas, to injure. The facts are briefly as*follow :—Mr. Barker, shortly after his arrival in Charlotte- town, by his talents and personal demeanor obtained so great a portion of popularity, that it was deemed advisable, by cer- tain parties, to check his growing influence, by any and every means. Now, as this gentleman’s conduct afforded no opening for his enqmies, it was decided that recourse must be had to a system of secret slandering, which, coming from the lips of the ‘* Sanctified,’’ might be received by the unwary as the truth, and thus Mr. Barker's position might be undermined.

Among other stories to his prejudice, one reached Mr. Bar- ker’s ears, to the effect, that he had made statements disparag- ing to the character of the Hon. Colonial Treasurer, who had been his fellow passenger from England last Fall. This having been traced to Mr. Heard, he was civilly requested to inform Mr. Barker if he had used the language imputed to him. A man having any regard for his position in society—for a char- acter as an honest man, and especially a prominent religionist and great advocate for the Bible, the pages of which teem with reprobation of the slanderer, and denounces as an abomination, ‘‘a false witness that telleth lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren’’—would have given a categorical answer to this plain question. Such, however, was not the course adopted by Mr. Hieard. Feeling consciyus that he had been guilty of circulating the ramour, and knowing that his conduct in so doing was unworthy of his position, he declined to give any explanation, unless, (we wonder if he ever blushes), Ae should be guaranteed from the consequences of his own conduct ! Apparently more afraid of the law of man than of that higher code which says, ‘* Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour,’’ Mr. Heard declines to tell the truth, lest an action at law should result in his, being convicted of one of the most contemptible acts of which a white man and a Christian can be guilty. Knowing, as we did, the rancorous feelings with which Mr. Heard regarded Mr. Barker — feelings, the manifestation of which had so disgusted members uf his com- munion, that several of the young men who attended his Bible Class in the Wesleyan Chapel refused any longer to sit at the feet of this Gamaliel — still we did not think that Mr. Heard would have, by his own showing, placed himself in the humil- iating position which he now occupies.

His letter evinces the spirit which underlies the whole affair. It begins with abuse of Mr. Barker for coming here at all— for presuming to dissent from the zealots at the Bible Meeting —fvr venturing to think of staying here, God willing, for five years—for daring to exercise ministerial functions—and, though not avowed by the writer, for having in his Jecture on Edacation very quietly ridiculed some nonsense of which Mr. Heard was painfully delivered at the Bible Meeting. For thus having been guilty of causing people to laugh at the ex- pense of one, to whom a smile is a sin, Mr. Barker must be victimised. In the spirit of the, worthy whose name figures at the head of this article, we can fancy one of those self- satisfied individuals, who

“Think they’re pious when they’re only bilivus,”’ denouncing his adversary as ‘‘ Holy Willie’ did in his cele- brated prayer :—

** And when we chastened him therefor, Thou kens how he bred sic a splore, An’ set the warld in a roar O° laughing at us— Curse thou his basket and his store, Kail and potatoes.”

Mr. Heard’s ire appears to have been excited by Mr. Barker having coupled the declaration of his intention to reside in the Island for five years, with the not unchristian qualification that it was subject to the will of his Divine Master. This, at least, is all we can infer from the publication of the following ex- tract from Mr. B’s correspondence—* that (D. V.) [ purpose remaining in this city for five years at least.’’ If our surmise is correct, Mr. Heard must possess a mind similar to that of the negro preacher, who announced from the pulpit, to his sable audience, ‘* My breddren, dare will be service here next Wed- nesday night, God willing, but Sunday night, wedder or no.”’

Carnourc Youne Men’s Literary Instirvtrz.—On Thursday evening next, 30th instant, Mr. Thomas Kirwan will deliver a lecture on ‘* Man, and his diversity of character.’’

wae areeennttineteetiaeenl

New Advertisements.

By Authority. HE City Council has appointed Mr. Micnarn O'Hara, City Marshal, to be Collector of the City Assessment for the ensuing year. The City Council has granted to William Byers, senior, a license to sweep chimneys in the City during the ensuing your.

By order, W. B. WELLNER, City Clerk Charlottetown, April 27, 1857. 2i FEES FOR SWEEPING CHIMNEYS. Flues in one storey houses...-..++++++++++ 6d. each, do. one and a half storey houses...... od, + do. two storey houses....+5+++++e+5++ s., do. three or more storey houses....1s. 3d. ** City Board of Health. A’ a meeting of the above Board, on the 22d April instant, it was

Resolved, That the several members of the Board visit the yards and out-buildings within their respective Wards, and report the state thereof to the Board forthwith.

ROBERT HUTCHINSON, Chairman. W. B. Wexner, Clerk. 2i Ch. Town, April 27, 1857.

The Steamer ROSEBUD

wh leave Charlottetown for Summerside on WEDNES- DAY EVENING next, at 9 o’ciock, and ply regularly between Summerside and Shediac until further notice.

For freight or passage apply to Wa. HEARD. Charlottetown, 27th April, 1857. li

[For New Advertisements, English News, and other ttems, see Suppleient |

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