iis | lke sts

out be enal gy, to 78. Gd. an acre, ‘i , offic: lowed te remain In ¢ : | aioe te this effeet on the fleer of the House | ; The Hon. George Beer told the

if the party in power were

Col, Gray made a

el Asectbly tenaniry at Veruon River, which torms a portion

¢ one of the best estates jn the Island, that they | “

would get their faruns at 7s. 6d an acre, if the} )4¢ fully do this week, we make the following | Had “the indulgences” been sanctioned and | dual the price paid for it in loss of time, money extract from a letter addressed by Sir Samue CChlirmed by an Act of the Imperial Parlia-| spent for uviform, amusunition, &e? or te the Cunard to the Under-Secretary at the Colonial /ment, it would, we must adinit, have been dif- | Colony the sums granted to the Volunteer Force

present Governameut weres ipported by the people The proprietors, seeing that the Gevernment are willing to meet them imore than half way in| the enforcement of their claims, have become wore close-isted, and less |\beral in their exactions than they were two )ears ago. having uinde their proposals, the Propr eters offer | theirs in the following Bill;aud they *y, “ You wust take this Bill without asy allerauon mi its provisions, or you get nothing at all :"— “ « BILL POR SETTLING DIPFPERENCES BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANT, AND TOE N ABLE rEN- AN rs ON CERTAIN row NSPS TO PURCHASE

THE REVERSION UF THEIR FARMS.

** Whereas © Assembly, pursuant

» acertain Address of the House ef : te certain resolutions passed | by the said House, It wae prayed that Ler Majes- t's Government would be pleased to direct a) Commission t+ enquire lilo the existing relations

between landlord and tenant, and to negvtiate | first sentence can hardly be mistaken by the dull- |

with the proprietors ferar abatement of arrears of rent. aud alse fer termes to enable the tenants to purchase the reversion of their farme.

“And whereas Sir Sanuel Cunard, Baronet, Edward Cunard, Sir Graliaw Montgomery, Bart., James Moutgomery, the Right Hen. Laurence Sulivan, Daniel Hodgson, William Cundall, Jobo Reach Boxrke, the Hon. 7 owas Heath Haviland, Joho A.M’ Donald and the Lloo. Edward Palmer aid Henry Palmer, proprietors ef the several

township lands mentioned in the schedule to this | Act, marked (A), did agree to the issuing of such |

Commission, And whereas a reyal commissivn was thereupon issued; and whereas the said com- missioners, by their report, did find and declare | that the said township lands were not liable te tor- fieture in consequence ot any vnission ty periorm, i or any beo-perfurmance of any of the conditions in the original grant thereet; and also that no arrears of quit reats by the said grants reserved are new due or recoevera!le from the proprietors, |

tenants or occupiers of such lands; and also that ever by the explosion of their political bubbles and of one or two other observations, as, perhaps, hie-

the proprietors, their tenaat® or vecupiers shonia be quieted in their possessiva of certain parts ot the said lands called or known as the ‘ Fishery | Reserves;’ and did sise declare and award that | ail arrears of rent which accrued due to the said proprietors in respect ©! any of the sad lands previews to the J85e, should be remitted to the tenants; and did alsw give certain rates at whieb they should have a right to purchase the | reversivn of their farms; and whereas the said commissioners did alse, by their report, direct and provide, that in certain cases the valae of the land should be ascertained by arbitrators, to be appointed by the landlords aud their tenants, in | making which last direction or provision the said | commissioners exceeded the authority intended to be given them by the Assembly and the said pro- prieturs, and the said reporter award is thereture veid; and whereas it is uc vertheless expetient tor preveuting the tenants being deluded by the ag- tation ef impracticable projects, based or certain questivos called iv the said reaclutions “the es- cheat question,” © the fishery reserve question, ” and “the quit rent question,” that the declara- tien, previsees or direction relative thereto should be confirmed iu the manser and under the pro- visoes hereinafter mentioned. And whereas it hath been agreed between the said proprietors and certain delegates or agents of the government of Prince Edward Island, to remit to their tenants, on their respective estates, certain arrears of reut | hereinafter mentivned, and alse, that the teraats !

| and thirty-four (34).”

| vigually, and

townships numbers thirty-five (35), und thirty- aia (30).

* Mr. township number thirty-seven (37).

“James Montgemery, Eeq, one third part of barring the rights of

townships numbers fifty-one (51), fitty-nine (59)

Before commenting on thia Bill, which we can-

Office, enclosing the Bill: — “In making these concessions, we do not re-

cognize the right of delegates, or any other party, 8", the were Yncoustitutional and capricious al- The Government | ' intertere with written agreemenuis existing be- | lowa..ces of successive ministers of the Crown, | tween landlords and tenants; but we make the!

concessions in the hope that they may produce! _ ; = y In , yi ’ | for the Colonies.

peace, and obedience to the laws.

iully understood that this Bill shall be taken te

is further expressly understood, that im case any alterations shall be made in the provisions of the

sane Dill, by the Legistatureot Prince Edward Is- | and | land, the proprietors will not iu any wise be bound |

thereby.”

‘This is very significant, and we should say, not ever and above pacific or conciliatory. ‘The re- duke to the Government and the Delegates in the

est reader.

could well be administered to any Government. |

A miserable, mangy, hungry cur could not be kicked away with less ceremony. It is like say- ing: “Off with you, curs of Delegates! You

must not bark at our doors !

you! If you don’t take that, you will get nothing |b... cheerfull

else.” And nothing better is deserved by a Go- vernment which would play a toadying part to

the Proprietors, under the talse pretence of serv-

that they have no influence in England—that they are in disgrace there-—that their policy on the land question has failed here as well as there most that they have done but te excite inthis

the miserable break-down in all the fiue promises that were held out to the tenantry.

We may, if we have time, review the Proprie- Bill next week.

necessary.

ters’ However, it is searcely lta principles are easily understood. The Proprietors want, in the first place, to have their detective titles confirmed by Act of Parlia- ment—they want to be quieted, by the same means, in their unjust occupation of the Fishery

to the effeet, that they don’t now, nor ever did, owe |

any quit rents. There is very little doubt that the

Government of this Island will pass their Bill, and

aceede to all these extravagant demands. They will attempt to delude the people into the belief that beiter terms cannot be obtained than these

proposed in the Proprietors’ Bill; and the measure | may, therefore, be torced upon the country, unless |

some very strong demonstration shall be made against it by the people. Let them consider

return for a recognition by Act of Parliament, of every Proprietary claim, whether just or unjust :— lat—The right of tenants holdirg leases orer 40

led te purebose theie tarme at from)“ Mr. John A. MeDonald, proprietor of parte of with their fulfilment, can justly or legally

John R. Bourke, proprietor of half of therefore, the indulgences ought to be held to be | igooranee are exhibited by our Volunteers in

’ their demand fur the establishment of a Court of | Volunteers were not — as it no doubt is—worse

) contain the tertus upou which the laud question |

of Prinee Edward Island shall be settled ; and it |

It is about as severe a snubbing as |

There’s a bone for |

jing the tenantry, which has resulted in showing

nething : b 7 : a Island greater discontent than | gation been made by them, leads us into the making

) Reserves—and they want te have adeclaratory law |

| classes of their fellow subjects, as would be a

|

}

on the suid estates shall have the right to purchase | years to purchase at 16 years rent. The whole |

the reversionary interest iu their farms, at the rate acd in the manner hereinafter expressed :

“ Ist.—Be it thereture enacted, by the Lient. | Governor, Council and Assembly, that from and after the passing of this Act, and until the first day «f May. Ise4, every tenant of any of the

jetors in the said scledule pumed, having at the time of desiring to exercise the right of pur- | ehase hereinafter given, 2a unexpired term Fat less than furty years, under written demise, in any | of the tewuship lands of such proprietors, shall have a Tight vr uption to purchase the reversion-' ary interest of such proprietor, lis beirs or assigus therein, at sixteen years’ purchase of the yearly | rent reserved and made payable by and under | euch demise. Provided always, that in any case where the said yearly rent during the first portion | or years of the term shal! be less than the yearly veut reserved Quridg’ the residue of such term, | the amount of the purchase money shall be com- puted by taultiplying the maximum er full reut reserved during the residue of such term b;

“2d.—Re it further exagted, that the hereinbe- | fore recited declarations or award of the said | Commissioners respecting esebeat or forterture i | the «aid township lands, and the arrears of quit | reats, and alse cenceruing the lands known or | called * the Fishery Reserves,’ be, and the same is hereby declared to be binding in law and in| equity.

“3rd.—Be it further enacted, that the arrears | of rent which have accrued due to any of the | said proprietors from any tenant of such township lands previous and up to the first day of May I-54, and which at the passing of this Act are, unpaid, be and the same are hereby remitted and given up; provided always, that nothing in this Act slall extend to remit or release any arrears of rent for which jodgmwent in any Court sball have been recovered against any tenant previous tw the firat day of October, 1563, por to remit or | release any rent due from any tenant, the unex- pired term of whese lease shall nut exceed forty years; and provided further, and it ia hereby de- elared that nothing in this Act shall be construed to entitle any teraut, who, subsequent to the Ist of May, 1958, shall have paid a sum larger than was sufficient to cover or liquidate the reut accruing due between the said first of May, 1858, aud the time of his making such payment, to have the overplus or amount remaining, atter deducting | the rent so aceruing between the said first day ot May, 1958, and the time of such payuient, applied | ia ar towards the liquidation or payment of any | tent accruing after such payment; but such over- | plus shall be taken and lield to have been appro- | priated by the landlord iv payment of arrears that | acerued due previous tu the said firet day of May, 1858.

“ 4th.—Be it further enacted, that any actian } hereatter to be brought by any of the said pro- prietors, their heirs, or assigns, against any suck | tenant for the reeovery of reut which may have | accrued due previous io the first day of May, in58, under any such demise as aforesaid, that act (as to 80 inuek of the demand as relates to rent accrued due previous to such laxt mentioned date ) shall be a good defence under the general issue, without the same being specially pleaded ©. bar thereto i

“Sth -~That nothing in this Act shall be cen- strued to eatitle the tenant of any farm or lands | comprising any mill site or water power, capable | of being used tor the driving of any saw or grist | till, whereon any such mill now is or hereafter bas been erected, to any such remission of arrears of rent, or a right to purchase the reversion thereof 28 aforesaid.

“ 6th—That no tenaet shall be entitled te claim the right or option to purchase under this Act, Wuless all arrears of reot, and which may be re- foverable by action or for which judgment — to the first duy of October, 1263, shall

i

}

i

Satisfied.

“7th.—That in case the tenant shall desire to! purchase between the periods or days on which | the rewt falls due, the same shall be apportioned, | and the portion there fuund to be due, added to | the purchase money pa able by such tenaut under the provisions of this Act.

“8th.—That nothing in this Act shall extend | any lease made after the passing of this Act. |

“ Sth.—That no laudiord shall be compelled to’ sellunder the provisions of this Act, unless the whole of the purchase woney be tendered or uflered tw be paid.”

“ SCHEDULE (A.)

“ Sir Samuel Cunard, proprietor of townships | tumbers twe (2). fourteen (14), twenty-one (21), thirty-twe (32), forty-four (44), sixty-three (63), ‘xty-four (64), and of halves ot townships nuinbers twenty (20), forty-five (45), forty-eix (46), furty- nine (49), and parts of townships eight (8), forty | eight (48), filty-four (54), andysixty-five (65), also one third part of township twenty-seven (27).

“ Mir. Edward Cunard, proprietor of townships conditions, is far otherwise when the welfare of which keeping that noble weapon in such order im- a third party depends upon the due observance of peratively demands! We are informed, on good “ Right Honorable Laurence Sullivan, proprie- them. The conditions originally imposed upon | authority, that when inspected, the arms entrusted

the grantees were such as, aceurding iv the fore- | to the care of our Volunteers were found in a cast of the Imperial Government, it was necessary | most disgraceful condition,—su injured were they, to impose upon the grantees to easure the pro- | and so badly taken care of, that bad the Volunteers gress and well-being of the Colony; and, that— | who used them belonged to the regular Army they

mambers four (4), five (5), six (6), and half of township number one (1).

tor of townships numbers nine (9), sixteen (1G), twenty-two (22), and sixty-une (61).

“Sir Graham Montgomery, roprietor of one third (1-3), fifty-mne (59), and thirty-iour (34).

; “ Honorable Thomas Heath Haviland, proprie- “r of townships numbers fifty-six (56), and parts had they been duiy eaforeed—they would have would have been obliged to change their coufort- | greatly tended to its advancement and prosperity, able quarters and generous diet for lonely cells

of townships nuwbers forty-three (43 torty (40),

and eight (3). : nee : | Henry and Edward Palmer, proprietors of If of tow nehip number one (1).

“ Mr. Danie} Ilodgeon, proprietor of part of | township umber twenty-three (23) «

“Mr. William Cundail, proprietor of part of | Waship number twe: ty (20). ;

Ween We rt ey me wee -

purchase money to be paid atonce. No rents, to the value of one farthing, to be left unpaid since 155° ; norcan a tenant purchase his farin, for auy amount of money, under the Proprietors’ Lill, unless the landlord is willing to sell.

2nd—Rents due previous to 1858 to be forgiven. But if those rents, or any portion of them, have been secured by judgments or otber legal instru- ments, such a8 bonds and warrants, they are to stand good against the tenant, and may be re- covered by the proprietor. The tenant is not to be credited fur any payments that may have been made since 1358 on account of rents due previous to that year; aud a tenant who is in possession of a mill site, or water privilege that may be used for a mill site, cannot claim exemption from rent due for sych property prerious to 1858

3d — All leaseholders under forty years to be excluded from the provisions of the Act; and leaseholders, who may rent farms at longer periods than 40 years—say 999 years—after the Act goes into operation, not to be allowed to pur- chase at the exorbitant rate of 16 years rental, or at any rate, unless the landlord pleases.

4th— The 16 years purchase to be caleulated in every case at the highest figure reserved in the leases as the annual reat of an acre of land. Thus, tor example, where the rent begins at sixpence or pine pence ap acre, and ends at one shilling and sixpeuce or two shillings, the highest figure is the one at which the purchase money of the land is to be reckoned.

Such is the nature of the Bill which the Pro- prietors offer, and which, we are inclined to think, the Government willaecept. If the people approve of it, they will manifest their approval by If they de net approve of it, the sooner they protest and petition against it the better.

their silence.

_ +?

THE LAND QUESTION, No. 9.

THe people have frequently been told that the indulgences which have, from time to time, been granted to the proprietors, and the impracticability of the original terms of settlement, effectually pre- clude the establishment of a Court of Escheat.

As to the impracticability of the original terms of settlement, often aud cuntidently as it has been asserted, it has never been satisfactorily proved tohaveexisted. The original grantees themselves did not allege the impracticability of those terms until after the breaking out of the first American war; and Lord Stanley, when adverting to them, seema to have thought that they were very far from having been impracticable, tor he positively censured the Imperial Goverument for tle iw- providence of tae conditions, as respected the interests of this Colony, and for not having inter- fered to enforce them on its behalf. Besides, he plainly stated it to be his opimon that the demand of the people of this Island for the establishment of a Court of Excheat, urged by them for a long

reasonable and just, although the Governmeuts of the day adopted a directly cpposite course.

That the indulgences which, from time to time, were yranted to the proprietors, by the Imperial Government, have justly or legally relieved the proprietors from the conditions or responsibilities imposed upon them by the original grants, is a proposition which, we opine, cannot be sustained either in law or reason,

Had the conditions imposed by the grants had reference to none but the grantor and the grantees —had none but their individual interests been

involved therein—it would, doubtless, have been| ment and care of arms. How many of our

quite competent to the grantor, at any time, for the relief of the grantees, either to relax the con- ditions, or altogeth2y to dispense with the fulfil- ment of them. But the case, as respects those

is, we believe, what not many will eow deny.

: ae ; . : a a inci ason why the Road Office i iv Now, if we have so tar put the question in a necessary to compel well instructed regular sol-| ‘The principal reason why | <4 Penang, 4D. Baaneed, Reyes, Sole as | NEX'T, otherwise their amounts will be hauded to

what are the tcrms offered to the tenantry in of the grantees, although certainly that would be | duly regarded, as it ought to be; but the bettering

er

much work required, as we can prove by the pro- posals for tenders ; andthe work is done—except in the case of last year, when Mr. Reilly had it—on regard, as! other branches of the art wilitary. Even if the | the cheapest description of paper, and in the most the people, or as opposed to | smattering of military knowledge acquired by the} hurried manner. Now, if there can be a cun- siderable saving effected in putting out one part of the public printing to the competition of the trade, why not put out all? Whils Mr. Whelan held the office of Queen’s Printer, his Tory opponents were never tired of grumbling and growling about his emoluments. They insisted that all the work of the office shouldbe put up to tender, and they promised that it would be done as soon as a change took place. The @azette cuuld be tendered for at so much per column, or the official ad- vertisements therein at so much per square; aud surely there could be no difficulty in putting up the Session laws to tender, at so mech per sheet, as has been done with the City bye Laws and the Provincial Revised Statutes. ‘There is not the slightest doubt that a great saving would ve effected by the competition. When Mr. Haszard was Queen's Printer, he had, as one source of his emoluments, in virtue of his office, the printing of the Council Journals, which is a very small affair, and for which he charged one pound fifteen shillings a sheet. A wuch larger cumber of copies of the same size work is now dune by tender at about fifteen shillings a sheet. Did Mr. Haszard “take advantage of his position,” &ec., &c.? But if there be a saving of the people’s money in putting public services up to tender, why not make the practice general? Let the public offices be put up to public competition, and take, if you like, those offices that are not ministerial. Mr. Wright will soon find a competitor fur the Treasurer's Office, who will du his work as faithfully as he for less than £300,— Mr. Aldous would find his office taken from him if he tendered for bis presentsalary ; and Mr. Craw- ford’s work is not of such a difficult nature but that it could be done fora hundred pounds a year by any expert penman-—for there is no braiu work required in the service—and thereby save a hundred a year to the people from that office lone. We might refer to many other public offices, and make similar remarks.

have ‘come in a short time uifit for service? Similar

Pr . ’ i . j been in the Crown or Government; and that, | ill effects of loose discipline or no discipline and

' ot non-effect, and to be entitled to no

| Escheat. than no knowledge at all, is it worth to the indivi-

jfereat. They would, then, have beeu rendered | out of the public jreasury, to euable thew to ac- | legal and coustitutional; instead of being, as they | quire it?

We inust not forget, however, that the presence of part of the Volunteer Force has, on certain vccasions, coutributed te add te the vice-regal state of our Lieut. Governor. On these occasions one or two, or parts of three or four companies of Volunteers, have received His Excellency at the Province Building, and have presented arms, barring blunders, aluost as well as soldiers of the line. Whether this military display adds weight to the Govervor’s authority, or increases the res- pect of the community for bis official position or his private character, are questions which we will not at present discuss. We have our opivion on the subject, and so no doubt has the reader. This very questionable good, then, is all that the cosntry bas as yet derived for the money spent on the Vulunteers. They are at best but a feather in the cap of the body politie —a mbbon in its button hole—a stripe in its breeches, Tli-natured people say that the feather is dingy, the ribbon faded, aud the stripe stained, aud that so far from being ornaments, they are quite the contrary.

It may be objected “ that the Volunteers were organized tor use and not for show — that rifles and bayonets were supplied them for other pur- poses than those of amusement and display. Ifa a war should break out, we would then reap the fruits of our labour and expense; the enemy would not find us unprepared; our hearths and our homes would be well defended by our gallant Volunteers.” All this may sound very well from the stump, and pass for sense with the unthink- ing ; but when the defenceless state of the Island is cousidered, even they will be convinced that our Voluuteer Force would be altogether inadequate ‘o our defenve, if an enemy should take it into his} But returning to the subject of the public

the whele—of an acquired extensive wilderness head to invade our shores. Tu the first place, our painting, the question fur the country to consider | territory—such as Prince Edward Island almost | 28¥/ar position and the numerous unfortified har- | ie—Dove that service, On the whole, cost less wholly was at the time of its being taken posses- bours by which eur coast is iidented, offer woury on oo “_— Se ee facility to an invading enemy. What resistance | No, indeed, but considerably more op the average. could be made at Charlotietown, Georgetown or | The cheese-parings, in the way of competition,

Summerside, to even the most incovsiderable | are merely a blind; and we believe they are These towns would inevitably be | chiefly resorted to for the purpose of distributing reduced to ashes if any defence were attempted. | the public money amongst the other printers who They are defended by uo fortifications worthy the | support the Government as well as Mr. Ings. name, and the few cannon that we possess, served | We are informed that the printing for the road by our Volunteer artillery men, would only excite | ervice, this very year, was not allowed to fall to the ridicule of an enemy. Indeed, the best policy | the lowest tender, because the lowest tender came of the people of these places would be, not to | {rom an opponent of the Government, but that the otfer the slightest resistance, but to treat a visit-| Work was given to another office in which our ing enemy with all possible envility. When a | economical rulers receive a small morsel of eup- civilized enemy cannot be opposed with any | pert. As a proof of our assertion, that the public chance of success it is the part both of prudence printing coste more, on the average, under the and huwavity to make the best terms we can | Tories than it did under the Liberals, we shall in- with him. Without stronghoids to fall back | stauce two years of the rule of each party, which upon, and magazines te furnish them with sup- | #Pe fair periods for a comparison. plies, how long could our Volunteers keep the | cos? oF PUBLIC PRINTING UNDER THE LIBERALS. tield, supposing they were fovlish enough te take | 1857 — £719 3s. 24d. | 1858 — £714 2s. 2d. it? Itis not at all likely that any considerable Total fer the two years,.... £4433 Se. 44d. number of them would leave theit farms and their COST OF PRINTING UNDER THE TORIES. workshops to fight in so hopeless acause. If auy JOG £088 ie. 116 | 10h £94) ag of them were mad enough to de se, the ignorance Total for the two years.. .£1624 6s. 9d. of their commanders, combined with their own | Being £191 18. 44d. more than the Liberal Go- want of discipline, would ensure their speedy des- | Verument paid for the public printing during a truction or dispersion, Indeed, we can imagine | like period, as above mentioned. These charges, uo sadder spectacle than that of a bedy of gallant in both cases, are independent of the cost of print- fellows marching to Beedless slaughter and dis- | ing for the two branches of the Legislatuge, which, graceful defeat. But after all, the battle or battles which “will decide our fate, if fought at all, will be fought on otter soil than ours. An enemy must know yell that thieckeland alone would be @ useless acquisition, impossible to be retained. Our tate is inseparably linked with that af the other Nevth, American Pro- vinees. Their destiny, whethet that be subjection or independence, will be our deatiny. Their eon- querors will be our anasters — their rulers our ralers,

vr rather, only Of successive Secretaries of State But bad recourse been bad tw the Imperial Parliament for a coufirmation of these indulgences, a due consideration vt them, by that august body, would bave led, uuaveidably, tu | & Complete investigation of the grauts themselves ; such au investigation would—it can searcely | be doubted, we think—have led to a declaration, | on their part, not only of the improvidence of the conditious of the grants, but of the von-validity ot | the entire grants, as unconstitutional alienations of public rights and property; and, even although their legislative actiun thereon should have had, | tur its principal object, the giving of constitutivual validity to the grauts, it could nut but, at the same tine, bave-carried with it such a recognition of | the rights of the settlers or colonists, as would have | ensured to thew and their heirs—subjected tu no obligations or burthens but such as would have y submitted to—titles in fee simple | to the farms, literally won by them from the re- sisting wilderness by the might aud labor of their | own bands.

The speculation in which we have here indulged, respecting what possibly would have beeu the | result of a thorough investigation of the grants, by the Imperial Government, had such an investi-

| cessary to the proper elucidation of the principles

by which we are governed in our cousideration of tie Land Question.

The policy which would dictate a Government’s

| grantig considerable portions—but certainly pot

|sion of by Great Britain — amongst a limited | number of its wealthier subjects, to the end that, | by their weaus—that is, at their own private ex- | pense—there should be planted upon it such a naval force ? j number of free settlers, selected by thein from amongst the indigent but honest and industrious

| sufficient nucleus fur the formation of a future | colonial state—is a policy the wisdon of which, The | primary object of the Government, directed by | such policy, would not be the peculiar advantage

| we think, it would not be easy to impugn.

of the condition of a large body of its poor but deserving subjects, and the forming out of them, by fostering protection and encouragement, a sue- cessful and happy colonial people, whose enter- prise and prosperity would directly tend to the augmentation uf the wealth and power ot the parent state.

By some such views as these the Imperial Go- vernment were, no doubt, actuated when they un- dertuok to provide for the colonization of Prince Edward Island; but, unfortunately, on account of the hazy menial atmosphere through which they seem to have been contemplated, and other causes, at which it is not difficult to guess, they so blun- dered in the attempt, that, from the first to the present time, the consequences — stoutly as the people have battled against them, and much as has been nebly accomplished by thein for the im- provement of their conditiou — have been bitter and incessant strife between the occupants of the lands and the presumed proprietors, and vexatious perplexity to every Secretary of State for the Colonies.

teuder. In 1562, the last year fur which we have any official account of the cost of the public printing, the charge for that serviee was £775 3s. 3d.— in addition to which Mr. Ings received £844 10s. 10d. on account of printing the Revised Laws, making in all the very large amount of £1619 148. 1d. In 1857 and 1858 — two of the years during which Mr. Whelan held the office of Queen's Printer, and which we have selected for the comparative statement given above — the Tories were awfully rabid againet Mr. Whelan, in the Assembly and out of it, because the printing one year cost £719, and in the other year £714. We have shown that in two other years, while Mr. Ings held the office, it cost £191 more; and in 1862 it eost about sixty pounds more than in ‘57 or '58, besides £844 for printing the Revised Laws, which is an vutlay that might have been well dispensed with. And yet there are not only ne complaints or murmuring at the cost of the public printing now, but a silly attempt is made to glorify the Administration, en the seore of economy iv reference to this branch of the public service; and Mr. Whelan, though out of office, is still considered a fair mark for abuse and mis- representation. Those who indulge in either will find that he is ready to defend himself against ali comers.

Betore Mr. Laird again “ exercises ’’ himself in reference to the public printing, let him study the facts and figures herein set forth. We ean, without the least trouble, oblige hin with an ad- ditional supply when he is ready for it. The study of the subject may be the salutary means of diverting his mind from the “ Nu-Popery ” indnia, of which he is such a melancholy victim.

- ap eee

THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM.

x EE ee — ne

THE PUBLIC PRINTING.

Tue following ineerrect and obviously spiteful statement appeared im the Protestant of the 20th instant :—

‘One of the charges which the opposition most frequently reiterates against the present Govern-

THE importance that sume persons among us seem to attach to the Volunteer movement in this country is very amusing. One would alinost imagine by the solemn tone assumed by Volunteer officers and Volunteer advocates that the safety of

the British empire depended upon the numbers

and efficiency of the Prince Edward Island Volun- | ™e!* 18 that they are rannivg the country into : debt. Lf this be true, we mast say that it does not

teer Force. The absence of reason and argument arise from the large salaries they give the public

in all their lucubrations is amply compensated for | Clicials, or their «xtravagunt mode of carrying on

ae ‘ the public business. In these respects, we believe

by the grave and authoritative tone iu wich they u-| hey are far more economical than their prede-

2 ¢ ° . y 7 - - gee + F i

ter their inflated commun places. When a person | cess0r8. We were very forcibly reminded of this

: : | afew days since, on looking over the Journals of

of plain practical common sense asks “ what good |the House of Assembly. From these Legislative

nave the Velunteers done here, and what good are | records. bn ponent Te <a us oe . eta 2 : i printing for the Road Correspondent’s office in,

they likely to do?” he is answered by a long rig-| ihe last year the Liberals were in power—

marole, containing the smallest modicum of sense | amounted to £72 8s. 9d.; where in 1862, when there

: : , . was more work to be performed, it cost only £25 in the greatest quantity of words. If he is not .

2s. 9d; andin 1863, we anderstand, it cost some Lo convinced by the argument he will at least be | less. This year, though it is greatly increased in stunned by the din.

amount, we believe the printing for the same de-

: partinent will be done for a tritle over £20. No

It is our intention in this article to give plain an- | wonder that Mr. Whelan should be so an Se

2 . iat a change of Goverument. The fat, very fat pick-

ques the above questions. Befure doing so, iugs he enjoyed for so many years are worth look- we must infora: our readers that we do not lovk at the subject from the same poin® of view as the Volunteer officer, foud of dispiay, and cuxious for

ing after. But the public vilicer who would charge £72 8s. 9d. for what can be performed fully as well promotion, or the political partisan fishing for votes,

now, when printing paper, &ec., are dearer than they were in 1859, for the sum of £20, is evidently one who takes advantage of his public position to Oe oe advauce his interests, rather than those of the peo- Our stand point is that of a eit'zen and a ws who employ and pay him, aud whom he pro-

taxpayer, and we wish to enquire ir “he bene- | e588 to serve.” ——-- —~eme— — ----- fits that he and his clase have derived, or are| The statement is not correct as te the amount TRADE RETURNS.

paid for the printing required in the Road Corres- pondent’s office in 1859. It is not, indeed, far wrong as to the amount paid to Mr. Whelan—the sum he received being £71 138. 9d.; but the Protestant omits to state that so soon as Mr. Ings waa appointed Queen's Printer, he began te reprint the very blanks which Mr. Whelan had printed, and which were at the time in the Sec- retary’s Office. Mr. Ings did not print the whole of the work, because he had net time to de it as soon as it would be required for the country Commissioners ; but he printed to the extent of £43 17s. 6d.; and he made the same charges on

likely to derive, from the organization of a Volun- teer Force in this Island.

To the first question: What rood have the Volunteers done? we reply— lune whatever. It may be asked, are not the knewledge of the mili- tary art, the habits of disciplire, and the practice in the use of arms which they have acquired by their attendance at drill, advantages? if any knowledge were really gained, and habits of sub- ordination formed, they might happily be of some use some day to a few who may hereafter follow the profession of crms. But we deny that any such knowledge is acquired, or any such babits

WE expressed the opinion, in # recent article on the subject of “ Revenue and Taxation,” that smuggling must have been extensively practised, during the last two or three years, otherwise the revenue of the country would have been much greater than it has been, considering the prosper- vus condition of all branches of trade, and the very high duties imposed ou British and foreign merchandise. We have just noticed in the Jour- nal of the House of Assembly for last year an offi- cial statement that gives singular contirmation to this opinion. In the Report of the Committee on

‘series of years, through their parliamentary re-| for all practical purposes it had been much better ave been recovered, shall be fully paid and presentatives, upon the Imperia! Government, was | if nine-tenths of our Volunteers had never attended

Publie Accounts (see Journal p. 176, Session 1263)—we find the following Table :—

TABLE (C), SHEWING IMPORTS AND EXPORTS FROM THE YEARS 1856 TO 1862, INCLUSIVE. 1856 — Imports, £237,000 sterling.

1857 ~— ~° Do 258,000 ”

the particular items as Mr. Whelan had dene, the latter following Mr. Haszard’s example in that respect. ‘There wus not the least necessity for the work done by Mr. Ings—he did it between the mouths of February and May; Mr. Whelan

formed. On the contrary, we firmly believe that

drill at all. We have little hesitation in saying that a squad of the rawest recruits would be

es: ‘ “ 858 «.. vm 186,000 “ brought to a state of efficiency more quickly, and did all his work between the previous January oa ve a 235,000 with fess trouble than the best drilled company 10 | and February (the proper time), and delivered it = — ~ as ts the Island. The bad habits and imperfect disci- into the Secretary's Office before the Liberals 1862 — Do 211,000

plive of our amateur soldiers would be sources of | resigued. Will the editor of the Protestant say, We leave the public to draw their own conelu- more annoyance and trouble to the drill instrue- in his own sneering words, whether the Tory Go- | 5-48 from these figures. In two years there is an tor than the ignorance and unskilfulness of raw | vernment, in this case, “ took advantage of their enormous differeace—1857, for instance, and 1862. recruits. lt is well known that it is much more | public position” to “advance the interests” of Iu the former year, as we observe by the state- difficult to break bad habits once formed than to) a partisan frieud “rather than those of the |. unt above, when the so much abused Liberals acquire good ones. ‘Take, for instance, that most | people ?” were using all their energies to develope the re- important part of drill iastruction, the manage-, The nonsense about the relative cost of the | sources of the country, the value of our Imports Road Office Printing ander the Liberal Govern- |... ¢958 000. In 1862, when the Tories had