Hon. Mr. MITCHELL rose to offer a personal explanation in reference to the remarks of the hon., the First Minister. He denied the assertion that Mr. JENKINS' remarks were put forward as affording ground for an attack on the Government. The tenor of his remarks would show that such was not his intention, and he fully ceedingly improper in Mr. JENKINS | ing that capacity, would render very conwho must be admitted to be a servant, ever siderable service to the country. to insinuate afterwards in favor of the Administration. He left hon. gentlemen opposite to reconcile their statements if they could ; and in the meantime he had merely to say he had no knowledge of the speech which had been read, being a speech delivered by Mr. JENKINS, or whether the report was a correct one of the speech. If there was anything impro-disclaimed any such intention. per in any speech delivered by any agent of the Goverment it would be the duty of the Government of course to deal with the matter; but he (Mr. MACKENZIE) was not to assume an idle, newspaper report as conveying a correct statement of what a gentleman said. But the remarks were made by hon. gentlemen opposite in the present instance as a means of attack on the Government. Hon. Mr. POPE said there was now a question of veracity between himself and the hon., the Premier; and he repeated his statement—that before he left the Government he instructed the Secretary of the Department to notify Mr. MacDougall that the season had passed in which his services were of any further use in the Scandinavian countries. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I referred to the hon. gentleman's leader more than to himself. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said he was responsible to his constituents for the sentiment he uttered, and he had no leader in the House. He would offer an explanation in respect to the payment made to Mr. MACDOUGALL before he left this country for special services in connection with the Marine and Fisheries Department. When the Treaty of Washington was completed as far as regarded its preliminaries, it became necessary for the Government of Canada to prepare to meet the case which the Government then hoped was likely to be heard at an early day, to fix the compensation to be paid to Canada in refund to the Fisheries. It was expected that the Fishery Commission, which was to be held in Halifax, would have been appointed, and that the Government of Canada would have at once directed its attention to making up a case to be presented to that Commission. The Government of which he was a member felt it to be their duty to apply to Downing Street for the necessary correspondence, documents and charts relating to our rights to the fisheries which dated from 1782. When they applied to the Colonial office for that information, they were informed that the office was quite prepared to give the Dominion Government any information or document it possessed, but as it was not known what documents would be required the Dominion Government should employ some suitable person to examine the archives and obtain papers that were desirable and important. For some time he Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT admitted the correctness of the statement of the hon. member for Compton, that the number of immigrants arriving in Canada had decreased during the past year; but he thought it would be well if the House would bear in mind the cause of the decrease. Every one knew that during the past eighteen months the state of affairs in the United States had been such that for the first time in their history there had been something like a counter current back to Europe, and no doubt that had materially affected the immigration to Canada. It was very difficult to induce the people of Europe to distinguish between Canada and the United States they were both known as America, and if they knew there was prostration in trade on the South side of the line, it was difficult to have a fair field in Canada. Hav-was in doubt as to whom he could get to ing spent a considerable time in London, perform the duty. Mr. WM. MACDOUGALL I had a favorable opportunity of watching was going over to the Scandinavian proMr. JENKINS' mode of doing business in vinces on emigration matters, and he felt his capacity as our chief Emigration that that gentleman's intimate knowledge Agent, and he displayed much zeal and of the history of this country and his ability. He thought Mr. JENKINS possess- great ability ren dered him the very best Hon. Mr. Mackenzie, man that could be obtained to secure the information he desired. With no little reluctance Mr. MACDOUGALL consented to perform the duty, and for his services in that respect the Government advanced him $400. Was that too much to pay for securing information that might be worth thousands of dollars to us when the consideration of the fishery question came up? If Mr. MACDOUGALL was on a salary at that time, he (Mr. MITCHELL) did not know it, and if he had known it, it would have made no difference. He was justified in what he did, and he believed the country would justify him in it. As to the extent of the information that Mr. MACDougall secured, he was not prepared to say, but his successor ought now to be in possession of all the information, and if he was not it was his own fault. Mr. MILLS observed that there was an extraordinary discrepancy between the statements made by the hon. members for Compton and Northumberland. The member for Compton said it was never contemplated by the Government that Mr. MACDOUGALL should spend his time in London, but should go to the Scandinavian counties. On the other hand, the member for Northumberland said he expected that Mr. MACDOUGALL would spend his time in London, and therefore he employed him to search the public records there. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL-I did not say he was going to spend his time in London. I said he was going to the other side of the Atlantic. Mr. MILLS asked how he was going to make these laborious researches if he was to go direct to Scandinavia to perform the duties of emigration agent there? His hon. friend opposite had received new light since he became an independent member of this House. Under the late Administration there was an emigration agent in Ireland-Mr.MOYLAN—who took a very active part in the politics of Great Britain, and who wrote a very extraordinary and, as some think, a somewhat impertinent letter to Mr. GLADSTONE about public affairs. That matter was brought before this House, and the then Government, of which the hon. gentleman was a member, had no objection to make to such conduct, but, on the contrary, they thought Mr. MOYLAN had acted quite properly. According to the hon. gentleman, what was quite right for Mr. MOYLAN to say Hon. Mr. Mitchell. with regard to public affairs in Great Britain was altogether improper for Mr. JENKINS to say with regard to affairs in Canada. For his (Mr. MILLS') part, he did not consider it necessary that an emigration agent should be deprived of the right to think and speak on public affairs, and he saw nothing out of the way in the speech of Mr. JENKINS. What this House and the Government had to consider was whether he discharged his duties to this country efficiently, and of that there was very little doubt. Holding the political views he did, Mr. JENKINS was all the better able to discharge the duties of emigration agent, because they brought the emigrating classes more closely into sympathy with him and he with them. Who were the men that had led immigration into Canada during the last five years? Mr. ARCH, Mr. TAYLOR, and Mr. O'LEARY, men who held political views similar to those held by Mr. JENKINS, and who sympathized with the dissatisfied portions of the people, who were the very classes that were most disposed to emigrate. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said he had never approved, and he would be very sorry to approve, of the conduct of Mr. MOYLAN in writing that very extraordinary letter to Mr. GLADSTONE. Item concurred in. THE MENONITE LOAN. On the next item, Menonite Loan, $100,000, However, Mr. MASSON said, when this question was before the committee, he had stated that he was not at all disposed to object to the loan because he knew himself that the Menonites were a good class of emigrants, whose presence in our country would add to its wealth and prosperity. he was not such an enthusiast on this matter as some hon. gentlemen, and he did not think they were any superior to many other classes of emigrants, and should not receive any greater advantages than any other class that was prepared to fulfil the same conditions. He had stated then that he thought it would be more advantageous to this country to strive to recall from the neighboring country those numerous children of Canada who had left our soil, but who were now disposed to return. that occasion, stated The Premier on that there were some difficulties in the way of doing this, | able consideration of the Government. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE—I can hardly add anything to what I said the other evening. I quite sympathize with the hon. gentleman's desire to secure the return, if possible, of those Canadians who had gone to the United States, but as I stated then there are peculiar difficulties to contend with in doing that. The Government will endeavor to devise some plan if they can by which that may be accomplished to some extent. I am not prepared at present to say how it can be accomplished. Mr. MASSON observed that the money now being voted was for the year ending 30th June, 1876, and he had hoped that the Premier would have been able to have made such a statement of his intentions as would have obviated the necessity of asking the House to say whether so large a grant should be given to the Menonites without some guarantee being given that before July, 1876, something would be done to promote the return to Canada of our own fellow-countrymen. But, of course, if the hon. gentleman said he could not do so, he (Mr. MASSON) would be obliged to divide the House. Hon. Mr. HOLTON said the object of his hon. friend from Terrebone was one with which they must all sympathize. But the distinction between the case of the Menonites and the case referred to by the hon. gentleman was this; that whereas the Menonites came before the Government with a distinct proposition, he was not aware that there was any distinct practical proposition before the Government upon which they could invite the House to take any action with respect to the re-immigration of our Own people into this country. If the hon. member for Terrebonne was in a position to present to the Government a tangible, practical proposition for the promotion of the return of any considerable number of our fellowcountrymen, he (Mr. HOLTON) for one would be prepared to second his efforts in urging such a proposition upon the favor Mr. Masson. Mr. MASSON said he had already stated that he had such information as would justify him in saying that applications had been made to the Government on behalf of Canadians in the United States wishing to return and that no proper answer had been given. He had asked the Minister of Public Works if townships had not been reserved in Manitoba for certain colonies of immigrants. and he had replied that he thought such was the case but that the scheme had been a complete failure. To a certain extent that statement was true. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I said it was a comparative failure. Mr. MASSON-The first colony was called the Emerson Colony, and it had not been able to comply entirely with the Order in Council which had been passed to enable them to have a township reserved for them. There was another effort made to establish a colony called the Rolestan Colony, but that he knew was a complete failure. But still the Government were not discouraged by these failures for at the present moment negotiations are going on with а Mr. SHAW to bring out a number of European immigrants, and to have a certain number of townships set apart for them. Last fall when he (Mr. MASSON) was in Manitoba a gentleman named Mr. MONTY came over from the United States to examine the territory and see whether it would not be possible to throw into Manitoba a current of French immigration from the United States. He returned to his home at Fall River and made a report to the Canadian Colonization Company of that city, speaking in glowing terms of Manitoba and of its advantages to immigrants. In consequence of that the Colonization Society of Manitoba wrote to the Government here, applying for the same advantages which the Government had granted to other colonies, namely; the reservation of a certain number of townships. Application was also made for a bonus to assist Canadians who desired to come to Manitoba from the United States to do so. That application was made in October last, and he believed that up to the present time no answer had been received Mr. D. A. SMITH (Selkirk) said he cordially sympathized with the proposal to encourage the immigration of the Menonites to Manitoba; and he would be very sorry to see the amount reduced. He proceeded to speak in high terms of the Menonites as a very valuable class of immigrants. Had the Government thought proper to ask for $150,000 instead of $100,000 he wonld have voted for it. for it would be money well spent even though not a dollar of it was directly repaid. The same amount of money could not be spent more profitably in any other way. While he said this he would also say that he would be very glad to see every possible encouragement given to the return of Canadians to our country, and he trusted the Government would see their way to assist them. He hoped the hon. member for Terrebonne would withdraw his amendment, for he must know that not only the Government but every member of the House were anxious to extend a helping hand to our countrymen in the United States who desired to return to this country. which could be considered as either an acceptance or a refusal of their proposal. The Minister of Public Works knew that there was an intense desire among the people of the Province of Quebec to assist their compatriots in the United States to return, and among the French Canadians in the United States there was a strong desire to come back to this country. The Legislature of Quebec, supported by public opinion, had lately passed resolutions offering great inducements for that class of people to return. Of course the Government of the | Dominion could not particularly and specially encourage immigration to Quebec, but they had full charge over immigration to Manitoba and the North-West. It was our duty to do our utmost in favor of the repatriation of Canadians, more especially as the very fact of a large number of Canadians abandoning their own country and living in the United States was calculated to induce emigrants from Europe to go to the United States in preference to Canada. He did not wish in the least degree to embarrass the Government, but in the interests of this country as well as of his compatriots in the United States, he felt bound to urge this matter upon the Government. He concluded by moving that the following words be added to the resolution : “And that out of the sum to be set apart for the benefit of the Menonites a proportionate sum be assigned towards inducing Canadians residing in the United States to settle in Manitoba or the NorthWest Territory." Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE That is not an appropriation recommended by the GOVERNOR GENERAL, and therefore is out of order. The amendment was ruled out of order. Mr. MASSON said he had offered that amendment to show that he was quite willing that this grant of $100,000 should be voted, provided the same advantages were given to Canadians in the United States, as it was proposed to give to the Menonites. As it had been ruled out of order, he would move the following amendment': “That the resolution be not concurred in, but that it be resolved that the sum of $100,000 for a Menonite loan be reduced to $50,000." Mr. Masson. Mr. BLAKE trusted that his hon. friend from Terrebonne would not press this motion. The hon. gentleman he contended had not submitted any argument in support of his proposition, and did not even conjecture by what arguments it ought to be supported. He (Mr. BLAKE) had not heard one complaint against the grant, and the principle once admitted it could not be said that the amount was inordinate. If there were any good reasons for the reduction proposed by his hon. friend, the same reasons would apply to the item being struck from the estimates. He assured the hon. gentleman that he would by no means advance the cause he had at heart by this proposition. Having in view the fact that a scheme of some description had been laid before the Government, and admitting that there would be most serious difficulties in the way of its organization, he considered that it might be expedient to provide a sum which would be available, if any practicable scheme was submitted. He thought the Government might propose a moderate amount in the supplementary estimates to be dealt with in the way suggested, as they might think fit, but while making this suggestion to his hon. friend the First Minister, he would also advise the hon. J gentleman that if he insisted upon his amendment the House would of course reject it. Mr. YOUNG said the Menonites of Waterloo had taken a deep interest in the immigration to this country from South Russia and had suggested this loan. He thought, therefore, that the hon. member for Terrebonne should withdraw this motion, for he considered in allowing it to stand he was taking a most ungracious position. The hon. member, too, had advocated that it should be given to French Canadians in the United States, to induce them to return, but because he could not get what he wanted, at once, he appeared to be unwilling to permit any advantages being given to others. He (Mr. YOUNG) would be glad of any practicable scheme for bringing back, not only the French Canadians, but Canadians from all parts of Canada who had emigrated to the United States, and having them settled in their own country again. He believed there were about half a million on the other side of the line, and their return was a very desirable thing, but he did not regard their position as being the same as that of persons in foreign countries, who desired to come here. The Menonites, for example, had to come a very great distance, and the chances were that when they did come they would remain. Their circumstances were such that a little assistance was of very great importance to them, and the grant which the Government proposed in the estimate was, he considered, as well spent as money possibly could be. If there were Canadians in the United States, they were there by choice, and the distance between here and there and the cost of returning was so small, that he could scarcely think that any large amount of money should be necessary to induce them to return. If they had any desire to come the expense need not stand in their way. So faras land was concerned, he considered they should be placed in just as favorable a position as any class of immigrants that come to the country. He trusted the hon. member for Terrebonne would see that his position in opposing this loan was quite inconsistent with the proposition he made that aid should be given to the French Canadians in the United States in order to induce them to return. He was acting, he was sorry to see, somewhat Hon. Mr. Blake, after the fashion of what was called in English, "the dog in the manger," and he (Mr. YOUNG) regretted that the hon. member, who was credited-and, he believed, justly credited-with the possession of so much chivalry, should leave his motives in this matter open to question. The Menonites in Waterloo would be very much disappointed if this vote were not carried. As his hon. friend from Selkirk had said, the money would be well spent if never a dollar of it were returned. There was no question, however, that every cent of it would be returned. The Menonites in Waterloo and elsewhere who had become personally responsible for the re-payment. of this loan, were some of them the wealthiest people in the county, and the Government and the country might depend upon it that they would see the terms of the loan were regularly carried out. He hoped, under the circumstances, that the hon. member would not persist in his motion. Hon. Mr. LAIRD denied the assertion that the Government were only prepared to encourage colonization from Europe, and, in proof of his statement, called attention to the fact that two of the colonies established in Manitoba during the last year were from the United States. Emerson colony (started by FAIRBANKS and KEARNEY) was one of the very character advocated by the hon. member, and, although every inducement had been held out to men of all nationalities, in the way of reserving land, the number who took advantage of it was comparatively small, and he believed there were no French Canadians amongst those who did. He reminded the hon. gentleman that this system of settling in Canada was as open to them as it was to anybody else, and that the reservations set apart were the best in the Province of Manitoba. The Emerson Colony was right at the entrance of the Province, and the Pembina Railway passed through it. However, he was sorry to see that even under these most favorable circumstances FAIRBANKS and KEARNEY had been been unable to make up their compliment of migrants within the time in the terms under which the reservation was made. There were two schemes for bringing in settlers on this system, neither of which had been at all successful, and, imspecified |