The SPEAKER took the chair at 3.00 pm.
Prayers
A MESSAGE was brought by René Kimber, Esquire, Gentleman
Usher of the Black Rod:―
The SPEAKER,
His Excellency, the Governor General desires the immediate
attendance of this Honorable House in the Senate Chamber.
Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, with the House, went to the Senate
Chamber:― And being returned:
Mr. Speaker informed the House, that during the Recess, he had
received the following notifications of vacancies which had
occurred in the representation of the electoral districts of
Missisquoi, Quebec (City) East, Cumberland, (Nova Scotia)
Bellechasse, Saint-Hyacinthe, Colehester, (N .S.), Richelieu and
Restigouche; and that he had issued his Warrants to the Clerk of the
Crown in Chancery to make out new Writs for the Election of
Members to serve in this present Parliament for the said Electoral
Districts:
Adolphe Tourangeau, Esquire, Member for the Electoral District
of Quebec East; Louis Delorme, Esquire, Member for the Electoral
District of Saint-Hyacinthe', George Moflatt, Esquire, Member for
the Electoral District of Restigouche (New Brunswick); Leverett de
Veber Chipman, Esquire, Member for the Electoral District of
Kings; Georges Isidore Barthe, Esquire, Member for the Electoral
District of Richelieu; and the Honorable Charles Tupper, C.B.,
Member for the Electoral District of Cumberland, having
previously taken the Oath, according to Law, and subscribed before
the Commissioners the Roll containing the same, took their seats in
the House.
Ordered, That the Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald have leave to
bring in a Bill respecting the administration of Oaths of Office.
He accordingly presented the said Bill to the House, and the same
was received and read the first time.
Mr. Speaker reported, That when the House did attend His
Excellency the Governor General this day, in the Senate Chamber,
His Excellency was pleased to make a Speech to both Houses of
Parliament, of which Mr. Speaker said he had, to prevent mistakes,
obtained a copy which he read to the House, as followeth:―
Honorable Gentlemen of the Senate, Gentlemen of the House of
Commons,―
I have much satisfaction in meeting you at this, the usual and
most convenient season of the year, and under the present
auspicious circumstances of the Country.
The hope I was sanguine enough to express at the close of the
last session that no further attempt would be made to disturb our
frontier, was doomed to early disappointment. The Session had
scarcely closed when lawless bands assembled within the United
States in great numbers, and renewed the menace of invasion. They
ventured to cross the border at two points, but were promptly met
and repelled. So complete and humiliating was the repulse, that the
invaders lost heart and hope, threw away quantities of arms, and fell
back to encumber the villages in their rear, with their starving and
demoralized masses. Our Militia rallied at the first call to arms with
praiseworthy alacrity, and the spirit which pervades the country,
swelled their numbers with volunteers from all quarters. The
gallantry displayed and the success achieved, have been duly
recognized by the highest Military authority, and honored in
gratifying terms of appreciation, by Her Most Gracious Majesty. In
maintaining the Militia on active duty, the Government incurred an
outlay to a considerable amount beyond what was provided by the
votes of last Session. The accounts of the entire expenditure for the
defence of the frontier will be laid before you, and I feel confident
that you will pass a bill to indemnify the Government.
My anticipations of success in regard to the Act passed for the
Government of Manitoba, and the North West Territories, and in
regard to the Military Expedition, which it was necessary to
despatch, have been fortunately realized. The troops surmounted the
difficulties of the long and toilsome route with endurance and
intelligence. They encountered no armed opposition, and their
arrival at the Red River was cordially welcomed by the inhabitants.
The people of the new Province have, under the Constitution
accorded to them last year, assumed all the duties of self-
government, and every appearance warrants the hope that they are
entering steadily upon a career of peace and prosperity.
The Legislature of British Columbia has passed an Address to
Her Majesty, praying for admission into the union, on the terms and
conditions therein stated. All the papers on this important subject
will be submitted, and your earnest attention is invited to them. I
hope you will think that the terms are so fair as to justify you in
passing a similar Address, so that the boundaries of Canada, may,
COMMONS DEBATES
2
February 15, 1871
at an early day, be extended from the shores of the Atlantie Ocean
on the one side, to the shores of the Pacific on the other.
Should such an Address be adopted, it will be necessary for you
to take steps to secure the early exploration and survey of a route
for an Interoceanic Railway, with a view to its construction in
accordance with the terms of Union.
The acquisition of the North West Territories throws upon the
Government and Parliament of the Dominion the duty of promoting
their early settlement by the encouragement of immigration. This
duty can be best discharged by a liberal land policy, and by opening
up communications through our own country to Manitoba. The
means proposed for accomplishing these purposes will be submitted
for your consideration.
Her Majesty's Government has decided upon referring the
Fishery question, along with other questions pending between the
two countries, to a joint commission to be named by Her Majesty's
Government and the Government of the United States. On this
commission Canada will be represented. This mode of dealing with
the various matters in controversy will, I trust, lead to their
satisfactory adjustment. Canada urges no demand beyond those to
which she is plainly entitled by Treaty and the law of Nations. She
has pushed no claim to an extreme assertion, and only sought to
maintain the rights of her own people fairly and firmly, but in a
friendly and considerate spirit and with all due respect to foreign
powers and international obligations. The thanks of the country are
due to the Admiral on the Station and those under his command, for
the valuable and efficient aid which they rendered to our cruisers
during the past season in maintaining order and protecting the
inshore fisheries from encroachment.
The prospect of the adoption of an international currency seems,
in the present state of Europe, to be so remote, that I recommend
you to consider the propriety of assimilating the currency of the
Dominion without further delay.
The extension to Manitoba of the militia and other laws of the
Dominion, and their adaptation to the present circumstances of that
young Province, will require your attention.
The decennial Census will be taken on the third day of April
next, and it is believed that a more thorough and accurate system
has been adopted than any that has hitherto obtained. It may be
necessary to amend the Act of last session in some particulars.
Among other measures, Bills will be presented to you relating to
Parliamentary Elections, Weights and Measures, Insurance
Companies, Savings Banks, and for the Consolidation and
Amendment of the Inspection Laws.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,―
I have given directions that the Public Accounts shall be laid
before you. You will learn with satisfaction that the Revenue for the
past year was in excess of what was estimated, and that the
prospects for the current year are so encouraging that,
notwithstanding the extensive public improvements which are
contemplated, you will probably be able to diminish the taxation of
the Country.
The Estimates for the ensuing year will be submitted to you, and
I feel assured that you will be of opinion that the supplies which
you will be asked to vote can be granted without inconvenience to
the people.
Hon. Gentlemen of the Senate, Gentlemen of the House of
Commons,-
I lay these various and weighty matters before you, in full
confidence that they will engage your mature attention, and I pray
that the result of your deliberations may, with the Divine Blessing,
prove conducive in all respects to the advancement and happiness
of the country.
The House resolved to establish the usual Standing Committees,
and adjournment was moved, by Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald,
seconded by Hon. Sir George-E. Cartier.
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