the Liberal party. This section of the party had also had another leader who became the leader of all these leaders of the party, and this was the present Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Manitoba. He was astonished to find that his hon. friend (Mr. Laurier) would not, now that the Hon. Mr. Cauchon was no longer in the Cabinet, give him, at least, the consolation of believing that he (Mr. Cauchon) had for some time been his leader, as leader of the Liberal party of the Province of Quebec. He (Mr. Caron) considered that the hon. gentlemen who represented the Province of Quebec in the Government either had no influence or else did not choose to exercise it on behalf of the Province; and in making this statement he was not expressing his own views, but those which he had heard expressed in the city and in different parts of the Province of Quebec, where it was said that Quebec was sadly neglected by the present Administration. In this opinion he concurred. On a future occasion, he would have the opportunity of showing upon what grounds he formulated his accusation. The interests of the city of Quebec had been sacrificed by the Government. This city had lost the naval school, the military school, and the execution of the Dufferin improvements last year. The hon. the Premier, last Session, had not even known what he (Mr. Caron) meant, when he appealed to the hon. gentleman to learn whether a sum of money was to be granted for the making of those improvements. He was told by the hon. the Premier that he was not understood when he put this question; he thought he had made a very plain enquiry, but the hon. the Premier informed him that he (Mr. Mackenzie) did not even know what he (Mr. know what he (Mr. Caron) meant. They had lost all these things, but he hoped that now a new Minister had entered the Cabinet, he (Mr. Laurier) would be able to induce the Government to pay some attention to Quebec interests. He (Mr. Caron) was anxious to obtain what what he considered to be simply their rightsnothing more. He hoped that the interests of the Province of Quebec would now receive fair play. He regretted being obliged to make these remarks. He thought it was very important that no sectional cries should be raised in the Dominion. He believed that hon. members must forget, when in the House, to a certain extent, that they lived in any particular Province. They had to consider general interests, if Confederation ever meant anything; and if it was to continue to increase and improve, there must be a fair union of all the different Provinces, whereby one would not get more than another, but yet each would receive a fair share in the distribution of the public moneys, and what the Government of the Dominion had to bestow on the different Provinces. He remembered an enterprise which, in Quebec, was looked upon as an enterprise of the greatest possible importance, and he was perfectly certain that the hon. members from that section, with the hon. the Minister of Inland Revenue, who now represented a division of Quebec city, would agree with him when he said that the Quebec and Lake St. John Railway was looked upon in Quebec city as one of the greatest importance, and as a road which was destined to do more probably for the prosperity of that city than was possible for any other road. It would open up a very rich and vast district, which was able to maintain a population of a million and a half, according to the statement of one of the surveyors. It was perfectly well known that old rails had been distributed among the different railways of the Lower Provinces, and hence the Quebec and Lake St. John Railway Company had appealed to the hon. the Minister of Public Works for a loan of some of these rails, taken from the Intercolonial, for this road. On the 25th of April, 1876, a letter was addressed to the hon. the Premier, by the President of the company in this connection; and on the 28th of April, 1876, another letter was despatched, which they fancied would carry the day, as it was signed by the leading friends of the hon. gentleman (Mr. Mackenzie) in Quebec, including Senator Fabre, Mr. Thibaudeau, and others; and on the 28th of April, a letter was sent in this regard by his hon. friend from Chicoutimi (Mr. a Cimon), who had taken a very deep interest in this enterprise. He observed that the hon. the Minister of Inland Revenue laughed at this; but those who took an interest in this matter could not deny that this road was most important to Quebec. The hon. the Minister of Inland Revenue would perceive that, if he (Mr. Laurier) laughed at this scheme, he might get into very serious difficulties with the electors of Quebec East; but, no doubt, the hon. gentleman would find some other member kind enough to retire into private life, in order to furnish him with a new constituency, if he was defeated in that division. He advised the hon. gentleman to be more prudent. The letter of his hon. friend for Chicoutimi (Mr. Cimon) and others had been sent on the 28th April, and a petition from the Council of Chicoutimi to the same effect, on the 29th of May, 1876. On the 26th of June, 1876, the Board of Trade of Quebec had also presented request for a grant of these old rails, considering that this road was not one which was to be laughed at, but one of great importance for Quebec. On the 24th of July, 1876, the hon. the Premier had answered that it was quite impossible to grant the request, as these rails were kept for feeders of the Intercolonial. No doubt this was an objec. tion, but then it was an objection which could have been very easily removed. It would have been very easy for the hon. gentleman, if he had chosen to do so, to have introduced a Bill at the next Session, which would have allowed him to grant these rails to the Quebec and Lake St. John Railway. This was perfectly feasible, considering more especially that, ever since the present Government had been in power, they had done nothing for Quebec, and this request might certainly have been granted. These rails were lying unused at the time, and this would have | conferred a great boon and a great advantage upon the city of Quebec. He was sure that, if this had been done, he would have been one of the first to say that Quebec should be grateful for such a favour. Shortly afterwards, another petition, signed by the Archbishop of Quebec, and some of the most influential citizens of the city, The objection that the Quebec and St. John Railway was not a feeder of the Intercolonial he thought was debatable, though of course it could never be such feeder if it was not built. If the hon. the Premier would only help to build this line, he would convince the hon. gentleman that this road might make a very useful feeder to the Intercolonial Railway. In spite of all their efforts, the application had been unsuccessful; the last petition, which was signed by the Archbishop of Quebec and several leading citizens, had not been even answered, and Quebec was unable to secure the advantages which had been conferred upon other portions of the Dominion. He hoped that the hon. the Minister of Inland Revenue, who would, for some time at least, represent Quebec East, where, for the present, at all events, he had made his political home, would consider the possibility of helping them to build this road. He was corfident that, if the hon. gentleman did so, he would increase his popularity, and make himself stronger than he had yet been in his new constituency. Of course his hon. friend should not laugh at the project, else this might have a very different effect. He was glad to hear the hon. the Minister of Inland Revenue, in his different political contests, state his intention of introducing a Bill covering the ground of the measure which he (Mr. Caron) had proposed last Session and the Session previous in reference to the Insolvency Act, in order to protect the farmers from the evil effects of this law | as far as their own debts were concerned. He was sure that, if any such measure was passed, it would be well received by the population of the rural districts, where the Act in question was looked upon as being very unjust in its operations towards the farmer. MR. YEO said he was much pleased over, would He to see it stated that there had been an increase in the revenue this year, and also to find that the wave of public depression had passed over us. hoped that such was the case. He regretted exceedingly the approaching withdrawal of Lord and Lady Dufferin from this country, but this was a matter over which the House had no control. He was glad to see the allusion made to the labours of the Fisheries Commission at Halifax, and he hoped the award of five and a-half millions would be paid over to the Dominion Government. He felt that the award was much smaller than it ought to have been-it should in justice have been three or five times that sum; but, nevertheless, they ought to be grateful for every favour received when it could not be made greater. He trusted that the Govern ment, when the money was paid see their way clear to the expending of a large portion of it in improving the harbours on the coast of Prince Edward Island. From the evidence taken on the Fishery Commission, it had been very clearly stated that it was the best fishing place on any part of our coast, or in fact on any part of the coast of America; and, as they were situated so that they were isolated seven months out of the twelve, he thought the Dominion Government ought to take a careful view of their situation and light up the coast. The question of breakwaters to facilitate the fishing interests in the island, for that was one of the biggest interests that they were engaged in at the present time, ought to receive the speedy attention of the Government; it was nothing but their right, and he hoped they would get it. He agreed with the right hon. member for Kingston that they had been badly treated. Whose fault it was he could not say. He crossed the Straits on the usual routes between the two capes about the 1st February, in two hours and a half, and immediately on crossing he ascertained that the boat, the Northern Light, was fast in the ice. He took upon himself to telegraph to their Inspector in Prince Edward Island to change the mail and send it by the cape, as the coast was good, which was done. On his arrival at Ottawa he went to the Post Office Department and consulted the Postmaster General on the subject. He wished the mails to be continued, that was, until the boat had a regular fair crossing. By some mishap or other the mail got back and the Northern Light stuck again. On the previous morning he had received a telegraphic message from a person at the cape, saying that they were without mails since Saturday. He immediately went to the Department and they promised him to telegraph a change of the mail, and not to continue them on that boat until the boat could run in clear water. With respect to this boat, he thought the Government had done everything in their power to obtain the best model they could get and give her as much power as could be contained in a boat of her size. Last winter was a very exceptional winter; they had siderable ice, and the boat was driven through it. Nothing would stand a boat being rushed into the ice with such power as she had got. The expense of keeping that boat up must be He would like something enormous. to see the Northern Light placed in conjunction with the old ice boats, and, when she could run in clear water, then the route could be changed. He wished to call the attention of the House to the terms of Confederation which gave them steam communication, winter and summer. He contended that it was the place of this Government to give them a branch line from some point running from Cape Tormentine, or from Cape Traverse, to some other point, and give them such a route that there need be no change; and this, he thought, would be carrying out the terms of Confederation. If the Government did not do that, he thought that the Province would not be fairly dealt with. Allusion had been made to the Premier's visit to the Lower Provinces last summer. The Premier, of course, was at Prince con Edward Island, and they had a meeting | what different thing. But I mention of all classes and of all grades of it now in order to ask hon. gentlepolitics, both Opposition and Govern- men not to pursue this course toment; there was no difference at all morrow; it can serve no purpose, known there; they were all pleased and abundant opportunity will be and happy to meet him, and any leader given, so I wish they would choose for of the Government or of the Opposition it some other time more appropriate. would have been treated precisely in I wish to say that I am desirous of the same way. So far as public works closing the debate upon the Address on Prince Edward Island were con- to-morrow, and I hope I may look cerned, they had been very well at- to hon. gentlemen opposite to entended to. The hon. member for deavour to close their remarks to-morQueen's County had told this House row in order that we may get to the that, if there was an opening in Prince general work of the House. We have Edward Island, six members would be now been a week and a day in session, returned to support the Oppos- and it is high time the committees ition. That was something he were organized and the committee could not say anything about. The work started. I hope this will meet with hon. member perhaps was speaking general approval, and that we shall rather too largely himself. But this endeavour to close to-morrow, even if he would say, that the hon. member it should require a late sitting to do so. ran last year by a pure accident, and House adjourned at unfortunately got in, with not a very big vote. There was a very small vote polled. The Government party had been assured of success, and a great number never attended the election at all. The other party started out and gave the hon. member a vote; but he could tell that hon. gentleman that, when he went back to Queen's County, he would have the hardest time to get in. If he (Mr. Yeo) were spared until that time, he intended to run himself, and if the hon. member liked to go there again, he would have as hot a time as he ever had. He had always found this Government liberal, and ready to carry out terms in good faith,spect to a return of all iron purchased and therefore he gave them his support. ง MR. MACDOUGALL (East Elgin) moved the adjournment of the Debate. MR. MACKENZIE: I certainly calculated last night on getting through with the debate to-day. It has taken a new turn to-day, for some members have taken occasion to air grievances which are generally left until the time when the Estimates are before the House, in moving into Supply, or on some special motion for papers. I think it is undesirable that advan. tage should be taken of the debate on the Address to air these local griev. ances, which could as well be ventilated at another time. The attack on the policy of the Government is a some Thirty minutes past 'Twelve o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Friday, 15th Feb., 1878. The Speaker took the Chair at Three o'clock. PRAYERS. A RETURN. REMARKS. MR. PLUMB said that, on the 10th April last he had given notice of a mo tion for an Order of the House in re for or on behalf of the Government for other than railway purposes, and had moved it on the 16th. He received a letter from the Department asking if he wished to extend the enquiry to British Columbia. He replied that he did not. Then he received another letter asking what particular kind of iron he referred to, and replied to that. No return had been brought down in reply to that request, and he would had been made in conformity with the like to enquire whether such a return Order of the House, and whether it would be brought down to the House without further delay. MR. MACKENZIE: I do not propose to attend to any further business until the Address is passed. ADDRESS IN ANSWER TO HIS EX- who has presided with such grave CELLENCY'S SPEECH. The House resumed the consideration of His Excellency's Speech at the opening of the Session. MR. MACDOUGALL (East Elgin), said he would not impose upon the good nature of the House in continuing the debate if it were not that he was fully sensible that other hon. members besides himself were desirous of addressing the House. That being the case, he thought he might venture to make a few remarks on the subjects that had excited discussion during the debate. He was a little surprised at the remarks made by the hon. member for North Ontario (Mr. Gibbs), who paid a high compliment-though probably he did not intend it as a compliment- to his (Mr. | Macdougall's) respected and hon, friend the member for North Norfolk (Mr. Charlton). He said this debate would not have arisen, nor would it have been prolonged to the great extent it had been, were it not that the member for North Norfolk had been selected to move the resolutions now before the House. He (Mr. Macdougall) thought no higher compliment could have been paid to the hon. member for North Norfolk than the assumption, or rather the declaration, by the hon. member for North Ontario, that the hon. member for North Norfolk had been the means of creating such a disturbance and of drawing forth such eloquence, and logic, and knowledge of the political affairs of this country as had been received from the gentlemen on the opposite side of the House. He was sure the hon. member for North Norfolk, and also his constituents, would be highly honoured indeed to know that he had been the occasion and cause of the House and the country having been favoured with such eloquent deciamation, such wonderful knowledge of political economy and the whole range of political science, from the hon. member for Niagara (Mr. Plumb), the Finance Minister in embryo, and the hon. member for North Ontario (Mr. Gibbs). He agreed in the expression of deep regret at the near departure of His Excellency the Governor-General, dignity and such great success over the affairs of this country. The beneficial effect of his labours and the discharge of his high duties with such great success would never be forgotten by the grateful people of this country; and he (Mr. Macdougall)only regretted that the circumstances were such as to occasion his withdrawal from Canada. But he had no doubt that the same judgment which characterized the Government which selected His Excellency and placed him in the high position that had been filled by him with such grace would select, as his successor, one who was capable of discharging the grave duties which His Exellency had discharged with such eminent success. He (Mr. Macdougall) was rather amused, on the previous evening, when he heard the hon. member for Queen's, P.E.I., (Mr. Pope) say he could not support the present Government for the reason that, during the time they had been in office they had not been able to introduce or carry, with the influence they possessed in Parliament, any measure of reform, and that they had not placed on the Statute-book any reform. He would not trouble the House with endeavouring to explain, or rather to contradict, that proposition of the hon. member. He only invited him to look at the Statute-book of the country, and see the Acts that had been passed by this Parliament, under the control and direction of the hon. the Prime Minister, and to say whether, in his judgment, they were not measures which showed that those who devised and introduced them were men of eminent ability, that they had given to the subject the greatest attention; and if the preparation of those measures did not show those men were possessed of the ability which characterized great statesmen. He would not trouble the House to go over with him the number of measures that had been introduced; he would only instance one Act-the Election Act of 1874. That, in itself, had entitled the Government to the respect and appreciation of the people of the country. That measure was passed in the first Session of this Parliament, and along with it was likewise passed an Act for the trial of controverted elections. He |