6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907

[amounting] (amounted) at the Conquest, to above [One hundred] (sixty-five) thousand Persons, professing the Religion of the Church of Rome, and enjoying an established Form of Constitution, and System of Laws, by which their Persons and Property had been protected, governed, and ordered, for a long Series of Years, from the first Establishment of the said Province of Canada; be it therefore further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Proclamation, so far as the same relates to the said Province of Quebec, and the Commission under the Authority whereof the Government of the said Province is at present administered, and all and every the Ordinance and Ordinances made by the Governor and Council of Quebec for the Time being, relative to the Civil Government and Administration of Justice in the said Province, and all Commissions to Judges and other Officers thereof, be, and the same are hereby revoked, annulled, and made void, from and after the First Day of May, One thousand seven hundred and seventy five.

And for the more perfect security and Ease of the Minds of the Inhabitants of the said Province, it is hereby declared, That His Majesty's Subjects professing the Religion of the Church of Rome, of, and in the said Province of Quebec, [as the same is described in and by the said Proclamation and Commissions, and also of all the Territories, Part of the Province of Canada, at the time of the Conquest thereof, which are hereby annexed, during His Majesty's Pleasure, to the said Government of Quebec], may have, hold, and enjoy, the free Exercise of the Religion of the Church of Rome, subject to the Kings Supremacy, declared and established by an Act made in the First Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, over all the Dominions and Countries which then did, or thereafter should, belong to the Imperial Crown of this Realm; and that the Clergy of the said Church may hold, receive, and enjoy their accustomed Dues and Rights, with respect to such Persons only as shall profess the said Religion.

Provided nevertheless, That [nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to the disabling] (it shall be lawful for) His Majesty, His Heirs or Successors, [from making] (to make) such Provision (out of the rest of the said accustomed Dues and Rights,) for the Encouragement of the Protestant Religion, and for the Maintenance and Support of a Protestant Clergy within the said Province, as he or they shall, from Time to Time, think necessary and expedient.

(Provided always, and be it enacted, That no Person professing the Religion of the Church of Rome, and residing in the said Province, shall be obliged to take the Oath required by the said Statute, passed in the First Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, or any other Oaths substituted by any other Act in the Place thereof, but that every such Person, who by the said Statute is required to take the Oath therein mentioned, shall be obliged, and is hereby required to take and subscribe the following Oath before the Governor or such other Person, or in such Court of Record as His Majesty shall appoint, who are hereby authorised to administer the same; videlicet,

66

"I A. B. do sincerely promise and swear, That I will be faithful, and bear true Allegiance to His Majesty King George, and Him will defend to the utmost of my "Power, against all Traiterous Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever, which shall be "made against His Person, Crown, and Dignity; and I will do my utmost Endeavour "to disclose and make known to His Majesty, His Heirs, and Successors, all Treasons, "and Traiterous Conspiracies and Attempts, which I shall know to be against Him, or any of Them; and all this I do swear, without any Equivocation, mental Evasion, or "secret Reservation; and renouncing all Pardons and Dispensations from any Power or Person whomsoever to the Contrary.

66

So help me God.

And every such Person who shall neglect or refuse to take the said Oath before mentioned, shall incur and be liable to the same Penalties, Forfeitures, Disabilities, and Incapacities, as he would have incurred and been liable to, for neglecting or refusing to take the Oath required by the said statute, passed in the First Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.)

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all His Majesty's Canadian Subjects within the Province of Quebec, the Religious Orders and Communities only excepted, may also hold and enjoy their Property and Possessions,

SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18

together with all Customs and Usages, relative thereto, and all other their Civil Rights, in as large, ample and beneficial Manner, as if the said Proclamation, Commissions, Ordinances, and other Acts and Instruments, had not been made, and as may consist with their Allegiance to His Majesty, and Subjection to the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain; and that in all Matters of Controversy relative to Property and Civil Rights, Resort shall be had to the Laws of Canada, (as the Rule) for the Decision of the same; and all Causes that shall hereafter be instituted in any of the Courts of Justice, to be appointed within and for the said Province by His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, shall, with respect to such Property and Rights, be determined [by the Judges of the same], agreeably to the said Laws and Customs of Canada, [and the several] (until they shall be varied or altered by any) Ordinances that shall, from Time to Time, be passed in the said Province by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Commander in Chief for the time being, by and with the advice and Consent of the Legislative Council of the same, to be appointed in Manner herein-after mentioned.

(Provided always, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to any Lands that have been granted by His Majesty, or shall hereafter be granted by His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, to be holden in free and common Soccage.)

Provided [always] (also) That it shall and may be lawful to and for every Person that is Owner of any Lands, Goods, or Credits in the said Province, and that has a Right to alienate the said Lands, Goods, or Credits, in his or her Lifetime, by Deed of Sale, Gift, or otherwise, to devise or bequeath the same, at his or her Death, by his or her Last Will and Testament; any Law, Usage, or Custom heretofore or now prevailing in the Province, to the Contrary hereof in any-wise notwithstanding.

[Provided also, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to any Lands that have been granted by His Majesty, or shall hereafter be granted by his Majesty, his heirs and Successors, to be holden in free and common Soccage: (Such Will being executed either according to the Laws of Canada, or according to the Forms prescribed by the Laws of England.)

And whereas the Certainty and Lenity of the Criminal Law of England, and the Benefits and Advantages resulting from the Use of it, have been sensibly felt by the Inhabitants from an Experience of more than Nine Years, during which it has been uniformly administered; be it therefore further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the same shall continue to be administered, and shall be observed as Law, in the Province of Quebec, as well in the Description and Quality of the Offence as in the Method of Prosecution and Trial, and the Punishments and Forfeitures thereby inflicted, to the Exclusion of every other Rule of Criminal Law, or Mode of Proceeding thereon, which did or might prevail in the said Province before the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and sixty-four; any Thing in this Act to the Contrary thereof in any Respect notwithstanding; subject nevertheless to such Alterations and Amendments, as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Commander in Chief for the Time being, by and with the advice and Consent of the Legislative Council of the said Province, hereafter to be appointed, shall, from Time to Time, cause to be made therein, in Mauner herein-after directed.

And whereas it may be necessary to ordain many Regulations, for the future Welfare and good Government of the Province of Quebec, the Occasions of which cannot now be foreseen, nor without much Delay and Inconvenience be provided for, without intrusting that Authority for a certain Time, and under proper Restrictions, to Persons

resident there :

And whereas it is at present inexpedient to call an Assembly; be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, by Warrant under His or Their Signet, or Sign Manual, and with the Advice of the Privy Council, to constitute and appoint a Council for the Affairs of the Province of Quebec, to consist of such Persons resident there, not exceeding Twentythree, nor less than Seventeen, as His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, shall be pleased to appoint; and, upon the Death, Removal, or Absence of any of the Members of the said Council, in like Manner, to constitute and appoint such and so many other

6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 Person or Persons as shall be necessary to supply the Vacancy or Vacancies; which Council, so appointed and nominated, or the major Part thereof, shall have [full] Power and Authority to make Ordinances for the Peace, Welfare, and good Government of the said Province, with the Consent of His Majesty's Governor, or, in his Absence, of the Lieutenant Governor, or Commander in Chief for the Time being.

Provided always, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend to authorise or impower the said Legislative Council to lay any Taxes or Duties within the said Province, (such Rates and Taxes only excepted, as the Inhabitants of any Town or District within the said Province, may be authorised by the said Council to assess, levy, and apply, within the said Town or District, for the Purpose of making Roads, erecting and repairing publick Buildings, or for any other Purpose respecting the local Convenience and Oeconomy of such Town or District.)

Provided also, and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Ordinance so to be made shall, within Six Months, be transmitted by the Governor, or, in his Absence, by the Lieutenant Governor or Commander in Chief for the Time being, and laid before His Majesty, for His Royal Approbation; and if His Majesty shall think fit to disallow thereof, the same shall cease and be void from the Time that His Majesty's Order in Council thereupon shall be promulgated at Quebec.

Provided also, That no Ordinance touching Religion, or by which any Punishment may be inflicted greater than Fine or Imprisonment for Three Months, shall be of any Force or Effect, until the same shall have received His Majesty's approbation.

Provided also, That no Ordinance shall be passed, at any Meeting of the Council, (where less than a Majority of the whole Council is present, or at any Time), except between the First Day of Januar", and the First Day of May, unless upon some urgent Occasion; in which Case, every Member thereof, resident at Quebec, or within Fifty Miles thereof, shall be personally summoned by the Governor, or, in his Absence, by the Lieutenant Governor or Commander in Chief for the Time being, to attend the

same.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to prevent or hinder His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, by His or their Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, from erecting, constituting, and appointing, such Courts of Criminal, Civil, and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, within and for the said Province of Quebec, and appointing, from Time to Time, the Judges and Officers thereof, as His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, shall think necessary and proper, for the circumstances of the said Province.

(Provided always, and it is hereby enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to repeal or make void, within the said Province of Quebec, any Act or Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain heretofore made, for prohibiting, restraining, or regulating the Trade, or Commerce of His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in America; but that all and every the said Acts, and also all Acts of Parliament heretofore made, concerning or respecting the said Colonies and Plantations, shall be, and are hereby declared to be, in Force, within the said Province of Quebec, and every Part thereof.)

Endorsed :-A Bill,

(with emendations ;)

Intituled

Finis.

An Act for making more effectual Provision for the Government of the Province of Quebec, in North America. (1774)

SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18

CHOSES INDISPENSABLES A CONSIDÉRER, ET A DETERMINER FIXÉMENT, SI LE BILL PRÉSENTÉ POUR LA PROVINCE DE

QUEBEC A LIEU.1

1° les propriétés de toute espéce, droits et priviléges, sont accordés aux canadiens, autant, est-il dit, que cela peut etre d'accord avec leur ALLEGIANCE envers Sa majesté, et avec leur DÉPENDANCE de la couronne et parlement de la grande Bretagne. entend-on, par cette condition exprimée en termes aussi généraux, pouvoir les priver d'une partie de ces propriétés, droits et priviléges? cela n'est pas vraisemblable, puisque le tout leur est assuré, sans une condition pareille, du moment qu'ils sont devenu Sujets Britanniques. cependant de la laisser subsister sans necessité, seroit les exposer a mille troubles et chicanes qui en decouteroient, et a leur ruine certaine par les frais qu'ils leur occasionneroient.

Si au contraire quelques parties de ces propriétés droits et priviléges se trouvent etre incompatibles avec cette clause, il convient de les déterminer fixément dans l'acte, et d'ordonner une indemnité equivalente a chaque objet Supprimé Comme incompatible avec la ditte condition.

2° il est dit que, dans toute matiere de démeslé relatif a la propriété et droits civils d'aucun des sujets de sa Majesté canadiens ou anglois, on aura recours aux loix du Canada &c. Et que les Jugemens des cours établies dans la province seront rendus conformément a ces loix, et AUX DIVERSES ORDONNANCES qui de tems en tems seront passé par le gouverneur &c &c. le gouverneur aura-t-il le droit de faire des ordonnances, qui anéantissent les loix fondamentales du Canada? ou même qui, sans les anéantir, pourroient y porter quelques confusions capables de rendre incertains l'un ou l'autre de ces deux objects capitaux, et d'occasionner par milles chicanes qu'elles introduiroient la ruine assurée des citoïens, qu'opereroient les frais qui les accompagneroient? ou bien sera t-il borné a ne pouvoir faire que quelques réglemens de police, toujours parfaitement d'accord avec les lois fondamentales du pais, sans pouvoir jamais s'eloigner de l'esprit de ces loix : tel que le pouvoient le gouverneur général et Intendant de police au d' pais, pour les réglemens de moindre conséquence; et ces deux joints au conseil supérieur, pour ceux de plus grande importance. (QUI ETOIT LE SEUL DROIT QUI FUT ACCORDÉ A CES PUISSANCES sous le gouvernement françois ? Si le pouvoir exprimé dans le premier cas est accordé a ce gouverneur, que deviendront les loix premieres du Canada, que le peuple désire et demande avec tant d'ardeur, les regardant comme sa sureté unique? que deviendra l'existence entiere des Canadiens qui s'y trouve indispensablement attachée quel fruit retireront ils alors de ces loix, qu'on prétend leur accorder comme grace la plus spéciale, et qui pourront leur etre supprimée l'instant suivant ? quelles ressources auront-ils pour se faire rendre Justice sur les promesses qu'on leur a fait, qui seules les ont déterminé a se rendre d'abord, et ensuite a se fixer généralement sous l'obeissance Britannique un objet aussi important merite certainement la plus grande attention, et exige que le pouvoir soit limité en sorte qu'il ne puisse troubler un seul de ces sujets, de quelque maniere que ce soit, dans aucunes parties de leur propriétés droits et priviléges.2

3° le Bill semble vouloir exprimer que c'est en grande partie, pour complaire au désir des Canadiens, qu'on supprime dans leur païs toutes loix et, manieres de procéder pour le criminel a la françoise, et qu'on y substitue toutes les loix criminelles angloises et manieres de procéder en conséquence. ce que je puis annoncer pour certain est que, dans la demande qu'ils font de leur loix, il n'est nullement question d'en excepter celles qui regardent le criminel; et ils n'auroient pas manqué de l'exprimer, s'ils eussent pré

1 Canadian Archives, M 385, p. 385. This criticism of several important features of the Quebec Bill was made while the measure was passing through the Commons, and after M. De Lotbiniere had given his evidence before the House. (See Cavendish's Debates, p. 161.) It expresses the views of a representative member of the French-Canadian Noblesse,-views which were frequently expressed in various forms during the period of legal and political confusion which followed the Quebec Act, especially from 1784 to 1791.

2 See further discussion of the points here raised, in M. De Lotbiniere's expression of his views to Maseres, about this time: "Account of the Proceedings " &c. p. 175.

6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907

féré la loy angloise pour cette partie. on doit sentir que les loix civiles et les loix criminelles, etant formeés et lieés intimement l'une a l'autre par un même systhème, elles sont pour s'entreaider et s'appuïer réciproquement dans nombre de cas importans; qu'on ne sauroit conséquemment, de ce mélange de loix calculées sur des systhémes différens, espérer cette harmonie qui fait la baze de la sureté et tranquilité publique ; et qu'elles doivent nécessairement s'entre choquer et s'affoiblir l'une l'autre d'instant en instant. d'ailleurs le Canadien connoit la loy criminelle qui a été suivie des le principe dans son pais; il ne connoitra peut etre jamais en entier celle qu'on y veut substituer, et est-il un Etat plus cruel pour l'homme qui pense, que de ne jamais savoir s'il est digne de louange ou de blame ?-il a cru s'appercevoir aussi que, par la loy angloise, il pouvoit etre regardé comme criminel, sur le simple serment d'un homme, sans qu'il y eut corps de délit ou crime démontré, qu'il pouvoit, par cela seul, etre poursuivi et puni en consequence, S'il ne peut parvenir a prouver l'alibi; et l'accusateur peut aisément lui ôter cette ressource, pour peu qu'il l'ait observé quelque tems avant: danger le plus funeste qu'il soit même possible de se représenter, auquel le Canadien est certain de n'étre jamais exposé par la loy françoise-quant a l'instruction du procés, et aux preuves exigées pour Établir son crime et lui en faire subir la peine, il sait que dans la maniere de procéder a la françoise les précautions les plus minutieuses sont observées avec le plus grand scrupule, et qu'il ne peut etre condamné que sur des preuves aussi claires que le jour. il ne reste donc a citer à l'avantage du criminel anglois, que de se voir condamner par douze jurés que l'on nomme SES PAIRES. pense-t-on que le Canadien, ou tout autre qui voudra se dépouiller des préjugés de l'enfance, se croira exposé a plus de partialité, a plus d'injustice, a moins de lumiere etant jugé par une Cour composée de douze juges choisis dans la classe des plus honnetes-gens de la province, tous au fait de la loy (tel le qu'etoit composé le conseil supérieur de ce païs sous le gouvernement françois, et qu'on ne peut se dispenser de rétablir si l'on y veut assurer la vie. l'etat, et la fortune des citoïens.) croit-on, dis-je, qu'il se croira moins bien jugé par un conseil pareil, que s'il l'etoit pay douze jurés pris au hazard, qui même quelque fois auroit pu etre menagés de loin au reste on ne voit aucun inconvenient à accorder ces Jurés a ceux qui les préfereroient.

4° le gouverneur &c paroit également authorisé par le bill a changer a volonté cette loy criminelle, avec pouvoir de créer de nouveaux crimes accompagnés des peines qu'il jugera a propos, d'y imposer; lesquelles loix seront en force dez le moment de leur création, sans avoir besoin de l'approbation de Sa majesté, POURVU QU'ELLES NE TOUCHENT POINT A LA RELIGION, et que les peines imposées se reduisent a un emprisonnement de trois mois, ou UNE AMANDE. Voici un pouvoir bien exhorbitant accordé a ce gouverneur &c; qui, s'il est assez a droit pour faire passer ses loix au conseil privé, acquiert par là le droit de vie et de mort surtous ceux qui se trouveront résider dans le pais immense du Canada; et qui, sans ce secour, peut les tenir emprisonnés l'espace de trois mois pour les moindres fautes, ou même pour la VIE, SI L'AMANDE (qui n'a point de terme limité) est imposée de maniere que les délinquans ne puissent y satisfaire.

Ceci mérite je le crois la plus grande attention; au moins assez, pour que le plus grand nombre des habitans de la province soit préservé d'etre emprisonnés pour la vie, faute de pouvoir satisfaire aux amandes qui pourroient leur etre imposées.

5o Pour ce qui est du pouvoir législatif a établir en Canada, j'ai desja eu occasion, d'exposer a l'honorable chambre combien il etoit essentiel de ne le confier qu'aux plus gros propriétaires de terres dans ce païs : seules propriétés reconnu pour solides dans quelque partie du monde que ce soit, toutes autres pouvant etre anéanties par le premier coup de feu ou quelques banqueroutes, on ne doit espérer que de ceux là l'attention et les soins nécessaires pour prévenir le mal, et procurer tous les avantages dont le païs peut etre susceptible, puis qu'ils sont les premiers et les plus interressés au bien de la chose ce que l'on ne peut raisonnablement attendre de ceux qui n'ont aucun interet, ou de tres foibles, dans l'intéret publique; a plus forte raison, si leurs interets particuliers s'y trouvent opposés ainsi, quelle que soit la forme de législation a établir en Cavendish's Debates on the

1 See his examination before the House of Commons on June 3rd. Quebec Bill, p. 161.