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.
758COMMONS DEBATESMARCH 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?