i i A: elie i be Vol, ALE. A Weekly Hournal of = Holitics, Literature, and ews. “"Phis is tence Liberty, when Freeborn Men, having to advise the Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday Public, may speak free.”---Enripides. » May 19, 1862, r . ») 1 . t | as an instance, these gentlemen recommend a loan under an ‘who have. [t is my own wish that such should be the case, ¢ olanial lt lal nich > Imperial guarantee that was not referred to in the resolutions. | and I am well aware that those whom I represent entertain - In fact, there are but three or four topics in the Award which | very decided opinions of the same nature. weer’ oe ey me were specified in the resolutions, the prominent objects of} Hon. Mr. THORNTON—I cannot say that I approve of all HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. lwhich were a remission of arrears of rents and the conversion | pares of the Award; for instance, I do not think that the ar- DEBATE ON THE AWARD (continued) | of leasehold interests into freehold. The Commissioners have : bitration is likely to work well, but Tam willing to take the extended their enquiries into the subjects of Escheat, the Quit) chance of the Award as a whole, and it may be that, as the Ton. Mr. LONG WORTH —I congratulate the House on Rents, and they have recommended a loan. It is true that) majority are in favor of the Award, the Secretary of State,in oo < ° + 0 : * — : + . ° ° : s a rad the unanimity of opinion which has, so far, characterized this | their reference to the latter cannot be considered as forming deference to the weight of such unanimity of opinion, may discussion. Some difference of opinion, of course, exists, bat @ portion of the Award. Chey could not award that ; they ‘withdraw the objections he has intimated. If the Award the propriety of giving effect to the Award will be affirmed have merely recommended it, and this recomme ndation may were mutilated by Government he would not support it. I . oF loli . Th » tn o conten ett Mall bat influence a loan at some future time, when the policy of buy-| shall, therefore, vote for the resolution. , arge majority. ! f as eh should C}. 4 , " a : ° ti : ond ‘ a aleed qt: mi: he bo ane dake bodies ing up the proprietary estates throughout the Island may be | Hon. Mr. COLES—The members of the minority may ~rarde a pi view. ur ¢ ( S| adonted by Gove on The aetio » Commissioners | . ‘ya, ahs : re 2 e . F My : or + ce ie cco po adopted by Gove ramet t. Phe iction of the Com missioners | consistently support the Award, if it is intended that it shail effect to the views of the Commissioners, and embody their! on the subject of Escheat, being on a matter not submitted to \ serial ee . d the C 9 “Bioiay” , : .- White ted aoe ee hice as ar that) © C@?ried out in its integrity, and the Commissioners having Opinion in local Acts of the Legislature. rite admit!) them by our resolutions, it might he a question how far that | adopted the noliew of the tit { ty lal wales ° that the Despateh accompan ying the Award intimates that | would have any force even if we confirm it, as proposed, on 1 Of aa aH a 0 : a6 Dera par y: wi > refcrence to the - t ‘ . . 99 > 7 » ny the Sceretary of State has objections to certain portions of it,| the ground that the Commissioners exceeded their powers. “97pm ve Dull shouk oe ee to rs and it ts a to say My ee ee ee © : i le hanes hae ht @ aonati ion: iv} a Cour ' that the majority are ngs y merely accepting ‘ I see no grounds for inferring that he will not give effect to A e have beyond doubt a constitutional right to a Court of jority are doibg 80 by merely | pling t ie A ward : Ty , ‘ ~ ye = as | Escheat, and there was a period when the lands could have without providing the machinery requtsite for managing the it. It isnot to be supposed that the Crown, which is the eae 7 Se Te 5 . oe eee ng Sentahd-ata stuhahn tmaenel thn daa tie as. Oe revested in the Crown, without any just cause of com-| details of the loan, If they do this it may be said that they SUMAN CC NORGE, SHU Che LFEMEC OF URS FANS GH lhe peo- plaint on the part of the proprietors. But such has been the | are errrying out the Award, and members of this side micht le, would not honorably discharge the obligations it has : ; ; ; Secu hewn haan the ds vere yine.* ‘ ns oe mig pie, wou . : y se 5° oe m lapse of time, and 60 repeated and positive have been the de- consistently support them; and unless there be a clause solemuly and publicly assameid. There is no reason to doubt | clarations of the Imperial Governwent, that it appears useless Silt init thee cnliedl alin a bide b tI aan 4 7 . 5 . . . ° ° _ . ~ "py Fai e i ; ao 5 ee that Her Majesty and ber Colonial Minister were sincere when | now to agitate the question. The question of Escheat Was | aa ™ 7m Wee . , : GRADS see NEW IS they pledged the Imperial wovernment to the settlement of the | nevertheless brought to the attention of the Commissioners by | - @ scwens ¢ . enantry, e Hot t “ aes . a difference } eis m ' . ree ns . -ave ‘xy Dre sei | OF Opinton on the su'yec 8 182 eo aK 2 Land Question, and when we asseated to and joined in the the counsel for the tenantry. In now, however, expressing | . < a ve su'ject in the House, for the ion. member, . as 2 (an! *h Opinion that the agitation of Escheat is at the present day Mr. avies,argues that all are boand at present,while others Commissioa, were we not bound te perfor m our part! Can Lr ; a eek cine ities ’ * # ; a Guilt is edanens stele et useless, Ido not wish to do so without giving some of the | express opinions directly the reverse. If the proposed bill we now refuse to fulfil the engagement we entered Into on) 4. ands upon which I have arrived at that conclusion. In| ig framed in accord: : wien : ay behalf of the people? The objections referred to by the Se-|? pail, ie ndash gag rte i c | 's framed tn accordance with these suggestions | will support a! e peopie ¢ e@ ( Cc S$ reierret we-)} 1299. ; 22 ad aa e Kine > me st? 4 are 7 e people 3} y | 1832 an address was sent to the King by the House of Assem-' jt but otherwise L cannot. The liberal party have been in New Series.---No. 19, at which his farm may be valued. To which I would reply, | °¢ sure he will exercise that right. The tenant may be will- that a considerable number of the tenants have paid the ac-|ing to buy at 20 years’ purchase ; nay, he may offer any cruing rent since the Commissioners were here ; but when it amount, but the iandlord may refuse to sel] at all; and the shall appear that the tenant has not paid on account of the poverty of the soil, the failure of crops, or such cireamstances over which the tenant had no control, I presume, that in such a case, the arbitrators would not overlook the amount of | arrears the tenant was liable for, when they fix the amount at which he shall be entitled to obtain his freehold. Aecord- ing to the Award, the tenant will be enabled to claim an ar- bitration before he has paid bis urrears,although he will have to pay them before ho gets credit for his instalments. Sir, men are apt to speak as they wish. Now, Sir, we all know that the leaders of the Opposition have opposed this Land Commission in its every stage; their speecheg made, editorials and communications published against it,are almost without number ; their desire that it should prove a failure must be apparent to all. Hon. Mr. WHELAN—I am sure I should be glad if any good resulted from the Land Commission. Mr. BEER—The hon. member must excuse me for saying that [ cannot give him credit for sincerity ; bat I can assare the hon. member, that, from conversations { have had with the people, there are hundreds of those who have hitherto sap- ported the opposition by their yotes, who are now most anxious that the long vexed question should be settled, and are now willing to support the present Government in their endeavors to bring the whole matter to a final termmation ; and I yery much doubt whether those who have said so.much against it will have the moral courage to vote against it. Sir, we have laid seige to the citadel—our position is taken—we have the vantage ground — and our trenches are fast being — result will be that the best class of the tenantry will be ‘kept in bondage. ‘The blush of shame should mantle the cheeks of those who would assert among the most ignorant that this is to operate beneficially. Again, we are to be told _that the numerous tenants holding under leases of less than 40 years, are to be grateful to their representatives for Sanctioning a measure which devotes them to slaverv! If there is one class of our population more entitled to protec- tion than another it is the tenants who have been induced to | take short leases ; and thus, in many cases, spend youth and manhood in making property, not for themselves and their children, but for their landlords. Am I expected to vote for such a clause? If I stand alone, I shall give it my unflinch- Ing opposition. With reference to the loan, I did consider that some good might result from the Commission by obtain- ing it, but when L am told that that most important matter is to be eliminated from the Lill which it is proposed to in- troduce, I feel that the last plank in the tenant's platform has been knocked from under their feet. Looking at this Award in all its features, | ask where are the advantages to the tenants? I may be told that the remission of arrears is | 8 great boon. Let us consider what benefit the people derive from that. The Award says that all arrears of rent up to Ist May, 1858, shall be remitted, When the Commissivners were about to leave the Island, they recommended that the eretary of State are not intended to prevent this Legislature dealing effectually with the Award. In the Despatch accom- panying the copy of the Report, his Grace refers to it in the following terms :— fam desirous, at the same time, to express my apprecia- tion of the painstaking, able and impartial Report which the Co.amiss-oners have furnished,—a Report which must derive additional weight from its unanimicy, and which is the resalt of an iavestigation so completa, that it has cxhausted the ma- terials for enquiry into the facte of the case. The difficulties that remain, are those which are inherent in the subject, and Tayi sstablis e re Ce escheat, ¢ le ' bly, praying for establishment of a Court of Escheat, and) (vor of a loan to cnabie the Government to purchase the }complaining of the non-settlement of the lands. In 1833 a ‘reply was received in the shape of a despatch from Lord | Goderieh, refusing the establishment of a Court of Eseheat, /and suggesting that an inquiry even at that day (1833) into | the question of settlement would be long and doubtful, and | that the Government would not, therefore, consent to unsettle | people’s minds. The House of Assembly thereupon passed | resolutions expressing regret at such refusal,and voted an ad- | dress with the view of altering Lord Goderich’s decision. In /1536 a'so the Legislature addressed the Crown praying ' measures to be taken for Escheat, and in 1837 Journals is to which have for # long course of years, bafiled every attempt! ». found a despatch from Lord Glenleg in reply to the ad- at solution.’’ | dress, again refusing a Court of Escheat, and suggesting the ‘lands, and are willing to support a measure to that effect; | bat no Government will be as favorably situated to purchase as previously to the Commission, and I am pretty confident that had Lord Selkirk been aware of the nature of this | Award be would not have so!d as cheaply as he did. I con- elude by moving the following amendment :— “ Strike out all after the word ‘ introduce,* in the said Re- ; solution, and insert the following in lieu thereof: ‘and alsoa Bill to secure the interest on a loan of £100,000, as recom- mended by the Commissioners in their Report.’ ’’ Mr. SINCLAIR—TI agree with those bon. members who This language indicates anything bat a disapproval of the imposition of a land tax or ass ssmennt, as had been done in| 82y that we are not called upon at present to express any Award, and the allusion to the inherent difficulties, and the | Canada, as a remedy for the evils arising from non-settlement | »pinion as to whether the Award realizes the anticipations period during which they have baffled every attempt at solu- tion, is not to be considered as the expression of the opinion that they will continue to do xo for a longer. Again,his deelin- ing to hold out the prospect of an Lmperial guarantee to a loan intimates not that he will not sanction the Award, nor that we have mot the power to confirm it. I regard it mere- jof the lands. Acting upon this suggestion, the Legislatare in 1837 passed an Aet levying an assessment on all lands in this Island, an®after reciting the retusal to establish a Court lof Escheat, and Lord Goderich’s suggestion respecting a tax upon the lands, proceed, in conformity with it, to impose the | tax, thus as it were by legislative enactment setting at rest the question of Eseheat. Again, in 1538, the Lieut Gover- formed of it or not. It would be dishonorable in the House, in view of our previous action in the matter, to repudiate the jresult; yet although the Award is not in my cpinion in ac- }eordance with the evidence adduced at the investigation, nor does it come up to my expectations, | certainly hope that the decision, if not unanimous will be nearly 50. With reference Jy as the expression of his individual opinion, from which a | Dor in addressing the Legislature stated that it was the ‘fixed |'o the amendment proposed by the hon. member, Mr. Coles, successor to his office may differ,nor would it be binding on us in accepting the award. The concluding sentence of the Despateh in which the Secretery of State mentions the plea- sure it would afford him if he should be in a position to offer fresa suggestions, shews that he was animated by a desire to aasist in a sectlemant which should conciliate general favor. If the Legislature was not to take action on the Award, why was the eopy of it sent out to be laid before us? wecessary nor desirable that hon. members should go through the whole of the Award, for all its more prominent points were discussed on the debate on the Address in reply to the ‘Lieut Governor's speech, The leader of the opposition com- plained that the Goverament, in not giving sufl -of the time of theCommissioners holding their Court,had pre- ented their obtaining evidence as speedily as they otherwise swould bave. The Commissioners may have thought that sueh was the case,but there bad been no previous inter-communica- tiovon the subject between the Seeretary of State or the Cum missigpers and the Government. It cou!: not be expected that the. Government, in a matier of complaint between land- , Jord and-teaant, would prepare a case in favor of the furmer | reasonable to suppose that, in the state of the question as || at 4 rate to be fixed by arbirrators, but it must be recollected | Procared, the Award is not worth having. Such an idea | have detailed it, the Imperial authority would at the present | that if we bad the loan,we would have no arbitration ; where- | to the damage of the latter, or vice v+rsu #s simply aa abeurdity. All that the Goverument could do was to give all parties an opportunity of making their statements before the Commissioners who required the op- portunity of persoual exawiaatioa that they might be enabled jand unalterable determination of Her Majesty’s Government | to abide by the reveated decisions against a Court of Nscheat.”’ And in 1840 the Lieut. Governor stated to the Legislatare {that he could * positively inform them that the refusal of | Her Majesty’s Government to entertain the question in any | shape is final.’? I have thus stated my own views because [ know that my own constituents take a particular interest in the question. In view of tke fixed and unalterable opinion of that several successive Secretaries of State have suggested a tax on the lands as an appropriate measure for the local Go vernment to adopt, and that in accordance with sach sugees- tions auch tax was imposed and is still in force, I teel i would be misicading my constituents, if { should say that { co t! burden of the Civil List in 1851, all the existing rights of the Crown in this [sland were ceded to the local Government. I recolleet that the transaction was viewed as one of grace on the part of the luperial authority, bat we must not forget that the Crown etill exercises supervising control over our legislative proceedings. Every Act we pass must be sent to the British Government for approval, and it would be un- day sanction a measure of the kind, if we ourselves should assent to it. The Quit Rents lasing been commuted in New Spanewick 3 Nova Scotiz he then Seeretary » Co- . ae i Branswick and Nova Scotia, the then Seeretary for the Co | Land Purchase Act afterwards; and [ think it will be found | Hon. Mr. WHELAN-—Io rising to address the Commit . . 4 aa: 5 “6 lonies, the late Lord Goderich, in 1831 offered to commute | those of this Island for a certainsum. I have always been of | | L regret that I do not read the Award in the same light as he does; for while, as has been already shewn, the reference ,to a loan is a suggestion in the report, it does not find a place ‘in what mast be eonsidered the binding Award. The Bri- | tish Government has the option of guarantecing a Joan, and, | when they shall consent to do so, we can be prepared to give | Satisfactory security, but by the terms of the authoritative It is not, the Imperial Government on this question, aud considering | portion of the Award, we can demaad the exercise of the j right of arbitration, which is styled by the Commissioners | the alternative remedy. ‘That phrase shews that it was not coutemplated that the Joan and arbitration were to be simul- y.| ‘aneousiy in operation, that we could only expect one or! the clectors of Charlottetown on their choice of so intelligent 1 . . ; ubtained uuder the [mperiil guarantee, we could only use it }uuder the provisions of the Land Purchase Act; and then the pro; rictors knowing that the Government were in funds, conid aud would, under that Act, ask what prices they pleased, It may appear to some minds that under the pro- | posed p.an of arbitiation a propricior, would be forced to sell as, if we have no loan, we can claim the alternative remedy of arbitration, and cum work out the principles of the pushed ferward. ‘Truc, the battlements are manned by the | tenants should pay the current year’s rent pending the mak« prapsiatans Sad their auxilaries, the leaders of the liberals ;|ing of the Award, Hundreds complied with that recommen- they may keep us at bay fora short time, but we are sure| dation; but will the le forget ivi of victory ; soon will the ramparts be gained and the defenders | manifested by reine sa. eae iv. Sere ne —— have to beat an ignominons retreat ; vietory will be declared, | the Jast shillisg of arrears ? Nev oo he la J ad and then will eome down the old flag that has floated for the | pactits so bountiful « h cee we eee last 75 years with the motto ‘‘ Leasehold Land tenures,’’ and in tr = t — a - iar aoe and _ Warrants of dis its place,a bran new flag will be run up with the motto ‘ Every ci of tha tal too aan aoe and the visits of the minis- tenant the privilege of becoming a frecholder at a fair valuation, t ” Wh : * a visits, few and far be- payable in instalments.”” Then, Sir, the black storm.so graphi- coi. dotl pom aaah could not be had, bonds, notes of cally described by the hon. member from Princetown, will on a “ate were taken. Having thus got alk burst in fury on the devoted heads of those who have ob- ha wernt g bed ag manne’ the tenants have had to pay structed and endeavored to prevent the industrious hardwork- ee Bill hesaenn ae ae as it will probably be a year belure ing, and, still in many cases, poor, tenantry from obtaining the j ao o the onde whi ch. 1 lh grees ems Mag sg ere Me privileges to which they all ought to be entitled. oo fone: tebenaht osiaaall iden of * aye = a whi h th ; Mr. CONROY=—I may congratulate the hon. member for boca hiiinen’ tink bereheoed th i "Th, 7 oa the City, Mr. Beer, on the fact that he does not represent a| (‘ my by th oo a © greatness of the district of Prince County. From the high degree of intelli- ned 1 avo.ly wae Seon themselves, for they tell gence displayed on all occasions by that hon. member, he “me dio ds o Swhee'hihee I we little or no loss to the would not, I presume, consent to represent such a constituency aan is willi ole il eee one Guegnnr as that which sent me here. 1 have heard that the hon. mem-} 5" wh a Fy a thon sree is land at 15s. per acre, boing —_ during my bn nome to the people of my district ™ — os - shy as i. ae at one or. oy Z een as being a set of ignorant Frenchmen. . ae Mr. BFER explained that his remarks had reference to some ae roe sano . Lot 56 for the purchase ef 50: meetings at which the people had been induced to act in igno- oer to i Nord in the E _ time to pay for it. Thero is a = their true interests. Le had not alluded to them as tie of sank a rn Po Mee: te yo aid yrenchmen. . . . . ; Mr. CONROY—I have seen the explanatory letter of the | 22 nly portions which can be considered as intended to bene- hon. member which appeared in the aed and that does ead Mi tediea’ oo es ” en rw a lands not improve the matter. I have also read the despatch of the oa er ndecsd wractionll thee eee wae | Dake of Neweastle on the subject of the Legislative Council ete Poa ae ee ee The rest is for the | Bill. lis Grace recommends that there should be no pro- oO ae Re: ts sous Poe Reser ten ane commrived ; We poaty qualification for a candidate for a seat in the Council, ae aad Ae > iat serves are given up to them. | but recommends one for the electors, as he says that if the ane aoe al ate , to the ae “The poupevemaey party electors are intelligent there is no f-ar bat they will select a the; oe Silk, thie audios e rae . a a proper representative. Such being the fact, [ congratulate but an cae are siot Stlee Meas af alta Seded nahi one will be quite competent for a subsequent Legislature to modi- ae a nett nenctidahla af ti sent ds ims other. Kor my own vart, L candidly avow sferenee for | gentleman to represent them. I haye carefully read . ictent notice | sidered Escheat practicable at the present day. I am awar aan Pe Gast y vow my preference for | 4 £ P vt save carefully read over | , é . at it has been and may be said, that when we acce pic ithe i the arbitration s-heme > because if the loan of L£100,04 0 were the Award of the Commissioners, and tam at a loss to know Fd aay _— ne rs ar a Pre ws _ = es oe | what service it will render to the tenantry. I believe that |any one of the proprictors would, if asked by his tenantry in |a bedy, give as good terms as those to be obtained by the | Award, without at! this trouble. It has been said that the loan forms no part of the Award, that it is only a recommen- dation, and 1f such be the fact [ cannot see what benefit can | be derived from it, as I consider that, if the loan cannot be I will now make a passing allusion to a personal matter. A charge has been frequently made against me, both in this House and elsewhere, that [ am anxious to obstruct the set- ticment of the Land Question—that I have a persunal interest in feeding a chronic disease in the public mind. I meet the imputation by asking what advantage would accrue to me from such a course? Ail my prospects are centered in the Island. My happiness and prosperity de upon the perity of this my adopted home, and nothing is farthor ny disposition than to do auything calculated to obstract the development of its resources and the spread of kindly feelings among the different classes of its inhabitants. 1 haye resided here nearly nineteen years, during eight of which I held a Toxspay, March 25, The Committee on the resolution on the subject of the Award of the Land Commissioners was resumed. | that, af the A ivil j ; 4 —T ro : vat, afier the more eligible portion of their tepants shall | tee, 1 must express my gratitude to the hon. member for the pablie office and the — eleven were spent in 9g save purchased the freehold interests in their properties, the City, Mr. Beer, for having moved the adjournment last! tion to Government. Before [ took office after [ left it, whose principal means of living were dgrived from their land- ¢o test the conflicting evideuce, and form their opinions on the opinion which L avowed before the Commissioners, that 7 weet the vature of the statements made before*them. The truth Lord Goderich’s offer cou d only be regarded, not as a remis- | PrOpTietors will be willing to sell the remaining parts of | wwas that the Commissioners did not give sufficient notice of sion of the Quit Kents, but merely a condit onal proposal to their estates to Government, under that Act, at a low price. dhe time at which they coutemplated arriving here. The ‘st end, dependent, of course,on the acceptance of the terms) fp REER—Sir, if any proof were required that the hon. | Ajovernment lost ao time in making known the period at i 7 aan ane — mont ee other view br = at | meinber for the third district, Mr. Coles, wished and desired | which they would arrive. As their Award has sow been sub. Seambhir 6 as Preis’. ie sPecammer tots sina thas the | tu prevent the Award becoming the law of the land, it is to | mitted to us, can we, in courtesy to Her M ajesty, or with a Guis Rents had Seten ee maa PsP See Oe | 2 wn von _ _ of his having intro laced an amendment sense of what is due to ourselves, refuse to sanction it? Lt Government acted upon the opinion of their law officer, and | re sills amhania bas see Fa ee > =e eaten is true thas the tenantry, as a whole class, may not be satis- the Secretary of State having mstructed the Licut. Governor | 4 ward ae dees Gidbad Sth ‘in a od sdamnneel _ fied, and also that the proprietary body may think that the | to regard thuse rents as having been remitted, | consider it/ ture,it will be sure to come cntdiationss. The Cateniaenal Cowmissioners have acted in prejudice of their interests, but Would be a matter of great difficulty to disturb the settlement | o75 jad not power to award a loan, and,if they bad,the Duke| »te T ie : j i i | a . ¢ existence 0 ose leelio attords a strong argumen a : 9 na eciares he cannot recommend it. Some hon. members sa th f those feelings atturd t g t that |S made. As the Land Tax, which was imposed in lieu of | goo} } t 6-8 | \ y those rents, has been now for several years in operation, and | «a+ the loan is the best part of the Award. The loan is no| evening for, if progress had not then been reported, I should not have had an opportunity of preparing the amendment which I shall move. Whuth reference to the preamble to the resolution introduced by the hon. leader of the Government in this House, I have no objection to any one of its several paragraphs, but to them [ wish to put my amendment,which, like the postszript to a lady’s letter, will, L think, be found to contain the pith of the subject. L move to strike out of the resolution all after the preamble, and to substitute the following :— ‘* But it does not appear to be the intention of the Seeretary of State for the Colonies that the said copy of the Award the Award is a just and proper one. It is our duty to sanc- eae LE aaa te \ J P as it is more productive of revenue than the charge which it part of the Award, it is only a suggestion; and what would| should be made the basis of any legislation for the present, tion the Award io its iutezrity—it would be impreper and taints woe s Th Bape, ae the A i grity pre superseded would be, I think it probable that the latter will | a loan be without the arbitration clause to compel the pro- | inasmuch as that His Grace has not submitted the original or 4ampolitie to mutilate its proportions. What details shall be! probably not be revived. The sake +11 ; oa | ; po — P : : ived. The question of title comes up in prietors to sell when the tenant wished to purchase, and that} official copy, nur intimated any desire to have the printed necessary to its practical o, eration can be embodied in a se id rs ard wy, 18 & confirmatory of the original gzants. The | at a fuir valuation, not 20 years’ purchase? If we had the | parate Dill, yumantanoners Se not allude to the ease of rival claimants | joan without that privilege, the probability is that the outside | : THE r r : ; ' : etween the 2 of oriyin: antee ¢ » prese 3 re- o : a a seh : Hlon. Me. WUELAN—When will such Bill be bronght in? ® se ter ee of ro grantee and the present. As re-| pressure from some of the constituencies would induce such | lion. Me. LONG WORTH—Probably in a short time. Cer- | S4F4s the remission of ar.ears of rent awarded by the Com-| 4, expenditure that the country would become hopelessly in- | : .- @ i nee vin issioners, RO One can say that any hi on conferre é " oe dainly thie Session. If we incorporate them in the Bill | be “~~ ; + daca — one J that Say h o0n has been conferred | yoived in debt. We wanted no loan to enable the Government adopting the Award, it may he vbiected to. The hoa. leader! 9Y '* 08 manne St gularly paid their rents. I do not! ¢ purchase the Selkirk estate, and we all ought to feel gra- | of the Opposition wished te know whetber the Award was | Mean to cay that it will not remove a burden from the shoul-| giged at hearing from the leader of the Government in this| copy confirmed by local legislation: And whereas, the Seere- tary has declared, in his Despatch of the 7th February, 1862, that one of the principal provisions in the Award, namely, that in reference to local arbitrations,is open to ‘* insuperable objections,’’ which he proposes to obyiate by some ** fresh suggestions’? at a future opportanity—thus manifesting his desire that legislation on the whole subject of the Award iors . » of . om ; +, ders of those who bave been long ip arre: © uti e s : J 2 obligatory on the whole of the proprietors, or only on those 4 in arrear, but when we con end, Hon. Col, Gray, that funds will be forthcoming when-/ should be postponed : And whercas, the recommendation for te laid ad rhieh alre , eats iod | who had assented to the submission, and he referred to that | Sider the time which already has and the additional period! vor either of the great proprietors consent to accept the | 54 ee Ailalal . a e ca which must elapse before the Award becomes : “a : ; 3 . 7. / : i rahe of it whereia the Commissioners alluded to those who F ird becomes the law of the price fur their lands suggested by the Commissioners,viz. 2s Gd | sioners, in order to bay out the claims of the proprietors, is | ad not done so; but he should remember that the passage | Migs; 5 regret had the Comm tesionens had not fixed the period | sterling per acre. Sir, 1 take the despatch of the Duke of | referred to is not authoritative, itis merely argameutative. ay Ser ieee” ube optae 7 = forgiven, at the year 1860 Neweastle as a mere fecler in ordet to ascertain the iieieceaad ‘That properly speaking,it forms no part of the actual Award, | InStcae oF TD os of “ said before, and | now repeat, that! of the Legisiature. No doubt the proprietors have en-| ‘Their reasoning mayor maynot be correct, but we are not called | the conversion of the leasehold into freehold at the rate of | deayored to make the impression on the Duke’s mind that the | upon to consider it. The Award clearly affects the properties | twenty yeare purcnase ie productive of no benefit to the ten-| people here do not wish to have the Award eonfirmed. The | of those whe signed the submission and when we consider the ant, for I Lave on @ previous occasion demonstrated that it| woprieturs have, no doubt, carefully gathered up al! the reso- large quantities of land held by them and others who will would be more advantageous to a tenvnt to invest his Money jutions that have been adopted in certain parts of the Island | nt to its terms, we should be pursuing a pen: vines in a diferent manner than in the parchase of the fee simple | . i ; sali Sen . z 7 ; : ae f phar pe if oo cisans . a taons be : z ‘tal ~ of his farm on such terms. The ben. Mousa aa simple! against the Award, and have striven hard to impress the Co-| such time as the Colonial Minister shall have fally declared Pee COMES PUICy _nteeegegl of peee on Sere support of his views of the great benefits 7 id te ht | lonial Office with the belief that we, as a culony, do not wish | the views of the Imperial Government on the seyeral questions | » ‘ » £ . A elle 8s acer 2 he $ >> . sie a ° os 4 = . j of difference of opmion en 4 matter of argument. A geod 5 cruing to (he ten-' +) adopt it. Viewing it in that light, I do not wonder at the submitted to them in the said Award, and when Llis Grace deal has been said about the reservation of 1500 acres by a @"try from this privilege of purchase, instanced leases which | .....: he da . ; » te , ate proprietor. That clause will not agt wpon the temantry ol | might cover valuable mill sites, and argued as though such | Todhieacs toces thethamtcheaen amet acseohael absentee landiords,for it is absurd to.snppose that they would | properties were leased at the same rent as other lands which | ments of the representatives of the Island, and if we denounce | geish to retain an acre of Jand in this,fsiand. They would! had not such particular sources of value. 1 will admit that | it there will bie Ko more about it. Sir, | hesitate not to state oly be too happy to get rid of it to altogether. I have no|!f the supposition he adopted be correct, the individuals in| |.) belief that, if the proprietors and the British Government Moubt that it was framed with a view to the cases of resident Oe ae, Soe aehh for a ve pay bes a shilling per | wes now to break faith arith the tenantry of the Island, and, holders of comparatively swall properties, widows or others, | prea ran zs ar of leet ached” ioe L aman = by some means, prevent the Award becoming the law of the 7 : that the lends comaciolaw ‘anil? sles aie central ro = |land, after all that has taken place, the results will be most ed property. Jt would be unwise to,interfere avith that right : pr 6 y ivt #* Tents disastrous to the peace and prosperity of the Colony, and small of reservation ,and thus imperil the Award, merely on account | Proportiona‘e to their values, and so we may consider that all! 1).156 to the tenantry should they resist the payment of their of the peculiar circumstances of Lots 35 and 36, where the | the leased lands are on the same footing as regards the opera- rents, if such a sat t of iatlentes is mh aah upon them ‘multiplicity of owners may prevent some of the tenantry pur- tion of the Award. Notwithstanding the objections which L Sir I know use te at teal % sieial wt nave ea, asked b ; nder the Aw Ag t hat fell from the hon, | have expressed to parts of the Award, 1 intend to support it sealed ee ee . y chasing under the Award. As to what fell from the hon. | neil as L consider that while it mar de « aS the tenantry whether I would advise the payment of their member, Mr. Wightman, on the subject of the Fishery Re- | Benet ym cnt el - FER MMA C008, Mi vents. | ‘I strovgly advised them in 1860, when the Com serves, when he complains that it is a hardship that a party | cau do no harm. The Secretary of State says that he has in- | missioners sat, to pay then their one year’s rent, and again hould Ned & with of the front of his Superable objections to that part of the Award which suggests |; 7 2¢ 9 SAGAS ian SAAS OR ae Sire eens should be compe to part with an acre ve front o p ne 2 eae sie o>, | in 1361 I gave the same advice to all who asked my opinion; : déevieed be the © ion- | arbitrations to settle the disputed value of leasenolds. 1 think 5 ; i farm, | can tell him that the plan devised by the Comiiss:on- | : : ' but now, Sir, should the proprietors succeed in their attempt ers is preferable to the principle of the Bill introduced by the that the Bill,to be introduced in accordance with the resolu- to strangle the Award of the Land Commissioners, and should G P : : That Bill tions before us should embody the provisions by which it is oe Tn OF eee Ne ee a Te eae : jovernment of which he was a member. at Bill proposed i ee eae 8 r the British Government break faith with the Colony, if they to vest the Reserves in the Government, and gave them the | proposed that the arbitrations shall bee mducted. It may be! ,5 ct vents to. be eollected for the fat S dalek bi eminent , af of leasing them to whomsoever nat on what terms they | that such particulars incorporated in the Bill to be sent to E ne ag Ga 6. Sain The Award declares that the tenant shall receive | Bmgland will obviate those otherwise “ insuperable’* objec- , — 4 Fi 1 r . > i es ine » } es . the value of the land so taken, and that value shall, in case of | 40D: and I am well couvinced that tne country will be more | j¢ jg impossible that the Duke of Newcastle can refuse to ad- difference of opinion between him and the party requiring it satisfied by such a course than if they are to form part of a) vise jjor Majesty to give her consent to the Award becoming o> Meiieen E net ferred to arbitration. It is a boon | Separate Act. This question forms so important a paré of the | the jaw of the Pind rh hasian himself sated’ Guat thu fa- ae BENE PUrpressaaae the injury to the tenant. Taken | Award, that ere we are asked to give onr assent to it, it is | sostication is so thor . saan ere ere : ' east to our fishing population without injury : : | hut courteous that the Government should submit to us the | gation 18 so thorough and complete, *that it has exhaust- altogether the Award will, [ think, commend iteelf to the ap-| : : ' oe ed the materials for enquiry into the facts of the ease,’’ and ral of the H as being the beet the Commissioners could | details of this particular subject instead of getting our a-sent! then to characterise the Award itself as being drawa with ee oe re = > : ,to the Award generally, and keeping the House and the coun-| « apitity and j ur one. Poe ee ae arrive at in view of the various subjects —— to their - i try in ignoranee of the mode by which it is intended to give a — and ENS <: =~ I doubt not that if our Le- cision. It was impossible that they could establ sh one genera ae : j ss Dia ge ¢| g'siatare how put on a bold front and unitedly hold the Bri- e z | practical effect to its most ea part. On the subject of | tish Government and the proprietors to their bargain,we shall | of soldiers will have to be stationed here to enforces their col- lection; but, Sir, I do not fear for the result. I believe that ice for all the lands ia the Island, and that bemg the case, | ; : on. ee ogg Read cgn e re pr 0 ’ 5 | the reservation of fifteen hundred acres, it may be true that a |have the whole iand question of the Island settled. Some ob-| arbitration waa the only mode by which particular properties : “i : it tS Ames Eas . : y J P non-resident proprietor may not care about retaining any land | jector will perhaps say, O, but the Award docs not include | ghould not form the basis on which we are to proceed. Tho|f i ithout injustice to the tenant or propriec- |! _s x eee could be appraised w justice Poe eeite iu the Jslend, but it is equally true that there are several pro- | the whole Ivland. Nir,if we get the present Award confirmed, a loan of £100,000, so carnestly urged by the Royal Commis- not favorably entertained by the Colonial Minister; and the other principles of the Award being such as are only calcula- ted to confirm proprietary claims without conferring any benefits on the tenantry : *« Tuererore Resonyen, That in the opinion of this Com- mittee, no advantage would accrue from passing a Bill to confirm the award of the Royal Commission, until, at least, the Duke of Neweastle shall have furnished the ** fresh sug- gestions ’ promised by him.’’ I think no hon. member will dispute the truth of the facts I have alleged. It is certainly true that the printed paper before us cannot be considered as au official copy of the Award; and it is equalty true that His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has not intimated any desire that we should legis- late upon it. It is equally indisputable that this despateh of the 7th February last expresses - ivsuperable objections” to the arbitration proposed by the Coimmissioners, and inti- mates his intention to offer “ fresh suggestions” at some future time. It is also che fact that he repudiates the idea of aloan. Such being facts, patent to all, it is but right that we should meet the question fairly and openly. I am prepared to prove that my position is supported by the Com- missioners themselves, but I will briefly review the whole of the circumstances connected with the Award. ‘'bere are, | believe, some 40 individuals who may be called proprietors. How many of these conseuted to the Commission? But six names are recorded in favor of it, and of these, one, Mr. EK. Cunard’s is to be considered identical with that of Sir Samue! Cunard, while another, Lord Selkirk, bas since sold his estate to the Government of this Jsland. So that we are stultifying ourselves by prociaiming that the bulk of the ten- antry will receive great bencfits from this Award which only affects the properties of five individuals, It has beea said that others have assented or wil] do so, but we have no proof that such has been or will be the case, and mere rumour right of purchase at the ra‘e of 20 years rent, by instalments or, ‘ bjeected that they bad no power to delegate ™. aetna , . oa ro} the it hee bean objes J Le heir | Prietors residert in the Colony who may be differently in-) jg wil| be a platform on which to labour so that we may deal others tie duty of fixing the price of lands, but by their | lined on ; : : : and I certainly think that on a matter of this nature | with other pn: f the Col : : Vom miss : rized to enquire into and adjust | Cie", : : vUFC| with other parts of the Colony, the 40 year leases, the 1509 | missicn they are authori { Jee | the Government should have laid on the table xn exposition acres and those proprietors pif vena oe a6'¥ek ton on thoaet i af hem on ** fair and equitable prin- | ; : es aa $m : ; i os” flemiadon pep ates them power to adept the aie * nee re ch tee aa aces aaeey ont adhesion to the Land Commission.” If we gct the Award con- Sesntio’s. i i ’ nlain | She Award, is sanctioned, an * omen ts Cl! firmed it will be a good and sure basis for tut ae Of arbiters my construction of plain | * . ; firm g e is for tuture operations En. women o. ay ete septal onan | should be disallowed, what becomes of all our action on the | j¢ will be a lever with which to aproot the whole system 7 r seat Sactatimatanetwn enna: aie as men of Whale apbject? Lt is for these reasons that I chject to the | leasehold land tenure on the Island. Sorry should [ he, Sir, eee anes a ae 0A rime naoalt of the Com- | Course the Governinent has adopted. 1 think we should pass 4 find myself in the positien of any one who would have the ~— i = wg C hich we were consenting | °8¢ Act in which the whole question should be disposed of. | hardihood to vote against the conficmation of this Award, J mung, orgauizauion of w ° Ia the shape in which the oe is aie ee us, | do | doubt not but the time will'woon’ come! when such an indivic : i i -1¢ | not intend to oppose the resolution, not baving the honour of | qyaj} will be held in utter detestation, It is now or never . - ss morning, | ; : , ‘ ae Toe L the hon oe ane oon eS port m- a seat in this Llouse when it pledged itself to the submission | with us, we have nothing else to fall back on. 5 ee hie . = a ’ a of ia], wisho aac to reference, I feel that f am at liberty to act a8 my sense of is not confirmed,the tenantry may make up their minds to re- Se a oe et eee duty to my conscience and my constituents shall dictate. that myself and other members of the House are actuated by | : : on oa ; - ro : ahead ‘people from the action of the Commission, | am willing | tate, if necessary, for its confirmation we shall succeed, and the same motive. ‘he question for our consideration is whe- cerparhane resolution. And in stating this, J must express |the final result will be that in a few years at farthest the great We ate to confirm the Award or not, Before deciding,it ‘my earnest desire that the Bill to be introduced in aceurd- body af the settlers on the dsland will become contented free- on be as well to consider what it is that we are called upon ‘ance with the resolation before the Committee, may be 80} holders. Ob! but, says an objector, see what an amount of | of £10, which the proprietor need not accept until all ar- paid up, is so importavt a boon, that it has ealled ‘forth any amouut of eulogy from the members of the ma- jority. Such are its prospective advantages—so great is the | prosperity ip store for the people, that we are gravely told ‘that nothing ean execed their anxivty for the speedy con- | rears are { I was as happy and contented as during the period [ spent in it. I have earned my bread by the discharge of my duty as a member of society. The charge is based on the assumption that I am desirous of obtaining a public office. [ may have such desire, and I see no reason why I may not seek, by le- gitimate means, to gratify it. I am not aware that my poli- tical opponents have a patent right to monopolize the publie offices of honor or emolument. If the time sall arrive when the party I belong to shall come into power, | tras: they and myself will never be in a position which would rendor us liable to the charge of trickery, prevarication, treachery and inconsisteacy, and that we will never give our opponents a chance of saying that we were playing into the hands of the proprietors while we professed to be acting for the benefit of the tenants. God knows their condition is hard ewoagh with- out their being made the victims of deoeit and trickery, The tenants as a class require the fostering care of a paternal Go- _vernment, and deeply do | rezret that they have nut received from the present that consideration which their situation re- | quires. Mr. HOW AT~—I must give the hon. member eredit for con- | sistency at least, for he has opposed the Commission from the time of the introduction or the resolutions which led ty its | formation. After the Commissioness arrived, he in editorials |in the * Examiner’ denounced the Commission as a delusion, 'a mockery, and a snare, and he advised the people not to at- tend the Court. This had a certain effect on the minds of the | people of the country,who did not consider themselves 80 wise ‘as the editor of a newspaper. ‘lhe consequence was that the | attendance at first was rather slim, but it improved after the ' people had ascertained the extent of the powers of the Com- jmission. Again,alter the exposition given by Hon. Mr. Howe, ithe hon. member characterized the Award ae useless and im- practicable. The Oppositiyn have bat two courses open by which they can hope to retura to power. One is to thwart every measure which may be beneficial to the country, the uther, to support whatever may be injurious. The course of the hon. leader of the Opposition and the hon. member, Mr. Whelan, on this matter is just what might be expected, Jt is as natural for them to oppose any measure calculated to romote peace and prosperity as itis fur a dack to swim. esterday the leader soemed inclined to go for the Bill, but he soon strayed to the .~ and to the left. The resolution in- troduced by the hon. leader of the Government in this House gocs simply to eonfirm the Award, and, therefore, the ques. tion is, shall it be confirmed or not? Bat the first deviatioa of the hon. member was his desire to make it Linding on all proprietors. He afterwards introdaced a resolution for se- curing the interest on £100,000. It was evident to me that he did not wish that the Award should be confirmed. Ho ap- pears, however, not to be in a position to lead the whole of the minority. fe has been told by some of the minority ia pretty plain terms, that his resolations will not receive their support. Llaving submitted the settlement of the Land Ques- tion to three corpetent referecs,it is but right that we should confirm their decision. If we do otherwise, and repudiate the | Award, in what position wuuld we place ourselves with refe- | rence to the Imperial Government? We should be guilty of |a breach of faith which the mother country would not com- mit for half a dozen such Colonies as this. The Award is ‘ealculated to benefit the tenantry, notwithstanding the long |spsech of the hon. member, Mr. Whelan. He may think that he can make people believe that black is white, but i¢ | will take a good deal of talk to make people believe that a ‘man owing £100 or £150 arrears of rent is not benefitted by 'a remission of all bat £18 or £20. He may say that the ar- | bitration clause will do no geod ; but who will believe that no benefit will arise to the tenant from having three disinterested varties to fix the value of bis farm? Me may impute igno- /rance to the people of the country, but L can tell him that | there are many people quite competent to act as arbitrators, ‘and with whom his assertions wil be regarded as worth less |than nothing. I admit that there has been and still is a good ‘deal of distress in the country, and 1 am heartily sorry that such is the case, but there are many tenapts able to buy their farms who will ayail themselves of the Award. Yesterday ithe Hon. Mr. Yeo stated that Lot 16 would likely be in the market, and that it could probably be obtained on such terms Dees arise : cs as : ae rin ‘firmation of the Award by this House. in the gee mn as to allow of ite being sold te tenants at alow rate. This jority of cases the lands are not wo:th 20 years’ purchase; sows the effect of the Commission, Proprietors will sell and the QGolonial Minister has “ insuperable objections tO without arbitration, and the tenants will be settled without If the Award | the arbitration scheme proposed to meet their particular sit- trouble. The hon. member's allusion to the subject of Quit cumstances. Are hon. members so stupid as to suppose that Rents, as dealt with by the Commissioners, sug ests the en- | in i i , : i i ; : >: ; < i ene Aol cate : main in their present state to the end of their jives and their|if we passed a Lill confirming the Award that it would be w the particular party frow which it might emanate. = Sends Hopirg and trusting that beneficial results may accrue to the children after them ; but if we held on to the Award and agi- | ratified by the Minister who a * insuperable objections” to quiry why. when his party wasfor eight years in power,they liad not effected a settlementof them. Now, when that party is halpless, it is idle for them to make this matter the subject the principal pravision it contains, and who promises “ fresh oe *t é bi dabcialiin’ bs that particular part of it? And where, 1 °! gtfeak pen the Gorecumsent. ‘ if + eee -— a ro ne pe »* defend their own acts; but as one of their supporters, T can ask, is the boon” to the tenant undor the clause reserving J tell the hon. member that so far from seeking to egeres the - The Award contains matters not included in the ramed as to include all proprietors, as well as those who | arrears will have accuwulated again in the meantime, which 1500 acreg to the proprietor? Lt gives him the right of re- proprietors, his party whea in power supported their ite resolu i j i i » . : . . . : > . : phe basis on whicht licens: each "os; “have not given in their adhesion ty the arbitration, as thyse | wil} haye to be paid befure he can get credit for any amount | serving such particular lands as hy shall see fit ; and we may reste. : | : ee eh ee Oe ee