censuring its proceedings, or in approving the conduct of one part of
its members, and disapproving that of others, was a violation of the
statute by which the House was constituted; was a breach of the
privileges of the House, which it could not forbear objecting to; and
was a dangerous attack upon the rights and liberties of His Majesty's
subjects in Canada. There were, not ten only, but thirteen members of
British origin now in the House of Assembly, and the vote, for the
adoption of the resolution, exhibited a wonderful degree of unanimity
of opinion with regard to the right of freedom of opinion and the
freedom of debate. There were twenty-four affirmative to eleven adverse
votes, and, among those who voted with the minority, were some
officials of French origin. In reply to the address from the throne,
the House expressed its unalterable attachment to Great Britain, they
were grateful and would be faithful to that sovereign and nation which
respected their rights and liberties; it was unnecessary to urge them
to prepare for any event that might arise, they would be prepared; and
the militia, not unmindful of the courage which they had, in former
days, displayed, would endeavour to emulate that bravery, natural to
His Majesty's arms, which had never been called in question. Nay, the
House was exuberant with loyalty. No sooner was the address in reply
presented to the Governor than an address, congratulating the King on
the happy event of having entered upon the fiftieth year of his reign,
was unanimously adopted, and transmitted to the Governor for
transmission to England. The expediency of relieving the Imperial
government of the burthen of providing for the civil list of Canada was
next discussed. It was considered that the sooner the payment of its
own government officers devolved upon the province, the better it would
be for all classes inhabiting it. Ultimately, the province would be
required to defray the expenses of its own government, and the sooner
it did so the less weighty would the civil list be. The minority were
very much opposed to the proposed change. Some, who, twenty-seven years
before, were most anxious to present L20,000 to the King, by a tax on
goods, wares, and merchandise, to assist in enabling His Majesty to
prosecute the war against France vigorously, now that the province was
more than paying her expenses, could not see the necessity of saddling
the country with a burthen which would make it