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Aion wstgyonen ep a a a na Sea

oh i at

:

@ litle care and attention a measure could be prepared which would obviate that necessity, aed the only expense will be

he suns already paid to the teachers at

a siight addition t the services of professors,

the A cademy, te s

ilon. Me. WIGHTMAN.—There may be defects in the present system, but I recollect that, when the Act fitst went into operation, it Was bighly approved « but there is no deulnt that experience of lis W king has sewn where im- provements may be advantageously introduced. When, four or five years age, 1 was Chairmen of the Committee on Eda- eavon, | must acknowledge that [ was ably assisted by the Hon. Mr. Palmer, thea a member of this House, and the hon. member, Me. Maviland. These gentiemen sugcesied several very Valuable alterations, which were introduced into the pre- viens system. The people, Sir, aopreve of what bas been dene tor the promation ef education, and | feel satisfied that they will continue te approve of our efforts tn that be half. li we had a properly organited University, our young men would have an opperanity of distinguishing themselves wherever they might go, as we'l as the natives of other countries. For myself, Sir. L can safely say, that L have always been in favor vf improving the edatational institutions of the country.

Hon. Mr. COLES.—As to what has fallen from the hon. member, Mr. Longworth, as to the powers of the Lieutenant Gevernor, | am net teflecting in the slightest degree upen His Excellency, when | tell that hon. member, that the people of the Island hold the Executive Council respon- sible for all public acts. The dvetrine laid duwn by the hen. member might hate been submited to under the old system, to which that geotieman has always been attach- ed; bet now, undet the sysem ef Responsible Govero- ment, a Governor is simust nubody. The Executive Council, not the Governor, is tesponsible to the peuple; and when a Speech contains reference to loeal matters of minor import- ance. it should bring tv the notice of the Legislature a tnatier of euch magnitude, asa change in the constitution of the Le- gislative Council, The Execa'ive Council might not think it conducive to the public service that the despaiches should be given to the people generally, but the leader of the Gov- ernment could give an audience of his Charlottetown constitu- ents the information which that Government refused to the Representatives of the peeple. The despatch alluded to asa precedent for the omission { refer to, was expressly designa- ted as an extract.

Ilea. COL GRAY.—1 trust, Mr. Chairman, that hon members will not waste the time of the House this Session, as they have done on previeus vcCasions, by useless repeti- riions,—hy serving Up the same viands, hot, cold, hashed and wehashed. { have no desire to occupy the time of the House, sennecessarily commenting on all that has been said in this discussion; bot | mast deny the doctrine asserted by the last epester, that this House louked to the Executive Council for despsiehes, and that a Governor was a nonentity—a nobody —ss the hon member expressed himself. The use to be nade of despatches received from the Colonial Minister is mattet of pteragative, and the Lieut. Governor is supreme ever both the Ilouse and the Executive Council.

Hon. Mr. COLES —1 admit that the prerogative is in the Crown, as the hon. member a! eges, but the purport of my observations was, that where a member of the Government can give information oo such a subject as the reconstruction of the Council, it should, at least, be furnished to the House and people generally.

Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH.--The gentleman referred to gave no particalar information; he merely made a general ob- servation, and gave vo intimation of any details. Although the hoa. member says that there is no similiarity between the ease on which he grounds his objection, and that which oc- curred under his Government, | would ask, on what grounds ean he urge that “ir Dominick Lally had the right to withhvid a despatch, or part of one, and deny the same privilege to the preseat head of the Government! If the right to withhold a portion is conceded, ihe concession must necessarily invulve the right to retain the whole. 1 wish, however, net to be un- derstood as saying that it may pot be advisable to farnish the despatches; | merely argue on the constitutional principle.

lion Mr. THORNTON —The Committee, I doubt not, will adopt the paragraph before us, for all are agreed as to the necessity which exists fur promoting Education; and Iam happy to acknowledge that the hon. member, Mr. Haviland, has always accorded his support to that object; and the only opponents to the introduction of t)o system, were the leader of the present (iovernment and owo cr three landagents. Lhope the Government will have te ceurage to give practical effect to theic intended policy on this subject, by increasing the tax on wilderness lands. It is now high time that additional taxation should be imposed on lands remaining uncultivated. I would suggest that, whatever scheme of improvement may be adopted, a re-examination of the qualifications of Teachersshould be provided for. It is matter of general notoriety, that many Sehool Masters are quite inefficient, and it would be proper to exclude all who may be luund inadequate tou the proper discharge of their duties.

Mr. DOUSE.—I suppose, Mr. Chairman that, in the re- ference to the opp sition of land agents to the Education Biil, Lam ineluded. I only wonder that Escheat has net been brought up. I did not object to the principle of that measure, bat | was under the impression that adequate com sensution was not provided for men of ability as Teach- ers. I was, and still am, under the belief that the Teacher of youth should oceapy a social position next only to that of the Clergymen. It is wrong thata man who has spent the best days of his life in studying to qualify himself fur his profession should be suffered to drag on an existence of labor in the instruction of youth, on the poor pittance provided by the Act. The fact of my being an agent did not influence my opposition; and I can assure the Committee,that on the lands with which lam connected, the tenants have received as liberal terms as any on the Isiand.

Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH.—This is not the time, Mr. Chairman, to enter upon the discussion of the land ques- tion, which will be, I doubt not, fally debated, when the paragraph relating to it shall be before the Committee. | must say that [ did not expect to hear the allusion which has been made tuo the leader of the Government, now no longer 2 member of this Ilouse, where he could defend him- self. The hon. member (Me. lhoruton) should remember that he is himself a land agent; but no one would insinuate that hia conduct as a Legislator would be influenced by that position. His suggestion that an additional tax should be imposed on wilderness lands,[ repudiate. ‘The principle of class legislation has long been abandoned and denounced in the mother, country and there is quite enough of dis- crimination between the burdens imposed upon cultivated aad wilderness lands already on our Statute Book.

After some desultory ecouversation, the paragraph was agreed to. ian paragraph relating to the land question having been

Ilon. Mr. WILELAN said—tIn diseussing the merits of the puragraph in the Speech tu which this is intended as an answer, | cannot but express my surprise at the absence of any mention of the causes of the delay referred two. I would ask the Government what ia the nature of the cor- respomlence on the subject, and if they intend to furnish it tu this [Louse ? The people were treated to any amount of magnificent promises—they have been Jed to expect the great st benefit from the Address of last Session, and now the “pceeh tnfurms us that it bus been gracious'y received! Whe doubts that statement! Any docament emanating from a Coloaial Legislature, couched in proper language, would be * graciously received.’’ The Government are trifling with the patience of the Ilouse, even with that of their own supporters, and of the people of the Colony. They had been led to believe that the land question would be speedily arranged. The House was wld by a member of the Government, that it wou!d be settled in eight weeks, and the Lieutenant Governor himself bad intimated that a short time would terminate it. But now we are told that there has becn some delay. The Address recommended the remission of arrears of rents, and the adoption! an equit- able system of purchase. The result is that the public must rest satisfied with the expression of the Lieutenant (covernor’s hopes of satisfactory results. IT have now been in the House some fourteen years, and [ must say that so extraordinary a speech I never remember to have read. It really conveys no information tothe Legislatare; and, as to the language used, as 1 hold Ilis Exceliency’s advisers res- ponsible for the document, | must congratulate him on being surrounded by advisers, whose literary qualifications will excite the envy of no one sequainted with English grammar | shall, however, reserve further remarks to a later period in the debate, and shall probably move an wmendment.

ion. Col. GRAY —I am r just heard. I did not expect member; but, Sir. I can tell bi

t surprised at what T have such courtesy from the hon. m that his allusion to inyself

us the member of the Government who had said that the Address would settle the question in eight weeks. is false, und the falsehood [ bave seen repeated twice in the Exam-

iner, the newspaper published by the hon. member. This «tatement is at cace uncourteous, unreasonable and uncal

jed for. Now, Sir. I turn to the debates of Inet Session, und I find myself reported to have said, that the oppo. ition tu whieh | diad referred was to be expected, ** when the parties from whom it emanated had been endeavouring for eigit years th settle the question, which the resolutions vwoold probably do in eight months * Now, Sir, not only did [mention months instead of weeks,‘os 1 atu represented tu have done, but you will observe that [ used the word * probably'’—thus showing that I did not intimate any partieular time; and any man who would do so om such a subject, would stultify himself. I, for one, am happy to state that my most sanguine expectations have been realized. Nine months have not elapsed sinee the Address waa trans- mitted, and now we are told that it bas been gracivusly received, and that certain causeg of delay have prevented tha sppointment of the Commissiva. These causes it is easy to

TL

a7 Gabe ce z

ee

find. At the period when the Address was received in England, a change of Ministry had just oecurred, und the Duke of Newcastle assumed*the seals of the Colonial O five in succession to Sir E. B. Lytton. Then the complications arising from the Italian war necessitated the post pone- ment of action in the matter until the prorogation of the Imperial Parliament. Another cause of the delay is to be found in the difficulty of communicating with the prinvipal Proprietors, many of whom might be on the Continent, and those consent woald be essential to the efficiency of the Commission, and who would raturally take some time to consider whether they would bind themselves to abide by the térms of the Addtess. The Proprietors acted with wise caution in adopting as their rule of action the motto of Erasmus—** Festina lente,’’ (hasten slowly ) The hon. member has expressed some anxiety for the production of the correspondence, bat, when the Speech informs us that the arrangement of the preliminaries has only been recently effected, L think he will feel that he is somewhat premature. Did be ever hear of official dovuments being submitted tthile merely the preliminaries of thd subject ty which the*¥ re- ferred had been arranged! Pethaps he coltsidera that the Government should have them published in the Examiner. When the proper time arrives they will be produced, and not sooner. As to the magnificent promises which the bon. member states I made, | can only say that this assertion js on a par with the one which 1 have already refuted. 1, Sir, mede no promises; I but told the people that I would do all I could to benefit them. | have done so, and shall continue to do so, for such a course of action is matter of duty. I will, however, enlighten the hon. member on uan- other point. is disappointment at the non-production of the eorrespendence may possibly be mitigated by the ex- pression of my belief, which I now give as a member of the Executive, that ere the present Session shall have termi- nated, the Comtnission will have been appointed, and will, soon after, be in operation, atid lL trust that it will not be Jong ere the country wiil receive the Leneft of that upetation In connection with this subject, Mr. Chairman, | think it not out of place that I should refer to a matter which has gone forth to the public, on the subject of the action of the Executive and this House on this question. Inthe Exanin- er of the 7th instant, I find an account of a meeting of the constituents of the hon. members, Messrs. Coles and Kelly, held at Battery Point, at which meeting the fulluwing re- sulution is alleged to have been agreed tu:—

« Resolved, That the unsettled state of the Land Question requires the united action of the whole country; and the enforcement of the back rents, pending the address of the House of Assembly on that question, is an arbitrary and tyrannical exaction, and reqtitres the interterence of the Executive, as the proposal to remit those rents met the approval of the whele Government, as weil as an enquiry into the Proprietors’ titles to the Township Lands; but this meeting have cause to believe that the action of the present Government was only a piece of deception to mislead the tenantry.”

Now, Sir, I cannot for a moment belfeve that both of those honorable members were not fully aware that the Executive had no shadow of authority to interfere between the Land- lord and his Tenant—between the creditor and his debtor. Well did they know that the Government of Prince Edward Island could not assume powers of a nature which the Sul- tan of Turkey.although invested with authority over the lives and deaths of his subjects, found it necessary to abrogate by a Hatti Scheriff Thank God no such power is acknow- ledged in any part of the dominions of Britain. I can but wonder that the people can be misled by these who assert the principle involved in the resolution, more particularly when I remember that both of the hon. members voted for

. the Address—in fact, every member present at the division, save Mr. Cooper, supported it.

lion. Mr COLES.~—Mr Chairman, the resolution which has been referred to by the hon member, is the expression of the opinion of my own and Mr. Kelly’s constituents; and if any of the members of the Government had attended at the meeting, they would have found it rather dificult to browbeat the men who were present, It is true that], in com- mon with vikers whoare opposed to the present Government, voted for the Address, but not until we had Just several amendments, and then we withdrew opposition, in order to test the sincerity of the Guvernment, and prevent them from saying that the project failed, because the minority opposed it. Asa proof that the measure was a were deception—ihat the epithet ** delusive,’’ used in the preamble to the resolu- tions on which the Addtess was based, is more applicable to the present, than to the late Government, we bave seen the proprietors employing bailiffs to distrain for the back rents before the boasted Commission shall come into operation, so that there may be no artears to be remitted. ‘Tenants have alse been dragged into- the Supreme Court, and the Sherif has been sent, with executions, to take all the property of the poor man, who has been unable to pay his rent; and by the proceedings adopted, an addition of ten or fifteen pounds has been made to the burden, already too heavy to bear. When such facets are-matiers of general notoriety, the people are jastified in calling upon the Executive to interfere, and re- quest them to ose their influence to induce the proprietors to postpone the collection of the arrears until the Commissioners shall have made their report. Such action will, at least, show that the Government are sincere. The only reason, | can imagine, for the introduction mto this discussion of the resulutions agreed to at the meeting at Battery Point is, that the Government intends to commit my han cvulleague aud tnyself, for being preseut ata meeting where resolutions were passed, reflecting upon the House If my correct, | fiope they will have the candor to avow their inten- tion to wuzzle the people. As to the time necessary to ob- tain the consent of the proprietors, which has beeu assigned as one of the reasons for the delay, IL think it will be some coasiderable time befure that eonsent willbe obtained. Siuce I first came into the Llouse, I ave ever advocated the equi- able settlement of the land question; but 1, and the party with which Iam associated, have invariably received the opposition of the proprietors. When the Imperial Government recom- mended the extension of the benefi's of the Land Purchase Bill by means of the Loan, ] was in hopee that the long agi- tation of this question would be settled. Had that Loan been obtained, the jands could have been purchased at a low rate, aud the proprietors would have received their money. But the tenants, having been led to believe that the arrears would be remitied, have naiurally enough not made provision tor paymentof them. The paragraph is not such as should emanste from a party professing to be so eminently the friends of the tenantry. | shall now, Sir, move the following amend nent to the paragraph before the Committee: —

** We are gratified to learn that the Address passed by this Hlonse list Session, recommending the appoiniment of a Commission to investigate the whole question of the Land Tenures, has been graciously received by Hler Majesty; but the delay which has occurred in appointing this Commission, since the Address was laid” befure Ller Majosty, has caused much disappointment to the inhabitants of the Colony; and should the benefits expected from the contemplated Commis- sion not prove sattsfactory, the House of Assembly deem it their duty to observe, that the only other way in which the question of the Land ‘Tenures can be satisfactorily and equit- ably settled would be by iustituting an enquiry, through the agency of a Court of Escheat, in o the conditions of the origi- nal grants. lo the meantime, the House respectfully request that your Excellency will use your influence with the claim- ants of Township Lands, with the view of postponing the eu- forcement of the payment of the back rents, in accordance with the suggestion made by the Ilouse of Assembly in the address of last session, now under the consideration of Ler Majesty's Colonial Minister.’’

suppesition be

Hon. Mr. YEO.—Me. Chairman, as the hon. member has alluded to the fact of proceedings having been taken against some tenants, | presume he refers to the case of a party on Lot 61, a property for which | am agent, That tenaut never paid any rent, and, being lessee of two farms, he sold one of them to his sun, without making any arrangements for the payment of his rent. lask, Sir, how is it to be expected that proprietors can pay the taxes imposed upon their lands, if they receive no rent from their tenants? Do the members of the opposition think, that if a man becomes an Executive Councillor, be must, therefore, give up al! claim to his debts; or, if an’ agent, the property of others? As to my own con- duct, either as proprietor or agent, ! leave uw ta any one to pot out, if he can, a single instance in which I have op- pressed a tevant; on the contrary, 1 have been too lenient.

Hoa. Meo HAVILAND.—When he characterised the Speech with which the Lieut. Governor opened the Session, as the most extraordinasy one he ever knew, the hon. meaber Mr. Whelan must have forgotten, that a few years azo he stated that the chief merit of a speech consisted in its having nothing in it. In 1858, when the hon. member's party was in power, the Lieutenant Governor's Speech contained but one suggestion, the object of which was the prevention of smuguling. ] must suppose, as the hon. member, Mr. Wighterean, then held the position of Chancellor of the Exehequer, that from his zeal for the in- crease of the revenue, the suggestion emanated, and it reflects great credit upon him. But the Speech of this Session contains references to no less than eight measures, I cannot, sir, admit the force of the observations of the hoc. member Mr Whelan, as to the indefinite character of the Speech. Llis Excelicney states that the addresses was graciously received, and that the necessary preliminariés tad been arranged. As to the delay which is mentioned in the Speech, the hon. member Col. Gray gave most cogent reasons toaccount for it. Why, sir, when we reflect that, in consequence of the position in which Great Britain was placed by the Italian War, the consideration of the Reform Bill,amatter on which the public mind had been most strong- ly excited, was deferred, we surely have no reason to com- plain of neglect when we are placed, in this respect, on the same footing as our fellow subjects in the Mother country. llowever, Mr. Chairman, I am happy to give the hon. mem- ber the benefit of my belief that the Commission will svuon be organised, and the long vexed question speedily settled. When the members of the opposition affect surprise at the delay which bas occurred, do they remember how long they

| refer to them.

knocked at the door 6f fhe Colonial Office with the cele | Se epeodily orgeniced ond in eperetian«

brated Loan Bilt Asa membet of the Government | am

prepared to justify every paragrafih in the Speech, the only

objection to #hich is ‘the quibbling assertion that it pro-

mises nothing aboat the productidn of the despatches I

| will nat state, tlthoegh under no obligation to do so, that,

ee this precious amendment was convocted, the despatches alluded to had been copied and are nuw in this House in the desk of a member of thé Governniéht,; ready to be laid befotd the House, when the proper time shall arrive. The hon. rember Mr. Coles stated that the Govethment wished to niugzle the people, to stop the free expression of public opinion. Sir, we sitin the Executive Council, solely io deference to public opinion, which must rule; and in ac- corditnce with which any Government must be carried on. T, for one.am not terrified by the resolutions passed at ae Point, In that locality the hon. member, Mr. Coles, is coc

of the walk, and can get any resolution passed, which he may please. But when the Government shall have brought to their notice, resolutions condemmutory of their conduct emanating from districts containing the wealth and intel- ligence of the Island, they will be prepared to bow to the Opinions they expressed, with becoming deference; but the tone of these resulutions reminds mie of the celebrated ad- dressés of the three Lailors of Tooley Street, who modestly styled themselves ** the ore of Great Britain.’? The hon. member, Mr. Cules, ha’ stated that he expects no good from the Commission. Why then, sir, did he vote for it? Political honesty toald dictate the propriety of a member opposing any measute of which he did not conscientiously approve. The fecommendation in the amendment that the Executive should interpose to’cause the postponement of the payment of the arrears of rent, the hon. member knows

for the purpose of gulling the people, policy on which the Commission 1s based.

subject with bis celebrated measures, the Loan Bill and Escheat The Commisson affords the best means of settling the question

tors,

private individuals.

member of my ptoféssion, to a very large amount. nized his title by repented acts affecting it.

regret that the mode in which the lands were granted, was bad

Are we, afier having recognised the rights of the proprietors

} eannet be compliéd with. It would be an act of tyranny | tien of all the circumatances affecting the case. Weere not to

worthy of the worst days of the Stuarts. No Government infer thet incompetent of in'erested persons would be eppormted

| has the power to interfere with private rights unless it be | 0 the Commmiss:on, or that they would not take evedenee fainly

| given by Law; and a mewher of the Executive Council, by ard impartially. Their report could be sanciioned by he -¥

| gecepting the office, does nut abnegate his private rights. perial Parliament, and the proprietors would be bound oy the -

' Moreover, Sir, the case cited by the hon. member did not : r

| arise since the present Govermment’s accession to power. given—the time necessarily spent in getting which was ihe |

| The suit was brought some two years siice, and the execu ; 5

, tiva was issued and placed in the hands of the Sheriff not membcr, Mr. Cole>, cn the lane quest.or, to my mind presents |

| with any expectation that it would realize the back rent, |@ very uufuvoursble contrast to that of the hon, member, Mr.

| but beeause the party denied the claim of his Landlord; the Cooper, who, however widely I may d fler from him on this |

| defendarit was a person who came under the class which | and other questions, is entitled to credit fur consis'ency on the

| the French designate as mauvois sujets. The hon member | subject of Escheat. It isa strange proceeding, Mr. Chairman, appears to know the minds of the Proprietors better than , that any hon, member, particularly one “bo has had the long

| they themselves, for he says that they will not consent to parliamentary experience of the Lon. member, should huve in

| the remission of arrears. Surely, if they are willing to troduced an amendment, threatening the parties whom it 19 ou

| submit their titles td investigation, @ /yrtiori, their right to | desire and interest to concihate, that we will establish a Cour!

| the back rents is involved. Iam sorry fur the reputation | of Eschear, at the same time that we request His Excellency to

| for consistency which some future historian of the Isiand, uterfere to solicit their clemency. Why should we, if the

| some yet unborn Macaulay, will award to thehon. member. | "FOprietors have no right to their property, ask His Excellency

He now advocates Escheat-he the most strenuous oppo- nent of the venerable apostle of Escheat—he who designa- ted it as a will of the wisp,a delusion, an ignis futuas, who has, time after time, asserted that it would never be grant- ed, now openly proclaims his belief in its necessity. As to the hon. member Mr. Wightman, | must give him credit for consistency on this question, if | cannot award the same praise to other parts of his political career. But why, 1 | | ask, ifthe country was bleeding from so serious wounda, | did not the leader of the opposition. when he raled supreme, apply the balw which is to be so eficacivous now. Ah no! then they chauypioned the rightsof property, but the loss of vfice bas induceda change in the spirit of their dream. The House then adjourned till the afternoon.

perties to which they have right.

| hon. member, Mr. Ccles, also stated that

the payment of the back rents, till the question should be settled

MonpaY artennoon, 20.4 Feb. | ininted the memorial, backed with the recommendation of IIis

| Hon. Mr. COLES={Mr. Chairman, the bon. member, Mr. Excellency. ft has been said that the so celled old Family Hoviland, charged me this morning with saying that tue Ex- | Compact was in favor of Escheat. I am not aware that such ecutive should interfere with the due administration of the | was the fact, but if it were, it shows that their foresight exceed- jlaw, I made wo such assertion, nor had | anysuch idea. The | ed tvat of their predecessors, for there was a period when 13 or jamendment merely asks His Exceilency to use ais inflnence | i4 townships might have been escheated, and by this time with the proprietors ty duce them to defer the collection of | seitted by freehulders.

land question, and al] its contingent particulars in the terms | -siccerity of belief im his opinion I by no means impugn. mentioned in the Addres#, Probably we never bad aGoverner| would be satisfied with noting short of a general Escheat on

ody than the present; but His Excellency migintt feel delicate | wrants. to using his influence in this matter unless supported by the | request of the House, Last year, it is true, that the House did | make such request, bot H was supposed that the Executive | Oovneil would streagthen Tis Exceilency’s application by 8 | | Minute recommetd ng bin io make the application, As to the ‘inputed change in my opinion on the subj -ct of Eschest, | have} aways been of opmion that it was the only means of settling | tore. ithe question, ‘Prue, fb differed with the hon. member, Mr.) Mr..COOPER—The hon. member who just sat down stated Cooper, who advocated a general Escheat, on the grounds be | that Escheat might have been obtained im a partial degree. hased his action oo (Colony toa Court of Bacheat.

vbtuned. Tue Court, if established, mu-t decide on

We bave had a Court of | testing the titles by the original grants, and

ja Bil was passed establisivag the Curt; and so clearly was | lands in greater or less proportions, T pressed lim to act upon j the right acknowledged, thet it was passed without a suspend-

‘land. Governor Smith acted on it, and Lots 15 and 55 were The document was net authenticated by any cfficial seal, but ‘escheated under it. ‘There is a pote on our revised Statu e | the Gevernor affixed his own private seal to it. Book, that the Bill never received tre Roya! sanction; Unt | Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH—Does the hon. member mean to

was ro! requisitete the vel duy of an Act-which had no sus- | Say that there was no indulgence granted by the Prince Regent

|

Wx. M. Hows, Reporter.

A Fat Courte —Tne Eusston (Pa.) Express says : —Mr. and Mrs. Anniv, residing near the High Bridge of tie N, J. Central Railrord, are supposed to be the largest couple ic this country. The gentleman’s weight is 700 pounds, and the lady’s weight 500. Mr. Annin’s age is about 45 and Mrs. Anniu’s about 40. It requires six yards of cassimere for Mr. Annin’s pants, and nine yars of cloth for a cout, He and his wife xeep a public house at a place called Peg’s Pebble. It is said that Barnum, of the New York Museum,

perial Governwent being.eo deerdedly opposed to Escheat.’ || had no euch power? Does he assert that it was a forgery? he subject, bur | open'y siated, winle the lace Goverment was| Mr. + OOPER—The Government cannot shew that it is a) by adopting the views expressed by the leader of the present could obtain a new grant if he paid for land on two townships. i believing that 18 jection will finally setile the agitstion of | new one they had no power to alter the old one. |subsequent applications, t» be repest d uu! at length the : the lands has changed hands so frequently, to question the | ‘port to the resulution, and say that noth:ng but the Court in : said that the Commission would be of no use whatever—that | being a competent tribunal, should be thoroughly argued and and in his amendment, he recommends a Court of Eseheat, to | ‘Lords, as the highest Cowrt of appeal, and there receive .:-. buy up, and to pay for which he was ready to mortgage the | Now, Sir, what can be a more efficient and constitutional mode | Satisfactory alike to proprietors and tenants, he, most incon- : > 2 | tions frown the leader of the Government. The Executive can supported Escheat, the hon. member, Mr Coles, opposed it ; 10 submit to the decision of a Court of appea', but not to that to be granted. I, Sir. have got a little property—I worked in office the measure would receive the opposition of that party, self-—-we get on comfortably togetser—and really, Sir, I prietors tu sell their lands at a rate fixed by law. ‘To that) member can introduce an amendment advocating Escheat would have been largely benefited by the Land Purchase and Mr. Whelan, with others of their party, denounced Escheat such sanction when he estabiished a Court of Escheat? He believe him sincere now? Cn any one think for a moment Crown not to proceed in tle cases of oher properties. The advise that hon. member to withdraw that amendment, in view Government, wer: transferred to the Government of the Island; opinion. Let him shew that the Home Governmeut are more be in preventing any assertion of our control over any other know why the industrious sober man, who has always paid sistency on the land question, He had better look at home, out a premium to idleness or dishonesty ; and if any should Mr. Laird, had no objecion to a Court of Escheat. The argu-| order to settle the question. No good ever came of its agitation. the last Governu-ent had to submit to delay in the matter of the Mr. Chairman, actually curse the day they ever saw the face | came up, the then ininority insisted upen an amendment, to the departure would be the best thing that could happen to the | truly as the one at present before the Committee, which No good will result trom it, unless the lands shall be sold at a | Mr. Haviland, for the frankness of hie statement, that the des- | '0 press at present. . course he has pursued. In 1857 and 1858 that hon. member to buy up lands which he now says ought to be escheated. all | could in favor of Escheat. That hon. member had said would go further for a Court of Escheat than that hon. es offered the couple $1,500 a year and their expenses if they Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH—After the satisfactory reasons

pending cause. ‘The Lind Pu:chase Bil! was introduced as «| in 1824? or, if he admits that there was, that the Prince had did not wait uotil | was ont of office G+ declare my opinion on | or deny that parties settled Jands under it? in power, thatif the Loan Bill were lost, | would suppart | le al document, or that the Government of that day had’ ‘Government, whe, in the debate on E-cheat, in the S-ssiono | He r- ceived a reply to the eff-ct_that the Crown cou d not the subj et of Escheat Voring it down this evening will be so| Hon. Mr. LONGWORTH.—The Crown had a right to dis- | Ilouse concedes it. Mr. Chairman, if | voted with a view toa , validity of tides-e’glty or ninety years old. | Operation would se'tie tie’ matter. And when the first case 5 ‘ | it wus a mere delusion and impugned the motives cf the) discussed, and fairly decided ; and then if legal oljections were quietus—then | wou'd say that every man should bow with | whole revenue of the Island. But now, when the people have (of settling the qu:stion than by the intervention of a tribunal sistently, denies that the former have good titles. years in this Assembly, and have had experience enough to | appoint a Court, and a Jury of 12 independent freeholders and I only voted for it to humor the hon. member, Mr. Cyoper, of a Coumission. Now as the time to establish the Court, hard for it. I have about 200 ten«nts on land of mine to the but now they can appotat their own tribunal. Some years cannot see what the Commission or a Court of Escheat has to wweusure | was opposed, as being oppressive ia its nature, but ! Why, Sir, Ican produce from the reported debates of this |} Loan Bills. The Government can establish a Court without far more strongly than ever I did; and when such is the case did nothing of the kind. “He would not have stopped with the that he believes in his-amendment himself? No, no, Sir, Crown was then the Plaintiff, and by the Civil List Bill all the of his own strong ceclarations against Escheat in days gone pand the former would be as justified in preventing the colleciion favorably disposed to Escheat than they have been. But, Sir, property v sted in our local Government. The hon. member, his rents, should be put on the same footing as the idle and for | can refer to Joursals wherein Gone of the hon members| receive a benefit. it should be the industrious. However, if ment that we have no cause of complains of the delay which The minds of the tenantry have been so tampered with by the | Loan Bill, falls tothe ground, because there is no analogy of that hon. member. He told me the other day, that he was /eff-ct that the people did not desire to have the loan eff-cted. Island. (Laughter) As to the (‘ommission, [ hope that the deserves the support of the House, though I am afraid it will low price, and time be given for payment. patches were in the desk of an hon. member, ready for produc- tion. Mr. YEO—I wonder, Mr. Ciairman, if the hon. mem- hought he was about to confer a great boon by getting £100,- Hoa. Mr. LAIRD—The hon. jeader of the late Government, that he would not go fur-Escheat, while he had the people at ,did when he had the lecdership of a government strong i assigned for the delay complained of by my hon. colleagues,

did not wish to be looked at so mnch. They began to in-

It is sufficient to know that the Commission will | The princrpal objec: |

tion to the paragraph urged by thé hon. meuiber, Mr. Coles, | __monnnnne Hus Deen to the Whole | ], as @ «rember of | ‘the Government, ain quite willing to subject our acuoty oft this |

| for the Home Government has repeatedly and emphatically. declared that they wi!l dil.w no interference with ry rene

sites, cOmmon Sense Shows that repeated acis of legisiation : cee taxes on property coodaine tee rights of the proprie-| are resolved, with the thousands of hiberal Protestants It would be unconstititional for any Governwent to| throughout the Island, to displace the men at stretch forth the strong hand of power to wrest their rigs ts from As far ag my own interests are concerned, to keep that power. {| may say that a Cotrt of Kecheat would benefit me and every ' But, Sir, suppose the Court ih operation, it would be competent for any one impleaded there to show that the Legislature had recog- No matter whether the Judge of the Court etme ftom Great Britain, the neighbour- ing Colonies, or the Island, the titles would be found good. |

and serious evils have resulted from it, but these evils arose some 80 or 90 years since ; and we are not responsib!e fur thém.

by the legs ation of years, to say that a Court of Escheat—a tribunal to be established 'o test the validity of titles whieh our own act has placed beyond dispute? ‘That that Court would be productive of greater alleviation of the burdens of the ten- antry than the Commission? The Commussionérs are to en- quire inte the grievances of the tenantry, and recommend such relief as they think fair and equitable, afier a careful investiga-

to interfere in this manner, and s1y at the same time that if our request be not complied with, we will turn them out of the pro- No such suggestion was in | the resolutions cr memorial of last year, the only object of | that Mr. Begley was in the Island. The result of the divi- | which was to get a Commissioner to settle the question. The | the whole policy of | /the Government was indefensiblo, because we had not requested | the Lieut. Governor to memorialize the proprie‘ors to withhold | of I fthat were a valid objection to the present, would it not apply | _more forcibly to the la‘e Government. Did they do anything | events, or of telling an untruth, we ‘of the sori? Did they make an effort in that direction? Why the time. he was labouring under one of his periodical fits | then should the members of the present Executive be charged with dereliction of duty, when they have done all they could, and more than their predecessors ever attempted? They trans-