Works; Hon. John J. Ross, M.D., Speaker of the Legislative Council; Hon. Joseph Adolphe Chapleau, Q.C., Solicitor-General. March 4th-Hon. John O'Connor, President o pointed Minister of Inland Revenue. the Privy Council, ap 5th-Meeting of Dominion Parliament, Hon. James Cockburn, re-elected Speaker. 6th.-First session of second Parliament opened by the Governor-General, Lord Dufferin, who delivered the following Speech from the Throne :— Honorable Gentlemen of the Senate: Gentlemen of the House of Commons: In addressing for the first time the Parliament of Canada, I desire to express the satisfaction I feel in resorting to your advice and assistance, as well as my deep sense of my own good fortune in being permitted to associate myself with you in your labors and aspirations for the welfare of this Dominion. I rejoice to think that my assumption of office should have taken place at a period when the prospects of the country appear so full of promise, when peace and amity prevail amongst all neighboring nations, and when so many indications are afforded of the success with which Canada herself is consolidating her political unity and developing her material resources. In accordance with the decision of Parliament, and to carry into effect the leglslation of last Session, I have caused a Charter to be granted to a body of Canadian capitalists for the construction of the Pacific Railway. The Company now formed has given assurances that this great work will be vigorously prosecuted, and a favorable state of the money market in England affords every hope that satisfactory arrangements may be made for the required capital. The papers and correspondence relating to this subject will be laid before you. During the past year the surveys for the improvement and extension of our system of Canals, for which appropriations were made last Session, have been in active preparation; and I am glad to inform you that the plans and specifications for the enlargement of the Welland and the construction of the Baie Verte Canals have been completed, and that the works can now be put under contract. The surveys for the St. Lawrence Canals will, I am assured, be finished in time to commence the works at the beginning of next year. This will ensure the completion of all these great undertakings at the same period. It is gratifying to know that the efforts made to encourage immigration have met with a great measure of success, and that the numbers seeking a home in Canada have been greatly augmented during the last year. I do not doubt your readiness to make ample provision for the steadily increasing stream of settlers that may hereafter be annually expected to add to the population, wealth and strength of the Dominion. The compilation of the first Census of the Dominion approaches completion, and this would, therefore, seem a fitting time to provide for the establishment of a proper system for the accurate collection and scientific arrangement of statistical information. I commend this subject to your attention. It is important that provision should be made for the consolidation and amendment of the laws, now in force in the several Provinces, relating to the representation of the people in Parliament. A Measure for this purpose, and one for the trial of Controverted Elections, will be submitted for your consideration. Your attention will be invited to measures for the amendment of the Laws relating to Pilots, to Salvage, and to the Trinity Houses of Montreal and Quebec, as well as for the improvement of the laws, generally affecting our Merchant Shipping. Experience has shown that the duties now performed in the offices of the Secretary of State and the Secretary for the Provinces, may be readjusted with advantage to the public service. A Bill on the subject will be laid before you. Among other measures, Bills will be presented to you relating to the Criminal Law, to Weights and Measures, and to the amendment and consolidation of the Inspection Laws. Gentlemen of the House of Commons: I have given directions that the accounts of the past, and of the first six months of the present financial year, shall be laid before you without delay. You will be gratified to learn that the finances of the Dominion are in a prosperous condition, and that there is no reason to doubt that the revenre will be sufficient to meet all contemplated charges upon it. The Estimates for the ensuing year, which will be submitted to you, have been prepared with as much regard to economy as is compatible with the efficiency of the public service, and I venture to hope that you will be of opinion that the supplies which my Government will ask you to vote, can be granted without inconvenience to the people. Honorable Gentlemen of the Senate: Gentlemen of the House of Commons: Many of the subjects I have enumerated are of the greatest importance. It is with full confidence in your patriotism and wisdom that I commend them to your consideration, and I trust that a Gracious Providence may guide your Counsels in whatever way may best promote the happiness of the people of Canada, and the welfare of the Empire at large. 10th.-Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne moved in the Senate by Hon. A. Vidal, seconded by Hon. M. H. Cochrane. 11th.-Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne moved in Commons by Stephen Tobin, Esq., seconded by A. L. Palmer, Esq., Q.C. April 1st-Hon. Mr. Tilley made his financial statement to the House, showing a surplus of $3,125,345. 2nd.-Hon. Mr. Huntington moved for a Committee to examine into the granting of the Pacific Railway Charter, charging that the Government had sold the charter to Sir Hugh Allan, and a number of American capitalists, in consideration of a large sum of money which was spent in the elections. The motion was treated as one of want of confidence, and voted down without discussion by 107 to 76. 3rd.-Sir John A. Macdonald moved that a Committee of five members be appointed by the House to investigate the charges made by Hon. Mr. Huntington. Motion carried, and Hon. J. H. Cameron, Hon. J. G. Blanchet, Hon. A. A. Dorion, Hon. Edward Blake and Hon. James McDonald were appointed. The Committee reported in favor of evidence being taken under oath; and, as there was no authority for Committees examining witnesses under oath, a Bill was introduced, passed, and assented to on the third of May, giving Parliamentary Committees power to examine witnesses under oath. This Act was known as the "Oath's Bill," and was disallowed by Her Majesty on the ground that it exceeded the power conferred on the Parlia ment of Canada by the British North America Act of 1867. Meanwhile the Committee adjourned until the 2nd of July as Sir Hugh Allan, Sir George E. Cartier and Hon. Mr. Abbott, who were important witnesses, were in England and would not return until about that time. As the Committee could not sit during recess it was agreed that Parliament should be adjourned instead of being prorogued, and it was so adjourned, on the twenty-third of May, to meet pro forma on the thirteenth of August for prorogation. May 1st.-Hon. Joseph Howe appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia. 10th.-Hon. William C. F. Robinson appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island, to take effect on the 1st of July. 20th.-Sir George E. Cartier died in London, England. 23rd.-Parliament adjourned until the thirteenth of August, His Excellency giving assent to all the Bills passed during the Session, not previously assented to. During the Session, fifty-one public and seventy-five private Bills were passed, amongst the most important of which were the following: The Oath's Bill; an Act rendering members of Provincial Councils and Assemblies ineligible for the House of Commons; a temporary Election Act; an Act providing for the trial of Controverted Elections by Judges; an Act rearranging Provincial subsidies under the Union Act, the debt of Ontario and Quebec being placed at $73,006,088, instead of $62,500,000, and the other Provinces allowed in proportion; an Act arranging salaries, the allowance of members of Parliament was raised from $600 to $1,000, of Ministers from $5,000 to $7,000, with $1,000 extra to the Premier, salaries of LieutenantGovernors of Ontario and Quebec raised to $10,000, and all other Provinces $9,000, Speakers of the Senate and Commons raised to $4,000 each, an increase made in the salaries of Judges, and $75,000 appropriated for increased salaries in the Civil Service. Acts were passed providing for the administration of justice in the North-West Territories, and for the establishment of a Mounted Police Force; also, an Act granting a subsidy of $150,000 per annum to New Brunswick, on condition of the repeal of the export duty on American timber floated down the St. John river; also, an Act changing the guage of the Intercolonial Railway to 4 ft. 8 in.; also, an Act regulating the carrying of deck loads. June 1st.-Hon. Joseph Howe, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, died at Halifax. 14th.-Thomas Nicholson Gibbs, and Hugh Macdonald, Esquires, sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Secretary of State for the Provinces and President of the Privy Council respectively. July 1st.-Proclamation of the disallowance of the Oath's Bill. General reconstruction of the Dominion Cabinet, which left the portfolios distributed as follows: Hon. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD, K.C.B., Minister of Justice (Premier.) Hon. PETER MITCHELL, Minister of Marine and Fisheries. Hon. J. C. AIKINS, Secretary of State. Hon. CHARLES TUPPER, M.D., C.B., Minister of Customs. Hon. JOHN O'CONNOR. Q.C., Postmaster-General. Hon. THEO. ROBITAILLE, M.D., Receiver-General. Hon. T. N. GIBBS, Minister of Inland Revenue. Hon. H. McDONALD, Q.C., Minister of Militia and Defence. -Prince Edward Island enters Confederation. 2nd.-Committee on Hon. Mr. Huntington's charges met at Montreal, and adjourned until 13th of August, on account of disallowance of Oaths Bill. Sir John A. Macdonald offered to issue a Royal Commission to the Committee, but it was declined by Hon. Messrs. Blake and Dorion. 4th.-A number of letters from Sir Hugh Allan to Messrs. G. W. McMullen, C. M. Smith, and G. W. Cass, published in the Montreal Herald and Toronto Globe. These letters showed that Sir Hugh Allan had entered into an agreement with a number of American capitalists to build the Pacific Railway; that nearly $400,000 had been used by him (Allan) for election and other purposes; and seemed to implicate the Government in the corrupt disposal of the Pacific Railway contract. Hon. Adams George Archibald, Q.C., appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia. 5th.-Sir Hugh Allan publishes an affidavit in the Montreal Gazette denying that he had made any corrupt bargain with the Government with regard to the Pacific Railway contract. 16th.-Mr. G. W. McMullen published a "narrative" in the Montreal Herald and Toronto Globe giving his account of the Pacific Railway transactions, and also a letter from Sir G. E. Cartier to Hon. J. J. C. Abbott asking for $20,000, on the conditions agreed on with Sir Hugh Allan, and a telegram from Sir John A. Macdonald asking for $10,000 more. August 13th.-Parliament prorogued. Ninety-two members of the Opposition presented a memorial to His Excellency praying that Parliament should not be prorogued, but be allowed to continue the investigation of the Huntington charges. He replied that he was bound to take the advice of his Constitutional advisers, and they advised him to prorogue Parliament, as had been agreed on in May; but added that a Royal Commission would be issued, and Parliament summoned again as soon as their report was received. 14th.-A Royal Commission to enquire into the charges made by Hon. Mr. Huntington, issued to the Honorable C. D. Day, late a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Lower Canada; Hon. Antoine Polette, a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, and James Robert Gowan, Esq., Judge of the County Court of the County Simcoe, Ont. The Commissioners to report to Parliament as well as to the Secretary of State. September 4th.-Royal Commission met at Ottawa. October 23rd.-Second Session of Second Parliament opened by His Excellency the Governor-General, who delivered the following Speech from the Throne : Honorable Gentlemen of the Senate: Gentlemen of the House of Commons: In accordance with the intimation given by me at the close of the last Session, I have caused Parliament to be summoned at the earliest moment after the receipt of the Report of the Commissioners appointed by me to enquire into certain matters connected with the Canadian Pacific Railway. The evidence obtained under the Commission deserves careful consideration. The Report will be laid before Parliament, and it will be for you then to determine whether it can be of any assistance to you. A Bill for the Consolidation and Amendment of the Laws in force in the several Provinces relating to the representation of the people in Parliament will again be submitted to you. By the postponement of this measure from last Session, you will have the advantage of including in its provisions the Province of Prince Edward Island, now happily united to Canada. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company, to whom a Royal Charter was granted, have, I regret to say, been unable to make the financial arrangements necessary for the construction of that great undertaking. They have therefore executed a surrender of their Charter, which has been accepted by me. You will, I trust, feel yourselves called upon to take steps to secure the early commencement and vigorous prosecution of the construction of that Railway, and thus to carry out, in good faith, the arrangement made with the Province of British Columbia. A measure for this purpose will be submitted for your consideration. The extension of the bounds of the Dominion has caused a corresponding increase in the work of administration, and seems to call for additional assistance in Parliament as well as in the Executive Government. A Bill on this subject will be laid before you. Your attention will be invited to the consideration of a Bill for the establishment of a General Court of Appeal. Measures relating to our navigable waters and to the Inspection Laws, will be laid before you; as also, a Bill for the establishment of a Dominion Board of Agriculture. The subject of the law relating to Insolvency will necessarily engage your attention. The efforts made by the several Provinces, as well as by the Dominion, to encourage Immigration, have met with success, and a large number of valuable settlers have been added to our population. I do not doubt that you will continue your liberal aid to this important object. Gentlemen of the House of Commons: I have directed that the accounts of the past financial year shall be laid before you. The prosperous condition of our finances continues, and the revenue has been sufficient to meet all charges upon it. The estimates for the ensuing year will be laid before you. They have been prepared with due regard to economy as well as to the efficiency of the public service, and I trust that the supplies which are necessary, will be granted without inconvenience to the people. Honorable Gentlemen of the Senate: Gentlemen of the House of Commons: Your best attention will, I doubt not, be devoted to the important interests committed to your charge, and I am confident that your deliberations will redound to the advantage and prosperity of the country. 27th.-Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne moved in the Senate by Hon. G. Alexander, seconded by Hon. D. Montgomery, and adopted. Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne moved in the House by Mr. H. B. Witton, seconded by Mr. L. F. G. Baby, Q.C. Hon. Mr. Mackenzie moved in amendment that on account of their conduct with regard to the Pacific Railway investigation the Ministry had lost the confidence of the House. The debate was continued seven days, and the Ministry resigned without a vote being taken. November 5th.-Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald and his Cabinet resign, and Hon. Mr. Mackenzie sent for to form a new Ministry. Hon. John Crawford appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, and Hon. S. L. Tilley, LieutenantGovernor of New Brunswick. 7th.-Hon. Letellier de St. Just announces in the Senate and Hon. L. H. Holton in the House, that Mr. Mackenzie had formed his Ministry; and Parliament was prorogued. The following is a list of the new Ministry :Hon. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, Minister of Public Works (Premier.) Hon. ANTOINE A. DORION, Q.C., Minister of Justice. Hon. EDWARD BLAKE, Q.C., without portfolio. Hon. ALBERT J. SMITH, Q.C., Minister of Marine and Fisheries. Hon. LUC I ETELLIER DE ST. JUST, Minister of Agriculture. HON. RICHARD J. CARTWRIGHT, Minister of Finance. Hon. DAVID LAIRD, Minister of the Interior. Hon. DAVID CHRISTIE, Secretary of State. Hon. ISAAC BURPEE, Postmaster-General. Hon. DONALD A. MACDONALD, Postmaster-General. Hon. THOMAS COFFIN, Receiver-General. |