FR
🔍

House of Commons, 29 March 1870, Canadian Confederation with Manitoba

757
[...] er than that scheme if carried into law. He hoped the House would let the law stand, as it was altered from time to time by the Local Legislatures. The question of expense was also a most serious one, and on that as well as on other grounds, he hoped the House would concur in the amendment proposed by the hon. member for Hochelaga. (Applause.)
Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald moved that the Committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again on Thursday.—Carried.

THUNDER BAY ROAD

Hon. Mr. Langevin presented papers connected with the road between Thunder Bay and Fort Garry.

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

In reply to the Hon. Mr. Holton,
Hon. Sir Francis Hincks said he could not tell at what time he would bring down the Budget until the Estimates were ready. They were almost ready to come down, and he was told to-day they would be ready to-morrow. It was absolutely impossible until he laid the Estimates on the table, to say when he could bring down the Budget.

THE RED RIVER MURDER

Mr. Blake said a very painful rumour had been abroad as to the execution of a person at Red River. He wished to know if the Government had received any information on the subject?
Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald said the Government had no official or reliable information on the subject. All he could say was that they had received a message from a gentleman at St. Paul marked "private," stating that it was said a person named Scott had been shot by the Provisional Government. What was the foundation for the statement, he (Sir John) did not know.
Mr. Mackenzie hoped the Government had taken some means to procure accurate information, for if the person who had assumed authority at Red River had proceeded to the length of taking a Canadian life he hoped the Government would not fail to do their duty. He wished to know whether the Government had taken means to ascertain the accuracy of the statement.
Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald said steps would be taken by the Government to inquire into the truth of the matter.
758 COMMONS DEBATES MARCH 29, 1870
Mr. Mackenzie said it was five days since the Toronto papers had published that statement, and it was very extraordinary that the Government should not have taken means to secure information in advance of the ordinary newspapers of the day. The House did not know as yet whether the matter was true or not.
Mr. Blake asked, when the delegates from Red River were expected?
Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald said they were expected hourly.
Mr. Blake said he hoped the Government would give notice of their arrival without further motion on the subject.
Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald said the Government would do so, of course.

PRISONS AND PENITENTIARIES

A report on Prisons and Penitentiaries was submitted by Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald. who then moved the adjournment of the House.
The House rose at midnight.

Source:

Canada. House of Commons Debates, 1870. Edited by P.B. Waite. Ottawa: Queen's Printer, 1979. Original scans accessible at: http://parl.canadiana.ca/.

Credits:

.

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

Participating Individuals: