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DEBATES |

OF THE

HOUSE OP ASSEMBLY.

—_---—

(Oentinued from first page of this week's

Examiner.)

Mc. McNwm:.—1 remember when the Hon. Attorney General pleaded pathetically for Geniederation, alshoegh be has now changed his position with reference to that question. Tbe Reform Bil and other great measures of Brit:sh Legisiation were not carried by such @@c ares of inconsistency. When, sir, ins former session of the Legislature [ was twit- ted by the Hon, Attorney General with my eon setion with the Tenant League, and had gom plained that the Sherif of @ueen’s Coun.

bed libelled the people, the hon. Attorney

eeoral asked why the matter had not been

brow.cht before the House. but, when st wae oe trongbe up, be dared not go into an in-

vestiration, bat moved that it be postponed 2 mouths, in other words, dismissed; he bad influential friends, whose action ia reference to tho Tenant League he did net care to bave eritic' sed in the House, and unfortunately, there were gentlemen on the other side, si- milariy sitaated Sir, cover in my life did { fee! more proud of my position than when (took my stand outside the Bar of this shoves, in company with my hon. friend the Mem- ber for Belfast, (Hon. B, Davies) to vindicate the character of the people from the asper- sions cast upon them. I! ask, Mr, Chairman, which of the public men of the Colony can the poople rely on, when we see men of in- telligence, education, and high social posi- tion » dvocating one line of polrey to-day, and temeoriow, when it may suit their intereat of convenience, turn round and support a course directly the reverse? Thebon. Atty General has pr. fesse himself a confederate, bat now he says, ‘only make me Att’y Gen- eral, and I will be as strong an anti-confsder- ate as you will be able to find in the coun- try.’ On! filthy luere, you have siain your thousands, you bays always been an enemy to patriotiam and liberty.

How. Arreryzy GexeraL.-—The Lon. mem- ber hoe told the House that his constituents endoreed hie views snd action, in connection with the Tenant League. I have no doubt ef it, nor of the fact thet he owes to that or- ganiss ion bie seat im this House; bat my reference to that body was not intended to apply to the hon. member individually. but to the Givéernment, wembers of which bud @ncoursged and jostified their proceedings whiah are well known to us all. . With re- ference to the qaestion of Confedération my

iniona are belore the country, and, sir, the pede i geva to ny constituents, I shall

ithfully keep. T told them at the hustings that m; ciews were unchanzed, ard I pledg- ed myself not to vote for Confederatio: un- til the qucetion had been sabmitted to the ple at tas Polls, That piodge wes frank- givoo, and was well understood by my oonsti( sents; but, sir, there Bre some who will act anderstand ano'her. I must leace them in the enjoyment of their own views = [ have not retracted Mor been askod to retract & single «ord of what I etated, and as long as my constituonts are saticied with my con~ duet, | em content. I bave exercised my caduwns 1f independéntig; bat, did nut the hee _womber, oniy last year. argue that the position si members am this House was, mor- ally, that of delegates ?

r. McNermt.—! said that we were sevt here to. make ‘aws aod not to destroy the eopsti: tion of fhe ocuntry. IT bope the hon. Ait’y ‘ieners! will bea: that in mind and be senten: to sand or fai} by it,

Ho. Air. Sevciasn —I do not intend to go into the history of England; that has béen done by otters; the history of the Is- land affords sufficient topics for me. The Hon. Atty, General suid that one of the members from Kast Point ought not to sit upon the opposition benches, because he ev- tertaincd views in accordance with thore of the Government. The fact is that the Gov- erament, tor the sake of place, has taken up views sdopted by the Liberals on priociple. Wo were wiiling to take ghe word of the Catholics as —— guarantee of their good faith but the Gov- ernment expected from them a pledge. Ido not thiuk it very creditable for those gentic- en to join s party which bad declined to trust their word. As to what bas been said about education, I agree with the Hon. Atty. Gevers! that the pledge to which [ have re- ferred, doea not bind the parties to refuse to improve the Education Act, but was ix- tended as a declaration that the Quertioa of Sectariea Grauts was to be postponed, As go Confederation, I imferred from what fell frova the Hon, Atty General that he would do nothing in the way of initiating our cou- gection with Canada, but, Mr. Chairmaa, there aro more ways than one of carrying oat a favorite po.nt, and many & measure has be n cairied todireetly which woud pever buve succeeded by dirco! action. Tam incline. to think from the Speech that we may bave Confederation, whether we like it or mot. L bave no desire to fora Canada and the great mojority of tue peopie ef the Isiand, are of the sams way of thinking, bat if it shall happen that we are weighed down under a burden of taxation greater than that of Car- ada, it might be desireble tc joi that Do- minion. Asi read tbe paragraph before the Commi tee, f caunot but believe there is gometh ng more in this rsilway scheme then

ects tle eye : Hen Mr. Howran.—The Hon, meu.ber must ccrtainly consider himse!{ not merely an exirct, but ihe very quiniessenec of po- fitiea! booesty. He lett the sutject proper-

ty before the Cowmittee, and bas intimated that Government has something very mye- teri0us Lebied tae soenes. I cannot, Mr. Chairman, think that the bon, member reaily believes so, but I have litle doubt that he will give as credit for a fair porion of ponesty. But, Sir, whea I look at the para- graph before the Committee, 1 fail to see the sonnection betweea it, aad ibe speech of the fon, member. The paragraph reads as

lows -— i

i We are pizased to notice the deep inter est you take ip the Agricultura} and Iodus- trial pursuits of the Co.ony, 28 manifesied by yous attendunce at the General Kxbibi- tion held in Charlottetown ia Ootcher last; 0d we will at al} times be most happy fo render very assistance to your Honor for the develo; meat of those resourcer,”’ ny

Now, «'r, thig paragraph refere'to the Kxbi-

bition of last October, and [ cannot see any

aliusio: ip it to the subject of Hducation, por asagie referonoc, however remote, to

Se Questioa of Seotarian Granis, pete tion, member intend to convey the impression that the horses, bulls, pigs ond other ¢nima's exbibited ov that oocasion had been educeted io Seoterian sebools ? If be

OPE te -

does, the Government hed no means of s20w- fog from what denominational ixstitution these animals and the manefactured articles —the homespus—the ploughs—and the other specimens of the mechanical ingenuity of our people bad been derived. 1 am at & losy toeonceive what has called forth this discussion on the Educational Question. It mast be a day dream, a dream of the n'ght, or some other phantom conjured up by the imagination of the Hon. member for Belfast. (Hen. B. Davies.) Asto the arrangements Which resulted in the formation of the pre- sent Coalition Government, if the Hon, mem- ber wishes any information on that poict, L can gratify him, but | really gave him credit for more sense thao he bas manifested io this discussion, [le hes expressed his sur- prise that the Lieut, Governor’s Speech ecn- tained no reference to Education. Does he semember the mejority which, at a period when be bad been but a short time in the House existed, in favor of denominational grants?

Hon. B. Daviss.—Then why uot have carried it?

Hon. Mr. Howtan,—Because of our oor- nection with euch vain minded and bigoted politicians as yourself, IL knew that the Hon, Mr. Coles had promised a grant in aid of St. Dunstan’s College, aud deeply do I regret the dark shadow which has passed upon him. But, ob! shades of Kdward Whelan and George Coles! to think of the hon, member, with the rame of liberalism on his lips, voting, tut a few months since in favor of the Hon, Edward Palmer! When the Catholics went over to the Gov- erament they carried the liberal flag with them (oh! oh! from the Opposition). Yes, Mr Chairman, and it is flying over them still, and when Mr. Coles retired from the Leadership of the liberal party Hon, Mr, Hensiey promised the same, and afterwards the Hon Mr. Haythorne was io favor of it. I stumped my district and found a majorit; ia favor of suck grant. Well Sir, did the Catholics, because that grant was not ac- corded, desert their flag or their friends? No, Sirf although we well knew that the wishee of Thirt:-five thousand electors conld not be disregarded we had ro desire to force our views upon the Protestast portion of the community, nor to impair, much less spirer. the School system of the country.

hen the Uatholics and their former poli-

tical associates met to arrange their joint ©

policy, they proposed certa:n resolutions caloulated to strengthen the position of the libera! party. The Gret of these resolutions is in the following words :—

** When any school shall bave been opencd by any sect or denominution it shall be p’aced under the Bourd of Edavcation. and be subject tothe rules and regolat'ons there- of, save and except that nothing here‘n ecn- tained sha!] prevent the parents and guar- diaas from selecting their own tX: books. and choosiag their own teachers.’’

This resolation, Mr Chairman is tar from injuring any schoo!. Lt subjects them to the control of the Board of Edueation, and consequently to the insp ction provided by law. Whee the Catholic members were told tha: certain members of the liberal party bad been ceturned piedged to oppose séetarian grants they were willing to waive a portion of their views rather than break up the parry, and forbore to uress the cla im which tuey believed to be based on jusrice, The eccond of the resolutions is as follows :

Resolved, That no schools placed under the soatro! of ibe Board of Education ebould be deprived on aceount of religous instruct- ion being giver in tuch schools of a poriion of the oheditibe fund, equivalent to the work such schools perform, and that it iv ex- pedieot to make such a change in the Free Kdneation Act, as will admit religious in- struction to be given in the schools in thie Isla d, in euch districts as the parents or guardisns desire; such jinestruction to be given and at such hours as are not devoted to secular instruction,

Well, sir, I presume that no man calling bim- self a chri-tiad, will dispute the opinion that ebildbood is the period of life at which the prizciples of morality snd religion should be instilled into the mind; not only as the im- ressions then conveyed are more likely to influence the whole after life, but also be- cause instruci:on is received with more readi- ness then, than subsequently. What other feeling has induced the Methodists to erect pear Charlottetown « building for the education of youth, second to none ia this Colony? Recognizing the necessity of the religious element in education they occupy the same platform as the Catholics in asking fora graut for their Schools; the Catholies sought set to break up the present school system, but they merely sought aid under the state {thiegs which imposed a necessity on Protcs‘ants as well asthemselves, Separate school grants obtained in the neighboring Deminion of Canada, and in other dependencies of the Crowe, even in far off Viciovia. That re- solution wos framed with the express object of meeting the views of our political friends. It carefully guards aguinst any tampering with the creeds of the pupils aud specifies that any religious teaching shall take place alter the expiration of the time allotted tq secular education, I know men snd women in Charlottetown, Georgetown and in Prince County, who sre willing to deyote their lives to the duty of qualifying others for a life ia a better world. Last year the bon. member for Belfast (Hon. B, Davies), gave his opivion that s knowledge of the first four rules of arithmetic, with reading and writing, covstituted an amount of eduction gufficient to qualify for this world and the next, But sir, how was the resclution [ have just read met? ‘The hon member for New London (Hop, Mr. Sinclair), moved a Resvigtion to the effect ‘bat it'was not ad- visable to alter the present Education Act to which I moved the following as an amecdment:

+ Provided always that mo school should be déprived of Government allowance on ac- eopat of religious ion deing impart; ‘ed ip such schools, but that such religious jnstraction shall in no case be given except with the consent and at tbe desire of the and guardiags of the papils who at. foes such schools, snd at such hours a3 are not devoted to secular instruction.” Qn the second day of the caacus the Catholic mem; bers were told that if they did not chouse to

ive for all time to come, their claime for

id to their Kducational Institutions, they

might leaye the party which would be joined

by another political section, and this combina- tion cou'd and would form and carry on the Government. Thus, sir, our old friends wers not conicnt to leave this Question ia abey- ence for four years, and thinking they could do as they pleased, threw overboard their Vatholic asacciates, I claim credit for the Catholics for their action on this subject. They were willing to abide the time when this subject should be viewed by Protestants in the same light in which they regard it

Ihave nothing exceptionally favorable to expect from my present politica! friends, [ have done nothing for them The Catholics bad a ciaim on the Protestants members of their former politica! party, who however, acting on the be'ief thatthey could do with. out them severed the connection of years, and in consequence were badly Euchred

We acted on the principal enunciated to day by the hon. member for Charloiteiowa (ton. D. Davies) that we would wot con- sent to put halithe population under » ban, and array Protestants agaiast Catho-

liez. I was pleased to hear such an obser-

vation coming, as it did from a geptleman

who had belonged toa Government from

which Catholics were excluded. Regret-

ting that I have occupied the time of the

Commitiee so jong, 1 shail not trouble it with further remarke at pi ®ent.

IIon, D. Davirs—The hon. member must have misunderstood my cbservations with reference to the absenes 0: Catholics from the former Gevernment of which I was a mem- ber. I wish to exp'ain that, at a meeting be- tweer the Catholic members and the section of the Conservatives with which 1 acted, I ex- pressed my regret that they had separated themselves frpm os. That separation woe caused by the introductien of the bill for the incorporation of Orange Lodges. That measure was sprung upon us by a member of the then Government, (the Hon, W. H. Pepe) and each a bill wil! not have my sup- port again, T said that [ had not opposed it.

aink that, in a young country like this Is- ianu, those institutions are unnecessary, and the feelings from which they arise, and which they tend to foster, should be allowed to die out. But, I am noi aware that the Govern- ment exciuded Catholics from the Couceil Board ; they separated themselves from us Referring to the paragraph before the Com- mittee. [ am Cecidedly of opinion that the

rizes awarded should be of greater amount,

hose bitherto given are altogel :er inade- qiate to indecs people to bring ~rticles.to Charlottetown from any oonsideveble dis- tance. I am aware that dissadtisfaction has been felt as to,the awards of the prizes in some cases, but it should be remembered that it‘is very often a difficult matter to decide upon the merits of suimals of nearly equal qualities and appearance, ard, on such matters, there wil) always be more or less difference of opinion. In debating this para- graph of the Address, a brief reference to the Stock Farm seeme not to be ovt of place. A’ready that farm has been productive of much good, and I hope the Governmoat will sanotion s lrdetal grant for it, The country requires the introduction of more animals of improved breeds,

Hon, Mr, Sivctarr—Mr. Obei: man, I was a meusber of the Government at the time re- ferred to by the bon. member from Cascum- pee (ov. Mr Howlan), and I assert that the Catholics, at that «ame separated thom- selves from the Gorernmeni on ihe Mdneation- al question Toey nid, plainly ond unequiveesliy, that they must bave o grant for their :netitutions, or they would leave the party, aad tley were then as plaimiy told that they should not have it. The hon. member took great credit to himseif for .he liberality and moderation of the resolutions he eubmitted to the caacus, and was psrticu- larly pleased with the second of them That resoiation is in these words :—

Resolved, That no school placed ander the contro! of the Board of Education, should be deprived, on account of religious instruction being given ia euch echoola, of a portion of the education fund, equivalent to the work euch schools performed ; and that it is ex- pedient te make such a che ge in the Free Education Act a8 wis: admit religious in- struction to be given in the schoole in this Is'and, in such districts as the parents or goard:ans desire euch instruction to be given, and at such bours.as are mot devoted to secu- lar instruction.”

Now, Mr. Chairman, I maintain that this vaunted resolution is of no ur2, and need not have been submitted at all. The Edacation Act already videe for the privilege of religious worship, We were told that the Catholics would never be eatisfied until they obtained a graot, end the bon. member re- ferred to the spirited action of the Methodist body, in organizing an admirable education- al inetituteon near Chariotietown. I fully concur in what he said in connection with that institution, but the Methodista have not asked for t of public money in aid of it, I believe, if the State pays for religious in- etrection,,it must be of some particular kind, and it would be an unfair application of the genera! funds of the Colony, to grant publie aid to one denomination to the exclusion of the othere. I said that the Education Act provides all thas is embodied in the second resviation of the hon. member. The 36th seotion etates that, “ The publio schoolhoure in every Gistrict established cz regulated, pnder this, or any former Aet, relatiny to education, with the consent of the majority of the trustees thereof, be used by the licen- sed teacher ‘hereof, forthe purpose of teach-

“pg nighs or evening classes therein, for bis, -t her own benefit and such schoolhouse may be used as a place of worship, or for any other lawfal public meeting, with the consent of the trustees as aforessid, and at sueh time gs they 7 appoiot,’’ and autiorises the Board of Education to prevent the regular school houre being interfered with by any special use of the building.

Hoo. Mr. Howian.—Then why did not the hon. member yote for my resolation? £ would like to know whether the teacher, under the section just read by the hon. mem. ber, would be authorized to teach religion in & schoolhouse for his, or her own benefit? If the teachers can use the building:, after schoq! hours, in teaching what they please, for their gwn benefi:, religious worship may have to yield to the liguter branches of edu. cation such as dancing, the French, or ang other language, and it may be, that a young lady eee ee ae the doctrines of free-thinking, and other freedoms, might tempt an old bacaclor to her school, (Laughter.

Mr. a raliaits te Yello ts tise to ex-

in my refence to the (iovern- ent, Altough connected for four years with the party at ¢ im opposition, F never bad reason to believe that their govern. ment wee more liberal than the present one. When she Hon. Mr. Haythorne tried to deal manfully ang fairly with the Catholics, the party was broken up, in ponsequence of the extreme oe held by some ae of it, It consequently became necossary that some tieman gbould be sent fur 7 Ris Honor f. icwtensat Goyornor, ta form a new ment, The Hon. Leader of the present. rorpment having boea called upon to es

sume that duty, invitel a confercnee with those wlio he thought would coalesce. in re- constructing th: Coungil. I ragret that the question of education should have been treated from @ party stand poiat. As to my- self, it bas been my aim to enieavor to educate the popular mind up to the subject,

But, it the Hon. Leader of the Government

bad been unsnecessful in bis endeavor to form

a Council, the Island would have been

agitated by all the rancorocs passions sure to

be elicited by a. struggie between the two divisions of the population, Protestant and

Catholic, The Catholics are content to

await the time when unanimity on thie ques- tion shall prevail botween both these bodies. L have signed the pledge alluded to by the bon. member from New London (ton, Mr. Sine‘air), and believe that, in eo doing, I have contributed to the peace and harmony of the people. Thut pledge is before the country ; it merely biads thuse who signed it, not to alter the Education Act uati!l such al- teration be required by the people, The subject isin the same state as it was previous- ‘ly, and we pledged ourseives not to change it during the duration of this House. But, as I stated in caucus, that pledge dic not re- strict those who were parties to it from expreseing their opinions on it, when it might be brought up in the Legwiature. In coa- clusion, { may say that, so long as Catholics do not approve the present system, it is un- just, and savore of tyranny, to take their monay, without their receiving an equivalent for it. The Wesleyans have been referred to in this discuseion. True it 18 that trey have erected a handsome edifice, as a echeasllionss, in the vieinity of Charlottetown, and I give them all credit for their public spirit, But why did they do so? Beeaug? they foand that our common sehools did not afford that degree of oducation which they desired for their children. The Catholics have similar feelings. Ihe Wesleyans, as » body, are wealthy, and I cannot but think it a hardship that the Catholics, who, a3 a clase, are, in a pecuniary point of view, im a very different position, sheald be compelied to contribute towards @ system of which they do not ap prove.

Mr. Muxno—Mr, Chairman it ie not my intention to detain the Committee many minutes, I shall, in as few words as possi- ble, express my approval of the policy on the school question enunciated by the present Government. That delsred policy is that no grants of public money be voted ‘ouny de- nominational, or sectarian schouls. There {a nothing im that declaration, “however, to delay or prevent our having schools of differ- ent grades it: the towns and villages of the Island. It © impoes:bie that the full benefi:s of the eystem can be realized, while tive time of our teachers ie to be devoted to teaching the primary radimente, even the alphebet, upwards through the various stages, to the higher branches of Algebra. There should be a Separate provision tor pupile who have to acquire the elemente of education. The quostiou has ovcupied the attertion of en- hghtened men in othe: cswntwies, and it must, of course, come up bere; and it is one whieh my constituents regard as of 80 great importance, that I couid not be expected to give a silent vote upon it On the sabject ot TIndustrial Exhibitons,the bon, member f-om Kast Point (Mr. MeLean) has expressed a wish that it migvt be held at Soarw, bot. Sir, Georgatuwn is far more central tor King’s

County, end bas the advaataze of os suitable ”

buijaing, and the hoo, member mgnt as well seek to nave it held at Murray Harbor, or any other Jocaity, For Priaca County, Sum- merside has the same advantage, i'¢ capacious ériii shed : furding ample accommodation to the exbibitore, and those of tne public whe mez Gevire to attend the Exhibition ; and it would be as reasonable to remeve tho eite of the Princa Uounty Exhibition trom Sommer: side to Cascumpec, or Tiguish, as to change the locality of the Prince County Exhibition from Georgetown to Souris. H.

Hon. Mr. McEacucy enid Georgetown waa forty miles distant from the Eest.. His bor. Colleague was perfectly justiied in saying that it was an unsuitable plage to hold a pub- lie exhibition of the industries of King’s Couaty, aa ite pecaliar locality renders it so d ficult for farmers to reach it from al]

of the County. He wou!d, probably, on « .

future occasion, have mote to say on that point, House resumed.

Progress was reported. Adjourned onti! to-morrow. G

Wuonezpar, Feb, 22nd, Debate on Draft Address resumed,

The fifth, sixth, soventh and eighth para- graphs were severally read and agreed to, The ninth, relating to the removal of prohihi- tory instructions issued against United States fishermen was read.

Hon. Mr, Perv said that it was vory well known that our allowing United States fishing vessels to come into owr ports for the purpose ot obtak::ing supplies, was the wears of bringe ing a considerable sum of money into the Cot- ony, and of ussisting our trade. We should therefore rather encourage these fishermen to — their supplies in this Colony, The

sland was much better off under Reciprocity, than at any time preceeding it. American fishermen came into our ports acd surchased supplies of milk, eggs, butter, potatoes, salt, vezetab'es and whatever else we had to dis pose of, ard thus greatly assisted our trade. We received a larger price for cur fish and agricultaral produce, then we ever had before. But the lote restrictions prevented those fish- ing vessels from entering our harbors, and thus injured our trade. He did not know that the British Government were to be blamed for it, for the United States had abrogated the Re ciprocity Treaty, and could expect nothing else than the treatment they had lately recsiv- ed. The old Treaty of 1818, went into effect when the Reciprocity Treaty was abolished, end the etrictly cacrying out of the provisigns of the former, prevented United States fisher. meu from entering our ports. He was yery glad, however, that the restrictions placed upon those fishing vessele had been removed, und that a commission had been appointed by the British Government, to proceed to Wash- ington, for the purpose of bringing about a settlement of those difficuities The removal of those restrictious might be the means of induci -g the United States Government to negotiate a new Treaty on fair terms in rotnrn. ir. Bemr, was very glad that the restrictions which had been placed upon United States fishing vessels during the month of August last, had been removed. He hoped that it would be the means of bringing about a ree newal of the Reciprocity Treaty, for the cout. $y had made greater progress while enjoyin the benefit of that Treaty, than it ever h hefore. The removal of the late rostrictions would permit American fishiag vessels to pure chase their outfits and gapplies in oar ports, and thus increase our trade. The American market was the pean national market for our productions, and, there‘ore, ifa new Treaty could be secured, it would benefit the Colouy to @ vast extent, Whether the removal of the

restrictions would assist in bringing about the seen,

desired result, would rewain to

Mr. McNart was glad those restrictions u - be gil ae fishing vessels hed been ished, Reeiprocity Treaty had ferred great benefits upon te Jy and is

ae na frittata ate = i cl gt is aera) i may — aman ae grane-- eee eee

was a gteat misfortune when it had ended.

Why our internat trade had been interfered

with by the Dominion Government, he was tf a logs to know. Cunada nad taken upon

herself what Great Britain did not assert au- thority todo. The parc'yasing of fishing out- fits and supniies by Amorican fishermen, form- ed « very important part of our trade, and should never have been interteved with. The Americans were also benefited by beinz allow- ed to land their fish in bond, to be re-shipped to the United States: it was very convenient for them and did- us no harm: Trade with the Americans should bs encourazed in every way, and, therefore, we shou! cultivate friend. ship with them. The hon. member for Tis nish hed stated that he (Hon. Mr. MeN,) would receive no more Cafhslic votes; but he could tell him thas he had tae fall confidence of his constituents. Hr, d1>wlan bad no more influence in hiz district than he had in Mr. Low!an’s ; unless the latter had some greater power behindhim He (Mr.MeN.) conid tell hew and why he received the support of his consiiteents, he had tived aorong thera and 59 had his father before him, and if the hon, mem- ber thought he got there under false pretences, he waz very much mistuken. Lie (Mr. MeN.) had told his constituents that he believed the non sectarian system of Education was most suitable to this Golony, and that the late Bishop McDonal€ bad spproved of it, The Roman Catholics, nearly to a man, had voted for him, and therefore he thought ét very much out of place for the hon, member $> throw out such insinuations,

Hon. Mr. How1an said. that the hon. member for Rustico had misinderstood him. He (Hon. Mr. H.) had merely snid that the hon. member owed hie seat in that House to Catholics. 1t was well known thet the bon. member had raceived the French Acadian Support; and it was, therefore, perfectly clear that he owed his electioa to the Catholic electors of that District,

Hon B. D vise —There was, at the last election, @ clear understanding in reference to the Schoo! Question, for the opinions and policy of the late Government were clearly made known. The people were weil aware that that Government wers opposed to a grant to St. Dunstan’s College. The hon. mémber for Fort Augustus (Ho1. Mr. Kelly) while in the late Government before the late elections, said that the Catholi¢ members were quite willing toallow the schools to re= main as they were; and large numbers of res- pectable Reman Catholics had declared that they would rather pay for the support of St, Dunstan's College out of their‘own pockete, than to interfere with the present system. The Bieetions throughout Qaeen'yCounty had been carried with the understanding that 10 grante would be given for sectarian parpoves, When the caucus after the elections was called by the late Government, there was found to ‘be an andar-current setting in. The policy of certain members who were fu favor of sectarian grants was not @ straightforward one; tor it wag understood before jroing to the Polis that the schocls were. to remain as

they were, At the canous those membersds- ,

elared in tavor of a grant. and, of course, were refased. He (Hon. B. Davee) fully acknowledzed a!! the support he had receivcd from his Roman Catholic constituent:, and was determined to take care of their iuteresta 2a faras Jay in his power, Heobad vot re- ceived the undivided support of the Oatkolics in. his District, and that ehowed that they were notall of the sane opinion in refe-ence to dur schoo! system. He had heen rejected by the people of Souris sowe yeurs azo, be- cause he would not support a grant to Sr. Dunstan's College and the Catholie Schools, He hed mixed freely with the people up there, and found that they would not eapport any gentleman who opposed sectarian grants, He was, therefore, bonnd to heliewe the statement of the hon. member tor East Point (Mr. McLean) that he felt bound to support a grant to Si. Dunstan # Oollege and other Catholic Kducational institutions, He (tion. B. D,) could not, therefore, eee why Catholic members on the Government side of the House. bad tried to injure the member tor East Point in the way they had. At the

caucus held by the Liberal Party, the hon. | Tesi (Hon, Mr. Howian} *

nember for wanted. to be Premier, st least, such wae hie (Hon. Mr. D's). opinion; and because he evald ngét eecure Mr. Haythorne’s piace, he declared that he would vo over to the Con- servative side of ihe Honse and take. the Catholic members with him. H> (Hon, B, D:) had never refivcted upon the Couserva- tives for agreeing to take in'the mercenaries who had ‘cffered them their services; for the latter never asked a single favor in return, The Hon. Leader of the Government had «

orfect right to receive them on those eone

itions, If the Catholic members of the Gov- ernment had chosen to abandon their prine ciples and join the Conservatives, they might go, and he (Hon. 5, D ) would say, “ God go with them.”’ The hon. member for Tignish (Hon. Mr. Howlan) went out of the eaceua carrying the religious flag, and called apon ail at the meeting, who were men:bere of the Roman Catholic Chuich, to follow him, and he would lead them to glory. The hon member was @ champion of Church rights, and was going to ebtain for the Bishop what he ssked for. But the hon. mewber had, all the time, been subservient to his own arabition, and distorted the inter=sts of his Church to suit himself. What did be care for the Bishop? Instead of acting as he had done, the hon, member shou'd have first tested the quesuon of sectarian grants in the House of Assembly, and not have done it in the underhard way be dd. He (Hon. B. D.) wae surprised to see the hon, member place himself in the position he was now in; and all his shining (scat could vot mystify that position. Althougt the hor. member

retended to be doing so much for Catholics, be (Hon. B. D.) stood as high to-day im the estimation of the Oatholis of Belfast as he (Bon. Mr. H.) did. He (Hon B. D ) andere ateod that it had been decided ” the majority that the hon. member for Rustico (Mr. McNeill) wes to be sent back to bis constita- ents to run another election, and that the Frenchmen in that District were to be forced to vote against him. Let them try it. There was more pluck in the French of Rustico than the bon, meinber for Tignish imagined. The hon. member for Rustico would, without doubt, be sent back to the House by bis con- stituents., It would be, perhaps, juat as well to have another general glection, and a tair field, There was something dark about the late elections, that ought to be cleared up, In Queen's County whera there was so much intelligence, could notthe High Sheviff have found five or eix persons to carry out the proe vision: of the law to the letter? Certainly, Bat in several districta the Returning Officere had grossly neglected their duties; and he

(don. B. D.) did not believe 1¢ had ali hap pened b . it was an extraordin affair, The scheme to be to put

in the power of the Leader of the Govern- ment to prevent six members for Queen's

Covuty from taking their seats in that House, *

But a crisis took place fooner than was ex pected, for the Catholic members went over te the other vide.

Hon. Leapsr or raw Goversupst, thought thst the statements wh:ch had been mace by the bon. member for Belfast (Hon. B, Davis } would reflect more upon the hon, member bimse!f than upou any member of the Committee. The inconsiste:cy of the hon. member waa so great, 5 what was consistcut with fact, very little atten

that when he did state.

tion would be paid to it by any member of that House, The hon. member stated that be supposed the Government had made ep their minds to cust the hoa. member for Rumine (Mz. McNeill) from his saat. The statement was simply untrue ; the Government never. had any intention of depriving that hon, member et any ether member of the House of hie geat The hon. member for Bolfast also stated that there was a dark cloud banging over the late elections, By whom was the Hizb Sheriff ap- pointed? By the late Government, be ware geatl:man who stood bigh for mtegrity. Yes the e%-Colonial Secretixy hai got up, and in- sinuated that a dark cloud beag over the elect- ions, and that plenty of men might have bees found ix Queen’s County, who would have dise charged their duty properly. The Sheriff had. said that he appointed the best mca he conld find ; and yet an insinnation had been thrown) out by the hon, member for Belfost against thatoificer. If the hon member believed thes was treachery used in the election, why did. he uot rise in his place at the moment the Seonkts iook the chair, and move that the igh Sheriff's eonduct be investigated? If found guilty that officer could have been im- prisoned for alifeetime. Such insinuations. were simply Giscreditabie and disgraceful to say hon. member. He (Hon. Loader of the Government,) gave the hon. member credit for stating anything he thought would maka a breach in the Government; but he had no. <? drag the Kducation Question into the . debate, for it was not mentioned in the para- graph atall. The bon. member for ‘Tignish Hon, Mr. Howlan) had given an explare‘ion of the formation of the Government, which Ought to have been considered satisfactory. It wag,therefore,unfair to be continually bring- ing the Question into every matter that came before the House: the bo». member should confixe himself to the matter before the Com- mittee. He (Hon. Leader of the Government) had uot said much about the matter, for the hon, member for Tignish had more interest in it than he had, In jusiice, however, to the , Catholic members, he would atute that they. did not volunteer their services to the Govern- ment. When the late Government broke up, | the Administrator sent for him to take tle responsibility of forming a wew Government. — Attempts were made by the Protestant wit of the Liberal Party to foum a Coalition wi the Conservatives, im order to form a #tropg ., Protestant Government, and to desy Bo ; Catholice all their rights and privileges in « its formation, He (Hon. Teades of the Gov- . ernment) was to be shut out with the Cacho “ lies. and to have no-part in the Governmetit ;/° and the present Hon, Attorney General was! looked upon as the. new, Jieader, He waeve always of opinion that there should be,.voh» difference, in politics, betweea Car olica m4: Protestants, for they had eq dal polit cat rights - 4 and privileges; and, therefore, he distinctly told bis frenis, that he would not diterpt'to ” form a Government, unless the Roman Cathds! lies had a fair representation jn i} Thereyg was a strong attempt made to forma coalition , between the Liberal Protestants and Conservae tivés, bat it did @ot succeed. Why did the hon. member bold hiegeat for some dors after — the majority of the members of his Govern ” ment had regigned? » Was it aut with che expéciation of getting the Protestant Courervas \/ tives to join him im Une formatiqn. of a Ooali- tion Governme:.t? As the Catholic. members. . bad rot tett town, he (Hon. Leader of the ; Governmert) sou: ht an interview with them,. and told them that h» had been desired to form a Govercnent ;. tha: they Dever ever the Cons: rvstives avy support whatever} thatthe people who hes returned ihe, latter party. were cpposed io BOY Change i the sehool sysiem of the Colony; that the Conservatives were bound to preserve the n>» Sectarien 6 stem ot Biucation in its mteytity; but that, i they ; (tire Cathobe memberé) woald drop the Ques” tion, and join the Corsereative Party iw ‘the?