EN
🔍

Legislative Assembly, 27 April 1865, New Brunswick Confederation Debates

Provincial Parliament

House of Assembly

THURSDAY, April 27th.

This day at 2 o'clock P.M., His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor came down to the Council Chamber, and having commanded the attendance of the House of Assembly, directed them to elect a Speaker. The Members of the Assembly then returned to the Lower House, when Dr. Vail was nominated for Speaker by Colonel Boyd, seconded by Mr. Kerr ; and Mr. McClellan was nominated by Mr. Sutton seconded by Mr. A. C. DesBrisay ; upon a division being taken Dr. Vail was declared elected. He then in an appropriate Speech thanked the Members of the House and received their congratulations. It was then announced that His Excellency would command the attendance of the House at 4 o'clock.
Legislative Council Chamber, 4 o'clock, P. M.
His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, being seated on the Throne commanded the attendance of the House of Assembly who being come, His Excellency was pleased to open the Session with the following
SPEECH :
" Mr. President, and Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council :
" Mr. Speaker and the Gentlemen of the House of Assembly :
" I am directed by the Queen to inform you that Her Majesty has been pleased to receive very graciously the Joint Address of the Legislature of this Province on the occasion of the Birth of the Son of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales.
" The Civil War which has so long raged in the neighbouring Republic appears to be drawing towards a close. The restoration of Peace will, no doubt, be hailed by you with a lively satisfaction, both as putting an end to the further effusion of blood, and as reopening to commerce channels which have, since the commencement of the War, been closed.
" The joy which pervaded the United States at the prospect of a speedy termination of hostilities has, however, been clouded by the commission of a foul crime. I know I speak your sentiments when I say that we share the feelings of indignant reprobation which the murder of the President has evoked in every honest and generous heart, and that we join in the mourning of a great and kindred people.
" In compliance with the desire expressed by Addresses from both branches of the Legislature at the last Session, I appointed Delegates to meet others appointed by the Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, for the purpose of considering the practicability of effecting a Legislative and Administrative Union of the Maritime Provinces of British North America. The Report of these Delegates will immediately be laid before you.
" At the request of the Governor General of Canada, and with the approbation of the Queen, I also appointed Delegates to a Conference of Representatives of the British North American Colonies, held in Quebec in the month of October last, with a view of arranging the terms of a Federal Union of British North America. The resolutions agreed to by this Conference appeared to me to be so important in their character, and their adoption fraught with consequences so materially affecting the future condition and well-being of British America, that, in order to enable the people of New Brunswick to give expression to their wishes on the subject, I determined to dissolve the then existing House of Assembly. I now submit these Resolutions to your judgment.
" You will do well to enquire whether it is possible to afford further facilities for the development and improvement of the Railway system already existing in this Province. Works for the completion and extension of the European and North American Railway, from the frontier of Nova Scotia to that of the United States, will be undertaken as soon as practicable ; but any immediate steps in this direction appear to be precluded by existing legislation.
" I recommend you to consider whether it is necessary for the efficient discharge of the postal service of the Province, that the Head of that Department should be, as hitherto, one of the confidential advisers of the Crown
" Your attention will be called, with a view to their renewal, to several enactments which, owing to my inability to call you together at an earlier period, have either expired or are on the point of expiring. Among their number is the Act establishing the Provincial Militia. A Bill for the revival of that Force, and to provide for its increased efficiency, will immediately be laid before you ; and I am confident that you will desire, at as early a period as is compatible with the due consideration of the provisions of that measure, to put the Province again into possession of a Force, of which, for the last eighty years, it has never until now been altogether destitute. Active steps have been taken, and large sums of expended to improve the organization of the Militia in the neighbouring Provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia. I cannot doubt that the loyal spirit of the people of New Brunswick will prompt them to efforts of a similar character. Some correspondence on this subject has passed between the Imperial Government and myself. I have directed this correspondence to be laid before you.
"The income of the past Fiscal Year was not only largely in excess of the estimated amount, but is greater than that ever previously received in any one year ; and a considerable surplus remained after all charges on the Treasury had been defrayed. I cannot, however, hold out to you any hope that the receipts of the present year will be of nearly equal amount. Trade has been depressed, and the Revenue has suffered from that depression, although I entertain hopes that some improvement may be experienced before the year closes.
" Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly :
" I have directed the Accounts of the Income and Expenditure of the past year to be laid before you.
" Estimates for the current year will also be submitted to you. They have been framed with as close a regard to economy as is consistent with a due provision for the requirements of the public service.
" Mr. President, and Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council :
" Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly :
" Notwithstanding the temporary depression of trade, the condition of the Province is on the whole satisfactory ; and a feeling of contentment and of confidence in the Institutions under which we live generally prevails. It affords me satisfaction to observe that, whatever difference of opinion may on other subjects be manifested, there is but one unanimous feeling of loyalty towards the Crown, and an universal desire to perpetuate the connection of this Province with Great Britain. I rejoice to perceive that you are fully sensible of the advantages you derive from that connection, and I cannot doubt that you will cheerfully meet the corresponding obligations which it entails."
The members of the Assembly having returned to the Lower House, His Honor the Speaker read the opening Speech.
Col. BOYD brought in a Bill to provide for the expenses of the Legislature. Bill received and ordered to be read ? first time.
Mr. OTTY moved the following Address in answer to His Excellency's speech.
To His Excellency The Honorable ARTHUR HAMILTON GORDON, C. M. G., Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of New Brunswick, &c., &c., &c.
May it please Your Excellency,—
1. We, the faithful Commons of New 2 DEBATES OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY FOR 1865. Brunswick, thank Your Excellency for your Speech at the opening of the Session.
2. We are gratified to learn that Her Majesty was graciously pleased to receive our congratulations on the occasion of the birth of the Son of their Royal High- nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales.
3 We share with Your Excellency the feelings of satisfaction at the prospect of the speedy restoration of peace in the neighboring Republic ; and we assure Your Excellency that you truly express our sentiments, when you say that we fully share the feelings of indignant reprobation which the murder of the President has excited in every honest and generous heart, and participate in the grief of a great and kindred people.
We thank Your Excellency for the assurance that the Report of the Delegates appointed for the purpose of considering the practicability of effecting a Legislative and Administrative Union of the Maritime Provinces of British North America, will be laid before us. We also thank Your Excellency for the information that the Resolutions adopted at a Conference of Representatives of the British North American Colonies, held at Quebec in October last, relative to a Union of British North America, will be laid before us.
5. We will consider whether further facilities can be afforded for the extension of Railways in this Province.We are pleased to learn that the completion and extension of the European and North American Railway, from the frontier of Nova Scotia to the boundary of the United States, will be undertaken as soon as practicable : and we regret that existing laws preclude immediate action for the accomplishment of this work.
6. We will give our attentive consideration to any measure that may be submitted relating to the Postal Service of the Province.
7. We will give our attention to such enactments as have recently expired, or are about to expire. Any measure submitted for the revival of the Provincial Militia, and for increasing its efficiency, will receive our most prompt and careful consideration. We thank Your Excellency for the assurance that the Correspondence between the Imperial Government and Your Excellency, relating to this subject, will be laid before us.
8. We are gratified to learn that the Revenue of the past Fiscal Year was largely in excess of the Estimate, and that a surplus remained after all charges on the Treasury had been defrayed. We regret, however, that the depression in trade has caused so large a falling off in the Revenue of the present year, but we trust that the hopes of improvement expressed by Your Excellency may be realized.
9. We thank Your Excellency for the assurance that the Accounts of the Income and Expenditure of the past year, and the Estimates for the present year will be laid before us.
10. We agree with Your Excellency that notwithstanding the present depression of Trade, the condition of the Province is, on the whole, satisfactory, and that a feeling of contentment and confidence in the institutions under which we live prevails ; and we assure Your Excellency, that whatever differences of opinion may exist on other subjects, the feeling of loyalty to the Crown, for which the people of this Province have always been distinguished, animates them still.
11. We are fully sensible of the advantages we derive from our connection with Great Britain, and will cheerfully meet the obligations it entails upon us.
On motion of Mr. OTTY, Saturday next at 11 o'clock was the time fixed for the discussion. of the Reply.
On motion of Mr. KERR, a Committee was appointed to confer with a Committee of the Legislative Council, with regards to the Legislative Library.
On motion of Mr. WILLISTON, a Committee was appointed to take into consideration the contingencies of the House.
On motion of Mr. MCCLELLAN, a Committee was appointed to whom shall be referred all matters relating to the Mining interests of the Province.
On motion of Mr. NEEDHAM, a Standing Committee was appointed to whom shall be referred all matters concerning the privileges of the House.
Mr. GILBERT moved a Resolution that the Rules in force in the late House be adopted in the present, until altered, amended, or repealed.
After some discussion this Resolution was adopted. .
On motion of Mr. BEVERIDGE a Committee was appointed to take into consideration all matters relating to the Lumbering interests of the Province.
On motion of Mr. L. P. W. DESBRISAY, a Committee was appointed to take into consideration all matters connected with the Trade of the Province.
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL brought in a Bill entitled, An act to regulate the sale of Spirituous Liquors.
Mr. GILBERT brought in a Bill to simplify the practice of Law in this Province, and to abolish special bail.
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL brought in a Bill to alter the division line between the Parishes Queensbury and Southampton, in the County of York.
On motion of Mr. WILLISTON, a Committee was appointed to whom shall be referred all matters relating to the Fisheries of this Province.
Hon. COMMISSIONER OF THE BOARD OF WORKS, called the attention of the House to the fact of the Reporters' seats being so situated and occupied that it will be very difficult for the official Reporters to give satisfaction, unless they have a position assigned them in corner of the Ladies' Gallery, that being the most suitable place in the House. This created some discussion, and the matter was finally dropped.
On motion of Mr. GILBERT, a Committee was appointed to whom shall be referred all matters relating to Public accounts, with power to bring before them persons and papers.
On motion of Dr. THOMPSON, a Committee was appointed to take into consideration all matters relating to Agriculture.
On motion, the House was adjourned until to-morrow at. 10 o'clock.
T. P. D.

Source:

New Brunswick. Reports of the Debates of the House of Assembly. St. John: G.W. Day, 1865-1867. Microfilm copies provided by the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.

Credits:

.

Selection of input documents and completion of metadata: Gordon Lyall.

Personnes participantes: