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AND SEMI-WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER.

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wg IS TRUE, LIBERTY WHEN FREE-BORN MEN—HAVING TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC—MAY SPEAK FREE.”—Murtos’s Eoriripes.

CHARLOTTETOWN, JUNE 19, 1850.

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HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

Torspar, 30th April.

4O9SE IN COMMITTEE ON THE STATE OF THE COLONY.

(Conclusion of the Debates.)

Gores rejoined, at some length. His principal

seotlutees brs the following effect.—He had just been taunted with having found it necessary to forego an intention which, it was asserted, he had entertained of gubmitting a resolution expressive of a want of con- fidence in his Excellency. To that taunt, he would merely reply, that if the intention to do had been enter- tained, either by him or any other individual of his party, + could not be shown, éven by the exercise of all the egal ingenuity of the honorable member for Charlotte- town, that the intention had been entertained without sficient reasons; anu neither was there any evidence 9 satisfy him (Hon. Mr. P.) that, if the intention had evée Deen entertained, it was at length abandoned. If \e (Hom Mr. P.) intended to say that the majority of the “louse would not agree to a vote of no confidence in ars Excellency, he was quite mistaken; for the party with whom he (Mr. C.) acted were anxious to have a resolution to that effect brought forward, but he (Mr. C.) (thought bis Excellency and hie counci| unworthy that any such notice should be taken of them—deprived ue they were of all respectability in the estimation of the people, and destitute of all power consequent upon such respectability. If he (Hon. Mr. P.) should, howeveg, express any further anxiety about a resolution of no confidence, his displeasure with the proceedings of the majority might, perhaps, be still further increased by its production and adoption ; although it might be quite as well to allow him and the Government of which he formed a part, to run the whole length of their tether, for he (Mr. C.) thought it could not now afford them wuch further scope. With regard to his Excellency, he, (Mr. C.} in recognizing him as the representative of Her Majesty, was most willing to atcord to him all de- monstrations of the respect to which he was entitled, in that character or capacity ; but at the same time he was anxious that Sir Donald Campbell should feel—and act as if he felt—that, as Governor of this Colony, it was his first duty to exercise the power with which he was invested for the good of the people, with a due regard both to their wants and wishes; and, if he failed to do 40, it was the bounden duty of tae people’s representa- tives to let him know that they were cognizant of his error, and determined that he should amend it. Had he (Mr. Coles) or his friends who acted with him pen- ding “ the negotiation” beea looking for places of honor or emolument, they would have represented to his Ex- cellency that their attainment of them wes essentially aecessary, as a prerequisite to the due adjustment of matters for the effecting of a change in the Govern- ment. Nb advantage of this kind, however, did they endeavour to derive from their position as negotiators ; but on the contrary, they left his Excellency to pursue his own course, without seeking to derive any persona! benefits from such other changes as might proceed from «change in the Government. He (Mr. C.) for one, was perfectly satisfied with the honor which ke enjoyed as a trusted representative of the people. Tie honorable Speaker had offered some objections to the language of the resolution, although fully admitting the propriety of its purport; and as he (Mr. C.) knew his opinions in general to be the result of cool, collected, and moderate telection, he (Mr. C.) was inclined to defer it, and agree to the alteration which he proposed. The move- ment fir Responsible Government had commenced in the neighbouring Provinces, where the attainment of it vas steadily and confidently pursued, in spite of all the obstructions thrown in its way by the determined friends of their favourite system of corruption, until its suc- cessful establishniert; and here where its principles vere as well understood as they were even in those Provinces in which they were in full operation, it could hot be supposed ihat—although his Excellency and his Government might, im the prosecution of their obstruc- twe policy, be able to cause a short postponement of 8 establishment—the people would consent to abate their exertions for its attainment until they should be crowned with success.

Mr. Warsorron said, if the resolution were express- 4d in the véry strongest terms which could possibly be conceived, he would support it; for the censure which ‘was intended to convey was called forth by most de- “tmined, although unprovoked and unmerited, insult.

‘ie could further say that it wae the desire of Her Ma- atY ata resolution expressive of a want of confi-

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dence in the Governor should also be adoptec ; and it was not improbable that such a resolution would yet be brought forward and carried. In all his intercourse with the House, the Governor had never treated them with the respect to which they were entitled as the representatives of the people.

Mr. Wue an said that he could not see anything to be gained by the proposed amendment. The resolution was fully justified by his Excellency’s treatment of the House; and the amendment, if adopted, would not make it either one jot better or one jot worse.

Mr. Jarpine, the Chairman, then put the question upon the honorable Speaker’s amendment, which was lost. The original resolution, as proposed by Mr. Coles, was then submitted to the vote and agreed to.

The Chairman having read the second resolution as proposed by Mr. Coles, which, besides assigniag his Excellency’s having imputed “ premeditated neglect of their legislative duties” to the House, as a cause of irritation to them, coupled that imputation with the in- sult which it was alleged he had coaveyd to them by the tone and manoer im the delivery of his speech at the

ing of the session, the honorable Speaker roge and moved the following :

* Resolved, That bie Excellency the Lieut. Governor, in reply to the anawer of thie House on the-29th inst., having imputed to this House the “ premeditated neglect of they legislative dates,” dic, by such expression, violate both the privileges of the House, and the decorum which ought to be observed in the communica- tions between the different parts of the Legislature, and which this House, up to that date, in regard to his Ex- cellency, had strictly observed; and that such conduct on the partof his Excellency is calculated rather to irritate than to conciliate this Branch of the Legisla- ture.”

Mr. Pore, in seconding this resolution, said that the language used by his Excellency to the House, and re- ferred to in the resolution, most certainly amounted to a breach of the privileges of the House, and constituted the greatest insult that had ever, he believed, been offered to an Assembly.

Mr. Monrcomery could not say that the course pur- sued by the House, and to which his Excellency directed the offensive passage in his reply, had not been preme- ditated. On the contrary, from the conversation which he had had with members during the recess, he knew that it had been premeditated.

Mr. Spraxen said it gave him pleasure to answer an objection such as Mr. Montgomery’s, because he be- lieved he really felt it as an objection. No doubt the House premeditated to do what they had done. But that was mo “neglect of duty,” but the exercise of the most disagreeable, but most necessary part of their duty, that is, not to entrust the expenditure of the money re- ceived from the people to men in the honesty of whom they had no confidence. If they must do as the Go- vernor says, and always raise and appropriate the moneys he demands, then what use for the trouble of election, how could they be responsible to the people? If this be the law, better that, to be in conformity therewith, the Governor should have the power to chose 24 decent yeomen to fill that House, and then the men he chose would surely act in conformity with his wishes. He (the hon. Speaker) thought they had, as yet, no good ground to blame the Governor for his conduct, nor had the Governor any right to blame them. But they hada right to blame him for imputing to them a neglect of duty. He, the Governor, was indeed only one man, but he was also an indepeadent Branch of the Legislature —receiving instructions from Britain and not from ue— bound to obey those instructions, although he should thus be drawn into collision with the House. It was indeed denied by some that he had any such instruc- tions, but to them he would reply that, in saying so, they must mean that the Governor in his speech had told a lie. One honorable member had said, that the Governor’s refusal to accede to the wishes of the people may have arisen from his having misunderstood his in- structions. To that observation he would reply, that if Earl Grey had given him clear directions to concede Responsible Government, he would not have dared to disobey the mandate—he would not have been the fool to deny the right, when called for by the House.

Mr. Waexan replied, that it was quite in vain for the honorable Speaker to labor in defence of Sir Donald Campbell on that head. The honorable Speaker sup- posed that Sir Donald would not be go fool-hardy ag to oppose the determination of Earl Grey, should it be in favour of Responsible Government; but be (Mr. W.) would beg leave to tell the honorable Speaker that Sir Donald bad already done so; fur he had contravened the operation of a recent Despatch of bis Lordsbip,

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authorizing, if it mean anything, the establishment of Responsible Government in the Colony.

Mr. Janpine, the Chairman, then put the question upon the resolution moved in amendment by the hon. Speaker, and the same was agreed to.

The third resolution, as proposed by Mr. Coles, was then read by the Chairman, and submitted to vote. It is as follows: —

“ Resolved That a part of his Excellency’s Speech delivered to the Legislature at’ the close of the last Session, warrants the presumption, that 4 provision for the Attorney Genera! had been demanded by his Excel- lency, which is incorrect.”

Mr. Montcomeny said he could not agree to that resolution. He understood thatthe claims of the At- torney General were to be acknowledged, by securing to him the possession of his Office; but, if that were not the case, there could 5e no other mode of recog- nizing thei, than by granting him a retiring pension.

Mr. Cougs replied that he had ajready explained— and that more than once—that there had been no inten- tion to cause the Attorney General to retire from hie office, and that. on its being: stated to his Excellency 1p conference, that, in the event of a change im the form of the Government, be {the Attorney Genera!) would not be required to relinquish his appointment, hie Excellency had, at once said, “ Well, let his name be atreck out of the list,” — meaning the het of officers for whom ne would require 2 permanent provision on their relinquishment of their appointments:—for, said the honorable member, he agreed with my friends ond my- self, in thinking that no officer who might retain his appointment, or to whom another appointment should be offered, with a salary equal tothe retiring allowance required for him, could, in the event of his declining to avail himself of the advantages of such an arrangement, have any right to clgim a retiring pension, under the anticipated new order of things.

Hon. Mr. Taornton wished to know whethér the proposal, that he should retain his office, on the estab- lishment of Responsible Government, had ever been directly made to the Attorney Genera! himself.

Mr. Corrs replied that it had. He (Mr. Coles) and his friends had an interview with the Attorney Genera! in the Legislative Library, on a Friday, and then pro- posed to him that, in case a new Government should be formed, under the auspices of the Liberal Party. he should be at liberty to retain his appointment, if he de- sired to do so, provided he would engage not to oppose the general views and policy of that party, on their coming into power. ‘To this, the Attorney General re- plied, that were he allowed until Monday to give the proposal full and deliberate consideration, he would be prepared to give them a final answer. It was then agreed between the parties that he (the Attorney Gene- ral) should have until Monday for deliberation ; and the interview terminated. On Monday, agreeably to ap- pointment, the parties again met, and the Attorney Ge- neral than informed him (Mr. Coles) and his friends that—in consequence of the umbrage which would be taken by some of his immediate family connexions, at his giving in his adhesion to the Liberal Party, by tak- ing office with tnem, in the event of their being called upon to from an Administration—he felt himself obli- ged to decline the offer which they had made to him ; but, although declining it, he would give no opposition to the passage of their general measures through the Legislature. The negociation with the Attorney Ge- nera) was then broken off; and he (Mr. C.) and his friends, in their interview with His Excellency, made known to him the offer which had been made to the At- torney ‘teneral, and declined by him ; and it was then that his Excellency said, “ Well, let his name de &truck out of the list.” The mode in which they had treated the claims of the Attorney General, and the polite and friendly spirit in which their consideration of them had been met by that gentlemen, were quite sufficient to show that the individuals representing the Liberal Par. ty, during the “ Negociation,” had acted in an open, straight-forward and honorable manner; and that, when dealing with upright and honorable men, they had no reason to conclude that their proceedings and their ob- jects were considered to be of that contemptible cha- racter, which a few of those who clearly foresaw that they must fall before them, never to rise again, vainly attempted to fix upon thein in the public estimation. He would not have stated what took place with respect to the Attorney General, had not the pertinancy of the minority forced him to break that silence concerning it, which considerations of delicacy would otherwise have induced him strictly to obeerve.

The Resolution waa then eudmitied to he vote and

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