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Provincial Larvliament,

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. |

Saturpay Arteanoon, April 20.

House again in Committee ona the Bill-to alter and amend the | Election Law.

On motion of Hon. Mr. Simpson the tenth clause wae struck out and the following substituted :—

* All eleetors residing on Township Number twenty-two, on | the south side of the Princetown road, and a!l electors residing | on the north side of said road, on said Township, whose lands | front on said road, and all electors not residing on the said | Township, but having a property qualification thereon, as here- | inbefore described, shall in fature pol! their votes at the polling | place prescribed in the said recite Act, to be held at or near | the church, Anderson’s Road, on Township Number sixty- | seven; and such part of Township Number twenty-two, as | hereinbefore described, shall hereatter be deemed to be part of | the fourth polling division of the First Electoral District of | Queen’s County; and the remainder of Township Number | twenty-two, nor.h of the Princetown Road, and the farms not | fronting on seid road, shal! comprise the third poliimg division | of the Firet Electoral District of Queen’s County, and the poli shal! be held at or near John Bell's mills, anything in the said | recited Act to the contrary notwithstanding.”

On the fourth clause being read—

of the privilege of voting. His Honor then proposed the follow- ing amendment :-—

** All persons qualified to vote, by reason of having performed statute labor, or paid commutation money in lieu thereof, shall be entitled to voie, provided they shall, if required, take the oath in the Schedule annexed to this Act, to the effect that they have already performed such labor, or have actually paid commutation money in lieu thereof.’’

Hon. Col. SW ABEY rose to second the motion, and in doing so remarked, that it had been stated that the intention of the Bill was to prevent fraud; but considering the low scale of intelligence of the Overseers he was apprehensive that there would be more fraud practived than before, and that there would also be a great deal of difficuity and delay.

llon. Dr. JOHNSON—An Overseer will be liable toa fine if he refusea to grant a certificate.

Hon. Mr. GARDiINER—A man is to receive his cert:ficate as soon as his labour is performed or his money paid. The Overseers will be furnished with printed certificates.

Hon. Mr. PALMER—TIf that amendment is adopted the ad- vantages of a certificate will be lost.

Hon. Mr. HUTCHINSON—My object in proposing it was, that in case'a man should Jose his certificate, or should not be able to obtain one, he should not be deprived of the privilege of voting.

ton. Mr. GARDINER—If the amendment is adopted I think it will be the means of increasifig fraud ; a man might say he bad lost his cerrificate when he cou!d not obtain one.

Hon. Mr. SIMPSON—The Bill provides that if a man loses bis certificate he may obtain another by making affidavit ; and I think that is a much better way than what is proposed in the amendment.

fion. the PRESIDENT—I do not object to the certificate itself; bat I do object to placing somuch power in the hands of road Overseers ; beeause I think it is a dangerous power. Tt has been said, that if they refuse to grant eertifieates they will be liuble to be fined ; but yoor Honors know that they are men of straw, and what ia to hinder two or three of them from combining at an election, if by doing 80 there was a prospect of overthrowing the Government? | like the idea of a certificate ; but 1 would rather place the power of granting it in the hands of the Road Commissioner. He ie generally one of the most respectable men in the Township, and 1 do not see any reasonable objection to placing the power in his hands. 1 certainly think that if your Honors will consider the matter seriously, you will see the propriety of substituting the Commissioner for the Overseer.

Hon. Mr. ANDERSON—I do not think that the difficulty, if there is any, would be obviated by substituting the Com- missioaer for the Overseer. The Commissioner might not be aequainted with the men; but the Overseer would be ac- quainted with every man in the district, and it will be com- pulsory on him to granta certificate when it is demanded.

Hon. Mr. SIMPSON—His Honor the President thinks that the Overseers are not competent to grant certificates; but if the Commissioner knows his daty he will appoint the most intelligent men in the districts for Overseers. It is true the Commissioner should be furnished with the names of all the men in the district; but he could not aw acquainted with the men; bot the Overseer would be acquainted with every man in the district, therefore there would be no trouble in that respect. If it waa the duty of the Commissioner to grant certificates some men might have to travel ten or twelve miles to obtain them. The Overseer has two months to make his return, and he will be compelled to grant certificates when they are demanded. I did intend to propose an amendment ; but | think it is gufficiently stringent as it ie.

Hon. Mr. PALMER—I cannot imagine any reason why an Overseer should refuse to grant a certificate ; or what is tu prevent an elector from producing his certificate when it is| required, except he has lost it. and the law provides for that. 1€ a man chooses to neglect his interest and does not apply | for a certificate he has only himself to blame. If an elector, in England neglects to register his vote within a certain time | tig his own loss. If that amendment were adopted there would be no advantages of a certificate--there would be no| security in the law. As to the objection of his Honor the | President, I look wpon it as a delusion to think that it would | be less dangerous in the hands of the Commissioner than the | Overseer. What additional security would there be in placing | it in the hands of the Commissioner? If the Overseer is not | trustworthy to grant a certificate he is not to make a return, | and if he ise ae he has more opportunity to practise | fraud in making his retarn than in granting certificates. | Every public officer has less or more power to do wrong if he is so inclined. The Commissioner of Small Debts may turn round and refuse to give judgment in favour of the man to whom the debt is due. 1 cannot see any reason why an Over- seerof roads should be more inclined to practise fraud than any other officer; if he refuses to grant a certificate the law

rovides the remedy; and if he should die the law provides or that also. ‘There are noarguments against the broad prin- ciples of the Bill, but mere futile objections.

Hon. Mr. HUTCH!INSON—There is nothing unreasonable ijn the amendment which I have propose.

Hon. Mr. PALMER—The nearer we can bring our laws to perfection, and do away with that objectionable custom of swearing the better. ;

Hon. Col. SWABBY— Ail that has been sa‘d goes to prove that we will be compelled to have the registration Act.

Hon. the PRESIDENT—His Honor the Leader of the Go- vernment and myself agree as to the propriety of the certifi- cate ; bat not as to the person who is to grantit.

Hon. Dr. JOHNSON —I? we require the Commissioner to grant the certificate it would only be referring it back to the sume authority. : :

Hon. Mr. GARDINER—It would be imposing a duty on |

; ssi hich he woald not be willing to perform | hoy “ant h i Ns eat a t the Commissioner whic g to pe dey, Walker, Forgan, Johnson, Palmer, Simpson, Anderson, bation’ bebaied this Wpsiness of thn Board bee greathy: malt

plied, and we must insure the country that it will be attended rs 5 5 to. The Board is the centre or focus of the whole system,

On motion of Hon. Mr. Hutchinson, the Bill to alter and | and it is necessary that it should consist of able men who ameud the Act to incorporate the Crapaud Dredging Ma | would take an interest in, and devote a portion of their time caine Company, was read the third time and passed, to, the advancement of education; and it is not easy to find |

withezt @ larger salary. And if every man has to ask for a ceftificate sume may have to travel ten or twelve miles to do

Pe Mr. RAMSAY—As the Overseer has to m»ke his re- turn to a Magistrate, how would it do to allow him to grant the certificate ? : a Hor. Mr. SLMPSON -~That would be imposing an addition- ty on the Magistrate. ton-Mr. PAEMER—Tne auggestions of his Honor Mr. Ramsay and bis Lionor the President are both yery objection- ables ‘If the power is left in the bands of the Overseer there will be fess likelihood of errors creeping in; he has to make a return of all persons who have performed or commuted their labor ; and @ cheque of those returns has to be filed in the Road ‘s Office. That is a good safeguard ; de-

cause if a man is refused a certificate he can refer to the re- |

turn, and if he finds his name there he will say to the Over. seet==why bave you refused me @ certificate when you have enteréc my name. in the return? ‘That return has to be filed within o eertair. time, and therefore the Uverseer has to make his return within a certa n time.

The question was then pap, ood the clanse agreed to.

i. ; ; | district for 3 months. If I were away duriog the winter and | in and about the same, was read the third time and passed, | i Qa motion of Hon. Mr. Havzard, the Bill relating to | for this House to attewpt to define the way in which each | school there was more whipping in one day than there is pow

| and am away from it for three months am | tw be excluded

but was given ia the Appropriation Bill of last year. It |appears that the Company have been unable to construct a |}, changed their criminal law in this respect, we are not

Hon. Mr. HUTGHINSON remorked, that if.en elector had | Dredcing Machiue on the Island, as was intended, on account | lost or could not obtain his certificate he should not be deprived | of ths expense; but have ascertaiued that they can hire a!

| Machine in New Brunswick to answer their purpose, and

the Machine will not be permanently located on the Islaud. | Now, 1 look upon those two things as quite different in their very severely punished in the United States, and in New

came back in the spring am I to be deprived of the privilege |

~ Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, May 27, [SG

of voting? Such an idea is absurd ; it appears as if that smuggling was read the third time and passed,

clause was inserted to exclude a Jarge portion of the eom-| munity from voting. ; te Hon. the PRESIDENT—If I have property in a district |

frem voting ? ; Ilon. Mr. PALMER —I think some time should be specified.

The Bill to repeal certain parts of the Election Law, and

|to make other provisions in lieu thereof, having been read

Coutents.—Hons. Messrs. Palmer, Johuson, Swabey,

A man mast be in possession of property 12 months before he | Simpson, Anderson, McLaren, Haszard—7.

can vote on it.

Non-contents.—Hous. Messrs. Ramsay and Hutchinson

On motion ef Hon. Col. Swabey the clause was Struck out.) 9.

Llouse adjourned,

Monpay, April 22.

On motion of Hon. Mr. Walker, the Bill to provide for the organization of Volunteer Forces for the defence of this Island, was read the third time and passed.

The House then went into Committee on a Bill to alter and amend the Act to incorporate the Crapaud Dredging Machine Company. Hon. Mr. Walker in the Chair.

lion. the PRESIDENT.—Your Honors are aware that | ae

certain persons are incorporated by a former Act under the} title of the Crapaud Dredging Mechine Company; they were | limited to a capital of £1000, to be divided into shares of £5. The appropriation of £250 was not given in the original Act,

they want this Act passed to enable them to do so, though

|character. I would like to see a machine here which would ‘be a public benefit ; but in this case it is owned by a stranger, |and will be taken away «s soon as the purpose of Crapaud is ‘completed. We are told that our country is very poor; but when we look at this appropriation it does not appear that ‘such is the case. It appears to me to be an unfair appro- | priation ; if there was a local taxation to raise this fund, it ‘would be right; if there was even a tax equal to the interest ,of the money it would be right; but it appears to me that it | is giving £250 to a stranger; and I doubt very much if it} will be any benefit; for our sands are of such a nature that | | the same work will bave to be done again next year. Some years ago Mr. Peuke tried to move the Peake Ark, as it is| ‘called; but found it impracticable, unless he doue it with one | | tide, and he had to employ 250 men. I hope it wiil succeed ; | | but 1 think it is a very doubtful enterprise. | Hon. Mr, ANDERSON.—I do not look upon it as giving | | £250 to a stranger; it will be for the benefit of a large por- | ' tion of the community. | Hon. Mr. PALMER.—Generally speaking, I have never | been opposed to any feasible mode of improving our harbours : _I have been inclined to give my vote for any undertaking of |

ing; but 1 am not very sanguine that our harbours, par- | | ticularly those on the north side of the Island, can be improved, | | though [ have been very anxious that they should be. With | | rezard to the barbour of Urapaud, [ have taken some puins|

~ make myself aequainted with the circumstances of the)

}

j

| lead to the end of the channel. The pottom where required. | to extend the channel consists of rousslemud, and [ think it | could be kept clear for many years with a little expense; and. | I think the vast quantity of produce shipped and the increased | ‘quantity that may be shipped from that Port will warrant | | the expenditure. It is true that the Company have been uu-_

successful in getting a machine on this Island; but it appears |

_which the Company can procure, and which has worked with | /extraordinary success; aud I thiok it is far better to employ | |it than to have the harbour in its present state, if it ean be | ‘improved. I have spoken to several of the inhabitants c!

| Crapaud ou the subject, and they appear quite sanguine of |

/suecess. I think it is better, therefere, to give it a fair trial. would entail some expense, and he did not see any necessity |

| pinion that it is not advisable to witre:

Tuvrspay, April 25.

A message from the House of Assembly by the Hon. Mr. Longworth, with a Bill to consolidate and amend the seve-

ral laws relating to education, Alsoa Bill for raising funds for the purpose of education, by imposing an additional tax on lands within this Island, and on real estate in Charlotte- | | town and Common and Georgetown and Common.

Hon. Mr. PALMER—In rising to ask for leave to intro- ce a Bill tor the punishment of certain cases of felony and

wisdeweanor, said—-This is a change which is considered | |necessary. by our crimival code, as your Honors are aware, the crimes of robbery and rape are punishable with | 'death ; and as the British Government, which keeps a more |

watchful eye over crime than any other country in the world,

likely to do wrong in following their example. There is

another subject which [ have introduced into this Bill, that

is the punishwent of the crime of incest; this isa erime which is exceedingly offensive to human nature, and in some respects should be punished iu an exemplary manner, It is

Brunswick it is punished by imprisonment. At present I

shall say no more; but I fear there is some necessity for a

law of that nature in this Colony.

Hon. Col. SWABEY—As his Honor the Leader of the Government is going to amend the criminal law, I hope he will introduce some more stringent punishment for the crime of felony. Persons who have been guilty of crime little short of murder have been punished with thrce years im- prisoament ; I think the law is extremely lax in this respect. The present Chief Justice and Judge Peters both ridicule the idea of three years imprisonment for the crime. [ merely throw this out as a suggestion; because I consider the present law defective in this respect, and L think the present Bill is only a partial improvement.

Hon. Mr. HUTCHiNSON—The criminal law certainly requires to be amended, because as it exists there is no secondary puvishment. I think it would be well to punish criminals by fine in some cases ; there are two criminals in jail now whose punishincut L think it would be well to com- mute, But perhaps it would not be advisubie to go into the Bi!l at this late period of the session.

Hon. Mr. PALMER—I agree with his Honor Col.

that kind, when [ saw any reasonable prospect of it succeed-! vp uy - be-qnany perte-ef eer ociainal ‘code reuuire| raw i ° J pe | Swabey ; no dout yt py” | pear inclined to do so, L move that this Hoase request au-

tobe amended. It was my intention to introduce a Bui to revise the whole of our criminal code, and [ had some con- versation with the Attorney General on the subject, but we

/were somewhat ata loss to obtain all the receut improve- | ‘ ; ments in Great Britain, and perhaps the session is too far | ease; fam also personally acquainted with the place, and I vadvanced now to go into it to that extent; I shal! therefore | ‘think it is capable of being dredged. The channel makes up corfiue myself at present to what is more immediately called ( d in the direction of the wharf, which has been placed so 48 to foe. and if [am here next session I shall endeavour to go meut to that Schedule; [do not thiuk it is full enough in|

Hon. Mr. PALMER—I think it would be very bad policy

denomivation should be represented at the Board. I do not wish to see the (tovernment tied down in that way, because they might not always be able to get suitable men of one de-

such liberty as would enable them to keep up the efficiency of the Board,

Clause agreed to.

A message from the House of Assembly by Hon. Mr. Haviland, with a Bill iutituled “an Act for raising a Re- venne.” Also, a Bill to appropriate certain monies therein mentioned for the service of the year of our Lord 1261.

The House of Assembly having disagreed to the amend- ments made by the Council to the Election Bill, Hon. Mr. Palmer suggested the propriety of withdrawing them. Their principal objection, said his Honor, is to the amendment made to the clause by which an absence of three months disqualifies a person from voting. If there is no provision of this kind there will be a door open to evade the law; and as there are few persons absent for three months at one time, I do | not see anything very material to hinder us from withdraw-

\ing our amendment. There is scarcely a session in which ‘the Election Law is not before the Legislature, and if it is not found to work weil it can be altered.

Hon. Dr. JOHNSGN—Is a man who has property ex- cluded from voting by being away 3 months ?

Hon, the PRESIDENT—Yes.

Hon. Mr. PALMER—If a man has been a resident of the Island for 12 months, and hus been absent for 2 months and 29 days during any part of that time, he will not be excluded from voting.

Hon. Mr. HUTCHINSON—There are a great number of fishermen and others who will be excluded by that clause.

Hon. Col. SWABEY—It is impossible that this clause can be intended to favor any party. There is only one mean- ing which can be attached to it, and that is, that a temporary abseuce of three months excludes a person from voting. I would not wish to ste the character of this Legislature damaged by transmitting such an Act for the approva! of Her Majesty's Government, If a man held property in

j

ae he would nat be excluded from voting. I cannot see

anything in it but absurdity, and nothing would induce me

|to assent to it. I cannot think that the House of Assembly

| have considered it sericu-ly. | Hon. the PRESIDENT—L certainly think that such a

England, and were in the Kast Indies for a great part of his|™0n and Georgetown and Common.

is hardened whipping will do him no good. When I was in

jin a <e and those who got the most whipping were the worst,

| Hon. the PRESIDENT moved that the cl be ‘mig ; at thee nded the third time, Hon, Mr. Palmer moved, seconded by Hon. | nomination to serve; and I would like to see them have by striking out all that related to whi ae eae ;

Dr. Johnson, that the Bill do now pass. House divided :—

pping. | Hon, Mr. SIMPSON.—It is true a = cannot repent jafter he is hung ; but he can after he is whipped. i would we ete = clause as it is; but 1 would amend it by Striking out the word public, as I have a0 objection to « wan being whipped in the jail yard, Hon. Col. SW ABE\'—I believe there are some psrties who ge into Jail on purpos: to spend che winter. g Hee pe een rt heard a man say that if new that times were so hard in the ould ee remained in Jail. a prea aa on. Mr. RAMSAY—Imprisonment for crime a to | no punishment, and I think a person who is hardened should be made to feel. I do not agree to whipping being done | privately ; if it is to be an example it should be done publicly. | Hon. the PRESIDENT—In the United States criminais | are how executed within the precincts of the Jail. It appears to be a mone of our wg that if one person ia a town commits suicide two or three will follow, and i ie with executions. nate ee ee | Hon. Mr. HASZARD—I am rather inclined to i his Honor the President; but if whipping is to Me Ont te should be done within the precincts of the Jail. ' Hon. Mr. PALMER—1 think the clause might be framed so as to meet the views of all parties, by leaving it to the | enention, ar the Court. I move that it be + publicly or privately. Hon. the PRESIDENT moved an amendment that the word se ey be struck out. € question was then pet on the Hon. President” motion and the: Committe divided e = " JonrENtS—Hop, the Presidant, Hons. Messrs. tchinson and Bagnall—3. — “ae Non-Contents—Hons. Messrs. Palmer, Swa Simpson Anderson, Walker, Ramsay, McLaren, Samael. , The question was then put on the Hon. Mr. Palmer's motion which was agreed to. House resumed. House in Committee on a Bill to raise fands for the par of Education by imposing an additional assessment on in this Island, and on real estate in Charlottetuwn and Com- Hon. Mr, Walker in the chair.

First nine clauses agreed to without any discussion.

On the tenth clause, relating to Assessors for Charlottetown being read— .

Hon. Mr. HUTCHINSON said—I understand that the As- sessors are to remain in office during the continvance of this

clause should not be in the Bill. Lf it was one or two yeurs | Act ; and [ wish to know if the Executive have power to turn it would not be so objectionable; but to say that a man|them out without assigning any reasun. I was one of the should be disqualified by a temporary absence of 3 months | 488¢s80rs under the former Act and I was discharged without

is perfectly absurd.

any fault; but I intend to enter an action in Court.

\ » rp oo. - . . Hon. Mr. PALMER—T think this cleuse must have been | p22 Mit PALMER—There is a little difference between

jinteuded to apply to those who claim the right to vote on account of kaving performed statute labor. 1 was willing to| withdraw our awendment; but as your H nors do not ap- eee ? I believe it does. What is the meaning of the word

e wording of this Act and that of 1852; in substance the are the same. And the question is, does the Act of ?¥52 authorize the Lieutenant Guteinor to remove an Assessor from

** remove ?"°

‘other cou{crence with the House of Assembly to see if they | Hon. Col. SWABEY—OF course the same authority wh:

will still adkeve to their determiuation.

Cunfercnce agreed tu. Iouse again iu Committee on the Education Bill. On the Schedu’e marked B being read —

appointed a man can rewove him from office ; but the question |is, should the Act be framed so as to prevent the Executive | from removing an Assessor ?

| Hen the PRESLDENT—Ii his Honor is relying upon those ; words to stand a trial au Court, I advise Lim’ to com promise

Hon, Mr. PALMER said—L wish to propose an amend- | **,890P #8 poss'ble.

_ The Touse was th n resamed, and the Chairman reported | that the Cowunittes had made sume progress and directed bim

more fully inte the subject. Many eminent legislators are of | regard to the moral character of schoolmasters. A man may | to ask leave to sit again.

luce material changes | be a reckless character—he may be drunken all! night, and

Ur motion of Hon. Mr. Palmer the Bill for the punishnent

when the Legislature is protessed!y revising thé laws merely: Yet Le suber in school hours, and so come literally within the | of certain cases of felony and saisdemeanor was read the third jrequircmenis.ofibe Act. I would not iufringe on the liberty | time and passed.

this change therefore may aptly be made this session. AFTERNOON SESSION. On motion of Hon. Mr. Palmer the [House resolved itself

amend the several laws relating to education, on, Mr.

Forgan in the Chair,

Ou the clause relating to the inerezse of the Board of |

Education from 7 members to 9 being read— Hon, Mr. SLMPSON said the increase of the Board

| wuich a schoolmaster should en}

.|be is a man of good moral character. his H

: ; : | Qn motion o. Hon. Mr. Palmer, seconded py 2'S Houor 7 3 2 i s ’ > ! " » : ° , *-. that there is an efficient one on the other side of the Strait| into a Committee of the whole on the Bill to consolidate and the President, the clause was amended by reqititing the Trustees to certify to the Board of Education that =the

schoolmaster had conducted himself properly during the tiie’ _Iloase in Committee on the Bill for raising a Revenue.

| of his engagement, Fuipay, April 26.

joy; but’ we should see that Wes

A message from the House of Assembly by the Hon. Mr.

Haviland, with a Bill to further amend the Act for the trang fer of inland posis.

Tlouse adjourned for une hour. AFTERNOON S!TTING, i Yon*/vl. Swabey in the Chair.

| “The Committee having gone through the Bill, the House | was resumed, #0d the Chairman reported that they had agreed

On motion of Hon. Mr. Palmer, the House resolved itse’f| to the Bill witht 88y amendment,

| Hon. Mr. HUTCHINSON.—-I have been ia conversation fF it a8 he was of opinion that it was quite large enough into a Committee of the whole on the Bill for the punishment) Hon. Mr. Palmer.» ember of the Exeeutiye Council, by

_with several of the ivhabitants of that place, and they appear | to be qaite sanguine of success. If the object was accom- plished, many vessels would go there which are now afraid | /to go. I think the enterprise should be encouraged; and || hope something will also be done to improve the harbour of Charlottetown.

Hou. Dr. JOHNSON.—It is not intended to make any |

{

| new appropriation, but merely to wansfer the former one, as |

jit appears that the Company have beeu unable to procure a.

machine on the Island,

Hon. Col. SWABEY.—I do not intend to oppose the’

grant for Crapaud; but [ would rather see the liberality of |

at present.

Hon. Mr. PALMER—The expense of two additional members will be very trifling, and I think it will bave tae effect of facilitating the business of the Board, which has greatly increased during the last few years.

Hon, the PRESIDENT—Under the former Act when three formed a quorum there was a difficulty, and I am ap- prehensive that there will be a greater difficulty, when it will require five to form a quorum, in getting a sufficient number to attend. I have heard complaints made that the Presbyterian sect have too great a prepondearnce at the Board ; and perhaps the increase is intended for the purpose

the Legislature expended on the north side of the Island. | Of giving an additional representation 10 some of the other

would rather support a grant of £500 to improve the harbour | of St. Peter's. I was satisfied with the appropriation of | £250 last year, beeiuse I thought it was intended to have a machine ov the Island which could be taken jound to the! north side.

‘sects. I do not approve of having clergymen ; but each de- nomination should be represented at the Board.

Hon. Col. SWABEY—I was a member of the Board for

'1P or 18 years, and 1 am of opinion that it will not be de- | teriorated by making it to consist of 9 members ; I am there-

Hon, Mr. SIMPSON.--Since the Company have failed | fore willing to support that part of the Bill, I hope that in procuring a machine on the Island, I have no objection to| when the Government have the power of adding to the Board

giving the money to hire one. Notwithstanding all its difti- culties it is the third Port ia the island for shipping produce. Bul agreed to, and House resumed.

| political Board.

jof certain cases of felony and misdemeanour. Hon. Mr. | Johnson in the Chair. Hon. the PRESIDENT. — I object to the custom of

‘command of his Excel leney. laid on the table certain curres- | pondence between the ,7¢4%2ant Governor and tic Governors | pone 1 on : :

‘of Canada and New BruntWick r..vecting Lighthouses on the

' whipping, as proposed by this Bill. Lt is one of the relies of | North and Easi Capes of thie Is" 4-

|barbarism. When a man is publicly whipped his character |

|is ruined forever. The custom has been abolished, or greatly modified, in the Army and Navy.

Hon. Mr. PALMER.—1 beg his"Honor's pardon ; it has | not been abolished in the Army or Navy.

| Hon. the PREsTDEN'T. —Whether it has or not, the idea |of whipping a man in tke nineteenth century is perfectly pre- |posterous, and | hope that our Statute Book will not be de:aced by such a law. I move that all that relates to pub- lic whipping be struck out.

Hon. Mr. HUTCHINSON.—TI do not approve of public whipping ; but there is no secondary punishment, and if there is to be whipping it should be done within the preciucts of the jail, and not in the public streets. Ido not kuow how we can have secondary pusishwent without whipping, for it is no punishment for some meu to be kept in jail; when they

| they will see that each denomination is represented there ; jere there for a time they would almost as soon stay there as jand [ also hope that it will not be necessary to make it a|not. If it does them no good, it will be a warning to others,

When the present Board was formed [ /and i think it might be left to the discretion of the Court:

House again in Committee on the Election Bill. The #5 left out, on account, it is said, of my political views ; jerk ee 7 they would inflict it except on persons 1 : : aid if that were the case I think it was a very proper considera- | who are hardened, ~ | ‘ , Committee having gone through the Bill, the House was re- J Reop Jon. Mr. PALMER. — I admire the humanity of his | ev Se _perpene of Education than they do in Nova Seotia ; nor the President : we should all possess a certain amount | ‘re te people pay £30,000, and the Government onl

sumed, and Hon. Mr. ‘organ reported that the Committee | "!"-

had gone through the Bill, aud agreed to the same with | several amendments.

Oa a motion being made that the report of the Committee | be now received, Hon, Mr. Ramsay moved, seconded by Hon.

Hon. Mr. SNDERSON—I think cvasfililenominati

‘should be represented at the Board.

Mr. Hutchinson, that the words “now received” be struck | >°™¢ religious sects are much larger than others, and would - out, and the following substituted: “referred back to the [°¢ be satisfied with the same number of representatives my

Committee of the whole House, for the purpose of further amending the said Bill by inserting the following section :—

“ From and afier the pasing of this Act) the owners and occupiers of Real Kstate in the Town and Royalty of Prince- town, and other persons resident therein, and now entitled

to vote for a member of the House of Assembly under the | 2° Proper persons to hold seats at the Board ; but I think provisions of this Act, shal) return one toliahod th represent | We Would get on far better without them, though I believe the said Town and Koyalty in the House of Assembly, instead the first clergyman was appointed by sy own suggestion.

of two members as heretofore.”

Which being objected to, the question of concurrence was is to be maintained and goes on increasing, we must expect

put thereon, and the House divided :— .

Contents— Hons. Messrs. Ramsay and Hutchinson—-2. Non-Coniznrs—Hon. the President, Hons. Messrs. Swa-

Gardiner, McLaren, Haszard—11. Turspay, April 23.

A message from the House of Assembly by How. Mr.| men who are willing to do so for the very small remunera-

world clergymen are the most fit and proper to be members of the Board of Education.

a corresponding ratio. We bave increased the House of As- sembly and the Legislative Couneil, and it appears to me

the Board.

|

Hon. Mr. ANDERSON—I think tbat of all men in the Hon. Col. SWABEY—I do not say that clergymen are Hon, Mr. PALMER—As long as our system of education hat our Board of Education will require to be increasing in

hat we cannot do otherwise than increase the Board of Edu-

Lougworth, with a Bill tu repeal the Act relating to Statute tion which they receive at present. I do not say that clergy- | Jabour in Charlottevown, its Common and Royalty, and for | men should be excluded, 1 would perhaps uot select them in |

the removal of nuisances in and about the same.

preferenee. Lf the number is increased, there will be more guments of bis Honor Mr. Palmer. I hope to see the day,

of it; but I think we would deceive ourselves if we were to

have no objection to it being done privately; but 1 cannot | agree that it should be abolished altogether. By the lawas it already exists criminals are liable to be whipped, and all we contemplate doing, by this Bill, is to abolish capital punishment for certain crimes. We have seen men who de- served to be whipped escape with a few months or a year's imprisonment; and after they were released they have com- mitted far worse crimes than before. That shows that im- prisonment is very little punishment to men of bardered minds; it is found quite insuflicieat. We have an instacce of a most atrocious crime being committed in King’s Counsy, where a man almost murdered his brother by wilfully dis- charg'ng a gun at him; that mao was sentenced to prison with hard labour—he managed to escape and left the country , he is now back and walking about at large, and I think a good sound whippiag would have had a better effect upon him. There are some men on the list of criminals who do not de- serve our sympathy; and the sooner a criminal’s punishment is inflicted on him the more effect it will have. We propose abolishing capital punishment, and if we allow the Court to inflict whipping in some extreme crses, I do not think we go | beyond the bounds of humanity. Judges of the present day | are not disposed to be too severe, aud I think we may trust: to their discretion.

Hon. the PRESIDENT.—I am not convinced by the xr- |

i

The House then resolved itself into a Comittee of the whole ou a Bill to repeal an Act therein mentioned, relating to smuggling.. Hon. Mr. Haszard in the Chair,

The Committee having gone through the Bill, the House was reaymed, and the Chairman reported the Bill agreed to

ithout any amendment. The House then went inte Com- ittee on the Bill relating to Statute Labour ia Charlotte- town, aod ayreed to the same without any amendment.

House adjourned. Wepnespay, April 24.

On the 15th clause being Hon Col. SW A BEY said—If I understand that elause it

-xoludes a man from voting who has been away from ag priate Labor for Charloiietowa

On motion of Hon. Col. Swabey, the Bill relating to

certainty of baving members enough present at a meeting to when capital punishment will be abolished, because it is awful form a quorum, avd consequently there would be greater se- to seud a man into eternity with his crime upon him; if be: curity that the business would not be retarded. I would | was imprisoned for life he might repent. Twenty or thirty , not like to eee the Board filled up with clergymen; but it is | years ago a man was put to death for a very slight offence ; the Government which makes the appointments that is re- | now it is the policy to regard the lives of Her Majesty’s sub-_ sponsible. 1 think the present addition will be conducive | jects, and yet not to inflict capital punishment. ‘The cases to | to the advancement of the public interests. whieh bis Honor has alluded are mere exceptions to the’ Hon. the PRESIDENT—1 would prefer seeing al! de-| general rule. I believe our people are more moral than the | nominations represented at that Board, and | would divide| people of the neighbouring Colonies; but uo doubt there are them in this way, Church of England 1, Roman Catholic 1, | black sheep in every flock. ; Presbyterian 2, Wesleyan 2, Baptist 1, Bible Christian 1,) Hon. Mr. BAGNALL.—T[ agree with his Honor the