0e_usr'sar and Council. with having proposed to Her IajuIy‘a In- Goverurnent,.a measure to deprive the Colony of its Con- attruuoa, and assimilate it to that of Newfoundland; and stated. that a Bill for that purpose had been framed by the Members of his _ meet. two of whom were their present (alluding to Mr. Ha- Vinpd and myself). upon this I stepped forward. and interrupted the I'reasurur by asking hint to state distinctly,whetlte rlte intended I0 "0111. that we had assisted. us Members of the Government. or "_ll5¢fW|s0. in framing an Act to deprive the Isluud of its Constitu- tion, or togive it that offiewfouitrllunrl; and not receiving a dis- |tM=| tttttly. I continued by saying. that if he persisted in that as- |0'll|N|. he stated what was false. Hr. Hsvilattd next repelled the charge; urtd saitl, that Mr. Pope. in asserting. that Sir Donald Campbell had ever attempted to procure the witdrnwul of the pre- serit Citststitutioit ofthe Colony. and the substitution. in its stead. of u l\'etnfottItsIIart_tI Constitution. said that whiclt was false. 'I‘liis i wht testt place at St Eleunor‘s. with respect to the charge iii! lblfi Sit Donald Cariipbell, and his Executive Council, ‘V iclt I hsV.O.jtIst now. heard again preferred. by the some indi- vidual who. then urged it, in language something diflirrent; and the r Lwhiclt I shall now ntake to it. will, lll substance. be the some set t which I made to it at St. Eleonor‘a. It does not. by any ntrwas follow, llutl because I and otlters, alluded to by the hono- ruhle the 'I‘r_easurer,_ were in the Executive Council. at the tinre when this measure is sup to have been epared. we either it to Sir Donald Campbell. or were even consulted by hitn eorieerniitg it. But. Idare say, it would ulfoid considerable ra- tification. to the Ilon. the Treasurer and the other Members o the Government in this Ilouse, now to abject the only other Metttber of the late Adininistrulion here at present (Mr. Thornton) and my- Wifr '0 ll” tum! rigorous examination. with respect to that measure. Nay. I have no doubt they would. if possessed of the necessary power. coritpeltbe whole body of the late Executive Council to appear before them. and proinptl to answer " Yes," or “ No," to every question which they might think lit to put them concerning it. But I do not conceive it incumbent upon any one of us to sub- mit tosuch interrogation. either here or elsewhere; and I beg leave to remind the "on. the 'I‘reasursr of the doctrine. with respect to the duty ofirtdividual Members of the Executive Council, as taught and practised by himself, utider the old form of Grivernrnent, when he quurrellcd with Sir Henry Huntley. 'I‘hrtt honorable member then tnaititained. that it was no violation of any principle of the Constitution. for a member of the Executive Council to oppose the vicvrsttf the Governor. and at the same time, to retain his seat ther ' Ile then maintained, that it was by no means necessar , according to tlis Constitution. as it then stirred. that there should Iltly efttpittioit, sport all public questions. between the Governor and his Council: say, he even went so far as to rnaintairt, that a Dumber ofthe Executive Council, although rttost directly and ‘per- sonally pppossd to the policy of u Governor. might, with propriety, retain his seat at the Council Board; and. witlt respect to Sir Ilen- ry I‘IIIltllIy.'Ituiolod upon that opinion. until Sir Henry tho ht proper to suspe ltitn. Now. I believe. no person will any, I at the old fbrwt of overnmenl wits still in operation. when Sir Donald Oarnpbell proposed this “ treasonsble " change in the elective franchise. Then, a member of the Government. according to the 'I‘reoaurer's principles, might dissent from. any even violently op- pose. the views of the Governor. and still retain his seat at the Council Board. The Hon. the Treasurer and his colleagues in the Government. now seem to have quite forgotten his doctritie and his practice in the time of Sir Henry Iluntley; and, with respect to the late Sir Donald Campbell and his Council. they firat charge an set his to have been unconstitutional and arbitrary, as the please to term it; and. then, surrume that be was prompted thereto. urttl sustained therein, by the advice and assistance of his Council. who are. therefore, to be denounced as truitorous arid diabolical villains. 'I'o shew that I have not misrepresented the opinions of the Hon. the 'l‘reitaurer, as expressed h himself, touching the freedom of opiition. which ntembers o the Executive Council drould be allowed to exercise therein, I will quote the Words. wlticll. on the subject, are attributed to him in the newspaper reports of the day. and which. as they were not disavowed by him. we have rea- srta to believe were spoken by hint. They are. " Although I hold

a seat in tlte Council. it does not follow. that I have any right to

dictate to the Lieutenant Governor. A cgree of discretion ttiust ulwqys be exercised. for it will he remembered, that by the Colo- trial ule, the Governor may or may not consult his Council If

he does not, the responsibility of his acts rests with him, this I hold to be the general rule." By the s ririt which pervades this debate it is rude quite evident, that in rip ing to Ilia Excellency for in- formation touching the Despatclt ofltlte lr'II6 Sir Doitald Campbell on the subject ofthe Franchise iritd the Constitution of this Island. the ministerial puny falsely represented themselves as seeking that Ittllirttuttiott through an anxiety to have every light a orded them which might aid them in the revision of the Election I_.a . The course which they have pursued, since the delivery of His Excel- Ieoc.y's Message in answer to their Address. clearly shows, that all the assistance they expected to derive from the required informs- tios, was an opportunity to create a little political capital; being conscious. I irtrugine. that now. in the days of fulfilment. the peo- ple s suspicions are strentltenittg, that the Bee sible Government party's real antouut of stock in that line. is considerably less than what they got credit for in the do a of their romise 'I‘he Govern- Iltent. well aware, ltow very trifling their deeds in oficevrnust ap- psur. in the eyes of the people, when coriipared with their mighty prottiises fore they utluined their esent position o self-aggran- dissutent and profit, so long and eagerly coveted by them, hope. by ashevr of ruost. virtuous and patriotic indignation. with respect to an ittuflbctive reject of the late Sir Donald Cain bell, and the most seemingly ervent and sincere declarations of w t they would not have done. and the evils which t ir accession to power prevented. to divert the attention ofthe people from the actual pul- try amount oftbeir ublic services; and. if sible. to make thattt. for is while. forget, in their exultiirg jo at having escaped it cala- lli.y which might have liefallen them. ltow much they have been deceived, and how very probable it is, that of all the migltty things promised them by the Responsibles, they will never realize o..e at their .

Hort. Mr. POPE. I beg leave to call upon the hon. mem- ber lrom Uarnley, (Mr. Clark.) to state whether, according to Ills recollection ofvvltut took place at St. Elesttor's, at the time referred to, the version of facts made by the lion. and learned uteutoer lot‘ Charlottetown, or that givrn by myself. is the

re correct. _

Mr. CLARK. As I understood the late Colonial Secretary arid the hurt. and learned trteittbsr fur Charlottetown. on the oc- tt-siou referred to, they positively denied all knowledge of any steps taken by the rats an Donald ‘smpltell to deprive the

ple ofthia Colony ofthe Elective Franchise. Mt’. Havi- K3’. said, that the ssssrtiou,ttist such a scheme or measure had ever come within their ltiiowlcdge,wss a falseboznl; and be defied the tion. the Treasurer to prove, that such uConstituiirtn as be had spoltett of had ever been prepared here, or forwarded to the Colonial Minister. At the meeting at Barrett's, MI’. McLean aaid.Sir Alexander Bannerrnsn was expected in a few days, and would bring with ltiin a new Constitution for the Colony. 'I'lie matter was no secret. It had been much spok- es of to the country, arirl seemed to be confidently anticipate-il by the friends of the late Government; and, I believe, by none inure confidently looked for, than by the lion. members from llulfast and Port Hill, (Mr. Dcuse and Mr. Yeo), rnuch asham- ed as they appear to be ofthe measure now. But tnrlred now that the object ot'thutConatttutiou has been fully expoeed,_l am not surprised. that it cannot find I single open adviieste In this House, or that they who were undoubtedly its friends so long as they had reason to hope it ouuld become law, should now eagerly disclaim all former knowledge of it; for it was ‘a tusseure in direct opposition to the wishes of the people ul this Colony, but. as far as it went, destructive ofthe inherent rights tit’ rnurrkinu. With respect to tlis p_ropossrl_abo|itroii of the property qualilcstics of inetnhers, It is evident the people ttituk it imposes a very unnecessary. tfnot a very uitju_st rrs~ trictiou upon the freedurtt_uf their comes, and Iain dertdrdly of the same opinion. Without any such reatrtettrtn as that qualification lays upcit the exercise of the elrctive franchise. tn good sense ofthe para la slous will prevent their making uy hproper selection men, as respects ciicursstsoces and positive to life, te represent titers in the Asrcrubly. 'l‘ttsl.Iltr g ' ‘t ofthe Assembly would be increased, by raising tug property qualification of titsutbsra. as asserted by the hon- pgqbsr for ltsttssi (Mr. Douee). is a proposition of which the absurdity is self-svrrterti, and ever will be so. uutrl ll run be M‘, [Int any thing but worth marks the icon. I will sup- F“ m. mots... of the Iiou. the Influx ofthe Governritrnt.

3,, p_t|,Mpfi, Tbs boa. Isobar lroiu Dar--ley (Mr- cmgy, gust, I ablgb, recglru tbat tlre charge was first sgsiuettbe late llr Dueuld Lsnpbsll for having atteiupted to strut tbs Uoostttuttse at the celery, and is assiruilsts it to ,5“ .( flavrruadlaiid; sod, tbss that Mr. Ilavilsod and toy-

flr. flu ,- a self, as captures! the actual lair Donald ‘ sport! is drawing out say sueb Constitu- gtgs; old . uusva uiss tasespiaa Trssseisr to the ssssrtles brat watts be ssssavsred ts

. ssylog.fiIws were prtvy te;8ir D¢ld's gasps. wbatsverltvrus; butlltd set us bsswlsdgs st‘ Div Dsssld'u bsvlag asst beQ

alter the elective franchises I0’ ,‘l" 15'3" ‘I "‘I'°‘l"l'I Responsible Government into this C_olcsy. That he dlrl so was well known by many persons besides the Dsultera of bla Council; and was in feet, hardly sought to he coneuslerl by any one. What I denied then, lsttll rlsny; and as the altercation occurred in the hearing ofsuverul hundreds ofthe people,I our quite easy, ifjudgmt-nt is to rest with the public on t e point whether cuiitrailicliort has been brought successfully home to the Hon. the Treasurer or myself.

Hon. . r. E. 'I‘lie hon. and learned member for Charlotte- town (Mr. I'itlmer) was attempting to he very witty, but he must take care not to allow his " wit" to sliins at the expense qfbis ate- rriory. 'I‘ltrt rum and substance of the altercation between him artd myself at St. Elriaiioi‘s with respect to the late Sir Donttld Crinip- bul|'s scheme for ‘ ' . ' 0 III " , i " ' ' oflliis Colony,oit the occasion alluded to. iitay be very briefly stated. After I had accused Slr Donald of that lriiitorous design, and stated my beliefthat the two members of the late Government. then present, had been accessories therein, the ho menibsr for Cliurlottetowtt jlrut this question to me: ' Do you mean to say. that I draw out tlte ill, b means of which the change in the Constitution waste be effected.‘ replied. ‘ No; but I believe you were an accessory therein; and, in my opinion. Sir Donald, in ittsk- in such an ttlteriipt,—ncletl as a traitor to the rights of the, people, wh'tch.as the Governor of the people. it was his duty to protect; and all who assisted him were psrtieiptitors in this vile attempt.’ 'I'he hon. and learned member than answered. that if I said. he had assisted Sir Dmtald Campbell in drawing out a Constitution, for this Colony, siittiltir to tltnt of Newfouirdlttrtd. I asserted what wits not true; rind the litte Colonial Secretary answered tire precisely to the sziiiirt effect. I then raplirrd,tltut I had ttot said that Sir Donald's Constitution was Ilte same as that of Newfoundland; but tltutI thought it very probable. that the desi it was to assimilate our Con- stitution to that of Newfrturidlaitd ‘ im sion intended to be made on the minds oftltoac present. h the rt. sud leurtted merit- ber for Charlottetown and the late Colonial Secretary. was evident- ly that tlteynknew nothing about Sir Donald's scherrie;artd I believe such was t impression, made by their artful and evasive explana- tions, upott some few of tltose who heard thorn. Indispulable facts,

owever, are now before us; and. when the gofbrth to thepuhlic, not rriany will fail to perceive that both the to Colonial Sucretsr and the hon. and learned tneniber for Charlottetown were as due y concerned in the plot as I their alrtted, that I believed than to have

art. For my own part. I positively know. that one of them was so. front the cvidettce of his own hand writing; and Ithink we have sullicient reason to conclude that the other, although perhaps ttotso fully trusted or consulted in the matter. must Iutve been aware of the fact. 'I‘he people can, however, jud e for tliemselvca. And with respect to the design. now that it is ‘lolly revealed. Isay again that a more villanrtus scheme tvus never devised, for the purpose of being submitted to Parliament to be passed iitto law: and ‘all the eedinga in connection with it were of a piece; they were all characteristic of a most disgraceful plot; they were conceived a deliberated on in secret. all knowledge oftltern was earfull kept from the Legislature ofthe Colony; and the aclterrre when per ecterl. tvaa sertt to the Coloni Otlice. in the shape ofu Bill duly fratned, and strongly recommended to the Imperial Government, tu a private Despatclr.

The Hon. the SPEAKER. The accomplishment of the scheme oftlte lute Sir Donald Campbell, would undoubtedly have amounted to a most serious and arliitmry infraction of the right of the people oftltis Colony; for it would actually have disfrnnchised two-thirds ofthe electors. and reduced the number oftheir representatives to nineteen, and tltese chosen by the proprietors and free l era. But he did not think it was rigltt or justifiable to accuse the late Govern- ment. on account ofa project against the liberties of the which there was reason to believe. lirtd wholly originated with Sir Donald Campbell himself; artd neither did lte Iltink, that the pro- ject itself, sweeprngiy unjust and tyrannical as it its ttpcrallttn would have been, wits Ill any degree heinous. ifirtdeed it could be account- ed as outrageous as former acts of iiijuutice to this Colony by some of Sir D. Campbell's predecessors in the Government. How. instance, did Sir Charles Fits Roy and Sir Henry Vere Huntley, characterize the representatives of the people of this Colony in Des- patches to the Colonial Oflice .’ 'I‘ltey st' rnatiserl the members of the Assembly as ttten without education, without honesty. and with- out moral princi lea. Sir Donald Campbell's recommendation of a measure, thee rectof which would have en a disfranchlsument of two-thirds of the electors of the Colon , was undoubtedly bad; but it was certainly not worse, than Sir Charles Fitz Roy's and Sir Henry V. IIuntley’s slanderous representation of the Assembly. \Vhen lie (the Hon. tlis Speaker) brought before the Anarbly. the sub’ ofone oftlu Despstcbes. in which the bad heeaso sliautefully vilified by IIICGOVCIIOI’ (Sir Cburles its lay). the honorable the Treasurer. then a utuubse _( the Gorm."as well as of the Assembly. denied that he know any about it. Iftlien, at that time, u Des tch highly important. as it was cal- culated materiull to all'ect t interests of the Colony, ecu be pre-

srtd seat I orne. without the knowledge of the Council, or at can without his (the Hon. Mr. Pope's) knowlodgeg who " he est a Couaeillloard. why rrtay not the members at‘ 8ir\;Donald _ pbt-ll'a administration have been. in like manner. ' his (8_rr Donald's) Dcspateh, recommend’ an inrtovst ‘ of our Constitution .’ And. indeed. it was much more likely. thutu Des- patch of Sir Donald Cam rbell's sltould be prepared and forwarded without the knowledge of his Council. than that such a thing could have happened with respect to the Council, cit of Sir Charles Fitz Roy or ofblir Henry Vere Huntly; for Sir Donald, us he do- clared to the Assembly, did all his own writing; but the other Git- vernors did not itli respect to the motion for the abolition of the property ualilication of members of the Auetitbly. Its wou upport it. I e was of opinion, that it ought to he dose sway witli. twould be absurd to retain so triflin a property qualification as that of £50. And what was it. or i eed any propen ulifica- tron, when put into the balance ivitli irttegrity and son j A property qualification could be desirable only as albrdiq acute guarantee for equitable legislative views on the part of its posses- sor. Ilut wli:it guarantee for honest legislation could the possession of property worth no more than £50 afford. If indeed the qualifi- cation were raised to £I000, it might be accounted some guarantee; for property to that amount would be some stake is the country; but property worth no more than £50 would be nous. But had always objected to raising the property qualification of candidates for seats in the Asserubly. because the raising pf it would. very 3'93"]. Itttl very unjustly, circumacribe freedom of cltoic the part of the electors; and when first returned to the Assembly. he assured his constituents. that lie would never consent to any pro- prtaitton iii the Legislature, for narrowing their privilege in that res- pect.’ Ila ltitd always been against tttulttng members ofthe Assem- zly liable to be called upon to prove their being in actual possession any given amount of property. He ltsd always been is posed to the power ofoxerciaiitg an inquisitorial investigation, wit respect totitle-deeds and other vouchers. for the possession and value of property. At the time ofquulifying. a men might be in no way is- volved in pecuniary diflicnlties; he might be in possession of pro- perty to a considerable amount; he nrtght have valuable vesses at sea. and he the owner ofrnuch valuable provert in various ways; and yet, in a very short time. in can ounce of fuiluru of even wairuntabls speculations, and other an losses. in’ be- come so crnhumtssed. that his liabilities should greatly exceed the value of his estate. 'I‘o give by Statute. one Iteuther of the Ilouse the power. maliciously, or vexstiosely, to call upon another wtersber to produce and lay upon the Table. documents. to on his pro- perty qualification. was. tosay the least of it. unwise and super- fluous egislation; and the best thing that could . with no ct to it, would be. to do away with that qualification eutiruly. ut although such was his opiuioo with respect to mu- Iificntion of candidates or members; there was one quul' tion which he was persuaded. ought to be made useenury by law; and that was residence is the Colon for a time aumctertt to urlitrit ofu man's becoming well acquaint with its aflalra; and for that arpose. a residence of seven years is the Colony, would, he thought. be quite little enou h.

Hon. Mr. WARBURTO . in reply to the Honorable the Speak- er. observed, if the whole body of the Assembly had, by say Go- vernor of the Colony, bees represeated.'iri his private correspon- dence. as it set of low. ignorant hlscltgsards; sti . ltevr unjust so- avsrv the asperuions. how unwsrrarttablu scevev the stints. out upon the representatives of the people might have less. it would have been it very slight cfibnce. is eortrpurlsou with the euerrnous one of plotting to deprive the of the elective fruseltiss. and vir- tua ly to reduce them to object condition of agrarian serfs. This, is in iitios, is the greatest political crime which any Governor a memo can commit. and this is the cvlrue of which tlis late Sir Id Campbell was guilty. The aaherue for lII'O‘Wt'IItehIlOl1tOIIofth0p0o§IO0fI.h'ICOI@ is such a use as

1 n .

2:‘ ‘

have tlis easereefbshesd there a l at cue blow, sad the late BI! Campbell, is the suite spirit e I045 I000!!! s utessure to the Irn ' I Government. which,

(lreoatzpcd wouldesubleblm tedepriv'e.I“lte whole people sftbis — r

“ In lltvif pslltlcul privileges. by. as it were. a slid! 495 0‘ is..'ti..t-on, I ttstsssruttsuts lpesbsr ttiistnu to :i::':.':.‘.°.;':" "' l"".'. eua esnpsre. ls ' or b s Ideas ssivss. ssttusrsrsly susisit. sss y reseatwssdsd Osvsruwsst.

is

rsrtasst-sstssslusstbtlsusssrts I

.. 51'‘ It

13»

tlis rhbts usrl

eoulrlssthl Despstoh. is

has alluded. came before the pub- Ir. Iluure, at that tiute the Agent of Mr. C bk party England. who moved for it is Parliament; s it up- paared that Sir Charles I‘its Roy. is bis confidential correspondence with the Colonial 0600. had gives it as his opinion, that the tits-

hefipeu

try of the House ol'Assembly at that tints, were ignorant and anpriiieiplsd nten. Sir Charles Firs Bey. had certainly doite wr:g in speelttitg cf the Anentbl in so disparaging a manner as he done; but still, what he as . was merely an expression of his vute opinion concern’ that body: it was not followed up by any rscomntertdutiort to the lat iul Government, the adoption of wltic would have been a deadly blow to the liberties of the people of this Colony; and yet. in the rtstirttution of the honorable the Speaker, for u Governor to ltavs merely so thought and so written of some of the Members ofthe Assembly. was a crime of eqtsel enormity with that of having devised and urged. upon the Iloine Government. the a ' of a scheme for the extinction of public liberty in the Co- lony. That any representative of the people is this House should rise. in his place. and avow it to be ltis opinion. that greater in- digttutioa t to be excited, in the minds of honorable tltetltberl. on account it the expression, y one Governor, of his private esti- timute of the worth of the Assembly, than by the determined unJ systematic endeavours of snot t ir constituents of the rights offroerriea, would certainly have very much surprised me; but to hear such an opinion avowed by the honorable the Speaker. the representative, not only of one constituency. but of all t e con- stituencies of the Island. does indeed excite my astonishment in a very uncommon degree. When I had the honour to be Speaker oft e Assembly. I, osone occasion. spokeofm selfus being the representative of the whole body of the electors; or so I uccouiilorl rityself; and as such. I studied to act, irtaking very little account indeed of the silly attempts of some to throw ridicule upon me for hnvi so spolten. Such. I think, is the light in which the Speaker shou always view himsel . As the chosen representatives of the