§ The Earl of Riponpresented a Petition from the inhabitants of Lower Canada residing at Quebec, on the subject of the present state of that province. He was not aware of any reason why the petitioners had placed in his hands this petition, except that they knew that he had always entertained the sincerest and most ardent wishes for the prosperity and happiness of the province, and had been desirous to contribute everything in his power to promote such an end. The petition was signed by persons chiefly residing at Quebec, and the numbers who had signed it were considerable. There were between five and six thousand of English descent, and between six and seven hundred of French descent. The petitioners stated the gratitude they felt to the British Government for the constitution given them in 1791, which they conceived was capable of being suited to all purposes of good government. They stated that the practical working of that constitution was not attended with the advantages they had anticipated. They complained of the law by which the rights of election were exercised, and stated that the effect of it in practice 255 was to exclude from the representation of the people those who would represent that part of the people of the province who were of British descent; that the House of Assembly arrogated to itself a degree of power and authority that did not properly belong to it; and that the intervention of Parliament was necessary to correct the evil. There were two circumstances connected with the province which were attended with injurious consequences; these were the composition of the Legislative and of the Executive Councils. The first was composed of gentlemen who were appointed for life; whereas the petitioners stated that they should be elective, and they wished to see some efficient regulations made and enforced, by which persons who, by fortune and situation, were independent alike of the Government and of popular control, should be appointed. It had been his (the Earl of Ripon's) duty, when connected with the Colonial Office, to attempt something of the kind, and he had issued instructions to the Governor strictly to abide by that principle in all the recommendations he made to the Home Government with a view to fill up any vacancies that might occur in the body. As to the Executive Council, which somewhat resembled what the Privy Council was in this country, it would be difficult to say in what manner any change should be made; but some change ought to be adopted which would give that body a just claim to the confidence of the public at large. It should not be composed in such a manner as to render its members objects of distrust and dislike to the community in general. He need not state how much he agreed with the recommendations in this petition. The circumstances in which Canada now stood rendered this an unfavourable moment for Parliamentary discussion respecting it; but he might be permitted to express his hope that the Commissioners who had been appointed, and who had now sailed—[The Earl of Gosford (the Commissioner) was here pointed out to the noble Earl]—he begged pardon, but he really believed that his noble Friend had gone—would have every success in the object of their mission, and that that important province would owe its tranquillity to their efforts, that the heats which were now prevalent there might be allayed, that the cause of animosity might subside, and the country be able to enjoy those blessings to which its position and its resources entitled it.
256 The Duke of Richmond presented a similar petition, very numerously and respectably signed, from the inhabitants of Montreal. The petitioners stated, that the Judges were held in a state of dependence upon the House of Assembly, and they complained of the old French Feudal Law, which still prevailed in the province, and which interfered with the freedom of the sale and transfer of land, so as materially to injure its value. He hoped that these subjects would attract the attention of the Commissioners, and that they would satisfactorily settle them.
§ Petitions to lie on the Table.