4

CT.

A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF POLITICS, LITERATURE AND NEWS.

weeeerwewns verre a a TRC ves EDWARD WHELAN]

.—————-

Vow. VIL.

Colonial Legislature.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wronespay, February 24. WORRELL ESTATE, ( Concluded.)

y ‘Nj. : , ithe i De aties < y i ast, . Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL would remind their Honors | tt the total number of lunatics, treated dur ng the past, to the committee on roads and bridges. Hon. Mr. Bagnall presented a

that, in many cases, deeds could not be made out, in consequence of the surveys not having been completed, bat the payment of the instalments was sufficient guarantee for the

completion of the pay ment of the purchase money by the appli- | cant for any particularlocatien. But, if such should not be the |

case, the Land Purchase [)!] invests the Commissioner of Public Lands with summary powers to sel] the land by public auction, the purchaser at which salecan forthwith eject the previous occupant

from his holdmg, and at once enter into possession. As to the |

eonduct of the auditors, he cou!d not but consider their action in refusing to place to the credit of the Land Office the balances due on lands sold, as extraordinary indeed, more especially when he reflected that the Land Purchase Bill, while it pro- vided the form of the deeds, also give the form of the defeasance to be endorsed, and the amount of which was declared to he a specific charge upon the whole property con- veyed by the deed. As an illustration, if the applicant pur- chases land to the value of £100, and pays an instalment of £20, the whole property, one-fifth of which haa been paid for, becomes security for the remaining £80. While the Govern- ment had, on the sales of public lands, the person:l security of the purchasers, and also the lien onthe real property, surely the Auditors would be justified in considering such security as being far more safe and easy of recovery, than bonds in the Treasury which were strictly personal. Without following his Honor tue President into the detailed statements he bad made, shewing the advancement of the Colony since the introduction of Re- Fponsible Government, he could not but wew the fact of the Government being in possession of such a quantity of lands, as affording a pleasing contrast to the condition of the Island pre- vieusly, when there was net an acre of public domain,

Hon. Attorney General. by command, laid on the table two |

messages from the Lieutenant Governor, one on the subject ot Bonds to the Government, and the other on the subject of the Miluia, with copies of despatches relative to the latier subject

Satoxpar, February 27. Hon. Mr. Craswell presented a petition from the Indian Com-

missioners relative to lands on the Worrell Mstate. The petition-

ers alleged that the late Mr. Worre!! had set apart some 204 acres for the permanent occupation of certain resident families. which had gone into possession, and cultivated and built opon the Jands, subsequently, their holdings were occupied hy some of

petitioners was to obtain a grant of lands in lieu of those of which the Indians had been dispossessed, and he trusted that the Government wonld accede to the prayer of the petition. Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL explained, that an applica- tion had been made to the Executive for a grant of lands in hea of those formerly reserved by Mr. Worrell, but the Go-

vernment fad no power under the Land Purchase Bill ta com- ply with the request. The interposition of the authority of the Legislature was necessary to enable the Government to pur- chase for the object realizing the wish of the petitioners. fie would state, that the lands referred to were never conveyed to the Jadians, or to any one on their behalf, by Mr. Worrell, they were merely merked on a plan of his property. One of the Commis- sioners, he believed, recovered last years some 20 acres ; but it wasscarce y fair to turn out parties who had been long in posses sion of their lands, and who were willing to pay fur the con- tinned peaceable occupation. Petition referred to committee on miscellaneous petitions.

The following petitions were presented by Hon. Mr, Cras-|

well :—From inhabitants of Lots 14. 15 and 16, for aid to build a bridge at Trout River; Alexander MeDonald and others, re- siding on rear of Lot No 7; Prerre Jacques’s settlement, Brae

River and vicinity : inhabitants of West Cipe settlement and |

vicinity, fur aid to improve road communications. Keferred to committee on roads and hridges.,

flon. Attorney General, by command, laid on the table the €stimates fur the year 1858.

= >

Monpay, March 1].

The following petitions were presented by Ion. Attorney General : — From John KB. W. Alleyne, sq, and others, for ard to repair Mount Stewart Bridge: mbhabitants of Lot 52, for a grant for road fron Montague to Union Road. Hon. Mr. Al- dous—from inhabitants of Lot 31 and vicinity, for aid towards the erection of a wharf. Referred to special committee on roads and bridges. Hon. Attorney General—from Louis Mut- tart and others, Couriers, for aid towards construction of an ice boat. Referred to committee on miscellaneous subjects. Hon. Mr. Aldous —Mary Kelly, for aid to suppurt fanly. Referred to committee on paupers; inhabitants of Lot 18 and vicinity, praying for the introduction of the Bible into the public schools, Referred to commitiee on education. Hon. Mr. Dingwell, fer aidto James King ; also to John and Eliza Garnett. Referred to committee on paupers.

Hlon, ATTORNEY GENERAL, by a brief summary of the revenue witli the estimated receipts last year, found that the in- crease of the ad valorem dunes from 5 to C4 per cent. had been estimated to produce £2.000—the amoum actually realized, from the augmentation, was £1,802 7s. Gd. In some items there had been a failing off, while in others an enlarged im porta- tion had taken place. The quantity of tea had not equalled that of the preceding year, while, if the accounts of the imports afforded any criterion of the social habits of the people, it might be safely predicted from the comparative quantities of spirits and tobacco brougnt into the Island, that there was less rum and more smoking. It was gratifying to find that, in contrast to the neighbouring Colonies, the public expenditure of the [sland had been in some respects diminished. Last year the Telegraph Company had recewed £520 9s. 54.3 this vear they got only 4300. The expenditure on account of the publie lands would

be lese in ¢ ‘nsequence of the rapid and satisfactory disposal of lands on Lot 44.

+ pes +

On the 2nd, 8rd and 4th of Mareh, the Council adjourned

for want of a quorum. ee Frivay, March 5.

Hon. Mr. Beaton's excuse for non-attending, viz., urgent private business, was received.

Hon. Messrs, Dingweli and Craswel] respectively obtained leave of absence for a week, ;

Hon. COLONFL SWABRY, in presenting the annual report of the Medical Superintendant of the Lunatie Asylum, spoke as follows:—In laying upon the table this tabdlar

r TRRILS At

Chis is true Liberty, when Free-born fen, having

“ January 3ist, 1858.

“ GentLemen,—I have the honor of submitting, for your Inspection, my eighth annual report, comprising the medical statistics of the Lunatic Asylum, with the admissions, dis- | charges and remedial results, on the patients under treat- |ment, during the last twelve months. On examining the | details of the accompanying statistical chart, you will observe

year, amounts to 3 OF these, 19 remained in the house at |last report—the greater number being chronic cases of long standing, and adjudged incurable. Of the total number of

and which are comparatively recent cases, nine have re- covered, being nearly sixty per cent.—a large proportion, which many Asylums, with more ample endowment and more

ber of recoveries, since last report, amounts to 103; those much improved, 9; improved, 5; not improved, 7. Among the lunatics, 2 deaths have occurred; one from bronchitis,

cases admitted since February 23rd, 1856, amounting to 17, |

efficient appliances, have failed to exceed. The total num-|

to advise the Public, man speak free—eEuRtPmes.

from certain inhabitants of Lot 7 and t ‘aid towards re-opening a road; from certain inhabitants of Lots 10 and

11, praying aid ior a road. The four preceding petitions were referred | to the committee on roads and bridges, From James MeNeill and others,

inhabitants of Lot 7, for aid towards the support of Rachel Morrel; from /

Francis Metherall and others, inhabitants of Lot 7, for aid to Elizabeth | | Doran, a cripple. Hon. Mr. Craswell presented a petition from Isabella | White, widow of the late Thomas White, praying aid. Referred to the

, committee on paupers, From Michael Dalton and others, inhabitants of | | . . * * . } Lot 7, praying aid towards repairing a bridge and causeway. Referred |

| petition from Jas. Proudfoot and others, inhabitants of Queen’s County, ‘against the passage of the Board of Works and Municipal Incorporation | Bills. Referred to the committee on miscellaneous subjects. From Isaac | Linkleter and others, inhabitants of Lot 17, for aid to complete a road. | Referred to committee on roads and bridges. From Alexander Me- Donald and others, inhabitants of Lot 22, for aid to a road. Referred to same committee. From James Kelly, teacher, Lot 52, for remuneration 'as such, the number of pupils under his tuition being less than the | Hon. Col. Swabey stated that the subject maiter of the petition came | | within the legitimate jurisdiction of the Board cf Education, which was | authorised to grant rejief in such cases. Referred to committee on

| education. lion. Attorney General presented a petition from the Reverend A.

he western end of Lot 4, praying lon. COL. SWABEY could see no

[EDITOR ann PUBLISHER.

CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, MONDAY, MAY 17, 1858. oo No. 45

reason why the benefits of the Insolvent Act should not be extended to the mon who owed little as well as to him whose liabilities were heavy. The petition was then laid upon the table. . lion. Mr. Forgan presented a petition from Margaret Mor- risun, praying relief. Referred to committee on paupers.

er

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. Fainay, March 19, 1858. BIBLE QUESTION. PETITIONS RELATING TO EDUCATION. ( Continued.) HIon. COL. SECRETARY.—I second the motion. The

| number prescribed by law, as entitling the teacher to the statutable salary. ' Resolution submitted by my hon. f tend. it may be said, by tome j hon. members, is not so much a Kesolunor, as a strtement of

the views and reasons, on which he grounds his dissent fiom the opinions of these who, in the last Session, moved and sup ported a Resolution, similar to that which the bon. member for

me . ee 2 i bleed bee >. hatin d £ "hh ‘ ta lads a! : J and another, apparently, from old age ; and 11 have been dis-| McKay and other Protestants, inhabitants of Belfast and vicinity, ; Princetown (lon. ‘TP. H. Haviland) has sebmitted tins eve ming ;

charged. The number of paupers, remaining at last report, amounted to 10; since which time, 6 have been admitted and (3 discharged; 1 absconded after recovery, and 2 have died ;

,

‘| 1 from apoplexy, and the other from disease of the heart—

remaining, 16. *T again beg to direct the attention of your Board to the /heating of the building, The brick stoves have been found

perfectly inadequate for diffusing the heat over more than } { 2

|

)one room. The pipes even never exceeding the blood-heat ; |

‘and the fuel is, therefure, unnecessarily consumed without eflecting the purpose.

| ©] trust that some more effectual method may be adopted | befure next winter, asI frequently had serious apprehensions \for the safety of the patients in the solitary rooms during the ‘late severe weather.

| ©] have the honor to be, gentlemen, your ohdt. servt., “J. McKIESON., | To the Board of Trustees, Lunatic Asylum.”

One circumstance disclosed by this report is of a most gratifying nature. I refer to the proportion of cures effected jin cases of recent insanity. It is true, that, in instances of |long standing lunacy, the result has been different, and a )similar issue could not be reasonably expected; but the ad- vantages which the Asylum confers on the community are }eonclusively proved by the restoration to their families of

.| those unfortunates, whose friends placed them in the institu-

} }

| gone abroad, and have heen partially adopted hy peonle not | conversant with the details of the management of the Asylum.

Some have imagined that the sum voted last year, £900, |

was exclusive 6f the usual endowment. That was not the

i

|

} : . ,case: the greater portion of that amount was expended in| |

|

| improvements, which the imereasing demands of accommoda- with wise liberality, assumed the charge of maintaining any insane person whose friends might be unable to defray the ex- pense of supporting him in the Asylum, and thus has been the means of restoring several whose malady would pro- bably if not promptly treated, have been confirmed, Another mistaken opinion bas gone abroad, to the effect that paupers are excluded from relief at the institution. his I have read in one of the public journals; but it is not the ease

Paupers are not rejected ; but it isto be regretted that the |means at the disposal of the trustees prevent their more ex- tended alleviation of misery and destitution. It is linagined ithat because the designation « House of Industry” is united ito that of * Lunatic Asylum,” it bears some analogy to the | Union Workhouses in England. Now this is an erroneous

‘idea; and [, for one, have had so much personal knowledge |

of the working of the English Poor Laws, that I have no desire to see their principle engrafied upon our system. |Your Honors will find that the amount of lunacy in this | Island is not great in proportion to the population; and | /ean assure you, that relief is afforded to all whose friends and | neighbours interest themselves for them.

lion. Attorney General, by command, presented copies of a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies on Lietenant Governor’s reply thereto, and Attorney General's opinion on the Bill relating to the Reserves. Also, messages and copies of despatches relative to the Newfoundland Fishery Convention with France, on the Cape Race Light- house Toll Bill, and also on the subject of the erection of Lighbt-houses on North Cape and Kast Point in this Island.

From inhabitants of Middleton district, Lot 27, praying for the establishment of a post office; from inhabitants of the same district, praying the House not to sanction the passage of the Board of Works and Municipal Incorporations Bil ; referred to committee on miscellaneous subjects. From ance for 54 months services as such; referred to committee on education. Hon. Atiorney General presented a petition from John Hobbs, of Charlottetown Royalty, praying the House to concur in such measure as may be adopted by the House of Assembly, in encouragement of the establishment

ou miscellaneous subjects.

Hon. Attorney General laid upon the table a return shewing the state of the Bank of Prince Edward Island on the first Tuesday in September, 1857, and ou the 2ud of March instant.

His Honor the President presented and read a message fiom the Lieut. Governor desiring that the Council adjourn until Tuesday, the 16th instant. Adjourned accordingly.

.

Turspay, 16th March, 1858,

Hon. Col. SWABEY, on presenting a petition from several parties in ja Bankraptey Law, took occasion to remark, that while it was his duty | to present the petition, he wished not to be understood as pledged to | Support any measure which might be introduced intg the Legislature, in | accordance with its prayer. While he readily admitted the soundness of | the principle of bankrupt laws, yet so much depended on the details of | any measure based on such principle, that no one should commit himself to

ee he ae = ' tion in early stages of their cases. “hile his subject, | the other settlers on the Worrell Estate. The object of the | + 7 5 re ee MW hile on co Sudjec >| I may allude to one or two erroneous Impressions which have

‘tion rendered absolutely necessary. The Government had, |

the subject of the Fishery Reserves, of His Excelieney the |

flon. Mr. Wright presented the following petitions, viz:— |

Leland Stumbles, late teacher, Nail Pond district, for allow-!

by him of a Silk Hat Manufactory; referred to committee |

| praying for the authorised use of the Bible in the Normal School and | Central Academy. | dfon. COL. SWABEY.—The petitioners are praying for a matter |which already exists. In the public educational institutions of the | Island the teacher is at liberty to read the Bible In the Normal School | the principal is authorised to, and I believe does, read the seriptures before or atter school hours. The only exception to the exercise of this practice is in the Central Academy, into which the law prohibits tie in- | troduction of any religious test, which the use of the Bible has been | pronounced by high legal authority to be. Hon, ATTORNEY GENEKAL.—His Honor Col. Swabey Iabors under a partiol misconception of the object of the petitioners. They ask that | the scriptures may be read at convenient hours, alleving that the times | at preseut sanctioned for that purpos@are not convenient. The law with reicrence to the Central Academy is as stated by his Honor.

Dee ->-— -.—_________-__. Wepnespay, 17th March, 1858,

Hon. Mr. Forgan introduced a Bill authorising aliens to hold lands in this Island, notwithstanding their alienage. He explained that the Bill was a transcript of an Act which had been passed in Nova Scotia; and he considered that it was calculated to confer benefits on the Island, by the introduction of capital from abroad, and the influx of an educated and intelligent population, Read first time, ordered to be read second time to-morrow.

ion, Attorney General moved the 2nd reading of the Act continuing the Act regulating the publishing of notices and advertisements relating

» to the public service.

fon. Attorney General introduced a Bill confirming the appointments of constabies and fence viewers for King’s Coumiy, ap vinted at the late sitting of the Supreme Court at Georgetown. ‘L}iis measure had become necessary in consequence of the Grand Jury panel, by whom these officers were nominated, having been defective. The object of the Lill was to obviate the inconvenience which must necessarily ensue from the want of such officers in the County, and to render valid any acts done by j them, in their official capacities, sinve their appointments. Read first

| time, and ordered to be read second time to-morrow. Hon. Mr. Forgan presented a petition from John Heartz of Charlotte-

town, praying remuneration fur the support of Alexander Bannister, a |

| | foreign seaman who had been left near petitioner’s house, in utter | destitution, with his feet badly frozen. Referred to the comuittee on | paupers.” Hon. Attorney General presented a petition foraid to William Mugtord, of Lot 21, a bed-ricdeo cerippie. Referred to come iniitee oo paupers, Hon. Mr. Walker presented a petition from [Philp Lane aud others, of Lots 49 and ov, for aid towards lopening a road, Referred to committee on roads and bridges, Also froin the Reverend Mr. Me Donald, Rector of St. Dunstan's | College, praying the Conneil to eoncur in aby grant which the | House of Assembly might pass in favour of that lustitutioa. a A I I ae Tavrspay, 18th March, 1858.

His Honor the President snarested the propriety of ‘a joint Address, from both branches of the Legislature, to Her My jesty, congratulating her upon the marriage of the Primcess Royai. He observed that a similar course had heen adopted in other Colonies, and it was bur right that we should follow their example. fie read the draft of an address which he had pre (pared. Hons, Messrs, Swabey, Beaton and Aldous, were | appornpted a committee on the part of the Connsil,

His Honor also presenved a petition from the Horticultara| Society, praying aid. Referred to the comuittee on misceila- neous subjects,

| ‘Phe Alen Bill having been read Qud time, was ordered to be commited to-morrow,

The Lill confiramiag the appointments of constables and ferce viewers in King’s County, was read a second time and come mitted. Hon. Attorney General in the chair. The Bill wag reported as agreed to, without amendment,

Hon. Attorney General laid upon the table the blue book for 1856. Also the impost secounts for the Jast year.

Hon. Mr. Dingwell presented a petition from certain inhabi- {tants of Princetown and its vicinity, praying the Couneil not to sanction the passage ef the Board of Works and Municipal 'Ineorporations Bills,

had not been introduced, and it wouid be time enough to discuss the expediency of passing them when they were. Sle would say, however, with reference to one of the subjects, namely, Municipal Incorporations, that he considered that the pi generally were not aware that they would have the effect of } adding to their privileges, by the immediate controu! their | establishment would enable them to exercise over their local | affiirs. Of course, he did not wish to be considered as pledged | to the details of the Act which had been published; but the | sooner any country adopted the principle of self-zoverument in| local matiers, the sooner would it reap the benefit resultiog from | the immediate supervision and munagement of those most interested in the general well-being and improvement of the | district in which they resided and heid property.

ion. Mr. DINGWELL.—The people appear so well satisfied | with tne present Government, that they are willing to jeave to | it the management of their local affairs.

Ion Mr. Singwell presented a petition of John Stewart, of | Lot 47, teacher, praying remunerstion as such, i!) health having rendered him incapable of acting for the fall period of his engazement, Referred to committee on education. Also a petition of certain inhabitants of Lot 18, praying aid towards a read. Referred to committee on roads and bridges. Also a | petition frou inhabitants of St, Peter’s Biy, Cardigan Road, | Balne, Grand River and Launching Place, praying grant to' ; open a new line of road. Referred 10 same committee.

Hon. Mr. Crasweil presented a petition of A.C. Beekford, one | of the oldest teachers in the Island ; petitioner had received two | certificates as a licensed teacher, but bad not been qualified as | such underthe Education Act. Referred to the committee on |

j

‘education. Also the following petitions :—Prow inhabiante of |

; jcumpee and vicinity ; severally praying aid to improve their!

| road communications. Referred to the committee on roads and | bridves, | On motion of the Ton. Attorney General, the Act continuing |

‘that regulating the publication of notices and advertisements

Statement with the Jetter which accompanies it, I feel econ. | the support of a measure of the nature referred to, without his judgment relating to the oublic service, was committed, reported agreed | having first approved of its details. Ifthe Bill which might be brought | lo wuhout amendments, read third time and passed.

fident that your Honors will participate with me in the satis- faction [ experience, in the gratifying progress which has taken place in the amelioration of the unfortunate conditions of the inmates of the institution. This amelioration will be found to have been really a subject of congratulation, es- pecially when considered in connection with the limited means at the disposal of the trustees, I shall read the letter of the niedical officer accompanying the report, by which your

lonors will see that benefits which have been conferred upon the lunaties, during the period embraced in the report, fully Justify the Janguage I have used,

| before their Honors resembled the one under the consideration of the

| Legislaturé some years since, it should receive his unqualified oppositiog/ gebior confined in the jail at Ch

| Reterred to the Committee on miscellaneous subjects.

* Message from the House of Assembly by the Hon. Colonial Secretary, | With a Bill relative to the publication pf noticés and advertisements relating to the public service. *

! Hon. Mr. Aldous presented the following petitions, viz: — From certain inhabitants of the first electoral district in Prince C unty, pray- ing grant for the erettion of a rcom fo? thé Court of Commissioners of

/ Small Debts, anda lock-up in the district; from certain inhabitants of

Campbeltown, for grant in aid of a library; referred to the committee

on miscellaneous subjects. From Ewen Morrison, ferryman at Ellis

| River, Lot 14, praying remuneration for his services in that capacity ; | trom inbabitauts of Nail Pond and Lig Brook, for aid to complete a road;

Hon. ATTY GENERAL, on presenting a petition from a ariottetown, remarked on the /anomalous state of the law relative to debtors, Parties against whom judgments for amounts under twenty pounds had been | _recorced in the inferior Courts, if unable to satisfy them, were compelled to remain in jail for periods varying according tothe amounts. In fact, the law provided a tariff of confinement by which a certain amount was paid off by each month’s imprison- ment. This was the law with reference to sinal! debtors, but the man «ho might owe his thousands was allowed the privilege of going on the limits, and at, the same time, of receiving support from his creditor. i

and that itis so,! freely adimt. ‘The fate of the similar motion, made last Nession, by that hou. gentleman, was decided by the force of a mere negative on the pari of the majority of this House, But, both in justice to the majority of the Honse who decided against that Resolution, aud who, | doubt not not, will negative the similar Resolution which is pow. before ns ; and also in Justice to the coun'ry, who ought to be freed, as far as possible, from every feeling of doubt concerning the propriety of the principles, and the impartial regard for the conscientious scruples and settled convictions of their fellow sehjeets, of every deno-

| mination, inthe Colony, by which that majorny were influenced...

fin deciding against that Resolution ; it‘has, by mony, been judged proper that we should draw up, and send forth, a sort of brief, yet piain, manifesto of our views with regerd toa question, which has already been too mischtevously agitated ; and wmeh | cannot, for the sake of the social harmony of the community, be 100 soon completely determined ; and, therefore, to that end it is, that a preamble, so unusually long, introduces the Resolution which, as an amendment, has just been submitted, by my hon. friend, and, in suppert of which, mean now to speak. The hon. member (Hor. T. H. Haviland) has said that, alti ough he failed to carry his Resolution of the last Session, respecing the Bible ; yet sul! a port of what was asked was subsequently graned. fie alluded, | suppose, to the reading of the Hiwle im ithe country district schools; but, as he onght to be aware. no \change has been made, since his Resolution was maved and lost in this Honse, with respeet to the Bible, in the system by which the free schools in the country are regulated. At the time the hon. genticman moved his Resolution, and, indeed, | from the very day on which the Free School Act went into | operation, the majority of parents, having children attending any of these schools, were 2 t perfect liverty—-and they still are so — to have the Bebie read th rein or not, as they themselves thought jitrighttodetermine, Respecting that question, no arrangement has been made, except by the parties iminediately concerned ithemselves ; and, so little ditsically was there experienced in | de‘ermining concerning i", in any settlement, until zealots, for | coversand ulterior purposes, began to agitate the ex wntry about ity that Mr. Stark’s own Report. concerning the use efthe Bible jin the Country dietriet shoolz, shews that at was readina ln jority of the schoo!s in which the children of Catho lies were | taught. ‘To leave the matter on such a footing, wit] be porfeectly fair and just ; but to establish, by law, the readingr of tie: Bible, in all our public schools would be most arbitrary and wo “just ; for, to do so would be to establish a rejigtons test, the nny olicy and injustice of which is now practically acknowledged ip a very j free and enlightened conatry. The wnpalicy, nay the tnpra 7 cabilty of such a law, ina country like thie, of which the pip UH | lation consists of mixed religious denominations, js ensily prowey | | As, for instance, suppose a Catholic were the master of a schowl! lin which a partof the scholars were children of a majority of Protestant parents, who desired that the Protestant version of thre Bible shou'd be read teerein ; or suppose the case were the very reverse, in which a Protestant master shonid te re quired to give lessons in the Catholic version of the Scriptures: bow could either of these teachers, in such circums'ances comply con. }smentiousiy with the law—a law directly imposing a religious poe In no way whatever: and, surely, then, we cannot. ae reasonable and conscientous men, agree to pass a law, a com. lpliance with which might, in so many cases, in the woy in which I have instanced, cause, either a neglect of the duty enjoined, or a violation of conscience in the performance of it. The state of the matter, as we left it last year, has given general satisfaction ; and many, even of those who were per- suaded, by officiously overzealous friends, to petition the Legislature to enforce, by law, the reading of the Bible, in our District Schoo!s, are now convinced, by pleasing experi-

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~

PU ey ory : ‘ua : ee Hon, COL. SWABEY said, that until the Bills were before enre, that the majority of this Hou e, by rejecting the prayer the Council, they had nothing to do with the subject. They | of their petitions, on that score, did much towards the preser-

vation and promotion of good fellowship, good will, and

neighbourly kindness, in the difierent settlements, in the

'Island. And now, that the question is again before us, ina

rather differeat form, if we adhere to the views, by which we were governed last session, with respect to it, and which, in the amendment, submitted by my hon. friend, are so clearly and distinctly set forth, we shall, I feel certain, be sustained thercin by the general liberality of sentiment and good sense of the people. As to what the hon. member, my colleague (Mr. Laird) has read from the speech, delivered by Mr. Stark, at the inauguration of the Normal School, with the intention of shewing that it was then intended that the Bible should be read daily in that institution, | beg to observe that what Mr. Stark said, on*that occasion respecting the reading of the bible, was not concurred in, cither by His Exeelleney, the Lieutenant Governor, myself, or any other individual immediately connect-d with either the Government or the

| Legisture, although L admit, it was certainly not just then

contradicted. Mr. Stark, in his speech, gave an expianation of the Normal School system as devised by Mr. Stowe, and carried into operation, by him, in a strict’y Protestant com- munity ; and, perhaps, he thougt there was no harm in his delineating it, in all the features which nelong to it, as it is practised in Scotland, the country in which he had been in- itiated in, and trained to it, But he had no authority what- ever from the Government to say that an expounded lesson in the Bible would be a part of the prescribed daily exercises

7 ; ‘ | he Institution, as in fact, the very rever-e was the case; Charlottetown, praying that the Council would sanction the fpssace of | Lot 14, Richmond Bay, Lot 15, Lot 14, Lots 1, 2, 3, and Cas- | of the 1 : 5 . :

and, in fact, Mr. Stark was, on his arrival in this Co ony, made acquainted with the non-inter‘erence prine ples, With respect to religion, which were to be carried out, in our public schools, with which the expounding of Scripture lessons, by him, or any teacher therein, aceord:ng to his ows views, could not, by any means, be made to accord; and, thot he never contempiated as admissible or praciica'le such reading of and teaching from the Bible, in our public schools, is sv’ ficiently evidenced by the tenor of his first Report. as Schoot Visitor, Still, alihough what was said, with respect to the Bible, on that occasion, by Mr. Stark, was not only unanthori. zed, but contrary to the principles, as respects the relizious element in education, on which, it had been foreseen, that it would be necessary to conduct that institution; it was nut thought advisalle direct'y to contradict his declaration on that head ; as the doing so in a mixed assemblage, such as that which was then congregated, would, perliaps, have destroyed, or, at